 | The Burden of the Bell and Other Lyrics |  |
55
LOVE HER STILL.
Love her still!
She hath fallen very low—
Thou who knew'st her long ago,
Little, little canst thou see
Of her girlhood's purity;
But, though sin hath left its trace
On her once sweet happy face,
And that innocent maiden brow
Droopeth in dark shadow now—
Though life's glory all hath fled,
And life's shame is her's instead,
Love her still!
She hath fallen very low—
Thou who knew'st her long ago,
Little, little canst thou see
Of her girlhood's purity;
But, though sin hath left its trace
On her once sweet happy face,
And that innocent maiden brow
Droopeth in dark shadow now—
Though life's glory all hath fled,
And life's shame is her's instead,
Love her still!
Love her! let no harsh cold word,
Man, from lips of thine be heard;
Woman, with no lifted eye
Mock thou her deep agony;
Weep ye,—tears, give tears along.
To our world-forsaken one—
Love her still!
Man, from lips of thine be heard;
Woman, with no lifted eye
Mock thou her deep agony;
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To our world-forsaken one—
Love her still!
Love her-let her feel your love.
Summer showers that fall above
Fainting blossoms, leave with them
Freshened leaf and straightened stem;
Sunshine oft doth give again
Bloom the bitter storm hath ta'en;
And this human love of ours,
To the world's poor faded flowers,
May be found as dear a boon
As God's blessëd rain and sun
To restore their native hue,
And their native fragrance too;—
Love her still!
Summer showers that fall above
Fainting blossoms, leave with them
Freshened leaf and straightened stem;
Sunshine oft doth give again
Bloom the bitter storm hath ta'en;
And this human love of ours,
To the world's poor faded flowers,
May be found as dear a boon
As God's blessëd rain and sun
To restore their native hue,
And their native fragrance too;—
Love her still!
Gather round her, weep and pray—
Clasp her, lead her from the way
She doth journey—tenderly
From the wrong and misery,
To the better paths, where peace
Waiteth her, with sweet release
From life's heart-ache;—so, once more
In her breast the hope of yore
May be lit, that holy hope,
That with earthly loss doth cope,
Earthly sin and earthly shame,
Till all earth is but a name,
And the rescued soul is given,
With its treasure, unto heaven!
Oh, bethink ye of the bliss
That will fill your hearts for this,
Loving friends, what time ye see
Shadow after shadow flee
From her pale sad face;—what time,
Soaring in a thought sublime,
Ye shall know, the while ye pray,
To his angels God doth say,
“Love her still!”
Clasp her, lead her from the way
She doth journey—tenderly
From the wrong and misery,
To the better paths, where peace
Waiteth her, with sweet release
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In her breast the hope of yore
May be lit, that holy hope,
That with earthly loss doth cope,
Earthly sin and earthly shame,
Till all earth is but a name,
And the rescued soul is given,
With its treasure, unto heaven!
Oh, bethink ye of the bliss
That will fill your hearts for this,
Loving friends, what time ye see
Shadow after shadow flee
From her pale sad face;—what time,
Soaring in a thought sublime,
Ye shall know, the while ye pray,
To his angels God doth say,
“Love her still!”
| The Burden of the Bell and Other Lyrics | |