Page:The Christian Year 1887.djvu/163



Sweet is the infant's waking smile, And sweet the old man's rest - But middle age by no fond wile, No soothing calm is blest.

Still in the world's hot restless gleam She plies her weary task, While vainly for some pleasant dream Her wandering glances ask. -

O shame upon thee, listless heart, So sad a sigh to heave, As if thy SAVIOUR had no part In thoughts, that make thee grieve.

As if along His lonesome way He had not borne for thee Sad languors through the summer day, Storms on the wintry sea.

Youth's lightning flash of joy secure Passed seldom o'er His spright, - A well of serious thought and pure. Too deep for earthly light.

No spring was His—no fairy gleam - For He by trial knew How cold and bare what mortals dream, To worlds where all is true.

Then grudge not thou the anguish keen Which makes thee like thy LORD, And learn to quit with eye serene Thy youth's ideal hoard.

Thy treasured hopes and raptures high - Unmurmuring let them go, Nor grieve the bliss should quickly fly Which CHRIST disdained to know.

Thou shalt have joy in sadness soon; The pure, calm hope be thine, Which brightens, like the eastern moon, As day's wild lights decline.

Thus souls, by nature pitched too high, By sufferings plunged too low, Meet in the Church's middle sky, Half way 'twixt joy and woe,