[Poems by Cary in] The psalms of life acompilation of psalms, hymns, chants, anthems, &c. embodying the spiritual, progressive and reformatory sentiment of the present age |
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 | [Poems by Cary in] The psalms of life |  |
26
A Child's Path.—
PHOEBE CAREY.1
With sunshine always on his face,Fairer to us than summer flowers,
How sank our trembling hearts to see
His pathway turning off from ours;
2
As one on whom we dared not look,So strange and chilling was his grasp,
Took solemnly his childish hand,
And pushed our fingers from his clasp;
3
And led his half reluctant feetAlong the common way for all,
Down softly toward that open gate,
Set in life's farthest boundary wall!
4
But, when we saw the portal gained,Ne'er folded back for death or sin,
The shadow which had led him on
Shrank back, afraid to enter in.
5
And the sweet child, no more alarmed,But turning from us smilingly,
Gave trustingly his little hand
To One our dim faith scarce could see.
6
And, O, how much it soothed our grief,To know that loving hands as ours
Would gently lead his feet about
Over the heavenly hills of flowers!
146
Hymn of the Hopeful.—
PHOEBE CAREY.1
Bringing pleasant hopes and visions,Comes to us another year;
And our hearts with happy promise,
Are too full for any fear.
2
We will strive with each day's closing,With each morning's glad return,
Better still to learn our duty,
And to practice what we learn.
3
We will view mankind as brothers,Fellow pilgrims on the road
To the great eternal city,
And our common father, God.
4
We will shrink not from the sinful,Fearing that their touch may taint;
We will bear each other's burdens,
If at noontide any faint.
5
And we will, by each example,By the past which we recall,
And by all we would accomplish,
Live hereafter each for all.
6
So we may, when he shall call usTo the Father, good and just,
Answer: ‘As our brother's keeper,
We are faithful to our trust.’
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