Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul. Various

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СКАЧАТЬ as the heart gives whose fetters are breaking—

      Life, love, and hope, all thy dreams and thy waking;

      Soon, heaven's river thy soul-fever slaking,

      Thou shalt know God and the gift that he gave.

      —Rose Terry Cooke.

      ———

      ALONG THE WAY

      There are so many helpful things to do

      Along life's way

      (Helps to the helper, if we did but know),

      From day to day.

      So many troubled hearts to soothe,

      So many pathways rough to smooth,

      So many comforting words to say,

      To the hearts that falter along the way.

      Here is a lamp of hope gone out

      Along the way.

      Some one stumbled and fell, no doubt—

      But, brother, stay!

      Out of thy store of oil refill;

      Kindle the courage that smoulders still;

      Think what Jesus would do to-day

      For one who had fallen beside the way.

      How many lifted hands still plead

      Along life's way!

      The old, sad story of human need

      Reads on for aye.

      But let us follow the Saviour's plan—

      Love unstinted to every man;

      Content if, at most, the world should say:

      "He helped his brother along the way!"

      ———

      SAVED TO SERVE

      Is thy cruse of comfort failing?

      Rise and share it with another,

      And through all the years of famine

      It shall serve thee and thy brother.

      Love divine will fill thy storehouse

      Or thy handful still renew;

      Scanty fare for one will often

      Make a royal feast for two.

      For the heart grows rich in giving—

      All its wealth is living gain;

      Seeds which mildew in the garner

      Scattered fill with gold the plain.

      Is thy burden hard and heavy?

      Do thy steps drag wearily?

      Help to bear thy brother's burden;

      God will bear both it and thee.

      Numb and weary on the mountains,

      Wouldst thou sleep amidst the snow?

      Chafe that frozen form beside thee,

      And together both shall glow.

      Art thou stricken in life's battle?

      Many wounded round thee moan:

      Lavish on their wounds thy balsam,

      And that balm shall heal thine own.

      Is thy heart a well left empty?

      None but God the void can fill.

      Nothing but the ceaseless Fountain

      Can its ceaseless longings still.

      Is the heart a living power?

      Self-entwined its strength sinks low.

      It can only live in loving,

      And by serving love will grow.

      ———

      BY DOING GOOD WE LIVE

      A certain wise man, deeply versed

      In all the learning of the East,

      Grew tired in spirit, and athirst

      From life to be released.

      So to Eliab, holy man

      Of God he came: "Ah, give me, friend,

      The herb of death, that now the span

      Of my vain life may end."

      Eliab gently answered: "Ere

      The soul may free itself indeed,

      This herb of healing thou must bear

      To seven men in need;

      "When thou hast lightened each man's grief,

      And brought him hope and joy again,

      Return; nor shalt thou seek relief

      At Allah's hands in vain."

      The wise man sighed, and humbly said:

      "As Allah willeth, so is best."

      And with the healing herb he sped

      Away upon his quest.

      And as he journeyed on, intent

      To serve the sorrowing in the land

      On deeds of love and mercy bent,

      The herb bloomed in his hand,

      And through his pulses shot a fire

      Of strength and hope and happiness;

      His heart leaped with a glad desire

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