LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. ,.-*V- i^ap.l:::'- - ©xijiijrJg^ ^u. Shelf ..RE- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. r THREE SINGERS BY / TKa^ Mahy Earle Hahdy. CHICAGO: Press of A. Chapman, Printer and Publisher. i8q4. f^ Entered according to Act of Congress:, in the year i8q4 by MART EARLE HARDT, in the office of the Librarian of Congress^ at Washington. "Originally tliere ^rere tliree muses -worshiped on Mount Helicon, namely: Melete (Meditation), Mneme (Memory) and Aoide (Son^)." CONTENTS. MELETE. A June Idyl 47 Asleep 15 A Vision of the Thorns 52 A Winter Parable > 49 Broken 17 Death of Mary of Bethany 19 Eagle Wings 45 Elim 35 Hearts Most Pure and Simple 27 In Raiment of Needlework 51 Legend of the Moss Rose 13 Miserere and Te Deum 22 Monadnoc 43 Morte" 40 Not Failure 20 Of Christ in Galilee 11 Rhigi 18 Ruined Cities of Mexico 28 The Cedar and the Pine 30 The Glory of the Sky 15 The House 38 The Lesson 36 The Path Across the Stream 50 The Poet's Mantle 21 The Valley and the Mountain Pass 53 To an Egyptian Lily 33 To the Crocus 29 CONTENTS — MNEME. To the Sea 41 To the Seer 10 Velvet and Lace 32 What of the Night? 40 Wherefore ? 12 With Two World's Wealth 37 Y'ggdrasil 25 MITEME. Annie Lee 63 Childhood's Treasure 68 ' Eaglets Have Been Reared in Such " 78 Gull Lake 61 Memorial Day 70 Morning on Berkshire Hills 73 My Old-Time Love and 1 76 Rockford 81 The Casket 57 The Child and the Lilies 65 The " Forget-Me-Not " 75 The Gypsey Child 60 The Pilgrim's Staff 71 The Shepherd - 79 The Tomb 74 The Tress of Hair 69 The Willow and the Rose 58 Ulalie 72 'Where Memory's Embers Lay 56 WiW Roses 67 AOIDE. A Song 85 A Spring Carmen 89 ' Behold a Sower Went Forth to Sow " 104 Calendulas 107 Enchanted Ground 98 In the Pines 84 Jewels 112 King Frost's Wooing of the Rose 102 Lady Claude 106 Legend of Abraham and His Guest 92 Marshes 97 Odin 86 Robins 94 Roy and the Fairies - 108 Sweet-Fern 113 The Breeze — A Lover 91 The Golden Fleece 91 The Poet 110 The Task 90 ' Who Would Not Be Endymion 85 Wild Strawberries 87 LICHENS FROM LIFE'S LEDGES. Art 136 Flower of the Night-Blooming Cereus 118 'For Me Alone," 123 In Memoriam 125 CONTENTS — LICHENS FROM LIFE'S LEDGES. 'In the Desert Till the Day of His Showing Unto Israel," 121 Justice 125 Leaves 124 Lichens 116 'Lol I Am Day," 123 Morning 124 Myself 121 Natalia 127 Nature's Song and Story 122 Olive Leaves 117 'One Lieth Dead," 120 Opals 125 Osmunda Regalis 126 Seeking the Brook , 118 Summer Lying Dead 122 The Beck 126 The Bluebird 120 The Brook 119 The Carven Lilies 124 The Dying Day 123 'The One Who Builds the Poorest," 122 The Queen, V. R 120 The Shrine 118 The Statue 117 The Wraith of the River 118 Thy Lilies 127 'Unto the Mountains of Nebo to the Top of Pisgah," 119 MELETE. In the Border-Land of Dreams. Wliat \vaters sin^ and sunsets teach., Write tliou in tliy scroll. Tlie v/orld but sees tlie form of tilings; Tliou slialt see tlieir soul. COf ®hri«i in &alHee* Wliat if an olive leaf blew down And touclied His face == His liand — And otlier leaves in liappy wliirl Made cool th.e beaten sand, Piled soft tlie rooky strand ; olive leaves so frail and ^ray ! 1 love you for your deed tbat day. Wh-at if fair Huleli lilies bent Tlieir urns of spicery To anoint His feet, in lioma^e meet, Tliat tliey sliould mentioned be In His sweet sermonry; lilies! sv^eeter evermore Are all, for tliis tbe love ye bore. Wliat if tbe winds from Lebanon Ble^w" down to Hazareth., Just for tlieir lon^in^ but to touch. His temples' clustering v^reath. With, sweetly cooling breath; winds ! but touch our eyelids dim With healing that ye caught from Him. WHEREFORE? Wliat if the tides of Galilee Were dra^vn about His feet, Gave all tlie •wliite=bowed "waves assent To His coramandments S'weet, And ceased tlieir an^ry beat; O Vvrind=s^vept sea of Galilee! My Master's footsteps liallo-wed th.ee. "What if the "weary multitudes, Like Vv^aves of Galilee, Were drav;rn about His sinless feet And knew sweet ministry, Grew calm like restful sea; Christ! ^ive Thou such peace to me As once to storm=tossed Galilee. Far amid the crested mountains There are caverns dark and deep. Where a beauty speech transcending, Has for aeons lain asleep; Never mortal foot has sullied Stainless parapets of snow Han^in^ o'er the unentered portals Where these jeweled altars glow. LEGEND OF THE MOSS ROSE. 13 Wlierefore -were such, temples builded Far from any rtiortal ken? Are tliere eyes tliat read these gospels Other than the eyes of men? *Tis as if the ^rand old Cosmos, Tho' she ^vork in hidden spot, Has a Truth that she must utter Whether men shall know or not. Pleasant is the legend olden Of the moss=rose = veiled flower ==' Prized above our lilies golden. Peer and queen in Flora's bovver. Once, 'tis said, the Saviour, -weary, "While His feet the hot sands pressed, Wandered thro' a desert dreary Finding neither joy nor rest; Cruel thorns His tired feet wounded 'Till their blood=stains marked the sand, Satan's host His soul surrounded Tempting Him. on every hand. LEGEND OF THE MOSS ROSE. Yet He fell not = He the sinless — And th.e pov/ers of darkness fled, Tlien came Heaven's approving -witness, And His soul -was comforted. Straight His torn feet press s^veet mosses Wliere but burning sands liad lain, Soft tbey ^vipe "with. de^\ry tresses From each cruel -wound the stain. Breathed He then a blessing holy O'er the mosses cool and sweet, Spreading in their -v^'-orship lowly Dewy velvet for His feet; Scarcely had the v^ords been spoken When the moss-tuft burst apart And there sprang as Heaven's token Stainless roses from its heart. Ne'er before had ^ro^vn such f louver E'en in Sharon's valley fair, Ne'er a blossom held as dovrer Fragrance so above compare : Mossy=veiled and de-w=besprinkled, Fit for angel's garment hem. Pure as stars that whitely trwinkled, Hun^ each rose, a diadem. ®he mi0vyi of th« ^it». Where -were the glorious colors born, The jasper, sapphire, emerald, ^old, Chalcedony in shining fold, That garnished all the sky at morn? The sardius, beryl, chrysolite, The topaz, jacinth, amethyst. That burned beyond the \\rreathin^ miist And glorified the sky at ni^ht? "Were they pure streams of li^ht that fell From fair foundations je^^el=set Alon^ the jasper parapet That guards the heavenly citadel? ^Meep* Little baby lies asleep In a dream of ^lory ; By the li^ht upon her face. By the smile that I can trace, Half I ^uess the story That the angels tell To my baby Belle. ASLEEP. "Wide they ope tlie pearly ^ates, Letting lieaven's splendor Float adown before lier eyes, -=• Half a memory, lialf surprise = Wh-ile "with, voices tender, New delights they tell To my baby Belle. And they brin^ her for her mates Cherub children holy, While an an^el fair and tall. Purest, s^weetest one of all, Kisses, bending lowly, BroAV, like pearl and shell. Of my baby Belle; Whispers that the angels ^vait Close beside her ever; That her place is kept above By the One -whose name is Love, Who for^etteth never. But delights to dv^ell With my baby Belle ; Tells her hov/ her gardens fair Grow each morning fairer; And the cherub children brin^ Palms and lilies blossoming, But of treasures rarer. Tenderly they tell To my baby Belle; BROKEN. Tell h.er of tlie crown that ^^raits Je^vels for its setting, Of a Avondrous liarp of ^old That her hands shall one day hold, Weariness for^ettin^: This, and more they tell To my baby Belle. Little baby fast asleep In a dream of ^lory, By the golden li^ht that slips Over bro^v and cheek and lips, Do I ^uess the story That the angels tell To my baby Belle? ^troltijjt. The cup lies broken, Spilled the -wine. The cup ^vas earthen, The wine divine! The cup lies broken. But ere the wine To earth has fallen, A hand divine In richer chalice Holds the wine. Fair at even Rlii^i stood, Pure as purest Avortianliood ; Wearing on uplifted brow- Calm of saint with, lioly vow. In tlie dawning 's silver mist, 'Neath, a sky of amethyst Touched -with shades of opaline, Rhi^i stands a mount divine. SloAvly rides the sun on hi^h, Royal bridegroom of the sky! Pauses at the morning's ^ate, Lets his steeds of ^lory v^ait That he may behold the ^race Of Mount Rhi^i's saintly face; Scarce w^e breathe for joy of heart "While in aw^e we stand apart, Knowing that the one w^ho w^aits At the ^lo^vin^ eastern ^ates, Shall v/ith liis divine caress Crown her silent saintliness : =— DEATH OF MART OF BETHANT. IQ O'er her brow a flush, is spread, Han^in^ mists their je\vels shed, On a cloud her -v^hite feet bide, Stands Mount Rhi^i glorified! ^aaih