Page:The Christian Year 1887.djvu/113




 * And Simon answering said unto Him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes:  and their net brake.  St. Luke v. 5, 6.

"The livelong night we've toiled in vain,  But at Thy gracious word I will let down the net again:-   Do Thou Thy will, O Lord!"

So spake the weary fisher, spent With bootless darkling toil, Yet on his Master's bidding bent For love and not for spoil.

So day by day and week by week, In sad and weary thought, They muse, whom God hath set to seek The souls His Christ hath bought.

For not upon a tranquil lake Our pleasant task we ply, Where all along our glistening wake The softest moonbeams lie;

Where rippling wave and dashing oar Our midnight chant attend, Or whispering palm-leaves from the shore With midnight silence blend.

Sweet thoughts of peace, ye may not last: Too soon some ruder sound Calls us from where ye soar so fast Back to our earthly round.

For wildest storms our ocean sweep:- No anchor but the Cross Might hold: and oft the thankless deep Turns all our toil to loss.

Full many a dreary anxious hour We watch our nets alone In drenching spray, and driving shower, And hear the night-bird's moan:

At morn we look, and nought is there; Sad dawn of cheerless day!