P s <>o05 Class ^Jlcl^AP^ OopghtN°__^iL COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT <3rfje llano of 3xmtv Htgijt Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/landofinnerlightOOcran S.TS-^^^J). Hanb of Jtmer Htgfjt Hn Ofre&ap in Proge anb Wtvst BRIEF TREATISE ON ADVANCED THOUGHT IN ITS APPLICATION TO MODERN LIFE SUPPLEMENTED BY POEMS ILLUSTRATIVE OF PRINCIPLES IN HARMONY WITH PROGRESSIVE IDEAS BY CHARLES FREDERICK CRANE, M.D. NEW YORK PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR ."Rax sis Ipa. Copyright, 1912, by CHARLES FREDERICK CRANE The Book Composition Company, New York 4(oa feCI.A314070 / TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE DAILY STRIVING, IN SPITE OF OBSTACLES, TO CREATE A GREATER DEGREE OF HAPPINESS AND TO DISPEL THE DARK CLOUDS OF LIFE BY RADIATING GLEAMS OF SUNSHINE, THIS BOOK IS SINCERELY AND RESPECT- FULLY DEDICATED Preface |HE only reason that this book is now ^ being added to the vast ocean of lit- erature already in existence is the fact that the principal poem contained herein, the one from which this little volume derives its name, is pre-eminently an inspired composition and contains a message upon which thoughtful men and women will do well to pon- der. The physical senses are not the only chan- nels through which the human mind may receive information. It is known that the material universe in which we live is interpenetrated by a mental universe, and that we are constantly surrounded by currents of thought. People frequently receive ideas from unknown sources, which they vainly believe to originate in their own minds. Many, if not all, of the great movements for the benefit of humanity, have probably had their origin in this way. The 7 PREFACE descriptive matter that follows the verses of "The Land of Inner Light" explains in as clear a manner as possible the essential ideas contained in that poem, viewed from a standpoint that has been gained by many years of deep study and exhaustive research in many different fields of knowledge, and also through other and more direct means. The truth of the facts there stated is perfectly familiar to some persons at the present time, and will become more and more apparent to others as the race becomes older and the masses gain in wisdom. It per- tains not to any special brand of religious belief, but rather to those broad underlying principles that are as applicable to one kind as to another, and the practical adaptation of these, so far as is possible, to the various departments and daily affairs of human life. In the presentation of a subject of this nature, the writer feels himself to be a most humble instrument, but since it is as refreshing to drink pure water from a bat- tered tin cup as from a golden goblet, it is to be hoped that the information herein contained will be considered none the less valuable on that account. 8 PREFACE As some of the other poems contain flashes of the higher knowledge or serve to point a moral, they also should prove valuable reading. The one designated as "The Slave of the Mill," especially, is a composition having a most lofty object in view, namely, to impress upon the minds of the public the existence of the great curse of child labor and the importance of eradi- cating this widespread public evil, or, at least ameliorating, as much as possible, the condi- tions under which it is carried on. It is grati- fying to note that many efforts at reform in this matter have already been successfully accom- plished, and that more will follow. In regard to the poems that remain, the author hopes that they will be found, at least, interesting and attractive. That this book will be found so worthy of admiration as to forever preserve it as a gem of purest lustre, will always remain the most earnest wish of THE AUTHOR. Contents; PART I PAGE The Land of Inner Light. (A combination of Poetry and Prose. ) 13 PART II— OTHER POEMS The Slave of the Mill 35 The Sage and the Lotus 40 The Hero of the Swamp 44 The Heart of Gold . 52 The Angelic Vision 54 Lost Opportunities 56 Life's Illusions 58 Friendship . 63 The Love- Dream ♦ 64 n Many a man, who thinks he's smart And calls his neighbor fool, hi future worlds will sadly sit Upon the dunce's stool. 12 PART 1 ^Tfje llanb of %mtx Htgfrt There is a land that's known to few, Where rainbow hues tint ev'ry scene, Where sweetest music thrills the soul, And Spirit dwells behind the screen; A place where fragrance fills the air And all around is dazzling bright, Where sin is not, and love abounds; 'Tis called the Land of Inner Light. A land not cursed by man-made laws, Nor filled with useless man-made jails, But judged alone by God above, Whose boundless mercy never fails. In that fair land, where all is peace, No mortal's hand is raised in strife. 'Tis there that might defends the right And love's the only law of life. 13 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT Within that land no man doth feast While others starve for want of bread; The banquet board is spread for all And e'en the least of these are fed. No tyrant's heel, or crushing yoke Grinds down the worker to the dust; No power there holds men as slaves, Begrudging starving ones a crust. That land contains no room for those Who close their eyes to others' pain, Or disregard each other's rights, Or sell their souls for selfish gain. There kindness lifts the fallen up And dries the mourner's bitter tears. There stronger souls support the weak And cheer them onward through the years. There no man thirsts for clinking coin Nor sighs, but for the wealth within; No earthly treasure tempts his greed; He treads the way that's free from sin. Therein no mortal seeks for fame, But works his best for common good, All low ambitions cast aside, When standing where the Master stood. 