Middletown transcript., 1882-01-13
FAITH
BY WADE wHIPPLE.

A summer day, a wealth of sun,
An em'rald broidered country road,
A pretty cottage, over-run
With vines that nodded with their load
Of fhoney-laden buds and bees,
A stretch of changing hill and lawn,
Sweep after sweep of Verdant seas
A-glitter with the dews of dawn.
A gateway, with its whited sides
Meath twining woodbine half revealed,
A wealth of roses, kissed by tides
OF wind and sun, a farther field
Of clover reaching meath the trees
In white and purple loveliness,
A blended song of bird and breeze
That spake the touch of June's caress.
A farmer, standing where the play
Of sunDeams slanted thro' the gate,
A group of daisies DER the way,
Rich with their gold and silver freight,
A nearing fall of fairy feet
The grassy avenue along,
A voice, that murmured low and sweet,
The changes of a happy song.
"Stop, little one " the farmer said,
As by with quick ming pace there stepped
A tiny maid, whose golden head
Not seven years had overleapt-
Come, drop your pail, and rest bit
Beneath this cool and lovely shade,
You're such a very little chit
To be alone-aren't you afraid?"
"Afraidr p the word came tripping out
AS if on silv'ry echo tossed;
What is there to be 'fraid about?"
And in the after-hush was lost
Then sparkling flow of childish mirth
That laved the coral of her lips,
And blended with the tuneful birth
Of winds that waved the clover tips.
The sunlight of her beaming eyes
Met steadily the farmers glance;
"And know you not that danger lies
On whatsoever road you chance7"
" l know that God is everywhere"
The little stranger quick replied,
And nothing wouldn't ever dare
To hurt me while He's by my side"
" But everybody isn't good"
The sturdy son of labor said
" In crowded street, and shadowy wood
And everywhere our feet do tread,
Are wicked beasts and wicked men
That watch and wait for me and you"
" 1 know it, SIR she said; "but then,
Gods always watching for us, too"
"And do you think that He can see
Such very little mites as this?
Down bending as he spaze, till he
just oyertopped the cunning miss
oh, sir !! mamma said He could see
Them tiny daisies over there,
And ant they little-er than me?"
She answered, with an earnest air.
" Oh then your mother told you bout
This wondrous One that lives on high;
But how came she to find 1t out?"
As from the caves the swallows fly,
So from her lips the words take wing:
NTOu lONOS lily utdI Ildulillds YOU SGG1
And tells her nearly ev'rything,
And then she tells it all to me-"
And you believe it all ?" said he,
With admirItio breaking through,
"You never think, l s'pose that she
Could tell you anything untruer'
"Oh. no r'-the fiushes come and go
While answers she with lip and eye
" For God and my mamma, you know,
Are both alike, they couldn't Lier'
Another moment, and along
The road where bright the sunshine lay,
With sprightly step and happy song
The little maiden sped away;
And with his eye upon the elf,
And hands upon the vine-clad fence,
The farmer murmured to himself
$ A precious gift is innocencem
All, call it what you will, my man,
But is it not the holy seed
That God. in life's initial span,
Implants as our especial need
Within the heart-that nurtured still,
Gives courage to our after years
That makes us passive to His will,
And monarch over all our fears!
Rome Sentinel.