"When the woes of life o'ertake me, Hopes deceive and fears annoy, Never shall the cross forsake me; Lo! it glows with peace and joy. "When the sun of bliss is beaming Light and love upon my way, From the cross the radiance streaming Adds new luster to the day. {262} "Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, By the cross are sanctified; Peace is there that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abide. "In the cross of Christ I glory; Towering o'er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime." {263}{263} [Illustration] THE FIRST EASTER DAWN By J. K. Thompson "The day of resurrection, Earth, tell it out abroad: The Passover of gladness, The Passover of God. From death to life eternal, From earth unto the sky, Our Christ hath brought us over With hymns of victory." --_John of Damascus_ [End illustration] {265} THE STORY OF THE FIRST EASTER DAY It was Easter Day. Both Margaret and Harold went to church. It was a beautiful day, warm and pleasant. The grass was green, and the tulips and the crocuses were blossoming in the gardens. Everybody was glad that the snow and the cold of winter had gone. When they were on their way to church, they saw a robin on a branch of a tree. The children laughed with pleasure to see Mr. Robin Redbreast back again. At church there were beautiful flowers, and the choir sang Easter songs and hymns. One of the hymns Harold liked very much indeed. He said it made him feel that the world was so glad that it couldn't help singing its gladness right out. This hymn began-- "Christ the Lord is risen to-day Sons of men and angels say, Raise your joys and triumphs high, Sing, ye heavens, and, earth, reply." In the evening they sat with their mamma, watching the beautiful sunset. "Mamma," said Harold, "I don't think that I just understand about that long word the minister used so much this morning--resurrection; won't you explain it, please?" {266} "Well," said mamma, "it is not very easy for little folks to understand, but I will try. I will tell you the STORY OF THE FIRST EASTER DAY. "You know that the enemies of Jesus crucified him as I told you, and he died upon the cross." "Yes," said Margaret, soberly, "I know about that. My little kittie died. She went to sleep, and couldn't wake up any more. Poor little kittie!" "Yes," said mamma, "and you know that dear Grand-mamma White went to sleep and didn't wake up, and God took her dear, beautiful soul to be with him. "After Jesus had suffered on the cross, he went to sleep, that sound, sound sleep that we call death. Then they took him from the cross, and placed his body in a tomb dug out of the rock, and rolled a great stone before the door. His disciples and all his friends were very, very sad, because they thought they would never see him again." "But they did, mamma," said Harold.