The Children In - But Father! by Agnes W. Prather

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 19, 1911

The Children In — But Father!

By Agnes W. Prather

(Response to "Are All the Children In?" by Mrs. Elizabeth Rosser.)

MRS. AGNES W. PRATHER

Yea, all are in, the babes; but not the father! For he is far from home, and breasts the storm All wildly raging round the cot, where gather The awed and terror-stricken of home. O, place the lamp, dear hearts, to light the father To that safe port he willing steereth from! Yea, place the lamp, dear hearts; for O, the rather That none should perish in the earth's last storm!

Here are the children, the babe whose footsteps falter, All humbly walking in the narrow way, With hearts and hopes all laid upon the altar; O, will you not come in, dear father, pray? Come into port, where shelter waits from danger; Come into port; for, lisping many a prayer For him remaining long to peace a stranger, Their voices rise who form this cluster rare.

For O, we love you, we who are your family! And notwithstanding, in your manhood's pride Aloof you hold, and shun the meek, the godly, The waiting Saviour shows his bleeding side. So come, dear father, come; for he, our Father, Is calling to each wanderer from the fold. Make heaven thy goal,—the wife, the child, the father, In Christ renewed, to nevermore grow old.

A wild, wild gust sweeps o'er the fast-closed shutters, A howling gale the home's foundations shake; While o'er the storm fiend's rage, that loudly mutters, We cry, Come home! thy storm-lashed bark forsake Ere breaks the final storm! each sand-base sliding, Will leave its builder shelterless, out-cast, While those built on the Rock, within him hiding, Will safe within the veil abide at last.

For he of old, who stilled the tempest raging, And calmed their fears on bluest Galilee, Will write within thy soul his peace, engaging Thy powers entire, and set thy spirit free To taste, with them,—the children of our union (The Shepherd kind hath sought and gathered in),— Life's golden fruits; and hold with Christ communion Eternity throughout, redeemed from sin.

No more farewells; no tears; for, off all faces The Lord will wipe their tears who suffered long. Nor death nor storm shall e'er destroy their graces, Who've learned of Moses and the Lamb the song.

So place the lamp, dear hearts, to light the father To that safe port to which Christ's own shall come. Yea, place the Lamp, dear hearts; for O, together We'd stand "complete in him," without the loss of one.

Fort Steilacoom, Wash.