Life's pleasure seems sadness and care,
When dark is the bosom that feels,
Yet mingled wi' shades o' despair
Is the ray which our sorrow reveals;
Though darkly at times flows the stream,
It rows till its waters are clear--
And Hope shields a bud in our life's darkest dream
Like the wee blink that shines in a tear.
Afar in the wilderness blooms
The flower that spreads beauty around,
And Nature smiles sweet on our tombs
And softens with balm every wound.
Oh, call not our life sad nor vain,
Wi' its joys that can ever endear,
There 's a sweet ray of pleasure star deep in each pain,
Like the wee blink that shines in a tear.
Sweet smiles the last hope in our woe
And fair is the lone desert isle;
Young Flora peeps gay from the snow;
And dearest in grief is a smile;
The dew-drop is bright with a star;
Age glows when young memories appear;
But a symbol to hope that is sweeter by far
Is the wee blink that shines in a tear.