POEMS

BY

MARY ALICE WALTON

TO THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER

Copyrighted 1910 by Mary Alice Walton

[Transcriber's Note: Irregularities in spelling have been retained as found in the original text.]

Preface.

he Poems contained in this booklet composed when ill, and either blind or nearly so, are given to the public for the purpose of strengthening faith in God. Those outlining in part, a life that has been more than filled by the disciplinarian, sorrow, are but a glimpse of the many heavy crosses borne. In my retrospection I can only believe the Father deemed me worthy to be tested, at the same time giving wonderful revelations of Himself and many answers to prayer. Thanks be to Him, that I was brought through the fire with unshaken faith in Christ, for this end, to prove that those who stand firm in faith will not only be given a victory, but be brought to a greater joy and fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Table of Contents

The Cross of Pearls.
The Solitary Lament.
Under the Rod.
Waiting, Ever Waiting.
To My Daughter.
Providence Hospital.
The Photograph.
Midnight Thoughts.
Some Mother's Boy.
The Gift.
Thou Waters, Tell Me Why.
Voices Hushed.
Why I Love Them.
My First Gray Hair.
Life's Curtain Unrolled.
The Chosen City.
The Land of Love.
For I Long to be There.
Golden Gates.
Hope Beyond.
The Ministering Soul.
Transition.
Peace.

The Cross of Pearls.

ethsemane, how oft, grown dim, With bleeding hearts, unpardoned sin, A Cross with pearls, and gems inlaid, God's gift of love, the price prepaid. These precious pearls were once a tear, Repentant sighs, a hope, a fear, But rough seas washed and jewels grew Until the Cross was pearly hue. Unnumbered are the pearls and fair, If burdens of the weary share; And deeply wrought with threads of gold, If smiles of peace suppress our woe. To help Thee, Christ, in saving world, Forgetting self is rarest pearl, That brightly glows when righting wrong, Assisting souls in Thee grow strong. The Cross that Thou so freely bare Is covered o'er with pearls of prayer; On Cross of Love all hopes are stayed, Each time it's kissed a pearl's inlaid.

The Solitary Lament.

he terrors of night have fallen on me, The shadow of forms no longer I see, Eyes that have lingered on objects of light Are now ever closed by day and by night; As time passes on I shed bitter tears, Wearily waiting these many long years, Oftentimes waking from