When sorrow, troubles come in flocks,
Like angry clouds, driven by the blast,
Like waves against the riven rocks,
On which my helpless soul is cast,
And night and darkness come apace,
With not a friend around to cheer,
Again she shows her angel face,
And whispers gently: “Do not fear.”
When by the graves of those I love
Dark doubts are hovering around,
She lifts my tearful look above
The withered lily on the mound,
And in the blue, so far away,
I see a gleam, it seems a smile,—
Again I hear her softly say:
“Despair not, wait a little while.”
O, blessed Hope, without whose aid,
No victory is ever won,
In life’s sweet morn and sunny glade,
Or evening shadows drear and dun,
Thou art our guardian angel, who
Walks with us, when all others fail,
And scatters roses, fresh with dew,—
O, heaven-born all hail! all hail!
BE STILL MY SOUL, BE STILL
Be still my soul, be still;
Fret not thyself with cares of life,
With worldly vanity and strife,
Which bring but ill.
Withdraw thyself and be alone,
Alone in holy solitude,
Then shalt thou know the highest good,
And for thy sins atone.
Then shalt thou know the harmony
Of sweet celestial strains,
Whose soothing notes allay the pains
Brought on by human misery.
This world is void of peace,—
’Tis nowhere found, except within,
When from the earthly gain to win,
Thou deignest cease.
AWAKE
The livelong night I lie awake,
While all the world is slumbering,
And weary I am numbering
The hours which on the stillness break;