The Home Circle by New England Journal of Education

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 8, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 18.

The Home Circle.

By New England Journal of Education

GOD'S SCHOOL.

ONE by one, as the days go by, To learn our lessons we bravely try; For every hour some task is set— Difficult, easy, short or long— And whether we come to it weak or strong, Somehow or other it must be met.

Graded well is this school of ours, Each one's duties within his powers, And his task the thing that he needs to know, And many a time does the page grow dim, And before tired eyes the hard words swim, And the hours go by so slow, so slow.

Various ages are gathered there; Flaxen ringlets and thin, gray hair Alike fall over the lesson-books. And often the little ones laugh in glee At the beautiful words their bright eyes see, While the old sit silent, with grave, sad looks.

Skillful teachers assembled here, Patiently labor year by year; Never mistake in their work was known; Only the scholars, weary or vexed, Idle, impatient, tired, perplexed, Suffer from errors all their own.

The Spirit teaches the highest class; Time takes all as they onward pass; Joy is claimed by the happy few, While Care, Experience, Labor, Pain, Treasures of knowledge help us gain, And Conscience conducts the grand review.

But, patiently learning day by day, We are longing to hear the Master say That our school-days here are done; And after the last long term shall pass, To be transferred to that upper class In which the advanced work is begun.

—New England Journal of Education.