Porter_Summer_Driftwood.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
hers, my little lonely hand " widowed for
ever of one dear touch" softly repeating to
me comforting words, ending with a little
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hymn, which says just what has been pent
in my heart all these long weeks :
" thought, but yesterday,
will was one with 's dear will,
that it would be sweet to say,
ill
happy state should smite upon,
will, my , be done.
' was weak and weary,
weak of soul and weary of heart,
pride alone in me was strong,
cunning art,
cheat me in the golden sun
say, 's will be done.'
" shadow drear and cold,
frights me out of foolish pride.
flood, that through my bosom rolled
billowy tide,
1 said, till ye your powers made known,
's will, not mine, be done.
" , faint and sore afraid,
my cross heavy and rude
idols in the ashes laid,
ashes strewed,
holy words my pale lips shun
, will be done.
-.
" my woes, ,
touch my will with thy warm breath,
in my trembling hand thy rod,
quickens death.
my dead faith may feel thy sun
say, will be done."
.
sends us comfort in such simple
ways. 's hymn has made me
feel so much happier it is a prayer hymn
to me, and oh, will try to feel it is " better
so." 1 will try to still the longing for
; but why wasn't there? could
only have caught the last tones of his voice
if could only have held his dear hand in
mine, and gone with him to the verge of the
beyond ; but it is all well and there want
to rest. will not ask any more why , the
one who loved him best, was not there.
will no more ask why no ear heard the last
words no eye read the last look. will
just trust in , and know loves me,
and be comforted, stretching forth my hand
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into the dark, though it must be and tak
ing hand, the of .
know that , too, holds the same hand
so, though cannot see him, not very far
off does he seem "only gone from one
room into the next." am happier,
more peaceful, too, when try to think less
of and more of ; only sometimes
when the stars come out, and smile down
like loving eyes from the spirit land, love
to think " they are all ministering spirits."
love to think is smiling at me from
his happy home, saying, " not very long will
it be, little , before you come" bid
ding me journey on bravely through these
weary pilgrim days.
it seems better not to think these
thoughts. good people those who
have trusted long years why, suppose
they can, and never be led away from
by them. 'm so weak. don't
think could feel so and not sometimes for
get that said, " me." did
not tell us to follow those whom had
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called, but " me," said. if all
the time felt sure was looking at and
watching over me, listening to my words,
knowing all my thoughts, would try, per
haps, to be better and purer, to wait pa
tiently, because it would please him.
haps it wouldn't be so, but think am
safer just to say to myself, knows ;
loves me ; is with me ; and is
with . know would say,
" , ; follow ; and
don't try to lift the veil where inspiratioa is
silent."
" so beside the silent sea,
wait the muffled oar ;
harm from can come to me
ocean or on shore.
" know not where islands lift
fronted palms in air;
only know cannot drift
love and care.
" oh, dear , by whom are seen
creatures as they be,
me if too close lean
human heart on !"
.
r time has come!
- time dear old grandpapa chose, that
beautiful day, for the unbinding of my
summer wood. a different
than thought it would be !
have been holding in my hand my
summer wreath all faded now. wonder
why it makes me think so of
and the time-worn picture case.
have all given me gifts, seeking to interpret
their love and tender sympathy by the
choosing of these mute comforters.
has brought the green into
my room, and draped the pictures and win
dows ; and over the little clock on my man
tel, she twined a branch of the bitter-sweet
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169
vine richly laden with bef ries silently, but
with many tears. auntie her poems
are always these unspoken things, that say
so much. knew her thoughts as she twined
it in and out the bitter-sweet about my
time-piece, just as it is about my life.
looked so tenderly at me when said :
" , 'm trying to change the words ;
trying to call my summer blossoms, that
have to carry into the winter, to twine
around my future days sweet -bitter."
only said, " help you, child.'.'
it comes over me so.
could bear it, if had not known 's
love in my joy if had waited to come to
, till " frightened by the earthquake,
tried by the fire, driven by the wind."
has given me a little miniature of ,
painted from a photograph had.
can't look at it much yet ; it makes me want
him so. know it will be a comfort,
just as now it is a treasure.
he gave no gift ; but he said, " ,
want you to do a work for me
-.
, let us choose a present for every one
of the little children who have no earthly
father or mother, and who are cared for at
the . 've enjoyed it so
much the making others happy; that is
what this great sorrow makes me long to
do ; and then, in the midst of their happiness,
want to tell them it all comes from .
has brought me beautiful flow
ers. is very happy ; he told me last
night, when the spring comes
ston will be my sister. " -hair,"
used to call her in the merry girl-days
how far away they seem now. is so ten
der of me in his great joy dear .
, too, she remembered me, and brought
a little motto card she had painted, thinking
of my sorrow even in her gladness.
precious words she chose : " am the
rection and the ." , poor
lonely , mourning for her only
brother she sent me a little cross, made
from the mountain mosses we gathered
when all together. , they are so good to
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me, will try and be cheerful and happy for
their sakes. dear old has
sent me a thought. a
basket came, and with it a little note, writ
ten in her tremulous hand just the words :
" comfort you, child, and will the
old auntie knows will. ' the
,' child." the basket
were rosy-cheeked apples, from old
bal ; and from , a little pat of butter.
the sweetest of all this "peace time"
comfort came to me last , ^ when
was sitting in the -school listening
to the glad voices of the children singing,
" the throne of in heaven."
of the rough boys, one of the street
boys, behind whose ragged clothes,
told rne, treasures might be hidden, stole his
dirty hand into mine, and whispered, "
love , don't ye, ? brought ye
this ar though s'pose ye's got lots at
home ; and he gave me a little sprig of the
evergreen.
.
come to the last leaf in my
diary. never shall keep another ; and
yet 'm glad have kept this the record of
oh ! so much to me. remember how
thought in the far off days, way off in the
distant future, would re-read its pages, sit
ting with my hand in 's.
won't dream any more. will just try and
do the work sends. all the helpful
words said, don't need to turn these
pages, to remember them. grand
papa, think he: knows how hard am try
ing better even than the others do.
morning, when he reminded me the day had
come when 1 was to unbind my summer
wood, he laid his hand on my head, just as
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he did the day when he bade me gather
it, and said : " , child, you don't need to
unbind the wood, for the fire is already lit
and burning ! , little ,
that in the midst of the darkness that has
over-gloomed your young life, grace
has helped you to ' your light shine be
fore men.' "
knows all about it, without
my telling him ; knows how the fuel for life's
winter-fire 's great love gave me ; and
he knows the greater, deeper, dearer com
fort that fills my heart with light and warmth
because said, " will not leave you
comfortless. will come to you."
though grandpapa knows it all, will give
him my little book. do not fear his old
eyes, and 'm not afraid of his loving heart ;
and think it will please him to read the
history of how found and how gathered
" -."
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", 'tis a thought most precious,
journeying here below,
pathway all unknowing
which our steps must go.
there's a guide unerring,
knoweth all the way,
who'll direct our footsteps
both night and day.
" must not ask reasons ;
must not doubt love ;
take whate'er sendeth
bidden from above.
then life's daily crosses,
blessings, too, will seem
ways wisdom taketh
danger to redeem.
" we will fear no evil,
take that guiding hand,
that gentle leading,
that kind command ;
in our ways acknowledge,
in holy light,
' earth be left for heaven,
faith exchanged for sight.'