14 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT No beastly lust, nor tainted thought, Exist within that perfect land; Its dwellers number only those Who' re pure of heart and clean of hand. There health and strength eternal dwell, With blooming youth and lovelit eye, While shining angels guard the way Of souls that are not born to die. To those who scoff and those who doubt This heav'nly land seems far away; To those who' re wise, its threshold lies Deep down within their hearts to stay. There wisdom flows in mighty floods, With greater thoughts than those in books, And they who seek find wondrous truths, For all is clear where Spirit looks. 'Tis there that beings learn the words That makes them true, upright, supreme, And hear the message from above, That life on earth is but a dream. They learn that all the worlds are naught, And all that is, remains but One, The One that rules the universe Whose Spirit shines through ev'ry sun. 15 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT It leads the faithless to the faith ; It gives the hopeless hope once more; The meanest souls learn charity When passing through this open door. They feel the force that moves the spheres; They see the guiding hand of Love And grasp the need of sacrifice If they would swell the throngs above. Then loving hearts form living chains And helpful hands support the right, While living seeds are sent broadcast And darkened souls behold the light; Then e'en the highest love to serve And all assist the heav'nly plan, While mighty forces gather round To aid the brotherhood of man. The coming race is pressing on; Its vanguard soon must heave in sight; Its greatest souls are gath'ring round The standard of the Inner Light. Wilt thou, O laggard! stay behind, A coward in the coming fray, And, like the nations of the past, Go down to moldering decay? 16 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT Rise up, O man! Know that thou art A spark from out the Sacred Flame; Go seek the Land of Inner Light Whence thy immortal Spirit came. List to the Voice that in thee dwells, When all the outer world is still; Whate'er that Voice shall bid thee do, Know thou, 'tis God's most holy Will. To obtain a clear idea of the meaning of the foregoing verses the words are not to be inter- preted according to their literal signification, but exclusively in reference to the lofty ideal that is embodied in them. The word land is not intended to convey the idea of place, but state of consciousness. There are many degrees of consciousness. For instance, that of even the highest animals is limited to their immediate surroundings, and they may therefore be said with truth to live almost entirely in the mate- rial world, and the lower races and grades of human beings are but little higher than the animals in this respect. The man of average intelligence, however, obtains knowledge, not 17 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT only from his merely physical contact with material things, but also from many different intellectual sources of information, including the news conveyed to him from other portions of the globe, possesses a far broader conscious- ness than either the animal or the undeveloped human being, and may therefore properly be said to live in a greatly different sphere. But there is a far higher state of consciousness than is possessed by the man of average attainments; in fact, there is as broad a gulf between persons in possession of this higher consciousness and the average individual, as between the average man and the animal creation. All of the great teachers of humanity had this greater degree of consciousness, which enabled them to not only comprehend the affairs of this world, but also to receive, through sources of which the mass of human beings, even at the present time, have not the slightest conception, that grander knowl- edge concerning the affairs of the whole uni- verse, including the position of man in nature, his origin, his gradual evolution, and his future destination, together with the natural laws governing this evolution and the best means of 18 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT hastening his progress. The gradual growth of consciousness can be traced through its various stages by first observing it in its most rudimen- tary form in certain plants such as the sensitive plant, then in some of the lower phases of ani- mal existence, such as fishes, reptiles, etc. , then in the birds and inferior animals, still higher in the family of apes, a little broader in the lower races of men, and more and more ex- panded as man becomes more and more a civil- ized being. It is a wonderful and beautiful story, this history of the transformation from low bru- tality to lofty thought and purpose. It is a change still going on and on toward higher and higher planes of perfection. All men possess physical consciousness, and also mental in vary- ing degrees, but comparatively only a few, at the present stage of evolution, possess even the faintest reflection of that higher grade which re- sides exclusively in the spiritual part of man, and not in the physical or mental. It is, however, something to which all may aspire. To those who have attained to this degree of consciousness wider fields of knowledge are opened up than the ordinary person has any realization of. They 19 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT emerge from the semi-darkness of mere intellect- ual knowledge into the broad illumination of spiritual truth, and see everything from a more elevated standpoint than others do. They ob- serve the lives of persons and of nations not sim- ply as they are, but as they might be, and as they will be when mankind