---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Frost, Grace Ingles
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 21
number: 2
published: 1917-12
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Grace Ingles Frost, "Metamorphosis," *Improvement Era* 21, no. 2 (December 1917): 149.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2102unse
  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: improvementera2102unse
start_page: 149
end_page: 149
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-12)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2102unse
  publication_year: 1917
  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 1917, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Metamorphosis

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GEORGE M. OTTINGER                              149


of America, in Philadelphia, for instance, which was his boy-
hood home, he undoubtedly would have achieved a national
reputation. He set himself to great tasks which under the con-
ditions in which he labored were well-nigh impossible of fulfil-
ment. But the bigness of his mind, the scholar, was shown in
everything he did, and there are failures which are as admir-
able as successes.  Especially would he have been a splendid
marine painter.
     The late artist was born in February, 1833, and conse-
quently in a few more months would have reached the age of
eighty-five years.
     Peace to his ashes! No more together shall we look on the
mountain peak, the rugged defile, the sleeping lake, the roaring
torrent, the shadowy pine-wood, the glories of the western skies.
No more shall we talk of the miracles of art        ;   "I take not so much
interest in these."  No, again, No! The soul is free, there is
illimitable space, wide are the courses of the stars. And then,
more than all, the progress, the development of the endless
being!
    Hail and farewell.


                          Metamorphosis

                           (A Christmas Poem)
         The shepherd no longer keeps watch on the hill,
           'Tis woman, now, cares for the sheep,
         Or left all unguarded, they wander at will,
           When none there are vigil to keep;
         For out in the trenches in cold and in mire,
           His staff changed to musket or sword,
         The shepherd keeps watch for the enemies' fire,
           To charge on a menacing horde.

         As stalwart of purpose as when overhead
           The Star led his fathers along,
         To moans of the wounded, 'mid uncoffined dead,
           He battles to dethrone the wrong.
         Too long has the wolf entered into the fold,
           And stealthily robbed it of peace;
         Too long has the flock felt those fangs ages old;
           His seditious power must cease!

         The shepherd no longer keeps watch on the hill,
           He serves Him his forefathers sought,
         As out in the trenches he strives with a will
           For the cause in which Right has e'er fought,
         That the notes of the heavenly anthem may ring,
           For evermore mankind to bless,
         Till peace on the earth and good will shall bring
           The gloria in excelcis!
                                                —Grace Ingles Frost.