By Miss E. R. Snow

Dearest Brother, wherefore leave us? Thou art now a standard bearer

Why forsake they friends and home? On a distant mountain top;

Of thy presence, why bereave us, And perchance, art made a sharer

And in foreign countries roam? In privation's bitter cup

Must the dearest ties be broken? For the Lord designs to prove thee

Must affection's beauties fade? If his voice thou wilt obey;

No: O no, but God has spoken Therefore from the friends that love thee,

And his voice must be obey'd. Thou art parted far away?

Thou art call'd to bear Salvation's Thou art call'd thyself to sever

Joyful tidings far abroad From the land where kindred dwell!

Thou hast gone to warn the nations, But it will not be forever

In the name of Israel's God. Time ere long, will break the spell.

For the spirit of Devotion Here warm friends await thy greeting-

To Messiah' glorious cause; Noble friends, of Abram's line-

Thou hast cross'd the pathless ocean, Here are gentle pulses beating

To proclaim redemption's laws. In soft unison with thine.

For the gospel proclamation Here are daily pray'rs ascending

Must be sounded far and near; That th' appointed time may come,

That the best of every nation, When thy foreign mission ending,

May in Zion's courts appear. We shall bid thee "welcome home."

City of Nauvoo, April, 21st, 1842.