has advanced farther along the evolutionary path, and the expanding con- sciousness of the race as a whole has enabled it to bring order out of chaos, and harmony out of discord such as exists so largely in every depart- ment of human life at the present time. Al- though, such highly developed individuals may walk the streets in company with other men, usually unknown and unappreciated, they live, practically speaking, in a greatly different world, one of boundless illumination radiating from the Spirit within, in truth a "Land of Inner Light." Those who speak with authority tell us that some persons attain to this advanced stage of development far sooner than others, and some have attained it already. As the outer life of a man or a nation is but a reflection of the inner, it can readily be seen that when a majority of the people learn to read the advanced lessons 20 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT taught by the Spirit within them, the whole ex- ternal life of the nation must change in accord- ance with the same, and then indeed will many of the ideas expressed in the poem become reali- ties, and then at last will the word happiness mean something more than a mere empty sound. Then will mankind be governed by fewer and better laws. The Creator, in his wisdom, estab- lished only ten laws to govern the whole of humanity, but men, to suit their own purposes, have multiplied these by thousands, with the result that, along with the more beneficent enact- ments are to be found others that are both un- just and oppressive. With the increasing light, however, that is now dawning in the previously darkened minds of many persons, the solving of this great problem will undoubtedly be accom- plished, sooner or later and in the wisest manner. It has been said with truth that every nation has as good a government as its people deserve to have, and therefore it would seem that the quick- est way for any country to obtain better govern- ment or better laws would be for the masses of its citizens to live their lives in such a manner as to deserve the best only, and, by thus patterning 21 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT after their highest ideals, form harmonious parts of a superior nation, one in which charitable con- sideration for the welfare of all others will take the place of the selfish, brutish and practically- insane strife that exists to so large an extent at the present day. With the increased inner illumination, however, comes a realization of the vast amount of absolutely needless misery in the world, together with the desire to do some- thing to alleviate it. It has been proven that an immense amount of this suffering is due directly to the ignorance or selfishness of others, or frequently to both, bringing forcibly to mind the truth of the poet's saying: "Man's inhuman- ity to man makes countless thousands mourn." Human beings have been given free will to choose between good and evil, but, instead of obeying the Divine injunction, given in the book of Genesis, to replenish the earth and subdue it, men have, from time immemorial, wasted their God-given energies in the insane effort to sub- due each other. In the effulgency of the great Inner Light, however, even the most selfish in- dividual sees clearly the fact that a man cannot injure others without at the same time injuring THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT himself. Political, social and industrial injustice have brought about revolutions in the past and will do so in the future, but with the great light that is being thrown upon such matters at the present time, those who hold positions of wealth and power in the community are coming to real- ize, more and more, that such wealth and power is given them merely as trustees, to be used for the benefit of their fellow-men, and not for their own selfish gratification alone, and the masses on their side are arriving at the conclusion that far more is to be accomplished by peaceable and rational evolution, than by violent and destruc- tive revolution. With a recognition of the grand principle that what is for the best interest of all is ultimately for the best interest of each, a spirit of kindness and helpfulness will replace the old feeling of selfish antagonism, which is a relic of barbarism and more worthy of the dumb brute than of the man. The old methods of insane competition in business, social, industrial and political life is rapidly passing away, and is giv- ing place to the idea of increased co-operation, peace and plenty in all departments of human existence. Nor is this such an impracticable idea 23 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT as some unprogressive individuals still appear to think. Hard-headed scientists inform us that the riches now in the hands of men is scarcely a drop in the bucket alongside of the undeveloped wealth of this globe, that is lying entirely un- used, and which, if distributed, would enrich every living man, woman and child. They also tell us that a comparatively small portion of the surface of the earth, if intelligently cultivated, could produce more than sufficient to support all the inhabitants of this planet, not only in com- fort, but in luxury. These scientists also know that in order to bring this about, it would not be necessary to employ the puny strength of men, as there are vast stores of energy now going al- most entirely to waste, in the heat of the sun, the force of the waves, the magnetic currents in the earth, and also from other natural sources, some of which are as yet undiscovered, and it will not be long before some or all of these natural forces will be practically utilized for the benefit of man- kind. When a comfortable living is