Page:Poems Procter.djvu/37

And judge none lost; but wait and see, With hopeful pity, not disdain;The depth of the abyss may be The measure of the height of painAnd love and glory that may raiseThis soul to God in after days!

FRIEND SORROW.

O not cheat thy Heart and tell her, "Grief will pass away,Hope for fairer times in future, And forget to-day."—Tell her, if you will, that sorrow Need not come in vain;Tell her that the lesson taught her Far outweighs the pain.

Cheat her not with the old comfort, "Soon she will forget,"—Bitter truth, alas! but matter Rather for regret;Bid her not "Seek other pleasures, Turn to other things":—Rather nurse her caged sorrow Till the captive sings.

Rather hid her go forth bravely, And the stranger greet;Not as foe, with spear and buckler, But as dear friends meet;