St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-05-29
The changed Cross.

II was IL time of sadness, aud my heart,
Although if knew and loved the better part,
Felt wearisd d with conflict and the strif-
And all the necdful discipline of life.
And willie thought on these as given 10 me-
My trial rc-.s of faith and love to he.
l. -ccmcd A. if never could he sure
That faithful to the end sGouid endure
And thus no longer trusting His might,
Who say, I'VE walk by filth, and not by sight"
Doubling and slmost yielding 20 d,spair,
The though. arose-My cross / cannot bear.
Far heavier its weight must surely be
Than those of others which daily sec;
Oh! if might another burd, choo-e,
Methinks | should not fear my crown TO loer.
A solemn silence rei-ned on all around.
Zen Natures voices uttered no; a -ound
TIE evening shadows seemed OF p ace to tell,
And sleep upon my we ,ry spirit II.
\ moments pause, and thea Il heavenly ligh;
BeaIEed full upon my wondering, p.uIed sight;
Angels on silvery wings seem'd everywhere,
And angels' music thrilled tie hslmly air.
Then one, more fair than all the res: to ac,,
One to whom all the others bow ed the knee,
Game gently to me as l trembling lay
And, Follow me" lie said 81 am the wav.''
Then speaking thus, lie lei me far above:
And there, beneath l cauopy Of love,
Crosse5 of divers splpe and size were seen,
Larger and smsller than my ow II hsd been.
And one there was most beauteous to behold
\ little one, with Jewels get in gold
All p. this, methousht can will comfort wear,
For it will be easy one t. hear.
And 70 the little cross quickly took,
Rut all at once my frame beneath it shook
The sparkling jewels far were tn. y to SCI,
But far too heavy ;heir rsi-'h' for me.
This may not lie, cried md looked again.
To see if there was any her. could ease my pain :;
Rut one by one passed them -ow.y ty,
Till on a lovely one l cast my cy,;
Fair flowers around i,s sculptur Il f .rm cn'winrd
And grace and beauty seemed in it combined
Wondering, gazcd, and ztil wondered more
To think so many should have plsscd it Ger
Rut, oh that form >, beautiful to see
soon made its hidden sorrow. known 20 me:
Thorns lay beneath rho-e flowers and colrr= fair:
sorrowinG, ! said, This cross l may not bear"
And 80 il wss with each and all around,
No, one to sut my n,,i could there be found;
Weeping, lad each heavy burden down,
A nv Gudc gently said. 80 cross no crown ="
At IonEth to Him rai-ci my ssdd,ucd heart;
He knc" it sorruw-, b!d lta doubts 4, pa.
a@ l.. - ~,
VI re.frc: love sh1ll now b, -hovn 90 tlc,.'
And then, with lgh:cn,d eye. and willing feet,
Again turned, my earthly ro,s to meet,
With fornard ioot-trps, turning aot aside
To- fer come hidden evil might hctdc.
A-i thee, n the prepared, app int WY,
II-'cuiu To h,..r -ul ready +, ob,y,
= cro-- quickly found Of painc-tt,-u.
With only words oflove inscribed thereon.
VI = f...:ut;'Iluc-s :a's j it from tie re-,
Ant joytully acknowledged it the h-s',
Tie only one Of all the many there
That l could feel was good for me to bear.
And while thus my chosen one coufe-se
saw q heavenly brightre-s on it rest;
And az bent, my burden TO sustain,
recognized my own old cross again
Eut oh ! ho~ different did it seem t. he
Now had learned it. pr ciou-nc's 20 SEE!
No longer could uubelieving say,
Perhaps another is a better way.
All, no, henceforth my desire shall be,
Ihst He " no know me best should choose for III
And 20 whatc',r Ills love good to send,
I'll trust it, best, because lie knows the end.