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| FRIDAY NIGHT! come draw the curtain; | |
| I am weary with the week; | |
| Sit before the grate-fire with me, | |
| And together let us speak; | |
| Put aside your books and papers— | 5 |
| It is neither night nor day, | |
| And the Sabbath morn approaches; | |
| Put your endless toil away. | |
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| Watch the fire-light—how it flickers! | |
| See the light and shadow play | 10 |
| From the fender to the carpet | |
| And across the curtain gay; | |
| See its gentle fairy-fingers | |
| Touch the pictures on the wall, | |
| Giving them a life-like beauty | 15 |
| Lending grace to each and all. | |
| |
| Over yonder hangs a picture | |
| Sheltered from the dancing gleam; | |
| See its dim, uncertain outlines, | |
| Like the mem’ry of a dream; | 20 |
| Watch the light dispel the shadows, | |
| And observe the lovely face; | |
| See, it seems the Sabbath Spirit, | |
| Cloth’d with pure and tender grace; | |
| |
| Calling to your mind the missing | 25 |
| Angels of our household band, | |
| Who, on bygone Sabbath evenings, | |
| Sat beside us, hand in hand; | |
| Bringing back our hopes and longings, | |
| Crowning them with light divine, | 30 |
| Showing us our vain endeavors, | |
| Softened by the glow of time; | |
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| Speaking of its own sweet image, | |
| As our fathers knew it best— | |
| Beautiful in true thanksgiving | 35 |
| For the day of peace and rest; | |
| Teaching us to break the shadows | |
| Hovering o’er its lov’d face, | |
| With the glowing light of fervor | |
| Kindled by our ancient race. | 40 |
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| But I know I’m only dreaming, | |
| ’Tis a picture—nothing more— | |
| Image of some lovely maiden | |
| Famed in song or fairy lore; | |
| Drop the curtain, watch the fire | 45 |
| Till the shadows flee the light; | |
| Rest awhile within its gleaming, | |
| On this peaceful Sabbath night. | |
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