The Beloved Apostle. A Poem

116 IMPROVEMENT ERA their senses again. Two negatives may make an affirmative, but two silences do not make speech. When pride gets into this deli- cate condition, where it is constantly fearing a draught, it should be taken seriously in hand and gently but firmly chloroformed into oblivion. Why, even in the Garden of Eden, where the first married couple resided, in a beautiful place where they lived,absolutely rent free, and they had no neighbors to criticize them and they were making a name for themselves and winning immortality in literature as the first tenants, the pride of both led to disaster. And pride has been coming between love and happiness in this world of ours ever since that day. ("Marriage Success on Business Lines," will be treated in the January Era, in this series.) The Beloved Apostle, John Henry Smith (For the Improvement Era.) So like a splendid sturdy oak, So big of heart, so broad, and To which the tendrils cling; true; But Death, alas! with one fell The clasp of his warm hand stroke, Would hope and happiness renew, Laid low the kindly king. And every doubt withstand. An oak whose branches overhung A friend of all, a patriot he, And spread beyond the wall, Who loved the Starry Blue Whose sunlit leaves an anthem And crimson Bars of Liberty sung Which hold man's rights a-view. Of charity for all. His words were peace, his life was How, yester, Zion did rejoice love; To hear his words of cheer; Exemplar to the race; Today her grief she cannot voice Ambassador of Him above, But silent drops a tear! A witness of His grace. But he still lives, a mighty oak To which the tendrils cling; And age on age, with gladsome stroke, Shall praise and homage bring. Ruth May Fox.