Two Mothers

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| " M Kffi 1 W *j * ifl B™~- ttijj i " TMml iifflTtiiM Sketches by Lilian Comielley

Two Mothers.

MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS. "That other mother, coming near Within her eyes there burns "I am a-weary weeping so, A quenchless fire — a with'ring fear, My heart throbs with its pain, That ev'ry solace spurns. close my eyes to ease my woe, 1

And see it all again, I pity her — have anger none, But 0, so much of joy, My slain — the Crucified — my Son, For love divine gave me a Son There hanging on the tree! A Judas was her boy." 'Twas not for wrong that he had done JUDAS' MOTHER. E'en then he thought of me. "0 Mary, dost thou turn from me? "How happy he in childhood days, Nay! scorn me not unheard! How agile, lithe of limb! I bore the birth-pangs willingly Then came the dream I dreamed Without complaining word, always, And mother-love, thou knowest Of greatness born with him. well, At times I chided, yet I know, Will permeate all space; His wisdom outweighed mine, Will plunge into the depths of It came from where the riches flow, hell,

That flood the stream of Time. Or rise to God's high place.

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528 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

"Yet I am powerless — overcome, To heights or depths where'er I go Dense darkness all around; This, phantom-like, is nigh My heart is crying for my son, My son by infamy brought low, When I make not a sound. While thine ascends on high. Have pity, Mary, women we, Bound by a common tie; "0 pity, Mary, hear me, hear!'' I would exchange, if it could be Prone on the earth she lies,

Or would rejoicing die. For grief so deep there is no tear To lave the burning eyes. "To be in thy place! See me kneel! But Mother Mary lifts her up, My son brought death to thine; And soothes her with caress, Throughout all ages must I feel, Adds sweetness to her bitter cup, The wrath of the Divine? And makes her own pain less.

Lydia D. Alder.