Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-11-29


And the heads Ct the pure, wild flower
nod
To the forest grass that bows in the breeze
Floating freely on and among the trees.
With hum contented pursuing their toll,
From blossoming boughs bees gather swee
The squirrel barks gay from his green re
treat,
And his mate replies with a quick repeat
From airy limb the mocking birds throat
Forth sweet and clear trillng note afte
Fills the atmosphere W tn gushes of SCUM,
Echoing the songs of the birds around;
And your heart chimes in with willing ac
cord,
While you bless the love revealed in Hi
And his glorious work; and humbly yor
And pray Him to place on your heart Hi
seal.
Though the morn is fresh time urges yor
And iingeringly you haste to be gone,
A happy will, and Influences sweet, -
Can support sapl your limbs and sandalyoul
As you wend your way from the may
wood
The intricate paths of plastic childhood.
V
But the way grows rough-your step loses
speed.
New duties arise and ever increase,
From which, all in vain, you essay release.
A spot in the distance attracts your eye;
And leaving the road you quickly draw
A little spring yelling up in the ground,
Its tiny rillbranching down the small
mound.
Making the verdure rich, bright, deep
green,
With the crystal clearness sparkling be-
tween.
Give thanks-bend low above the bubbling
And when from natures own pure cup you
drink,
Pray that the bright day-spring of hope
may be
Within Your breast till dawns eternity.
vi
But the increasing hours are climbing high
And rapidly toward the zenith sky;
Up and away! for yet Is scarce begun
The journey that, perchance, you wish
were done.
Do cares perplex, difficulties involve?
Temptations attack the firmest resolve?
Does the body faint, the spirit grow weak
Thy SORROWS bear heavy? Then new
strength seek .-......
Withdraw from the crowd-improvise a
q shrine;
Unburden that poor feeble heart of thine.
&
Flowing by is a river deep and large;
Approach and descend to its shady marge.
And PROSTATE there meath low o'erhang-
ing trees
Where none can know exceptth eye that
sees
Into the inmost soul, unlade thy heart,
And ask for strength to well fulfill thy part
In this worlds strife. : The swiftly gliding
stream
Reminds you that life passes like q dream.
aching gt0On
In the cool, ripping, flashing, sun-lit wave:
Yet stay not to look on Its waters bright
But resume your journey, in manhood's
To battle for Right, and oppose all wrong,
Defending the weak with arm true and
! strong. higJ W EGtAF
~ VIII
But fail nor falter though it appear
You receive only ingratitude here;
Forsuch is the recompense paid by earth
To heroic merit and moral worth.
In heaven alone Just reward is sure
For deeds resulting from impulses pure.
Your life-which if-hke some grand lake
With richly laden argosies of thought,
Devotion, love, and charity to man
You strive to fill your place in Gods great
plan.
But cold, false hearts unthankful from you
Others your loving sacrifices spurn;
You travel through a region sterile, bare
Bereft of joys you breathe its sultry air.
The sun blazes down with a cruel heat,
And the hot, burning sand tortures your
Cool, verdant groves and clear streams dis
appear, -
Mocking your wistful look ere you come
near;
You perish for drink, and no one is nigh
of haa los Siuh
The brain seems screening, and in anguish
The soul cries out q" How long, o Lord, how
long?" 1 rlE
On the horison see palm tree rise,
And slow, but with reviving steps You
To that fresh spot in the vast deserts
A small oasis of but one date-tree,
And near it's foot a limpid fountain free.
You sink, ut length, exhausted on the sod
Which scarce by human feet hath DER been
For few experience what you nave known,
Or through such fiery trials see 1.-The
Throne" s- .ee
But each heart knoweth its own bitter
Every peculiar mind its own distress,
That leads it through strange, arid fields OF
care,
Which can be cheered only by secret prayer.
Thus you can reach and take the fallen
fruit
Rich heavenly grace your every need to
suit.
And then refreshened from the unfailing
source, lH
With earnest will again pursue your course.
The fair green spot is in the distance lost
And soon the sandy plain you will have
crossed.
No more the mirage aggravates your thirst,
For now the longed-fOr sunset cliff has
burst
Upon your sight. Then tottering you stand
On the sad border of the dark ming land.
Looking far back along the way you see
The shadows of your future destiny
Your deeds and influence that will uprise
To fix your fate above the solemn skies.
The vision appeals-"Oh, Lord, Thou did st
die!'
You plead with your might; and with that
deep cry
Leave there your past. and the summit de-
1t matters not how-you must reach the
And You turn your face and rivet your
gaze
'Tis Eternity's Ocean, far and wide
Your Pilgrimage ends on the hither side.
But an unexplOred, valley lies between,
And none hath e'er told of aught that Is
By mortal eyes Just ere their journey's o'er
And when their faint-steps reach the un-
known shore.