MARY   BODDY.
Entered into rest
April   25th.   192a
lie sat by a furnace of seven-fold beat,
As He watched by tbe precious ore.
.And closer He bent with a searching' gaze,
As He healeci it more and more.
He knew He had one that could stand the test,
And He wanted the finest gold
To mould a crown for the fCin.tr to wear,
Set with gems of price untold.
So He laid our gold on the burning- fire,
Though we fain would say Him nay.
And He watched the dross that we bad not seen
As it melted and passed away.
And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright,
But our eyes were dim with tears :
We saw but the fire—not the Master's hand-*
And questioned with anxious fears.
Yet onr gold shone out with a richer glow,
As it mirrored a Form above
That bent o'er the fire, tho' unseen bv us,
With a look of ineffable love.
Can we 'hink that it pleased His loving heart
To cause us a moment's pain?
Ah, no! bat He sees through the present cross
The bliss of eternal gain.