Father, I’ve trespassed in Thy sight,
But I’m weak and poor and sad;
My days are long and dreary,
And my soul is never glad.
My nights are dark and lonely,
And my dreams are full of pain;
I’ve wandered, oh, so long,
And toiled so long in vain.
I’d feel Thy forgiving hand
Rest kind on my stricken head
Ere the last sad sigh is breathed,
And I sleep with the quiet dead
In a dreamless, perfect rest;
No bitter, cankering care
To trouble my deep repose,
Or fill me with dark despair.
Forgive, for my burden is heavy,
And grievous, and hard to bear,
And I have no home to-night;
And around me everywhere
The chill and blight are falling,
And the way is rough and cold;
The summer of life is faded,
And I am growing old.
Forgive, for my tears are falling;
I kneel at Thy sacred feet;
Lead from “the deep, dark valley,”
Where but ruin reigns complete.
Forgive, for all around me
Is the winter’s fret and moan,
And I long for summers fairer,
Near Thy great white throne.
THE FAREWELL.
I stood to look a last farewell
Upon our dear Dominion shore,
Ere I should turn afar to roam,
Perhaps to view it nevermore.
I looked upon the waters bright;
The scene recalled the times of yore,
But who can tell how I have loved
Thy waves and sands, oh, peaceful shore?
The crescent moon shone o’er the sea
And lit the dark and vaulted sky,
And touched the waves that rose and fell
In gentle murmurs like a sigh.
Ah! days, sweet days, ye’ve flown away
With Aleene by the shining sea;
It was a time too fair to last—
Only a mem’ry now to me.