New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-04

Letters have been received from NJ p. Britt Miss
Kate l.. Gravatt. Mrs. Philo Bevin, Mrs T. :
Pomeroy. Edith c. Reid l. R d Mss Miss kizTe T.
and X. A. j.
President General Of the T. s. ST am much In
teresed in the Tribune Sunshine Society ana
would be pleased to have my name enrolled among
lis members. ] send the following poem musings
BY the Way" sincerelyNps EDWARDS
Grace Church Rec,ory Rivorhead. Long Island
MUSINGS BY THE WAY
said if might go back again .,r.,,.
TO the very hour and place or my oFth
Might have my life whatever choose
And live it in any part Of the earth;
Put perfect sunshine in my sky;
Ransh the shadow Of sorrow and doubt
Have al my happiness multiplied
And all my suffering stricken out;
II could have known in the years now gone
The best that woman comes 70 know:
Could have had whatever VII make ner pest
or whatever she thinks Will make her So
Yea said il miracle such this
Could be wrought for me at my bidding stn
! would choose to have my past as u Is,
And TO let my future come as II VIII!
Ms past is mine and take it all,
Nay. even my sins II YOU come to that
May have been helps, not hindrances!
II I saved my body from the flames
Because that once | had burned my hand
Or kept myself from greater sin
BY doing less-you viii understand
1t was better suffered little pain,
Better sinnci Tor a little time.
II the smartinG warned me back from death.
And the sting of sin withheld from crime.
Who knows It's strength by trial. will know
What strength mus; he So, against a sim
And now temptation Is overcome.
He mas learned who has felt its power within:
And who knows how lie at the last may show?
WY look at the moon from where we stand!
Opaque-uneVen. you say; yet II shines
luminous sphere. complete and grand.
SO let my past stand just as it stands
And let me now may grow old:
| am what am. and my life for me
Is the best-or It had not been | mold
Ph@be Cary, VINO was one of the l9yelsst women
Of Us. covered with faults and mperfections and
fines Of crime. rc-Ccho the whole poem? How
Wany could irt;hfuliy say, II would not change the
course ! hayc trod ne breadth OF a hair this way
or that to either side?
4 moral person not given to seIf-eXamination
might say: II have never approxmated a crime
taken an adyaitalc which # exposed to thu broad
E,are or sunlight would not take upon hsef an
proach dangerously close 10 the line which sep
SIN RON rom f,'e ,1oiJmr nbo vii a
their lives keep that hacl; dividing lna in the dis
lance, who never cXclaim;
cit better ! suffered n little pain.
Better ! sinncd for a little time
If the smartlng warned me back from death,
And The sting of sin withheld from crime"
There Is large army of humanity TO which this
ne is struggle. longing for rest for a peace
stanty yelling up in the heart but the opportunity
for some great achievement that will satisfy does
not present itself, and the day" and years 90 by
and bring many OF us near tne port whors cry:
80 weary heart. thoLrt halfway home" with
nothing accomplished save T"gre.S for the past,
and an intense longing to know how 20 make the
last half OF this pilgrimage that which will score
up the mos. points when the end IS reached and the
trophies won.
4 great lfe. lie that stands out clearly defined
10 the world as 9rea' or holy. il one among a
thousand. and 50 the everyday character. she who
only stands the tower TO watch, mus; be round
ed and Developed by little petty every day cares.
and In that WY fitted 70 be weighed in the balance
nnd not found wanting when time shall be more.
Then let us III the days with the duties which lie
nearest those that are close at hand; score not the
Httic VexatiouG waves which help TO mould the char
actcr and chip off the angular the chisel
Oh ms p. he marble BE ViEilant. ana with energy.
and earneStneSs The downward path
o. life. after the halfway port is passed. can he
made noble FOR. remember, when the night be- past
and the light of eternity breaks we will not be
asked
How Jared the soul through the trials she passed
But What the state Of that soul at the ast'?'
Mrs Il NJ E-A pin has beer sent you and you
are a member OF the r. s s in good standing. IL
: real JOY to Wclcom" those VINO can speak such
ne lpful words the above.