ANSWER TO BEAUTIFUL SNOW.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1187, 28 October 1882, Page 2

ANSWER TO BEAUTIFUL SNOW.

Yes, frail one and friendless the beautiful snow, It falls uently from Heaven on all things below, Clothing the earth with a mantle of white, Covering the dark spots with beauty and light, Decking the mountains and cheering the glen. Lighting the city and dwellings of men. Shrouding the grav es wnere our lov’d ones lie sleeping, Watched o'er by Angels beneath willows weeping. Snow as if Angels unfeathered their wings To veil, oh so softly, sorrowful things; Changing the blackest to purest of white. Like charity hiding earth’s sins from sight. Oh ! Lost child look for God’s love like the snow, Descends from our Father on sinners below ; Brightening with hope the sad face that we meet, Cheering the sin stricken soul of the street. Poor victim of passion of virtue despoiled, Cast off like a garment all faded and soiled, Or rose that shed beauty and fragrance around, Is plucked from the stem to be trod on the ground ; Once pure as an Angel and bright as the snow, The sun of the city nas clouded thy brow, And set a sad look on thy half-childish face, Where a smile used to play with innocent grace. Now lost to thy friends and nearest of kin; E'en lost to thy heartless betrayer of sin ; Outcast of the world with a heart full of woe; No home and no pity in the cold drifting snow. Oh ! Rise child of sorrow, rejoice, for behold The good Shepherd sees thee like Jesus of old. To carry thee home like the lost sheep of yore ; Forgiveness and friendship still for thee in store. Come Magdalene kind, and annoint thy Lord’s feet, And wash them with tears of repentance so sweet; Soft accents of pardon shall set them aglow, Like sun’s hue in winter on beautiful snow ; Tho’ countless as sand, e'en scarlet as dye, Thy sins shall be whiter than snow from the sky ; Thy garment of baptism polluted, defiled. Restored like the robe of the prodigal child. Ah '. Lov'd one and friendless, a home still for thee, And mothers and sisters of sweet charity, Under mantl6 of white find nity ank know God’s love never melts like the beautiful snow.