Class / cJ Uy 
 
 COPYRIGHT DfiPOSrr. 
 
HEART SONGS 
 
 IBttBtB for Cl|n0ttatt0 
 
 BY 
 
 HENRY WESTON FROST 
 
 "Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 THE GORHAM PRESS 
 
 CHINA INLAND MISSION 
 
 PHILADELPHIA TORONTO 
 
Copyright, 191 7, by Henry W. Frost 
 
 All Rights Reserved (C\\ 
 
 <-1^ 
 
 The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 
 
 NOV 22 1917 
 
 
DEDICATION 
 
 Long years ago, one day in sunlit May, 
 
 There burst forth from my heart a spring-time 
 song; 
 I knew not whence it came, but I dared pray 
 That God would take my words, nor deem them 
 wrong ; 
 For all was fair that day, below, above. 
 And I had sung my song in praiseful love. 
 
 The years have passed, and I have oft-times sung, 
 In other springs, and through long winters too, 
 When joys were full, and e'en when tears were 
 wrung 
 From heart and eyes because life's joys were 
 few; 
 What could I do but sing since Christ was mine? 
 Love must praise such as He, through cloud and 
 shine. 
 
 Some frowned displeasure ; some more kindly smiled 
 But thought them folly — these my humble lays; 
 
 This too I deem them, though they were beguiled 
 By love that could not still its tuneful praise: 
 
 And — since I love — ^with spirit bowed and awed, 
 
 I lay my folly at the feet of God ! 
 
 1916. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Adoration 8i 
 
 Afterward 6i 
 
 Ambition . . Ii8 
 
 Aspiration 30 
 
 Bethlehem 27 
 
 Bible, The 88 
 
 Bird Songs 12 
 
 Bond Service 107 
 
 Call of the East, The 74 
 
 Calvary 41 
 
 Chaos 112 
 
 Chosen . I2i 
 
 Comforted 22 
 
 Commissioned 114 
 
 Communion Hymn 72 
 
 Comparison, A 113 
 
 Compensation 80 
 
 Confession, A 83 
 
 Confidence 116 
 
 Cosmos 113 
 
 Cry, A . 102 
 
 Day Dream, A 45 
 
 Death iii 
 
 Dedication 3 
 
 Discipleship 115 
 
 Discontent loi 
 
 Discouragement 35 
 
 Dreamer, A 107 
 
 Earth Bound 59 
 
 Easter . 43 
 
 5 
 
FAGB 
 
 Easter Day 105 
 
 Encouragement 1 19 
 
 Enslaved 67 
 
 Enthroned 119 
 
 Eternity 36 
 
 Evensong 26 
 
 Fame 14 
 
 Farewell 109 
 
 For Me 22 
 
 Friendship 45 
 
 Golden Rod 62 
 
 Good Morning 96 
 
 Good Night 96 
 
 Have We Forgot 58 
 
 Heart Break 70 
 
 Heart Gifts 87 
 
 Heart Wish, A 79 
 
 Highlands, The 53 
 
 Home Bound no 
 
 Hope 92 
 
 Incitement 14 
 
 King David 128 
 
 Life 97 
 
 Life from Death 40 
 
 Longings for Christ 18 
 
 Lord's Day, The 13 
 
 Lord Jesus, Come 17 
 
 Lost and Found 34 
 
 Love 104 
 
 Man's Life 39 
 
 Ministry of Suffering, The ...... 83 
 
 6 
 
PAGE 
 
 Misunderstanding 90 
 
 Mother's Reverie, A 15 
 
 My Choice 13 
 
 My Creed 61 
 
 My Lord and King 23 
 
 My Pilot 30 
 
 Name, The 69 
 
 Night Song 11 
 
 Old Age 95 
 
 One Hundred and Twenty-first Psalm, The 78 
 
 "Our Father" 89 
 
 Our Fatherland 73 
 
 Out of the Depths 19 
 
 Parallel, A 83 
 
 Parted 108 
 
 Peace 49 
 
 Pilgrimage 51 
 
 Praise 56 
 
 Prayer 48 
 
 Prayer, A 57 
 
 Puritan, A 115 
 
 Question, A 80 
 
 Requiem 48 
 
 Rest 16 
 
 Restored 38 
 
 Resurrection 85 
 
 Revelation 97 
 
 Sacrifice 91 
 
 Satisfied 25 
 
 Self Love 99 
 
 Shadows 6a 
 
 7 
 
PAGE 
 
 Slumber Song 55 
 
 Songs 123 
 
 Sorrow 92 
 
 Spiritual Conflict 44 
 
 Spring Song ii 
 
 Submission 64 
 
 Surprise 103 
 
 Transformed 94 
 
 Transformed Clay, The 32 
 
 Through Death to Life 65 
 
 To-day 89 
 
 Twenty-third Psalm, The 35 
 
 Virgin's Meditation, The 77 
 
 Weariness 64 
 
 Weeping 46 
 
 Woodman's Song, The 76 
 
 Words 117 
 
HEART SONGS 
 
SPRING SONG 
 
 "All thy works praise thee." 
 
 Breathe, birds, thy sweetest songs, 
 Take, fields, thy brightest sheen. 
 Fair as the morn appears 
 
 The coming of earth's Qiieen. 
 
 Each weed and flower feels 
 New thrills of her sweet grace; 
 
 Hid springs and brooks reflect 
 The beauty of her face; 
 
 And human hearts are filled 
 With light of joy and love, 
 
 From thee, O Queen below. 
 To Thee, O King above! 
 
 ;i. 
 
 NIGHT SONG 
 
 'Thou makest darkness, and it is night! 
 
 From the glare of noontide 
 
 Day now seeks its rest, 
 Hiding sunset blushes 
 
 On Night's loving breast; 
 
 And the stars in heaven, 
 Opening wide their eyes. 
 
 Watch in faithful guarding 
 Till the morning's rise. 
 
 ^' I 
 
Sweet and deep contentment | 
 
 From the night wind flows; i 
 
 Hearts forget their sorrows, \ 
 
 Tired eyelids close. ! 
 
 i 
 
 Welcome, blessed nightfall; i 
 
 May thy sweet release 
 
 Bring to all the weary ■ 
 
 Thoughts of heaven's peace! \ 
 
 BIRD SONGS 
 
 "The time of the singing of birds is come." 
 
 At morn's first dawning-tide I heard 
 
 The birds breathe forth their waking song. 
 And I forever would prolong 
 
 The praise which in my heart was stirred. 
 
 Through all the sunny hours of day 
 Their voices praised for every good; 
 Oh, that my heart, unfailing, could 
 
 Accord as well its thankful lay! 
 
 The daylight passed; eve's holy calm 
 Fast deepened into darker night; 
 But, from the midst of fading light 
 
 Uprose the birds' sweet even-psalm. 
 
 So would I ever, ever sing, 
 
 As true, as free, as full a song; 
 
 Alike through trial, sorrow, wrong. 
 May praises from my heart upspring! 
 
 1883. 
 
 12 
 
THE LORD'S DAY 
 "In the Spirit on the Lord's day." 
 
 Sweet day of Christ, earth's perfect peace, 
 Blest token of the yonder life; 
 From thy bright light, man's sinful strife 
 
 Flees far, and bids earth's darkness cease. 
 
 Calm of the soul, storm-tossed and driven. 
 Through days of doubt and dark despair ; 
 Sweet promise that the nearing There 
 
 Will bring the calm of sins forgiven. 
 
 Then peace, my soul; thy turmoil still; 
 
 Put far away the troubled mind; 
 
 In this day's holy quiet, find 
 The rest which heaven will fulfil ! 
 
 1882. 
 
 MY CHOICE 
 
 "/ have chosen the way of truth." 
 
 Let who will, in lordly splendor. 
 
 Ride through highways, fair and broad; 
 
 I would, humbler, choose the byway, 
 And there, serving, walk with God! 
 
 1883. 
 
 13 
 
FAME 
 
 "The righteous shall he in everlasting remembrance'' 
 
 Who stoops to trace his name upon the sands 
 May rise to see it vanish as he stands; 
 Who cuts his name upon the firmer clay 
 May hope to see it last a single day; 
 Who carves his name upon the harder stone 
 May find it there until new moss has grown ; 
 Who leaves his name upon the heart of man — 
 Give time of ending, whosoever can! 
 
 1883. 
 
 INCITEMENT 
 
 "Seek those things which are above." 
 (To a friend, with a copy of religious poems.) 
 
 As birds in summer teach their wee-fledged things, 
 By many a flutter and oft sounded call, 
 To mount the nest and dare a weakling's fall, 
 
 That, after, they may soar on strengthened wings; 
 So may these thoughts of pure and guiding song, 
 
 In earnest call to dare the right endeavor, 
 
 Uplift thy soul into the great forever 
 
 Of highest purpose, made by action strong. 
 
 1883. 
 
 14 
 
A MOTHER'S REVERIE 
 
 "Can a woman forget her childf" 
 
 Breathe, breathe, O blessed breeze. 
 Bring the cold earth glad summer's heat and show- 
 ers, 
 Bring song of birds and hum of busy bees, 
 Bring early blossoms and the fragrant flowers; — 
 Yet thou canst nothing bring so sweet and fair 
 As my dear Baby's beauteous face and hair! 
 
 Cease, cease, O cheerless cloud; 
 
 Hide 'neath the hills which guard the eastern view, 
 
 Leaving no shred, torn from thy trailing shroud, 
 
 To gloom the fair expanse of sunlit blue; — 
 
 Yet not above is there such blue as lies 
 
 In the sweet heaven of my Baby's eyes! 
 
 Shine, shine, O sparkling sea; 
 Flash the bright jewels on thy heaving breast; 
 Or, stilled to peace, all calm and silent be, 
 A glowing pathway to the golden west; — 
 Yet fairer, sweeter, purer far, the while, 
 Is the bright glory of my Baby's smile! 
 
 Guard, guard, O gracious God; 
 
 Guard Thou my Babe, my precious Babe, and me; 
 
 Make strong his feet to walk paths yet untrod. 
 
 Keep calm my heart, whate'er his lot may be; 
 
 So, if Thou ask of me Thy gift again, 
 
 I'll yield my Babe, and yielding, not complain! 
 
 1883. 
 
 15 
 
REST 
 
 "I will give you rest." — "Ye shall find rest." 
 
 (The song of a converted mendicant monk.) 
 
 At rest in Jesus! Weary feet 
 Shall toil no more through mart and dusty street 
 In works of penance, while in grave-clothes bound, 
 Thrusting unholy steps on holy ground ! 
 
 At rest in Jesus! Ah, my heart, 
 How oft in works of merit thou didst start 
 To find that self-done deeds in ashes fell 
 Consumed within by some swift flame of hell! 
 
 At rest in Jesus! Nevermore 
 To con the weary lesson o'er and o'er; — 
 The lesson learned; behold, I find my rest, 
 My head laid down upon my Savior's breast! 
 
 At rest in Jesus! As I stand, 
 His smile lets fall the light of glory-land; 
 Before — myself and sin! O Christ, 'tis sweet 
 To rest in Thee, and so find rest complete ! 
 
 At rest in Jesus! Now I go 
 
 Through mart and dusty street, not fast, nor slow; — 
 I walk with Christ at rest; in Him I've found 
 The right to humbly serve on holy ground! 
 
 1887. 
 
 16 
 
LORD JESUS, COME 
 
 'Surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come. 
 Lord JesUs." 
 
 Weary of earth and longing to be free, 
 Upward I look, and wait, dear Lord, for Thee; 
 Hark to my cry, and answer this my plea: — 
 E'en so. Lord Jesus, do Thou quickly come! 
 
 I do not doubt Thy love. Thy care divine. 
 Peace, joy, communion, all in Thee are mine. 
 But here on earth, for sin I e'er repine; — 
 E'en so. Lord Jesus, do Thou quickly come ! 
 
 Empowered by Thee, I press through every fray, 
 Thou art my strength and safeguard day by day; 
 Yet long and rough and weary is the way ; — 
 E'en so, Lord Jesus, do Thou quickly come! 
 
 Blest is the Spirit's tender comforting. 
 Yea, by His power, to Thee my praise I sing, 
 But oh, to see Thee, Thou who art my King; — 
 E'en so. Lord Jesus, do Thou quickly come! 
 
 Haste then, dear Lord ; I long and wait for Thee, 
 Come for Thine own, that I Thy face may see. 
 And at Thy side, may dwell eternally ; — 
 E'en so. Lord Jesus, do Thou quickly come! 
 
 1887. 
 
 17 
 
LONGINGS FOR CHRIST 
 
 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see 
 God." 
 
 Jesus, Savior, I would be 
 Ever holy, like to Thee; 
 Free from sin of every kind, 
 In Thy purity confined. 
 
 Jesus, Savior, by Thy power. 
 Cleanse and keep me, hour by hour ; 
 This my longing, and my plea — 
 Make me more and more like Thee. 
 
 Jesus, Savior, by Thy grace. 
 Show me thus Thy lovely face ; 
 Naught between, the veil away, 
 Let me gaze on Thee alway ! 
 
 Jesus, Savior, in Thy love, 
 Bring me to Thyself above, 
 With Thee, like Thee, to abide, 
 Face to face, and satisfied! 
 
 1893. 
 
 18 
 
OUT OF THE DEPTHS 
 
 'Out of the depths have I cried unto thee^ 
 O Lord!" 
 
 Out of the depths, O Lord, 
 
 I cry to Thee; 
 Oh, let me hear Thy word 
 
 Restoring me! 
 
 Farther and farther still 
 My feet have strayed. 
 
 Downward and downward till 
 I'm sore afraid. 
 
 The way has darker grown 
 And ills betide, 
 I wander all alone 
 With none to guide. 
 
 Darting through chilling air, 
 
 The lightnings flash, 
 And, following fearful glare. 
 
 Loud thunders crash. 
 
 Beneath are chasms deep. 
 
 And all about 
 Dread demons dart and leap 
 
 And laugh and shout. 
 
 I try to pray — but fears 
 Quench prayers in death ; 
 
 My only prayers are tears 
 And bated breath ; 
 
 19 
 
But, from my stricken heart, 
 
 Goes up a cry 
 To Thee, O Lord, who art 
 
 Watching on high : 
 
 Out of the depths, O Lord, 
 
 I cry to Thee; 
 Make speed to help afford, 
 
 And succor me! 
 
 II 
 
 Out of the depths I cried 
 
 To God on high; 
 He in His mercy wide. 
 
 Brought mercy nigh; 
 
 For, from His throne above, 
 
 In power and might, 
 Fell the blest words of love: — 
 
 "Let there be light!" 
 
 And from the darkness broke 
 
 Before my sight — 
 As the first morn awoke — 
 
 The glory-light. 
 
 Lifted from dread abyss 
 
 By mighty Hand, 
 I stood where sunbeams kiss 
 
 The grass-clad land; 
 
 Where streams flow soft and still 
 
 And flowers bloom. 
 The balmy air to fill 
 
 With sweet perfume; 
 20 
 
Where songs of birds are heard 
 
 In tuneful lays, 
 And grateful hearts are stirred 
 
 To fervent praise. 
 
 Gone was my sorrow now 
 
 And all my fears; 
 Smoothed was the troubled brow 
 
 And dried my tears. 
 
 Now, prayer was breathed once more, 
 
 My sins confest, 
 And could its love out-pour 
 
 In freedom blest. 
 
 Ah, the communion deep! 
 
 And oh, the bliss! 
 No heart could ever keep 
 
 A joy like this! 
 
 Praise upon praise I sang 
 
 In notes prolonged. 
 Till list'ning echoes rang 
 
 With praises thronged. 
 
 Out of the depths I cried 
 
 To <jrod on high ; 
 He in His mercy wide. 
 
 Brought mercy nigh! 
 
 1895. 
 
 21 
 
COMFORTED 
 
 "The God of all comfort, who comforteth us in 
 all our tribulation." 
 
 As a fond mother, when the daylight fades 
 And evening deepens into shadowy night, 
 
 Soothes her tired child, within the gath'ring shades, 
 By lullaby and her sweet presence bright; 
 
 So God our Father, in His wondrous grace, 
 When shadowing sorrows cover all our sky, 
 
 Draws near with tender word and shining face 
 And calms our fears, while in His arms we lie. 
 
 Then, O my Father, I would ever choose 
 Whatever grief or pain Thou sendest me; 
 
 Better o'erwhelming sorrows than to lose 
 The joy of being comforted by Thee! 
 
 1895. 
 
 FOR ME 
 
 "Who gave himself for me." 
 
 On Calvary's cross my Savior died. 
 With pierced hands, and feet, and side; 
 For me He was the crucified; 
 Even for me! 
 
 He lay within the fast-closed tomb 
 And entered Hades' prison-gloom; 
 He bore for me this death and doom, 
 Even for me ! 
 
 22 
 
He rose triumphant o'er the grave, 
 And by His high ascension gave 
 The proof for me that He would save; 
 Even for me 1 
 
 Enthroned at His Father's side, 
 A priest forever to abide, 
 He prays for me, whate'er betide; 
 Even for me ! 
 
 For me He gave the Spirit's dower. 
 That I might have His mighty power. 
 And live to serve Him every hour; 
 Even for me ! 
 
 Soon He will come, and I shall be 
 With Him for all eternity; 
 Yea, He will come for even me; — 
 Even for me! 
 
 1895. 
 
 MY LORD AND KING 
 
 "Lord of lords, and King of kings. 
 
