A Passage in a Life.
At morn, he was so happy ; and at night1
Heart-broken utterly—quite worn and grey.2
Upon the garden of his hopes a blight3
Had fall’n—a blight never to pass away.4
A few words turned his soul’s peace into strife
;5
A brief sad tale—a passage in a life—6
Done in an hour’s, told ina minute’s, space ;7
But every word cut keenly as a knife,8
Carving deep lines of suffering on his face,9
And scoring bitter memories in his heart.10
He was a strong man mail-clad ; one whose part11
From childhood upwards it had been to bear ;12
But the great God—great God, how good Thou art !—13
Knew where the weak spot was, and smote him there.14