Cheering the chilly world ere earliest dawning;—
Nor is its cheery message missed by me.
The bird’s sweet song is but the Father’s teaching;
Gladness and joy He sends for every hour—
Sends both, in answer to true heart’s beseeching,
Whether the sun is bright or tempests lower.
Dark night hath stars; dark cloud its “silver lining;”
Something of sunshine lightens darkest days;
Happy the heart in trust and faith divining
God’s light and leading through life’s dreariest ways.