 Jesus, my Lord and King, 
 To Thee my gift I bring, 
 
 Worthy Thou art; 
 Finding in Thee my rest, 
 In Thee supremely blest, 
 I give Thee what is best — 
 
 My yielded heart! 
 
 23 
 
i895. 
 
 Jesus, my Lord and King, 
 Accept my offering, 
 
 Thee I adore; 
 No other lord shall be 
 Lord of my life, but Thee; — 
 Thou shalt reign over me, 
 
 For evermore ! 
 
 Jesus, my Lord and King, 
 To Thee alone I cling 
 
 For life and power ; 
 Thy hand dost me uphold. 
 Thine arms do me enfold, 
 Thou dost give strength untold. 
 
 For each glad hour! 
 
 Jesus, my Lord and King, 
 To Thee my praise I sing. 
 
 Only to Thee; 
 Since Thou by love divine 
 Hast v^^on this heart of mine. 
 Its praises shall be Thine, 
 
 Eternally ! 
 
 Jesus, my Lord and King, 
 When I shall upward wing 
 
 My heav'nward way. 
 Low at Thy feet I'll fall, 
 Thee, King of kings to call. 
 And crown Thee Lord of all, 
 
 Through endless day! 
 
 34 
 
SATISFIED 
 "Satisfied with favor" 
 
 Satisfied and full of favor, 
 
 By my King I stand, 
 Having blessings without number 
 
 From His opened hand; 
 Oh, the richness of His treasure, 
 Oh, the greatness of His measure. 
 Oh, the fulness of my pleasure, 
 
 As His gifts expand! 
 
 Satisfied and full of favor. 
 
 By my Lord Divine, 
 Safe I am, His banner o'er me, 
 
 "Love," its fair design; 
 Oh, the rest of His providing. 
 Oh, the peace fore'er abiding, 
 Oh, the love and sweet confiding 
 
 'Tween His heart and mine! 
 
 Satisfied and full of favor, 
 
 By my Lord and King, 
 I would give Him gifts of praises. 
 
 Love's best offering; 
 Oh, the joy of Him adoring. 
 Oh, the bliss of heart-outpouring. 
 Oh, the soul's glad, free up-soaring. 
 
 As His praise I sing! 
 
 Satisfied and full of favor; 
 
 In a little space, 
 I shall stand still closer to Him, 
 
 With Him face to face; 
 
 25 
 
Oh, the sudden, homeward fleeting, 
 Oh, the long-expected meeting, 
 Oh, the rapture of the greeting, 
 In that upper place! 
 
 1896. 
 
 EVENSONG 
 "And now the eventide was come." 
 
 The day with all its toil is ended. 
 Fast fall the shades of stilly night. 
 
 The calm of heaven with earth is blended 
 And, e'en at even, it is light. 
 
 The birds now cease their good-night singing, 
 The sounds of earth fast die away, 
 
 Soft vesper bells, their sweet notes ringing. 
 Call sons of men to praise and pray. 
 
 The cattle homeward go a-lowing. 
 
 The bleating sheep turn toward the fold, 
 
 Now grateful saints, their praise o'erflowing, 
 Recount their mercies new and old. 
 
 The glittering stars their watch are keeping, 
 Like guardian angels hovering near. 
 
 Sad sons of sorrow cease their weeping 
 And burdened souls lose all their fear. 
 
 Oh, day of glad and blessed ending! 
 
 Oh, even-time of restful calm! 
 May thy sweet peace from heaven descending 
 
 Awake each eve new prayer and psalm; 
 
 26 
 
Till days are past and heaven's long even 
 Falls soft and sweet upon the soul, 
 
 When, in the calm of rest full-given, 
 Men voice their praise as ages roll! 
 
 1901. 
 
 BETHLEHEM 
 
 "And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not 
 least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee 
 shall come a Governor.'' 
 
 (After a visit to Bethlehem, one bright day in 
 spring.) 
 
 O Bethlehem, sweet Bethlehem, 
 To thee my song I sing. 
 
 To thee I raise my humble lay, 
 Thou city of the King; 
 
 Above thy courts the angels sang 
 Their brightest seraph-song, 
 
 And, faintly echoing their refrain, 
 I would their praise prolong. 
 
 11 
 
 I see thy wide and wooded fields. 
 Thy rocky slopes and hills, 
 
 Thy valleys deeps, where waters flow 
 In sparkling, tuneful rills. 
 
 Thy balmy' air is rich with scent 
 Of olive and of vine, 
 27 
 
Thy trees hang low with ripened fruit, 
 Thy vats o'erflow with wine. 
 
 Thy shepherd boys, like David, lead 
 Their flocks with winsome call 
 
 Across the uplands bright, or through 
 Deep vales where shadows fall. 
 
 Thy dusky men and ruddy maids 
 Scattered across the plain — 
 
 Where Ruth once followed Boaz's men — 
 Harvest the golden grain. 
 
 Thy mothers hush their babes to rest 
 With hymns of David's Lord, 
 
 They sing how in yon cave He came 
 To heavenly love afford; 
 
 And all is fair and all is joy 
 
 About thy well-kept walls ; 
 Yea, sorrows never touch thy gates, 
 
 Thy hearthstones and thy halls ; 
 
 Beyond is darksome Calvary 
 
 And sad Gethsemane; — 
 But shadows flee, bright Bethlehem, 
 
 When shadows come to thee! 
 
 Ill 
 
 Lo, as I gaze, a vision breaks; 
 
 Behold, I see the Child 
 Lie once again in cave of stone 
 
 All pure and undefiled; 
 28 
 
The virgin-mother bends above, 
 Watching the face divine, 
 
 From which, all fair and beautiful, 
 Bright rays of glory shine; 
 
 While holy angels, gathered round. 
 With reverent, rapturous gaze. 
 
 Bend low the knee, all worshipping, 
 And chant sweet hymns of praise; 
 
 And oh, what longings fill my soul, 
 
 As I behold my Lord! — 
 I fall and worship at His feet. 
 
 My every sin abhorred; 
 
 And here I pray to be like Him, 
 Yea, like an infant-child. 
 
 All meek and gentle, sweet and good. 
 All pure and undefiled! 
 
 IV 
 
 The vision passes; — not the Christ, 
 Nor Bethlehem ever blest; 
 
 Ah, thee I love, thou city fair. 
 In thee I find my rest; 
 
 And so to thee, O Bethlehem, 
 
 My song of love I sing; 
 All praise to thee, sweet Bethlehem, 
 
 Thou city of my King! 
 
 1901. 
 
 29 
 
ASPIRATION 
 
 "Hope maketh not ashamed." 
 
 I shot an arrow at the sky, 
 I thought to fix it fast on high, 
 I saw it downward fall, and lie 
 
 All broken on the ground; 
 But I had looked on higher things, 
 My soul had risen as on wings, 
 And even yet my hope upsprings 
 
 Toward heaven's eternal bound. 
 
 Oft-times our actions fail to rise 
 To wished-for place within the skies. 
 And heart is grieved, with sad surprise, 
 
 To see them fall to earth; 
 But aspiration ne'er is lost. 
 Though oft with disappointment crost, 
 For what is left, in spite of cost. 
 
 Gives life a nobler worth! 
 
 1902. 
 
 MY PILOT 
 
 "He will guide us over death" 
 
 When I put out to sea. 
 Into eternity, 
 
 My Pilot will be there; 
 His hand will hold the helm — 
 Lest storms should overwhelm — 
 Till I shall reach the realm 
 
 Where lies my haven fair. 
 
 30 
 
1902. 
 
 Though darkness shroud the deep 
 And billows toss and leap, 
 
 I shall not be afraid; 
 My Pilot knows the way 
 Across the sea's highway, 
 Through night, to that glad day 
 
 Where light will never fade. 
 
 And if, perchance, dread fear 
 Shall draw a moment near, 
 
 As storms around me roar, 
 Above the night-wind's sigh, 
 I'll hear my Pilot cry: 
 "Fear not, for I am nigh," 
 
 And I shall fear no more. 
 
 The darkness overpast, 
 I'll reach my port at last 
 
 And rest in haven calm ; 
 Brought safely, sweetly through, 
 I'll thank my Pilot true 
 And oft my thanks renew 
 
 In praise and triumph-psalm. 
 
 And so I wait on shore. 
 My gaze fixed on before, 
 
 Across the dark'ning wave; 
 My Pilot of the sea 
 Will one day call for me — 
 Then I shall ready be 
 
 And trust his power to save! 
 
 31 
 
THE TRANSFORMED CLAY 
 
 'He shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified^ and 
 meet for the Master s use." 
 
 (After seeing a potter at work in Hebron, 
 Palestine.) 
 
 A potter sat at his wheel one day, 
 In a cellar both dark and cold, 
 
 Around him in piles lay the plastic clay 
 All damp and covered with mould ; 
 
 In shapeless heaps it lay on the sand, 
 
 Awaiting the touch of the master's hand. 
 
 The potter's foot turned the wheel around 
 
 Till faster and faster it flew. 
 With a click and a creak and a whirring sound 
 
 That filled all the cellar through; 
 Then the potter laid hold on a mass of clay, 
 Where it lay in the darkness, dull and gray. 
 
 The potter's vision was clear and keen 
 And his touch was skilful and true, 
 
 And the clay which lay in his hands between 
 He fashioned and fashioned anew. 
 
 Till there on the wheel, before his eyes, 
 
 A shapely vessel began to rise. 
 
 At last the whirr of the wheel was still 
 And the work of the potter was done; 
 
 Then the vessel was placed on the outer sill 
 In the light of the summer sun; 
 
 And there the dull clay of the cellar cold 
 
 Stood a beautiful vase, all bathed with gold. 
 
 32 
 
n 
 
 One day there was sound in the narrow street 
 
 Of hoof and of chariot wheel, 
 And the king drew near, the potters to greet 
 
 And to ask of his people's weal. 
 For none, as he, was so kind and true. 
 The length and breadth of the whole land through. 
 
 The greetings over, the king passed by. 
 Then he turned toward the palace hill; — 
 
 But he suddenly stayed, for his watchful eye 
 Had seen the vase on the sill 
 
 Where it stood in the sunlight, slender and fair, 
 
 Finished and fashioned — a work most rare. 
 
 The king called the potter and asked his price ; 
 
 He paid what was asked, and much more; 
 Then he hid his treasure of rich device 
 
 In his bosom, and thus he bore 
 The vase to the palace — his coveted prize. 
 The joy of his heart and delight of his eyes. 
 
 And now if you seek for the cold, dull clay, 
 
 You must pass the old cellar by 
 And go up the hill, by the king's highway, 
 
 'Neath the light of the sunlit sky. 
 Till you reach the palace of glittering stone, 
 Yea, there you will find it — beside the Throne! 
 
 1903. 
 
 33 
 
LOST AND FOUND 
 
 "Whosoever shall lose his life shall find it." 
 
 A spring, high up upon the mountain-side 
 
 Straight downward flowed, into the caverned 
 earth, 
 
 From thence in darkness, on and on to glide. 
 To men, unseen, unknown — of nothing worth. 
 
 But hidden there, 'twas fed by rains and snows, 
 By mountain pool and flowing rivulet, 
 
 Till in its cavern-depths its waters rose 
 
 Flood-like 'gainst cavern-rocks to leap and fret; 
 
 So that at last, down at the mountain's base, 
 It burst its barriers, coming into light, 
 
 A torrent-stream, downward to rush and race 
 Into the plain, in dashing, rapid flight; 
 
 Where broadening out, with slow and peaceful flow, 
 It moved majestic, toward the waiting sea. 
 
 Through peopled lands, to everywhere bestow 
 The blessings of a rich fertility. 
 
 Thus 'tis with man, if once his life is hid — 
 Small though it be — within the Life Benign; 
 
 Lost, yet not lost, 'tis found, at last, amid 
 The lives which blessing need — a gift divine. 
 
 1903. 
 
 34 
 
THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM 
 "The Lord is my shepherd." 
 
 The Lord is my Shepherd, I never shall want, 
 
 He makes me before Him to lie, 
 In pastures all verdant, of rich, tender grass. 
 
 My hunger to well satisfy. 
 By waters of stillness, He leadeth me forth 
 
 That I may find quiet and rest; 
 He restoreth my soul, and He guideth my feet 
 
 In paths that are righteous and blest. 
 Yea, though I should walk through the valley of 
 death, 
 
 I'll fear neither darkness nor ill, 
 For Thou art e'er with me. Thy rod and Thy 
 staff 
 
 Will guide me and comfort me still. 
 Thou preparest a table, and spreadest it full 
 
 For me, in the sight of my foes, 
 Thou anointest my head with sweet-smelling oil, 
 
 And my cup, filled full, overflows. 
 Surely goodness and mercy, attending my way. 
 
 Will bless me, through life, o'er and o'er, 
 And in the loved house of Jehovah, my King, 
 
 I shall dwell, all secure, evermore! 
 
 1906. 
 
 DISCOURAGEMENT 
 
 "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me 
 from the body of this death f" 
 
 What now, my Soul, and hast thou sinned again, 
 Thou deeply sinful, desperately wicked Soul? 
 
 Wilt thou of sinning never have an end ? 
 
 Wilt never let thy Maker make thee whole? 
 
 35 
 
Thou seemest bound by strong iniquity, 
 
 When thou should'st be, once and forever free. 
 
 O Soul, wilt thou forever follow^ on, 
 
 Like hound upon the scent, hard after sin? 
 
 Like a wild beast, art thou insatiate? 
 Like a foul demon, hast thou hell within? 
 
 Ah, once I thought that thou might'st changed be; 
 
 But thou dost sin, and sin continually! 
 
 And yet, O sinful Soul, thou knowest well 
 That I have struggled hard against thy reign; 
 
 As often as I've sinned, I have resolved 
 
 That thou should'st never rule o'er me again; 
 
 Alas, deceitful Soul, I did not see 
 
 That, spite of struggles, thou could'st master me! 
 
 What can I do, my Soul? Thou art myself; 
 
 I cannot 'scape thy presence nor thy power; 
 Turn where I will, I feel thy close embrace; 
 
 Thou pressest hard upon me, hour by hour; — 
 Oh, that a Master Man might live in me; 
 Then I should be the man I long to be! 
 
 1906. 
 
 ETERNITY 
 
 '^But the things ivhich are not seen are eternal. 
 
 Life is young and hearts are beating. 
 Feet delight to go a-greeting, 
 Joys and pleasures ever meeting; — 
 But eternity! 
 
 36 
 
Never sorrow, never crying, 
 Never pause for even sighing. 
 Who w^ould ever think of dying? — 
 Yet eternity! 
 
 Days are bright and all-entrancing, 
 Hearts are light and eyes are dancing ; — 
 But grim Time is e'er advancing 
 Toward eternity ! 
 
 Midst the pleasures, conscience smarting, 
 Fear within the heart up-starting. 
 Time is short and soon the parting. 
 Then eternity! 
 
 Months to years are ever growing, 
 Feet will soon be slower going, 
 Reaping always follows sowing; 
 Thus eternity! 
 
 Life will pass, for time is fleeting. 
 One day there must be the meeting ; 
 What will be the yonder greeting 
 In eternity? 
 
 Here the one chance for the moulding — 
 Suddenly, dark Death beholding. 
 Then, long ages, e'er unfolding. 
 Through eternity! 
 
 Sin is strong in its ensnaring, 
 Thoughtlessness leads to despairing; — 
 O my Soul, be thou preparing 
 For eternity! 
 
 1906. 
 
 37 
 
RESTORED 
 "He restoreth my soul." 
 
 I find it sweet once more to rest 
 On Jesu's strong and loving breast 
 
 And know my sins forgiven; 
 To be accepted in His grace, 
 To be upheld by His embrace, 
 To gaze upon His lovely face 
 
 And thus reach home and heaven. 
 
 I wandered far, in days gone by, 
 No light was in my darkened sky, 
 
 Around was storm and cold; 
 And yet my heart forever yearned 
 For Him whose love I oft had spurned, 
 Until, all weary, I returned 
 
 Like sheep to shelt'ring fold. 
 
 One look into His tender eyes. 
 All filled with love and glad surprise. 
 
 And at His feet I fell; 
 O'ercome with sense of sin and shame. 
 Half fearing rightful scorn and blame, 
 I tried my penitence to frame, 
 
 My sin and grief to tell. 
 
 But not a word would He allow; 
 He spake, and did His love avow. 
 
 His love for even me; 
 Then, lifting me with outstretched hand. 
 He made me by His side to stand; — 
 Who could such wondrous grace withstand, 
 
 A grace so rich and free? 
 
 38 
 
And so, in spite of doubts and fears, 
 My penitence outpoured in tears, 
 
 I sank into His arms; 
 While He close drew me to His side 
 That I might there fore'er abide. 
 All safe, whatever might betide, 
 
 And free from earth's alarms. 
 
 And so, I calmly, sweetly rest 
 On Jesu's strong and loving breast, 
 
 To wander nevermore; 
 In Him I've found a perfect peace, 
 A joy and love which e'er increase;— 
 O Jesu, may I never cease 
 
 Thee only to adore! 
 
 1907. 
 
 MAN'S LIFE 
 
 'What is . . . life? It . . . appear eth for a little 
 time, and vanisheth away" 
 
 The sun arises from its ocean bed 
 
 All clothed with crimson light, a radiant 
 morn ; 
 Flashing through air to earth its glory-red, 
 
 It wakens men to greet the day, new-born ; — 
 From off yon hearth, from newly kindled fire, 
 The flames leap upward and the sparks mount 
 higher. 
 
