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Raine, William MacLeod, 1871-1954

"Friends and Neighbors"

"
Annie Bermond let the curtain fall very slowly forward, and buried
her face in her hands; but the two old pilgrims by her side, John
and Margaret Greylston, looked at each other with a smile of hope
and joy. They had long been "good and faithful servants," and now
they awaited the coming of "the Master," with a calm, sweet
patience, knowing it would be well with them, when He would call
them hence.
The pines creaked mournfully in the winter wind, and the stars
looked down upon bleak wastes, and snow-shrouded meadows; yet the
red blaze heaped blithely on the hearth, taking in, in its fair
light, the merry circle sitting side by side, and the thoughtful
little group standing so quietly by the window. And even now the
picture fades, and is gone. The curtain falls--the story of John and
Margaret Greylston is ended.



THE WORLD WOULD BE THE BETTER FOR IT.


IF men cared less for wealth and fame,
And less for battle-fields and glory;
If, writ in human hearts, a name
Seemed better than in song and story;
If men, instead of nursing pride,
Would learn to hate and to abhor it--
If more relied
On Love to guide,
The world would be the better for it.
If men dealt less in stocks and lands,
And more in bonds and deeds fraternal;
If Love's work had more willing hands
To link this world to the supernal;
If men stored up Love's oil and wine,
And on bruised human hearts would pour it;
If "yours" and "mine"
Would once combine,
The world would be the better for it.


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