The Vacation

A wonderful Octobtr day, An atmopphere of gold and asuro, Made reudy, one might daré to say, For perfect rest and purest pleasure. Sonic children, overworn with care, Poor, tired children, grown so weary With many things to do and bear, They almost thought the world was dreary. l Shall we go out to play ?" they said, And then spako soí tly to oach other, Afl if their hearts were comforted : 11 O let na go and see onr mother !" For ehe hath early cailed and late, Froni mcuntain blue and shining rivera F rom where cool Bhadows lie in wait, And where the simboaniB dance and quivcr. 11 Come Lome," ehe cries, " I long for yon, With hands so full of gift and blessing, That all abotit my path I Btrew Whui kiiigs are' poor in not posseesing." And when, with Bwift and eager feet, These grown-np children sought and found her, She met them with a welcome sweet, And blesaed them as they gathered round her. Through lovely, lonely woodland ways She led thom to hcr flclds Elypian ; A round them slept the golden hare, Above them phone the mount of Víbíou. "It is enough,'1 the children Baicl, " Our hearts with thanka are overflowing ; Can heaven be interprete? The rest is surely past our knowing.' "Come upt" tho mother answered them, And led the way through misty splcncior ; They almost touehed the garment's hem, A epcll was on them deep and tender. Then upward Btill, away, away, With strange new atrengíh no toil could weary, ["ntil they heard the mother say, í1 Behold youi' world that was so dreary." The utmost mountain height was gaiued. Boyond the realm of outward beauty Some higher law r-ternal reigned, As grand as Truth, pe veré as Duty. But if the mother showed them thero The eecrets of her inner glory, If earth, like Paradise, grew fair, They never told the wondrous Btory. They went their way with their hearts aflame, Aad only by their nobler living We knew the benediction carne, And gueepcd the joy of their Thaukggiviug.