A Photograph of Life

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jul 25, 1878

A Photograph of Life.

ANOTHER day, another day, And yet another wears away; Another year, another year, How soon the close of life draws near; On fleeting wings the hours pass by, 'Tis but a day, the end is nigh. 'Tis but a step from youth to age, We glide so swiftly down life's stage; And oh! what scenes of joy and strife Are crowded in this one short life. The flashing eye, the dimpled cheek, The joy, the hope of youth bespeak; But all too soon maturer age Will stamp them with her signet sage. Too soon those velvet feet must press O'er rude, rough paths of ruggedness; Too soon that dimpled cheek will bear The furrowed trace of grief and care; Too soon that stately form will bow, Too soon will change that youthful brow, And the elastic step give place To a more measured lengthened pace. Then let the bright, glad morn of youth, Be stored with gems of fadeless truth, Culling each day what needful be For this life and eternity. Oh! let the early years be fraught With only pure and lofty thought, From all base lusts and grov'ling soar, Then, when the scenes of life are o'er, Return to God all pure and true; Pure as the snowflake or the dew, Bright as the sun, bright as the star, And leave no stain thy life to mar.—Sel.