song
   Of our happy fireside throng. 
   Loved ones, that to me are dear,
   No more tune their voices here;
   Some have sought a distant home,
   Gone, ’midst other scenes to roam;
   One is racked with wasting pain,
   And may never sing again;
   While I hear thy feeble moan,
   I can never sing alone;
   Still, we welcome blooming spring,
   But there’s no one here to sing. 
   Come then, little singing bird,
   Let thy cheerful voice be heard;
   Come, and pour thy melting lays
   Where thou didst in better days;
   Strive each drooping heart to cheer,
   Strive to dry the falling tear,
   Strive to soothe each throbbing breast,
   Hushing troubled minds to rest.

        “My harp is on the willows hung. 
        And the strings all out of tune,”

   And dost thou listen for a song,
   From this frail harp, neglected long? 
   My harp, alas! is drenched in tears,
   Rent by contending hopes and fears. 
   Pale trembling fingers sweep the strings
   Whene’er my muse, in sadness, sings;
   For, prostrate now, before me lays
   The playmate of bright joyous days;
   She was my early childhood’s pet,
   Nor can my bleeding heart forget
   That love, which has, in later years
   Shared all my pastimes, hopes, and fears. 
   Long has pale death beside her stood,
   And poured his arrows like a flood,
   Whilst I have tried, with beating heart,
   To steal the poison from each dart;
   But oft I fear, lest these dread showers
   Will baffle all our feeble powers,
   And death’s cold hand, will rend apart
   The tie that binds her to my heart. 
   Long I’ve refused to leave her side,
   Lest there should aught remain untried,
   Which might her wasting form restore,
   And tinge her cheek with bloom once more. 
   Oft by her couch, the livelong night,
   I’ve watched, till morn’s unwelcome light,
   Like some vain babbler, must reveal
   The tears, which I would fain conceal;
   Then softly stole, in silence, where
   No sigh could reach the sufferer’s ear. 
   But, shall I thus forever weep,
   And let my harp forgotten sleep,
   When there’s one sweet melodious strain,
   Whose power can wake its string again? 
   Come, let us chant one grateful song
   To Him, whose patience waited long,—­
   “God ruleth, let the earth rejoice!”
   Yes, let us make a joyful noise. 
   We’re chastened by a hand divine,
   Let us be dumb, nor dare repine;
   Thou didst it.  O, our Father, God,
   Then let us humbly kiss the rod. 
   Though from our eyes the tear-drop starts,
   When those who twine around our hearts
   Are suffering with exquisite pain,
   Yet, we may weep, and not complain. 
   Lord, thou didst weep, and so may we,
   And bow submissive still to Thee;
   Grant us thy grace in sorrow’s hour,
   To flee for refuge to thy power.