'T WAS ten at night; and I, with weary feet,
My steps turned toward a new and blest retreat,
Where sin-cursed womanhood might find a friend,
And sinful man a kind and helping hand, —
Where those who homeless walked the midnight round
A home and a Redeemer too had found.
My heart rejoiced then with a gospel faith
In the great fatherhood of One who saith,
" Go feed my lambs, my wandering sheep, oh, feed!
And all the sinful to my fountain lead. "
In the wide brotherhood of man, once made
In God's own image 'neath the Eden shade,
My heart rejoiced; and from my weary eyes
Sleep fled away; and, with a sweet surprise,
I listened to the voice of one who long
Had sung in cadence sweet the gospel song,
And heard him tell, in tones the angels know,
The love of God to sinners here below;
And then, responsive, heard the voices clear
Of some vice-rescued, blood-washed sinners there,
In grateful accents praising God and man,
Who this great work for fallen ones began.
The moments sped; the midnight hour drew nigh,
The midnight stars reached their meridian high:
The moments sped; but still we lingered there,
And holy song, and words of hope and prayer,
Filled the blest hours, till homeward turned our feet,
And, the glad measure of surprise complete,
We blessed the home for friendless ones and lone,
And felt that God the enterprise would own, —
Would bless the laborers in their work of love,
And aid their toil with unction from above,
Till the lost spirits of that region find
A shelter in the Friend of all mankind.