--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Townsend, Joseph Longking collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 25 number: 2 published: 1921-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Joseph Longking Townsend, "In Winter Time," *Improvement Era* 25, no. 2 (December 1921): 119.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2502unse 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: improvementera2502unse start_page: 119 end_page: 119 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2502unse publication_year: 1921 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 1921, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # In Winter Time In Winter Time The north-wind plays a dirgeful harp Like the plaint of a human moan; Athwart the plain and mountain scarp It wails o'er a shrouded zone; It pierces deep, it pierces sharp Through walls of wood and stone. It pleads to the listening ear, By the fireside's cheerful form, For the many destitute of cheer In the cold and pitiless storm, — "O God, provide where they appear, And keep the suffering warm!" My prayer is all my offering, But others are praying, too. Shall not our prayers an answer bring In helping others view The course pursued in everything That charity should do? While yet the fierce north wind declares Its chill and painful smart, O God, thou who dost answer prayers, Make warm the human heart: Bid charity relieve the cares That wintry days impart. Albuquerque, N. M. Joseph Longking Townsend