FOR THORNS.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 163, 31 July 1886, Page 5

FOR THORNS.

There came & messenger of God Unto tbio world o( ours, Twas bat a bad ot purple may With green leaves round its tiny ■pray, Smlllnfit in sunny bower*,— A maiden with the health ot June And sunshine round her way, Xies'd the sweet bud— whan lo ! there lay A tiny thorn I— Ah ! gentle maid, Cwt not the gem »way ! Dost thou expeot all suurays, And never a oloud to frown 1 Soot think the flowers have never a thorn Or the east winds beat not The lamb new shorn ? Or ft Mint shall not faint Till the retches the crown And near the throne she nestles down ? There came a messenger of God With flowers around his way. The birda eang love and the star* above Smiled fairer for him alway. And he loved the world, and he kiss'd its flowers Andheroam'dby the shore for days and hours, And he sang of freedom, and brotherhood, The weal of man, and his brother's good. Bat woe to him. poor post of love, The clouds hid all fair Btars above. And the world grew cold, and jealousy Threw o'er his path its irony ! And bis harp grew silent, O ! foolish bird Strike tweeter notes, when hearts are hard And when clouds are black— and the world is co.d. Tell the critics of hate— they are tinged with gold. Then ling still sing of the days to be When stars shall beam again above. Sing Freedom's Uys of the brighter days When song shall rule each heart of lor*. Doet think each heart is like thy own, Clinging for love near the Father's throme? Dost think to escape the viper's sting? It biteth the slave- shall it spare the King? Dost hope to escape the critic's sneer When the spirit of hate is everywhere? Ah! no— poor bard, and maiden sweat Still bless the daisies 'neath yonr feet, Klwj God's fair flowers— sing of worlds afar, Where love is King o'er each smiling star; And press, tweet maid, thy ruby lips To the fragrant roße. the thorny may ; Tho' they' pierce then art or the H o to-day. They shall smile in love, when the thorns decay. "Yet the singers of God shall be crown'd with .thorns. And amid the f roste 3 leaves. They shall groan and cry for freedom's sake Like Chritt between the thieves ! The world shall nail them on the cross, And pierce each loving sideTill giants of love shall groan and cry, " Oh! Father with us abide." And the Father, tho' far. shall be near at hand, fie shall smite with a whirlwind's rod, And cluep the crucified s ns of Song To the bo&om of their God. W. R. Wnxs,