’Tis Winter Now, the Fallen Snow

’Tis win­ter now; the fall­en snow

Has left the heav’ns all cold­ly clear;

Through leaf­less boughs the sharp winds blow

And all the earth lies dead and drear.

And yet God’s love is not with­drawn;

His life with­in the keen air breathes;

His beau­ty paints the crim­son dawn

And clothes the boughs with glit­ter­ing wreaths.

And though abroad the sharp winds blow

And skies are chill

and frosts are keen

Home clos­er draws her cir­cle now

And warm­er glows her light with­in.

O God! Who giv’st the win­ter’s cold

As well as sum­mer’s joy­ous rays

Us warm­ly in Thy love en­fold

And keep us through life’s win­try days.