VAN ELSEN
GOD spake three times and saved Van Elsen's soul;He spake by sickness first, and made him whole;Van Elsen heard Him not,Or soon forgot.God spake to him by wealth; the world outpouredIts treasures at his feet, and called him lord;Van Elsen's heart grew fatAnd proud thereat.God spake the third time when the great world smiled,And in the sunshine slew his little child;Van Elsen like a treeFell hopelessly.Then in the darkness came a voice which said,"As thy heart bleedeth, so My heart hath bled;As I have need of thee,Thou needest Me."That night Van Elsen kissed the baby feet,And kneeling by the narrow winding sheet,Praised Him with fervent breathWho conquered death.
GOD spake three times and saved Van Elsen's soul;He spake by sickness first, and made him whole;Van Elsen heard Him not,Or soon forgot.God spake to him by wealth; the world outpouredIts treasures at his feet, and called him lord;Van Elsen's heart grew fatAnd proud thereat.God spake the third time when the great world smiled,And in the sunshine slew his little child;Van Elsen like a treeFell hopelessly.Then in the darkness came a voice which said,"As thy heart bleedeth, so My heart hath bled;As I have need of thee,Thou needest Me."That night Van Elsen kissed the baby feet,And kneeling by the narrow winding sheet,Praised Him with fervent breathWho conquered death.
GOD spake three times and saved Van Elsen's soul;He spake by sickness first, and made him whole;Van Elsen heard Him not,Or soon forgot.
GOD spake three times and saved Van Elsen's soul;
He spake by sickness first, and made him whole;
Van Elsen heard Him not,
Or soon forgot.
God spake to him by wealth; the world outpouredIts treasures at his feet, and called him lord;Van Elsen's heart grew fatAnd proud thereat.
God spake to him by wealth; the world outpoured
Its treasures at his feet, and called him lord;
Van Elsen's heart grew fat
And proud thereat.
God spake the third time when the great world smiled,And in the sunshine slew his little child;Van Elsen like a treeFell hopelessly.
God spake the third time when the great world smiled,
And in the sunshine slew his little child;
Van Elsen like a tree
Fell hopelessly.
Then in the darkness came a voice which said,"As thy heart bleedeth, so My heart hath bled;As I have need of thee,Thou needest Me."
Then in the darkness came a voice which said,
"As thy heart bleedeth, so My heart hath bled;
As I have need of thee,
Thou needest Me."
That night Van Elsen kissed the baby feet,And kneeling by the narrow winding sheet,Praised Him with fervent breathWho conquered death.
That night Van Elsen kissed the baby feet,
And kneeling by the narrow winding sheet,
Praised Him with fervent breath
Who conquered death.