 39 
 
The sun is west'ring, and is sinking low 
 Behind the sea's horizon, far away, 
 
 Now night has fallen and the night-winds blow, 
 Moaning the death-song of departed day; — 
 
 Upon the hearth gray ashes lie about; 
 
 The last spark's vanished and the fire is out! 
 
 1907. 
 
 LIFE FROM DEATH 
 
 "Though he were dead, yet shall he live." 
 
 I strayed, all sad, into the woods one day — 
 
 Midway between the winter and the spring — 
 
 Around in scattered drifts the white snow lay, 
 O'erhead the mournful crows were on the wing; 
 
 All that I saw spoke of decay and death; — 
 
 Yet zephyrs stirred soft as a maiden's breath. 
 
 Beneath my feet the dead leaves, old and sere, 
 
 Lay like a faded carpet, yellow-gray, 
 The perished glory of another year, 
 
 The sign that ruthless Death had passed that 
 way; 
 Upon the leaves dead branches lay about; — 
 Yet pressing through them flowers were springing 
 out. 
 
 The trees rose up above me, gaunt and bare, 
 Uplifting limbs like naked arms to heaven, 
 
 Mutely appealing to the sun and air 
 
 That verdure-cov'ring might to them be given; — 
 
 And lo ! upon their branches could be seen, 
 
 Just springing into life, buds red and green. 
 40 
 
I sat me down upon a fallen tree, 
 
 Made soft by moss, once green, now gray, 
 To think of years, and life's mortality, 
 
 How all things, great and small, must pass 
 away ; — 
 When suddenly around me, greeting spring, 
 The birds burst forth in loud, sweet carolling. 
 
 And so I learned a lesson that bright day — 
 Within the wild wood dead, yet touched by 
 spring — 
 That all things here below will pass away, 
 
 Yet from sad death shall new, glad life up- 
 spring; 
 And thus I've come to know, e'en though I die, 
 That I shall live again in worlds on high. 
 
 1907. 
 
 CALVARY 
 
 'The place which is called Calvary ; there 
 they crucified him." 
 
 Darkness broods o'er all the earth, 
 Lo, the Man of heavenly birth 
 Dies amidst the jest and mirth. 
 On sad Calvary. 
 
 Sinless Son of God is He, 
 Yet He suffers agony. 
 Hanging on the cursed tree, 
 There on Calvary. 
 
 Lo, His head a crown adorns — 
 'Tis a cruel crown of thorns; 
 
 41 
 
This the taunt of man who scorns, 
 This, and Calvary! 
 
 See Him suffering there alone, 
 Hear the bitter cry and moan 
 That for sin He may atone. 
 On dark Calvary. 
 
 Sinks the sun within the west, 
 Sinks His head upon His breast, 
 Dies the Man, by men unblest; 
 Cruel Calvary! 
 
 Oh, the darkness of the day, 
 Oh, the bitter, bitter way. 
 As grim Death makes Christ his prey; 
 Awful Calvary! 
 
 So they lay Him in the grave, 
 Him, who gave His life to save. 
 Him, who all His foes forgave. 
 On sweet Calvary. 
 
 There they lay Him, with my sin, 
 There they seek to keep Him in, 
 That He may no vict'ry win. 
 Through blest Calvary. 
 
 But in vain; no death can part 
 Him and my adoring heart; 
 Savior, King, O Christ, Thou art! — 
 Precious Calvary! 
 
 1907. 
 
 42 
 
EASTER I 
 
 "He is not here^ but is risen" " j 
 
 O soul of mine, awake, awake, ' 
 
 Slumber no more for Christ's dear sake, 1 
 
 Behold the glorious light doth break | 
 
 Of a new Easter day! I 
 
 Come forth ; — but not with fear and dread, | 
 
 The darkness of the night has fled ; I 
 
 Seek not the Living 'midst the dead, ] 
 
 On this glad Easter day! 'j 
 
 1 
 
 Bring not the spices, sweet and rare, j 
 
 Behold the grave — Christ is not there, j 
 
 He has arisen, fresh and fair, ' 
 
 Like this bright Easter day ! i 
 
 Nay, linger not beside the tomb; i 
 
 Christ rose from out the morning's womb ' 
 
 To scatter Death's o'ershadowing gloom; \ 
 Now shines the Easter day ! 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 Yea, shine, bright sun, blow, balmy breeze, ; 
 
 Spring, flowers and shrubs and buds on trees ? 
 
 Sure token of Christ's power are these, •! 
 
 On this. His Easter day! } 
 
 Hark, 'tis the Christ who to thee cries, j 
 
 He calls thee to the radiant skies; ( 
 
 O heart of mine, arise, arise, ; 
 
 To heaven's sweet Easter day ! i 
 
 43 
 
Glad Easter day, so fair and bright, 
 So full of glory and of might; 
 O Christ, Thou art its life and light; — 
 Hail, blessed Easter day! 
 1907. 
 
 SPIRITUAL CONFLICT 
 
 "The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit 
 against the flesh." 
 
 (After seeing Barnard's statue, "The Two 
 Natures.") 
 
 Down, deeper down, thou sinful, sensual Self, 
 Back to low earth from which thou would'st 
 arise, 
 
 Thou robber-fiend, keep thine ill-gotten pelf 
 Of my misdeeds, it is thy lawful prize; 
 
 But henceforth know thou shalt not rule o'er me, 
 
 For a sweet Voice calls me to victory. 
 
 Up, higher up, thou better, nobler one, 
 
 Rise up in strength, with face turned toward the 
 skies, 
 Faint not, nor fear, the conflict will be won. 
 
 Behold, before thee is the victor's prize; 
 Thy God who calleth thee will strength maintain 
 And turn all earthly loss to heavenly gain. 
 
 1907. 
 
 44 
 
FRIENDSHIP 
 
 "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a 
 brother." 
 
 To have a friend who follows all my thought 
 As it may vagrant roam from earth to heaven, 
 Who there will hold it fast, until its leaven 
 
 Is purged away, by purer word in-wrought; 
 
 To have him understand when words have failed 
 To make my better, nobler meaning plain; 
 Who, when I'm silent, will his words restrain 
 
 And show by look that silence hath availed; 
 
 To know that he, if others adulate. 
 
 Will dare to warn of pride's presumptuous sin, 
 That he will speak of love, when others hate. 
 
 That he, to his strong self, my soul may win: 
 Such friendship do I crave till life shall end ; 
 And such I have — in Jesus Christ, my Friend! 
 
 1907. 
 
 A DAY DREAM 
 
 "Godliness with contentment is great gain!' 
 
 A little village 'neath the sheltering hills. 
 Beside a harbor where ships safely lie. 
 Where humble toil man's humble need fulfils, 
 Where life goes calmly on as days go by; 
 Where hearts are never old. 
 Where love is never cold. 
 Where joys are simple, sweet. 
 Where rest is deep, complete; — 
 There would I live and die. 
 
 45 
 
To be as one amongst such simple folk, | 
 
 Myself most blessed, and yet a blessing too, I 
 
 Bearing with young and old life's daily yoke, i 
 
 Having the daily, kindly task to do ; j 
 
 Healing the wound that smarts, i 
 
 Soothing sad, sorrowing hearts, | 
 
 Guiding in paths untrod, ] 
 
 Leading tired souls to God; — \ 
 
 Thus would I live and die. ] 
 
 * 
 
 A humble village, where, when work is done, ^ 
 
 One may, without regret, in quiet be, ; 
 
 Watching, all peaceful, life's slow-setting sun ^ 
 
 Shed golden glory over land and sea; ] 
 
 Hearing the evening bell ] 
 
 Its rhythmic story tell 1 
 
 Of life beyond the west, I 
 
 Of heavenly home and rest; — 
 
 There would I live and die. 
 
 1907. j 
 
 WEEPING 
 
 "Weeping may endure for a niffht, but joy cometh 
 in the morning." 
 
 (To a friend in deep sorrow.) 
 
 Weep, sorrowing one, for God would have thee 
 weep ; 
 He did not make thee stone, but very man, 
 Yea, He did form thy soul a fountain deep, 
 Seek not to close it up, weep whilst thou caif, 
 Yea, weep and weep, weep tears on tears until 
 Thy weeping heart has ta'en its bitter fill. 
 46 
 
Ne'er think thy weeping sin, since Christ did weep, 
 Who held His life in such long, strong re- 
 straint ; — 
 Mark there, at Lazarus' tomb, how tears upleap, 
 Hear yonder Garden's mournful bitter plaint; 
 Then sorrow not if grief thine eyes bedim; 
 As Master, so disciple; — weep with Him. 
 
 And yet this learn, weep not amidst the crowd; 
 
 Weeping is sacred; shut thy closet door; 
 There, only there, put on thy mourner's shroud 
 Where thou may'st speak with Christ and help 
 implore ; 
 Then, on the breast of Him who weeps with 
 
 thee 
 Pour out thy sorrow's bitterest agony. 
 
 And grieve not Christ ; — weep not as without hope ; 
 
 Despair is trustlessness, and, therefore, sin; 
 However deep thy darkness, never grope, 
 Lift up thine head and see the Light within; 
 Weep on, beloved, weep till sorrow's end. 
 But ne'er forget that Christ is thy good Friend. 
 
 Weep, sorrowing one, but e'er remember this: 
 Weeping shall not endure beyond the night; 
 There is in store for thee a rapturous bliss, 
 
 God's joy will greet thee with the morning light; 
 Ay, in that morn, no heart will moan or cry, 
 For God's own hand will wipe each weeping 
 
 eye 
 
 1907. 
 
 47 
 
PRAYER 
 
 "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man 
 availeth much" 
 
 To worship Him who is my Father-God, 
 In the all-worthy name of Christ, the Son, 
 Through the blest Spirit, ever Holy One, 
 
 Bowing the knee, with heart all hushed and awed; 
 
 To come to Him, confessing all my sin, 
 
 And seek forgiveness, through the precious blood, 
 To ask that He, in love's o'erflowing flood, 
 
 Will bless my needy life, without, within; 
 
 To intercede for all my kinsmen, friends, 
 For the elect who love our Savior-Lord, 
 
 For the great world, e'en to its farthest ends, 
 That Christ may be by men obeyed, adored ; 
 And then to praise, always and everywhere; — 
 Be this my fervent and effectual prayer! 
 
 1907. 
 
 REQUIEM 
 
 'JVe groan within ourselves, waiting for 
 the adoption." 
 
 The days axe hasting, hasting. 
 
 They pass away. 
 The years are wasting, wasting, 
 
 They will not stay. 
 
 My life is going, going, 
 
 'Twill soon be done. 
 Like rivers, flowing, flowing. 
 
 To oceans run. 
 
 48 
 
Life's sun is sinking, sinking, 
 
 In dark'ning west, 
 And I am shrinking, shrinking, 
 
 From earth's cold breast. 
 
 The end is nearing, nearing, 
 
 It comes on wing. 
 My heart is fearing, fearing, 
 
 What death will bring. 
 
 Soon I'll be dying, dying, 
 
 O God, be nigh, 
 And hear my crying, crying, 
 
 My last, faint sigh; 
 
 And grant that, sleeping, sleeping, 
 
 I'll wake again, 
 With no more weeping, weeping. 
 
 And no more pain! 
 
 1907. 
 
 PEACE 
 ''The peace of God." — "The God of peace" 
 
 A forest dim and grand, with mile on mile 
 Of tangled undergrowth and arching trees, 
 Where sunlight rests upon the matted leaves 
 But never reaches earth to flowers beguile; 
 There footsteps never fell 
 To break the silent spell. 
 There always, all around 
 Is stillness deep, profound; — 
 And there is peace. 
 
 y 49 
 
An ocean's wide expanse, with leagues untold 
 Of untracked waters, 'neath a tropic sun, 
 Where every passing day, till day is done. 
 The sea lies glittering bright, like burnished gold; 
 There storm-winds never blow, 
 There storm-waves never flow, 
 There crystal waters lie 
 Beneath a cloudless sky; — 
 And there is peace. 
 
 A lake half-hidden near a mountain's crest. 
 Surrounded by great trees with foliage bright. 
 O'er which the wild-duck wings his circling 
 flight. 
 Near which the eagle builds his lofty nest; 
 There, 'neath the sun's bright beam, 
 Wavelets like jewels gleam. 
 There, lilies white and rare 
 Perfume the still soft air; — 
 And there is peace. 
 
 A heart all-sensitive, midst city din. 
 
 Pressed hard upon by selfish, jostling crowds, 
 Touched by dark lives which wickedness en- 
 shrouds. 
 Forced always, everywhere, to look on sin; 
 Yet kept by God's great power. 
 Rejoicing hour by hour. 
 Uplifting prayer and psalm. 
 Dwelling in heav'nly calm; — 
 Ah, there is peace! 
 
 1907. 
 
 50 
 
PILGRIMAGE 
 
 'The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a 
 broken he art. ^' 
 
 (In imitation of old English poetry.) 
 
 I went on pilgrimage one day 
 To find my Lord, the King, 
 
 For I had lost Him in the way 
 Where worldlings laugh and sing. 
 
 Alas! I'd wandered with the throng 
 
 Which make life holiday, 
 And in my mirth had joined their song 
 
 And sung their roundelay. 
 
 But when my mirth was fully past 
 And all my singing done — 
 
 For careless laughter does not last 
 And songs die with the sun — 
 
 I turned to find my Savior, Lord, 
 And walk with Him again; — 
 
 Ah me, He'd gone whom I adored, 
 I knew not where, nor when! 
 
 For I had grieved Him to the heart 
 By all my thoughtless way, 
 
 And He had turned, and gone apart, 
 While I kept holiday. 
 
 And so I went on pilgrimage 
 
 To seek my Savior, Lord ; 
 Naught else could lonely grief assuage, 
 
 Naught else could peace afford. 
 
 51 
 
I sought Him in the palace proud, 
 
 Within the hovel rude, 
 I sought Him in the city's crowd, 
 
 In desert solitude; 
 
 I sought Him in the mart and fair. 
 In church and cloister dim, 
 
 I sought Him, calling everywhere 
 For Him, and only Him; 
 
 I sought, and found not, night and day, 
 Till strength and hope were gone, 
 
 Then, falling to the ground, I lay 
 With hidden face thereon; 
 
 And there beneath the heavy stroke 
 
 Of loneliness and fear. 
 My heart with pain and sorrow broke. 
 
 And fell the bitter tear: — 
 
 When suddenly I heard a voice 
 Like that I'd known of yore; 
 
 I turned and heard one say, "Rejoice, 
 And sorrow never more!" 
 
 And lo, 'twas Christ, my Lord and King, 
 Whom I had sought in vain; 
 
 Ah, how my -heart with joy did sing. 
 While tears fell fast like rain! ^ 
 
 For He had come on pilgrimage 
 
 To find His erring child. 
 My sorrow to fore'er assuage 
 
 By His forgiveness mild. 
 
 52 
 
And so He found me in mj?^ woe;- 
 He did not seek in vain: — 
 
 O Jesu, may / never go 
 On pilgrimage again! 
 
 1907. 
 
 THE HIGHLANDS 
 
 "Our citizenship is in heaven" 
 
 (After reading Burns's "My Heart's in the 
 Highlands.") 
 
 Oh, my heart is in the Highlan's 
 
 O' the far and fair countree 
 Where the King is waitin', waitin' 
 
 For His ain, and e'en for me; 
 There He reigns in a' His glory, 
 
 I shall see Him ane sweet day, 
 When He ca's me to the Highlan's 
 
 Wi' Himself for aye to stay. 
 
 Ah, my heart was in the Lowlan's 
 
 In the aulden, aulden time. 
 Midst the vapors and the shadows 
 
 O' the lower, baser clime; 
 But the heavenly Man He sought me 
 
 An' He deed for me straightwa'; 
 Then He ga'ed back to the Highlan's 
 
 An' He bore my heart awa'. 
 
 Oh, I love the bonnie Highlan's, 
 Wi' its pure an' caller air, 
 
 Wi' its green fields an' its flowers 
 An' its fragrance everywhere; 
 
 53 
 
Ay, there's no place like the Highlan's 
 For the soul frae sin set free, 
 
 'Tis a Ian' o' wondrous beauty, 
 'Tis the winsome Ian' to me. 
 
 There's a palace in the Highlan's 
 
 An' it glistens wi' the licht, 
 For the sun is ever shinin' 
 
 An' there's never, never nicht, 
 An' there's music in the palace 
 
 Sweeter far than a' the soun' 
 That e'er greets the list'nin' dwellers 
 
 On the lower, Lowlan' groun'. 
 
 An' enthroned within the palace 
 
 Is the King sae pure and fair, 
 Wi' His garments a' aglist'nin' 
 
 An' wi' shinin', snawy hair, 
 Wi' His face sae bricht, resplendent — 
 
 'Bune the brichtness o' His croun — 
 That before Him a' the angels 
 
 An' archangels fa' adoun. 
 
 Oh, my heart is in the Highlan's, 
 
 Sae then dinna bid me stay. 
 For I canna but be hamesick 
 
 For its gowden, blythesome day; 
 Ay, Fm wearyin' for its beauty. 
 
 An' its licht that ne'er grows dim, 
 For the Ane wha's a' its glory 
 
 An' a lastin' sicht o' Him! 
 
 1907. 
 
 54 
 
SLUMBER SONG 
 
 "Thy sleep shall be sweet." 
 (On seeing a young child asleep.) 
 
 Sleep, sleep, my darling child, 
 My own, my undefiled, 
 
 Sleep on, sleep on; 
 Thine eyes must open soon 
 Upon life's glaring noon. 
 Sleep then until the day, 
 Sleep on while yet you may, 
 
 Sleep, sleep, my sweet, sleep on. 
 
