California Farmer and Journal of Useful Sciences, Volume 31, Number 15, 29 April 1869 — BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE. [ARTICLE]

BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE.

Mine ryes are stiffened with the last nights tears,

And my brow nehed too heAvily to weep, ©ppresl with sorrow past end future fears, Too weary to awake—to «ad to sleep. With istless hand I drew away the blind To look where lay the morning dull and gray; 1 heard no whisper of tho cold night wind, I saw no gleam to chase the gloom away. Spread like a morning veil on erery hill IJung cheerless mists, through which the dark dawn crept; The rain-drops on the trees lay cold and still, Like Tears of one who in his sleep hath wept. Sadly, I turned and laid me down again, Till sorrow's leaden trance my sense did steal, As those who lulled my very strength of pain Forget their pain awhile and cease to feel. So passed the hours away, and I awoke; But while I slept the world bad traveled on— The damp mist rolled away, the morning broke, And, pouring radiance forth, uprose the sun. The purplo bills were tinged with living light, The grass was waving in tho morning breeze, Like sparkling gems tho rain-drops of the night In rainbow showers were glittering from the trees. Then my heart melted too, and tbe deep gloom Passed like a dreary mist away; Tke sun shono warm and bright into my room, And I rose up from my dull trance to pray. 0 Clod, most merciful ! 'tis ever S3; While thankless men feels but the present pair. And lies steeped in the weariness of woe, Thy step is drawing near to heal again, Then teach us, bard, to bow beneath the rod, Even for tbe chastisement to love Thee more; To trust the mercy of the loving God, And in the very blow Ilka hand adore. So shall we walk through our life's chequered way, Safe from its noontide heat, its evening blight, Till tbe last hour of gloom shall pass away, And leave us to awake in endless light.