thus assured all worthy persons, there will cease to be any reasonable cause for some men to seek power over others, except the noble ambition of using such 24, THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT power for the greatest degree of usefulness for all. For centuries men have asked themselves the old biblical question: "Am I my brother's keeper?" and those who have crossed the thresh- old of the "Land of Inner Light" there find the answer written on the wall: "You are." The grandest philosophy that has ever been known teaches that as men cultivate only such plants and animals as are productive of benefit, so the higher intelligent powers of the universe, working under the direction of the Almighty, cultivate and assist only those who are striving to follow the dictates of the light within, which is continually urging them toward the realization of the true brotherhood of man in all the daily affairs of life. But, it may be asked: "Why do not all men know of this great light that is shining within them?" The answer is simple. We all go, whether we know it or not, in that direction in which we are most strongly attract- ed, and as the great masses of mankind are more powerfully drawn toward the gratification of their material desires, their consciousness neces- sarily resides most largely in the physical portion of themselves, and as the principal characteristics 25 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT of matter, viewed from the higher standpoint, are darkness and separation, such individuals are naturally blind and selfish concerning all affairs of the broader life. It was for this reason that all of the inspired teachers, who have appeared from time to time among men, have so strongly advocated the importance of crushing out all such base desires, the purification of both the body and the mind, and the cultivation only of those inner qualities that pertain to increased spiritual life, the principal attributes of which are Light and Love, as they well knew that matter constantly changes, but that Spirit is eternal. It is only through such enlightened individ- uals that the great spiritual powers, who are said to watch over humanity, can exert their influ- ence. This statement does not refer in any way to what is generally known as "spiritualism. " In addition to the doubt concerning the genuineness of messages received through mercenary "medi- ums, " it is a fact that the information so imparted has generally been the very reverse of spiritual, and in many cases such as could only have em- anated from individuals of a very low grade of 26 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT intelligence, or of debauched character. It is not through such as these, however, that the great Spiritual Powers of the universe communi- cate their knowledge to mankind, but in a way that is well-known by those who have been found worthy of being instructed in such matters. It is a recognized scientific fact that wireless tele- graph stations are only capable of taking mes- sages when the apparatus is properly attuned to receive certain electrical vibrations, and this gen- eral principle may be applied to persons in regard to their different capacities for receiving spiritual vibrations that originate from the more elevated sources, the ignorant and brutish masses in their present state of undevelopment being utterly incapable of receiving even the slightest amount of higher inspiration. There are, however, per- sons living who are capable of receiving inspira- tion of this kind, and such individuals have con- veyed to them, not only suggestions concerning life and conduct that have the highest approval of the conscience, but are also taught many things of which the public in general knows nothing, and which could be learned in no other way, such as the grand truths concerning the 27 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT constitution of the universe, its emanation from the One great source, whose spiritual light, like the physical, is radiated from the centres of all the vast systems that exist in the heavens, a truth that has been testified to by the greatest teachers the world has ever known. Those who can grasp such facts become transformed into new persons, for they realize the true position of man in the universe and the noble destiny that lies before him. Let us now consider the relation of the Inner Light to the races of men who have inhabited this planet. Those who have studied the history of the world, as well as those who have delved into its ancient literature, know that all the great races of mankind, like individuals, had their periods of birth, rise to power, decline and death, and also, that each had its own special character- istics. Great minds have long ago determined the position that the present race occupies in this great scheme of nature, and also its character. Its keynote is intellectual achievement, and the brilliant scientific discoveries already made by it will be still further surpassed by the marvellous advances to be accomplished by it in the future, 28 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT for this race, of which we form a part, has not as yet passed the zenith that precedes the period of decline. But there are many proofs to show that long before the death of an old race there occurs the beginning of a new, and the first evi- dences of this coming race are to be seen on every side, although but faintly as yet. Its principal characteristics, according to those who know, will be spiritual development and moral achieve- ment. An increasingly large number of people are now casting away screen after screen that separates them from the light of the Spirit with- in, and, day by day, is manifested