XLIX. THE DEW. "My speech shall distil as the dew."-DEUT. XXXII. 2. I. NOON has its monarch risen high; Eve has its purple hue; Night decks with countless stars the sky; The morning has the dew. II. What lessons may be learnt from each Another day may see; But now the lowliest shall teach My heart humility. III. Praise to our God! his grace is such, That scarce our eyes can greet The morn, but what we need so much Is lying at our feet. IV. Clothed too in smiles: as it would win A kind and gentle way To every heart ere it begin V. Thy couch is low, my monitor; Sublimest truths to teach. VI. No need He knew of lofty state, Or earthly eminence : Tis wisdom gives the lesson weight, And truth is eloquence. VII. Even such thy teaching on the ground: Who will in thee may trace, That peace and safety may be found Best in the lowest place. VIII. The wind that strips the forest bare The sun with all his fiercest glare IX. He decks thee even at thy birth And then, when grown too bright for earth, X. Brief is thy pleasant sojourn here; Thy loss too none may mind; But many followed by a tear Leave less of good behind. XI. I trace thee in the springing grass, And in the bending corn; And every floweret that I Rejoices thou wert born. pass XII. Thou art not like so many here, XIII. But often in the hour of gloom, XIV. The clouds, though often kind, may fail; No drop in lake or mere; The streams dry up in every dale; But thou still kind art near. XV. 'Tis pure, 'tis perfect charity Nor cares that any eye should see XVI. So may my days on earth be spent! In lowly place, secure, content, XVII. May it suffice that heaven sees, And like the morning dew, On wings of light, when heaven shall please, May I soar up from view! XVIII. Then, knowing in a happier sphere A morn without a night, The same bright sun that decked me here |