Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By George WashingtonDoane

114 Evening

SOFTLY now the light of day

Fades upon my sight away;

Free from care, from labor free,

Lord, I would commune with Thee:

Thou, whose all-pervading eye,

Naught escapes, without, within,

Pardon each infirmity,

Open fault and secret sin.

Soon, for me, the light of day

Shall forever pass away;

Then, from sin and sorrow free,

Take me, Lord, to dwell with Thee:

Thou, who, sinless, yet hast known

All of man’s infirmity;

Then from Thine eternal throne,

Jesus, look with pitying eye.