The Two Sowers

Death crae to the cartb, hy his sidê was Spring, They came in God's ow n bowers. And the carth was full of their waudering, For theT both wers sowing flowers. " I sow," said Spriug, " ly tbc stream and the wood, And the vlllage and ehildren know The gay glad timo of my own sweet primo, And where my blossoms grow. "There i8 not a spot in the quiet wood Bat ha ikeard the sound of my feet, And the violets eome from thelr eolitude When my tears hath made thi-m Bweet." "Isow," said Death, "whcre the hamlet stands, I sow in the churchyard drear ; ] drop in the grave with gentle hands, Mj flowers from year to year. " The young and the old go into their rest, To the sleep that awaits thern below; But I clasp the ehildren uuto my breast, And kiss them before I go." " I (OW,1' said Spring, "but my ftowers decay, When the year turns weak and old, Wheu the breath of the bleak winds wears them away, And they wither and droop iu the mo.d. " But they come again when the young earth feeíe, The new blood leap in their veins When the fount&iu of wonderful lifc unseals, And the carth is alivu wlth the ralns." " I sow," said Death, " but my flowers unseen Pass away from the land of men. Nor sighs nor tears through the long sadycars Ever bring back their blootn agaiu. "But 1 know they are wouilrous bright aud fair In tUe flelds of their high abode; Your flowers are the ilowers that a eliild may wear, But mine are the blossoms of God." Death camc to the earth, by his side was üpriug, The two came from God's own bowers; One sow'd in night and the other in llght, ïet they both were eowing flower.