The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-11
THE CHANGED CROSS

| 1t was a time of sadness, and my heart,
Although it knew and loved the better part
Felt wearied with the conflict and the strif
And all the needful discipline of life.
And while thought on these as given to me
My trial tests of faith and love to be,
| Ii seemed as IL / never could be sure
That faithful to the end ] should endure.
And thus no longer trusting to His might
| Who says we walk by faith and not by sight
| Doubling and almost yielding to despair,
The thought arose my cross ! cannot bear.
Far heavier its weight must surely be
Than those of others which | daily see.
| o, if | might another burden choose.
Methnks l should not fear my crown to lose.
! solemn silence reigned on all around,
Il en- natures voices uttered not sound
The evening shadows seemed of peace to tell,
And sleep upon my weary spirit fsG
moments pause and then heavenly light
Beamed full upon my wondering raptured
sight.
Angels on silvery wings seemed everywhere,
And angel music filled the baImy air.
But one more fair than all the rest to see,
One to whom all others bowed the knee,
Came gently to ! trembling lay.
And follow me-" he said, Il am the way"
Then speaking thus he led me far above,
And there beneath a canopy of love,
Crosses of divers shape and size were seen.
Larger and smaller than my own had been.
And one there was most beauteous to behold,
A little one with jewels set in gold.
All. this, me thought | can with comfort wear,
For it will be an easy one to bear
And SO the little cross | qtAdkly took,
But all at my frame beneath it shook.
Those dainty jewels. fair were they TO see,
But far too heavy was their weight for me.
This may not be" I cried. and looked again.
To see if there any here could ease my
pain,
But one by l passed them slowly by,
Till on lovely one ! east my eye.
Fair flowers around its sculpturtd form en-
twined,
And grace and beauty seemed in it combined |
Wondering | gazed, and still wondered more
To think 50 many should have passed it Ger.
But ah that form sabeautiful TO see
Soon made it's hidden SORROWS known to me.
Thorns lay beneath those flowers and colors
fair
said: This cross cannot bear"
And so it was with each and all around:
Not one to suit my need could there be found.
Weeping, l laid each heavy burden down:
As my guide gently said: mo cross, no
crown.
1t length to Him raised my saddened heart
lie knew its sorrows, bid its doubts depart.
Fear not" he said but trust in me:
Ny perfect love shall now be shown to thee"
And then with gladdened heart ssd willing
feet
again ! turned my earthly cross to meet
With forward footsteps, turning not aside
or fear some hidden evil might betide.
md there in the prepared. appointed way, Ii
listening to hear and ready TO obey,
cross | quickly found of painest form,
With only words of love inscribed thereon.
With thankfulness | raised II from the rest {
nd joyfully acknowledged IL the best |
he only one of all the many there
hat | could feel good for me TO bear
nd, while | thus my chosen confessed. a
saw a heavenly brightness on it rest u
nd as ! bent, my burden 10 sustain,
recognized my own old cross again. 1;
ut oh. how different did it se9n to me. o
ow l had learned its preciousness to see h
o longer could / unbelieving say:
Perhaps another is a better way p
h, mol Henceforth my ewn desire shall be
nat He who knows me best shall choose for II
ID
nd so, whate'er His love sees ht TO send, !,
l trust it's best because He knows the end. q
Author unknown. a