of ^ctrij of ^etijttwy* In the early da^wn of morning Ere the silver stars have set, Angels set their "win^s of ^lory O'er the Mount of Olivet; There one lieth by a casement, Looking upv/ard to the skies. Faith and love alike are blinded In the s^veetness of her eyes ; At her side a sister standeth Bent on holy ministries. At her feet a brother kneeleth Who hath known death's mysteries. Patient \vaitin^, joyous hopin6 Flush a^ain the pallid cheek, While her sweet eyes searching heaven For one vision only seek; NOT FAILURE. Straight beyond tlie blessed angels Sees sh.e face benignly s^^eet, From ber ^lad lips springs '' RabbonU' And ber soul is at His feet. ^ot Sailnve, Despised, misjudged, alveary, In tbe lists of life one fell, ITo bope bad be of winning Good from tbe band of ill. Witb. many ^vounds and deadly Prayed he for deatb==tbe s^weet^ No more tbe ^atbered foemen "Witb broken lance to meet. Lo, stood an an^el by bim Witb cup of beavenly \\rine, But sweeter tban tbe goblet Tbe word be spake, divine: Bade He wbo called to conflict Tbat tbou sbouldst victory see, Or spake He but 'Be faithful, The rest abides with Me ! ' " L A poet died. == His mantle fell On wlioni ? = Tlie ^vorld it coiald not tell. //. A day forgot, in lowly cot, A cliild \^^as born = tlie v^orld knew- not. ///. He ^rew as ^rows tlie fa^vn and fern A cliild of mountain, Avood and dearn ; IV. He learned tlieir lessons in tlie li^lit And slept upon tlieir breasts at ni^lit : V. He sliunned th.e crowding, jostling mart, Its cries and cavils liurt h.is lieart. VL His tliou^lits unto tlie past "would turn, Communed vdtli propliets s'weet and stern ; v/i. His eyes unto tlie future rose, He saw tlie clouds a flame disclose ; V/Il. He read tlie propliet's message ri^lit, He felt tlie fiery gospel's mi^lit. =— ix. Was tliis tlie cliild = I can not tell==" On wliom tlie poet's mantle fell? 'Weary, weary!" cried my spirit, sick of change and dark'nin^ pall ; Deeming death, but dismal gateway th.ro' an adamantine \vall. Blindly ^ropin^, validly hoping still to find some rest on earth, I had sought the balm, of healing in the gayest halls of miitih ; But the blessing, like a phantom, glided far beyond my reach, And the spirits of the revel smote me with their mocking speech. SPIRITS OF THE REVEL. "Turn a^vay thou sorro^v=laden Where no lights of pleasure shine Lsst thy paling tears shall mingle With the purple of our "wine, * * Lest the shadoM^s which are shaken From thy spirits' inner deep Fall upon our crested gardens Where our careless hearts-ease sleep ; "We have met for son^ and revel. Why has sorrow entered here? Hast thou thought in weeds and vrillows 2 E'er to taste our banquet's cheer? MISERERE AND TE DEUM. 23 " See tliis bo"wl ■with, leaves encircled, Gbblet meet for ^ods to liold ! Taste tlie draught ^vltliin = nepentlie Potent as in days of old 1 "Flin^ away tlie yew and ^villow, Toss tlie dark=bou^lied cypress by In tbe son^ tbat floats around tbee Heed no spirit's smotliered cry; "Bind tby brow with, brightest berries, Grasp the tulip = lipped Avith fire = Let the tongues of flame upon it Quell thy spirit's wild desire ; **In the spell that falls upon thee Dream of neither lost nor dead. On the bread and "wine of pleasure Let thy famished soul be fed. "When the thorny cro\\An of sorrow Thou hast changed for iris -wreath, We w^ill lau^h and sin^ together Far from bli^htin^ pain and death." Scarcely were these wild notes ended than low chant my spirit heard Thrilling with its -wondrous cadence, more than son^ from throat of bird ; t4. MISERERE AND TE DEUM. Notes of pity, deep and lioly, till my spirit bowed in prayer; Tlien a "Glory! ^lory ! ^lory ! " ran^ triumphant th.ro' the air ; And as in a dim cathedral when the organ's note is dead, Music lingers, softly trembling, like a spirit that has fled, So these notes of seraphs' hymning, floating down the arching sky Are repeated in the chambers of my soul eter= nally. SERAPH VOICES. "One there is \^rhom angels -worship! Lo, His heart is pierced for thee; And thy thorny crown of sorrow- First upon His broAV did be ! "Waiting once where tomb encircled Life and Death together slept, Voices said, ' Behold He loved ! ' Others ansvs;^ered, ' Lo, He wept I ' "An^el -win^s in -worship holy, Can not hide from Him thy face, Seraphim in fullest chorus Cannot hush thy prayers' s^weet ^race — r'GGDRASlL. is ■'Wliat is tliat "wliich. dra^ws us nearer? But a broken, -wliispered word; Yet ^ve strike our liarps triumpliant, For in lieaven a prayer is lieard ! "Glory! ^lory ! nov/ and ever To tlie Holy Tliree in One. (Tliat a Miserere's ended And Te Beum is be^un." ^•00lrtra«il. Y'^^drasil — tlie towering Asli=tree=— Tbou^h. disleafin^ bour by bour, Still vsritb ever budding brancbes All Heimskrin^la dotb embowrer; At its root in realm of Hela, Gnaws tbe Nidbo^^ — dragon dread — But its fibers never loosen In tbe under=world of sbade ; =— 'Neatb its bou^bs tbree norns are sitting Drooping Urda, downcast, sad; And Verdandi, ever busy, And tbe tbird is Skuld tbe ^lad; rGGDRASIL. Water tliey from sacred fountain Y'^^drasil = tlie lieaven=lii^h. = Write in runes tlie lapse of nations And of human destiny. 'Tis th.e As]:i=tree of existence == Y'^^drasil==tli.e h.eaven=h.i^h. = And its roots in realm of Hela, In tlie darkened death.=land lie. Died a toiler in tlie market, Fell a hero ^\"orld-renov7n'd, From hi^h. Y'^^drasil = tlie life=tree=— They -were leaves that fell to ground. Of the norns by Mimer's fountain, Drooping Urda is the Past, Busy Present is Verdandi, Skuld, the Future, is the last. ♦«|^0atrt» ^0«t "^nve anti pimple*** To travailing souls on Horeb Tlie burning bush, is slio-wn; By bearts as wbite as lilies Tbe Christ's s^veet Avords are kno^vn. To=day, tbrou^b forest gardens And on tbe mountain stair, As tbey wbo -walked in Eden, We wltb our Lord may fare ; On stony "way=side tablets His -writing v^e may trace, And see His loving gospel Witbin a violet's face. For seer most pure and simple Unrolls tbe fern=leaf scroll, Tbe parcbment of tbe pine=tree Is open to bis soul ; Tbe sprin^=time's resurrection Is sermon plain as Avords ; He bears an Easter antbem In carol of tbe birds. 27 2$ RUINED CITIES OF MEXICO. Th.e world, to such., is only Like eastern paradise. An outward circling garden Where palace walls arise; The palace door may open At morn, or noon or ni^ht, And flood the little garden With heaven's effulgent li^ht. Nature holds in sacred trust The secret of these cities, Covers ^vith her robe their dust As whom a mother pities. Mantling vines she close ent^vines Concealing empty spaces ; Crimson leaves like purple ^vines Pour through their holy places. Priestess of an ancient faith She waits a ^od's returning, Sunshine's fire, like altar=^vraith, Her sacrificial burning. ®0 tit© t!Lv0cn»* Th-ou art a li^lited taper In tlie liand of spring; Th.y fair flame cleaves tlie vapor Like a 'wild=bird's win^. S"weet Motlier Earth belioldin^ Lifts her blankets Avet ; Wh-ile sliakin^ tliem and folding Slie calls th.e violet. Cliained runlets see th.y beacon And tlaeir fetters break, Tlie vi^ater=falls awaken And tbeir timbrels sbake Blue reeds tbeir javelins quiver, Iris sword=blades spring From scabbards by tlie river At tby flickering. Tliro' sorrow's dreary winter Wandered one forlorn ; Tby ray ber ^loom doth, enter, Buds of hope are born. The cedars are a goodly folk Of old and lionored line, Tlieir tents are spread on Lebanon, Tliey drink Mount Herrtion's ^vine Tlie psalmist svT'eet of Israel Told of tlieir strength, and ^race, And saith. tlie son^, "Like cedars fair Is my Beloved's face!" I paused -witliin a cedar ^rove 'Neath, trees of mighty ^irth., And prayed them tell me mysteries Of sky and sun and earth. They stood as if entranced in dream Of Lebanon the hi6h, Nor kne-w that I had questioned them. ISTor cared that I Avas ni^h. With saddened heart I turned away And sought our mountain pine ; And knelt beneath its branches wid3 JO As kneeling at a shrine; THE CEDAR AND THE PINE. "When strai^h-trway from its to-werin^ top And outrward th.ro' the pine Its fringed branches trembled slight, It shook them for a si^n. And softly as from harpsichord, There came a m-armur sweet == With faint aeolian thrill of sound A cone fell at my feet. On piney couch beneath the tree I breathed an air like ^vine, And listened to a spirit play The harp-strings of the pine. Deep a"wed, I heard melodious runes Revealing earth's sweet mystery, And of the future of the world Triumphant son^s of prophesy. Tho' cedars crown Mount Lebanon And drink fair Hermon's