---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Alfred Osmond
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 17
number: 9
published: 1914-07
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Alfred Osmond, "Papa’s Treasure," *Improvement Era* 17, no. 9 (July 1914): 809.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1709unse
  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: improvementera1709unse
start_page: 809
end_page: 809
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-07)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1709unse
  publication_year: 1914
  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 1914, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Papa’s Treasure

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——— — —

!                 !         ;

PARABLE OF THE OWL EXPRESS                                      809

plans may have been nullified; what God-appointed commissions

of mercy and relief may have been thwarted had the engineer ,

weakened and quailed?

For a little distance the storm-swept track was lighted up

for that short space the engineer drove on

We   may not know what lies ahead of us in the future years,

nor even in the days or hours immediately beyond. But for a

few yards, or possibly only a few feet, the track is clear, our duty

is plain, our course is illumined.   For that short distance, for

the next step, lighted by the inspiration of God, go on

Papa's Treasure

Freckled face and tangled hair.

Dirty hands, and rags to wear,

Ways that make his father swear,

Yet a precious treasure.

Language that is crude and coarse,

Voice that yells and gets not hoarse,

Free from trouble and remorse.

Papa's   little   treasure.

Starlight dances in his eyes,

Moonlight in his dimple lies,

Sunlight with his spirit vies

Papa's fairest treasure.

Search the world, from east to west,

You will find no man more blest

I   have found and loved the best,

Papa's priceless treasure.

God protect my darling boy,

Let not' sin his life destroy,

Let him always be my joy

Papa's peerless treasure.

May his mind be bright and strong,

May his life be great and long,

Chaste and sweet as angel's song

Papa's dearest treasure.

If he cannot bless       my

name.

If his life must reek with shame,

God in heaven, do not blame

This,   my little treasure;

Bid him leave his childish play,

Take him from this world away,

Let his little bones decay,

Papa's sweetest treasure.

In thy mansions fair above,

I would meet the boy I love,

Chaste and stainless as a dove,

Papa's darling treasure.

provo,   utah                                                   Alfred Osmond