Winged echoes

Hush'd is the evening hymn,

The organ's solemn peal,

While thro' the chancel dim

The echoes sweetly steal.

On flutt'ring wings they soar,

Now upwards to the skies,

Till they're lost for evermore

In the land of Paradise.

On one sweet quiv'ring note,

I breathe a pray'r to Heaven,

And hear it upward float

To where the clouds are riven.

Just in the far off West,

As softly dies the day,

My pray'r is borne to rest,

And the echo steals away.

But a golden ray of light

There comes in radiant stream.

And floating thro' the night

Now floods my silent dream.

It bears upon its breast

Sweet echoes of a voice

That bid my heart to rest,

My spirit to rejoice.