Bitter Sweet

• BITTER SWEET. (For the Improvement Era.) Light and darkness make our days: Opposites bound all our ways. Right and left, and left and right, We are swayed by day and night, Like a pendulum swings on. Back and forth, from eve to dawn, Back and forth, from dawn to eve,- 'Twixt the things that we believe. So the mind forever swings Twixt the choice of offerings. Right and left, and to and fro, 'Twixt extremes of thought we go, Choosing here and choosing there, Knowing little how we'll fare; Choosing that and choosing this. Though the choice may be remiss, So the mind forever swings 'Twixt the choice of offerings. Faith can bring no ray of light But our doubts obscure the sight. Hope brings us no golden thought But despair must come unsought. Love in ardor can not glow But will hate its rancor show.

. 734 IMPRO VEMENT ERA li^oon as truth the mind indues, Error shows us other views. Charity gives not in vain, Or will avarice complain. Pleasure can no joy impart, Ere will sorrow pierce 1!he heart. And humility, we know, In the scorn of pride must grow. Synonym and antonym Fill our measure to the brim; So the mind forever swings 'Twixt the choice of offerings. Yet in disappointments keen Come our blessings oft unseen, And success at last must crown All our struggles up and down, And our lives be made complete With the bitter and the sweet. J. L. TOWNSEND. Payson, Utah.