--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Jean H. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 17 number: 10 published: 1914-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Jean H., "A Tear," *Improvement Era* 17, no. 10 (August 1914): 930.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera17010unse 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: improvementera17010unse start_page: 930 end_page: 930 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera17010unse 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. --- # A Tear 930 IMPROVEMENT ERA Eloquence is not the inspiration of a moment nor the training of a day. It is not the application of rhetorical principles nor the result of a course in the school of oratory. It is the thrill of a voice made merry by laughter and softened by grief. It is the sympathy of a heart that has felt the fight of right with wrong. It is the outpouring of a human soul that has been upon Sinai and seen the lightnings flash and heard the thunders roll. It is the result of a life-time in the desert with the meal of locust flesh, and the cloak of camel's hair. It is the agony of Gethsemane crystallized into words. It is character thrilling and throbbing with a purpose. This was the oratory of the Nazarene peasant. Countless are the voices that have enriched our air of earth, but they have grown faint with the centuries. Circumstances change, and the truths they uttered have lost their deep signifi- cance for mankind. Languages die, and they are heard no more. But tonight, above the tumult of ages, safe from the wrecks of time, above the decay of any language, comes to us the words of the Master. They have lived because through them shone a divine character, and behind them was the resistless power of purpose. 229 East Seventh South, Salt Lake City A Tear A tear? — so it is — well, let it stay. But why comes it here at the close of this day? Beautiful day, whose memory dear Will stay with me ever. — A tear? 'tis a stranger hath wandered amid This land of joy, unwelcomed, unbid, But finding its place 'mongst the day's bright hours, Will leave me never. Perhaps in the future, when older years Have seasoned the memory of joys and tears, The hour that brought me this stranger tear Will be counted sweetest of all. Jean H. LOS ANGELES, CAL.