---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Stuart, Oni D.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 12
number: 6
published: 1909-04
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Stuart, Oni D., "The Angel Side," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 6 (April 1909): 413.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1206unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera1206unse
start_page: 413
end_page: 413
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-04)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1206unse
  publication_year: 1909
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# The Angel Side

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'IHE ANGEL SIDE.
(Selected for the Improvement Era.)
The huge, rough stones from out the
mines,
Unsightly and unfair,
Have veins of purest metal hid
Beneath the surface there.
Few rocks so bare but to their heights
Some tiny moss-plant clings;
And, on the peak so desolate,
The sea bird sits and sings.
Believe me, too, that rugged souls,
Beneath their rudeness hide
Much that is beautiful and good, —
We've all our angel side.
In all there is an inner depth,
A far-off, secret way,
Where, through the windows of the
soul,
God sends his smiling ray.
In every human heart there is
A faithful, sounding chord
That maybe struck, unknown to us,
By some sweet, loving word.
The wayward will in man may try
Its softer thoughts to hide, —
Some unexpected tone reveals,
It has an angel side.
Despised, and lone, and trodden down,
Dark with the shades of sin,
Deciphering not those halo-lights
Which God has lit within:
Groping about in endless night,
Poor, poisoned souls they are
Who guess not what life's meaning is,
Nor dream of heaven afar.
0 that some gentle hand of love
Their stumbling steps would guide,
And show them that, amidst it all,
Life has its angel side !
Brutal and mean and dark enough,
God knows some natures are;
But he, compassionate, comes near,
And shall we stand afar?
Our cruse of oil will not grow less
If shared with hearty hand;
The words of peace and looks of love
Few natures can withstand.
Love is the mighty conqueror;
Love is the beauteous guide;
Love, with her beaming eyes, can see
We've all our angel side !
Oni D. Stuakt.
Uintah, Utah.