I know not why, though nature craves to know,
That all my dreams of happiness below
Should be thus blighted, yet the time is near
When I, poor voyager, often shipwrecked here,
Shall reach the port, and safely moored at last
Review the scenes and sufferings of the past,—
Beholding where the shadows darkest lay
The dawning glory of immortal day,
And all along the path that seemed so drear
Leaving this one memorial—God was here!
"THINE EYES SHALL SEE THE KING IN HIS BEAUTY."
The thought is ever present, Shall these eyes indeed see the Maker of the universe? shall these feet indeed walk the Golden City? shall these hands wave the palm of victory and strike the chords of the glorious harp whose music shall be sweeter than that of David's? Can this be possible, and do I weep and mourn because of present affliction? Oh, the future, the future! what has it not in reserve for me? Glories of which mortal never dreamed: eternal life—eternal happiness—perpetual youth—knowledge unbounded, yet ever increasing! Fly, fly, fly, days of pain and sorrow! Hail, all hail! bright morn of deliverance. It will come; and I—oh, the thought overpowers me—I, poor and wretched and sinful, shall be blessed forever, forever, FOREVER.
ALL IS WELL
Dark the future yawns before me,
Bitter griefs my bosom swell;
But a light is breaking o'er me,
And a voice—"All, all is well!"
Sad and lone has been my journey,
Sad and lone my way must be:—
Care and sorrow, pain and sickness,
Long have been allotted me.
Sunshine—that o'er youthful bosoms
Flings a bright and magic spell,
Seldom breaks upon my pathway,
Yet I know that all is well!
If the Hand that guides the planets
Feeds the ravens when they cry,
Can it be that I'm unnoticed
By a Father's loving eye?
He has thoughts of mercy toward me,
His designs I cannot tell;
'Tis enough for me to trust Him,
He knows best—and all is well!
Many doubts and many shadows
Oft have flitted through my mind,
And I've questioned, sadly questioned,
But no answer could I find.