1 If we knew, when walking tho'tless
Thro' the crowded, noisy way,
That some pearl of wondrous whiteness
Close beside our pathway lay,
We would pause, when now we hasten,
We would often look around,
Lest our careless feet should trample
Some rare jewel in the ground.
2 If we knew, when genius struggled
Thro' the weary nights and days,
Sighing for some word of comfort,
Little word of hope and praise;
Boughs of palm, and leaves of laurel
We would place within their hands,
Little deeds with pleasant meanings,
Hungry hearts can understand.
3 If we knew, when friends around us
Closely press to say "Good-by,"
Which among the lips that kiss us,
First should 'neath the daisies lie,
We would throw our arms around them,
Looking on them thro' our tears;
Tender words of love eternal,
We would whisper in their ears.
4 If we knew, alas! and do we
Ever care or seek to know,
Whether bitter herbs or roses
In our neighbor's garden grow?
Better far along life's pathway,
Keep this golden rule in view,
"You should always care for others,
As you'd have them care for you."
Source: The Morning Star: a collection of new sacred songs, for the Sunday school, prayer meeting, and the social circle #88
Gates, Ellen, née Huntingdon, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, is the author of several popular pieces in the American Mission and Sunday School hymn-books. Of these the following have passed from the American books into Sankey's Sacred Songs and Solos:—
1. Come home, come home, you are weary at heart. Invitation.
2. I am now a child of God. Saved through Jesus.
3. I will sing you a song of that beautiful land. Concerning Heaven.
4. O the clanging bells of time. Yearning for Heaven.
5. Say, is your lamp burning, my brother. Watching and Waiting.
Concerning her poem which is used as a hymn in America, "If you cannot on the ocean" (Duty), Duffield says her account of its origin is as follows:—"The lines were written upo… Go to person page >
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