The Secret Sign

They know Him by the secret sign,
Which to their souls is given;
'T is written there in light divine,
With characters from heaven.

They may not tell it; but 'tis there,
Forever deep impressed;
Nor grief, nor pain, nor sharp despair,
Shall rend it from their breast.

The child the parent's accent knows,
The accents ever dear;
Unlike the treacherous voice of foes,
That fills his heart with fear.

He runs to meet it; and it falls
In blessings and in joys;
And thus wh'ene'er the Savior calls,
His people know his voice.

They know him by the secret sign,
Which to their souls is given;
'T is written there in light divine,
With characters from heaven.

— American Cottage Life (1850).