Keep Shining by Clara Edna Rosencrans

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 2, 1912

Keep Shining

By Clara Edna Rosencrans

When the first keen breath of autumn Blows damp and chill and cold, The trees are changing russet brown Their robes of burning gold; A tiny lamp shines brightly By the margin of the brook, Along the meadow pathways, In many a quiet nook.

Like the twinkling stars of heaven, Or light from some wayside shrine, The little fallen fireflies In their dying hour shine, As bright as in the May-time, When he kindles lamps of gold, When the joy of youth is with him, And his little heart is bold.

He shines in chill surroundings, However dark the night, Giving, until his dying, That calm and steady light. How beautiful the lesson That comes to my heart to-day, Taught by these tiny vagrants Who brighten our summer way!

His little wings are helpless, No longer can he fly, To brighten with his fairy lamp The chill, gray autumn sky.

And yet he shines, and shining He seems to my heart to say: “Tho the night be all around thee, And never again comes day, Yet shine, give out thy brightness, As the Lord hath given thee. Tho wings no longer bear thee, Thou a little light canst be.

“Thy lamp was made for shining, As was my tiny spark. Shine on, and light the shadows; Shine on, for the world is dark. Keep shining, shining ever, For the world is chill and cold — Like me, till death shall tarnish Thy lamp of glowing gold.

“Thy light shines on forever; Mine wanes with the coming blast, For me rekindled never; Eternally thine shall last.” Thanks, then, thou little firefly, For the lesson thou dost teach, Tho thy little life is waning, And thou hast not human speech. In love the Hand that made thee Has fashioned thee to shine, Giving to thee thy mission, Even as He gave mine.

Mountain Grove, Missouri.