At length—a dreary length of many years,
God's favour hath shone forth! and bless'd thee well,
O handmaid of the Lord! for all thy tears,
For all thy prayers, and hope, and faith—and fears,
With that best treasure of consummate joy
A childless wife alone can fully tell
How sorely long withheld—her first-born boy:
This blessing is from heaven; to heaven once more,
Another Hannah with her Samuel,
Render thou back the talent yielding ten,
A spirit, train'd right early to adore,
A heart, to yearn upon its fellow-men,
A being, meant and made for endless heaven,
This give to God! this, God to thee hath given.