^ofi\e Bri^l^t Day Otl^r ppe/T\5 ^. |i. P0UI509 PS ■561)1 (D8S6 C. H. POULSON. SOME BRIGHT DAY AND OTHER POEMS. C, H. POULSON. CINCINNATI : PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY JENNINGS (Sr PYE. lh^L:Lnr,ri Of 1 CONGRESS, 1 Two Copies Received JAN 3 1903 Copyright CLASS CLy Entry XXc. No. COPY L f B, 0> COPYRIGHT, 1902, BY C. H. POULSON. "PrefoiCe, In presenting these poems to the public it is with an earnest prayer that they might prove a ministry of comfort to aching hearts; that some poor, storm-tossed soul might, through these verses, catch a gleam of hope from heaven. Should one heart be comforted, or one soul uplifted, by these verses, I should consider myself abundantly awarded. With the prayer that they do much good, I con- secrate them and proceeds to the Master's cause. THE AUTHOR. ©ontent^. ^ PAGE. Some Bright Day, 7 ivonging for heaven, 9 I/iFE, Death, and Eternity, lo Calvary, - - - - - . . . . . u Out of the Vale, 12 Blessed Home-land, . .13 The Storm of I,ife, 15 Thou My Rock, 16 I/Ife's Silver Cord, - - 17 I Love Thee, Night, 18 Comfort in Christ, ....... ig A Schoolboy's IvAment, 20 Decoration-day, - - 21 Sunset, 23 Stray Thoughts, 24, 34, 45 Easter, - - . 24 A Mother's Prayer, --..... 25 The Dying Christian, 26 Only a Few, 27 What Would Jesus Do? - 28 Sunrise, 29 Our Starry Flag, .30 The Death of a Child, 32 Alone, - - . . ,_ Night, - - . ,_ lyiFE's Vale, 35 Waiting by the River, 37 Consolation, 3g Autumn I^eaves, - - 39 A Beautiful Friendship, 40 Kentucky, .2 Into the Silence, - - 43 Satisfied, 4. 5 ^ome tSri^l]t tSoiy. Some bright day we shall see more clear, Why Jesus took our loved ones dear, Piercing our hearts as with a spear, lycaving our homes so dark and drear. Some bright day we shall see and know, Why sorrow's tears so often flow. And why our hearts are bowed so low With grief and strivings with the foe. Some bright day beyond the river, There our loved ones we '11 recover. Then our hearts with joy will quiver. And we '11 dwell with them forever. Some bright day on that golden strand, With our Redeemer we shall stand, And join the happy angel band. That inhabits the morning-land. 7 Some bright day in fellowship sweet, We '11 gather at the Savior's feet, And then our joy will be complete, When face to face our friends we '11 meet. Lon^in^ for Kjee^Ven. I would that I like a dove could fly, For then would I soar beyond the sky, Where the many promised mansions be, There to dwell through all eternity. I would with the angels sweetly sing, And tune my poor harp with theirs to ring ; Ah, some blessed day 't will not be long, I shall mingle with the ransomed throng. I love in my dreams to gently rise. Within yonder vale above the skies, And view the glorious riches there. Where each inhabitant a crown doth wear. O, for downy wings to fly away. And be with Christ in the land of day ! Thoughts of this fill now my mind and breast. And inspires me on to seek his rest. To My Dear Friend, Miss Katherine Devine. Life^ tSee^tli^ o^nel Eternity. O life, how short the fleeting years ! We share thy sweetest pleasures here, As mingled with the sighs and tears, Of sadness and remorse and fear. O death, how sure thy morning dawns, That calls us to the judgment seat ! How wide, how deep the gulf that yawns, 'Twixt heaven's peace and hell's fierce heat! Eternity, how long, how long, Dost thou thy countless ages roll? What myst'ries strange to thee belong, To be rolled back as like a scroll ! Haste then, O ye wandering one. And early make thy peace with God ! That when life's course at last is run, Thou canst escape from b'neath his rod. 10 ©GilVo^ry. O Calvary, on thy bloody slope, Christ Jesus there was crucified ; In agony but steadfast hope, He bowed his sacred head and died. Calv'ry, on thy rugged brow, Christ Jesus gave his life for me ; 1 now before him humbly bow, For from my bonds he made me free. O Calv'ry, on thy cursed tree, The Son of man for me didst die ; But yet I love to think of thee. For Jesus there didst draw me nigh. Ah, Calvary, those scenes are past. They now lie buried with the dead ; The Crucified now reigns at last. And love and glory crown his head. 11 Out of tl]e Uskle. PROF. C. J. HALIv, MEMORIAL Out of this vale of darkness, Into the realm of day, There Jesus in his kindness, Will wipe all tears away. Out of this vale of sadness, Into the land of peace, Where all is joy and gladness, And praise songs never cease. Out of this vale of sorrow, Into the sphere above, There in raiment white as snow. The crowned shall reign in love. Out of this vale of toiling. Into the land of rest, He now is sweetly resting. Upon his Savior's breast. 12 Ah ! to think of the blessed Home-land, Fills my heart with radiant joy, Oft I seem to hear the angel band, As they their golden harps employ. There shall be no night in the Home-land, Which I am nearing day by day, For in that fair land of mansions grand, 'T is one long, bright, unfading da}^ O ! I love to think of the Home-land, Where sorrow's tears shall ever cease. And death shall never invade the land, To disturb its eternal peace. In the Home-land there is blissful rest, Undisturbed by earth's toil and care, As there upon my Redeemer's breast, His promised glory I will share. 13 In the Home-land beyond the river, There is a mansion prepared for me, At times I can almost discover, My loved ones beckoning for me. Ah, for the Home-land I am longing, Where pain and turmoil are no more, My weary heart grows faint with waiting, To cross to that beautiful shore. Out of this land of desolation, O, let me. Savior, take my flight, To that blest land of consolation, Of which thou art the shining light. 14 "Tl^e (§)torm of Life. Though life's vast billows o'er you roll, And dash about thy weary soul, While the lightnings around you flash, Amid the thunder's fearful clash, Fear not, the Savior is ever near. And he your cries will surely hear. Each wave brings thee nearer the shore, Where storms shall cease for evermore ; Life's heaving sea will soon subdue, Lo, the harbor is now in view ! The storm of life will soon be past. And thou wilt reach the port at last. Truth is the sublimest virtue of character^ and is to be admired for its very scarcity. 15 Savior, thou my Rock and Refuge dear, Soon may I repose upon thy breast, For there the tempter I ne'er shall fear, But sweetly in thee, shall trust and rest. May I lean upon thy gentle breast, And my sorrows, Lord, in thee confide, Let my head upon thy bosom rest. And then, ah then, I '11 be satisfied ! Savior, may thy breast my pillow be, When I reach that far-off shining shore, Where friends and loved ones wait to greet me. As the silent boatman bears me o'er. It has been said it is beautiful, and, indeed, it is, to die for Christ, but is it not far more beautiful to live for him? 16 Life'^