for you to love thee while she lives and mourn for when she�s dead.
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,
but will you, till I call her back, take care of her for me?
She�ll bring her charms to gladden you, and shall her stay be brief,
You�ll have her lovely memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise she will stay, since all from Earth return,
but there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.
I�ve looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true
and from the throngs that crowd life�s lanes I have selected you.
Now will you give her all your love, nor think the labor vain,
nor hate me when I come to call to take her back again?
I fancied that I heard them say: Dear Lord, Thy will be done!
For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we�ll run.
We�ll shelter her with tenderness, we�ll love her while we may,
and for the happiness we�ve known forever grateful stay.
But shall the angels call for her much sooner than we�ve planned,
we�ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.