upon the coast,
Doth sieges oft endure.

"Now for these castles--both preserved--
First in his prince's love
Shall Montelhery's chief be placed,
Or La Rochelle's above?"

"Oh! doubtless, sire," the sinner said,
"That king will love the most
The man whose task was hard to keep
His castle on the coast!"

"Son," said the bishop, "thou art right;
Apply this reasoning well:
My heart is Montelhery fort,
And thine is La Rochelle!"

IF THOU COULD'ST KNOW

I think, if thou could'st know,
O soul, that will complain,
What lies concealed below
Our burden and our pain--
How just our anguish brings
Nearer those longed-for things
We seek for now in vain--
I think thou would'st rejoice and not complain.

I think, if thou could'st see,
With thy dim mortal sight,
How meanings, dark to thee,
Are shadows hiding light;
Truth's efforts crossed and vexed,
Life's purpose all perplexed--
If thou could'st see them right,
I think that they would seem all clear, and wise, and bright.

And yet thou can'st not know;
And yet thou can'st not see;
Wisdom and sight are slow
In poor humanity.
If thou could'st _trust_, poor soul,
In him who rules the whole,
Thou would'st find peace and rest:
Wisdom and sight are well, but trust is best.

MY CROSS

"O Lord, my God!" I oft have said,
"Had I some other cross instead
Of this I bear from day to day,
'Twere easier to go on my way.

"I do not murmur at its weight;
That Thou hast made proportionate
To my scant strength; but oh! full sore
It presses where it pressed before.

"Change for a space, however brief,
The wonted burden, that relief
May o'er my aching shoulders steal,
And the deep bruise have room to heal!"

While thus I sadly sighed to-day
I heard my gracious Father say,
"Can'st thou not trust my love, my child,
And to thy cross be reconciled?

"I fashioned it thy needs to meet;
Nor were thy discipline complete
Without that very pain and bruise
Which thy weak heart would fain refuse."

Ashamed, I answered, "As Thou wilt!
I own my faithlessness and guilt;
Welcome the weary pain shall be,
Since only that is best for me."

GOD KNOWETH BEST

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