| |
| FEW, in the days of early youth, | |
| Trusted like me in love and truth. | |
| I ’ve learned sad lessons from the years; | |
| But slowly, and with many tears; | |
| For God made me to kindly view | 5 |
| The world that I was passing through. | |
| |
| How little did I once believe | |
| That friendly tones could e’er deceive! | |
| That kindness, and forbearance long, | |
| Might meet ingratitude and wrong! | 10 |
| I could not help but kindly view | |
| The world that I was passing through. | |
| |
| And though I ’ve learned some souls are base, | |
| I would not, therefore, hate the race; | |
| I still would bless my fellow men, | 15 |
| And trust them, though deceived again. | |
| God help me still to kindly view | |
| The world that I am passing through! | |
| |
| Through weary conflicts I have passed, | |
| And struggled into rest at last; | 20 |
| Such rest as when the rack has broke | |
| A joint, or nerve, at every stroke. | |
| The wish survives to kindly view | |
| The world that I am passing through. | |
| |
| From all that fate has brought to me | 25 |
| I strive to learn humility, | |
| And trust in Him who rules above, | |
| Whose universal law is love. | |
| Thus only can I kindly view | |
| The world that I am passing through. | 30 |
| |
| When I approach the setting sun, | |
| And feel my journey nearly done, | |
| May earth be veiled in genial light, | |
| And her last smile to me seem bright! | |
| Help me till then to kindly view | 35 |
| The world that I am passing through! | |
| |
| And all who tempt a trusting heart | |
| From faith and hope to drift apart,— | |
| May they themselves be spared the pain | |
| Of losing power to trust again! | 40 |
| God help us all to kindly view | |
| The world that we are passing through! | |
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