wine, No charm of minstrelsy is theirs. == Chant on, my prophet=pine ! "Velvet anil $,ace* I. A weaver moved his loom in th.e sun And patiently wrought till day Avas done. His pattern lie took from the moss that ^rew Down at his feet, and from violets blue That dotted the mosses through and through. And this is how the -weaver -wrought, The velvet that fair Inez bought. //. A spider dropped his thread one day, =" It fell across a spinner's vray, The airy thread the spinner caught, And at his spindle tireless v^rou^ht 'Till he had matched the spider's line With thread that wove a web as fine. Thence came the dainty bridal lace That veiled the blushing Inez' face. SS ertt ait (B^vfptian £ilij» /. Dost tliou dream of lilies sweet Standing with, tlieir silver feet Hidden lialf in E6ypt's sand, Lapped by ^vaters cool and bland? Dost tbou bear tbe "winds tbat si^b Tbro' tbe swaying papyri, Or tbe murnmrs far avv^ay Where tbe featb'ry palin=trees sway? //. By tbe darkly flowing Nile Lolls tbe sleepy crocodile ; Heavy sbadows tbat are slied From, tbe gloomy pyramid, Are but semblance of tbe sbade Tbat on E6ypt's face is laid. Bald and blear by desert land Mountain tops in sunli^bt stand ; On beyond in trackless patb. Burns tbe desert's fiery vrratb ; Bitter bane and bli^bt tbey tbrow On tbe river smootb and lo^v, = ^j 34. TO AN EGrrriAN LILT. Yet tliy beauty like a smile, Li^lits tlie darkly flo-win^ Nile! IV. Stainless flower of truth, art tliou! Li^lit upon dark ISTilus' brow! May'st tbou, golden bearted bloom, With thy rareness of perfume, Holding all thy stainless life Tbro' old Egypt's ^loom and strife — Be of ber a prophesy, Showing fairer destiny Rounding in tbe fruitful years ==- E^ypt, standing 'mid ber peers, Royal, stainless, fair li^bt=cro^vn'd All ber ^allin^ chains unbound ; Wearing ^old and snow of truth, — Garb of an immortal youth. ©Urn, Exodus, XV : 2j. Up from Marah-'s bitter waters Tlirou^h. tlae desert's sand and lieat, Toiled tlie tribes of ancient Israel With, their ^v©ary, v/anderin^ feet; Came "v^bere waving palms of Elim Cast tbeir sbado^vs dark and deej^, And the valley fresb and fragrant Dreaming lay in dev»^y sleep. There the plash of cooling fountains And the streamlet's gentle fall Sounded to the Aveary pilgrims Welcome as an angel's call; And they rested in their journey === Spread their tents in palmy shade, Slaked their thirst where happy v^aters With the de^vy grasses played. So it is in life's lon^ journey; Oft -w^e cross the desert ^vaste, Linger by the \vells of Marah And their bitter waters taste. Yet Jehovah leadeth surely Unto Elim's cool and calm, Where beside His living fountains Grows the victor's v^avin^ palm! ss j6 THE lesson: And with-out life's wildernesses, All tlieir Aveariness and pain, We, percliance, must miss forever Palm=^irt Elims to attain ; E'en tlie bitter ^vells of sorrow Turn to waters sweet and calm. And beside tlreir bealed fountains Swells at len^tli a joyful psalm. ®h« geftson. Count tliou nothing liard or useless Heavy burdens lifted bi^h. Give a stature and a stren6tb. But tbe lesser tbin^s at len^tb. Tbou sbalt learn to magnify. Smiles one, only for tbe comfort Of a little eartb=tired cbild, From, its blusb=rose plucks tbe tborn, He sball find on beavenly morn Wben life's statue is unveiled. He bas ^iven finer limning To bis soul's uplifted face, Tban on serapb's brow bad sbone If in mi^bty deeds alone Had been sou^bt a royal place. ♦•^tth ^tV0 ^orib*' health.** Fair-bro'wed babe, untouch.ed by sin, Purest angels are tliy kin; S^veetly art tbou dreaming yet Of tbe realms tbat "we forget, ^nd the li^bt "v^itbin tbine eyes TboTi bast brou^bt from fairer skies; Accents of tbat vanisbed sbore Linger in tby baby lore, Radiant smiles tby sweet lips wear For tby kinsfolk in tbe air, Wbile tby dimpled bands in ^lee Catcb tbe ^ifts tbey brin^ to tbee. Oft I find tbee talking low, And tby fair face all a^lov^, = Alas ! tby AA^ords I can not tell Tbou^b tbey liold me like a spell. Witb tbese two "worlds' "wealtb for tbee Tbou art sovereign more tban Ave ; Tbou art wiser too, my kin^, For tbou sittest questioning Witb a wisdom deeper far Than our truest answers are I ^7 38 THE HOUSE. Wh.at do years th.at sit and wait In tlie purple lialls of fate, Hold for tliee, my baby kin^? Is it myrrh, tbat they sball brin^ As tbeir free=i\all offering? Myrrh, and frankincense belong Only to the ^ood and strong. May I see, my lau^hin^=eyed. When thy soul's strength shall be tried, That thou ^vearest royally Cro^vn of man's nobility. ®he ^i«>tott 0f the C^ljoriift. Many visions come to me. Once upon a \vild tliorn=tree Sa^v I all its branch.es bro"wn Bend and shape them to a crown; And the drops of dew that run Do^vn the thorns shone in the sun Red as blood that kissed the thorn On the crucifixion morn. Voice I heard as passion'lovv' As a Avood=dove's tremolo, Chanting in the thorny tree, Psalmin^, sin^in^ ceaselessly ; "Felt the thorn Redemptive Blood Ere it flowed on Holy Rood! " Shov/ed the vision ere it fled Who wears the thorn hath croAvned head.' JS ®ije ^ttllcit tttth the ^oittttattt ^ct««« Mountains once I sou^lit to climb : But the purple liei^lits sublime To^^rered so far above my head That I softly, sadly said, 'Tis not meet that I should spoil All of sweet life with such toil; I Avill tarry here a^vhile Where the rose and river smile: Ease it ^ives my weary feet, And the river sin^in^ sweet, Bears away my soul's unrest Like a leaf upon its breast; Languid breath of lotus=bell Lades the air with dreamful spell. And I care no more to climb To the purple heights sublime. Lon^ I dallied by the stream Lost in li^ht, delicious dream, 'Till an An^el, svvreet love sent From the upper firmament, Touched my soul Avith heavenly Vv^ord And its deepest fountain stirred. !N'ev;;^ly then my feet I turned, jj S4 THE VALLET and the MOUNTAIN PASS. Eagerly my spirit yearned For tlie purple liei^lits sublime "Which, a.^ain I sought to climb. But the feet that chose to stray Where but scented rose=leaves lay, Idly follo^win^ so lon^ Gentle river's soothing son^, Found the mountains hard to tread, And the torrents fierce that sped Sv/ift across the ru^^ed ^way, Dark'nin^ e'en the face of day. Yet the mountain=pass is shown Fairer than the valley, strown With its rose=leaves and its dew, With its river Vv^indin^ through Here, each day, my soul is fed On an eucharistic bread, Ev'ry upward step doth brin^ Strength to bear and heart to sin6; And my An^el s^weet Love sent From the upper firmament, ShoAVS me where thick stars are set ' In a glorious coronet Hi^h above the steeps I climb. O'er the purple heights sublime. MNEME. Musing, tlie fire burned." I can^lit a trailing \\n.ld=rose vine And bent it to a lyre; Pale roses SAAran^, like ^vind-=bells h.-an6 Alon^ tlie bended brier; At ni^bt I mused before tbe fire "Wbere memory's embers lay; Lo ! ^vbile I m.used tbe embers flowed Tbe lyre be^an to play. Curious casket =— iny stery = Carved mar^arite of the sea ! All tliy silent voicefulness Thrills ray soul like strange caress. Full tliou art of mystic springs As a sliell of Avliisperin^s ; Quaint tliou art as quaint can be Carved mar^arite of the sea ! Iridescent, flashing thin6, Strangest fancies thou dost brin^ ! What the powers that in thee sleep Troubling thus my spirit's deep? Thou art quaint and sealed tomb Where in cerements and ^loom Thoughts are hidden, Avhich like kin^ Once v^ere living, croA\''ned things. J7 Crijje ^iUon» antt the 2a0«e» Grew a rose=tree in its beauty By a river aeons past; Graceful -was its sv/ayin^ shadow In th.e flowing river cast; Bri^h.test sunsliine of th.e morning, Dewy dirism of tli.e ni^lit, Gave tlie bush, in pride and passion To a bud that like a li^ht On its slender stem uplifted Made a ^lory round the place ; White as snow the rose=bud opened — ISTever flower had fairer face ! Close beside it ^rew a v/illov^ Tall and strong =— a kindly tree — Its lithe branches lifted upward Were a goodly si^ht to see ; Pleasant to it ■was the sunshine, Pleasant ^was the tempest's strife, For its roots were deep and clasping jS And it felt a joy in life. THE WILLOW AND THE ROiiE. sq Shining veil of bride»like beauty, "Woven by the sun and de^v, Was the royal ^ift that morning O'er the opening rose=bud threvr; This the vision that aAvaited When the Avillow looked adown, And a thrill of pain and pleasure Shook the tall tree to its crown : Then it ceased to Avatch above it Snowy clouds, afrin^e with flame, Cared no longer for the sunshine ISTor for any vrinds that came ; But it bent above the blossom From day's da^vn unto its close. And a flush of love and gladness Lit the fair face of the rose. This befell anear earth's morning, Summers passed as summers vrill, But the -willow bendeth ever, And the rose is blushing still. My lieart beguiled by ^ypsy ch.ild, In fancy roved like Zinc'li Avild ! Tbe sun-=kissed ^race of dusky face, Tlie eye tliat told of bandit race, Were spells anotlier mi^bt resist, But from my beart, tbe babe I kissed ! Witb band upon ber kercbief'd bead, S"weet marvel in ber eyes I read : Tben tbinkin^ of life's tborny Avay, "Wbere bearts oft bleed and feet oft stray, I longed to see an angel's v^in^ Tbe little one o'er=sbadowin^. Witb pride and joy tbe motber smiled Tbat I sbould kiss ber dark=broAv'd cbild, "Ab, lucky ye'er and proud! " sbe said, "List, v^rould ye like your fortune read? " Wby bid I not tbe sybil try, Tbe ^ypsy crone v^dtb piercing eye? Tbo' cban^e sball come, I knovr not bow, do I vT-ould not tbat tbe then be now.