Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 74

Paul and Silas in their prison Sang of Christ the Lord arisen; And an earthquake's arm of might Broke their dungeon gates at night.

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

SCATTER SUNs.h.i.+NE

In a world where sorrow ever will be known, Where are found the needy, and the sad and lone; How much joy and comfort we can all bestow If we scatter suns.h.i.+ne everywhere we go.

Slightest actions often meet the sorest needs, For the world wants daily little kindly deeds; Oh, what care and sorrow we may help remove, With our songs and courage, sympathy and love.

When the days are gloomy, sing some happy song, Meet the world's repining with a courage strong; Go, with faith undaunted, through the ills of life, Scatter smiles and suns.h.i.+ne o'er its toil and strife.

--Lanta Wilson Smith.

SOWING JOY

I met a child, and kissed it; who shall say I stole a joy in which I had no part?

The happy creature from that very day Hath felt the more his little human heart.

Now when I pa.s.s he runs away and smiles, And tries to seem afraid with pretty wiles.

I am a happier and a richer man, Since I have sown this new joy in the earth; 'Tis no small thing for us to reap stray mirth In every sunny wayside where we can.

It is a joy to me to be a joy Which may in the most lowly heart take root; And it is gladness to that little boy To look out for me at the mountain foot.

--Frederick William Faber.

Sow thou sorrow and thou shalt reap it; Sow thou joy and thou shalt keep it.

--Richard Watson Gilder.

A LANCAs.h.i.+RE DOXOLOGY

(Written in May, 1863, when cotton came to Lancas.h.i.+re, enabling the mills to open after being long closed. The suffering, grateful women sang the Doxology.)

"Praise G.o.d from whom all blessings flow."

Praise Him who sendeth joy and woe.

The Lord who takes--the Lord who gives-- O praise him, all that dies, and lives.

He opens and he shuts his hand, But why, we cannot understand.

Pours and dries up his mercies' flood, And yet is still All-perfect Good.

We fathom not the mighty plan, The mystery of G.o.d and man; We women, when afflictions come, We only suffer and are dumb.

And when, the tempest pa.s.sing by, He gleams out, sun-like, through our sky, We look up and, through black clouds riven, We recognize the smile of Heaven.

Ours is no wisdom of the wise.

We have no deep philosophies; Childlike we take both kiss and rod, For he who loveth knoweth G.o.d.

--Dinah Maria Mulock Craik.

VIA CRUCIS, VIA LUCIS

Through night to light! And though to mortal eyes Creation's face a pall of horror wear, Good cheer! good cheer! the gloom of midnight flies; Then shall a sunrise follow, mild and fair.

Through storm to calm! And though his thunder car The rumbling tempest drive through earth and sky, Good cheer! good cheer! The elemental war Tells that the blessed healing hour is nigh.

Through frost to spring! And though the biting blast Of Eurus stiffen nature's juicy veins, Good cheer! good cheer! When winter's wrath is past, Soft-murmuring spring breathes sweetly o'er the plains.

Through strife to peace! And though with bristling front A thousand frightful deaths encompa.s.s thee, Good cheer! good cheer! brave thou the battle's brunt, For the peace-march and song of victory.

Through toil to sleep! And though the sultry noon With heavy drooping wing oppress thee now, Good cheer! good cheer! the cool of evening soon Shall lull to sweet repose thy weary brow.

Through cross to crown! And though thy spirit's life Trials untold a.s.sail with giant strength, Good cheer! good cheer! soon ends the bitter strife, And thou shalt reign in peace with Christ at length.

Through woe to joy! And though at morn thou weep, And though the midnight find thee weeping still, Good cheer! good cheer! the Shepherd loves his sheep; Resign thee to the watchful Father's will.

--Rosegarten, tr. by Charles Timothy Brooks.

Talk Happiness. The world is sad enough Without your woes. No path is wholly rough; Look for the places that are smooth and clear, And speak of those to rest the weary ear Of earth, so hurt by one continuous strain Of human discontent and grief and pain.

SERVE G.o.d AND BE CHEERFUL

Serve G.o.d and be cheerful. Make brighter The brightness that falls to thy lot; The rare, or the daily sent, blessing Profane not with gloom or with doubt.

Serve G.o.d and be cheerful. Each sorrow Is--with thy will in G.o.d's--for the best.

O'er the cloud hangs the rainbow. To-morrow Will see the blue sky in the west.

Serve G.o.d and be cheerful. Look upward!

G.o.d's countenance scatters the gloom; And the soft summer light of his heaven s.h.i.+nes over the cross and the tomb.

Serve G.o.d and be cheerful. The wrinkles Of age we may take with a smile; But the wrinkles of faithless foreboding Are the crow's-feet of Beelzebub's guile.

Serve G.o.d and be cheerful. The winter Rolls round to the beautiful spring.

And o'er the green grave of the snowdrift The nest-building robins will sing.

Serve G.o.d and be cheerful. Live n.o.bly, Do right, and do good. Make the best Of the gifts and the work put before you, And to G.o.d without fear leave the rest.

--William Newell.

BRING EVERY BURDEN

Be trustful, be steadfast, whatever betide thee, Only one thing do thou ask of the Lord-- Grace to go forward wherever he guide thee, Simply believing the truth of his word.

Earthliness, coldness, unthankful behavior-- Ah! thou mayst sorrow, but do not despair.