Recited
by one of the boys of the School שערי תקוה
‘Gates of Hope’, London,
on
Tuesday, the 14th of April, 1840 (5600).
Oh
thou, that sittest shrined far, far above,
Thou fleet-winged spirit of omniscient love!
Urging thy flight o’er ocean and o’er land,
Leaving sweet tokens of a Father’s hand,
Breathing of love from which no wo may hide,
‘Neath whose soft spell e’en sorrow’s tear is dried,
Unseen and voiceless, yet the angel guest,
In every land that holds some gentle breast;
Thrice blessed Charity! to thee we raise
The simple ode of thankfulness and praise,
And blessing thee, in gratitude make known
The generous friends who heard thy pleading tone,
And o'er our lowly lots such joys entwined
As soothe the heart and purify the mind.
Blessings on those who to our youth would give
Means as the sons of Israel to live,
To aid us on our dark and rugged way,
And grant us knowledge, as our prop and stay.
How may we speak the thankfulness we owe,
The blessings lavished on a lot so low!
Save to upraise for them the fervent prayer,
Whose peace and fullness they would bid us share,
And bid return unto their own kind hearts
The blessings which their love to poverty imparts!