DON'T BE AFRAID.
Don't be afraid of the dark,
My daughter, dear as my soul!
You see but a part of the gloomy world,
But I—I have seen the whole,
And I know each step of the fearsome way,
Till the shadows brighten to open day.
Don't be afraid of pain,
My tender little child:
When its smart is worst there comes strength to bear,
And it seems as if angels smiled,—
As I smile, dear, when I hurt you now.
In binding up that wound on your brow.
Don't be afraid of grief,
'Twill come—as night follows day,
But the bleakest sky has tiny rifts
When the stars shine through—as to say
Wait, wait a little—till night is o'er
And beautiful day come back once more.
O child, be afraid of sin,
But have no other fear,
For God's in the dark, as well as the light;
And while we can feel Him near,
His hand that He gives, His love that He gave,
Lead safely, even to the dark of the grave.