 Sleep, sleep, my precious one, 
 Till hours of sleep are done, 
 
 Sleep on, sleep on; 
 Thy feet have far to go 
 Through paths of toil and woe. 
 Thou needest strength on strength. 
 Then sleep, my child, at length, 
 
 Sleep, sleep, my sweet, sleep on. 
 
 Sleep, sleep, my babe adored. 
 May sleep sweet dreams afiord, 
 
 Sleep on, sleep on; 
 Dreams of a land afar 
 Past shining moon and star, 
 Visions all fair and bright, 
 Outlasting darkest night. 
 
 Sleep, sleep, my sweet, sleep on. 
 
 Sleep, sleep, thou child of love. 
 Thy God doth watch above, 
 Sleep on, sleep on; 
 
 55 
 
His eye will never sleep, 
 He will forever keep, 
 Thou needest not to fear 
 For thou art ever dear. 
 
 Sleep, sleep, my sweet, sleep on. 
 
 1908. 
 
 PRAISE 
 
 "Giving thanks always" 
 
 Do you hear the angels singing 
 
 Up on high? 
 Do you hear their voices ringing 
 Through the sky? 
 Oh, the fulness of their song 
 As their praises they prolong. 
 Yea, the voices of that choir 
 Never tire! 
 
 Do you hear the saints all praising 
 
 Round the throne? 
 Do you hear them hymns upraising. 
 One by one? 
 Praising is their glad delight 
 So they rest not day nor night. 
 Crying, "Holy!" o'er and o'er. 
 Evermore ! 
 
 Do you hear the saints adoring 
 
 Here below? 
 Do you hear them praise outpouring 
 
 Midst earth's woe? 
 
 , 56 
 
Hark, they sing their sweet refrain 
 Through their joy and through their pain, 
 Praising, ever, in their love, 
 God above! 
 
 Oh, then, add your note, rejoicing. 
 
 To the praise. 
 Thanks to God for all things voicing. 
 Through the days; 
 Till the earthly singing's done, 
 Till the heavenly is begun. 
 Till the anthem, round Christ's feet, 
 Sw^ells complete! 
 
 1908. 
 
 A PRAYER 
 
 "Give ear to my prayer, O God!" 
 
 O Thou vi^ho hearest prayer, 
 Always and everyw^here, 
 Remerab'ring how men fare; 
 Who, though Thou art on high, 
 Hearest Thy children cry 
 And drawest ever nigh; 
 Hear Thou my prayer, this day — 
 Draw near me in life's way, 
 Be Thou my strength and stay; 
 From blinding sin set free. 
 May I Thy footsteps see 
 And ever follow Thee; 
 On through the length'ning years. 
 On, spite of foes and fears, 
 On through the vale of tears ; 
 
 57 
 
i9o8. 
 
 Till the last hour has come, 
 Till sinks life's setting sun, 
 Till the long journey's done; 
 So may I end my days. 
 Then be with Thee always, 
 Where prayer is turned to praise: — 
 Amen! 
 
 HAVE WE FORGOT 
 
 "Now, therefore, why speak ye not a word of bring- 
 ing the King backf" \ 
 
 (After attending a great missionary convention in • 
 
 which no reference was made to the return of , 
 the Lord.) 
 
 The King went forth a kingdom to obtain, i 
 With promise to His own to come again; 
 The long, long years have passed, the years of pain, 
 And yet He cometh not; — 
 
 Have we forgot? \ 
 
 i 
 
 He bade us keep our hearts forever pure, \ 
 
 And, following Him, to suffer and endure, ] 
 
 That we to Him might weary men allure | 
 
 And He might tarry not; — i 
 
 Have we forgot? \ 
 
 He asked us for Himself to wait and long. 
 To turn our faces from the worldly throng 
 Upward to Him, to whom our lives belong; 
 And yet He hast'neth not; — 
 Have we forgot? 
 
 58 
 
i 
 
 And thus the days go by; we joy and sing, ; 
 
 We take His gifts — yet little to Him bring ' 
 
 And speak no word of bringing back the King; { 
 
 And so He cometh not — 1 
 
 We have forgot! '; 
 
 O Christ our King, forgive us this our sin, ; 
 And help us, henceforth, many lives to win, 
 
 That we may haste to bring Thy kingdom in; — i 
 
 And oh, forget us not > 
 
 Though we've forgot ! ;' 
 
 1908. i 
 
 EARTH BOUND 
 
 "Ohj that I had wings like a dove, for then woicld 
 I fly aw ay J and be at rest!" 
 
 I cannot rise 
 To wished-for place within the skies 
 But I am left to stand 
 Upon this clod-heaped land, 
 Pressed down with burd'ning discontent 
 Because of earth's environment. 
 Destined to die and sleep 
 Beneath the sod, so deep 
 That soon the earth will hold 
 '< Myself turned into mold; 
 
 Taken from dust I must . 
 
 Return, at last, to dust. 
 The eagle cleaves the topmost sky, 
 The gull spreads forth his wings on high, 
 E'en tiny insects mount on strong, swift wings 
 And look down, from their height, on earthly things ; 
 
 59 
 
Yet I, a man, 
 But can 
 
 Walk heavy-footed on this lower earth, 
 Longing and waiting for a higher birth. 
 If I had wings 
 Like the sweet lark that sings, 
 And as he sings, soars out of sight, 
 
 I should take flight 
 And rise into the heavenly blue; 
 This I should do 
 Because I long 
 To learn the heavenly song 
 Which those can never know 
 Who grovel here below; 
 Yet here on earth I walk 
 To envy e'en some carrion hawk, 
 A common thing 
 And yet on wing. 
 With wings outspread 
 Above my head! 
 Oh, to cast off this heavy weight 
 Which keeps me in this lower state; 
 Oh, for strong power to rise and rise 
 To longed-for place in upper skies! 
 Hark to the birds on high 
 Which heavenward fly; 
 Hark to the glad, pulsating song 
 Which they in upper skies prolong; 
 But I can never with them sing 
 Since I am not on wing; 
 I can but moan and wait, 
 Disconsolate : — 
 And lo, the turtle-dove moans with me from his 
 
 nest ; 
 Had I but wings I too should fly away and be at 
 rest! 
 
 1908. 
 
 60 
 
MY CREED 
 
 "Lordj I believe, help thou mine unbelief" I 
 
 ■] 
 
 That God doth live, enthroned in heaven above, 
 
 Existing in three persons, and yet One, \ 
 
 The everlasting Father, Spirit, Son, j 
 
 Whom I may w^orship and forever love ; 1 
 
 That Jesus died for me on Calvary's tree ] 
 
 And then ascended to His Father's throne, 
 Thenceforth to ever intercede for me 
 
 Until He comes to gather home His ovi^n; j 
 
 That God hath sent the Holy Spirit down 1 
 
 To keep, to guide, to sanctify, to bless, \ 
 
 So I may wear, at last, a victor's crown | 
 
 And reign with Christ, who will my name con- ; 
 
 f ess ; \ 
 
 This — 'spite of sin and doubt's o'ershadowing \ 
 
 _ grief— ^ j 
 
 This I believe ; Lord, help mine unbelief ! ;' 
 
 1908. ; 
 
 AFTERWARD 
 
 Wo chastening . . . seemeth joyous; nevertheless 
 afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of right- 
 eousness" 
 
 Rain, rain 
 Beating against the pane; 
 How endlessly it pours, 
 
 Out of doors. 
 From the blackened sky; — 
 
 I wonder why! 
 61 
 
Flowers, flowers 
 Upspringing after showers, 
 Blossoming fresh and fair, 
 
 Everywhere ; — 
 Ah, God has explained 
 
 Why it rained! 
 
 1908. 
 
 GOLDEN ROD 
 
 "He hath made everything beautiful in his time." 
 
 Only a weed, they say, and I suppose 'tis true. 
 But O, sweet golden rod, I would I were like you, 
 Gladd'ning strained, weary eyes along the dusty 
 
 ways, 
 Standing all strong and fresh through long, hot 
 
 autumn days. 
 And wearing for bright attire the sunlight's glori- 
 ous hue; — 
 Ah me, sweet golden rod, would God I were like 
 you! 
 
 1908. 
 
 SHADOWS 
 "Until . . . the shadows flee away." 
 
 The springtime sun burst forth to-day 
 After the long, dull winter's cold. 
 
 Upon the hardened ground it lay 
 Like furnace-glowing, radiant gold, 
 62 
 
It warmed the earth where snow had lain 
 And following after springtime rain, 
 It wooed a new life from the old. 
 
 The springtime buds sprang forth to-day 
 On plants and vines and shrubs and trees, 
 
 ^yhile the glad birds sang roundelay 
 Amidst the droning of the bees; 
 
 Flowers, 'neath the sunlight's golden dower. 
 
 Burst forth within a single hour 
 
 To cast sweet fragrance on the breeze. 
 
 All the great world is bright to-day 
 And every living thing is glad, 
 
 For springtime warmth has come to stay 
 That all the earth may be new-clad; — 
 
 Alas, alas, in spite of spring, 
 
 I cannot joy, I cannot sing. 
 
 Somehow my heart is dark and sad ! 
 
 Oh, shame, thrice shame, upon this day 
 When there is beauty everywhere. 
 
 When all the world is blithe and gay 
 And sunlight flashes through the air. 
 
 That shadows o'er my heart should lie — 
 
 As clouds o'ershade a sunlit sky — 
 Turning my joy to dark despair! 
 
 Rise, rise, bright Sun, rise high to-day — 
 Thou brighter Sun than that I see. 
 
 Chase all my darkness far away 
 And let Thy radiance fall on me ; 
 
 Then shall my heart be glad and sing. 
 
 Then shall I joy with everything. 
 And shadows will forever flee ! 
 
 1908. 
 
 63 
 
SUBMISSION 
 "Thy will be done." 
 
 (After seeing Hofmann's picture, "Christ 
 in Gethsemane.") 
 
 Jesus Christ, Thou suffering Man of prayer, 
 Help me in prayer Thy sufferings to share. 
 That, learning at Thy side, on bended knee. 
 The deep, sweet lesson of Gethsemane, 
 
 1 may repeat with Thee — the vict'ry won — 
 "Not my will, Father, but Thy will be done!" 
 
 1908. 
 
 WEARINESS 
 
 'There the weary are at rest. 
 
 Years ! 
 And also fears; 
 The way is long. 
 The battle's to the strong. 
 And I am weak; 
 I dare not seek 
 For many years ! 
 
 Years ! 
 Ay, also tears; 
 I have been glad. 
 But far more often sad; 
 Now life's far past 
 And what will last 
 Are wearier years! 
 
 64 
 
Years ! i 
 
 The way appears i 
 
 A way of gloom; j 
 
 There seems no resting room i 
 
 In life below; ' 
 
 Hence, tears will flow j 
 
 For better years! ] 
 
 Years ! ; 
 
 Christ only cheers; ', 
 
 When I shall stand . | 
 
 Safe home at His right hand, j 
 
 Then it will be \ 
 
 That I shall see j 
 
 The joy of years! j 
 
 1 
 
 ) 
 
 Years ! ; 
 
 Life disappears! — j 
 
 Ay, let it go ;, 
 
 That I may sooner know I 
 
 The bliss of rest | 
 
 Among the blest i 
 
 Through heav'nly years! \ 
 
 1908. \ 
 
 THROUGH DEATH TO LIFE 
 
 'Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one 
 of these" 
 
 Lo, a lily-blade is springing 
 Through the soil of Galilee, 
 
 Into beauteous life upspringing, 
 Into joy and ecstasy; — 
 
 "Oh," it cries, "how glad the hour 
 
 When my leaf will turn to flower." 
 
 65 
 
i9o8. 
 
 Lo, a lily-flower is standing 
 
 In a glade of Galilee, 
 With its petals wide expanding, 
 
 Sweet in whitest purity; — 
 "Oh," it cries, "to stand fore'er. 
 Blooming thus, all bright and fair!" 
 
 Lo, a lily-flower is dying 
 
 In a Hand in Galilee, 
 While a sweet-toned Voice is crying 
 
 In divinest sympathy : — 
 "Solomon was ne'er arrayed 
 Like this lily of the glade!" 
 
 So the lily died to living 
 
 In the vale of Galilee, 
 Yea, it died — its sweet life giving 
 
 To the Man of charity; 
 Then the Man, upon that day, 
 Smiled upon it where it lay! 
 
 Now the lily lies forsaken 
 
 In the dust of Galilee, 
 Never will its life awaken, 
 
 It has died eternally; — 
 Yet this lily of the glade 
 Lives as none God ever made! 
 
 66 
 
ENSLAVED 
 'A bond-slave of Jesus Christ.' 
 
 I went into the fields one day 
 In the sweet beauty of the spring, 
 
 My heart was light and glad and gay 
 And thus I fell to carolling. 
 
 I sang of skies of radiant blue, 
 Of fleecy clouds and balmy air, 
 
 Of leaf and grass of softest hue. 
 Of fragrant flowers divinely fair; 
 
 Of great-winged birds afloat on high. 
 Of song-birds warbling in the trees, 
 
 Of bright-hued insects darting by 
 Of the low drone of swarming bees. 
 
 And then I sang, as sang the birds 
 Which soared within the heavenly 
 blue. 
 In loudest, most triumphant words 
 The sweetest song my full heart 
 knew. 
 
 Of life's glad freedom, now and aye, 
 Which stirs the heart to joy and sing. 
 
 Which makes life one long holiday 
 And sets the lips to carolling. 
 
 "Free, free," I sang, "forever free. 
 The slave of no one, God or man, 
 
 Myself a king, at liberty. 
 
 My kingdom all mine eye doth scan!" 
 
 67 
 
II 
 
 But suddenly my singing ceased, 
 For there beside the verdant field, 
 
 In midst of crowd — which e'er increased — 
 A journeying Stranger was revealed. 
 
 He walked along the dusty way 
 With smiling face and gentle eye, 
 
 He seemed to hear what each did say 
 And seemed to catch the faintest sigh ; 
 
 And, now and then, He paused to touch 
 Some body racked with piercing pain, 
 
 And often He would speak to such 
 
 As seemed fast-bound by Satan's chain ; 
 
 Then, as He passed. He looked on me — 
 He spake no word, He made no sign — 
 
 But smiled in tenderest sympathy 
 
 And fixed His yearning eyes on mine; 
 
 And somehow — how I do not know — 
 I joined the throng in dusty way 
 
 And followed Him, not fast nor slow. 
 But e'er beside Him, day by day; 
 
 And somehow — how I cannot tell — 
 The toilsome way seemed sweet to me, 
 
 Sweeter by far than dale and dell 
 And greenest fields might ever be; 
 
 And so, once more, my heart did sing — 
 Ay, as it never sang before — 
 
 And thus I fell to carolling 
 
 Of Him whom now I did adore; 
 68 
 
And this is what my lips did sing ' 
 
 E'en as I walked in crowded way: — ) 
 
 "I am a slave of Christ my King, I 
 
 A captive-slave, for now and aye; ! 
 
 I 
 
 "For I have found eternal rest { 
 
 In trusting His eternal word, j 
 
 And I have found my life full blest ] 
 
 In hailing Him as Savior-Lord." ; 
 
 So now I follow, on and on, j 
 
 Beside the Christ, in dusty way; 
 
 Green fields and liberty are gone — j 
 
 But life is one long holyday! j 
 
 1908. 
 
 THE NAME 
 
 'God also hath given hhn a name which is above 
 every name." 
 
 There is a name, a wondrous name, 
 
 Of infinite and endless fame, 
 
 By God beloved, by saints revered, 
 
 By angels and archangels feared. 
 
 Ordained of God 'fore world began, 
 
 Revealed by angels unto man. 
 
 Proclaimed by men, believed, adored, 
 
 By hearts in prayer and praise outpoured, 
 
 The theme of prophet, priest and king. 
 
 The word of which sweet psalmists sing, 
 
 By pilgrims blessed, by sufE'rers sung, 
 
 The last word breathed by martyr's tongue. 
 
 69 
 
The name most precious and sublime, 
 Supreme in space, supreme in time, 
 Destined to live and conquer all 
 Till all knees everywhere shall fall 
 And tongues confess — what God proclaims- 
 This name to be the Name of names. 
 The name which in high heaven will be 
 The One Name of eternity; — 
 Then, O my soul, its praise forthtell, 
 Jesus — the name ineffable! 
 
 1908. 
 
 HEART-BREAK 
 
 'I adjure you . . . if ye find my beloved that ye 
 tell him that I am sick from love." 
 
 I have lost my Love to-day, 
 Lost Him in the crowded way, 
 
 While I turned aside to see 
 Life in its festivity; — 
 
 Oh, to look into His face 
 
 And to find His pard'ning grace! 
 
 Ah, my heart, how fair this world 
 When its beauties are unfurled. 
 
 How they glitter, dazzle, blind. 
 
 How they 'snare the heart and mind ! — 
 
 Tell me, and oh, tell me true. 
 
 Has my Love been seen by you? 
 
 I did take my wanton way 
 
 With the throngs all through the day, 
 
 Seeking pleasures, sweet and rare, 
 Joyful, without thought or care; 
 
 70 
 
Now 'tis night; — oh, can you tell 
 Where my grieved Love doth dwell? 
 
 Days are long and full of light, 
 Pleasures sweet and joyance bright; 
 
 But the night, how dark and drear 
 And how full of dread and fear! — 
 
 Oh, that I could find my Love, 
 
 Then I would no longer rove! 
 
