To L. W.

When the path of my life     Lay through trouble and strife,         And temptation encompassed me round,     As a light in the shade     Thou wast sent to mine aid;         And a harbour of refuge was found.     I beheld in thine eye,     As a beam from on high,         The ray of compassion revealed;     And I turned in relief     From the Valley of Grief;         I turned to be strengthened and healed.     In the words that you breathed     All my sorrow was sheathed,         And peace, like a dove, settled down.     And the calm of your presence,     Like mercy's pure essence,         Recaptured the faith that had flown.     Since then, if perplexed,     If harassed or vexed,         If tempted, afflicted or tried,     I have sought thee to cheer,     Thou hast ever been near         To comfort, to soothe and to guide.     Thus a thrill of affection     Must greet the reflection         That thou hast considered my needs;     And my heart can but move     With a reverent love         As I ponder thy merciful deeds.     Though feeble and weak     Are the words that I speak,         Such gratitude wells in my soul,     That I dare not express     What I fain would confess,         Lest my pen should escape my control.     Yet these measures restrained     Will have surely attained         The purpose that caused them to be,     If of all that I feel     They should chance to reveal         But a hint, in a whisper, to thee.