390 POEMS 
HYMNS 
[Three of these hymns were written at about the age of twenty- 
two, and were published anonymously in a collection edited by my 
friends Samuel Longfellow and Samuel Johnson. They are here 
inserted mainly because they have secured for themselves a sem- 
blance of permanent vitality in hymn-books, and are not always cor- 
rectly printed. The fourth was an occasional hymn written a year 
or two later.] 
I. 
I WILL ARISE AND GO UNTO MY FATHER. 
To Thine eternal arms, O God, 
Take us, Thine erring children, in: 
From dangerous paths too boldly trod, 
From wandering thoughts and dreams of sin. 
Those arms were round our childish ways, 
A guard through helpless years to be; 
Oh leave not our maturer days, 
We still are helpless without Thee! 
We trusted hope and pride and strength: 
Our strength proved false, our pride was vain, 
Our dreams have faded all at length, — 
We come to Thee, O Lord, again! 
A guide to trembling steps yet be! 
Give us of Thine eternal powers! 
So shall our paths all lead to Thee, 
And life smile on like childhood’s hours. 
