I値l Lend
You a Little Time
I値l lend
you a little time,
a child
of mine, He said.
For you
to love while he lives,
and mourn
when he is dead.
It may
be six or seven years,
or twenty-two
or three,
But will
you, till I call him back,
take care
of him for me?
He値l bring
his charms to gladden you,
and shall
his stay be brief,
You値l
have his lovely memories
as solace
for your grief.
I cannot
promise he will stay,
since all
from earth return.
But there
are lessons taught down there
I want
this child to learn.
I致e looked
the wide world over
in my search
for teachers true.
And from
the throngs that crowd life痴 lanes,
I have
selected you.
Now will
you give him all your love,
nor think
the labor vain,
Nor hate
me when I come to call,
or take
him back again?
I fancied
that I heard them say,
Dear Lord,
Thy will be done.
For all
the joy Thy child shall bring,
the risk
of grief we値l run.
We値l shelter
him with tenderness,
we値l love
him while we may;
And for
the happiness we致e known,
will ever
grateful stay.
But shall
the angels call for him
much sooner
than we planned,
We値l brave
the bitter grief that comes.
And try
to understand.