The Home Lights

"In my father's house!" The words     Bring sweet cadence to my ears.     Wandering thoughts, like homing birds,     Fly all swiftly down the years,     To that wide casement, where I always see     Bright love-lamps leaning out to welcome me.     Sweet it was, how sweet to go     To the worn, familiar door.     No need to stand a while, and wait,     Outside the well-remembered gate;     No need to knock;     The easy lock     Turned almost of itself, and so     My spirit was "at home" once more.     And then, within, how good to find     The same cool atmosphere of peace,     Where I, a tired child, might cease     To grieve, or dread,     Or toil for bread.     I could forget     The dreary fret.     The strivings after hopes too high,     I let them every one go by.     The ills of life, the blows unkind,     These fearsome things were left behind.     ENVOY.     O trembling soul of mine,     See how God's mercies shine!     When thou shalt rise,     And, stripped of earth, shall stand     Within an Unknown Land;     Alone, where no familiar thing     May bring familiar comforting;     Look up! 'Tis but thy Father's House! And, see     His love-lamps leaning out to welcome thee!