Lost the freshness of life's morning;

Lost the tints of rosy light,

Which like daylight, perfect dawning,

Covered all with glory bright;

Lost the golden locks which shaded

Brow so smooth, and eyes so blue,

And the happy smile has faded

Round those lips of rosy hue.

I have lost,—but I have won.

Lost the kind oblivious sleeping,

Which enshrouds the little child,

Like the holy angels keeping

Saintly watches,—calm and mild.

Lost the dreams of sunny hours,

Where no terror dare intrude;

Lost the dreams of love and flowers,

Of the beautiful and good.

I have lost,—but I have won.

Lost!—oh, most of all the losses!—

Lost the childlike, earnest faith,

Loving on mid joys and crosses,

Thankful still for all it hath.

I have lost youth's simple pleasures,

Each departed, one by one;

I have won, through earnest striving,

Guerdons above all the loss,

Hopes once faded, now reviving

Twining round the sacred Cross:

Sorrow pale hath been my teacher;

Hopes bereft, my gentle friends;

Graves of the loved, my silent preacher,

Where dust with dust so sadly blends.

I have lost,—but I have won.

I have won, through tribulation,

Title to a heavenly home,

Working out my own salvation

Through the blood of Christ alone.

Oh, my future brightest seemeth,

Eye of faith, exchanged for sight,

With celestial splendour beameth

On through darkness into light.

I have lost,—but I have won.

I have won bright hopes immortal

Of a heaven of peace and rest;

E'en now I linger at the portal,

As a kindly bidden guest.

Lost and won!—oh earth! oh heaven!

Hark!—I list the angels' strain,

Voices in the silence even!

Small the loss, and great the gain!

I have lost,—but I have won.