← Nothing But Leaves Hymns and Tunes (1888) · No. 1266

Nothing But Leaves

Nothing but leaves! The Spirit grieves

1

Nothing but leaves! The Spirit grievesO'er years of wasted life;O'er sins indulged while conscience slept,O'er vows and promises unkept,And reaps from years of strife—Nothing but leaves! Nothing but leaves!

2

Nothing but leaves! No gathered sheaves,Of life's fair ripening grain:We sow our seeds; lo! tares and weeds,—Words, idle words, for earnest deeds,—Then reap, with toil and pain,Nothing but leaves! Nothing but leaves!

3

Nothing but leaves! Sad memory weavesNo vail to hide the past;And as we trace our weary way,And count each lost and misspent day,We sadly find at last—Nothing but leaves! Nothing but leaves!

4

Ah, who shall thus the Master meet,And bring but withered leaves?Ah, who shall at the Saviour's feet,Before the awful judgment seatLay down for golden sheaves,Nothing but leaves! Nothing but leaves!