The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-02-20
IS IT soi
sr FRED. SHELLEY LYMAN.

 Isi, SO, ye gods of Heaven, that pain ever
 hauats each hearti That the sweetest souls must suffer, that the
 fondest friends must part Thai the loves we deem the dearest often
 prove but trials new, That Deaths hand the soonest gathers to
 himself the pure and truel Is so, ye gods of Heaven, the best pleasure
 soonest dies That the truth is like the rainbow that forever
 from us flies; That the more we seek to find it we become
 the more undone, That it's bright and perfect beauty is the con
 stant prize of nonea Is it so, ye gods of Heaven, that our hearts
 must ever change That the love we count the dearest scars the
 soonest from our range; That the flame that warns our being grows
 the soonest old and cold, That the very soul of mortals may be bought
 and sold for Rolds Is il so, ye gods of Heaven, that our sorrows
 ne'er will cease That forever and forever we must seek in vain
 for peace; That within the realms of science and philos
 ophy no mind Is moment tree rom sorrow or can perfect
 pleasure find Is itso, ye gods of Heaven, that the friends we
 love the best Are too often first to leave us when by sorrow
 we are pressedf When we need their love most truly, when
 their words of cheer could bless, We too often find then, wandering, their affec-
 ton growing less. Is it so, ye gods of Heaven, that our dearest
 dreams of love Find no mateship here with mortals that they (like the arkless dove Onward flew above the deluge) soar above a And find naught so like unto them that it can
 a solace be ishso, ye gods of Heaven, that the labor we With an undivided spirit, for the beautiful and true; Is 1t so, this too must suffer from Earth iTno- rance and hate, An that none will learn our motives till for us it is too late lsit so, ye gods of Heaven, that the ages yet to come Thus must seek or love in sorrow, find truth s lips forever dumbl That in tears the years, the seons, of the time that yet shall be, Must forever keenly suffer for the truths we strive to seef Is it so, ye gods of Heaven, that there is in- deed day When truths sun shall shine in splendor, when the mists shall roll away; When all truth shall be unhidden, when each love shall find its mate, When all doubt, and fear and sorrow, to the haunted hell of hate Shall be sent forever from us when each pleasure that has died, Shall live on again in splendor-in perfection deifed When our hopes. our loves, our longings all shall find a final rest h a realm of bliss and beauty where all truth shall be possessed. Where the finite shall find fitness where the twilight of our mind Shall be changed to day eternal; where no joy shall be confined, Where all love shall reach perfection, be each being's highest law, And each soul in loye's pure freedom shall to 1t all others draw. Here we each shall live for others, and all others for us live; Where our highest, holest purpose shall be joy and truth to give; Where unknown for aye and ever shall be want and woe and strife Is it so, ye gods of Heaven, that this is our future lfef Is it so, ye gods of Heaven. that we need life s keenest pain To prepare us for the future that we all at last shall gain; That we need our tears and sorrows to pre- pare us for this bliss That shall ever fill our spirits in that life which follows this -Erehange.