While the old man sits by the flower and smokes he meditates upon all the changing scenes of his lifetime; his joys and sorrows, his youthful hopes, his accomplishments, his disappointments, and upon the guidance of the Unseen Powers accorded to him thus far upon the journey of life, and he is encouraged to believe that he will be guided to the end of life’s journey “beyond the fourth hill” of life; as he has been guided over the hill of childhood, the hill of youth, and the hill of manhood’s prime, that he will also be guided over the last hill, the hill of old age.
After finishing his pipe he empties the ashes reverently upon the ground near the pasque flower which he has been contemplating. Then he rises and plucks the flower prayerfully and carries it carefully home to show to his grandchildren, singing as he goes, the song of the pasque flower, which he learned as a child and which he now teaches to his grandchildren, commending to them the example of the flower in its courage and endurance and its faithfulness.
THE SONG OF THE PASQUE FLOWER
By Rev. Ignatius Forster, O. S. B.
Mount Marty, Yankton, South Dakota.
February 1, 1921.
Lovely Pasque Flower,
Herald of Spring,
Proclaiming the hour,
Gladly to sing.
Gently thou greetest
The wintry sun;
Boldly thou peepest
If snow is gone.
Callest thy playmates
Who still do sleep:
“Arise, lo, spring waits!
No longer weep.”
Slowly they waken,
Lowly they sigh:
“Wasn’t that beckon
Pasque Flower’s cry?”
They rise in raiments
Of colors bright;
Pasque Flower’s garments
Are hoary white.
Noble thy preaching,
Pasque flower brave;
“Work,” is thy teaching,
“Unto the grave.”