The Home Circle by Miss A. C. Scammell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 26, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 13.

The Home Circle.

By Miss A. C. Scammell

INTERCHANGE.

O FRIEND, if you would only share with me Your cup of joy that never yet was full, If you would only break with me your bread, Nor large, nor light enough to fill your soul, I think your half-filled cup would soon o'erflow, Sweet, leavened loaves your scanty food would grow.

For, if I had a well-spring bubbling up, I still should thirst for drops that you could give; My heart would ache with all its weight of joy, Could I not give to you and see you live A fuller, richer life. 'Tis our great need, This interchange of thought, and word, and deed.

Even had I only dregs to give to you, And had you only tears to give to me, We need each other's bitterness of grief, To gauge our blessings and less selfish be, To grow more Christ-like as we learn to weep, O'er others' buried joys fond vigils keep.

We say, "Our Father"—let us live it more; God means you as his messenger to me; He bids me be his minister to you; Not cheerfully obey? I cannot see Another way our lives may be complete, Rounded and ripe, and for the Master meet. —Miss A. C. Scammell, in Christian at Work.