Shall We Know Our Own Once More?

1012 IMPROVEMENT ERA ing dens, a strange contrast. Yet seeming to dwell and flour- ish, in spite of the antagonistic influence of each to the other; truly a city cosmopolitan, where all nations, all walks of life and the great inventions of modern civiliation mix unintelligibly, until one is confused by the ever changing, from present to dim past that greets the eye. No greater place on earth can be found for the study of mankind, in their individual and collective efforts for good and evil, for progress or decay than in this the melting pot of the Orient, a sink of iniquity, headquarters of the Y. M. C. A. and the Christian Missions. Shall We Know Our Own Once More? When the Angels' welcome's given, When we enter holier sphere, And in that sweet joy of heaven We forget our troubles here, Shall we meet, there, father, mother, Friends and loved ones gone before? Snail we recognize each other? Shall we know our own once more? When our friends, who traveling faster, Long since crossed the great divide, Who with us did serve the Master, Meet us on the other side, Shall we read in their sweet faces Love and friendship as of yore? Shall we feel their fond embraces? Shall we know our own once more? Oh my soul, let naught confuse thee! How much sorrow life may bring, Let this glorious hope enthuse thee, Cause thee to rejoice and sing: All in which our faith's delighting Will come true on yonder shore: There will be a reuniting, We shall know our own once more ! Come, ye sad and heavy-hearted, Yonder beckons brighter day! There you'll find your dear departed, Sainted loved ones, yours for aye. Death and parting here bereave us — There reunion will restore All we've lost, no more to leave us: Wle shall know our own once more! Translated from the Dutch, by Frank I. Kooyman.