Under the Leaves | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jul 18, 1878

Under the Leaves.

Thick green leaves from the soft brown earth, Happy spring-time has called them forth ; First faint promise of summer bloom Breathes from the fragrant, sweet perfume, Under the leaves.

Lift them ! what marvelous beauty lies Hidden beneath, from our thoughtless eyes ! May-flowers, rosy or purest white, Lift their cups to the sudden light, Under the leaves !

Are there no lives whose holy deeds— Seen by no eye save His who reads Motive and action—in silence grow Into rare beauty, and bud and blow Under the leaves ?

Fair white flowers of faith and trust, Springing from spirits bruised and crushed ; Blossoms of love, rose tinted and bright, Touched and painted with Heaven's own light, Under the leaves.

Full, fresh clusters of duty, borne, Fairest of all in that shadow grown ; Wondrous the fragrance, that sweet and rare Comes from the flower-cups hidden there, Under the leaves.

Though unseen by our vision dim, Bud and blossom are known to Him ; Wait we content for His heavenly ray— Wait till our Master, himself, one day Lifteth the leaves. —Sel.