" In His favor is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."
WHAT strange emotions rise
And struggle in my breast!
A chord unstrung! a mother gone!
But oh! to endless rest.
How fresh the wound! though now
A year has passed away:
But oh! how many hearts have bled
Since that heart-rending day!
I wept, and well I might!
I found the waters deep;
My sinking heart well-nigh o'erwhelmed,
'Twas but relief to weep.
I wept, but not as those,
With hopeless sorrow pressed,
To whom " far better " is unknown-
And unknown, heavenly rest.
In lonely hour of grief,
With sorrow such as mine,
Where could my fainting heart find rest
Without a hope Divine!
A resurrection hope,
My spirit to upbear,
A Christ above, seen through my tears,
My keenest pang to share.
I ought to praise-I do!
One whom I fondly love,
Beyond the reach of grief or pain,
Is blessed with Christ above.
Her face, her own sweet smile,
No more below I see;
But, though I weep, full well I know
They wait to welcome me.
A year!-and what a year
Of patient grace and love!
What openings of the Father's heart!
What mercies from above!
In waters deep I've learned
Depths in His gracious heart,
And, of His mercies, I would least
With these sweet lessons part.
What have I learned of Christ,
His tender sympathies!
The meltings of His yearning heart!
His gentle ministries!
If then in deepest grief,
When sorrows most abound,
Such depths of love and tenderness
In Thee, my Lord, are found;
Do thou with me whate'er
It seemeth good to Thee;
That I Thyself may better know,
Thy power may rest on me.
Edinburgh, Feb. 28th, 1859.
T. M. N.