O, how I wish I could see you,
Our dear little blue-eyed boy!
I can see my little sister,
Who is wise beyond her years;
How I wish she could ever be free as now
From all life's cares and fears.
And all of the other dear ones,
I can see them all quite well;
Without them the beautiful picture
Would lose its magic spell.
O, what are earth's fading pictures,
Or what is the painter's art,
Compared with the pictures of memory
Engraven on the heart?
Our dear little blue-eyed boy!
I can see my little sister,
Who is wise beyond her years;
How I wish she could ever be free as now
From all life's cares and fears.
And all of the other dear ones,
I can see them all quite well;
Without them the beautiful picture
Would lose its magic spell.
O, what are earth's fading pictures,
Or what is the painter's art,
Compared with the pictures of memory
Engraven on the heart?
THE JOY OF LIVING.
O life, more precious than before,
Because my feet have neared thine end;
Bright sunshine, flowers and face of friend,
I prize you more, I love you more!
Because my feet have neared thine end;
Bright sunshine, flowers and face of friend,
I prize you more, I love you more!
The balmy ecstasy of morn,
The joy of all things seeming new;
Once more to go forth 'neath the blue,
And to be glad that I was born.
The joy of all things seeming new;
Once more to go forth 'neath the blue,
And to be glad that I was born.
O life, sweet endless life, when I
Have one glimpse of all thou art,
Will joy erase from mind and heart
This shadowy earth, this faded sky!
Have one glimpse of all thou art,
Will joy erase from mind and heart
This shadowy earth, this faded sky!
If I miss not one cherished face,
As I have prayed with heart and breath;
I shall forget life's suffering—death,
Remembering this our meeting place.
As I have prayed with heart and breath;
I shall forget life's suffering—death,
Remembering this our meeting place.
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