The Green Forest tribune., 1904-06-25
Springs Trumpet.

God hides away so many secrets under the snows of winter? Who can tell what mysteries are buried beneath the white cover, so deep, so dazzling in it's purity when it first falls on the brown leaves and withered grass? It is true to it's trust and never whispers of the possibilities that are being shell tered and nourished by it's en- folding. The flowers are only sleeping, their tiny pulses are throbbing with life down in the darkness, and after they awake, rested and refreshed they will bud and blossom more beautiful ly than before.
 The bare branches of the trees bend lovingly down in feeble att tempt to protect the little sleeping blossoms and the wind, we say, sighs mournfully as it rocks them to and fro, but it is only chanting S lullaby that is known to natnre's children alone. All is quiet and peace under the snow awaiting the sound of "spring's trumpet" to awaken to a larger life and greater lovliness. So when ":life's winter is past" and the snow has melted at the call of Gods eternal spring what won- derful surprises await us. Life, full, free, throbbing life that will never need to sleep again under the winters sorrow, for
 "Beaind the dim unknown
 Standeth God within the shadow,
 Keeping watch above his own."
 And what seemed death to the natural sense was only hiding away of the germ immortal with God standing guard, ready to bring 1t forth in good time. The king who comes and spreads his robe of ermine over all, treads, oh so gentle, because of the sleeping buds and tender blos- sons beneath his feet in their earthly cradle. The awakening time is not yet and they will sleep more sweetly under the ermine robe. Why do we not think of this when our hearts are heavy laden because of what has been hidden away from us, remember ing that there lives one who never loses sight of our flowers, even though they wither here in the cold blasts that come from the sea of pain and the valley of the shadow. He knows they are only resting for moment, to come to more marvellous growth in the gardens that are sum- kissed eternally, and whose flowers knows 10 winter time for sleep. The earth flowers come back to us from under the winters snow and we are of more value than they. The little birds that build their homes in the heights and hide in the clouds come back, when they hear of the springs new birth or resurrection-and | we are of more value than they. We, too, will awaken from the sleep that closes the weary eyes just long enough for the angel in waiting to bear us over the bar into the eternal summer of that Morning Land" of which it is said, land there shall be no night there" neither any snow, or pitiless rain is needed to kill and make alive. From the depths will come fourth the hid- den treasures. Dead, we said of them, but not SO. Like a gem that refuses to sparkle is hidden for time from the light until it regains it's brilliancy, so our jewels have been hidden from us, to be given back perfected and a setting that glows with immor- tality, and our flowers will bloom again when the angels whisper awakens them to a vision of skies fairer than ours breezes softer, and sunshine that never is hidden. From under the snow of earth l into the eternal summer of | heaven.
 This is our springtime message to you, and amid the sorrows of the days past that still bear heavy upon you, may you be led out from under the shadow into that glorious sunlight, and be so in spired With nope that sorroWing