The Little Church Round The Corner

'Bring him not here, where our sainted feet Are treading the path to glory; Bring him not here, where our Saviour sweet Repeats for us his story. Go, take him where such things are done (For he sat in the seat of the scorner), To where they have room, for we have none,-- To the little church down the corner.' So spake the holy man of God, Of another man, his brother, Whose cold remains, ere they sought the sod, Had only asked that a Christian rite Might be read above them by one whose light Was, 'Brethren, love one another:' Had only asked that a prayer be read Ere his flesh went down to join the dead, While his spirit looked with suppliant eyes, Searching for God throughout the skies. But the priest frowned 'No,' and his brow was bare Of love in the sight of the mourner, And they looked for Christ and found him--where? In that little church round the corner. Ah! well, God grant when, with aching feet, We tread life's last few paces, That we may hear some accents sweet, And kiss, to the end, fond faces. God grant that this tired flesh may rest ('Mid many a musing mourner), While the sermon is preached and the rites are read In no church where the heart of love is dead, And the pastor's a pious prig at best, But in some small nook where God's confessed,-- Some little church round the corner.