If I Could Know

"Ií I could know,"' I said, Weeping beside raj ded, 'Knfiw uil about the life Ileyoud this mortal strífe. Thcn I might bcar to pivtThee up dcar heart nd Uve, As one who only waíts The opening of barred gates." Just tlicn a lily-bel! Vroin ont lhe'dt-d hand fel! ; I took it in my own - 1 thought how it had grown Fram sensetess bulb and root, A slcndcr. fragüe shoot, UntH, wild suddeo power, It burst tD hnd, to flower I Rut how? N'ay, who can know JuM how the filie g-row? And wtre the ecrci our, Say, would iX cliange tile f.owers? And if we knew wht lies Beyond thee earthly kies, Kne.v all, pitt doubt, what then I Wouid w be bclter men ?