“The Lanes of Light”
The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, June 5, 1908
The lanes of light, the lanes of light—and who shall lead us there,
From out the busy ways of strife, the avenues of care?
When shadows fall and gathering clouds obscure the pleasant sun,
Ah, lead to lanes of light and love; lead on, dear Little One!
The lanes of light, the lanes of light—by child-heart way they go;
The world is full of music there, and bright the roses blow;
With care forgot and strife foregone, ah! lead us, little feet,
To lanes of love and lanes of song, where all the world is sweet!
Where all the world is sweet and fair, where all the skies are blue,
And hopes are born, and fancy fares, and dreams at last come true;
Where grasses wave and trees are green, and from the rose's lips
The bee upon his buzzing wing the golden honey sips!
Where hand in hand 'tis sweet to stray and happiness to be,
Far from the madding crowd away, in valleys fair and free;
Where rivers run and sunbeams steep the hills they glorify,
As we go by, my Little One, as we go wandering by!
The lanes of light, the lanes of light—and she shall lead us there,
The little lady blue of eyes, with locks of golden hair;
The little lanes, the happy lanes, beneath the pleasant sun,
Ah, lead to lanes of light and love; lead on, dear Little One!