— GULL lake: 6/ Still turns my lieart with, strange unrest To babe tbat lay on ^ypsy breast; May she of Isbmael's outcast race In Israel find a dv^ellin^ place. m\xX\ gake. Down upon the blue lake's brink Once the wild fa\vns came to drink, Dipped tbe silver of th.eir feet In the ^vaters cool and sweet, Fed from off the sedgy bank On the grasses tall and dank, Slept amon^ the shadows near KnoAvin^ neither haste nor fear. Soon as finders of the spring Loosed the vv-aves to dance and sin^, Came the "wild ducks' happy fleet Sailing slow, with, ^race replete; There the stars that pant on hi^h Trembled in a second sky; And the bird Avbose dainty nest DoAvn amon^ the reeds A\^as pressed, Darting from the leafy bank Trimmed its feathers while it drank. 62 GULL LAKE. Now tlie liands of man liave made Furrowed field wliere once was sliade, And tlie waves tliat lau^lied all day Learn to toil as Vv'ell as play. But tlie clear lake flashes yet, Like a crystal emerald=set ; Still its banks I knov^ are fair With, the willows' vsravin^ hair; Berries han^ from trailing vines Over coves as still as shrines, Where clear ^vaters pulsing slov.^ Whiten with the lilies' sno^v. Of its banks my memory tells Where pale orchids han^ their bells, Where sweet violets white and blue Lift their meek eyes full of de^v, Where the yellovT- covv^slip springs, Where the lupine spreads its win^s : On the hill=slopes, v/ell I kno^v. Where the bloodroots sprinkle snov^, Where 'neath leafy coverlid, Pale anemonies lie hid : Oft they ^ave me sv^^eet surprise With their troops of lau^hin^ «y©s, Coming ere the spring had kissed Winter's ^ray to amethyst. AXNTE LEE. 63 Tliere are coves I know full well Where I found tlie pearly sliell, Trim, as any dainty boat Ever fairy set afloat : Here, to=day, tliose sliells repeat Rippling murmurs Ioav and s\veet. In my soul's ear lj.ear I oft Distant waters lapping soft; Often in my liappy dreains See a^ain tlieir silver fleams, While I father bloom and brake From thy margin, crystal lake. Jlnnti? gee. I have -waited, calling vainly For the little Annie Lee, 'Till the blossoms fell like snovsr=f lakes From the over-han^in6 tree ; For she left me in the autumn, When the days ^revv^ dark and chill When the v^rithered leaves -were falling And the A\^arbler's note -was still. 64 ANNIE LEE. But sh.e spoke to me in parting "With, a voice as sweet and lev/-, As th.e voices are in heaven Where Ave all so lon^ to 60 ! And slie promised she would meet me "When a few more days had flo^vn, When the clouds had left the hilltops And the early flowers had ^rown, ™ Now, the spring has brought the woodbine, And the apple boughs are fair With the blushes 'mon6 their petals AYhere the morning's finders are. All the breezes scatter gold=dust From the kin^=cups on the hill, Every bloom is dank vdth honey And the ^^vild=bees drink their fill, I liave called through all the wood=land "I am -waiting, Annie Lee!" But the forest softly si^hin^ Sent the echoes back to me. Still I know that she is Avaitin6 And sweet troth doth keep v^ith me ; In a land of brighter blossoms I shall clasp my Annie Lee. In th.e tliick growth, of tlie rushes Wliere tlie Avaxen lilies lie, Wliere th.e star=flo^ver sliootetli upward Leafy arrows fair and lii^h., With, white feet amon^ the pebbles And the golden grains of sand, Stands a child = as fair as morning — Reaching out his ea^er hand ; He had caught the v/ond'rous gleaming Of the lilies white as snow. He has heard the graves beseeching, Calling to him soft and lowr, And has left the rose unfathered, Left the wild thyme for the bee, And the daisies and the clover Tangled in a "waving sea ; He has sought the peerless blossoms, Whiter than the v^-hite sea foam, Sought to draw them ea^er=fin^ered From the blue depths of their home : 6? 66 2HE CHILD AND. THE LILIES. His ^vliite feet are almost buried In tlie golden grains of sand, And th.e blue -waves circling round liiin Gently draw bira from tlie land; His clear eyes are earnest, tender, As a purpose deepens tbere, And tbe lon^in6 of bis spirit Is as tbo' be breatbed a prayer; As tbe cool ^vinds fan bis forebead, Softly toucb bis palin6 cbeeks, He is truer type of beauty Tban tbe lilies wbicb be seeks. Down amon^ tbe sbinin^ pebbles And tbe golden grains of sand, Lies a cbild = as fair as morning — "Witb a lily in bis band. Not tlie roses deep and full Making gardens beautiful,— Ope'nin^ fold on fold of silk, Red as blood or wbite as milk, — Are tbe blossoms set apart In *'tlie boly" of my lieart; But sweet roses fair and \^n.ld That I loved most Avben a child Such, as met me in the ^vood Symbols of kind angelhood; Weary was the home^vard way, Thro' a forest dark it lay. And my heart stood still ^vith fear Mid its shadows dark and drear; But where all the shadoA\^3 met In a jungle Avild and Avet, Burst these roses on my si6ht, Each a beacon of delight. Saying to my sad child heart God doth see thee ^vhere thou art, He who bids the roses be In His love doth ^o with thee ! 67 68 CHILDHOOD'S TREASURE. Looking backward o'er life's dream, Still tliose wild=^vood roses seera "With, tlieir sea=sliells' pinky fold, With, their triple crown of ^old. To iny soul true ininisters And kind heaven's interpreters ; And I sometimes think I kno^v, Th.at the same sweet roses ^row In th.e gardens of th.e skies, Witliin th.e v/alls of paradise. Through, the world my cliildhood knew With, its simple pleasures, Ran a brook of skies' cwn h.ue,=== Dearest of my treasures! Do its slight v/aves beckon still In the sunshine's glamours? Dogs their slender son^ yet trill As in olden summers? In its purple and its ^old Is the iris standing, Royal as the queen of old Mid the rushes bending? THE TRESS OF HAIR. bq Are tlie fern-leaves waving yet Wliere the foot^lo^ crosses? Are th.e beds of violet S^veet araon^ tlie mosses? Do tlie rushes sv^ay and bend As tbe li^lit beck passes? Sliinin^ je-wels doth, it lend To the dipping grasses? On it doth the forest shed Robe of puiple splendor With its waving hem o'er=laid By the sunshine's finder? Tress I have so silvery v/hite Weft it seems of fair moon=li^ht; Once it lay in shining fold O'er a face that men called old ; Yet each joy and pain and care Left such lines of beauty there That it shines the dim years through, SM^eetest face my childhood knew. tentorial ^at^. Fadeless garlands v^rould I lay On my playmate's ^rave to=day, Amaranth, and immortelle, Ch.an6eless bay and asphodel ; I would ^veave them as no hand KnoAveth hew, in all the land To wreave chaplets for the head Of a hero lyin6 dead ! With the brightness of their bloom They should make his silent tomb BeaLitiful as love's surprise In the bowers of paradise. But I may not brin^ to=day Amaranth nor \\rreath of bay, May not lay upon his tomb E'en so much as Avlld=rose bloom ; For afar his ^rave is made, 'Neath the sky where once we played Where in hours of early youth Grew our friendship's flower of truth. THE PILGRIM'S STAFF. Mayh.ap lieaveii bendeth. do"wn INearer than our souls liave kno^wn He may even so receive This poor oliaplet that I \veave. ©ire 5ilil0trtnt'« ^taff, A pilgrim raised Ms liead, For lo, an an^el said==- Azrael, tlae an^el said, Tliis tliresh-old is th.e last, yon fold Of cloud but hides the hills of ^old ! " The pilgrim's staff fell on the place, He passed beyond v/ith lighted face. Scarce touched his staff the sod When like the almond rod — The ancient almond rod. It burst to bud and bloom and seed, A symbol of the pilgrim's meed. === The rod shall blossom aeons hence; One whispers, " Lo, 'tis influence!" Flo^ver fairer than it yet hath borne May ope on resurrection morn, Once I d^^relt -with, fislier.folk In a liamlet by tlie sea, And my wliole of love -was ^iven To the maiden XJlalie ; Ulalie, the fisher's daughter, With a face as lilies fair, With the sunshine's ^old entangled In the li^ht Vs^efts of her hair; All her life was full of beauty As her face ^vas fair to see, And I could not choose but love hor — Love the maiden Ulalie ! But alas, the ^ray sea loved her, Loved and Vv^ooed her tenderly Whispered to her morn and even Of his kingdom's mystery! Told her of his strength and darin6, San6 her son6s of love most sv^eet, Brought her jewels for her wearing. Swept his white beard at her feet. MORNING ON BERKSHIRE HILLS. 