| |
| A TRODDEN daisy, from the sward, | |
| With tearful eye I took, | |
| And on its ruined glories I, | |
| With moving heart, did look; | |
| For, crushed and broken though it was, | 5 |
| That little flower was fair; | |
| And oh! I loved the dying bud, | |
| For God was there! | |
| |
| I stood upon the sea-beat shore, | |
| The waves came rushing on; | 10 |
| The tempest raged in giant wrath, | |
| The light of day was gone. | |
| The sailor from his drowning bark | |
| Sent up his dying prayer; | |
| I looked amid the ruthless storm, | 15 |
| And God was there! | |
| |
| I sought a lonely, woody dell, | |
| Where all things soft and sweet, | |
| Birds, flowers, and trees, and running streams, | |
| Mid bright sunshine did meet: | 20 |
| I stood beneath an old oak’s shade, | |
| And summer round was fair; | |
| I gazed upon the peaceful scene, | |
| And God was there! | |
| |
| I saw a home—a happy home— | 25 |
| Upon a bridal day, | |
| And youthful hearts were blithesome there, | |
| And aged hearts were gay: | |
| I sat amid the smiling band | |
| Where all so blissful were— | 30 |
| Among the bridal maidens sweet— | |
| And God was there! | |
| |
| I stood beside an infant’s couch, | |
| When light had left its eye— | |
| I saw the mother’s bitter tears, | 35 |
| I heard her woful cry— | |
| I saw her kiss its fair pale face, | |
| And smooth its yellow hair; | |
| And oh, I loved the mourner’s home, | |
| For God was there! | 40 |
| |
| I sought a cheerless wilderness— | |
| A desert, pathless wild— | |
| Where verdure grew not by the streams, | |
| Where beauty never smiled; | |
| Where desolation brooded o’er | 45 |
| A muirland lone and bare, | |
| And awe upon my spirit crept, | |
| For God was there! | |
| |
| I looked upon the lowly flower, | |
| And on each blade of grass; | 50 |
| Upon the forests, wide and deep, | |
| I saw the tempests pass: | |
| I gazed on all created things | |
| In earth, in sea, and air; | |
| Then bent the knee—for God, in love, | 55 |
| Was everywhere! | |
| |
