Early Faith.
Whom hear we tell of all the joy which loving Faith can
bring,1
bring,1
The ever-widening glories reach’d on her strong seraph
wing ?2
wing ?2
Is it not oftenest they who long have wrestled with
temptation,3
temptation,3
Or pass’d through fiery baptisms of mighty tribu-
lation ?4
lation ?4
Perhaps, in life’s great tapestry, the darkest scenes are
where5
where5
The golden threads of Faith glance forth most radiant
and fair :6
and fair :6
And, gazing on the coming years, which unknown griefs
may bring,7
may bring,7
We hail the lamp which o’er them all shall heavenly
lustre fling.8
lustre fling.8
Thank God ! there is at eventide a gleam of ruby
light,9
light,9
A star of love amid the gloom of sorrow’s lingering
night,10
night,10
An ivy-wreath upon the tomb, a haven in the blast,11
A staff for weary trembling ones, when youth and health
are past.12
are past.12
But shall we seek the diamonds in the lone and dusky
mine,13
mine,13
When ’mid the sunny sands of youth they wait to flash
and shine ?14
and shine ?14
Neglect the fountain of Christ’s joy till woe-streams
darkly flow,15
darkly flow,15
Nor seek a Father’s smile until the world’s cold frown
we know ?16
we know ?16
Nay ! be our faith the rosy crown on morn’s unwrinkled
brow,17
brow,17
The sparkling dew-drop on the grass, the blossom on the
bough ;18
bough ;18
The gleam of pearly light within the snowy-bosom’d
shell ;19
shell ;19
An added power of loveliness in beauty’s every spell.20
Oh, let it be the sunlight of the pleasant summer
hours,21
hours,21
That calls to pure and radiant birth unnumber’d fra-
grant flowers ;22
grant flowers ;22
That bathes in golden joyance every anthem-murmuring
tree,23
tree,23
And spreads a robe of glory o’er the silver-crested sea.24
Oh, let it be the keynote of the symphony of gladness,25
Which wots not of the broken lyre, the requiem of sad-
ness :26
ness :26
For they who melodies of heaven in hours of brightness
know,27
know,27
Will modulate sweet harmony from earth’s discordant
woe.28
woe.28