FLOWER OF YOUTH.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 273, 18 March 1918, Page 4

FLOWER OF YOUTH.

The following beautiful poem, by Katharine Tynan, has been a solace to many burdened and bereaved hearts: Lest heaven be thronged with greybeards hoary, God, who made boys for His delight, Stoops, in a day of grief and glory, And calls them in, in from the night. Whe n they come trooping from the war (Jar skies have many a new gold star. Heaven’s thronged with gay and careless faces, New-waked from dreams of dreadful things. They walk the crystal and pleasant places, And by the crystal water-springs Who dreamt of dying and the slain And the fierce thirst and the strong pain. Dear boys! They shall be young forever; The Son of (iod was once a boy. They iuii and leap by a clear river, And of their youth thev have great joy. (iod, who made boys so clean and good. Smiles with the eyes of fatherhood. Now Heaven is by the young invaded; Their laughter’s in the House of (iod, Stainless and simple as He made it (iod keeps the heart o’ the boy unfiawed. The old wise saints look on and smile. They lire so young and without guile. Oh, if the soilless mothers weeping, And widowed girls, could see inside The glorv that hath them in keeping Who went to the (ireat War and died, Thev would rise and put their mourning off. Aid say: “Thank (iod, he has enough! ”