The Reliquary By Bernard and Lucy Barton. With A Prefatory Appeal for Poetry and Poets |
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| II. |
“GOD SETTETH THE SOLITARY IN FAMILIES
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 | The Reliquary |  |
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“GOD SETTETH THE SOLITARY IN FAMILIES .”
Thy mercies, Lord, of life and love!
Are unto all thy creatures shown;
Thou lookest down from heaven above,
E'en from thy star-encircled throne,
On those who seem to sit alone:
For such, thy mercy, and thy power,
Are graciously at times made known,
To cheer the solitary hour.
Are unto all thy creatures shown;
Thou lookest down from heaven above,
E'en from thy star-encircled throne,
On those who seem to sit alone:
For such, thy mercy, and thy power,
Are graciously at times made known,
To cheer the solitary hour.
Thy presence, in the darkest dearth
Of social and domestic ties,
Can bid around their silent hearth
Feelings and thoughts of joy arise,
Whose influence purest peace supplies:
For these can bear their souls away
To forms unseen of mortal eyes,
And beings disenthrall'd from clay,
Of social and domestic ties,
Can bid around their silent hearth
Feelings and thoughts of joy arise,
Whose influence purest peace supplies:
For these can bear their souls away
To forms unseen of mortal eyes,
And beings disenthrall'd from clay,
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And thou canst link them even here
On earth—to many a kindred mind,
Which feels, with sympathy sincere,
The loneliness to theirs assign'd;
Whose spirits like their own have pined
With solitude's and sorrow's thrall,
Till taught with gratitude to find
That thou canst still be all in all.
On earth—to many a kindred mind,
Which feels, with sympathy sincere,
The loneliness to theirs assign'd;
Whose spirits like their own have pined
With solitude's and sorrow's thrall,
Till taught with gratitude to find
That thou canst still be all in all.
Then glory, thanks, and praise to thee!
Who sett'st the solitary still
In families—that they may be
Thankful adorers of thy will;
To thee who every void canst fill,
And so for every loss atone,
That aching hearts with grateful thrill
Can “love thee for thyself alone!”
Who sett'st the solitary still
In families—that they may be
Thankful adorers of thy will;
To thee who every void canst fill,
And so for every loss atone,
That aching hearts with grateful thrill
Can “love thee for thyself alone!”
| The Reliquary | |