HUSBANDRY

KATHARINE J. SMITH

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.—Jesus.

Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.—Jesus.

The husbandman who goes afield at dawn,
And sees afar his wealth of springing corn,
Knows that each tender stalk of vital green
Finds firmer fiber e'er the flower is seen;
And he who plants with wise and patient skill.
Doth bide the law of growth, and fear no ill;
The shimmering blades must wait the season's prime
The stripling corn is but at tassel-time.

The soft embrace of earth gives mothering care,
Both light and balm of dew fall unaware;
Day calleth unto day for growth apace,
Till stalwart corn, all symmetry and grace,
Comes to the sweet full-burthened ear in strength
And stands, beyond the summer's joyous length.
As tawny husks reveal the harvest gold,
So ripened thoughts unbounded Truth unfold.

Of all the precious store there is a part
Which hath its mission not in mill nor mart,
But to renew the stript and fallow fields
The chosen corn its perfect wholeness yields:
They who escape the nether millstone's power
Save not their "life," except it come to flower
In lives laid humbly down,—seed within seed,—
God chooseth these, a famished world to feed.

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FROM OUR EXCHANGES

September 12, 1908

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