Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word; But as Thou dwell'st with thy disciples, Lord, Familiar, condescending, patient, free, Come, not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Come, not in terrors, as the King of kings; But kind, and good, with healing in thy wings: Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea, Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me!
Thou on my head, in early youth didst smile, And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee. On to the close, O Lord, abide with me!
I need thy presence every passing hour: What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power? Who like thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless : Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold then thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom, and point me to the
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain sha
In life and death, O Lord, abide with me!
A Freshly Gathered Lily.
E was our father's darling,
A bright and happy boy— His life was like a summer's day Of innocence and joy; His voice, like singing waters, Fell softly on the ear, So sweet, that hurrying echo Might linger long to hear.
He was our mother's cherub, Her life's untarnished light- Her blessed joy by morning, Her visioned hope by night: His eyes were like the daybeams That brighten all below;
His ringlets like the gathered gold Of sunset's gorgeous glow.
He was our sister's plaything, A very child of glee,
That frolicked on the parlor floor, Scarce higher than our knee; His joyous bursts of pleasure Were wild as mountain wind; His laugh, the free unfettered laugh Of childhood's chainless mind.
He was our brothers' treasure, Their bosom's only pride- A fair depending blossom By their protecting side:
A thing to watch and cherish, With varying hopes and fears— To make the slender, trembling reed Their staff for future years.
He is a blessed angel,
His home is in the sky;
He shines anong those living lights,
Beneath his Maker's eye:
A freshly gathered lily,
A bud of early doom,
Hath been transplanted from the earth,
To bloom beyond the tomb.
A Noon-Day Hymn.
UP to the throne of God is borne
The voice of praise at early morn; And He accepts the punctual hymn, Sung as the light of day grows dim.
Nor will He turn his ear aside From holy offerings at noontide; Then, here reposing, let us raise A song of gratitude and praise.
What though our burden be not light, We need not toil from morn to night; The respite of the mid-day hour Is in the thankful creature's power.
Blest are the moments, doubly blest, That, drawn from this our hour of rest, Are with a ready heart bestowed Upon the service of our God!
Why should we crave a hallowed spot? An altar is in each man's cot,
A church in every grove that spreads Its living roof above our heads.
Look up to heaven! the industrious sun Already half his race hath run: He cannot halt nor go astray, But our immortal spirits may.
Lord! since his rising in the east, If we have faltered or transgressed, Guide from thy love's abundant source What yet remains of this day's course.
Help with thy grace through life's short day,
Our upward and our downward way;
And glorify for us the west,
When we shall sink to final rest.
Autumn Sabbath Walk.
WHEN homeward bands their several ways disperse,
I love to linger in the narrow field
Of rest; to wander round from tomb to tomb, And think of some who silent sleep below.
Sad sighs the wind, that from those ancient elms Shakes showers of leaves upon the withered
The sere and yellow wreaths with eddying sweep Fill up the furrows 'tween the hillocked graves. But list that moan! 'tis the poor blind man's dog, His guide for many a day, now come to mourn The master and the friend, conjunction rare! A man he was indeed of gentle soul,
Though bred to brave the deep; the lightning's flash
Had dimmed, not closed, his mild but sightless
He was a welcome guest through all his range; (It was not wide,) no dog would bay at him: Children would run to meet him on his way, And lead him to a sunny seat, and climb His knees, and wonder at his oft-told tales; Then would he teach the elfins how to plait The rushy cap and crown, or sedgy ship; And I have seen him lay his tremulous hand Upon their heads, while silent moved his lips. Peace to thy spirit! that now looks on me Perhaps with greater pity than I felt To see thee wandering darkling on thy way. But let me quit this melancholy spot, And roam where nature gives a parting smile. As yet the blue-bells linger on the sod That copes the sheep-fold ring; and in the woods A second blow of many flowers appears; Flowers faintly tinged and breathing no perfume.
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