The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-09-28
II am the aCdy,'
H CHANGED CROSS.

Il was a time of sadness, and my heart
Although it knew and loved the better part
Felt wearied with the conflict and the strife,
And all the needfui discipline of life.
And while I thought on these as given to me
My trial test of faith and love to be
1t seemed as 1 never could be sure
That faithful to the end l should endure.
And thus no longer trusting to His might.
Who says we walk by faith, and not by sight"
Doubling, and almost yielding to despair,
The thought arose-My cross 1 cannot bear.
Far heavier its weight must surely be
Than those Of others which 1 daily see:
OH! II / might another burden choose,
Me4hinks l should not fear my crown to lose.
A solemn silence reigned on all around
Zen Mattress voices uttered not sound;
The evening shadows seemed Of peace to tell,
And sleep upon my weary spirit fell
A moments pause, and then a heavenly light
Angels on SilYery wings seemed everywhere.
and angels music thrilled the balmy air.
Then One, more fair than all the rest to sec
One to whom all the others bowed the knee
Came gently to me as l trembling Law.
And, Follow me, He said, Il am the way"
Then speaking thus, He led me far above;
And thSre, beneath a canopy of love,
Crosses Of divers shape and size were seen,
Larger and smaller than my own had been.
And one there was most beauteous to behold
little one, with jewels set in gold;
An TINS methoughL l can with comfort wear,
FOR II VIII be an easy one TO bear.
And so the little cross / quickly took,
But all AT once my frame beneath it shook;
The sparkling Jewels fair were they to see,
But far too heavy was their weight for me.
This may not be, 1 cried, and looked again.
R a. so oo = 8 . TSs any mere could ease my pain
I'LL on a lovely one l cast my eye.
Fair flowers around its sculptured form entwined,
And grace and beauty seemed in it combined;
Wondering, l gazed, and still / wondered more
To think so many should have passed it DER.
But, OH that form so beautiful to see
Soon made its hidden sorrow known to me:
Thorns lay beneath those flowers and colors fair;
S~orro~lng, l said This cross l may not bear"
And so it was with each and all around
Not one to suit my need could there be found.
weeping l laid each heavy burden down,
As my GUIDE gently said, mo cross, no CROWN
At length to Him I raised my saddened heart;
he knew its sorrows, bid its doubts depart.
BE not afraid" but trust in Me-
My perfect love shall now be shown to thee"
And, then, with lightened eyes and willing feet,
Again j turned, my earthly cross to meet,
Elt9 forward footsteps, turning not aside
And there, in the prepared, appointed way
Listening to hear and ready to obey
A cross l quickly found of plainest form,
With only words of love inscribed thereon.
With thankfulness / raised it from the rest,
And jOyfully acknowledged it the BEST
The only one of all the many there
That l could feel was good for me to bear.
And while I thus my chosen one confessed,
l saw a heavenly brightness on it rest;
And as l bent. my burden to sustain,
! recognized my own old cross againl
But, oh how different did it seem to be
Now l had learned its presciousness TO seel
No longer could / unbelieVing say,
Perhaps another is q better way.
All, no heneeforth my own desire shall be,
That He who knows me best should choose for me.
And so whate'er his love sees good to send,
I'll trust its's best because He knows the end.
JOHN DANNER, Canton, Ohio, has OBJ
tanned from the publisher of this splendid
picture the e~TcLuSiVe agency for Stark Co.,
Ohio, and is now taking orders for the
same. Price only $l5.