Poems (Curwen)/The Children's Song

by Annie Isabel Curwen

The Children's Song.

Once more, O God, we come to raise
 To Thee, our grateful songs of praise.
O Thou who dost our lives prolong,
 Give ear unto Thy children's song—
A song that does not half express
 The measure of our thankfulness.

Through seasons of afflictions sore,
 When death has swept the wide world o'er,
Safe in the hollow of Thine hand,
 Safe hast Thou brought our little band
Through winter's storms and chilly hours
 To summer days and summer flowers.

But once the tender Shepherd came
 One lamb from out our flock to claim,
And to His fold the child He led,
 And there her little feet now tread.
To-day she sings a sweeter song
 Than any sung by mortal tongue.

The flowers we wear will fade away,
 But those she holds will ne'er decay,
And while she strays in pastures sweet,
 Life's thorny ways await our feet.
O Jesus! grant that early we
 Incline to follow after Thee.

And do Thou bless our teachers, Lord
 And all their patient toil reward,
For they have striven from day to day,
 To lead us in the narrow way.
O Jesus! ere this day depart
 Write Thy new name upon each heart.