EVENING HYMN.
Reading edition
The shadows of the evening hours Fall from the darkening sky; Upon the fragrance of the flowers The dews of evening lie; Before Thy throne, O Lord of Heaven, We kneel at close of day; Look on Thy children from on high, And hear us while we pray. The sorrows of Thy servants, Lord, O do not Thou despise; But let the incense of our prayers Before Thy mercy rise; The brightness of the coming night Upon the darkness rolls: With hopes of future glory chase The shadows on our souls. Slowly the rays of daylight fade; So fade within our heart The hopes in earthly love and joy, That one by one depart: Slowly the bright stars, one by one, Within the heavens shine;— Give us, O Lord, fresh hopes in Heaven, And trust in things divine. Let peace, O Lord, Thy peace, O God, Upon our souls descend From midnight fears and perils, thou Our trembling hearts defend; Give us a respite from our toil, Calm and subdue our woes; Through the long day we suffer, Lord, O give us now repose! —Adelaide Procter.