Page:The Fall of the Alamo.djvu/125

 [Trembling with joy] The—Independence—of the—State—of Texas? Pronounced by the Convention on the second. So hurry, Dickinson, that I may hear The joyous tidings from the men's own lips. [Exit Dickinson.] Almighty Lord in Heaven above, Thou hast Received and heard my bosom's crying voice Beyond what e'en my fondest wish conceived. I begged one ray,—Thou givest me a sun; I craved one hope,—Thou sheddest o'er my soul A wealth of radiant assurances; I prayed, that not quite useless were my death, And lo! Thou crown'st my latest hours on earth With heavenly light, with glory as of Eden! Though parting from this world I leave behind Friends in distress, related souls in grief, I know that Thou, oh. Lord, wilt turn all things Unto their best, and hence I sorrow not! Oh! could the wavering sceptic who disputes God's lordly power,—oh! could the atheist, Proud in his self-assuming creed, be here,— Upon their knees they reverently would sink,