Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-23
"THE CHANGED CROSS


And ali the needfuI discipline of life
And while thought on these as given
to me
Ny trials tests of faith and love to be
1t seemed / never could be sure
That faithful to the end I would en-
dure.
And then no longer trusting to His
Who say, We wals by faith. and not
by sight,
Doubling and almost yielding to des-
pair,
Tho Thought arose. My cross cannot
bear.
Far heavier Its weight must surely be,
Than those of others I daily see,
oh, If I might another burden choose
Me thinks I should not fear my crown
to lose
Fen natures voices uttered not a
sound:
The evening shadows seemed OF peace
to tell,
And sleep upon my weary spirit fell.
A moments pause and then a heavenly
light
Seemed full upon my wondering rap
tured sight:
Angels on silvery wings seemed every
where.
And Angels music nred the balmy air.
Then one more fair than all the rest
to see,
One to whom all others bowed the knee
Came gently to me as I trembling lay,
And Follow me" He said I am the
way"
So speaking thus he led me far above
And there beneath canopy of love,
Crosses of divers shapes 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 COM
fort wear,
For It VIII be an easy one to bear.
And go this little cross I quickly took:
But all at once my form beneath it
shook.
The sparkling Jewels fair were they to
But far too heavy was their weight for
This may not be I cried and looked
again,
To see II any here could ease my pain;
But, one by one. slowly passed them
by.
Till on a lovely one ] cast my eye.
Fair flowers around its sculptured form
entwined
And grace and beauty in it seemed
combined:
Wondering I sazed. and still I won
dered more.
To think so many should pass It Ger.
But Oh. that form 50 beauteous to zee.
Soon made Its hidden sorrows known
to me
Thorns lay beneath those flowers and
colors fair;
sorravins I said.~ This cross I cannot
bear"
And % It was with each and all around
Not one to suit my need could there
be found:
Weeping 1 laid each heavy burden
down.
As my guide gently said. NO cross.
No CROWN
AZ length to him raised my saddened
heart:
He knew its sorrow and oade IT'S
doubts depart,
Be not afraid. He said. but trust In
Me,
Ny perfect love shall now Be shown
to thee.
And then. with iishtened s,es and WIN
tarned again my earthly cross to
meet:
with forward footsteps TURNING not
aside,
For fear some hidden svn might be-
tide.
And then, IN ehs prepared appointed
I.istening to hear and willing to obey
cross I found Of the plainest form
with only words Of love inscribed
thereon.
With thankfufnsss I ratsed # from the
rest,
And 1oyfur1y acknowledged It the best
The only one Of all the many there
That I could feel was good for me to
bear.
And while thus my chosen one con-
,fessed,
] saw a heavenly brightness on It rest:
And. as / bent, my burden to sustain,
recognized my own old cross again.
But Oh, how different did It seem to
be
Now I had learned its pfeciousness to
see;
No longer could I unbelieving say.
Perhaps another is better way.
All, now henceforth my own desire
shall be,
That HE" who knows me best shall
choose for me:
And SO what e'er His love seems good
to send,
I'll trust it's best, because He knows
the end.
~ i Il
The initial. autumn meeting of the
Arkansas Valley Chapter. D. A. r.,
was held in the home Of Mrs. Thomas
Matthews yesterday afternoon when
Mrs. Matthews and Miss F'innie White