A Light In the Window

The following interesting incident gave rise to the beautiful song “A Light In The Window”.
A boy, at the age of 12 years, worked out by the day to support a widowed mother, carrying home his earnings at night. “One night,” he says, “it being very dark and muddy, and having three miles to travel and a heavy bundle to carry, I did not reach home until late. My mother, feeble and weary, had retired, but she was quickly aroused when she heard my voice and soon met me at the door with a warm kiss and warmer tears and a “God bless you, my dear boy.” As she received my bundle she exclaimed: “After this, my son, I’ll set a light in the window for you:” and true to her word, the bright light in the window appeared, and O how it cheered my heart ever after for years.
Health failing me, I left home (after my brothers could help mother) and went to sea. When three years from home, and on the Pacific Ocean, my mother died; but just before she expired she said to those around her: “O, give Edward my dying blessing, for he has been a good boy. Tell him I have gone to Heaven, and I will set a light in the window for him.”

A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW

There’s a light in the window for thee, brother,
There’s a light in the window for thee;
A dear one has moved to the mansions above,
There’s a light in the window for thee.

Chorus
A mansion in Heaven we see,
And a light in the window for thee;
A mansion in Heaven we see,
And a light in the window for thee.

There’s a crown, and a robe, and a palm, brother,
When from toil and from care you are free;
The Savior has gone to prepare you a home,
With a light in the window for thee.

O watch, and be faithful, and pray, brother,
All your journey o’er life’s troubled sea,
Tho’ afflictions assail you, and storms bear severe,
There’s a light in the window for thee.

Then on, perseveringly on, brother,
Till from conflict and suffering you are free;
Bright angels now beckon you over the stream,
There’s a light in the window for thee
L.J.M
Requested by C.A.P. Melrose Highlands, Mass