'''EVEN THIS SHALL PASS AWAY"

There appeared in the public prints many years ago a beautiful poem, the title of which, "Even This Shall Pass Away" coupled with the complete adaptability of the sentiment expressed to human life, rendered it immediately popular and doubtless into thousands I of scrap books it went. All through the day, the week, the month" the year, we find ourselves beset with trouble, sorrow and care, and if at such times we could only reflect "Even This Shall Pass Away," how wonderfully lighter would our burden become. Then, too, in moments of revelry and gaiety, when all the world seems a vast flower garden and we have never a thought for the more serious side of our lives, what a reminder then would be the reflection "Even This Shall Pass Away."

Then, when in our home circle and our loved ones are gathered about us and there comes that quiet, peaceful hour when the fact of God's goodness in giving us such environments is forced upon us, what an incentive to greater kindness and gentleness there is in the same reflection, "Even This Shall Pass Away." Then all through life, in every period, under all circumstances, the sentiment "Even This Shall Pass Away," should enable us to so conduct ourselves and our affairs that when the time does come for us, as it did for the Persian king, "to pass away," the same solace that was his in the last dark hour will be ours.

Once in Persia reigned a king

Who upon his signet ring

 Graved a maxim true and wise,

 Which if held before his eyes,

Gave him counsel at a glance

Fit for every change and chance,

Solemn words, and these are they:

"Even this shall pass away."

Trains of camels through the sand

Brought him gems from Samarcand;

Fleets of galleys through the seas

Brought him pearls to match with these,

But he counted not his gain

Treasures of the mine or main;

"What is wealth?" the king would say:

"Even this shall pass away."

In the revels of his court,

At the zenith of the c;port,

When the palms of all his guests

 Burned with clapping at his jests,

He, amid his figs and wine,

Cried, "0 loving friends of mine!

 Pleasures come, but not to stay:

'Even this shall pass away.' "

Fighting on a furious field,

Once a javelin pierced his shield,

 Soldiers, with a loud lament,

Bore him bleeding to his tent.

Groaning from his tortured side,

"Pain is hard to bear," he cried,

 "But with patience, day by day,

- 'Even this shall pass away.'"

Towering in the public square,

 Twenty cubits in the air, .

 Rose his statue, carved in stone.

Then the .king, disguised, unknown,

 Stood before his sculptured name,

Musing meekly, "What is fame?

Fame is but a slow decay­

“'Even this shall pass away.'''

Struck with palsy, sere and old,

Waiting at the Gates of Gold,

Said he with his dying breath,

"Life is done, but what is death?"

Then, in answer to the king,

Fell a sunbeam on his ring,

Showing by a heavenly ray:

"Even this shalt pass away."

Theodore Tilton.