A Sunbeam.

The sun was hid all day by clouds,         The rain fell softly down;     A cold gray mist hung o'er the earth,         And veiled the silent town.     Behind the clouds a sunbeam crept         With restless wings of gold;     The skies above were bright and warm,         The earth below was cold.     It glanced along the heavy clouds,         Then sought to glide between;     But ah! they gathered closer still,         With fierce and angry mien.     The dancing ray grew strangely still,         Just like some weary bird,     That droops upon a lonely shore,         And sings its song unheard.     For on the earth the drooping flowers         Were longing for the light;     And children with their watching eyes         Could trace no sunbeam's flight.     At last an angel, wand'ring by,         With snowy wings outspread,     Beheld the sunbeam sad at heart,         And passing by she said:     "Why wait you here above the clouds,         The earth has need of you;     Spread out your wings, speed quickly on         And pierce the vapor through."     But still the sunbeam mournfully         Gazed on the gloom below;     Then looked up in the spirit's face         With softened, anxious glow.     The angel smiled, the clouds gave way         And drifted far apart;     And lo! the glory of that smile         Fell on each earthly heart.     Then quickly through the widening rift         The sunbeam drifted down;     A ray of gold fell through the mist         Upon the silent town.     Two weary eyes beheld its light,         Then closed forevermore;     A soul passed through the rift of blue         And reached the farther shore.     One moment o'er the wan, white face         A ray of glory fell;     Then shadows came, the sunbeam fled;         Its future who can tell?     Once more the clouds enwrapped the earth,         The rain fell softly down;     A cold, gray mist hung o'er the hills         And veiled the silent town.