<<  THE ANGEL OF PATIENCE  >>

To weary hearts, to mourning homes,
God's meekest angel gently comes :
No power has he to banish pain,
Or give us back our lost again ;
And yet, in tenderest love, our dear
And heavenly Father sends him here.
There's quiet in that angel's glance
There's rest in his still countenance :
He mocks no grief with idle cheer,
Nor wounds with words the mourner's ear ;
But ills and woes he may not cure
He kindly learns us to endure.
Angel of patience ! sent to calm
Our feverish brow with cooling palm
To lay the storms of hope and fear,
And reconcile life's smile and tear ;
The throbs of wounded pride to still,
And make our own our Father's will.
O thou who mournest on thy way,
With longings for the close of day !
He walks with thee that angel kind
And gently whispers,
" Be resigned ! .
Bear up, bear on the end shall tell
The dear Lord ordereth all things well."