WHY WEEPEST THOU? by Frances E. Bolton

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 25, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 17.

"WHY WEEPEST THOU?"

By Frances E. Bolton

MARY, the Magdalene, had scarcely slept Or eaten, since that dreadful day When she had seen Christ crucified. She'd wept Until it seemed her tears would never stay; For she had broken with her box of bloom The Alabaster of her love's perfume. How could they hate Him? Heaven's Lamb and Dove! The Godlike Image of unfaltering love!

Before the night passed, she was at the tomb, And Lo! 'twas open! empty! and behold, As she stooped down, she saw amid its gloom Two shining ones in robes of snow and gold. But not this vision had her purpose moved Where was the form of Him she most had loved? Dazed in her sorrow, gently asked they now, "Woman, whom seekest here? Why weepest thou?"

She turned herself away from all this sight Of heavenly ones, and stood with tears aflow, And some One moved beside her e'er 'twas light And asked again, "Woman, why weepest thou?"

"O Sir," she cried, "If you have taken Him, Tell me where you have laid Him." Sight was dim. She knew not that the Christ delayed to go Back to the throne till He had 'suaged her wo.

"Mary!" Ah! tender accents of the voice she knew! Her heart leaped, and her very being thrilled. A flash of radiance round about Him grew, And sorrow's doubt was now forever stilled. "Rabboni, [Master]!" "Touch Me not," He said; "I have not yet ascended from the dead." "But go, tell My disciples, bowed 'neath rod, I go unto our Father and our God."

O, tenderness of Christ, to wait His flight, Till He had dried a woman's tear-dimmed sight! And sent a message to His sorrowing own, Before He sought the Father's heavenly throne, To see His sacrifice accepted, even For all the human race in highest heaven! And O, glad Mary, knowing not she slept— So swift her feet, or that she'd ever wept! FRANCES E. BOLTON.