God of the Sunlight Hours

God of the sun­light hours

how sad

Would ev­en­ing sha­dows be

Or night

in deep­er sa­ble clad—

If aught were dark to Thee!

How mourn­ful­ly that gold­en gleam

Would touch the thought­ful heart

If

with its soft

re­tir­ing beam

We saw Thy love de­part.

But though the ga­ther­ing gloom may hide

Those gen­tle rays awhile

Yet they who in Thy house ab­ide

Shall ev­er share Thy smile.

Then let cre­ation’s vol­ume close

Though ev­ery page be bright;

On Thine

still op­en

we re­pose

With more in­tense de­light.