73 One pale eve lie found lier walking On tlie slielvin6 sliores alone, And in fond embrace h.e bore Downward to bis jasper tbrone. Evermore I sit and listen At tbe gateway of tbe sea, For my Avbole of love v/as ^iven To tbe maiden Ulalie. Plorntnf^ on ^crk»iytre Miliar* I looked beyond tbe Berksbire bills Witb reverent awe and Avonder, Beyond tbe ^lintin^ mountain rills And burning busbes' splendor; I tbou^bt to see Monadnoo's face Nev^ majesty revealing, But lo, a cloud swun^ down tbe space Tbe mountain's brov^ concealing. So, once, wben Israel's seer of old Had faced tbe li^bt eternal, Veiled vras bis brow, none mi^ht bebold Its radiance supernal. A tomb, I have, of granite stone, A ru^^ed tomb Vv^ith. moss o'er^ro-wn, Upon tlie stone before its door Is — ' ' Obiit " = and notbin^ more. By day and ni^bt I ^o alone. And roll away tbe lieavy stone ; I enter in tbe darken'd place. And lift tbe napkin from tbe face ; I press tbe lips, close=sealed and cold, To mine=— Avitb lack of smiles ^ro^vn old== And wonder Vv^bicb is dead tbe Avbile, Since neitber moutb batb power to smile. //. Tbe bour is come wben I may take My pale, sweet dead, for mine ow^n sake, And walk a^ain tbe Avay tbat leads Mid leaping founts and flowery meads; Witb eyes tbat smile I now can see Tbe 6ifts ber close bands bold for me, And lo, as \\rrit witb meaning wide, 14. "Tbe tomb ^vas in a garden side." ©he ♦♦^atr0ci-||le-ll0t. ♦• Wh.en blossoms first bedecked the earth. In Eden's happy bovvers, The Lord came do\v^n in cool of day And -walked amon^ His f louvers ; To each He ^ave its fitting name, To each a lovin6 Avord, And blessed the garden He had made Beholding it w'-as j^ood ! A^ain he came in cool of day, And walked amon^ His flov^ers, But one He saw, a blossom fair, AVas sad in Eden's bowers ; The loving Lord bent tenderly And raised its drooping head, When, "Lord, my name I have forgot!" The blue eyed blossom said ; No cruel Avord the Master ^ave, "For6et Me USTot," spake He, And smiling on the sad, sweet flov^er, "Lo, Tins tliy name shall be!" 75 ply (Dlb-®tnt0 $0ve anil |r. Far through, forest aisles we wandered, He==m.y old=tirQe love = and I, Where the sliine and sliado^v mingle As in liuman destiny ! "With, caresses soft the breezes Brushed the furrows from, each bro^v, Tossed our tresses li^ht as Vv^hen they Clustered ^old instead of sno^v: My thin hand lay half atrerable In my lover's broader palm, While the peace of earth and heaven Folded us Avithin its calm : Low we read in realm enchanted, Poet fancies s^veet and sa^e ; Read our own lon^ life=time story From illuminated pa^e ; SavT" ■where'er a tear had fallen, Or a little ^rave been made, There, the fairest flowers had clustered, There, the rarest ^ems were laid. Ml' OLD-TIME LOVE AND L Tlius we lingered till th.e twili^lit Curtained o'er tlie arcMn^ skies, Then we came up from the woodland Talking lo^v in lover=wise, =— But you're smiling at my story, It, perchance, should not be told, Though my heart so over=brimmin6 Scarcely can its gladness hold. We, I know, have passed life's inornin^, Stand beyond its golden noon, Linger in the closing twilight Where the "^ood nights" come full soon; But the love that blessed our morning Making it a joy to see, Is the crown of all life's journey. To my old=time Love and me. 77 On a mountain sloping nortliAvard, Mid its sliadovv^s dark and cold Wliere tlie fiercest winds \vere driven And tlie blackest storm-clouds rolled, There, my cliildliood found its shelter — Eaglets liave been reared in sucli-= Knowing neither sunshine's glamour ISTor the south=v,dnd's gentle touch. Gray and far the sky above me ; = Yet I loved its silver shield, White and cold the snows around me Whence the avalanches pealed. Yet I loved them = as the ea^le Loves his aerie mid the snows = But he leaves it, but he spurns it When the larger v/orld he knovrs ! Once I climbed to higher summits Overlooking all I knevv^, And it seemed the more I journeyed 75 Somewhat still my footsteps dre^v, THE SHEPHERD, -jq 'Till I readied a cra^ ^\rliere looking Do^vn^vard far on eitlier liand, Cold I sa^v my liome beneath, me — But afar th.e valley land. Tliere, in sunsliine rivers widened As my soul had never dreamed, There the forest and the meado\v With rich flo^ver and fruitage teemed. =— Does the ea^le that has floated In the ^lory of the sun Seek a6ain the hidden aerie Where his simple life be^un? /. Up mountain passes dark and steep An Alpine shepherd called his sheep ; //. The rills that fed the vale below Had ceased their lau^hin^ overflo^v, And pastures ^reen and de^vy s^veet Grew black and bare beneath the heat; THE SHEPHERD. IV. But liei^lits beyond th.e slieplierd knew, Wliere V7avin6 w^ealth. of brasses ^re^v; V. Wliere bi-ooks leaped down tlie niountain pass And tlirevv^ tlieir diamonds o'er tlie ^rass. vi. Unto the shadow of ^TQa^t rocks The Alpine shepherd called his flocks ; VH. But one there was with lambkin "white That v/ould not climb the ru^^ed height 77//. The shepherd turned from mountain crest, The lamb he laid upon his breast; IX. Then came the mother to his side, And followed close the shepherd=^uide. X. My o"\A^n VvT'hite lam.b in sweetest rest Is borne upon The Shepherd's breast, XI. I follow^ now" up mountain side My snow white lamb and Shepherd ^uide, XII. The path I thought a rou^h, dark way 1 find is lit with heavenly ray, ROCKFORD. 8i XIII. While He upon the mountain crest With my white lamb upon His breast, XIV. Hath love == such love upon His face The mount doth ^row a holy place. ^ocUfarir, Are the chan^in^ years a myth? As the pine=tree whispereth, Voices whisper in my ear I had thou6ht no more to hear; Distance but a mist doth seem O'er thee, city of my dream ! I can see thy river ^lide With its silver, sun=f locked tide ; See it march v^ith silent pace And \vith shadovr=darkened face. Past the mounds that faithful keep Annals of a race that sleep ; See it trip "with silver feet Dovm its broad and rocky street, 'Till it lingers v^rapt in calms, Holding in its circling arms 82 ROCKFORD. Happy Island fair and blest, With, its flower 'd and ferny crest. Unto fancy it doth, seem The enchanted, mystic stream That the Poets say dotli.flo^v Past the "Isle of Lon^ A^o." / AOIDE And Th.e Lyre. Ni^lit -w^inds swept tlie lieavy pines = S\\rept tliem mi^litily! Through, their bou^lis an antliem rose Rich. Avith. harmony. When the harp I sought to find In the piney tree, 'Lo, the lyre is in thy heart!" Said the pine to me. tall and fair th.e lily stands, With, stainless brow and golden bands; She bends to me, She sends to nie Across the fra6rance of her breath The sweetest Avord that lip e'er saith. Thou, up and down the 6arden v.^alk, Hast passed full oft my lily stalk. But unto me. And not to thee, She sends across her fragrant breath The sweetest 'word that lip e'er saith. Who -would not be Endymion And sleep for aye and aye. With thee, Salene, v/oman fair, To kiss his cares away! ^ ^6 ODM. Aiid yet, metliinks, tlio' sleep Avere sweet And still and strong as death., Th.y kiss v^ould be tlie subtle spell To ^vake the bated breath: Such li^ht -would flood this little mount As Latmus never knew, Endymion would crave to dwell On Gray lock here "with you. ©bin, God Odin, thou art kin of ours ! Thy blood in English, veins Tliy thoughts, O Thinker, in our hearts. Compel to bold refrains. Thy bale-fires leaping up the heights In Korseland's early days, Have cau^bt alon^ the hills of time And set the world ablaze ! Thy liero=heart that felt the thrill Of nature deep and ^rand, Saw further than thy children saw- Through sky and sea and land: WILD STRAWBERRIES. Ttie forces th.at -were Jotiins ^rim Still match, ^vith. mortal ^^^ill, And valor — fiercely slaying fear— Hath, lioly virt\ie still. Thy heart sincere, thy valor true, Have keyed these after=times And send a ru^6ed rid^e of truth Through, later runes and rhymes. Wisest Merlin, dost thou know Where ^vild strav^berry clusters ^rovr? "Do^wn in tangled meadow ^^ass A\rh.ere li^lit feet of children pass; "Where the ground=bird's nest is laid, Half in sun and half in shade; "Wliere a rosy mist is spread O'er the fragrant clover's bed; "By the side of rippling streams Where the purple iris dreams; "Where the Avild=rose drinks the de^v, And the violet -wears its blue ; SS WILD STRAWBERRIES. *'Wh.ere tlae grapes' ^reen clnster s^vin^s Wliei'e the blackberry trails its \vin.