THE IVY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 281, 3 September 1889, Page 2

THE IVY.

«^_ .. t t A little plant of ivy . Growing by a wall, Clinging to it. closely, : ' . Fearing not a fall; (|. Sending forth its tendrils, . ' . , Growing bright ana fair. Gaining strength and beauty As it twineth there; ■■.; • And where'er a crevice - ' • '• Doth the ivy find; . -. \-, •• , There its little fingers .■-,,: r In and out do wind. Day by day it spreadeth •;,- Reaching far and wide, „ .-, . Gains at length the cope-stonfc,' ( Turns the other side.' - •■••"•' i.i ■ : And a thing of beauty . v " - ( To the wall : thus Been', - I ' fI. All defects are coveted, ■■: >." ! iv! Mantled o'er with green. . „ > But the wall is olden, , ; „:.;•■, Hasting to decay, „ , Which the ivy trusts to ••■•-.•* For support and ■.■■•■ j ■■•■*■ .• ' '■";■■• • v (/ Now* looit on the picture— ' ;i( w iui Tis a mournful sight! -■' \ "', '■■■ Jl i»,< That once lovely-obj«ct ;Is in woful plight , . < : ; / . Torn are all its tendrils, r .,. ; , t .. { , . Low upon the ground ,„ o Broken, bruiaed, and bleeding (l * : - Is the ivy found. : - " '•' : --'i [i ' ■'-■'■> Shattered now and fallen . „. Is the old stone wall, ' '.'.r.*;'/. That which trusted to It '>'*<'- Ruined by its fall. , < ■ ' Truly a fit emblem Of a human heart, ' With thy. little history. / •./« f f Thou, o 'ivy, art- 7 ' / ; i} "- t U When that heart is giving All its wealth of love "•■-■■ ** r ' For an earthly idol j . Not to God above , . , ... Letting its affections' "' ' "■•:• '■■ All their tendrils twiar - Bound an earthly object, :- ■ ■ '•> (Like the Ivy vine). '■ -■ Leaning on it— clinging . '', , : ' " Closer every day, .< Making this its. portion, „, n , Attite hope and stay.; ,' # , v . ' There will come a eeatea-' .■..--< "When the wbunfled kwet '■■ - . * ■ Torn,' »od bruised, and Meedio^ . - WilHeel bitter smart, «i,.-.-v .; For the idol ttUiojU ' *! • I4k»Jtheol4«tone-waU, ' 4 That whifch clingeth ip,it , . \ . Cra3heth in Ha |a)L • ;, Om stay— and ont <mty ■ "•'■ '*■"• ••»»■■ Is both firm and sure; Thvs can never perish A * *Bht'shaHay€«niTWfc <'■'•"-) J. « : i .pi '{ . j[ -iil JihLlid U No fond heart is wounded Which to Christ doth db|g ; Lasting j»y and safety Trust, in Him, doth briag.