Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-18
Walking with the World.
ny MRS. MATILDA c. EDWARDS.

On the changing shore of time;
The World was singing giddy song,
Aud the Church hymn sublime.
"Come, give me your hand, cried the merry World,
Aud walk with Inc this way :"
But the good Church hid her snowy hands,
And solemnly answered, "Nay,
will not give you my hand atall,
Aud Will not walk with you;
Your way Is the way 10 endless death,
Your words arc all untrue"
"Nay, walk with me but n little space"
Said the World, with kindly air;
"The road walk Is pleasant road,
And the sun shines always there;
Your path Is thorny aud rough and rude,
And miue il broad and plain;
Ny road Is paved with flowers and dew,
And yours with tears and pain;
The sky above me l. always blue;
No want. no toll know;
The sky above you Is always dark;
Your lot IL "a lot of woe;
MY path, Nuu see, Is "A broad. fair one,
Aud my gate l. high aud wide
There is room enough for you aud for mo
To travel side by side"
Half shyy the Church approached the World,
And gave him her hand uf SNOW;
The old World gfRspvd IL aud walked along,
Saying Ia accents low,
"lour dre-s Is too simple TO please my taste;
viii give you pearls 10 wear,
Rich yel,cts aud silks for your graceful form,
Aud diamonds Ia deck your hair"
The Church looked down at her plain white robes,
And then at the dazzling World.
Aud blushrd as she saw hhs handsome lip
With a smile Contcmptuous cutled
81 will change my dre-s for costiiur ono"
SAID the Church with IA smile OF grace:
Then her pure white garments drIted away,
Aud the World gave In their place
Beautiful zstns aud shining silks,
Aud roses aud gems aud pearls
Aud oyet her forehead her bright hair fell
Cfispcd In thousand cuTls.
"Your house Is too plain" said the proud old World
"l'll build you one like mine;
carpets Oi BRUSSELS aud curtains Of lace,
And furniture ever - fine
So he built her costly aud beautiful house;
splendid II was to behold;
Her suns aud her beautiful daughters dwell there
Cleaning Ia purple And gold,
And fafts aud shows tu the halls were held
Aud the World aud his children there,
And laughter and music and feasts werc heard
In the place that was meant for prayer;
She had cushioned pews for ih" rich and great
To cit Ia their pUinp aud pride;
While the poor Goiks clad Ia their shabby suits,
sat meekIy down outside
The angel of mercy flew over the Church,
Aud whispered, Il know thy lin :"
Then the Church looked back with sigh, and loBge,
To gather her children in.
But some we're on AZ the midnight hall,
And some were OF At the play,
And some we're drinking In gay saloons :
80 she quietly went her way
Then the sly World gallantly aid 10 her,
~ our children mean harm,
Merely ndulEinA In innocent spoFts.'
- she leaned ou his pruferrd arm,
Aud SMILED aud chattet aud gathered flowers,
And she walked along with the WuTldl
while millions and million. u deathles- souls
To the horrible gulf~eTe huhd.
Your preaohers are ell too old and plain"
said the gay World With a -ncef;
They frighten my children with dreadful tales,
Which like hot fIr them TO hear;
They talk of brimsione and FIRE and pain.
Aud ihs horrors of endless uirht;
They talk OfH place that should not be
Mentioned 60 polite.
i vii send you sJmc Of the-stamp,
Brilliant Aui gay aud fast
Who will tell them that people may live they list
Aud ~ 10 heaven at last
The Father is msrcifuI. great and gcod.
Tender aud true and Kind.
d. you think lie would take child TO heaven,
Aud leave the rest t-hiud
So be hllesl her house with gay divins-,
Gifted aud great and learned;
Aud the plain old men that preached the cross
Were oui Of her pgplts turned.
You give too much to the poor. ssia the world,
Far msTc that you ough' 70 do,
lf the pDor need shelter aud food aud cIoihe.
Why need IL trouble you
90 take ysur money aud buy rich robss.
Aud horses and carriages hns,
And pearls aud jewels aud dainty food
And the rarest and cO.tlie-t vine:
Ny children. they dots on all such things,
And II you theT love wouId win,
lov NUsT 10 ~ THET DO and walk In the WAYS
That they are walking in
Then the Church held tightly the strings Of her purse
AMI gracefully lowered her bead,
And smpeted, I've given too much away;
III do, sir, a. you have aid"
So the por vere turned from her door In ,ooru,
Ana shs heard not the orphans CRY
And she drcN her beautiful rules aside,
A. the widows went weeping by
And tho Of the World and the cons Of the Church
Walked closely hand and heart
And uSLT THE MAsIER wHo EsoxEJH ALL
CouLp TELL THE Two APART.
Thou the Church sat down At her ease, aud said
I'm rich and In goods increased
have need of nothing and nanght 10 do
But 20 lAsEh and dance and feast -
And the sly World heard her and laughed Ia his sleeve
And mockingiy said. aside,
| The Church Is fallen. the beautiful Churoh,
And her shame is her boast aud PRIDE
The angel drew near 10 the mercy seat,
And whispered In siRhs her name,
And the saints their anthems Of rapture hushef
Aud covered their heads with shame
And voice came down through The hush Of heaven
From Him vho sat the throne:
knov thy work, aud how thou hast said,
u am Tich,' and hast not known
That thou art naked. poor aud blind,
And wretched before Ny face:
Therefore. from Ny presence cast thee out
And blot thy name from its place"
NEVER SNUB A CHILD.