WAITING FOR THE NEWS.
Hark! how the mad bells, peal on peal,
Swell to the jubilant sky,
Ringing a victory's woe and weal
Out to the passers-by:
Weal for the triumph of right again,
Woe for the brave lives flown,
And the hearts all dumb with their crushing pain,
That sit with the night alone.
Swell to the jubilant sky,
Ringing a victory's woe and weal
Out to the passers-by:
Weal for the triumph of right again,
Woe for the brave lives flown,
And the hearts all dumb with their crushing pain,
That sit with the night alone.
Weal or woe,—which is it for me?
What have I won from Fame?
How can I tell till I hear and see
The place they will give his name?
Here I sit like a blinded Fate,
Waiting what time may bring,—
When I open and enter the Future's gate,
Shall I meet corpse or king?
What have I won from Fame?
How can I tell till I hear and see
The place they will give his name?
Here I sit like a blinded Fate,
Waiting what time may bring,—
When I open and enter the Future's gate,
Shall I meet corpse or king?
What shall I meet? 'T is hard to hope,
But hardest of all to fear,
When will the mystical future ope
And read me my riddle clear?
Proud with the pride of a soldier's life,—
Stretched on a soldier's bier,—
How has he passed the fearful strife?
When will the news be here?
But hardest of all to fear,
When will the mystical future ope
And read me my riddle clear?
Proud with the pride of a soldier's life,—
Stretched on a soldier's bier,—
How has he passed the fearful strife?
When will the news be here?
Help me, O God, to know Thee just;
Fold me within Thy love,
Teach me to hold both faith and trust,
Guide me to look above;
Grant me the strength to stand or bow,
As Thy dear will may choose;
Keep me, O Lord, beside Thee now,
While waiting for the news.
Fold me within Thy love,
Teach me to hold both faith and trust,
Guide me to look above;
Grant me the strength to stand or bow,
As Thy dear will may choose;
Keep me, O Lord, beside Thee now,
While waiting for the news.