The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-04-13
IA Legend Of the !
\ Easter Children\/d
|a1,m LESLIE p1NcKNEY H1LLM6A
SMNa1; 81 y !q9! :E t5: a&49:dEz

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
TINE legends say children were first
i To be abroad that Easter day
When morning out Of darkness burst,
And angels rolled the stone away.
ror children's hearts are quick to feel
The deadening pail of mortal pain,
And children's hearts are first to heal
When light and comfort come again.
And they had loved the Lord Christ's face,
And on His knees had laughed and cried,
And heard Him say the heavenly place
1, where all child.like souls abide;
And they had often heard Him tell
Strong men by pride and greed de6led
That they could never please Him we'll
Till they were humble as child. i.
And they had heard the tale that grieves
All little hearts: how One so dear ....
Wa. nailed upon a cross with thieves,
And tortured with poisoned spear; =,
And how the temples wondrous veil
Was riven by the lightning stroke,
While, mingled with the women's wall
The earthquake and the thunder broke; -.
And how black night came down at noon, 49,
And ghosts from graves that opened wide
Skulked out beneath blood.red moon,
When He that loved the children died.
.a4.
For two long days no girl or boy
In Caliee or Jordan plain
Could laugh or sing, for hope and JOY - =
In every little heart was slain. - \. 4
j But when the earth that third day morn J.
Wa. flooded with such golden light
A. never since the world was born ,".''.>
Had come to dazzle human sight,
!, Then every child, the legends say, -. -
Knew that the time was at an end,
Knew that the stone was rolled away
And few to meet the risen Friend.
And long before the Magdalene
Had reached the empty sepulchre,
Or Peter heard what she had seen, -,
Or feet John fastened after her,
The children had gone forth and found
The Master in the garden walk,
And scattered lilies on the ground,
n And seen His smile, and heard Him talk
No child was puny, halt, or lame,
8 Or hungry, or in tatters clad,
But clothed as If in light they came,
And all were whole, and strong, and glad
They throng along the Kedron rili,
They thread the city through the gates
Straight UP to Josephs garden hill,
Where He that loves the children waits.
They dance, they sing, they climb the trees
4 They circle round in ring and file;
Thew know they cannot fail to please,
& And win the guerdon Of His smile.
He lift. His hand: 81 bore the pain
OF death for men by sin defled;
q rise henceforth to live and reign
/ / Lord Of the Kingdom Of the Child"
I They vanish and He stands alone;
And when the women come to weep
The garden flames with flowers new-biown-
The children are at home asleep
"What makes that garden spot SO bright!"
The learned rabbis stroked their chins;
They knew not yet that love is light,
That knowledge fails where love begins
But somehow still on Easter morn
The world is beautiful again,
And IN each child.like heart is born
Some yearning Of good will to men
n Some haunting sense some happy dream
OF singing birds, Of daffodils'
OF olive branches, Or the CLEAN
~ OF dew..hine on the Syrian hills
ass Philadelphia Ledger.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EASTER LILIES