p. 182 | SO LONESOME!

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · March 18, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 12

“SO LONESOME!”

A CHILD’s small arms around my neck were twining, And words whose earnestness seemed like a prayer At morning service in my ear were whispered, “I am so lonesome with you ’way up there.”

I may not bow the form of thirty summers To be like that of four brief sunny years, But I will try to keep afresh and tender A heart to share with childhood’s smiles and tears.

Oh! if some day the dark, mysterious angel, Should come with noiseless steps into the fold, And pass his hand across the brown eyes, sparkling, And leave the ruby lips so white and cold,

How often should I sit amid the gloaming, And list in vain for little footsteps down, Grieving in silence o’er the days departed, “So lonesome” with no boy to call my own.

If in his pity God should deem it wiser That other heart, and hand more skilled than mine, Should take the gem to fashion and to polish, I still could say, “Not my will, Lord, but thine.”

The days, no doubt, would sometimes seem so dreary, Because the light had faded from my way, But what is best my Father knoweth ever; Still I should be “so lonesome” many a day.

But should the gem but slip from careless fingers, Mingle and hide amid the street’s dark clay, And purity no more within it linger, What words may tell the woe of such a day!

How gladly would I, if I could, but banish Such strange wild contrast to a dream of bliss; A gloom so deep comes from the dark thought-shadow, “So lonesome” tamely sounds for grief like this.

O mother! let us ponder well the chasm Care thrusts between the children’s hearts and ours; If all the raindrops slept above in cloudland, Where were our golden fruit and summer flowers?

The heart of Him who was the purest, highest, Yearned o’er the children as he blessed and smiled. We seek thy footsteps; keep us, Saviour, near thee, Trusting and pure as any little child. Battle Creek, Mich.