Thou knowest, Lord, the weariness and sorrow
Of the sad heart that comes to thee for rest.
Cares of to-day and burdens for to-morrow,
Blessings implored, and sins to be confest,
I come before thee, at thy gracious word,
And lay them at thy feet. _Thou knowest, Lord!_

Thou knowest all the past--how long and blindly
On the dark mountains the lost wanderer strayed,
How the good Shepherd followed, and how kindly
He bore it home upon his shoulders laid,
And healed the bleeding wounds, and soothed the pain,
And brought back life, and hope, and strength again.

Thou knowest all the present--each temptation,
Each toilsome duty, each foreboding fear;
All to myself assigned of tribulation,
Or to beloved ones than self more dear!
All pensive memories, as I journey on,
Longings for sunshine and for music gone!

Thou knowest all the future--gleams of gladness
By stormy clouds too quickly overcast--
Hours of sweet fellowship and parting sadness,
And the dark river to be crossed at last:
Oh, what could confidence and hope afford
To tread this path, but this--_Thou knowest, Lord!_

Thou knowest not alone as God--all-knowing--
As _man_ our mortal weakness thou hast proved
On earth; with purest sympathies o'erflowing,
O Saviour, thou hast wept, and thou hast loved.
And love and sorrow still to thee may come
And find a hiding-place, a rest, a home.

Therefore I come, thy gentle call obeying,
And lay my sins and sorrows at thy feet;
On everlasting strength my weakness staying,
Clothed in thy robe of righteousness complete.
Then rising, and refreshed, I leave thy throne,
And follow on to know as I am known!

A GREAT DIFFERENCE

Men lose their ships, the eager things
To try their luck at sea,
But none can tell, by note or count,
How many there may be.

One turneth east, another south--
They never come again,
And then we know they must have sunk,
But neither how nor when.

God sends his happy birds abroad--
"They're less than ships," say we;
No moment passes but he knows
How many there should be.

One buildeth high, another low,
With just a bird's light care--
If only one, perchance, doth fall,
God knoweth when and where.

HE CARETH FOR YOU

If I could only su