Page:Poems Curwen.djvu/53

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the children's song.
45

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.