quote · Legacy record
Hast thou sounded the depths of yonder sea, And counted the sands that under it be? Hast thou measured the height of heaven above? Then may’st thou mete out a mother’s love. Hast thou talked with the blessed of leading on To the throne of God some wandering son? Hast thou witnessed the angel’s bright employ? Then may’st thou speak of a mother’s joy. Evening and morn hast thou watched the bee Go forth on her errands of industry. The bee for himself hath gathered and toiled, But the mother’s cares are all for her child. Hast thou gone with the traveller Thought afar— From pole to pole, and from star to star? Thou hast—but on ocean, earth, and sea, The heart of a mother has gone with thee. There is not a grand, inspiring thought, There is not a truth by wisdom taught, There is not a feeling pure and high, That may not be read in a mother’s eye. And ever, since earth began, that look Has been to the wise an open book, To win them back from the lore they prize, To the holier love that edifies. There are teachings in earth, and sky, and air, The heavens the glory of God declare; But louder than voice, beneath, above, He is heard to speak through a mother’s love.
Hast thou sounded the depths of yonder sea, And counted the sands that under it be? Hast thou measured the height of heaven above? Then may’st thou mete out a mother’s love. Hast thou talked with the blessed of leading on To the throne of God some wandering son? Hast thou witnessed the angel’s bright employ? Then may’st thou speak of a mother’s joy. Evening and morn hast thou watched the bee Go forth on her errands of industry. The bee for himself hath gathered and toiled, But the mother’s cares are all for her child. Hast thou gone with the traveller Thought afar— From pole to pole, and from star to star? Thou hast—but on ocean, earth, and sea, The heart of a mother has gone with thee. There is not a grand, inspiring thought, There is not a truth by wisdom taught, There is not a feeling pure and high, That may not be read in a mother’s eye. And ever, since earth began, that look Has been to the wise an open book, To win them back from the lore they prize, To the holier love that edifies. There are teachings in earth, and sky, and air, The heavens the glory of God declare; But louder than voice, beneath, above, He is heard to speak through a mother’s love.
In print by 1888 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
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Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Emily Taylor (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1888 AD · industrial
In print by 1888: recorded in A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888) (1888 AD)
Page 403 · printed citation: Emily Taylor · subject: MOTHER
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.