SEED-TIME AND HARVEST by Ada Cambridge

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1874

SEED-TIME AND HARVEST.

By Ada Cambridge

Fret not thyself so sorely, heart of mine, For that the pain hath roughly broke thy rest,— That thy wild flowers lie dead upon thy breast, Whereon the cloud-veiled sun hath ceased to shine.

Fret not that thou art seamed, and scarred, and torn; That clods are piled where tinted vetches were; That long worms crawl to light, and brown rifts, bare Of green and tender grasses, widely yawn.

God's hand is on the plow. So be thou still. Thou canst not see him, for thine eyes are dim; But wait in patience; put thy trust in him. Give thanks for love, and leave thee to his will.

Ah! in due time the lowering clouds shall rain Soft drops on my parched furrows; I shall sow In tears and prayers, and green-corn blades will grow;— I shall not wish the wild flowers back again.

I shall be glad that I did work and weep— Be glad, O God, my slumbering soul did wake— Be glad my stubborn heart did heave and break Beneath the plow—when angels come to reap.

Be glad, O Father, that my land was tilled, And sown, and watered, in the harvest day— When thou wilt cast the weeds and tares away, And when with ripened fruit thy barns are filled.

Keep me my faith, I pray! I cannot see, And fear to intermeddle with thy work. Oh, though I wince and fret, I would not shirk The discipline that is so good for me!

I know that thou wilt make my grief to cease— Wilt send the cool, soft drops of healing rain, And make my scarred heart green with springing grain; That after patient waiting cometh peace.

That after faithful labor I shall rest, And after weeping have my fill of joy. Thou breakest down, to build up—not destroy; Thou doest right, O Lord!—Thou knowest best.

—Ada Cambridge.