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"Songs by the Way"
The Poetical Writings of the Right Rev. George Washington Doane, D.D., LL.D.

Arranged and Edited by His Son, William Croswell Doane

New York: D. Appleton, 1860.

EARLY PIETY.

"The first fruits--shalt thou give Him."

YOUNG and happy, while thou art,
     Not a furrow, on thy brow,
Not a sorrow, in thy heart,
     Seek the Lord, thy Maker, now!
In its freshness, bring the flower,
     While the dew, upon it, lies;
In the cool and cloudless hour,
     Of the morning sacrifice.

Life will have its evil years;
     When its skies are overcast,
All the present, thronged with fears,
     And, with vain regrets, the past;
Let him tremble, who, his heart
     In an hour like this, would bring,
Lest Jehovah say,--"depart!
      'Tis a worn, and worthless thing."

As the first fruits of the year
     Have been chosen of the Lord,
So the first fruits of the heart,
     On His altar, should be poured:
Thus, the blessing, from above
     On life's harvest, shall be given;
Sown in tears, perhaps on earth,
     Reaped, in joyfulness, in Heaven!

Sept. 1827.

Project Canterbury