Sunday Conner.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 31, 10 December 1897, Page 20

Sunday Conner.

BEAR UP. Time rolleth on ; and with our years Our sorrows grow and multiply, Our visions fade ; With late remorse and withering fears, We look for light to days gone by. But all is shade. Our dear fond friends have long been gone, No moon is up in heaven above, The chill winds blow ; The dolorous night of age comes on. The current of our life and love Moves low, moves slow. Yet earth hath still a twofold dower ; On desert sands the palm-trees rise In greenest bloom ; The dawn breaks at the darkest hour ; Stars brightliest shine when midnight skies Are palled in gloom. The deep hath treasures unrevealed Of gold and gems and argosies And gallant ships ; The sword strikes hurtless on the shield. And from the once plague-laden breeze Health greets thy lips. Thou, therefore, man, shalt never droop, Shalt never doubt, shalt always tiust The power of God. Thou art not heaven's or nature's dupe : This fleshly hull shall rot in dust, A trodden clod ; But wilt thou cower, tho' death draws nigh ? The mouldering frame, the eternal soul, Which, say, is best .' Thou canst not live unless thou die, Thou must march far to reach thy goal Of endless rest. Bear up, even tho' thou be like me Stretched on a couch of torturing pai l This weary day ; Tho' heaven and earth seem dark to the?, And thine eye glance around in vain For one hope-ray. Tuo' overborne by a\ rong and ill, Tho' thou hast drained even to the lees Life's bitter cup. Though death and hell be round thee, still Place faith in God ; He hears. He sees. Bear up ! Bear up ! — James Clarence Mangax.