^s; "Little maiden, now dost know ^Vbere v/ild strav^^berry clusters ^roA\' ? ' Wisest Merlin, canst tliou tell How tlieir scarlet berries s^vell ? "Evening tbrou^li tbe darkness brings Draughts of de%v from unseen springs; "Day by day is banquet spread Of tbe sunshine's Goodly bread, "Whispering ^;v^inds enchantment brin^, Rainbows arch them VTith their win6. "Little maiden, now dost know How the scarlet berries ^row?" Wisest Merlin canst thou tell Why their scarlet berries SA^'-ell ? "Comes a maid with ruby lips, Rose=leaf palms and fin^er=tips, "Pushes sheeny leaves apart Hiding berries' blood=red heart! "Little maiden, no"w canst tell Why their scarlet berries swell?" 31 ^pvina iftavtnen* A stranger minstrel passes on, Forsooth. ! lie is a kindly one ; His liarp of ^old 'Neath, mantle fold, Is waked to play "vsrith s^weetest art By beating of the minstrel's heart. On mountain side in vestal ^uise 'Neath sno-wy robe one sleeping lies; She hears in dreams The ^ush of streams, And turning in her smiling rest Shows knotted violets o'er her breast. Beside her, kneels the minstrel low, Forsooth! he doth more kindly ^row. His harp of ^old 'Neath mantle fold, Is waked to play ^vith sweetest art By beating of the minstrel's heart. My task is liard=— as liard as one Eurystlieus ^ave of old==-= Yet I must dare tlie fiercest seas And brin^ th.e fruit of ^old. Tlie dragon lives to ^uard th.e ^ate Of Hesper's orcliard fair; And hardest fate! I do not kno\v Wliat way its portals are. * No ni^lit of rest may e'er be mine Nor day of languid ease, •Till I sball brin^ tli.e fruit I seek From far Hesperides. "With, dragons fierce I must contend, "With, storms on land and sea, With, all I hate or fear or dread Must I in conflict be ! Yet all exulting to the task I cross an unkno^vn sea, E'en Ladon -will I force to ^ive go The guarded fruit to me. ^/hc <&olhexx fleece* O'er rtiornin^'s azure liills of peace Rove cloudy flocks Avitli snowy fleece ; By slieplierd wind th.e slieep are sent Across tlie etliery orient. In coming tliro' tlie ^ates of day, The rising tides dash, golden spray O'er azure hills and ardent stars, And fleck the white anoon's silver bars; The waves of ^lory onward s-weep To cloudy flocks of snoAv v/hite sheep.- One sought of old the golden fleece ;=== I find it on these hills of peace. A roving lover is the Breeze Awooin^ all my blooming trees, And like some other lovers here, He woos the beauty that is near! But yester morn he filled my rooms g/ Qa LEGEND OF ABRAHA.\f AND JUS GUEST. With. wreath-S of snov^y clierry blooms, Ere ni^ht tlie bluslain^ apple bou^lis Confessed bis kisses and bis vows ; To=day tbe peacb bas cbeeks aflame, And trembles when he si^bs her name Ere ni^ht tbe fickle, faithless Breeze Will sin^ and si^b in other trees. A moral's in my little son^ ! I prytbee, do not read it wron^. At tbe door of Abraham's tent Stood a stranger old and bent, Craved to lay his staff aside And 'till tbe morrow there abide ; = Forth the patriarch came with baste, Fullest welcome ^ave his ^uest; Brought cool \vater for his feet, And a kid most tender, sweet. From his herd be ordered dressed As a supper for his ^uest; This \vith cakes and milk be spread, And beside tbe meat and bread Laid fair clusters of the vine — Globes of Ecbol's purple -wine, LEGEND OF ABRAHAM AND HIS GUEST. qs Such as Israel's spies since found On tlie patriarch's vineyard ground. Turned the old man to his food, But by neither look nor word Gave he token that he knev,'' Unto vvrhom all thanks are due. Pause and honor thou thy God!" Came the patriarch's hasty v/ord. But the stranger ^ray and old Answered with defiance bold : Unto me no ^od is kno^vn Save the ^od of fire alone." Abraham then in v/rath and mi6ht Drove the old man from his si^ht. Scarce beyond fair ]\Iamre's oak Passed the stranger, ere there spoke Other Voice at Abraham's side : Where no\v doth thy ^uest abide ? " Bowed the patriarch vrith his face To the ground, for all the place Shone with li^ht beyond the ray Of the sun in fullest day ; From his lips low answer came, Since he honored not Thy Name, Lord, I drove him from my door." Gently spoke the Voice once more: ^4 ROBINS. "Lo! tliese hundred yea,ra I've borne All h.is folly, all Ms scorn, Couldst not thou but ^ivo hinx rost For one ni^ht?-'-He "was thy guest." Humbly then the patriarch went, Led a^ain into his tent Him, Avho, bent and ^ray and old Trembled in the storm and cold ; Gave from fullest stores the best, With a blessing to his ^uest. ^0Uin«. When the earth from slumber wakens At the soft kiss of the spring. Homeward haste the happy robins From their foreign ^winterin^ ; Seek a^ain the tiny houses Where their last year's loves were spent. Find them full of dry leaves drifted, And their smooth avails marred and rent Yet they grieve not o'er their losses, But v^ith s\veet talk never stilled, Search the buddin6 ^voods and orchards For new haunts -where love may build ; — • ROB IKS. 95 There they hear the happy whispers Of the youn^ leaves hid HjV^a^Yi Hear them as they wako a little, Asking of the coming May ! Uobins know the pleasant stories That the Ajjril rain-drojjs tell, Thrilling with their gentle touches All the wild flowers of the dell; First are they to see the violets Pushing folded leaves ajjart, With their blue eyes peering upward — Modest blooms so sw^eet of heart! First to see the harebells s\vin^in^=— Fair as robin's e^^ in hue — And to hear their clappers rin^in^ For the banquets of the dew ; — In old orchards fair and fragrant With their "wreath of mimic snow Lightly wreathing gnarled branches, Drifting on the ground beloMr, Find they nooks of sun and shadow, Where their "weary "wln^s may rest, Where their birdish loves are spoken, And they brood o'er happy nest, 96 ROBINS. O tlie pleasure of the sprin^=tim.e, Full of Avild birds' loving lore ! tlie 61adness of tlie summer With, its svv/'eet -work brimming e'er! the joy of first beholding Dainty wee things in the nest, And of feeling youn^lin^s quiver Close against the mother=breast ! the earth's s\veet \srealth in rearing Darling nestful youn^ and fair And of teaching ^vin^s to ^vinno^v Summer's blue and ample air! Happy robins, do I wonder At the first breath of the spring, Ye so joyous, home^ward hasten From your foreign ^vinterin^? Do-wn in inarsh.es cool and dank, 'Mid th-ick grasses tall and rank, Wliere tlie deepest sliado^vs sleep, And tlie silent sunbeams creep, Waving ^vorlds of beauty lie Hidden from, tbe careless eye ; All day lon^ tlie morning clings 'Round tbeir cooling ^vater springs; Slightest breezes sbake tlie dew Into mists of rainbov^ liue, Dropping diamonds on tbe strings That the busy spider SAvin^s ; In the mosses soft and sweet Starry blossoms hide their feet. Spill their honey for the bees, Shake their fragrance to the breeze, Give a brightness to the ^rass, ISTod to all the winds that pass;== There the pitcher plant is set, And the "water violet; There the willov^r's crimson stems Spiln^=tiine th?:eads -with silver ^ems, q8 enchanted ground, "Wliile th.e summer's ardent rays Fire tlie ^rass with, lilies' blaze. Cowslips, Avith. tlieir disks of ^old, Prank the marsh.es' velvet fold, And osmunda 'waves her plumes O'er the nymphaea's queenly blooms Pimpernel and sedges fair Mingle with the orchid's hair : From "White buds — like silver beads = Han^in^ thick amon^ the reeds, Upward to the lark that sin^s By the ^ushin^ water springs, All the marshes' heart is full Of the gospel = Beautiful. Ye v;rho -weary v/ith the load Borne upon life's dusty road, Think ye that no fairies dwell On the mountain, in the dell? Then your lessons ne'er were found Upon ea-rth's enchanted ground; ENCHANTED GROUND. Ye have read stern reason's book, Not from tree and cloud and brook; Ye liad learned far sweeter tilings From th.e woods and water=sprin^s. When of fashion's cant I tire, And of wise men's words of fire, Then to fairy folk I flee, Childhood's faith my sesame, Rarest secrets do they tell Of our sweet earth's miracle; To her heart they lean so neai- Her unspoken thoughts