Far away where tears are falling, Where I am, all think me happy, None can guess, who smile around me, How far distant is my heart— Far away, in a poor cottage, Listening to the dreary sea, Where the treasures of my life are, WISHES. LL the fluttering wishes Caged within thy heart Beat their wings against it, Longing to depart, Till they shake their prison With their wounded cry; Open wide thy heart to-day, Let them first fly upward Through the starry air, Till you almost lose them, For their home is there; Then with outspread pinions, Circling round and round, Wing their way wherever Want and woe are found. Where the weary stitcher Where the lonely watcher Where with thin weak fingers, Toiling at the loom, Stand the little children, Blighted ere they bloom. Where by darkness blinded, Groping for the light, With distorted conscience Men do wrong for right; Where in the cold shadow, By smooth pleasure thrown, Human hearts by hundreds Harden into stone. Where on dusty highways, With faint heart and slow, Cursing the glad sunlight, For one place is empty, Some hearts will be lighter For their tender singing, Then recal them home; When the sunny hours Into night depart, Softly they will nestle In a quiet heart. THE PEACE OF GOD. E ask for Peace, oh Lord! W Thy children ask Thy Peace; That toil and care should cease, In smiling day; It is not for such Peace that we would pray. We ask for Peace, oh Lord! Yet not to stand secure, Girt round with iron Pride, Contented to endure: Crushing the gentle strings, That human hearts should know, Untouched by others' joy Or others' woe;— Thou, oh dear Lord, wilt never teach us so. We ask Thy Peace, oh Lord! Through storm, and fear, and strife, To light and guide us on, Through a long struggling life: While no success or gain Shall cheer the desperate fight, Or nerve, what the world calls, Our wasted might: Yet pressing through the darkness to the light. It is Thine own, oh Lord, Who toil while others sleep; What other hands shall reap: They lean on Thee entranced, Give us that Peace, oh Lord, Divine and blest, Thou keepest for those hearts who love Thee best. |