Part 2.
His ready mind saw lessons fine,
E’en in most simple things;
For to a child with open eyes,
Each day instruction brings.
Two birds within a cage had we,
Within our cozy room;
As pretty birds as eye could see,
Alike in chirp and plume.
But though they nestled side by side,
At times they’d peck and scold;
Then each would mope all by itself,
All miserable, and cold.
Till one would hop, and nod, and look,
As if to say ‘I’m good’;
When down would fly the other bird—
I’m sure they understood.
These little birds, with feathers green,
And odd and child-like ways,
Were quite a sermon to us all
In darling Edgar’s days.
For he would say, we must not tease
Or quarrel, but show love,
And like the birds all nestled close,
Our words by actions prove.
And Edgar sought, in word and look,
A gentle child to grow;
He strove to overcome himself,
And love to Jesus show.
A Christian lady asked him once—
“Your brother dwells on high—
Would you to Jesus like to go,
Above the bright blue sky?”
“I should, I should,” dear Edgar said,
“And Jesus soon will come
To the bright cloud, and we shall meet,
And all be then at home.
Today, perhaps, the Lord will come,
Tomorrow it may be,
But very soon I know He will,
Then Henry I shall see.
Yet all will not the Saviour meet
When He comes to the sky;
But such as love Him, they will rise
And see Him up on high.”
Astonished at the words so wise,
The lady asked again;
And Edgar, in his simple way,
His meaning made so plain.
That she was sure, though young indeed,
He looked to see the Lord,
And in his heart, by God’s own grace,
Had treasured up the word.
With Sunday came the morn of joy!
How sweet it used to be
To read God’s Word, together pray,
And Scripture wonders see!
He loved to hear the full-toned hymn,
And helped it in his way;
When in the house of prayer we knelt,
He, too, would silent pray.
With solemn mind and reverent look
He sat, because God’s Word
Declares when Christians meet to praise,
Among them is the Lord.
“Do you love Jesus, little child?”
My Edgar used to say;
“O, Jesus is the children’s Friend,
Come, then, to Him today.
ML 12/30/1917