Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-04-12

fInbli~hed by I,eques,l
II we knew the cares and cross.-s
trowding round our mrislbors way:
II we knew the little los~cr,
Sor.ly grievous day by day;
Would we then so often chisle him
For his lack of thrift aud gain.-
Leaving ON his heart u shadow,
Leaving on our lives "a stain?
II We knew the clouds above M
Held hut gentle dressings there,
Would we turn away all trembling
In our blind and weak despair?
Would we shrink from little shadows
Lying ON the dewy grass,
While tbs only birds of Eden,
just in mercy flying past
II W. knew the woe aud l,eartache
Waiting for us down the road,
II our lips could taste the wormwoot,
II oar backs could feel the load
Would we waste the day in wishing
For a time that ne'er can bee
Would We wait with such impat tiencc
For our ships to come from sea?
u we knew when walking tl,oaghtless
Through the crowded. noisy way
That some pearl Of wondrous whitcncss
close beside our pathway lay;
We should pause when now we hasten,
We should often look around.
Lest our careless feet should tranirlc
Some rare jewel in the ground.
II we knew what forms were fainting
For the shade that we should fling.
II we knew what lips were t,archiny
For the water we should bring.
We would haste with eager fOOtsteus,
We would work with willing hands
Bearing cups of cooling water.
Planting rows Of shading palms.
II we knew when friends around us
Closely press to say good bye
Which among the lips that kiss us.
First should Meath the daisies lie;
We would clasp our arms around them.
Looking on them through our tears,
Ten'i.r words "f love eternal
We would whisper IN their ears.
II we knew what lives were ,lark-n-i
by some thorghtlrss word Of ours.
Which had ever lain upon thrm
Like the frost upon the flowers:
-. with what sincere r'lcntings,
With what anguish III regret.
While our eyes are Ovcrti,wing
We would cry ''forsive.' forget
ii we knew the silent story
'luiveriug through the heart 81 pain.
Would our ma anhood dare to ,lO,m them
Back to haunts Of guilt again?
Life hath many II tangled crossing:
Joy hath many u break al woe;
Aud the cheeks tcar-washal are whitest
This the blessed angels know.
u we knew the baby fingers
Pressed against the window-pane,
Would be cold aud stiff to morrow-
Never trouble us again
Would the bright-cyes of our darling
Catch the fro~n upon our brow
Would the prints "f rosy fingers
Vex us then ns they do now!
All. these little. ice-roid fingers.
How they point our memories back
To the hasty words aud actions
St~wn along our backward track.
How these little hands remind us,
As in snowy grace they lie.
Not to scatter thorus. but roses,
For our re ping bye and bye.
I.ip~ from which the seal Of silence
None but God eau roll away
Never blossoned in such beauty
As adorns the mouth to-day;
And sweet words that freight our memory
With their beautiful perfume,
Come fo Ms in swreter accents.
Through the portals of the tomb.
Stranse We never prize the muse
Till the sweet voiced biri has flown
Strange that we should slight the viul'ts
Till the lovely flowers are gone;
Strange that summer skies and sunshine
Never seem one-lalf so fair
As when Winters SNOWY pinions
Shake their white down in the air.
Let us gather up the sunbeams
Lying all around our path.
Let us keep The wheat and r"seS.
Casting out tn. thorns aud rhaG;
Let us lind our sweet, st comfort
la the blessings of to-day.
With n patient hand removing
All the b,irrs from the way.
Let ~ search into our blossoms
For the key to ot her lives,
Aud with love toward rrriny nature,
Cherish good that still survives.
50. tha, when our lisrobc'l spirits
Soar to realms of life again.
We may say "Dcar Father. Judge us
As We judge our fellow men.
II cc knew Alas. and do we
Even care or seek to know
VIII Their bitter herbs, or roses
In our neighbor's garden grow
Goi inrrive us. lest hereafter
oar hearts break to hear him say
'inrrle~s child, ! never knew yon,
From my presence flee away.