 If you see my Love, do you 
 Tell Him that my love is true, 
 
 That grief's tears my eyes bedim 
 And I seek and call for Him; — 
 
 Will you, in sweet charity, 
 
 Help to find my Love for me? 
 
 Ah, I wander all alone — 
 Would I could for sin atone, 
 
 I would give my very heart, 
 With my very life would part. 
 
 If in giving, dying I 
 
 Might but find my Love were nigh! 
 
 Hear me. Love — I cry, I moan. 
 Thee I long for, Thee alone; 
 
 If Thou wilt return to me 
 
 I will never part from Thee; — 
 
 Hear me all, below, above. 
 
 Tell my Love, I die from love! 
 
 1908. 
 
 71 
 
COMMUNION HYMN 
 
 "This do in remembrance of me" 
 
 O my soul, do thou keep silence, 
 Here thou meetest with thy God, 
 
 Come and feast, in sweet reliance. 
 But with spirit bowed and awed; 
 
 Hush the voice and still the mind, 
 
 Here thou wilt thy Savior find. 
 
 O my soul, do thou remember 
 
 This is sacred, holy ground, 
 Sign of when Christ's every member 
 
 On the cruel cross was found, 
 There He died in agony; — 
 Come, then, humbly, gratefully. 
 
 O my soul, be thou preparing. 
 It is Christ who welcomes thee. 
 
 Richest blessing with thee sharing. 
 Foretaste of eternity; 
 
 He doth grant thee heavenly food, 
 
 Giving thee His flesh and blood. 
 
 O my soul, thy sins forsaking 
 In remembrance of Christ's love, 
 
 From this food new vigor taking, 
 Set thy face toward things above; 
 
 Christ is here thy life to win, 
 
 And to free thee from all sin. 
 
 O my soul, feast on, believing. 
 Eat the bread and drink the wine. 
 
 In these tokens Christ perceiving. 
 Worship Him, and make Him thine; — 
 72 
 
Then arise with grateful song ' 
 
 Since thou dost to Christ belong! I 
 
 1908. ' 1 
 
 OUR FATHERLAND 
 
 'Thine eyes . . . shall behold the land that is very 
 far off." 
 
 (Suggested by Zinzendorf's hymn, "Jesus, Still 
 Lead On.") 
 
 Christ will lead us on 
 
 Till our life is done; 
 He from evil will defend us, 
 In all trials will befriend us, 
 
 Till our feet shall stand 
 
 In our Fatherland. 
 
 Christ will make our way 
 
 Bright as noontide day; 
 He will ever walk beside us, 
 He will lead and He will guide us, 
 
 Till we reach the strand 
 
 Of our Fatherland. 
 
 Christ will give us cheer 
 
 E'en when foes are near; 
 With His strength He will surround us, 
 Yea, when doubt doth most confound us 
 
 He will point His hand 
 
 To our Fatherland. 
 
 Christ, in death's dark vale. 
 Will for us prevail; 
 
 73 
 
By His arm He will sustain us, 
 In His peace He will maintain us, 
 
 Till the scenes expand 
 
 Of our Fatherland. 
 
 Christ will bring us where 
 
 We His joy shall share; 
 There His power will e'er uphold us. 
 There His love will e'er enfold us. 
 
 When our feet shall stand 
 
 In our Fatherland! 
 
 1908. 
 
 THE CALL OF THE EAST 
 
 'There are . . . ?nany voices in the world. 
 
 Do you hear the East a-calling, 
 
 Day by day? 
 Do you hear its plaint a-falling, 
 
 Far away? 
 Crying out, since sore distrest, 
 Pleading, pleading to be blest. 
 Needy East to tardy West ; — 
 
 "Do not stay!" 
 
 See, the peach-trees high a-growing. 
 
 Fresh and fair ; 
 See, the cherry blossoms blowing 
 
 Through the air ; 
 Lo, the spices breathe forth balm. 
 Sweet the shade of fronded palm, 
 In the bright, warm tropic calm, 
 
 Over there. 
 
 74 
 
Hark, the sound of merry laughter, 
 
 Bright and clear, 
 Happy tale, and then the after 
 
 Happier .cheer; 
 Boys and girls with sparkling eyes, 
 Women showing glad surprise. 
 Men more grave, since gravely wise, 
 
 Far and near. 
 
 But beneath the beauteous brightness, 
 
 Dark and death. 
 And behind the heart's glad lightness. 
 
 Bated breath; — 
 Ah, they bow to gods of stone 
 Which for sin can ne'er atone; 
 Hear ye not the cry and moan. 
 
 As God saith? 
 
 Yea, the East is calling, calling 
 
 'Cross the seas, 
 For the shadows are a-falling 
 
 As life flees ; 
 Dark the day, in spite of light, 
 Darker still the long-drawn night, 
 Shadows sinful souls affright. 
 
 Such as these. 
 
 Coming, coming, I am coming, 
 
 I'll not stay. 
 Love shall conquer fear benumbing, 
 
 I'll away; — 
 Yea, the East shall meet the West, 
 Hear, O East, thou shalt be blest, 
 Jesus yet will give thee rest; 
 
 Wondrous day ! 
 
 1908. 
 
 75 
 
THE WOODMAN'S SONG 
 
 "The trees . . . which the Lord hath planted/^ 
 
 Let all who will walk the city street 
 
 And gaze on the high house walls, 
 Their only music the beat of their feet 
 
 And the sound of the huckster's calls; 
 Give me the woods which the Lord has made, 
 
 With its vines and its leaves of green 
 And the birds a-carolling in the shade 
 
 And the glint of the sun's bright sheen. 
 
 Do you want a cathedral with towers and spires? 
 
 Do you look for a cloister dim? 
 Do you long for voices and virgin choirs. 
 
 And God — and a sight of Him? 
 Come out of the city which man has made 
 
 And dwell in' the wild-wood fair 
 Beneath the trees of the glen and the glade — 
 
 You will find what you seek for there. 
 
 I grant that it's true that God does dwell 
 
 With men in the stone-built town. 
 And that He hears when the anthems swell 
 
 In cathedrals of great renown; 
 But I choose to worship in village church 
 
 And then to walk in the glade 
 Where you find God near, though you do not 
 search. 
 
 In the woods which His hands have made. 
 
 Oh, the wave in the corn in the clearing round 
 As it bends 'fore the summer breeze, 
 
 Oh, the shadows cast on the grass-clad ground 
 By the swaying limbs of the trees, 
 
 76 
 
Oh, the arching branches above your head 
 
 And the long vines swinging by, 
 Oh, the sunlit leaves, some green, some red, 
 
 And the glimpse of the azure sky! 
 
 Oh, the soft, gray moss beneath your feet 
 
 And the near-by ferns, bright green. 
 Oh, the tunes of the song-birds, clear and sweet. 
 
 And the squirrel's sharp chatter between. 
 Oh, the soft, low voice of the babbling brook 
 
 As it glides through the glade and the glen;- 
 Ah, here is God's church, and here is a book 
 
 Which His hand has writ large for men! 
 
 Then make the city of stone your home 
 
 If such be your mind and choice, 
 But let me out in the wild-woods roam 
 
 Where my worshipping heart may rejoice ; 
 Yea, let me abide 'neath the arching trees 
 
 With their heads held up to the sky; 
 And oh, — 'neath their fallen, covering leaves 
 
 Do you lay me down when I die! 
 
 1908. 
 
 THE VIRGIN'S MEDITATION 
 
 'Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul 
 also." 
 
 The shadows fall on the silent earth 
 
 As the sun sinks low in the west. 
 And I hold my Babe of the heavenly birth. 
 
 His head laid soft on my breast; 
 Sleep, sleep, my Child; — aye, the shadows fall 
 And lie on the earth like a heavy pall! 
 
 77 
 
The dove is making his sad lament 
 In the oak on the crest of the hill, 
 
 And the olive-trees, by the night-winds bent, 
 Sing a requiem, loud and shrill; 
 
 But sleep, my Child, sleep still and deep; — 
 
 It is not Thy time to lament and weep! 
 
 The wind blows cold from the great, wide sea, 
 And the waves beat hard on the shore; 
 
 Ah, I saw the lightning flash o'er Thee, 
 And hark, how the thunders roar; 
 
 Stir not, my Child, not yet is pain; — 
 
 But forgive if my teardrops fall like rain! 
 
 The night creeps on, the dark'ning night, 
 And my heart is o'erwhelmed with fear; 
 
 Hush, hush, my Child, soon cometh light. 
 And Thy Father is ever near; — 
 
 But God, O God, grant me Thy power 
 
 Till past is the pain of that awful hour! 
 
 1908. 
 
 THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY- 
 FIRST PSALM 
 
 ''Shall I lift up mine eyes unto the hills f 
 
 Shall I lift up my longing eyes 
 
 Unto the hills around? 
 From whence shall come my needed help. 
 
 Where shall my aid be found? 
 From God, the Lord, come help and aid. 
 Who hath the earth and heaven made. 
 
 78 
 
He will not let thy foot be moved, 
 For He that keepeth thee 
 
 Will never slumber, yea, the Lord 
 Will never weary be; 
 
 Lo, He that Israel's tribes doth keep 
 
 Shall never slumber, never sleep. 
 
 The Lord's thy keeper. Lo, He is 
 Thy shade on thy right hand. 
 
 Nor sun nor moon shall ever smite, 
 For He will by thee stand; 
 
 He shall preserve thee, and control, 
 
 Yea, He shall ever guard thy soul. 
 
 The Lord, in all thy going out, 
 
 In all thy coming in. 
 Shall keep thee safe from every harm, 
 
 Preserving thee from sin; 
 Yea, day and night, till life is o'er. 
 From henceforth, and forevermore! 
 
 1908. 
 
 A HEART WISH 
 
 "My heart's desire and prayer" 
 
 That I may know, yet more and more, 
 The love of God, whom I adore; 
 That I may be, increasingly. 
 The man that He would have me be; 
 That, loved and kept, I may find grace 
 To serve before Him, face to face; 
 And that, at last, my great reward 
 May be the "Well done!" of my Lord; 
 This is my wish; — may all beside 
 Be on yon cross, and crucified! 
 
 1908. 
 
 79 
 
COMPENSATION 
 
 "Nevertheless J afterward!" 
 
 The year is slowly, sadly dying — , 
 
 Let it die! 
 Dead leaves on withered flowers are lying — 
 Let them lie! 
 Were there no autumn, there would be no spring 
 And hearts midst springtime joys would never sing! 
 
 My life is surely, sadly ending — 
 
 Let it end ! 
 Its way toward death is swiftly tending — 
 Let it tend! 
 Should earth not cease, then heav'n would not begin 
 And heaven's eternal joys I ne'er should win! 
 
 1908. 
 
 A QUESTION 
 "Pray without ceasing." 
 
 Just a glance above 
 And a half-breathed prayer, 
 Yet a Father's love 
 And a Father's care; — 
 Then why not pray by night and day 
 And have that love and care alway? 
 
 1908 
 
 80 
 
ADORATION 
 
 "Great is our Lord, and of great power; his 
 understanding is infinite.'' 
 
 (Lord Tennyson used to pray, in the great 
 crises of his life: "O Thou Infinite; Amen!") 
 
 O Thou Infinite; Amen! — 
 
 God of all the sons of men, 
 
 Ever highest, and yet low. 
 
 Thou from whom compassions flow, 
 
 Bearer of Thy people's sin. 
 
 Seeking weary souls to win, 
 
 Welcomer of all who seek, 
 
 Strengthener of all the weak, 
 
 Comforter in sore distress, 
 
 Ready needy lives to bless, 
 
 Filling earth, as heaven above. 
 
 With infinitude of love, 
 
 Life of life and light of light. 
 
 Full of wisdom and of might, 
 
 Ruler o'er created things. 
 
 Lord of lords and King of kings, 
 
 Perfect in Thyself and ways, I 
 
 Worthy of eternal praise. 
 
 Loved by the redeemed host, 
 
 Father, Son and Holy Ghost, 
 
 We Thy triune Name confess, 
 
 Thee we supplicate and bless; 
 
 Worshipping, we say it then; 
 
 O Thou Infinite — ^Amen! 
 
 1908. 
 
 81 
 
THE MINISTRY OF SUFFERING 
 
 "These are they which have come out of great 
 tribulation." 
 
 (To a friend in the ministry, on the anniversary of 
 the death of his beloved wife.) 
 
 There are those sufE'ring v^^ithout tears, 
 Whose faces w^ear the look that cheers, 
 Whose voices hold in every tone 
 The accent learned at heaven's throne, 
 Whose hands and feet in ministry 
 Show forth love's tend'rest sympathy. 
 Who, without consciousness or guile. 
 By thoughtful word and winsome smile, 
 Bring blessing to the sons of men 
 And comfort saddest hearts — e'en when 
 For them there is no light or love. 
 Save as these fall from heaven above. 
 And who their lonely way must tread, 
 While eyes see visions of the dead 
 And ears hear voices silent now. 
 And who beneath God's stroke must bow 
 Though hearts do break and break again 
 From overweight of hidden pain; 
 These are the saints who meekly go 
 Beside the Christ who walks below, 
 And these are they who, clothed in white, 
 Will walk with Him in realms of light 
 Through that long painless, wondrous day 
 When God has wiped all tears away! 
 
 1908. 
 
 82 
 
A PARALLEL 1 
 
 "^She laid him in a manger." "To give light to \ 
 
 them that sit in darkness." "Until Christ be { 
 
 formed in you." "Christ in you, the hope of , 
 
 glory." \ 
 
 Within the sky a God who gave, 
 
 Below on earth a stony cave, i 
 
 Within the cave a mother mild. 
 
 Beside her there a new-born Child; — | 
 
 And lo, that cave of darkest night \ 
 
 Illumined with a radiant Light! j 
 
 A throne of grace in heaven above, ' 
 
 Upon the throne a God of love, | 
 
 Below on earth a heart of sin ^ 
 
 And Christ, by faith, re-born within : — \ 
 
 And lo, that heart of sinfulness ;i 
 
 Turned into radiant holiness! i 
 
 1908. 
 
 A CONFESSION 
 
 "I prayed to the Lord my God, and made 
 confession." 
 
 Did I not know there is in heaven above 
 A God of wisdom and of changeless love. 
 In spite of all on earth which makes life glad, 
 I should be ever sad. 
 
 Life masters me, I cannot master it. 
 Before its problems I e'er helpless sit 
 
 83 
 
Like witless dullard in a crowded school, 
 Confessed by all a fool. 
 
 Within my heart are longings infinite, 
 And yet, like fearful child in darksome night, 
 I start, I shrink, I grope but cannot find, 
 A child, indeed, and blind. 
 
 The more I seek, the more is mystery; 
 The dark e'er deepens in intensity; 
 I yearn for wisdom, light, for these I cry, 
 They stand far off, not nigh. 
 
 I grasp at substance, and I find it air; 
 I place my foot on rock, and naught is there; 
 I think high thoughts, they turn to foolishness 
 And add to my distress. 
 
 E'en love is e'er imperfect here below; 
 The fondest hopes are often turned to woe; 
 At heart of sweetest joy lies secret pain. 
 And life is loss, not gain. 
 
 Yea, I have seen life's ideals pass away. 
 As passes into night some brightsome day. 
 Till what is left is disappointment keen 
 For things which might have been. 
 
 I will not cease my quest, but this I see 
 There is no solving here of mystery; 
 I will pursue life's ideals, but I know 
 The best is not below. 
 
 Life, at its best, is brightness shadowed o'er; 
 Life, 'spite of life, lies ever on before; 
 
 84 
 
Not here, but there in heaven, may hearts abide 
 Forever satisfied. 
 
 This, then, I've surely found — with God above 
 Is everlasting life, and light, and love; 
 And this, in spite of all that makes life sad — 
 This keeps me ever glad! 
 
 1908. 
 
 RESURRECTION 
 
 '// a man die, shall he live again?" "The dead in 
 Christ shall rise first." 
 
 (After seeing a butterfly in a garden.) 
 
 And so thou hast burst forth from place of death, i 
 
 Enshrouded as thou vi^ast, thou beauteous thing; \ 
 
 Wast thou made suddenly by God's sweet breath, '; 
 
 With slender body and with radiant wing, .? 
 
 Out of dark nothingness, \ 
 
 This shadowy world to bless, i' 
 
 With seven-hued colors bright, , 
 
 Like ray of glory-light? | 
 
 Who could have thought on yesterday, | 
 
 When thou didst lie like sodden clay, j 
 
 That, in thy wrapped-up, dark cocoon, '| 
 
 There should have happened, and so soon, 
 
 This miracle of life and light? I 
 
 As well imagine darksome night 1 
 
 Could suddenly be day! — :i 
 
 What, goest thou away, \ 
 
 And higher up, ' \ 
 
 From buttercup, ] 
 
 To white rose on the lifted stem? | 
 
 Thou lookest like a flashing gem ! 
 
 85 : 
 
Held fast at snow-white throat; only thy wings 
 
 Do pulsate in the very joy of things, 
 
 And show thou art not dead, as once before, 
 
 E'er God had opened wide the fast-closed door 
 
 Which held thy radiance in — thou wondrous thing, 
 
 Thou restless insect with the quivering wing! — 
 
 What, art thou not content 
 
 With thine environment? 
 
 Must leave the snow-white rose 
 
 To be the joy of those 
 
 Who, by their birth, 
 
 Love lower earth? 
 
 Dost fly to higher trees 
 
 Where hum the busy bees. 
 
