Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-05
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Is HIO D MISS SSAYE/fa
~ ~ LIZZIE O THQNAS N.Y.
Lifs's April Days

Lifs's April Days
Let us drink from the chalIce OF JOY,
IOr the winter is over, and God hath
walked the world into newness OF Lille.
This morning dawned dark and lower
ing soon shower oil raindrops Tell from
the threatening clouds, lew rlItS In
them showed Iaint Stresks OF blue anu
then the sunshine. Ii was April's greet
ing. Let US BID her welcome. Let's for
get the winter and remember our sorrows
and grief only enough to make them
numanize US.
The birds are singing, the apple tree
give promise OF an abundance of fruit,
the pears have bloSSomed and cheered
Us God has stood by US Yea, though
some of US have had to see loved ones
leave US. we have seen the smile OF rec
Ognition that they gave the heavenly
messenger sent for them, and we do not
sorrow hopeleSsly. In some homes there
may be a vacant place, a dear little era
dle, an arm chair that held an aged
form, or a youth just entering man
hood may be missed from the group
that now gathers at the study hour. l
do not say forget your dear one, but l
do say:
TO every one on earth
God gives a burden TO be carried down
The road that lies between the cross
and crown.
No lot is wholly free;
He giveth one to thee"
Do not make memory a burden, a
dear one in the heavenly choir should
cheer US There is no sorrow there,
neither sickness nor signing. And we
must cast that burden on the One who
has promised to sustain US. The real
burdens that we bear are the ones the
living put on US. A little child in
heaven is the one We hope to meet, the
son or daughter whose path we cannot
follow, whose life we cannot look upon
with pride, is the burden. The neigh
Dor whose sharp eye sees your faults
and instead of trying to help, takes
pleasure in magnifying them as she en-
tertains 90 her callers, is the thorn
in the flesh that we need pray over
until malice and all uncharitableness"
is made as hateful to that neighbor as
il should also be to you. Sometimes we
think our prayers are unheard, that sa-
tan plays a stronger part, that our bur
den is not to be cast off. Let il then
be like Paurs thorn in the flesh"
Make il a STEPPING stone to higher
things.
Lord. we have wandered forth through
doubt and sorrow,
And thou hast made each step an on
ward one:
And we will trust each unknown NOR
row.
Thou wilt sustain us till it's work is
done"
Do you remember that Tennyson
says:
And In my breast
Spring wakens too: and my regret
Becomes an April violet.
Nd hVrle
The dogwood blossoms are all over
the house. Daffodils. jonquils. narcis-
sus. then spirea and redbuds came.
Wild violets and dandylions had their
brief days and now tits dogwood with
A promise of roses after awhile There
are all sorts OF flowers planted, and
every mail is supposed to be the one
with new geraniums, so there can con-
tinue TO be a succession of flowers in
the house.
Mrs. Robinson's letter tells US Of the
loss of most of the pretty flowers she
used to have. Many of the readers of
this page have had bulbs and seed from
her yard. let them be blessings cast
on the wings OF gratitude and watt
some seeds back to her. She does not
even hint at this, but all of us know
we like to be appreciated, and this is
your opportunity to show her that you
enjoyed the seeds she so generously
saved and divided. We can make a real
friendship garden for her. This spring
has been more beautiful to the dwell
ers of this home because Mrs. Frank
King. of Leighton. so generously diVid-
ed her beautiful bulbs just two years
ago
II is about time for us to again give
q dime shower to our shut-in, Miss Re
becca Whitfield. of Finlayson, Ga, route
two. and she says that if some of you
have time she would appreciate a let
ter. Remember that there are two sis
.ers Miss Emily and Miss Rebecca.
Both are helpless invalids and il would
be we'll for some to write to one and
some to the other You who have been
so good to them i'm the past can take
pleasure in knowing that your gifts
have kept them more nearly comfort
able than they would have been if you
had failed them. Singing birds, beau
tiCII flowers and green fields are God S
giTts to all of us, but they must not
absorb us so much that we forget that
the sick and needy are here all the
time and call for oar ministrattons at
all seasons. \ smile a tea a cloud, a
little rain. such has been thus far our
portion this. the first day of April. What
can / say to you that would be more
f-.nfUt than these words OF FRANCES
Ridley Havergals, that teach US to cast
our burdens on the Lord" She says:
The particular annoyance which be-
lei you this morning; the vexatlous
words which met your ear and 'grieved
YOUR spirit the disappointment which
was His appointment for today; the
slight but hindering ailment; the pres
ence of some one who is grief OF
mind to you.-whatever this day seem
eth not joyous, but grievous, is linked
in the good pleasure of His goodness
with A corresponding afterword Of
'peaceable fruit the very seed OF
which, if you only do not choke 1t, this
shall spring and ripen."
BE not you grieved
If that which you mould fair. upright
and smooth,
Be screwed awry. made crooked, lame,
and vile,
BY racking comments.
Faithfully yours.
LIZZIE o. THOMAS.