Poems (Stephens)/Encouragement

by Eliza Jane Stephens

For works with similar titles, see Encouragement.

ENCOURAGEMENT.

I saw a plant that just had sprung
 From out the teeming earth,
And 'twas a pale and puny thing,
 That seemed of little worth.

And the young thing grow close beside
 A ruin dark and tall,
When cold and dark throughout the day
 The gloomy shade would fall.

And There it stood for many weeks,
 Yet scarcely seemed alive;
At last I bore it far from thence
 To see if 'twould not thrive.

I placed it where refreshing dews
 Would fall at close of day,
And where the sun might warm to life,
 With its reviving ray.

And soon a lovely, beautiful plant
 Rewar'ded well my care;
Where once was naught but tiny leaves,
 Were blossoms sweet and fair.

Methought how many, like this plant,
 Dwell in unfavored homes—
Where dewy love, and sunny hope,
 And friendship never comes.

And there they stay, and droop and pine,
 Perhaps grow sick and bad—
And think their lot of all that live,
 Is surely the most sad.

But give to them the helping hand,
 And bid them courage take,
And place them where the dawn of love
 Upon their night will break;

And see how soon those woful looks
 Give place to looks of health,
And founts of feeling there gush forth,
 Unbounded in their wealth.