There ever wakes an evil wraith...

There ever wakes an evil wraith

To test the courage of my faith,

As life's dark passages are thridded,—

“Alone! Alone!” are the words it saith.

Ah, no! the wraith's an angel one

Whose face is always to the sun,

A guardian of the heart's temptations,

That saves by fear ere the course be run.

‘ Tis Father love each round of day

That shadows in a twilight grey,

Or with Love's raven pinion covers,

To tempt His child from itself away.