they hear; Hear her to her nurselings sin^ Loving lullabies of spring, See her wrap their feet from cold 'Neath her mantle's fleecy fold; = Ere a seed from darkness springs, Or a flower unfolds its win^s. Ev'ry garden lies apart In the dreamland of her heart,— Qd ENCHANTED GROUND. Fairies see h.er teach. th.e vine How its slender stem sliall t^vine, How to ^rasp th.e oak tliat stands Reacliin^ do^vnward helping hands; They can tell the partridge's tune, How to lau^h back to the loon; Why the wild ducks -when they fly Write Greek deltsi on the sky; Why the ice on ^vinter eves Mimics f louvers and frouded leaves; They can teach us where to find All the music of the wind; Who doth tune the pine's harp=strin^ Where Pan's fluted reed still sin^s; How the wood=birds learn their lore, What the son^ the sky=larks pour From the bosom of the cloud— = Music- flooded, rapture-bo^ved ! Busy is each elf and sprite Sunny day and clouded ni^ht; Hast ne'er seen them ^uide the bees TJnto honey-laden trees? ENCHANTED GROUND. Seen tliem push, tlie leaves apart 'Till "warm snnsliine kissed th.e lieart Of -wild strawberry cliill and pale 'Neath, the grasses' heavy veil? Their bro^vn hands it is that spread Autnran leaves of ^old and red O'er the violet's tender head, O'er the queenly iris' bed.— Fragrant fern and e^lantare Witli the ^vavin^ rQaiden=hair ; Deck the fairies' banquet hall, While the trvinklin^ Vv^ater=fall With its tambourine doth fill Pauses of the ^vhip=poor=^vill. =— Ye Avho -weary with the load Borne upon life's dusty road, Seek the • child "whose days are spent 'Neath the forest's sun=flecked tent, He "Will tell you "with delight Where the fairies meet to=ni^ht. Feasting with them in the ^len Ye shall find your youth a^ain. L Elin^ Frost came down from tlae jSTorth. Countree, Seeking a bride of lii61i decree. //. Armor he ^^ore of a silver slieen, And diamond stars on lais breast ^^^ere seen ; He came in baste for bis steeds were fleet, But bis beart outran tbeir flying feet; /v. And near tbe close of an autumn day He paused wbere 6ardens in ,^lory lay; I'. A stainless lily in satin dress Stood fair and lone in ber saintliness; r/. He passed ber by, " Sbe is wbite," said be, "As maidens are in tbe ISTortb Countree!" V/L Tbe lily drooped at bis word of scorn, No fairer kni^bt bad sbe looked upon. VI/l. He paused not vv^bere tbe lady=in-mist By prince's featber was li^btly kissed, KING FROST'S WOOING OF THE ROSE. 103 IX. Scarce glanced at poppies nodding and tall, But liastened on to a trellised wall X. Wliere bluslied a rose, and lier breath, ^vas balm, Her velvet cbeek \vitli its beauty -warm ; XI. Tbe frost kin^ ^vbispered "Be mine, sweet rose!" Wbat lier lips ans^vered nobody knows; XII. Tbo' in tlie annals of floAvery lore 'Tis written, tbe rose \vas seen no more.— xi/f. By trellised "wall, on "windo^v pane, Tbe morn sbowed pictures of vravin^ ^rain, x/y. Of Alpine vales and an edelweiss, Of drifting sno^vs and a field of ice; XF. Of vessels sailing o'er ■wind=swept seas, ■=— But fairer tban all and over these xr/. Was traced =-= a knight Avith a silver crest Who bore a rose away on his breast. *"Tis tlie first of Nisan, Racliel, And at dsbwn, SAveet ^vife, dost kno-w, If the God of Israel Avilleth., I ^o to tlie plains to sow." Tlien tlie ^ood v^'^ife ansvs^ered gently, With, a toucli of Hebrew pride, While her voice -was sweet as fountains Unto Joseph at her side : "May the God of Israel bless thee, Give to thee an hundred fold. Making all the plain at harvest Like a sea of rippling ^old. "Thou art ri^ht, oh, my beloved. For the v/inter's chilling blast, And the flooding rains of sprin^=time Like a fleeting dream are past; "When the early morning breaketh And the shadov^s flee away, I vdll -with thee to the palm trees; — Lack of thee brings ^veary day ! ''BEHOLD A SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOWy tog "May th.e Lord of liarvest send th.ee Gentle dews from Hermon's crov^rn, Let th.e sun=slio\vers' ^old betoken Ricliest liarvest for tliine o^wn. "And, beloved, son of Israel, Let US trust and ^vork so well Tliat, perobance, our God may sboAv us Him of wbom tbe propbets tell! " On tbe plain tbe son of Israel Solved tbe seed to left, to ri^bt, Tbinkin^ less of golden barvest Tban of propbet's Avords of m.i^bt. Lo ! anear tbe faitbful sovv^er Noting every ^rain of ^old, Spake Tbe One VT-bom. Israel waited, He by propbets lon^ foretold. Mirrored fair, Lord Leon's bride Lingers at th.e fountain's side ; Crystal diamonds linked ^vith. pearls Han^ amon^ lier lieavy curls; Lady Claude is very fair Wlien no jeAvels bind lier liair, But lier diamonds are th.e pride Of tlie lordly Leon's bride. Let tlie dewy grasses sliake For tbis hau^lity lady's sake, Let ber see v/bat -wealtb of ^ems Deck tbe grasses' slender stems ! Lady Claude is queenly fair CroAvned ^vitb Avefts of sunny bair. Flo\vin6 do\vn from bro^v to knee=— Wavelets of a golden sea!-— From, tby quiver, mi^bty sun, Let tby sbinin^ arrows run, Let tliem lie on -wood and "SArold tob Like a ^leamin^ croAvn of ^old; CALEND' ULA S. jof Let ns see -wliose wealth, is greatest, Which, of these shall ^leam the latest. All thy ^old, O sun, is bri6ht, But the lady's locks are ^^rhite. ®alcnX»ula«r, " So called because they are in Jlovjer during (lie calejids of each month ■that is, during- Cicry month in the year.^' ISTot sheeny cups of malachite Uplifted to the sun, Nor slender urns of lilies -white Can match my peerless one. I know a blossom thou shouldst see, The starry flcwer of constancy. Calend'ulas with golden ray My love doth wear in troth=knot ^ay; She makes December fair as May! One calls the rose his flower of love, The pansy is for thought; The minstrel \vinds that ^aily rove Can have the rose for nought. And royal pansies will not stay In days of darkened destiny. /oS ROr AND THE FAIRIES. Calend'ulas -with, golden ray My lady "wears in love=knot ^ay, Sh.e raakes December fair as May ! Wh.en disappointments darken life, And "winds ^row v/inter-oold, My miser lieart turns from tlie strife To love's iinclian^in^ ^old; Dark sliado^vs flee wlien once I see My priceless flower of constancy. Calend'ulas, tliro' darkest day My love doth, ^vear in trotli=knot ^ay ; Slie makes December fair as May. ^ay CkvCtf the ,^atrie». Is it true tbat tliere are fairies?" Whispered Roy one summer day, When the lilies and the lupines Danced and nodded in their play; And the mother answered softly, With a far off dreamy look As if reading from her childhood, And the s^veet -world's fairy book : ROl' AND THE FAIRIES. tOQ "Look, my Roy, into tlie rosebud Wliere its fairest damask parts, Something very SAveet is liidden In its secret heart of hearts ; **Go amon^ the bending grasses "While the trembling deAV=drops clin^, Peer into the mornin^=^lories Where their purple trumpets swin^ ; "See which 'way the ferns are bowing, Bending as if queens swept by; Take your nap on mossy pillows 'ISTeath the blue tent of the sky ; "Linger oft'nest ^vhere the brooklet Glides and flints 'neath branches 6reen, Come and tell me in the ^loamin^ All the s^veet things you have seen." Roy is learning happy lessons, And his eyes grow 'wonder=wide. As he listens in the forest To the voices at his side; What he finds in rock and runlet. What he learns from faun and elf ■= Hidden secrets of the wild=wood== He will tell one day himself, All day long tlie poet sin^s To a lyre vsrith. silver strings ; In Ills soul lie nightly liears Music of tlie starry spheres, Listens to tlie rytlim low Tinted clouds make in tlieir flow. Forests with, their waving hair Lure him from a "vv^orld of care ; There, 'neath shady baldachin, Sees he spiders v^eave and spin Threads of silver, "webs of mist, De^vy=jeweled, sunshine kissed, Fittest vroof to be the v^ear Of the poet's child of air ! He can read tlie faint designs Mosses write upon the pines. Or with lover's heart disclose Vedas of each floAver tliat 6rows. 