Scripture Verse

I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3

Introduction

Words: Ka­the­rine M. Rea­son­er, in Sac­red Songs and So­los, by Ira D. San­key, 1881. Note: In an­oth­er edi­tion of San­key’s book, the words are cred­it­ed to W. L. Al­ex­an­der; how­ev­er, Rea­son­er is al­so shown as the au­thor in Gos­pel Hymns No. 6, by San­key et. al (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Big­low & Main, 1891), num­ber 74.

Music: Tul­li­us C. O’Kane (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Rea­son­er (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Tullius O’Kane (1830–1912)

Lyrics

I am wait­ing for the Mas­ter,
Who will bid me rise and come
To the glo­ry of His pre­sence,
To the glad­ness of His home.

Refrain

They are watch­ing at the por­tal,
They are wait­ing at the door;
Waiting on­ly for my com­ing,
All the loved ones gone be­fore.

Many a wea­ry path I’ve tra­veled,
In the dark­est storm and strife,
Bearing ma­ny a hea­vy bur­den,
Often strug­gling for my life.

Refrain

Many friends that tra­veled with me,
Reached that por­tal long ago;
One by one they left me bat­tling
With the dark and craf­ty foe.

Refrain

Yes, their pil­grim­age was short­er,
And their tri­umph soon­er won;
Oh, how lov­ing­ly they’ll greet me
When the toils of life are done.

Refrain