Moral Pieces, in Prose and Verse/The Longest Day

by Lydia Sigourney

THE LONGEST DAY.

FROM us, if every fleeting hour
    Improvement's boon may ask,
Surely the longest day may claim
    A long, and arduous task.
But since the longest day must end,
    The fairest life decay,
Let wisdom's hand, and wisdom's voice,
    Direct our youthful way.

And when we rise, let morning's eye
    Convey the lesson sweet,
And e're we sleep, let evening's sigh,
    The sacred rule repeat;

Patient to render good to all,
    Within our bounded sphere,
The active deed, or grateful wish,
    Or sympathetic tear.

To raise the heart to Him, who gives
    Our path with hope to shine,
Meekly receive the offer'd joy,
    And silently resign;
To let no fear disturb the breast,
    No doubt obscure our sky,
Since virtue cannot live unblest,
    Or unrewarded die.

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