Page:Near nature's heart; a volume of verse (IA nearnaturesheart00jack).pdf/63

 By Courtesy of Briscoe and Arnold.

TROUBLE AND PLAY

It's trouble and gladness from first to the last, Ere joy is quite vanquished some sorrow comes fast; Yet while old Calamity's having his way, For one that's in trouble, there are others at play.

What is play to the pup is grief to the child; What is fun for the boy makes mother go wild; Some deeds of the mother cause angels to weep; While God smiles over all, and all He doth keep.

SOME SMALL SURPRISES

We never foreknow, but our hearts were a-glow, The hearts of Artena and I, As we walked to and fro by the waters a-flow, The waters in "the land of the sky."

The children see true—they generally do— The charming things all around; I followed her view, and I presently knew A Tanager's nest was found.

The boys advanced, as soon as they glanced, And down came the limb of a tree; Thus fortune chanced, while little hearts danced, With four wee fledglings to see.

With noisy protest, and tumult and zest, The camera captured all four. 'Twas the parents' sure test—they forsook the nest, Though birdlings a-weeping sore!