РОЕМ READ AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GIRLS' HIGH AND NORMAL SCHOOL ASSOCIATION, JUNE, 1863, BY MRS. FRANCES E. BEAL, A GRADUATE OF THE SCHOOL. POEM. THREE years have passed, since on our festal day, How strongly live within our memories The lingering moments of that parting day, 'When, with reluctant feet," we left our childhood. Could any turn away with careless hearts? No tender thoughts of all the happy days And broken friendships we must leave behind? Time passes on; where is the woman now? What "beckoning life plan" calls her forth to strive? Perhaps, in even course, her quiet life Flows on amid the happy scenes of home; But even there no easy task awaits The daughter, sister, faithful to her trust, For all the noisy, thankless little ones, Of tearing clothes and solving hopeless problems; And shed around his home the tender grace And sweet refinement the true woman bears. Perhaps, through heat and cold, through storm and sun, She seeks some cheerless room, where day by day, Her busy fingers hardly earn the right Of simply living, toiling; that is all. All, did I say? I spoke too lightly then. 'Tis a great thing to live, since Christ has lived, And made the burden of our human life So rich with wondrous possibilities, That proudly we may wear it as a crown Through God's great love, not bear it as a burden. That, though no sunbeam find the shadowed room, Angels may come and minister to her. Perhaps in harder toil of brain and heart She reigns the school-room's queen, a noble post Nor deem thine thankless work, O! faithful teacher; A love more reverential, more unselfish, Than some young hearts are laying at thy feet. For all the oft-repeated toil and care Their sins of heedless childhood bring to thee? Perhaps the changing spring-time of her life Bursts into sudden summer; the trees bloom, The birds sing in their branches, the light leaves Seem listening happy tidings from the breeze, |