 Seeking their honeyed dower 
 
 From newly bloss'ming flower? 
 
 There, weary insect, take thy rest, ' 
 
 And dip thy dark-hued, breathing breast j 
 
 In the bright calyx where the fruit will be ] 
 
 When the same Hand hath wrought that fashioned .] 
 
 thee : 
 
 Now, thou dost glow with light; •; 
 
 No one could think that night ] 
 
 Once wrapped thee round \ 
 
 As one close-bound; ] 
 
 Thou dost with sunlight gleam \ 
 
 As if thou wert its beam. 
 
 Thyself the very light! — ' 
 
 What now? Another flight, ; 
 
 Still higher up? Wilt mount so high , 
 
 That thou wilt touch the azure sky? ■• 
 
 Where art thou now? — I only see '] 
 
 A faint-winged, throbbing flash of thee, j 
 
 As thou art merged in seven-fold ray j 
 
 Of the fair gleaming, glittering day; — I 
 
 Ah, thou art wholly gone; 
 
 Thou didst to heaven belong, I 
 
God made thee for the skies, 
 So thou didst heavenward rise: 
 Good-bye, 
 Bright butterfly! 
 I too, a worm, shall turn to clay, 
 But I shall follow thee one day. 
 Thou happy thing, 
 Thou radiant insect with the outspread wing! 
 
 1908. 
 
 HEART GIFTS 
 
 "As he purposeth in his hearty so let him give." 
 
 It was not given me to pluck those flowers 
 
 Which grow within the palace-garden fair, 
 
 Blooming beside the winding, sunlit paths 
 
 And shedding fragrance on the balmy air; 
 
 These were reserved for better hands than mine, 
 
 For men, who nobler serve their Lord, the King, 
 
 That they may come in worthier way than I 
 
 In making Him their love's heart-offering. 
 
 And yet the Master granted me to pluck 
 
 Those wilder flowers, which, in the meadow wide — 
 
 Outside the garden — grow in hidden parts. 
 
 In verdant mead, or by the cool brook's side: 
 
 These have I gathered for my Master-Lord, 
 
 In willing toil, with earnest, tender hand, 
 
 And these I bring to Him, wild as they are, and 
 
 small. 
 Mixed in with thorns, and tied with weedy strand; 
 For love's sweet gifts are not for e'er to be. 
 Full valued by the sense of smell and sight. 
 And He who reckons love the sweetest thing. 
 Will in this gift of mine take some delight; 
 And so unworthy as my gift must be, 
 
 87 
 
Unworthy as I am to give at all, 
 
 I place it in the hands of Him I serve, 
 
 As suppliant at His blessed feet I fall: — 
 
 Then take, dear Master-Lord, this gift of mine, 
 
 These common flowers from out Thy meadow fair; 
 
 I give them Thee with all my heart's best love. 
 
 To mix their hue and scent with flowers more rare ! 
 
 1908. 
 
 THE BIBLE 
 
 ''Every scripture . . . is God-breathed." 
 
 The Book of books, holy, sublime, and true, 
 Spirit-inspired in every thought and word. 
 Revealing God, and Christ, as Savior-Lord, 
 
 Teacher of all that men should be and do; 
 
 A heavenly light within earth's midnight gloom, 
 A quickening life amidst death's dread decay, 
 A steadfast hand pointing the upward way, 
 
 A voice of triumph o'er the grave and tomb : 
 
 Here is a love which casts out every fear, 
 Here is a peace which sets the spirit free. 
 Here is a hope which gives the life good cheer, 
 
 And here are visions of the world to be; 
 
 Here then I rest; — and thus I ever may. 
 
 E'en when this heaven and earth have passed away! 
 
 1909. 
 
 88 
 
"OUR FATHER" 
 
 "After this manner . . . pray ye" 
 
 Our Father, which art in the heaven, 
 
 All hallowed be Thy name, 
 
 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done 
 
 In heaven and earth the same; 
 
 Give us this day our daily bread. 
 
 Forgive our debts, as thus 
 
 We also do forgive all those 
 
 Indebted unto us; 
 
 Lead not into temptation's ways. 
 
 From evil-one deliver, 
 
 For Thine's the kingdom, glory power, 
 
 Forever and forever: 
 
 Amen! 
 1909. 
 
 TO-DAY 
 
 'To-day, if ye will hear his voice." 
 
 To-day is mine, not yesterday. 
 
 Nor yet the day to be, 
 
 I can not now retrace my way 
 
 Nor can I paths foresee, 
 
 But this one day is surely mine; — 
 
 O God, may it be wholly Thine ! 
 
 No gift is mine which lies behind, 
 And none which lies before, 
 But in this present day I find 
 A full and precious store 
 Of all my life and heart can need — 
 With this, I am content indeed! 
 
 89 
 
1 
 
 Then give me, Lord, to live to-day j 
 Forgetful of the past 
 And of that unknown, future way 
 
 Which ends in death, at last — I 
 
 That serving in one day alone j 
 
 I may be, day by day, Thine own! i 
 
 "i 
 
 1909. i 
 
 i 
 
 MISUNDERSTANDING ] 
 
 "Now I know in part!' '■■ 
 
 I said in haste. The sun shines not to-day! \ 
 For I had ^^jLtd, at the great, vaulted sky 
 
 Where God had set the lights to cheer the eye i 
 
 And had seen naught but clouds, hence I did say \ 
 
 The light had failed; — yet back of cloudy lining \ 
 
 The sun, through all the day, was brightly shining! ': 
 
 I said in haste, God loves me not to-day! i 
 
 For I had prayed that all my life might be i 
 
 Hedged fast about, and so from sorrow free, ; 
 
 Hence, when dark sorrow came, I shrank away ] 
 
 And thought God's love had ceased; — yet Love's j 
 
 denying : 
 
 Costs more than granting, when sad souls are cry- \ 
 
 ing! 
 
 1909. ■ 
 
 90 
 
SACRIFICE 
 
 'He laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay 
 down our lives for the brethren" 
 
 Summer lilies, sweet and rare, 
 How they perfume all the air, 
 White as pure and pure as white, 
 Blooming through the day and night; 
 Lo, they stand in garden bed 
 Midst tall roses, crimson red. 
 
 Tell me, lilies, are you white 
 Since the roses weep at night. 
 Letting fall their tears of blood 
 Round your roots, a crimson flood; 
 Are you sweet and are you pure 
 Since their weeping doth endure? 
 
 Weep, red roses, weep and weep. 
 Through the nights your vigils keep, 
 If your watching, weeping long 
 Will the sweet and pure prolong; 
 Red for white and white from red — ■ 
 This is as the Master said. 
 
 Roses red and lilies white. 
 
 Through the day and through the night, 
 
 Blooming ever side by side. 
 
 One by other beautified; 
 
 White from red — the red the sign 
 
 Of the Death that was Divine ! 
 
 1909. 
 
 91 
 
SORROW 
 
 ^The Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow.' 
 
 A blood-red lily lay upon the ground; 
 On yesterday it stood erect and tall, 
 Taller, by far, than all the flowers around 
 Where it was blooming near the garden wall; 
 It had sunk low beneath a driving rain. 
 So low, it seemed 'twould never rise again. 
 
 But on the morrow, as the sun came up 
 To dry the rain-tears from the weeping sky, 
 The lily lifted up its chalice-cup. 
 Taller, once more, than all the flowers near by; 
 Its bruised petals opened out again, 
 Fairer, by far, because of driving rain. 
 
 1909. 
 
 HOPE 
 
 'Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . which . . . hath 
 given us good hope through grace." 
 
 Dark are the passing days, 
 Long are the narrowing ways, 
 
 And life is sad'ning; 
 But in the midst of all. 
 Whatever ills befall, 
 
 There is a glad'ning. 
 
 Again, and yet again 
 Hearts break because of pain. 
 Deep is life's sorrow; 
 
 92 
 
I909. 
 
 And yet the pain departs 
 From sad and suffering hearts 
 On some to-morrow. 
 
 Weakness increases here, 
 Death hovers ever near, 
 
 Life has its ending; 
 Yet, 'spite of dimming eyes. 
 Faith sees the bright'ning skies, 
 
 God's love befriending. 
 
 Though darkness be as night 
 In darkness there is light, 
 
 Even in dying; 
 There is no place for fear, 
 God gives the heart good-cheer, 
 
 On Christ relying. 
 
 Then soul of mine be brave, 
 Christ will uphold and save, 
 
 His power sustaineth; 
 Whatever loss betide 
 Hope may fore'er abide 
 
 Since God remaineth. 
 
 93 
 
TRANSFORMED 
 
 'He saith unto them, Follow me; . . . and they 
 straightway left their nets and followed him" 
 
 (After seeing Zimmermann's picture, "Christ and 
 the Fishermen.") 
 
 A single touch of a gentle hand, 
 A single word of a winsome voice, 
 
 And fishermen turned from sea to land 
 To follow a Stranger, by willing choice; 
 
 They left their nets by the sunlit sea 
 
 To walk in the deserts of Galilee. 
 
 The Master led them by dusty ways 
 
 And over the lonely mountain heights; 
 The sun beat hot through the lifeless days 
 
 And crowds pressed close through the long-drawn 
 nights; 
 They were bond-slaves now, where once they were 
 
 free, 
 But they ne'er turned back to their nets by the 
 sea. 
 
 They followed on to the city fair. 
 
 On Judah's heights with its walls and towers. 
 With its glittering temple in whitened square 
 
 Where priests said prayers through the countless 
 hours ; 
 They went with their Master to Calvary, 
 And they clave to Him there in His agony. 
 
 94 
 
They were left alone; but they still pressed on — 
 E'en as He' had said — to the distant lands, 
 
 Yea, on and on, till their strength was gone 
 And they sank to die on the desert sands; — 
 
 Ah, they never forgot blest Galilee 
 
 And the Voice and the Hand by the sunlit sea! 
 
 1909. 
 
 OLD AGE 
 
 "The path of the just . . . shineth more and more 
 unto the perfect day" 
 
 I saw an old man pass our opened door, 
 His hair and beard were white as winter snow. 
 His halting feet moved painfully and slow, 
 He leaned his weight upon the cane he bore; 
 Old age its certain signs had o'er him cast. 
 The years had gone and life was almost past. 
 
 I pitied the old man, as thus I saw 
 
 His form go shambling by, with wearied tread — 
 
 Until I noticed that his whitened head 
 
 Was lifted up and that his gaze foresaw 
 
 A heavenly light, as, often, dying eyes 
 
 Are given to see beyond the cloud-veiled skies. 
 
 And then my pity turned from him to me, 
 The younger man who walks with firmer tread, 
 Who hurries on through life with bowed head. 
 Intent on what this earth gives one to see. 
 For blest is he, whatever age has come. 
 Who sees beyond the setting of life's sun. 
 
 95 
 
So then I thank thee, aged friend of mine, 
 
 That thou didst pass our door, that summer day, 
 
 Reminding me that life's declining way 
 
 Leads, 'spite of failing strength, to life divine; 
 
 Yea, may I follow thee, and, more and more. 
 
 Walk e'en as thou — with gaze fixed on before! 
 
 1909. 
 
 GOOD MORNING 
 
 "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." 
 
 Good morrow. Friend; God give thee cheer to-day; 
 Christ is thy Sun, and His light ne'er grows dim; 
 Put anxious thought and brooding care away 
 And greet each task with face upturned to Him; 
 So shalt thou find, whatever may betide, 
 Strength for each hour, and joy at eventide! 
 
 1910. 
 
 GOOD NIGHT 
 "The darkness hideth not from thee." 
 
 Good-night, dear Friend, and may thy sleep be 
 
 sweet, 
 God guardeth thee, so let all cares be gone, 
 Take thou thy peaceful rest, deep and complete, 
 Through all the darkened hours, till morning's 
 
 dawn ; 
 Then may'st thou rise, in light of a new day, 
 To walk with Christ, thy life and strength and 
 
 stay! 
 
 1910. 
 
 96 
 
LIFE 
 
 "He must increase, hut I decrease/^ 
 
 Burn, thou candle, sure and slow, 
 Burn on downward, even so. 
 Shining, and fore'er consumed. 
 Wasting, and forever doomed, 
 Lasting through thy little night, 
 Going out at morning's light, 
 Having place, then put away, 
 Soon forgot in light of day; 
 Lower, lower, and now done; — 
 Shine thou, greater, brighter Sun! 
 
 1910. 
 
 REVELATION 
 
 "The entrance of thy words givetk light." 
 
 Blest Revelation, how thou dost set free 
 
 The mind from soul-destroying fearfulness, 
 
 Op'ning the eyes and giving them to see 
 
 The all-wise God, who doth with wisdom bless 
 
 The darkened heart, whate'er that darkness is. 
 
 Illumining the gloom with radiant light. 
 
 Which shines from out the other world to this 
 
 Until life's shadows take eternal flight; 
 
 Thou art the message of eternity, 
 
 Which art the words of the Eternal Word, 
 
 For thou alone dost speak in verity 
 
 And thou alone dost certainty afford; 
 
 97 
 
Thou art the test of truth, wherever found, 
 
 In works of God, of man, in nature, art. 
 
 From thought's beginning to its utmost bound, 
 
 From throne of God to neediest human heart; 
 
 Thou speakest once, and from that moment's time 
 
 There is no need that man should speak again; 
 
 Thou speakest yet again, and words sublime 
 
 Have made deep mysteries forever plain; 
 
 And so in thee the soul in sinful breast 
 
 May find the words which will forever save. 
 
 And so on thee the weary heart may rest. 
 
 Whether it be the heart of king or slave; 
 
 Here, only here, is life's philosophy. 
 
 For here there speaks a voice which is divine, 
 
 And only here, is highest prophecy. 
 
 Since here is God, in every word and line: — 
 
 Here then, I stand, let others take their way, 
 
 As seemeth to them good, in search of truth, 
 
 Blest Revelation turns my night to day 
 
 And gives my dying soul eternal youth ; 
 
 And what it does not give, at present, here 
 
 I do not need, at present, here to know 
 
 For what has not been said, I could not bear, 
 
 And God, in other world, will yet bestow; 
 
 So then, be this my choice, for all the days, 
 
 To humbly search this Truth, with 'tense delight, 
 
 Acknowledging to man, by words and ways. 
 
 That entrance of this Wisdom giveth light! 
 
 1910. 
 
 98 
 
SELF-LOVE 
 
 "He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." 
 
 Narcissus — so the ancient fable runs — 
 Was, 'mongst the heavenly ones, the fairest god, 
 With face as full of light as seven suns, 
 With foot as fleet as e'er touched grassy sod; 
 His home was in the skies where gods do dwell, 
 And yet to visit earth pleased him full well. 
 
 The goddesses within the upper sphere 
 
 Wooed this fair god through many a golden day; 
 
 But to all these he gave a heedless ear, 
 
 And from their tender pleadings turned away; 
 
 They yearned to make him theirs, in sweetest 
 grace ; — 
 
 His only answer was a scornful face. 
 
 And when he came to earth, some nymph or faun 
 Would follow him in wood or through the field; 
 But he would flee till suitor would be gone. 
 Nor would he e'er to love's entreaties yield; 
 They sought to win him; — he was well content 
 To live apart, on his own pleasures bent. 
 
 And thus Narcissus, loved but loving not. 
 Wandered alone, his heart estranged from all; 
 Until at last, by one and all forgot. 
 He 'gan to think what heart he might enthrall; 
 When suddenly, he found that none did care 
 To hear his tale, or his late love to share. 
 
 At this, disconsolate, he turned aside — 
 Ashamed to seek the gods who dwell above — 
 To forest deep and lone, to there abide 
 And there to search for beauty and for love; 
 
 99 
 
And so It was, in lonely wandering, 
 
 He came across a flowing, sparkling spring. 
 
 Here, sad and weary, seeking needed rest, 
 He stretched himself upon the verdant grass. 
 When, drinking from the spring — his face close 
 
 prest — 
 He saw himself as in a burnished glass; 
 Such winsome beauty his transfixed eyes 
 Had never seen before, in earth or skies. 
 
 He had but loved himself; — now he began 
 To love himself as not in all the past; 
 Toward that fair image all his soul outran 
 Until its wondrous beauty held him fast; 
 And there he gazed upon it, day by day. 
 Fearing to rise lest it should pass away. 
 
 Days come and go; nights pass as do the days; 
 Years run their course; and yet, in spite of fears, 
 Narcissus lingers on, and often prays 
 That he may linger still through other years; 
 And, blinded by his love, he ne'er espies 
 How light is fading from his face and eyes. 
 
 Thus came the day when wasted strength did fail, 
 When the fair head sank lower, lower down, 
 When love of self no longer could avail, 
 Yea, when self-love did god-like beauty drown; 
 For there, at last. Narcissus lay quite dead, 
 His love departed and his beauty fled. 
 
 No gods came down to bear his soul away; 
 No nymphs drew near to raise up mound or bier; 
 Unloving all, unloved by all, he lay 
 A fallen god, doomed thus to disappear; — 
 lOO 
 
From out his dust a death-like flower upcame 
 To witness to his folly and his shame. 
 
 I called the story fable; — nay, 'tis true; 
 True of all souls who turn away from those 
 Who fain would love them, and who them pursue 
 With tokens of sweet love at heart's dispose; 
 For loving self so well, to latest breath, 
 They love themselves, at last, to loveless death! 
 
 1910, 
 
 DISCONTENT 
 
 'For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the 
 inheritance which the Lord God ffiveth you." 
 