to a greater extent the progress that is being made in this direction, as shown particularly by the multipli- cation of philanthropic projects of all kinds. The outer life, as before mentioned, is but a re- flection of the inner, and, as man grows in wis- dom, so must his external life become nobler and better in every respect, especially in regard to his relations with his fellow-creatures. Sooner or later, he grasps the idea, that, as no chain can be stronger than its weakest link, so the help- lessness and suffering of a part of the units of any social body, must inevitably result (if not rem- 29 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT edied) in the unhappiness and gradual destruc- tion of the whole, a state of affairs strikingly- referred to by Bulwer Lytton as "strife-rot" in his prophetic novel, "The Coming Race." When this idea has become universally recog- nized, the hard conditions of life, and consequent reign of widespread misery, such as exists so largely among all except comparatively a few of the most fortunate of us at the present day, must gradually come to an end. In that future age, the only kind of success which advanced human- ity will consider worth striving for will be the es- tablishment of the best means for securing to all worthy persons the greatest possible degree of health, prosperity, knowledge, freedom and hap- piness, and then will the best interests of every member of the community be promoted by wise co-operation between such as are physically, mentally and morally capable of such co-opera- tion. This may seem like a Utopian dream to some of the readers of this book, impossible of realization, and thus it may appear to the ordi- nary person, but those who have had their field of mental vision infinitely extended by the brightness of that Inner Light not seen by any 30 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT physical eye, and have been enabled thereby to peer into the mystic regions of the far off future, know that these statements are based on absolute truth. Co-operative methods have already been successfully utilized in many different kinds of enterprises and organized movements, limited in their character, but it is the opinion of those who are most competent to judge, that any sys- tem of universal co-operation, to be applied in- discriminately to all classes of persons, such as advocated by the so-called socialism of the pres- ent day, must prove a failure on account of the very imperfect state of mental and moral develop- ment that exists so largely among the people at this period of time. This idea is evidently cor- rect, if applied to the present generation, for the only instances, so far, of the successful application of co-operative principles to the affairs of entire communities, have been such as have been in- spired by the purest of religious motives, which goes to prove that perfect agreement in all the various transactions of life can never be reached by those who are dominated by selfish desires alone, and that perfect harmony can only be es- tablished in the many departments of human 31 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT existence, between persons whose thoughts and actions are controlled solely by the loftier con- siderations of true friendship and brotherly love, attributes which can only be derived from but one source, namely, that of spiritual enlighten- ment. The beginning of the great struggle for real civilization can be observed even now. Although human nature changes so slowly that the prog- ress sometimes appears almost imperceptible, those who are striving for the practical uplift of humanity and doing all in their power to aid the forward movement of the race have not only the great law of evolution in their favor, but also, according to those who speak with authority, the powerful assistance of the higher mental and spiritual forces of the universe. Man, unaided, can accomplish but little. Man, when his capa- bilities become fully developed, his transcendent powers thoroughly aroused, his actions inspired from the higher sources, becomes a mighty force, whose ability to bring about far-reaching results is almost without limit. Persons of this kind, while attending to their duties in this inferior world, are, in reality, at the same time, true in- 32 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT habitants of the "Land of Inner Light." It is the Divine Spark, within, the truly immortal part of man, and which was according to the teachings of the wise, originally one with the Great Spirit of the universe, that is, throughout the ages, constantly seeking to throw off the bonds of matter and become reunited with the source from which it sprang, and with this des- tiny always in view, is ever urging humanity to loftier degrees of evolutionary development, and continually impelling men and women toward nobler paths of achievement. The founders of all great religions frequently referred to the Light of the Spirit, and distinctly stated that such was the Divine heritage of all who earnestly desired to enter within its influence. Unfortu- nately, many people, by keeping their minds con- tinually concentrated upon their material wants alone, are still groping in darkness, and to them this whole subject must remain, at the present time, an unsolved mystery. Others, however, and their numbers are constantly increasing, as the result of resolutely directing their conscious attention upon the great source of life within, are beginning to perceive at least some small 33 THE LAND OF INNER LIGHT gleams from the ' ' Land of Inner Light, " and are, as a result, manifesting a characteristic desire to sacrifice their own selfish concerns, for the sake of advancing the best interests of others. Such persons, by paying strict heed to the promptings of the ' * still small Voice" within them, are now living up to their higher aspirations with an in- telligence, courage and perseverance which must inevitably lead to a nobler existence for the indi- vidual, a grander civilization for the race, and an exceedingly great reward in the life to come. 34 PART II.