HOPE

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 31, 1874

NEVER despair! the darkest cloud That ever loomed will pass away, The longest night will yield to dawn— The dawn will kindle into day. What if around thy lonely bark Break fierce and high the waves of sorrow Stretch every oar! there's land ahead! And thou wilt gain the port to-morrow.

When fortune frowns, and summer friends, Like birds that fear a storm, depart, Some, if the heart hath tropic warmth, Will stay and wrestle round thy heart; If thou art poor, no joy is won, No good is gained by sad repining, Gems buried in the darkened earth May yet be gathered for the mining.

There is no lot, however sad, There is no roof, however low, But has some joy to make it glad, Some latent bliss to soothe its woe. The light of hope will linger near, When wildest beats the heart's emotion, A talisman when breakers roar, A star upon the troubled ocean.

The farmer knows not if his field, With flood or drought or blight must cope; He questions not the fickle skies, But plows, and sows, and toils, in hope. Then up! and strive, and dare, and do, Nor doubt a harvest you will gather; 'Tis time to labor and to wait, And trust in God for genial weather.