When the Hearts We Fondly Cherish

When the hearts we fond­ly cher­ish

From our home are far away

For the ab­sent ones re­turn­ing

How we long

and watch

and pray.

How we look to see them com­ing

When the moon is on the hill;

And the lone­ly star of mid­night

Finds us watch­ing

pray­ing still.

Yes

we look for their re­turn­ing

Till our ach­ing eyes grow dim;

But the Mas­ter too is com­ing;

Are we watch­ing now for Him?

O the sleep­less

anx­ious mo­ments

That for oth­ers oft we spend

Tho’ we fail to heed the coun­sel

Of our kind­est

dear­est friend.

Place the watch lamp in the win­dow

Let its rays burn bright and clear

Lest the Bride­groom should sur­prise us

For His com­ing may be near;

Watch

and be ye al­so rea­dy

Were His part­ing words to all;

He may come at ear­ly dawn­ing

Or when ev­en­ing sha­dows fall.