In the sight of man you may never win anything like success;
  And the laurel crown of the victor may never your temples press;
  If only you have God’s approval, ’twill not matter what else you miss,
  His blessing is Heaven beginning, His reward will be perfect bliss.

  Be faithful in every service, obedient to every call;
  Ever ready to do His bidding, whether in great things or small;
  You may seem to accomplish little, you may win the praise of none;
  But be sure you will win His favor, and the Master’s great “Well Done.”

  And when at His blessed coming, you stand at His judgment seat;
  He’ll remember your faithful service and His smile will be Oh! so sweet! 
  He will bid you a loving welcome, He’ll make you to reign for aye,
  Over great things and o’er many, with Him, through eternal day.

“THE CHANGED CROSS.”

    It was a time of sadness, and my heart,
    Although it knew and loved the better part,
    Felt wearied with the conflict and the strife,
    And all the needful discipline of life.

    And while I thought on these as given to me,
    My trial tests of faith and love to be,
    It seemed as if I never could be sure
    That faithful to the end I should endure.

    And thus, no longer trusting to His might,
    Who says, “We walk by faith and not by sight”;
    Doubting and almost yielding to despair,
    The thought arose—­My cross I cannot bear.

    Far heavier its weight must surely be
    Than those of others which I daily see;
    Oh! if I might another burden choose,
    Methinks I should not fear my crown to lose.

    A solemn silence reigned on all around,
    E’en nature’s voices uttered not a sound;
    The evening shadows seemed of peace to tell,
    And sleep upon my weary spirit fell.

    A moment’s pause and then a heavenly light
    Beamed full upon my wondering, raptured sight;
    Angels on silvery wings seemed everywhere,
    And angels’ music filled the balmy air.

    Then One more fair than all the rest to see—­
    One to whom all the others bowed the knee—­
    Came gently to me as I trembling lay,
    And, “Follow Me!” He said, “I am the Way.”

    Then speaking thus, He led me far above,
    And there, beneath a canopy of love,
    Crosses of divers shapes and sizes were seen,
    Larger and smaller than my own had been.

    And one there was, most beauteous to behold,
    A little one, with jewels set in gold;
    Ah! this methought, I can with comfort wear,
    For it will be an easy one to bear.

    And so, the little cross I quickly took,
    But all at once, my frame beneath it shook;
    The sparkling jewels fair were they to see,
    But far too heavy was their weight for me.