“God Bless You, Dear”

Dear patient face and placid brow,

Dear lips that smiled despite of pain,

Brave toil-worn hands, so helpful now,

Sweet spirit free from earthly stain.

Within the doorway Mother stands,

The while a merry barefoot lad,

Across the springtime meadow-lands

Goes whistling schoolward, blithe and glad;

And where the pathway breasts the hill,

I stay my steps and turn to hear

Her loving voice, as lingering still,

She calls, “Good-bye! God bless you, dear.”

Dear patient face and furrowed brow,

Dear lips that smile thro’ all life's pain,

Brave toil-worn hands, so weary now,

Sweet soul unmarred by earthly stain.

Within the doorway Mother stands,

The while a man oppressed with care,

Across the waning Autumn lands,

Goes toil-ward, fain to strive and bear;

And where the pathway breasts the hill,

I stay my steps and turn to hear

Her trembling voice, as ling'ring still,

She calls, “Good-bye! God bless you, dear.”

Dear peaceful face and placid brow,

Dear lips that smile secure from pain,

Brave toil-worn hands, soft-folded now,

Sweet spirit freed from earthly stain.

Within God's portal Mother stands,

The while a man forspent with care

Seeketh the far-off meadow-lands,

By faith made strong to strive and bear.

And as I breast life's weary hill,

I ofttimes pause — meseems I hear

The well-loved accents breathing still

The old fond prayer, “God bless you, dear.”