Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-18
The Joys Message.


| We find what there we seek
| or joy. of sorrow and sadness.
Each In It's turn VIII speak.
The willow weepa with the moIrneEs;
| But when the sun shines bright
| And the breeZcs stir its branches,
Send cut CLEANS OF light.
| Then II puts of its deep mourning.
Laughs AT the gloomy pine
And tells Of n distant country
Where sunbeams ever shine.
But the pine heeds not the challenge
Hecds not the smiling sun.
II means with the same Old accents:
Woe 10 the weary one.
The rose. the NY and hairbell
Smile Tor The gay young maid.
" ho lightly laughs At the Trouble
Beside her pathway laid.
Bat oven the flowers seem sadder
And slowly bend their heads.
While the clouds drop tears Of pity
When the last farewell Is said.
To some hope long kept ana cherished
To some dream of future Joy
Which sudden blow has shattered
Like "A fra!l and useless toy.
As | wandered one day I'm autumn
Where my tulr fancy led.
say through tne leafy branches
OF trees. all scarlet ana red.
An old man YEARLY climbing
Up the rugged hill of life.
Now at every turn discloaiDg
Marks of pain OF toll. and strife.
The san in the west fast sinking.
Casts a bright and ruddy glow
Ger the steep ascending pathway
To the top now white with snow
II had lost the warmth ~ MONDAY.
II was far less clear md bright
Than the first glad ray 90 morning
Which had hlied hia path with light
on tho white hair gently falling.
Lighting W his faded face.
It revealed the note and courage
which were @Oon to win TIE race.
Alone ~ followed the pathway
Which ROW wls thranEed wiki fricn r
Alone ~ VIII meat the dangers
Which approaching winter lends.
The leaves lay along the -oa isid.
Wherc. torn from Their native trees
And rlihlessly heaped meath IN
They ,oss wlth each passing breeze.
The winds came sharp from the cas- ward
Chilled with the coming rain.
Speaking. wherever u tarricd.
Only ~ sorrow ard pain
The birds flying swiftly homeward.
The lcldru. Gull gray SKY.
M foid az 4 diving summer.
Told Of a winter nigh.
I'm, now a tIrn IL the pathway
Erings suddenly 10 his view
An old and vinc-clad chapel
Nj bright In the sunset hue
Years before In this old chapel
Dw.lt u wise ard saintcd man.
Praying every night and morning.
'-NLy | do what ! can
In the world stretched out before him
II. had viewed the busy strife.
And had sought 10 aid ~" conh!ct
with 4 true and noble lie.
~ lie knclt to pray. one evening.
Close beside the chapel Gnur.
Faint hut clear. hr heard the message
You shall live for eNermor".
When he rose he saw an ivy
Forth from the earth had sprung
Md raised its dark green branches
Where the deepest shadows hung.
In this Wine ne saw the promise
He had heard there. whispered low.
That his acts aud deeds Of mercy
In eternity should show.
pay 81 day H. toiled ana waited
Cheering grief ana Tightening pain,
Strcwing always JOY and g.a1Ecss
Asking nothing back again.
At each deed The vine grew taller
Thus il Is M, legend runs
Spread its arms ont wide ana WIdct.
As II, heiped the needy ones.
Tho traveller paused at the chapel.
Weary and WON with his guest
He saw in those dark green branches
Something that whispered of rest.
As he studied the sacred ivy
The worn look fed from his face.
In It's stead came peace and pladn"Sj
Which had brichtened all the place.
And he went on his way rejoicing
In the promise the ivy brings
az the life OF a light eternal
Where forever GladaeSs sings.