 My heart is full of discontent 
 Because of earth's environment; 
 I seek for good of perfect kind 
 But perfect good I cannot find; 
 Sweet is this; life, and large its worth, 
 But hearts are never satisfied on earth. 
 
 I've tested all things 'neath the sky 
 Which searching mind and heart may try; 
 This is the sum, that searchings mean 
 Failure and disappointment keen; 
 Nowhere on earth may soul find rest 
 Since all on earth is less than best. 
 
 And hence I turn from all below 
 To what the Lord will soon bestow, 
 In other world, past shining star. 
 Where He, and saints, and angels are; 
 
 IQJ 
 
Ay, there, in heaven's environment, 
 I'll find God's best, and be content! 
 
 1910. 
 
 A CRY 
 
 "The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth." 
 
 Some say 'tis certain truth that the first cry, 
 As every following cry, of new-born babe, 
 Is sweetest music to the ears of her 
 Who hath the travail borne in mother love; 
 For these assure us that the ears of such 
 Do hear, beyond the sharpness of the cry, 
 The tones of a glad, loving, trustful song 
 Which childhood voices for the help of one 
 Who counts it joy to hearken and to give. 
 I dare not say whether this word be true, 
 But this I know and gratefully affirm 
 That as my cry has risen up to God 
 It has awakened such harmonious strains 
 Of answering love-songs o'er His needy one 
 As makes me sure beyond a passing doubt 
 That e'en my sharpest cry was to that heart 
 Itself a love-song, set to music sweet. 
 Then, Lord, as I have need, I can but cry 
 E'en though petition be a bitter plaint; 
 For what can childhood do, when need has 
 
 come. 
 But turn, with cry, to Thee, the Father- 
 God? 
 And so, my Lord, this I would ask of Thee 
 That Thou wilt ever hear within my voice, 
 As often as I come and as I cry, 
 The song of its adoring, tender love, 
 103 
 
For did I love Thee not, I ne'er should 
 
 come, 
 And, coming not, I ne'er should cry at all ! 
 
 1910. 
 
 SURPRISE 
 
 'When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it 
 in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new 
 tombj which he had hewn out in the rock." 
 
 Joseph wrought upon his tomb, | 
 
 Thinking of the hour when he, ] 
 
 Passing through death's agony, \ 
 
 Would, at last, meet life's dread doom; j 
 
 Stroke on stroke his mallet fell — ), 
 
 Breaking his sad heart as well. ;; 
 
 Now the tomb is finished quite 
 With the chisel marks in view; 
 Ne'er again can life be new, 
 Day is passing into night, 
 Naught before but fleeting breath 
 And the lying still in death. 
 
 See the crowds around the cross, j 
 
 Lo, the flash of piercing spear. 
 
 Bowed the head of Victim dear ] 
 
 Who endured the pain and loss; { 
 
 Oh, the blood which hath been shed; — ! 
 
 Who will bury this God's Dead? 
 103 
 
Near at hand a rock-hewn tomb, 
 
 'Neath the shelter of the hill, 
 
 Waiting empty there, until 
 
 Hands shall bear Him through the gloom, 
 
 Bear Him gently to the grave 
 
 Who hath given His life to save. 
 
 Now, He lies all wrapped in white. 
 With the chisel marks around; 
 Where can such a tomb be found. 
 All aglow with heavenly light? 
 Dead — yet Lord of life is He, 
 This the God of victory. 
 
 Joseph, Joseph, sad of heart, j 
 
 Thou who wrought in pain and fear, 1 
 
 Shedding many a blinding tear, i 
 
 Honored above men thou art; — \ 
 
 Seeing naught but rock-hewn dome, | 
 
 Thou hast made thy God a Home! j 
 
 1910. ' 
 
 \ 
 
 LOVE \ 
 
 "Keep yourselves in the love of God." \ 
 
 As little children on a springtime day, \ 
 
 When the fair sun is promising that soon I 
 
 The winter's night will turn to summer's noon | 
 
 Bask in the light and seek to catch each ray, j 
 So would I keep myself in that sweet love 
 
 Which falls from heaven above. \ 
 
 104 
 
And too, as children follow the bright light 
 From house to street, from street to country lane, 
 Seeking its warmth, again and yet again. 
 Through the long day, till day has ta'en its flight. 
 So would I seek the sunshine of God's love 
 Wherever it may move. 
 
 Ay, and as children cry aloud in pain 
 
 When 'cross the sun there passes dark'ning cloud, 
 
 Shrinking aback as from a dead man's shroud 
 
 And crying more if darksome cloud remain. 
 
 So may that sin to me most grievous prove 
 
 Which overshadows love. 
 
 Lord, grant me love; for this I pray and long, 
 
 Warm, glowing love from Thine out-shining heart; 
 
 With it I live; I die if it depart; 
 
 With it I live to follow and be strong; — 
 
 And oh, may I, as angels are above 
 
 Be loved that I may love! 
 
 1910. 
 
 EASTER DAY 
 
 'That I may know . . . the power of his resur- 
 rection." 
 
 The Lord is risen; — 
 I must arise 
 And seek His face 
 In upper skies; 
 I will not turn 
 To cross or grave, 
 He lives above 
 Who d'itd to save. 
 
 105 
 
I9I0. 
 
 The crocus flower 
 In garden bed 
 Has lifted up 
 Its spotless head. 
 It raised its face 
 Toward gleaming sun 
 Before the day 
 Had well begun. 
 
 The song-birds flit 
 From hedge to trees 
 To fill with song 
 The morning's breeze; 
 Hark, to the burst 
 Of sweet accord 
 As they unite 
 To praise earth's Lord: 
 
 And borne on air, 
 In rhythmic time, 
 There sounds the beat 
 Of tuneful chime. 
 As pealing bells 
 In steeple high 
 Ring, "Christ is risen," 
 To earth and sky. 
 
 Then, rise, my soul. 
 Seek Christ above, 
 The Lord of light 
 And life and love; 
 The cross is past. 
 No more death's pain, 
 Christ lives fore'er, 
 Fore'er to reign! 
 
 1 06 
 
BOND SERVICE 
 "A bond-slave of Jesus Christ." 
 
 Thou art my King, O Christ; I am Thy slave; 
 
 Since Thou hast bought me, I am all Thine own; 
 
 It is for Thee to reign, I would not crave 
 
 A single right before Thy royal throne; 
 
 If thus I be from every gift debarred 
 
 Let me not slack, nor in my service faint; 
 
 If Thou shalt smile, be this my great reward; 
 
 If Thou should'st chide, I would not make com- 
 plaint ; 
 
 Nor would I seek to know the why or how, 
 
 Since 'tis for Thee to ask whate'er Thou wilt; 
 
 This I would choose, to listen and to bow 
 
 And then to do, till task be all fulfilt: 
 
 One only thing I beg, by Thy great grace, 
 E'en as I serve — to look upon Thy face! 
 
 1 910. 
 
 A DREAMER 
 
 "Your young men shall see visions, and your old 
 men shall dream dreams." 
 
 (It used to be said of the Reverend J. Hudson 
 Taylor that he was a mystic, a visionary, a 
 dreamer.) 
 
 An unknown dreamer dreamed concerning men, 
 And what he saw in vision came to pass, 
 For he, by faith, had stood on sea of glass 
 
 And heard the Voice, and then had said. Amen! 
 107 
 
Thereat, he quickly turned from heaven to earth, 
 The light of glory burning in his eyes, 
 To speak what he had heard within the skies, 
 
 To preach redemption through the heavenly birth: 
 
 And so he saw what God saw from His throne, 
 And thus he wrought according to God's plan. 
 
 And thence through years, though oft rejected, lone, 
 He voiced God's message to his fellow man: 
 
 The dreamer died; they laid him 'neath the sod; — 
 
 But now a countless host adores his God! 
 
 1910. 
 
 PARTED 
 
 "Until — the shadows flee away!" 
 
 (Sent to one who had recently lost his beloved 
 wife.) 
 
 The Master led us by the meadow path. 
 
 Through the sweet smelling green of springing 
 grass. 
 
 Beside a stream whose waters shone like glass, 
 'Midst fragrant flowers — the meadow's aftermath; 
 There my dear love oft plucked the daisies gay. 
 
 Of which I made bright garlands for her hair; 
 
 Each hour she looked a new-decked bride, so fair 
 That, yearningly, I followed day by day: 
 
 And so the Master led us through the field 
 Toward His fair palace gleaming on the hill. 
 
 And so glad pleasures each new day did yield 
 As we sang love-songs, till our song was still ; 
 
 Then came a sharp, hard road, and then the gate; 
 
 The Master took her in; — He bade me wait! 
 
 1910. 
 
 108 
 
FAREWELL 
 
 "I shall go to him but he shall not return to me." 
 
 (In memory of a Japanese friend who was greatly 
 beloved.) 
 
 Out of the woods comes a cry of pain, 
 
 It rises and falls in a sad refrain, 
 
 And out of the shadow of fir and pine 
 
 Come mourners who walk in a long, slow line; 
 
 And they bear the body of one I knew, 
 
 Of one I have loved as I've loved but few. 
 
 They carry him down to the river side, 
 
 To a boat afloat on the ebbing tide, 
 
 They lay him down in the lifted bow. 
 
 With his face upturned to the arching prow; — 
 
 Ah, his face looks pained in the evening light 
 
 For it bears the marks of a hard-fought fight. 
 
 Outward and outward the river flows 
 And outward and outward the long-boat goes, 
 Toward the trackless deep and the setting sun, 
 Far into the west where the night's begun. 
 And, watching, I stand on the lonely shore 
 Till the outspread sails can be seen no more. 
 
 I bow my head, and I weep and weep 
 For my heart is out on the shrouded deep, 
 Where the boat is afloat and his body lies 
 With its white, scarred face and its fast-closed eyes; 
 And I wonder if yonder, beyond the night. 
 He has found a port in the land of light. 
 109 
 
"Farewell, dear comrade!" 'twas thus I had cried 
 As the boat had sailed on the flowing tide; — 
 But never a word had my comrade said 
 As he lay all quiet with pillowed head; 
 And all I had heard, midst the mourner's cry, 
 Was the beat of my heart, and the night wind's 
 sigh. 
 
 So here I now stand with my eyes intent 
 
 On the night and the dark where his loved form 
 
 went ; 
 And here I will wait till they come for me 
 To carry my body across the sea; — 
 And this is my hope, for his soul and mine, 
 That the hand on the helm is the Hand Divine! 
 
 1910. 
 
 HOME BOUND 
 
 'Absent from the body, at home with the Lord" 
 
 'Tis a long, long way to my waiting home, 
 And the roadway is rough and steep. 
 And few are the smiles in the weary miles 
 While there's many a chance to weep; 
 But on at the end of the long, rough way 
 There's a door which is opened wide. 
 And the day will come, at some set of sun, 
 When I'll enter to there abide. 
 
 'Tis a desolate road I am travelling on 
 For the crowd does not pass this way, 
 And the heart oft longs for the heartening songs 
 Of those who make holiday; 
 no 
 
But, on beyond, in the home on the hill, 
 There are faces I love more dear, 
 So I take my way, through the long-drawn day, 
 To its welcome and holier cheer. 
 
 The daylight fades as I journey along 
 
 And shadows are deepening around, 
 
 And I sometimes fear as the night draws near 
 
 For pitfalls and dangers abound; 
 
 But this is my joy along the hard way, 
 
 Whatever the shadows portend — 
 
 The darker the night, the brighter the light 
 
 In my home at my journey's end. 
 
 So then I'll go on with never a pause, 
 
 Whatever my sorrows may be. 
 
 Yea, nothing shall stay my journeying way 
 
 Till the distant portal I see; 
 
 And when I shall stand 'neath its shelter, at last, 
 
 At rest in my blessed abode, 
 
 I'll praise, without end, my heavenly Friend 
 
 For the home at the end of the road! 
 
 1910. 
 
 DEATH 
 
 "To depart and be with Christ j for it is very far 
 better." 
 
 The fingers of the Lord were downward laid, 
 Gently, but firmly, on the upturned eyes; 
 The soul shrank back, bewildered and afraid. 
 And cried for life, o'erwhelmed by death's sur- 
 prise ; — 
 
 III 
 
Just then, bright visions burst upon the sight 
 And that sad soul was 'raptured with delight. 
 
 Those sore bereft drew near the flower-decked bier, 
 And, weeping, laid the body 'neath the sod; 
 They spoke, and wished their loved one back, and 
 
 near, 
 And mourned to have to bow 'neath stroke of 
 
 God ; — 
 Their loved one mourned no more, for, far above, 
 He walked with Christ, in ecstasy of love! 
 
 1910. 
 
 CHAOS 
 
 "The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in 
 pain." 
 
 A great and loving God on heaven's throne, 
 A Savior-Christ expectant at His side. 
 The Holy Spirit seeking for His own 
 And pointing upward to the crucified; 
 Yet Satan ruling souls without restraint, 
 Seeking the whole, wide world of men to win; 
 A few believers, struggling on, and faint. 
 And multitudes far-wand'ring in their sin; 
 Sickness, decay and death in every place, 
 Sorrow and anguish, with sad moaning, tears ; — 
 In heaven, a plenitude of love and grace. 
 But judgment near, and hearts o'erwhelmed with 
 fears ! 
 
 1911. 
 
 112 
 
COSMOS 
 
 "He hath made everything beautiful in his time" 
 
 A tiny insect nestling near the ground, 
 The waving grass above, all fresh and green 
 Midst grass, a cattle-herd, with sheep around, 
 And trees and flowers nearby to deck the scene; 
 About, green hills, down which bright streamlets 
 
 flow. 
 And snow-capped mountains, reaching to the sky; 
 O'erhead, great birds a-winging to and fro. 
 And in heaven's blue, the white clouds sailing by; 
 In distant space, bright worlds on flaming wing, 
 Which pass where angel-feet alone have trod; 
 On earth, meek men, redeemed and worshipping; 
 And over all, the blest Creator-God! 
 
 1911. 
 
 A COMPARISON 
 
 "Comparing spiritual things tinth spiritual." 
 
 I walked one spring-time morn through meadow 
 
 path. 
 My head thrown back, my step alert and true; 
 Sweet flowers bedecked the meadow's aftermath, 
 The song-birds sang their matins midst the dew; 
 And, as I reached the highway hard and firm, 
 Dismounting from the stile, with whistled tune, 
 I placed my heedless foot upon a worm 
 And crushed its life out — that bright morn in June; 
 But what cared I? All life was glad and gay; 
 And so I whistled still, and went my way. 
 
 113 
 
I crossed the stile into the field one night, 
 When all the world was still, anear, afar; 
 Above me was the vasty, heavenly height, 
 And all was dark, save for a flickering star; 
 How infinite was space; how small was I; 
 How awful was the silence, far and near; 
 I seemed no man beneath that vaulted sky; 
 I stood transfixed, my heart o'erwhelmed with fear; 
 And then I cried: — "I've sinned for I've forgot; 
 Great God, I'm but a worm; oh, crush me not!" 
 
 1911. 
 
 COMMISSIONED 
 
 'As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 
 
 Out from the realm of the glory-light 
 Into the far-away land of night, 
 Out from the bliss of worshipful song 
 Into the pain of hatred and wrong, 
 Out from the holy rapture above 
 Into the grief of rejected love. 
 Out from the life at the Father's side 
 Into the death of the crucified. 
 Out of high honor and into shame 
 The Master, willingly, gladly came: — 
 And now, since He may not suffer anew, 
 As the Father sent Him so sendeth He you ! 
 
 1911. , 
 
 114 
 
DISCIPLESHIP 
 
 "These are they which follow the Lamb whitherso- 
 ever he goeth" 
 
 I thought ft hard that Christ should ask of me 
 To walk through life along a blood-marked way, 
 And thus it was, I shrank back, tremblingly. 
 Then paused, and bowed my head, and said Him, 
 
 Nay! 
 But looking down I saw, with tear-dimmed eyes. 
 That all the blood-marks came from pierced feet. 
 At which I learned, with sad yet glad surprise. 
 That they were proofs of love, enduring, sweet; 
 'Twas thus again I looked on Christ's dear face, 
 And once again began to follow on ; — 
 Since then I've only thought of His great grace. 
 And fear of blood-marked ways is wholly gone. 
 
 1911. 
 
 A PURITAN 
 
 "There was a man sent from God!' 
 
 He did not live in times long since gone by, 
 When men, for sake of truth, left home and lands 
 And builded other homes, 'neath foreign sky. 
 While some stood guard against wild, hostile bands ; 
 He lived — not mindless of that hardy past — 
 In these more easy, lifeless days of ours. 
 When gone are rugged sacrifice and fast 
 And wealth leads men to live with aimless hours; 
 
 115 
 
When learning speaks of sacred things with sneers, 
 When science holds religion commonplace, 
 When new-born faiths dispell the old-time fears 
 And culture takes the place of heavenly grace; 
 When sacred doctrines hid within the Word, 
 Loved by the fathers dearer far than life, 
 Are lightly held, are seldom taught or heard 
 And then are yielded up — lest there be strife; 
 Yea, in these days he lived, one 'mongst the few, 
 Revering Holy Word, as he was taught. 
 Believing it God-breathed, divinely true, 
 Holding its wisdom 'fore all human thought; 
 Seeing therein the Christ, as Man and God, 
 Trusting His power to save and keep from sin, 
 Walking the blood-marked way which saints have 
 
 trod, 
 Keeping the Spirit's flame all bright within; 
 Dwelling in midst of worldlings, but apart, 
 Pure and high-minded, seeking joys above. 
 Serving mankind with willing hand and heart 
 And giving those most needy, most of love; 
 And yet, through all, as touching compromise, 
 A Puritan, though scoffed at o'er and o'er; 
 Yielding respecting self — but, otherwise. 
 As firm as granite rock on wave-beat shore! 
 
