Last night, as my dear babe lay dead, br In agony I knelt and said: br "0 God! what have I done, br Or in what wise offended Thee, br That Thou should'st take away from me br My little son? br br "Upon the thousand useless lives, br Upon the guilt that vaunting thrives, br Thy wrath were better spent! br Why should'st Thou take my little son - br Why should'st Thou vent Thy wrath upon br This innocent?" br br Last night, as my dear babe lay dead, br Before mine eyes the vision spread br Of things that might have been: br Licentious riot, cruel strife, br Forgotten prayers, a wasted life br Dark red with sin! br br Then, with sweet music in the air, br I saw another vision there: br A Shepherd in whose keep br A little lamb - my little child! br Of worldly wisdom undefiled, br Lay fast asleep! br br Last night, as my dear babe lay dead, br In those two messages I read br A wisdom manifest; br And though my arms be childless now, br I am content - to Him I bow br Who knoweth best.