The darkest wave hath light foam near it;

And twinkles through the cloudiest night

Some solitary star to cheer it.

The gloomiest soul is not all gloom;

The saddest heart is not all sadness;

And sweetly o’er the darkest doom

There shines some lingering beam of gladness.

Despair is never quite despair;

Nor life nor death the future closes;

And round the shadowy brow of Care