JT-19-AN ELEGY

AN ELEGY On the death of RICE HAGGARD, an eminent preacher of the
Gospel--well known, and highly esteemed, in the South and
the West by the Christian brethren. He died at an advanced
age in Champaign county, Ohio, when on a journey to
preach the Gospel.

O! Haggard! thou hast left the house of clay,
And wing’d thy passage to immortal day!
Kind Angels hail’d thee to their bright abode,
And shouted welcome, valiant son of God.

Imagination points me now thy throne,
Among the saints and highest seraphs known,
There dwells thy spirit, and forever reigns,
Triumphant in high heaven’s supernal plains.

No storms distress thee in thy sweet repose,
But heavenly peace on thee thy God bestows.
Thy toils are ended, and thy fortunes found,
Where golden treasures and rich spoils abound,
Eternal honors crown thy worthy brow,
And scenes celestial open to thee now!

I hail thee gladly in thy robes of white,
On streets of gold--in mansions of delight.
No howling winds, nor tempests beat thee there,
Nor earthly wants to generate thy care,

Thou hast escap’d thy native land below,
To ever live where trees ambrosial grow;
Thou hast behind thee, left a name revered,
That once consoled the saint, and sinners fear’d?

In youth thy God commanded thee away,
From fond pursuits and objects of the day--
To leave the plough, and all thy friends around,
To seek a Savior and the gospel sound.

Thy parents poor, had never taught thee then
To read the Bible, nor to use the pen;
But in the smooth sand thou didst learn to write,
And taught thyself to read by faggot light!

Not long till science shone upon thy mind,
Thy sins forsaken and thy soul refined,
The Savior’s call to sound the Jubilee,
Was loudly heard and then obey’d by thee.

In melting strains thy youthful voice was heard,
And weeping eyes among the crowds appear’d;
Thy sonorous voice, like silver trumpet’s sound,
Awak’d the sinner from his sleep profound;
Convinced him he was on the downward way,
Constrained him to repent, to weep and pray.

Thy friends--a num’rous train, now left in tears,
To mourn thee absent for some tedious years,
Do fondly hope to meet thee once again,
Where death is foil’d in heav’ns extended plain.