Part 14 (2/2)
O de cross-bearin' chile-- De cross-bearin' chile!
I bear dis cross 'long many a road Wha' de pink ain't bloom' an' de gra.s.s done mowed.
O de cross-bearin' chile-- De cross-bearin' chile!
Hits on my conscience all dese days Fo' ter bear de cross ut de good Lord lays On my po' soul, an' ter lif my praise.
O de cross-bearin' chile-- De cross-bearin' chile!
I 's nigh-'bout weak ez I mos' kin be, Yit de Marstah call an' He say,--”You 's free Fo' ter 'cept dis cross, an' ter cringe yo' knee To no n'er man in de worl' but me!”
O de cross-bearin' chile-- De cross-bearin' chile!
Says you guess wrong, ef I let you guess-- Says you 'spec' mo', an'-a you git less:-- Says you go eas', says you go wes', An' whense you fine de road ut you like bes'
You betteh take ch'ice er any er de res'!
O de cross-bearin' chile-- De cross-bearin' chile!
He build my feet, an' He fix de signs Dat de shoe hit pinch an' de shoe hit bines Ef I on'y w'ah eights an-a wanter w'ah nines; I hone fo' de rain, an' de sun hit s.h.i.+nes, An' whilse I hunt de sun, hits de rain I fines.-- O-a trim my lamp, an-a gyrd my lines!
O de cross-bearin' chile-- De cross-bearin' chile!
I wade de wet, an' I walk de dry: I done tromp long, an' I done clim high; An' I pilgrim on ter de jasper sky, An' I taken de resk fo' ter cas' my eye Wha' de Gate swing wide an' de Lord draw nigh, An' de Trump hit blow, an' I hear de cry,-- ”You lay dat cross down by an' by!-- O de Cross-bearin' Chile-- Do Cross-bearin' Chile!”
THANKSGIVING.
Let us be thankful--not only because Since last our universal thanks were told We have grown greater in the world's applause, And fortune's newer smiles surpa.s.s the old--
But thankful for all things that come as alms From out the open hand of Providence:-- The winter clouds and storms---the summer calms-- The sleepless dread--the drowse of indolence.
Let us be thankful--thankful for the prayers Whose gracious answers were long, long delayed, That they might fall upon us unawares, And bless us, as in greater need, we prayed.
Let us be thankful for the loyal hand That love held out in welcome to our own, When love and only love could understand The need of touches we had never known.
Let us be thankful for the longing eyes That gave their secret to us as they wept, Yet in return found, with a sweet surprise, Love's touch upon their lids, and, smiling, slept.
And let us, too, be thankful that the tears Of sorrow have not all been drained away, That through them still, for all the coming years, We may look on the dead face of To-day.
AUTUMN.
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