A moment's pause and then a heavenly light
Beamed full upon my wondering, raptured sight;
Angels on silvery wings seemed everywhere,
And angels' music filled the balmy air.
Then One more fair than all the rest to see—
One to whom all the others bowed the knee—
Came gently to me as I trembling lay,
And, "Follow Me!" He said, "I am the Way."
Then speaking thus, He led me far above,
And there, beneath a canopy of love,
Crosses of divers shapes and sizes were seen,
Larger and smaller than my own had been.
And one there was, most beauteous to behold,
A little one, with jewels set in gold;
Ah! this methought, I can with comfort wear,
For it will be an easy one to bear.
And so, the little cross I quickly took,
But all at once, my frame beneath it shook;
The sparkling jewels fair were they to see,
But far too heavy was their weight for me.
"This may not be," I cried, and looked again
To see if there was any here could ease my pain;
But one by one I passed them slowly by,
Till on a lovely one I cast my eye.
Fair flowers around its sculptured form entwined,
And grace and beauty seemed in it combined;
Wondering, I gazed and still I wondered more,
To think so many should have passed it o'er.
But Oh! that form so beautiful to see,
Soon made its hidden sorrows known to me;
Thorns lay beneath those flowers and colors fair;
Sorrowing, I said. "This cross I may not bear."
And so it was with each and all around,
Not one to suit my need could there be found;
Weeping, I laid each heavy burden down,
As my guide gently said: "No cross, no crown."
At length to him I raised my saddened heart,
He knew its sorrows, bid its doubts depart;
"Be not afraid," He said, "but trust in Me,
My perfect love shall now be shown to thee."