“Then I thank you, noble lady,
But I cannot do your will: 
Where he left me, he must find me. 
Waiting, watching, hoping, still!”

VERSE:  THE CRADLE SONG OF THE POOR

Hush!  I cannot bear to see thee
Stretch thy tiny hands in vain;
Dear, I have no bread to give thee,
Nothing, child, to ease thy pain! 
When God sent thee first to bless me,
Proud, and thankful too, was I;
Now, my darling I, thy mother,
Almost long to see thee die. 
Sleep, my darling, thou art weary;
God is good, but life is dreary.

I have watched thy beauty fading,
And thy strength sink day by day;
Soon, I know, will Want and Fever
Take thy little life away. 
Famine makes thy father reckless,
Hope has left both him and me;
We could suffer all, my baby,
Had we but a crust for thee. 
Sleep, my darling, thou art weary;
God is good, but life is dreary.

Better thou shouldst perish early,
Starve so soon, my darling one,
Than in helpless sin and sorrow
Vainly live, as I have done. 
Better that thy angel spirit
With my joy, my peace, were flown,
Than thy heart grew cold and careless,
Reckless, hopeless, like my own. 
Sleep, my darling, thou art weary;
God is good, but life is dreary.

I am wasted, dear, with hunger,
And my brain is all opprest,
I have scarcely strength to press thee,
Wan and feeble, to my breast. 
Patience, baby, God will help us,
Death will come to thee and me,
He will take us to his Heaven,
Where no want or pain can be. 
Sleep, my darling, thou art weary;
God is good, but life is dreary.

Such the plaint that, late and early,
Did we listen, we might hear
Close beside us,—­but the thunder
Of a city dulls our ear. 
Every heart, as God’s bright Angel,
Can bid one such sorrow cease;
God has glory when his children
Bring his poor ones joy and peace! 
Listen, nearer while she sings
Sounds the fluttering of wings!

VERSE:  BE STRONG

Be strong to hope, oh Heart! 
Though day is bright,
The stars can only shine
In the dark night. 
Be strong, oh Heart of mine,
Look towards the light!

Be strong to bear, oh Heart! 
Nothing is vain: 
Strive not, for life is care,
And God sends pain,
Heaven is above, and there
Rest will remain!

Be strong to love, oh Heart! 
Love knows not wrong,
Didst thou love—­creatures even,
Life were not long;
Didst thou love God in Heaven,
Thou wouldst be strong!

VERSE:  GOD’S GIFTS

God gave a gift to Earth:- a child,
Weak, innocent, and undefiled,
Opened its ignorant eyes and smiled.

It lay so helpless, so forlorn,
Earth took it coldly and in scorn,
Cursing the day when it was born.