Gone Home Forever
(written for Sam Houston Rogers, railway engineer, on the occasion of his death)

He has gone to live in heaven
With the Savior of his soul
At last this loyal child of God
Shall tread those shining streets of gold

There his mind shall not be troubled
There his heart shall know no grief;
Endless peace and joy he’ll know there
Such is the gain of Faith’s belief.

He has entered those bright portals
And dwells in the mansions above.
Where sorrow and pain shall never come.
In the home of the Savior of love.

‘Tis sweet to know he had a Savior,
To go with him night and day,
To receive his spotless spirit
In that home across the way.

Yet on earth we still shall miss him
And shall mourn him sorrowfully:
Although we feel content to know
He passed o’er Jordon so joyfully.

In that land of everlasting light
Dwells a happy sainted soul:
Sweetest peace now reigns up there,
Around that throne of glittering gold.

Ne’re again shall we caress him:
We ne’re shall hear his voice,
But God has need of him at home,
And we with angels should rejoice.

Although the wound, dear aunt, is great,
It must be healed and God will heal it.
He knoweth best and doth best
All righteous things as he sees fit.

Cheer up dear one and do not weep:
That happy soul is saved and blest.
With welcoming hands he waits for us
To meet him some day in that City of rest.

His life was a lamp for others;
It brightened the pathway along.
Now his reward in heaven is great:
There he’ll sing in rapturous song.

Christ said to him, well done, brave one,
Thou were faithful in all thy tasks,
Loved thy neighbor, friend and foe,
Obeyed my word, did all I asked.

When Jesus calls us home to live,
With Him on that happy shore,
Our eyes shall not be filled with tears
We’ll be with him forever.

A niece,
Travis E. Donald (age 17)
Colorado, Tex.
1930

–Beth Johnson