AT EVENING TIME IT SHALL BE LIGHT.
By Jessie Hocker
TEMPESTUOUS broke the day at dawn,
And ere the shades of night were gone,
The rain clouds gathered grim and fast,
And shadows doubly deep were cast.
For life within and life without
Seemed steeped in gloom thus cast about.
The day was dark, and life seemed cold,
Its joy like stories ofttimes told. "Dear Lord, beat back the clouds; draw nigh."
This was one soul's unceasing cry,
While duties pressed with heavy weight,
And care and toil did not abate.
Some selfish grief was mixed within
That eager cry—some tinge of sin.
And so His cleansing power he sent
To fit that soul for his intent. But still the shadows hovered near,
And still were cherished grief and fear;
Still bore the doubly freighted load
Along the dull and painful road.
Exhausted at the day's decline,
This cry went up: "Thine, only thine;
My sin, my grief, my care I bring.
No worthy or perfected thing Have I to give; my heart alone
I lay it passive at thy throne."
As when the waves on Galilee
Were bade to calm and quiet be,
So with that prayer a flood of light
Lit up that soul cathedral bright,
And gloom gave place to holy joy,
The wealth of trust without alloy. But not alone within the soul
Did gloomy shadows backward roll;
A blaze of light o'erspread the west,
Reflecting on the mountain crest,
Fell gleaming on the distant lake,
And all its radiant glories break
O'er verdant hill and far-off dell,
Enchanting nature by the spell. O Light of Life! how swift thy wings
To bring relief to him who clings
With faith implicit to that word
Whose power once quelled the throng that heard.
Come thus to light each newborn day
And drive the shades of sin away.
How blest that promise and how bright—
"At evening time it shall be light"?