0.0 – Christian Science Publication Contents

 1	VOICES OF SPRING 

  	    Mine is an obstinate penchant for nature in all her
 3	moods and forms, a satisfaction with whatever is hers. 
  	And what shall this be named, a weakness, or a — 
  	virtue? 
 6	    In spring, nature like a thrifty housewife sets the earth
  	in order; and between taking up the white carpets and
  	putting down the green ones, her various apartments are
 9	dismally dirty. 
  	    Spring is my sweetheart, whose voices are sad or glad,
  	even as the heart may be; restoring in memory the sweet
12	rhythm of unforgotten harmonies, or touching tenderly
  	its tearful tones. 
  	    Spring passes over mountain and meadow, waking up
15	the world; weaving the wavy grass, nursing the timid
  	spray, stirring the soft breeze; rippling all nature in
  	ceaseless flow, with "breath all odor and cheek all bloom." 
18	Whatever else droops, spring is gay:  her little feet trip
  	lightly on, turning up the daisies, paddling the water-
  	cresses, rocking the oriole's cradle; challenging the sed-
21	entary shadows to activity, and the streams to race for the
  	sea. Her dainty fingers put the fur cap on pussy-willow,
  	paint in pink the petals of arbutus, and sweep in soft
24	strains her Orphean lyre. "The voice of the turtle is
  	heard in our land." The snow-bird that tarried through
  	the storm, now chirps to the breeze; the cuckoo sounds
27	her invisible lute, calling the feathered tribe back to their
  	summer homes. Old robi...n, though stricken to the heart
  	with winter's snow, prophesies of fair earth and sunny
30	skies. The brooklet sings melting murmurs to merry
 
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 1	meadows; the leaves clap their hands, and the winds
  	make melody through dark pine groves. 
 3	    What is the anthem of human life? 
  	    Has love ceased to moan over the new-made grave,
  	and, looking upward, does it patiently pray for the per-
 6	petual springtide wherein no arrow wounds the dove? 
  	Human hope and faith should join in nature's grand har-
  	mony, and, if on minor key, make music in the heart. 
 9	And man, more friendly, should call his race as gently
  	to the springtide of Christ's dear love. St. Paul wrote,
  	"Rejoice in the Lord always." And why not, since man's
12	possibilities are infinite, bliss is eternal, and the conscious-
  	ness thereof is here and now? 
  	    The alders bend over the streams to shake out their
15	tresses in the water-mirrors; let mortals bow before the
  	creator, and, looking through Love's transparency, behold
  	man in God's own image and likeness, arranging in the
18	beauty of holiness each budding thought. It is good to
  	talk with our past hours, and learn what report they
  	bear, and how they might have reported more spirit-
21	ual growth. With each returning year, higher joys,
  	holier aims, a purer peace and diviner energy, should
  	freshen the fragrance of being. Nature's first and last
24	lessons teach man to be kind, and even pride should
  	sanction what our natures need. Popularity, — what is
  	it? A mere mendicant that boasts and begs, and God
27	denies charity. 
  	    When gentle violet lifts its blue eye to heaven, and
  	crown imperial unveils its regal splendor to the sun;
30	when the modest grass, inhabiting the whole earth, stoops
  	meekly before the blast; when the patient corn waits
  	on the elements to put forth its slender blade, construct
 
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1	the stalk, instruct the ear, and crown the full corn in the
  	ear, — then, are mortals looking up, waiting on God,
 3	and committing their way unto Him who tosses earth's
  	mass of wonders into their hands? When downtrodden
  	like the grass, did it make them humble, loving, obedi-
 6	ent, full of good odor, and cause them to wait patiently
  	on God for man's rich heritage, — "dominion over all
  	the earth"? Thus abiding in Truth, the warmth and
 9	sunlight of prayer and praise and understanding will
  	ripen the fruits of Spirit, and goodness will have its spring-
  	tide of freedom and greatness. 
12	    When the white-winged dove feeds her callow brood,
  	nestles them under her wings, and, in tones tremulous
  	with tenderness, calls them to her breast, do mortals
15	remember their cradle hymns, and thank God for those
  	redemptive words from a mother's lips which taught
  	them the Lord's Prayer? 

18	    O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
  	    O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour;
  	    Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight! 
21	    Keep Thou my child on upward wing to-night. 

  	    Midst the falling leaves of old-time faiths, above the
  	frozen crust of creed and dogma, the divine Mind-force,
24	filling all space and having all power, upheaves the earth. 
  	In sacred solitude divine Science evolved nature as thought,
  	and thought as things. This supreme potential Principle
27	reigns in the realm of the real, and is "God with us,"
  	the I AM. 
  	    As mortals awake from their dream of material sen-
30	sation, this adorable, all-inclusive God, and all earth's
  	hieroglyphics of Love, are understood; and infinite Mind
 
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 1	is seen kindling the stars, rolling the worlds, reflecting
  	all space and Life, — but not life in matter. Wisely
 3	governing, informing the universe, this Mind is Truth, — 
  	not laws of matter. Infinitely just, merciful, and wise,
  	this Mind is Love, — but not fallible love. 
 6	    Spring is here! and doors that closed on Christian
  	Science in "the long winter of our discontent," are open
  	flung. Its seedtime has come to enrich earth and en-
 9	robe man in righteousness; may its sober-suited autumn
  	follow with hues of heaven, ripened sheaves, and harvest
  	songs. 
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