The Mother’s Blessing + 

Oh, my soul had grown so weary + 

With its many cares opprest, + 

All my heart’s high aspirations + 

Languish’d in a prayer for rest. + 

I was like a lonely stranger + 

Pining in a distant land, + 

Bearing on her lips a language + 

None around her understand. + 

Longing for a close communion + 

With some kindred mind and heart, + 

But whose language is a jargon + 

Past her skill, and past her art. + 

God in mercy looked upon me, + 

Saw my fainting, pain and strife, + 

Sent to me a blest evangel, + 

Through the gates of light and life. + 

Then my desert leafed and blossom’d, + 

Beauty decked its deepest wild, + 

Hope and joy, peace and blessing, + 

Met me in my first-born child. + 

When the tiny hands, so feeble, + 

Brought me smiles and joyful tears, + 

Lifted from my life the shadows, + 

That had gathered there for years. + 

God, I thank thee for the blessing + 

That at last has crown’d my life, + 

Soothed its weary, lonely anguish, + 

Stay’d its fainting, calm’d its strife. + 

Gracious Parent! guard and shelter + 

In thine arms my darling child + 

Till she treads the streets of jasper, + 

Glorified and undefiled. + 