quote · Legacy record
When little boys with merry noise In the meadows shout and run; And little girls, sweet woman buds, Brightly open in the sun; I may not of the world despair, Our God despaireth not, I see; For blithesomer in Eden’s air These lads and maidens could not be. Why were they born, if Hope must die? Wherefore this health, if Truth should fail? And why such Joy, if Misery Be conquering us and must prevail? Arouse! our spirit may not droop! These young ones fresh from Heaven are; Our God hath sent another troop, And means to carry on the war.
When little boys with merry noise In the meadows shout and run; And little girls, sweet woman buds, Brightly open in the sun; I may not of the world despair, Our God despaireth not, I see; For blithesomer in Eden’s air These lads and maidens could not be. Why were they born, if Hope must die? Wherefore this health, if Truth should fail? And why such Joy, if Misery Be conquering us and must prevail? Arouse! our spirit may not droop! These young ones fresh from Heaven are; Our God hath sent another troop, And means to carry on the war.
In print by 1921 AD · modern
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
An individual explanation has not yet been added. We do not substitute a generic description for an interpretation of these particular words.
Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Thomas Toke Lynch (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1921 AD · modern
In print by 1921: recorded in My Commonplace Book (third English edition,1921). 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
- My Commonplace Book (third English edition,1921) (1921 AD)
Page 52 · printed citation: Thomas Toke Lynch (1818-1871). · compiler notes excluded
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.