The Morn of Life

The morn of life

how fair and gay!

How cheer­ing and how new!

What hopes il­lume each op­en­ing day

And bright­ens ev­ery view.

Youth’s ard­ent minds

with joy elate

Elastic and sin­cere

Suspect no ills that may await

Nor yield a thought to fear.

But slip­pe­ry is the path they tread

In plea­sure’s dan­ger­ous way;

A thou­sand snares around them spread

And oft their feet be­tray.

How shall they

then

their course pur­sue

On life’s un­cer­tain road?

What friend­ly hand will point their view

To du­ty and to God?

In God’s own word the way is sure

And clear to ev­ery eye;

It leads them on a path se­cure

To bright­er worlds on high.

Oh be this word their con­stant guide

Their stead­fast hope and trust!

It ne’er can fail

though all be­side

Shall min­gle with the dust.