Calm twilight veils the summer sky,
The shining clouds are gone;
In vain the merry laughing child
Still gaily prattles on;
In vain the bright stars, one by one,
On the blue silence start,
A dreary shadow rests to-night
Upon the father’s heart

VERSE:  COMFORT

Hast thou o’er the clear heaven of thy soul
Seen tempests roll? 
Hast thou watched all the hopes thou wouldst have won
Fade, one by one? 
Wait till the clouds are past, then raise thine eyes
To bitter skies.

Hast thou gone sadly through a dreary night,
And found no light,
No guide, no star, to cheer thee through the plain—­
No friend, save pain? 
Wait, and thy soul shall see, when most forlorn,
Rise a new morn.

Hast thou beneath another’s stern control
Bent thy sad soul,
And wasted sacred hopes and precious tears? 
Yet calm thy fears,
For thou canst gain, even from the bitterest part,
A stronger heart.

Has Fate overwhelmed thee with some sudden blow? 
Let thy tears flow;
But know when storms are past, the heavens appear
More pure, more clear;
And hope, when farthest from their shining rays,
For brighter days.

Hast thou found life a cheat, and worn in vain
Its iron chain? 
Has thy soul bent beneath earth’s heavy bond? 
Look thou beyond;
If life is bitter—­there for ever shine
Hopes more divine.

Art thou alone, and does thy soul complain
It lives in vain? 
Not vainly does he live who can endure
Oh be thou sure,
That he who hopes and suffers here, can earn
A sure return.

Hast thou found nought within thy troubled life
Save inward strife? 
Hast thou found all she promised thee, Deceit,
And Hope a cheat? 
Endure, and there shall dawn within thy breast
Eternal rest!

VERSE:  HOME AT LAST

Child, do not fear;
We shall reach our home to-night,
For the sky is clear,
And the waters bright;
And the breezes have scarcely strength
To unfold that little cloud,
That like a shroud
Spreads out its fleecy length
Then have no fear,
As we cleave our silver way
Through the waters clear.

Fear not, my child! 
Though the waves are white and high,
And the storm blows wild
Through the gloomy sky;
On the edge of the western sea,
See that line of golden light,
Is the haven bright
Where home is awaiting thee;
Where, this peril past,
We shall rest from our stormy voyage
In peace at last.

Be not afraid;
But give me thy hand, and see
How the waves have made
A cradle for thee. 
Night is come, dear, and we shall rest;
So turn from the angry skies,
And close thine eyes,
And lay thy head on my breast: 
Child, do not weep;
In the calm, cold, purple depths
There we shall sleep.