"A little while!"--so spake our gracious Lord

To the sad band around that sacred board,

While His long-burdened heart

Already felt the smart

Of His own Father's sin-avenging sword

'Tis for thee also, weeping, weary one!

Are not all things around thee hastening on?

Thy Father's hand ordains

All these, thy griefs and pains--

A little while!"--they, too, are past and gone.

Have all the lights of love quite died away?

Has thy last star withdrawn its cheering ray?

Till the long night wears past,

Weeping and prayer must last;

But joy approaches with the dawning day.

Do friends misunderstand, or mock thy pain?

Hast thou too fondly trusted, loved in vain?

The Faithful One and True

Can blighted hopes renew,

And hearts long severed reünite again.

"A little while!"--the fetters clasp no more,

The spirit, long enthralled, is free to soar,

And takes its joyful flight,

On radiant wings of light,

To the blest mansions of the heavenly shore.

There end the longings of the weary breast,

The good sought after here is there possest;

Ride o'er the stormy sea,

Poor bark! soon shalt thou be

In the calm haven of eternal rest.

"A little while!" look forward and hope on!

Soon shall the troubled dreams of night be gone.

The shadows pass away

Before the abiding day,

The Saviour comes, to claim and bless His own.