For works with similar titles, see To —.
4572018Poems — To ——Mary Whitwell Hale

TO ——
Be life's bright golden pathway thine;
Thy heart, fair friendship's chosen shrine..
Be joy and love and virtue given,
To guide thine onward path to heaven.
Be thine the beaming light of truth,
To cheer thine age, to guide thy youth.
Its gracious sunlight may it send,
With its Great Source thy heart to blend.

Life has bright scenes for youthful love;
But rest thine earnest gaze above.
There shall no error dim thy sight,
No sin obstruct the heavenly light.
O! be no shade of sadness cast
Around the memory of the past;
The future,—may its pages be
Replete with purest bliss for thee.

And when life's golden bowl shall break,
The harp's sweet chords no music wake;
When hushed shall be joy's wonted strain,
And darkness o'er thy home shall reign,
O! may the light of love divine,
That burns on heaven's eternal shrine,
Conduct thee, by its quenchless ray,
Where night is merged in endless day.