The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1889-03-30
For the Grenada SENTINEL.
WHAy DOES LIFE MEAN ?
BY X. X. W. FORD, A. NJ, VI. D.

These thoughts are inscribed to my valued
friend, the Rev. H. S. ARCHER of the Baptist
Church as a slight tribute Of the high regard
which the Author cherished for him person.
ally and as he goes i'll and out before his
people, may he continue to show by his God
" walk and conversation, and fully exem-
plify in all his acts and derortment, WHAT
LIFE MEANsg'
ask myself what does 1t mean
Whenever find myself alone,
This busy world. and all things seen.
Have each a language and a tone
"And what is man, his daily life,
His round of pleasure or Of toll,
The moi e, the hustle, and Of strife,
That clatter on this earthly SOLE"
Churches and graveyards everywhere;
The one points upward to the sky,
The Other with white finger shows
Where Il the human race must lie
The ocean lows ceaselesS roll,
The Ii At of its widest roar,
Both echo back the human soul,
And life's deep meaning eyermore
And when climb the high hill top,
To view the pictured landscapes fair,
The silveiy stream ard cottage dell,
Lies deeper meaning shines out there
How beautiful to mortal eye
Is this rich world ofllght and shade!
Yet not one leaf we tread upon
But by the skilltul Hand was made
Earth is embroidered DER and o'er
And hung around with living flowers.
With every shade, form and kind,
That scent and cell our summer bowers
what does IT mean? The dark blue sky,
Spangled with suns and planets there,
Just to make evening beautiful,
And twinkle through the mystic air
The 10 untain in the lonely glen.
Enfolding heaven within its breast,
Around whose margin sweet wild flowers
In angel robes are ever drest
Has meaning; and it thrills the soul
As does the tender, folded leaves,
Or the blue concave overhead,
In silvery light the rainbow weavcs.
The waterfall uFdepths Of green,
with mossy walls Of tempted stone,
Where pearly waters ceaselessly
Bow down and worship oil alone,
Has too It's meaning; it is traced
On earth, in air and all we see;
The golden sun writes it by day,
The moon reflects it glOriously
cannot take one step on earth,
But life's deep meanings fill my breast
The insect life that whirl in air,
| The doves that shelter round my nest,
All thrill me with their meaning SO,
That tears of love and Joy will start
And 1 exclaim, perhaps aloud,
My God il, all, from inniost heart!
The stiffness of the night profound,
The many voices of the day,
The opening of the tiniest flower,
Speaks of Gods love and care Away !;
What does it mean? All, we'll we know
'Tis hammered on the clouds above,
And in His Holy Word, how plain
'Tis written there in words OF LOVE
Life's meaning let us learn 1t well,
For days are bearing us away
Asa swift stream whose ceaseless flow
Bearsthe frail bark with constant swa,
Iife's meaning echoes in the soul,
Like the deep toll of n funeral bell;
It's ,costed hours with hollow sound,
Ring in the heart their solemn kneli
Oh lis not earth temple, school,
And we the learners in our stay,
with models and with drapery hung
And long-drawn aisles tlowery way
Lessons in mountains, stones, and flower
: In running brooks and boundless seas
And the Great Teacher. oh, our God,
In hje'S fuH meaning, only Thee!
! GREENWOOD LODGE, MISS, !SS9,