RACHEL, thy heart has early learned to know
How death can sunder life's most tender ties,
And change the brightest joy of Paradise
To deepest shades of agony and woe.
Oh, let thy tears on Jesus' bosom flow!
Jesus Himself has wept, and groaned, and died:
In thy lone anguish keep thee near His side,
Who plucked the sting from our most cruel foe.
He with thy widowed heart can sympathize:
Lean on His arm in all thy night of pain,
Who doth assure thee that thy spouse shall rise;
Thy bitter loss to him is present gain,
And thou shalt soon rejoin him in the skies.