690. Vesta

O CHRIST of God! whose life and death
Our own have reconciled,
Most quietly, most tenderly
Take home thy star-named child!

Thy grace is in her patient eyes,	5
Thy words are on her tongue;
The very silence round her seems
As if the angels sung.

Her smile is as a listening child’s
Who hears its mother’s call;	10
The lilies of Thy perfect peace
About her pillow fall.

She leans from out our clinging arms
To rest herself in Thine;
Alone to Thee, dear Lord, can we	15
Our well-beloved resign.

O, less for her than for ourselves
We bow our heads and pray;
Her setting star, like Bethlehem’s,
To Thee shall point the way!	20