21
And never felt he greater pride,
And never did he look so gay,
As when the little urchins strove
To make him partner in their play.
And never did he look so gay,
As when the little urchins strove
To make him partner in their play.
But when, in some more gentle mood,
They silent hung upon his arm,
Or nestled close at ev'ning pray'r,
The old man felt a softer charm;
They silent hung upon his arm,
Or nestled close at ev'ning pray'r,
The old man felt a softer charm;
And upward rais'd his closing eye,
Whence slow effus'd a grateful tear,
As if his senses own'd a joy,
Too holy for endurance here.
Whence slow effus'd a grateful tear,
As if his senses own'd a joy,
Too holy for endurance here.
No heart e'er pray'd so fervently,
Unprompted by an earthly zeal,
None ever knew such tenderness,
That did not true devotion feel.
Unprompted by an earthly zeal,
None ever knew such tenderness,
That did not true devotion feel.
