1 O for the peace which floweth as a river,
Making life's desert places bloom and smile;
O for the faith to grasp heaven's bright "forever,"
Amid the shadows of this little while!
A little while for patient vigil keeping,
To face the storm, to wrestle with the strong:
A little while, to sow the seed with weeping,
Then bind the sheaves and sing the harvest song.

2 A little while midst shadow and illusion,
To strive by faith's love's mysteries to spell,
Then read each dark enigma's bright solution,
Then hail sight's verdict, "He doth all things well!
A little while the earthern pitcher taking,
To way side brooks from far off fountains fed,
Then the cool lip its thirst forever slaking,
Beside the fulness of the fountain head.

3 A little while to keep the oil from failing
A little while faith's flickering lamp to trim;
And then the bridegroom's coming footsteps hailing,
To haste to meet him, with the bridal hymn,
And he who is himself the gift and giver,
The future glory and the present smile,
With the bright promise of the glad forever,
Will light the shadows of the little while.