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The Home Circle

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 29, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 5.

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The Home Circle.

By Emma C. Dowd

BEARING FALSE WITNESS.

She wore the name of Christ, and seemed to share His self-forgetfulness, his love divine; Her life gave promise of a life most rare— A very star of grace she seemed to shine.
Alas! one cloud turned all her day to night, One drop of rue made gall her nectared cup; And when again her path grew fair and bright, She bowed her head, and would not lift it up.
New blessings thronged around her, blossoms sweet, Shedding abroad their honeyed breath, like balm; God's angels guided still her stumbling feet, And led her where the airs were pure and calm.
"I am resigned," said lips; her face said nay; "The Lord is good," she said, but did not smile; She nursed her grief in silence, day by day, And found a melancholy joy the while.
Hearts looked to her, in need and sore distress, Longing to find some way from darkness out; But seeing naught to comfort or to bless, They turned away in hopeless pain and doubt.
And thus she lived her life, nor looked beyond Her own heart's sorrow, on the world so fair, Bearing false witness to a love most fond, False witness to a Father's tender care.
O ye who take and wear the name of Christ, Keep ye a cheerful heart and happy face, Lest, sorrowing, ye be to gloom enticed, And bear false witness to God's love and grace.
—Emma C. Dowd, in S. S. Times.