The Picture by Halcyon Goodrich Morgareidge

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 7, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 19.

The Picture

By Halcyon Goodrich Morgareidge

The artist stood in the fading light, Low o'er the easel bent; And his keen eyes scanned the unfinished task, Where light and shade were blent. Long were the years since in manhood's prime The picture was first begun. Old were the hands that caressed it now, In the light of the sinking sun.

He had dreamed, in youth, of a beautiful Face, So human, yet so divine; And he made this vow: he would strive to catch On his canvas that Face sublime. And he spent his days at the wonderful task, Which momently sweeter grew, And year by year the vision became More clear to the master's view.

Now he was old, and the snows of age Had settled upon his brow; And the master was sad for his work undone And his unkept youthful vow, Nor knew that out from his own true eyes The soul of the dream Face shone, Nor dreamed that the beauty he longed to portray Had daily become his own!

When the lowering sun's last rays had laid Caresses upon his head, The master sank by the easel's side, And there they found him — dead, His work unfinished; but no one thought Of its incompleteness, because Each whispered to each, with aching heart, "How Christlike our master was!"