 1911. 
 
 CONFIDENCE 
 "I . . . am persuaded that he is able to keep." 
 
 Suppose 5^ou knew this day would be the last 
 That you would spend upon this old-time earth; 
 What would you do — cry out, and pray, and fast. 
 Put work aside, and every thought of mirth, 
 116 
 
And then give up your soul to dread and fear, 
 And so meet Death with bitter moan and tear? 
 
 Or, would you nerve your heart to meet that hour 
 As stoics did, in days before Christ came, 
 And so forget that sin has endless power 
 To bring the sinful life to endless shame; 
 And then would you, your heart-fears to defy, 
 Laugh in mad mirth — until grim Death stood by? 
 
 As God would give me grace, I should not choose 
 To meet my last day thus, but otherwise; 
 Mindful of sin, I yet should hope to lose 
 All thought of sin, through Christ's great sacri- 
 fice ; — 
 Then, I should seek to turn to work or play 
 Just as I might on any other day! 
 
 1911. 
 
 WORDS 
 
 'Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and 
 cursinff; . . . these things ought not so to he'' 
 
 I spoke a cruel word 
 
 To one who heard; 
 
 Within that heart 
 It lodged like poisoned dart 
 And that one mourned the morn 
 
 When I was born. 
 117 
 
I spoke a word of love, 
 
 From God above, 
 
 To one sore tried. 
 And, though that one still cried, 
 He blessed the happy day 
 
 I passed that way. 
 
 1912. 
 
 AMBITION 
 
 ' fVe make it our ambition that . . . we m.ay be ac- 
 cepted of him/^ 
 
 To please the Lord, from day to day, 
 In all I am and do and say; 
 To keep His image 'fore my eyes 
 And wear its form without disguise; 
 To walk in gladness, yet in fear, 
 With heart firm fixed, with vision clear; 
 To face temptations and to stand, 
 To do the duty next at hand; 
 To be man's slave in word and deed 
 And serve him most who most has need; 
 To live, to die — the vict'ry won — 
 And hear the Master say, "Well done!" 
 This be my choice, through all my days, 
 Till strife be turned to heaven and praise! 
 
 118 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT 
 
 'His heart was encouraged in the ways of the 
 Lord." 
 
 My Soul, there is a country 
 To which thou'rt going fast, 
 A sweet and blessed country 
 Where sweet and blessing last; 
 Then cheer thee. Soul, take courage, 
 The way is not for long, 
 A little, and the sighing 
 Will change to joy and song! 
 
 1912. 
 
 ENTHRONED 
 
 "He is the Lord of lords and King of kings." 
 
 (After hearing an address to Christians in which 
 they were urged to make Christ King and in 
 which the speaker closed by saying: "Which shall 
 it be for Him; a cross or a throne?") 
 
 They followed Him close, the rabble crowd. 
 And they pressed upon Him with shoutings loud. 
 As He walked in their midst, His meek head 
 bowed — 
 
 The Master of Galilee; 
 And few were the friends that He had that day 
 As He traversed the hard and tortuous way 
 Through frowning gate to the hill-top gray, 
 
 To die on the cruel tree, 
 
 119 
 
They nailed Him there and they raised Him high, 
 They put Him to shame 'tween the earth and sky, 
 He asked for no mercy by word or cry — 
 
 He was dying for you and me; 
 And they stood and mocked Him, the rabble throng, 
 With jeering and hissing and ribald song, 
 Yea, they taunted Him sore, who had done no 
 wrong. 
 
 As He suffered on Calvary. 
 
 They eagerly watched Him till day was past, 
 Till the sky with darkness was overcast, 
 Till his head hung low on His breast, at last, 
 
 Who was dying to set men free; 
 Ah, He could not deliver Himself, they said, 
 Because He endured and willingly bled; 
 And so they reviled Him, and left Him dead — 
 
 A King in His majesty! 
 
 Oh, would I had been in the crowd that day 
 
 To follow Him on to the hill-top gray 
 
 And to take His part, whate'er they might say, 
 
 Who gave up His life for me; 
 For I would have hailed Him a King e'en then — 
 The thorn-crowned Savior of sinful men — 
 And have bowed the knee, again and again. 
 
 As He died in His agony! 
 
 But the day is past and the crowd has gone 
 
 And silent the jeer and the ribald song 
 
 And a crown and a throne to the King belong. 
 
 Who suffered so willingly; 
 Yet I do what I can in a hostile land 
 For here in the midst of the throng I stand 
 And I raise my voice and I lift my hand 
 
 In pledge of my loyalty; 
 I20 
 
And I vow in the light of yon bright sun 
 I will seek to undo the wrong that was done 
 When they put Him to shame, God's holy Son, 
 
 On Calvary's cursed tree; 
 Yea, as long as I live my praise I'll sing 
 And as long as I live my gifts I'll bring, 
 To Him whom I've throned in my heart as King — 
 
 The Christ of all victory! 
 
 1914. 
 
 CHOSEN 
 
 "For the Master s use" 
 
 (To a father and mother who had lost a beloved 
 child.) 
 
 The gardener tended his garden fair 
 
 With patient toil and with brooding love. 
 
 In the glowing sun and the balmy air 
 
 And the showers which fell from the heaven above; 
 
 And the flowers upsprang 'neath his skilful hand, 
 
 The fairest and sweetest in all the land. 
 
 The jasmine bloomed by the flowing spring 
 And the sweet-brier flowered on the old stone wall 
 And beside the mill — with its broken wing — 
 The sun-flowers glowed, erect and tall. 
 While near the path where the lilacs grew 
 Were bright-eyed pansies of many a hue. 
 
 And fairer yet, in the garden bed. 
 Were lilies white, and radiant phlox. 
 And fairest of all, there were roses red 
 In an emerald ring of stately box — 
 121 
 
And there on the rose-tree, in leafy green, 
 Was the reddest rose that was ever seen. 
 
 The lord of the garden passed that way 
 And greeted the gardener with kindly smile. 
 And he paused to look at the rich display, 
 While he stood and leaned 'gainst the garden stile, 
 And he wondered that hand could bedeck the 
 
 ground 
 With so fair a sight as he saw around. 
 
 And then he looked at the garden bed. 
 At the lilies white and the radiant phlox, 
 At the rose-tree green with its roses red 
 A-bloom in its ring of emerald box. 
 And then at the red-rose, wondrous fair. 
 Which swung on its stem in the stirring air. 
 
 And the lord of the garden gladly smiled, 
 And he called to the gardener to bend his knee 
 And to cut the rose his hand had beguiled — 
 The bright-red rose on the red-rose tree — 
 For the garden was his and all that was there, 
 And its fairest flower was his right to wear. 
 
 The gardener bowed his old gray head 
 And he slowly and painfully bent his knee 
 And he cut from its stem the rose bright-red. 
 With never a pause, at his lord's decree. 
 And then he arose from the garden-sand 
 And he laid the flower in his master's hand. 
 122 
 
But he trembled sore and his eyes were dim 
 And his heart beat fast, and he spoke no word 
 And he turned to his work with his visage grim 
 And the songs of the birds he no longer heard ;- 
 For of all the flowers in the garden fair 
 That flower had had his tenderest care. 
 But the lord of the garden wore that night 
 The rose on his heart in his castle-hall 
 And the lords and ladies, with flowers bedight, 
 Said the bright-red rose was the fairest of all; — 
 And the lord of the castle never forgot 
 How his old gray gardener had faltered not ! 
 
 1914 
 
 SONGS 
 
 "Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." 
 
 The king's decree had gone forth through the land, 
 
 Calling the master-singers to the court, 
 
 To there display their noble art of song 
 
 And thus compete for prize of golden crown: 
 
 And so the call had reached to even me, 
 
 Poor as I was, and biding in my hut 
 
 Deep in the wood-land, far from haunts of men; 
 
 For my beloved brother, man-at-arms, 
 
 In brother love and pride, had told his squire 
 
 That I could sing like lark at early morn, 
 
 And the kind squire had written down my name 
 
 Upon the list; and so the call had come. 
 
 On certain day, therefore, I set my feet 
 Along the wood-land road, toward castle-court, 
 Care-free, and vying with the feathered tribe 
 Which sang from tree and hedge-row as I passed; 
 123 
 
And thus I traversed on, out from the wood, 
 And came to village lanes, and then to streets 
 Of a great city, filled M^ith jostling crowds, 
 All pressing toward the hill and castle-gate; 
 But there my song died all away, and I 
 Should soon have turned about and sought my home 
 Had not my brother met me, forcing me 
 To follow him, e'en to the castle hall. 
 Wherein I stood, trembling and sore abashed. 
 My homespun like to rags in such array 
 Of silk and satin gowns, of doublet, hose. 
 Of tapestry, of carpet, and of throne. 
 
 But soon the songs began ; and then I lost 
 
 All sense of fear, and stood transfixed. 
 
 Listening to voice on voice, each better than 
 
 The voice which only now had caught the ear 
 
 And ravished heart and soul. And on they sang, 
 
 Men, women, full a score, all richly dressed 
 
 And masters of themselves though there in court, 
 
 Fearing no face, not e'en the face of king: 
 
 And as they sang, they spoke of tilt and lance, 
 
 Of brave crusades, of great and bloody wars, 
 
 Of lords and ladies fair, of lovers true. 
 
 And too, most often, of their lord, the king. 
 
 Praising his person and his gracious ways: 
 
 And then there came a pause; — when, all at once, 
 
 I heard the herald cry, voicing my name, 
 
 In accents which, at first, seemed far away 
 
 And then like drum-beats on my startled ears; 
 
 At which the throng looked round, both here and 
 
 there. 
 For other lord or lady — till the squire 
 Took hold upon my hand and led me forth. 
 Up to the throne, and left me 'fore the king. 
 124 
 
I heard them laugh — the crowd which stood be- 
 hind — 
 Laugh at my homespun dress, my braided hair, 
 My sun-tanned face and hands, my dusty feet, 
 Till heart beat fast, till blood suffused my cheek, 
 Till tears o'erran my eyes, till, trembling sore, 
 I should have fallen in unconscious faint 
 Had I not looked into the face of him 
 Who sat upon the throne and kindly smiled; 
 At this I thought of God and His dear Christ, 
 And then I folded hands across my breast 
 And bowed my head and prayed, when suddenly 
 A great, sweet peace took hold upon my heart; — 
 I seemed in wood-land midst the singing birds, 
 I heard the murmuring brook, I felt the breath 
 Of perfumed zephyr blowing on my cheek. 
 And God was very near, as was His wont 
 Whene'er I walked with Him in wood-land glens; 
 And then I sang, free, unrestrained, to Him 
 Who only is the Lord, the King of kings: 
 
 High are the castle walls. 
 High are its vaulted halls. 
 
 But heaven is higher; 
 Nigh are its knights who dare, 
 Nigh are its ladies fair, 
 
 But God is nigher: 
 
 Rare are its glittering gems, 
 Rare are its diadems, 
 
 But heaven is rarer ; 
 Fair are its choirs that sing. 
 Fair is its gracious king. 
 
 But Christ is fairer: 
 
 125 
 
Christ is the ever high, 
 Christ is for ever nigh, 
 
 Nearer and nearer; 
 Christ is supremely rare, 
 Christ is the only fair, 
 
 Dearer and dearer! 
 
 At which my singing ceased, and I shrank back 
 To shadowed corner, hiding in the crowd. 
 
 A silence fell upon the gathered throng 
 And every eye was fixed upon the king. 
 Who sat with head bowed down and knitted brow, 
 Bethinking who deserved the golden crown: 
 At last he spoke — the singers drawing near 
 But I the farther shrinking out of sight — 
 His vibrant voice a-trembling through the hall 
 And each word coming forth in measured tone: 
 "My lords and ladies, you will 'gree with me 
 It is no easy task to full decide 
 Which voice has best expressed sweet melody 
 Where all have sung with perfect tune and art; 
 Indeed, sweet singers, I must thank you all 
 And praise without restraint each well-trained voice : 
 And yet, methink, where song is at its best 
 There must be other test than that of art; 
 That eye and look, that attitude and grace. 
 And, most of all, that choice of thought and word 
 Must be the final proof; — and so I give 
 This crown of purest gold to none of these 
 Who sang of lordly men, who sang of me. 
 But to the lowly maid, who, in our midst. 
 Did bow the head in prayer, and then, who sang 
 In praise of Christ — who only is the King!" 
 At that he called me forth, and, from the throne, 
 He put the circled gold upon my brow. 
 126 
 
Full fast I took my way to the great church 
 Which stands beside the castle on the hill, 
 And, never pausing in its stately nave, 
 I passed by choir and throne to the high steps 
 And 'fore the brazen cross laid down the crown; 
 And then I turned my face toward distant home, 
 Through streets to lanes, through lanes to wooded 
 
 glens, 
 The songs a-coming back the farther on 
 I walked in deeps of woods, beside the streams, 
 Till heart was free once more, till I forgot 
 All at the distant court, except its king. 
 And thought of naught beside — to God be praise ! — 
 But of the heavenly court and Christ its Lord: 
 
 And then again I dwelt in shady glens 
 
 And sang my songs of praise with singing birds! 
 
 1914. 
 
 KING DAVID 
 
 'The swallow (hath found) a nest for herself, 
 where she may lay her young, even thine altars, 
 O Lord of hosts." 
 
 The great king David sat upon his throne, 
 Within his palace, at Jerusalem; 
 Around him stood his servants, all intent, 
 And courtiers too, awaiting his command, 
 While all about him was magnificence. 
 The sign of kingly state and royal wealth 
 For 'mong the nations, there was none so great 
 As this, who once was but a shepherd-boy. 
 Whom God had lifted from his lowly place 
 To make him, in his time, earth's king of kings. 
 127 
 
And yet, this day, king David's heart was sad 
 For, 'spite of all his royal state and power, 
 There was within his spirit that unrest — . 
 To which magnificence can bring no peace — 
 Which comes from loss of fellowship with God. 
 'Twas thus that David called for his loved harp, 
 The one which, long ago, on Bethlehem's plains, 
 While watching, faithful, o'er his father's sheep, 
 !He oft had played to soothe away his fears; • 
 And thus it was he deftly touched its strings, 
 Till trembling music woke the echoes round, 
 'Neath arched doors and through long corridors, 
 Filling the palace with its vibrant strains, 
 Which, shortly after, his sonorous voice 
 Made even more melodious with its song. 
 
 But, somehow, on this day, sweet melody 
 Failed to bring calm as in the days of yore; 
 So, sighing deeply, David ceased to sing. 
 And, presently, ceased also his deft play; 
 When, calling all to leave him quite alone, 
 He flung himself upon his damasked couch 
 And bowed his head upon his outstretched arms, 
 Weary and sad, his longings unfulfilled. 
 
 While thus the great king lay, disconsolate. 
 He heard upon the pavement in the street 
 The sound of pilgrim feet. Then he recalled 
 That this was one of Israel's holy days, 
 When worshippers went up to temple courts 
 To there perform their vows before the Lord; 
 At this, the king arose, and, presently, 
 Most humbly clad, and all unlike a king. 
 He joined the pilgrims, walking on with them, 
 To seek for peace and heart-rest with his God. 
 128 
 
Thus, in a little, having passed the vale 
 And reached the temple courts upon the hill, 
 He stood, with all the people, worshipping, 
 Joining the choral chant led by the priests 
 And answ'ring all the prayers with loud, Amen ! — 
 And there he stood, till all the people passed 
 And chant and prayer were still, the worship 
 
 o'er — 
 A sorrowing man, for e'en in temple courts 
 The sadness in his heart was 'biding still, 
 Since what he longed for, sought, was unobtained. 
 
 The evening sun, e'en as he stood, went down 
 And deep'ning shadows fell athwart the day, 
 When, hearing the loud sound of clanging doors 
 And knowing that the temple was now closed. 
 King David raised his downcast head and looked 
 Far up above the temple to the skies. 
 As he did this, he suddenly discerned 
 A little swallow circling round and round 
 And drawing nearer in her daring flight 
 To the great altar, facing which he stood: 
 Astonished at the sight, he gazed intent, 
 Half-wond'ring if heaven's fire would not con- 
 sume 
 The impious bird, which now was settling down 
 Upon the altar's horn, where — gazing still — 
 He saw that she had fixed her new-made nest 
 And so had reared her young, full trustingly. 
 The fire fell not. Instead, the evening shades 
 Closed softly round the bird and all her young, 
 Till, nestling there together, chirping ceased. 
 And all within the night was still and calm. 
 At this king David looked above once more. 
 And saw the old-time moon and stars still set. 
 In shining benediction, near God's throne. 
 129 
 
The king let fall his head upon his breast 
 And then through silent streets he softly passed 
 Till he had reached his palace and his couch; 
 There he fell down, upon his very face, 
 And cried for mercy to the living God, 
 Confessing many sins, and this the chief 
 That he, God's chosen, had so soon forgot 
 The love which takes the weary sinner in, 
 The love which pardons every wandering; 
 At which, he told God of his heart's unrest 
 And asked for Pi is forgiveness and for peace» 
 
 As David lay, the palace lights grew dim. 
 Till, flickering low, they went out, one by one,, 
 Leaving the palace full of midnight gloom; — 
 But in the gloom a king had found his rest 
 Within the altar-heart of Israel's God I 
 
 1916. 
 
 130 
 
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