"IF WE ONLY KNEW."

Otago Witness, Issue 1900, 3 July 1890, Page 33

" IF WE ONLY KNEW."

If we only kntw the woe and heartache Waiting for us down the road, If our iips could taste the wormwood, If our backs could feel the load, Would we waste to day in wishing For a time that ne'er can be ? Would we wait in such impatience For our ships from 'cross the sea ? If we knew the baby fingers, Pressed against the window pane, Would be cold and stiff to-morrow— Never trouble us again— Would the bright eyes of our darlings Catch the frown upon our brow ? Would the print of rosy fingers Vex us then as they do now now P Ah I those little ice-cold fingers, How they point our memory back To the hasty words and actions Strewn along our baokward track I How those little hands remind üb, As in snowy grace they He, Not to scatter thorns but roEes For our reaping by-and-bye 1 Strange we never prize the muato Till the sweet-volcel bird has flown ; Strange that we should tlight the violets Till the lovely flowers are gone ; Strange lhat Summer skies and sunshine ' Never seem one half so fair As when Winter's snowy pinions Lhake their white down in the air I Lips from which the seil of silence None but God can r"ll away, Nflver bl is*otned in such bi-auty Aa adorns the mouUi to-day ; Aid swi e'. words t hat freight uur memory With ihfir b^nutilu: pertume. Come to us in sweeter ucot-nt.s Ttiroufih the portals of the tomb* Let us gather up 'he sunbeams Lying all around ou- path ; Let us keep the wheat and ro i ei, Casting out the thornß and chaff ; Let us find our sweetest oomfort In the blessings of to-day ; With a patient hand removing All the briers from our way.