KISSING THE ROD.

O heart of mine, we should n't

Worry so!

What we've missed of calm we could n't

Have, you know!

What we've met of stormy pain,

And of sorrow's driving rain,

We can better meet again,

If it blow!

We have erred in that dark hour

We have known,

When our tears fell with the shower,

All alone!—

Were not shine and shadow blent

As the gracious Master meant?—

Let us temper our content

With His own.

For, we know, not every morrow

Can be sad;

So, forgetting all the sorrow

We have had,

Let us fold away our fears,

And put by our foolish tears,

And through all the coming years

Just be glad.