I think oftimes as the night draws nigh Of an old house on the hill, Of a yard all wide and blossom-starred Where the children played at will. And when the night at last came down, Hushing the merry din, Mother would look around and ask, “Are all the children in?” ‘Tis many and many […]
There is a time, we know not when, A point we know not where, That marks the destiny of men To glory or despair. There is a line, by us unseen, That crosses every path; The hidden boundary between God’s patience and His wrath. To pass that limit is to die— To die as if […]
Children of yesterday, Heirs of tomorrow, What are you weaving? Labor or sorrow? Look to your loom again, Faster and faster Fly the great shuttles Prepared by the Master. Life’s in the loom! Room for it— Room! Children of yesterday, Heirs of tomorrow, Lighten the labor And sweeten the sorrow. Now, while the shuttles fly […]
Tell me not in mournful numbers, “Life is but an empty dream!” For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest And the grave is not its goal; “Dust thou are, to dust returnest,” Was not written of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not […]
A little word in kindness spoken, A motion or a tear, Has often healed the heart that’s broken! And made a friend sincere. A word—a look—has crushed to earth Full many a budding flower, Which had a smile but owned its birth, Would bless life’s darkest hour. Then deem it not an idle thing, A […]
There were six in the room where Death had been; The little dead maid was one, Two were the parents with broken hearts For all they could do was done; Three were the pitying men who came To the house where the dead child lay; And Death was stronger than all of them, For Death […]
Is thy cruse of comfort failing? Rise and share it with another, And through all the years of famine It shall serve thee and thy brother. Love Divine will fill thy storehouse, Or thy handful still renew; Scanty fare for one will often Make a royal feast for two. For the heart grows rich in […]
Skeptic, whoe’er thou art, tell, if thou knowest, Why every nation, every clime, though all In laws, in rights, in manners disagree, With one consent expect another world Where wickedness shall weep? Why in each breast Is placed a friendly monitor, that prompts, Informs, directs, encourages, forbids? Tell, why on unknown evil grief attends, Or […]
See the rivers flowing downward to the sea, Pouring all their treasures bountiful and free; Yet, to help their giving, hidden streams arise, Or, if need be, showers feed them from the skies. Watch the princely flowers their rich fragrance spread; Load the air with perfume from their beauty shed. Still their lavish spending leaves […]