— OTHER POEMS Cije «£iaue of tfje JptU Within a busy, thriving town, With work for many hands, W r hile railroad trains rush to and fro, Close by a stream there stands A large and stately cotton mill, The pride of country round; Employment sure it gives to all Within its whistle's sound. Its wheels go round from morn till night; The spindles gayly hum; Industry's voice is very loud; Humanity's voice is dumb. Within, a thousand spindles warp And twist, mid noise and strife, Not only threads of cotton yarn, But threads of human life. 35 THE SLAVE OF THE MILL Beside a whirring spindle stands A little, puny form. Can really that be human shape There working in that swarm? A baby still in years and size. But with a look of age, Who toils and strives, with painful speed, To earn a meagre wage. No happy laugh is ever heard; The childish lips are dumb. The world must have its cotton thread, If children work till numb. Who cares if tireless spindles warp And twist, mid noise and strife, Not only threads of cotton yarn, But threads of human life? The fingers warped and twisted are, And wasted are the arms; The tiny body's shrunken, too; But sleep each feature calms. At night the little being crawls With painful footsteps home, From endless task of weaving thread From twisted cotton foam. 36 THE SLAVE OF THE MILL Unceasing ever, day by day, Keeps up the wearing strain. How could the world get cotton thread With rest for arm or brain? Who cares if tireless spindles warp And twist, mid noise and strife, Not only threads of cotton yarn, But threads of human life? Upon the little hopeless face There is a vacant stare, For how could lengthened hours of toil Leave time for knowledge there? An empty little bench in school; An empty little brain; A nation's honor empty, too, That bears this ugly stain. Yet, week by week, and month by month, The weary toil goes on, For, don't the world need cotton thread? For what are children born? Who cares if tireless spindles warp And twist, mid noise and strife, Not only threads of cotton yarn, But threads of human life? 37 THE SLAVE OF THE MILL Each day is worse the hacking cough And color of the cheek; Each hour is added torture to The back that is so weak. No time for health, no time for play, No time for church or God, The aching heart were better off If planted 'neath the sod. And still the grinding work goes on With unabated speed. How could the world get cotton thread Without this human greed? Who cares if tireless spindles warp And twist, mid noise and strife, Not only threads of cotton yarn, But threads of human life? But time comes when the little form In place no longer stands; The world must get its cotton thread Through use of other hands. A little soul has passed away To realm of angels' care, Where all is joy and gladsomeness; There are no spindles there. THE SLAVE OF THE MILL And in that future Spirit state, When balance sheets gone o'er, The world must pay for broken threads Of lives long gone before. GOD cares if tireless spindles warp And twist, mid noise and strife, Yes, warp and twist, and snap apart The threads of human life. Cfje J>age antr tfje Hottts A bearded sage, of modern time, Whom shallow minds would brand uncouth, In nature's storehouse loved to delve In tireless search for hidden truth. He learned of thriftiness from bees, And freedom's song from happy birds. The Lotus flower now he sought, And to its wisdom framed these words: "O sacred flower of the East! And emblem of the life divine, Thou blossom of the Orient, What mem'ries round thy tendrils twine Thy fragrant odor brings to mind An Eden full of sweetness stored, Where universal goodness reigned, A blessed garden of the Lord. 40 THE SAGE AND THE LOTUS Why called the flower of the wise, Whose fame throughout the ages last? Breathe thou into my inmost soul The secrets of thy ancient past. " The flower trembled in the wind, Then answered slowly with a sigh: "For centuries, O worthy sage! Mankind has passed the lotus by. Around it nations rose and fell; Men loved and hated, strove and fought; They trod the lotus under foot, And cared not for the truths it taught. When sorely wounded to the core, Or crushed beneath some heavy heel, With broken stem and petals torn, It wondrous sweetness would reveal. Its beauty cheered the saddened eye; Its odor soothed like sweet incense; It freely gave its life for all That they might eat at its expense. * * The lotus is frequently eaten by the inhabitants of the countries in which it grows. 41 THE SAGE AND THE LOTUS On lowly peasant and on king, It favors would alike bestow, And fragrance all around would shed. In meanest hovel it might grow. It is the purest of the pure, Though rooted in the filth of earth. Its flow'ry head still seeks the sun, Whose warmth and power gave it birth. Though growing oft mid waters foul, With stem and branches here below, It ever turns toward the light, Its essence tries to heaven go Know thou, O sage! This flower is The emblem of the human soul, Which up from gross corruption springs, Then wafts its way to highest goal." The man of learning pondered long. Then, reverent, he bowed his head, And thoughtful at the flower looked, As earnestly these words he said: 42 THE SAGE AND THE LOTUS ' 'I know not whence thy wisdom springs, Thou wonder of remotest age, But could I change my place with thee, I'd be the lotus, thou the sage. " 43