'ISTeath the evening's veil of mist Hears he rose by deA\^=drop kissed. And the hours of midnight tolled By the lily's bell of ^old. THE POET. Nature owns tlie poet" s lieart, Kno^vs it is of lier a part; Unto liim. sh.e opes lier store, Sh-ows liim all h.er mystic lore ; For liis joy slie drops at ni^lit Ruby red and clirysolite; In tlie morning spreads anew Tints of every name and hue ! East and -west and soutli and north., Through all lands she leads him forth Treading lofty mountain roads, Wears he purple like the ^ods, And in vales v^here waters sin^ Laughs he v^ith the river kin^ ; =■ Every morn she lifts the haze From more opal=tinted days, Each tomorrow leads him thro* S^veeter valleys than he knew ; And the son^s he sin^s the best Are those borrowed from her breast. Merry rtiaidens count tlieir je^wels, Hold tliera upvT'ard sunsliine=kissed, ISTarae tliera as tliey drop tliem slo^vly, "Fiery opal, ainetliyst, " Jasper=stone and burning ruby, Bride=like pearl, clialcedony ; " =■ So tbe maidens count tlieir jevirels ; =- Only == only one bave I! But my je-wel makes me ricber Tban tbe Sind v/bose marble floor He bad piled -witb ^old and jevv^els From its casement to its door. Once a prince came proudly riding On a royal red=roan steed, ■'Ne'er drew rein so kindly rider!" Said my beart in very deed. Tbou^b a royal minstrel, musing, By bis zitbern, seek to tell All tbe kni6bt=bood of tbat rider, It "were past bis miracle ! ==- SWEET- FERX. Heart ! I could not still tliy fleetness, And a ^lory swept the place ; Was it but tlie sun at noon=day Or tlie love=li^lit in h.is face? On my liand liis je\vel fitted Makes me lieart and brow a queen; Like a steadfast star it sbinetli Earthly sliadov^in^s between. tt3 ^nftei'^evn* Bit of courage ! never daunted Tbou^h. in rocky meadow planted Dravv^in^ strength, from granite stone ! Gladly ^rov^ in barren places, Tliou liast by tby simple graces Made tbe rou^h. rock like a tbrone. Every breeze tbat bas caressed tliee, Every garment's bem tbat pressed tbee Tbou bast filled Avitb fragrances. Sweet inspirer, propbet, preacber! Tbou art dew=anointed teacber From tbe beavenly distances. n4 SWEET-FERN, May I too lend gentle graces To life's liard and barren places. To each, soul tliat touclies mine Be ne"W liope and courage ^iven, • Help to see, tlirou^h. clouds a=riven, Li^lits alon^ tlie liarbor line. LICHENS From Life's Ledges. Hoary licliens creep and clin^ To tlie rou^li lip of th.e spring, Catcliiii^ in tlieir cups of ^ray Misty drops of silver spray. Mimic goblets ^ray and v^liite, As if ^ro^vn in pale moonli^lit, Are ye beakers frosted fine, Deftly carved viritli quaint design = Beakers for tbe folk tliat dwell In tbe sliadoAV=tented dell? Tlie mountain wears upon its breast Tbe faitliful licliens' silver crest ; Wlien Vv^inds are rou^li and storms assail They firmer clin^ nor droop nor quail. Pleart ! tbou v/ilt like tlie licliens prove Unf lincliin^ ? Tliey tliy type of love? ZX6 Aslien pale leaves, Fasliioned frail leaves From tlie sad Getlisertiane ! How ^rew ye leaves? Wh.at knew" ye leaves Of the Passion's mystery, Of my Master's a^ony? What bloody sweat On Olivet, Dre"w ye with, ichor from your tree? Ashen pale leaves, Broken frail leaves, For your sorrow fell ye In the sad Gethsemane? ®h« ^iaine* I brin^ my statue Into the public square Where all the torches ^lare ; Their fathered li^ht Shall prove my ^vork, If it be ri^ht, ^7 ®h0 Wraith of tlje Uixtcv* Art thou tlie Avraith. of tlie dead, 0! tliou mist? Of th.e river in falling slain? Tlius doth, the sonl of the Abater released To the heavens return a^ain? ^\je ^hvine* I came upon sweet Nature's shrine, The VTlnds her vespers sun^. Upon a rose=tree's cro^vn of thorn Her beads of prayer -were hun^. Carved cups of alabaster Sealed thro' all the li^ht, Broken in the hush of even To anoint the feet of Ni^ht! ^eeMn& the '^vooh* I heard a son^ in treble sweet, Like rythmic beat of fairy feet Atrippin^ over silver sand u8 "Within a flower=embroidered land THE BROOK. >tQ I follo-wed ^vliere tlie soft son^ led By slender leasli=~a silver tliread — 'Till in tlie osier=curtained nook I met tlie blue eyes of tlie brook. @;h« ^roult. Tlie little brook it was so fair, Its prattle v/as so sweet to liear, With. lieart>o'erflow It lau^lied so lov^, I longed to take up in my arms Tbe little brook witli all its cliarms And carry it forever tbere. Sometimes tlie world lias a ru^^ed patb And we toil till our feet are pained, And our liearts ^ro^w faint as Ave stand at ni^lit And mourn tliat no more is gained. But dawns at last a glorious morn, Or descends a star=^irt ni^lit, Wlien a^ved, Ave stand on tlie farthest hill With the home of our souls in si^ht. ^Ije (Sixteen, 1», ^» The Lord liath. crowned lier "womanliood With, coronation holy, Th' anointing oil of ^rief hath made Her kin unto the lowly. ®ij« ^ltt» ^ivh4 Beautiful bluebird, where were you born? "In a cloudy nest in the azure dawn." Where learned your sweet and silvery note? "From, the ripple of clouds that over us float.' Why came from your cloudy bluebell nest? "To drop a new melody into your breast." ®ne gt^ttr Si«at», One lieth dead since yester^morn Who lon^ had borne the scorn of scorn; The hate of hate had been his bread; 720 But for sweet love he lieth dead. I stand in awe and wonder mucli At tliis MYSELF I do not know. It oft eludes my power to liold And wanders wliere I cannot ^o. Witli folded eyes I lie at ni61i.t And sleep in imagery of death, Yet restless glides tlie strange MYSELF Throu^li realms where mortal ne'er drew breath. I turn with fear I cannot still From this mysterious self of mine To Him -who Avrou^ht and still controls The mystery so near divine. ^n the ^e»evt mill tir« ^a^ of ai« $ij<»n>ln0 ICnta ^^vaeL" He ^^rtLO opens royal hi^hvv^ay For the coming feet of Truth, Shrove hath kept in w^ildernesses, "With the bread of man's distresses And the soulful cup of ruth. Not flaming svv^ord nor clierubim Could liinder Nature's son^ and story With, lieart attuned in Eden's ^lory Slie followed man to comfort him. Do^vn amon^ the tangled grasses Found I Summer lyin^ dead, Shrouded in the leaves of Autumn, Faded garlands round her head. While I kneeling ^azed upon her, Si^hin^ for her vanished ^race, Lon^in^ for her rippling laughter, Winter's white beard hid her face. The one who builds the poorest Has need to toil the more. For him -whom naught can conquer The ^if t is at the door. $0v ^e ^lan«. He made tlie desert dry and th.e bosky wood, Tlie mountain's h.ei^h.t and tlie river's road, Tlie th-orny track, and tlie mossy Vv^ay, Tlie fire by ni^bt and tbe cloud by day;— Tbey all shall be ^vlien I am ^one, Yet eacb ^vas made for me alone. **^0l ^ ant iJaB*" Lon^, sad and dark ber ni^bt of pain batb been ; All ber eartb=life sbe liatb known no otber. Deatb came, and simply said, " Lo ! I am Day," Sweetly spoke, and lo^v, as nursing motber. Tbe sun==a cup of ^old== Tbe band of day dotb bold ; It is a stirrup=cup Sbe trembling, boldetb up. Witb cold ^ray lip Its wine dotb sip ; Tbe blood=red wine from stirrup=cup Is sbaken as sbe bolds it up ; It stains tbe cloud, tbe mount, tbe lea. Sinks tbe cup into tbe sea. /s^ By hands unseen, li^lit scarfs of mist Are lifted from tlie running rills Tliat •wind about tlie w^akin^ hills Like necklaces of ametliyst. Once upon a time a walnut tree prayed that it might bear lilies.''^ ■••Fable Anguish, tlirills tlie listening wood As tlie cutter's ax rin^s out; 'Tis tlie trees' beatitude, Falls tlie -walnut -with, a shout! Subtle skill the carver holds As he chisels ni^ht and morn, = Lo! from out the "w^ood's dark folds Royal lilies have been born. $£at»e«. Leaves are the little children The mother=tree doth keep ; "When summer's day is ended 124. They lay them down to sleep. My magi brou^lit me o2:>als. Tliey are frozen tears, I said, Tears Eve in Eden shed ! A luster from lier shining eyes. The rQoon=li^ht flooding para.dise, Impiisoned lie in opals! ^ntitice. Very true the balance v/ei^heth — Tho' its "wei^hin^ be not fast, Brows that life to crowns has shajDen They shall vi^ear their crowns at last. A. B. D. She brought me comfort that sad day. I called her "friend" in simple ^vay, ISTor knew her an^el sweet and wise Because she stood in human ^uise.=-= Alas! that -we should be so slov.- The angels at our side to know^. 12^ ®»tttttnbrt jaegitU*. Royal Osmunda, lissom and fair With, tresses li^lit as a maiden's are, And breath, as sweet as from rosy lips, Tell me, Osmunda, \\^ho sips, Avho sips? Were I the wind that arovin^ ^oes, I'd find the nook where the Osmund ^lov/s And dwell with her in a vale apart Or bear Osmunda aw^ay on my heart. girt* That is Art =- the truest art— Which is ITature's counterpart, Sho\\rin^ in a younger face Imaged fair the mother's ^race. ®lj« ^eck* Runs the beck with laughter wild, Leaping cliffs like gayest child. On the cold breast of the rocks i3(f Lie its thin and vv^hitened locks. Art thou queen of fairy-liood, Or a -woman rare Wh-ose sweet spirit's inner mood Maketh. ^ro-w so fair? ©Jjy $Hie»» Kno-w tliou — tlie dark, tlie cliill, tlie frost, None are upon th.y garden lost. Th.y bovver with.out these ministries Must lack its fair virginities. 12?