Poems (Crandall)/The Closet Skeleton

by Rosa Neil Crandall

Best Wishes

The soul that ever toys with flowers,
  Where fairy zephyrs blow;
That never braves affliction's storm,
  Its own worth cannot know.

The soul that is never called to weep,
  The heart that knows no pain,
Will shrivel up mid earth's delights,
  With aspirations vain.

With out the rain, the sunshine
  Would earth's beauty soon destroy;
I wish you not, my dear young friend,
  A life's unchanging joy.

But just as many smiles and tears
  As Heaven sees you need;
To rouse the heart's sweet sympathies,
  To noble action lead.

With just enough, nor any more
  Of pain and pleasure both,
To wake the best that in you lies,
  Perfect the spirit growth.