Poems of the Heart and Home Part 21

Weary soul, by care oppressed, Wouldst thou find a place of rest?

Listen, Jesus calls to thee, Come, and find thy rest in me!

Hungry soul, why pine and die With exhaustless stores so nigh?

Lo, the board is spread for thee, Come, and feast to-day with me!

Thirsty soul, earth's sweetest rill Mocks thee with its promise still; Hark, the Saviour calls to thee, Here is water, come to me!

Homeless soul, thy path is drear, Angry tempests gather near, Night is darkening over thee, Here is shelter, come to me!

Heavenly bread and heavenly wine, Living waters, all are mine!-- Mine they are, and thine may be, Weary wand'rer, come to me!

"I WILL NOT LET THEE GO."

Nay, I will not let thee go, Though the midnight glideth slow,-- Though the darkness deep and long Dim the sight and hush the song, On thy tender, faithful breast, Find I still my perfect rest-- Soothing sweet for keenest woe-- And I will not let thee go!

Nay, I will not let thee go, Though the morn's enkindling glow Flame along the mountain-height.

Flooding all the hills with light; What can morning bring to me, Tender Shepherd, wanting thee?

What its songs but sobs of woe?

Nay, I will not let thee go!

Nay, I will not let thee go, Though the day no shadows know; Though, the sky's serene to dim, Lower no storm-cloud dark and grim; Whom have I in Heaven but thee?-- What beside hath earth for me?-- Thou, the only trust I know,-- Nay, I will not let thee go!

Let thee go?--my Saviour, nay Thou my night's unfailing day, Thou my dawning's tenderest gleam, Thou my noonday's richest beam,-- Night is day if thou art near, Day without thee, joyless, drear,-- Wanting thee, all bliss were woe,-- Nay, I will not let thee go!

GREETING HYMN.

Written for the Alumni of Albion College, Michigan; and sung at their last re-union, June, 1881.

The gliding years have rolled along, And once again we come, With greeting hand and choral song, To our old college-home;-- Sweet college-home! dear college-home!

We gladly gather here, Old friends to greet, Old faces meet, And sing our songs of cheer!

A welcome true for those we meet, For those we miss, a sigh; Of some we ne'er again may greet, We speak with tearful eye; Some rest with G.o.d, whose feet once trod These halls with ours of yore; And some there are Who wander far On many a distant sh.o.r.e!

G.o.d, bless and keep the ones who roam, And us who meet again; And lit us each for that bright home Where comes no parting pain;-- Oh, aid us still, thro' good or ill Still earnest for the right, With spirits true, To dare and do, With Heaven and thee in sight!

And as the lingering years go by, And changeful seasons come, Still let thine eye rest lovingly On this old college-home;-- Sweet college-home! dear college-home!

We gladly gather here, Old friends to meet, Old faces greet, And sing our songs of cheer!

ONE BY ONE

One by one, ye are pa.s.sing, beloved, Out of the shadow into the light.

One by one, Are your tasks all done.

Ended the toil, and the swift race run.

Child and maiden, mother and sire, Sister and brother, Ye follow each other, Out of the darkness where we stand weeping, Weary and faint with our virgil-keeping, Into die summer-land, peaceful and bright!

One by one, ye are pa.s.sing, beloved, Out of the darkness round us that lies-- One by one, Gliding on alone, Hearing nor heeding our plaint and moan.

Friend and lover, the fondest, best, Most tender and true, Ye pa.s.s from our view, Out of the night that enfolds us ever, Out of the mists where we moan and shiver; Into the joy-light of sunniest skies!

One by one, we are hasting, beloved, Out of the midnight into the day.

One by one, Are _our_ tasks all done, And the race that is set us with swift feet run.

Loved and parted ones, still our own, Nearing you ever We press toward the river.

Over whose waters ye pa.s.sed on before us, Shortly to join in your rapturous chorus, And swell the hosannas of Heaven for aye!

One by one, ye are greeting, beloved, Those whom you left for a while in tears.

One by one Is the bright goal won By those ye lost sight of at set of sun.

Child and maiden, mother and sire, Sister and brother, Ye're greeting each other, Up where the holy ones round you are singing, Up where the new song of Heaven is ringing, Never to part through eternity's years!

LOVE

G.o.d so loved me that He gave Jesus for my sins to die; Jesus loved me in the grave, Jesus loves me still on high,-- Father-love and Saviour-love, Mine on earth and mine above!

Love, from highest heights that stooped,-- Love, to deepest depths that came,-- Love, that 'neath my burden drooped,-- Bore my anguish and my shame-- Died, that I may never die,-- Living, lifts me to the sky!

Love, the arm that reached me first,-- Love, the hand that raised me up,-- Love, my prison-bars that burst,-- Love, that filled my br.i.m.m.i.n.g cup-- Filled it full of Heavenly wine-- Filled, and blessed, and made it mine!

Love, the holy, cleansing fount Where I wash my garments white,-- Love, my Tabor, hallowed mount, Where I stand with Him in sight,-- Love, my watch-tower, till the day Chase all earth-born mists away!

AN EVENING HYMN

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety"

The tranquil hours steal by On drowsy wings and slow, And over all the peaceful sky The stars of evening glow.

No gathering clouds I see, I hear no rising blast, I fold my tired hands restfully, As though all storms were past.

Yet, whether so or not, O Lord, thou knowest best!

This night, let every anxious thought And trembling fear have rest

This night I will lie down In peace beneath thine eye, Nor heed what ills unseen may frown, Since thou art ever nigh.