Be strong to hope, oh Heart!
Though day is bright,
The stars can only shine
In the dark night.
Be strong, oh Heart of mine,
Look towards the light!
Be strong to bear, oh Heart!
Nothing is vain:
Strive not, for life is care,
And God sends pain,
Heaven is above, and there
Rest will remain!
Be strong to love, oh Heart!
Love knows not wrong,
Didst thou love—creatures even,
Life were not long;
Didst thou love God in Heaven,
Thou wouldst be strong!
VERSE: GOD’S GIFTS
God gave a gift to Earth:- a child,
Weak, innocent, and undefiled,
Opened its ignorant eyes and smiled.
It lay so helpless, so forlorn,
Earth took it coldly and in scorn,
Cursing the day when it was born.
She gave it first a tarnished name,
For heritage, a tainted fame,
Then cradled it in want and shame.
All influence of Good or Right,
All ray of God’s most holy light,
She curtained closely from its sight.
Then turned her heart, her eyes away,
Ready to look again, the day
Its little feet began to stray.
In dens of guilt the baby played,
Where sin, and sin alone, was made
The law that all around obeyed.