Seeking her little bed at night,
Paused on the dark stairs timidly.
"O Mother! take my hand," said she,
"And then the dark will be all light."
We older children grope our way
From dark behind to dark before;
And only when our hands we lay,
Dear Lord, in Thine, the night is day,
And there is darkness nevermore.
~JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER ~