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A Few Verses 
 
 -BY— 
 
 M. FLORENCE WARREN 
 
 PHILADELPHIA; 
 1916 
 

 Copyright. 1916 
 
 by 
 
 M. Florence Warren 
 
 / 
 
 _,tyci.A445707 
 ^•'?V 18 1916 
 
Friendship 
 
WEE CHARLIE BOY 
 
 By the open gate dear grandma stands, 
 
 While in her eyes shines a great, great joy; 
 
 There she waits, with outstretched hands — 
 For HE is coming — Wee Charlie Boy! 
 
 Over the hills she watches him run, 
 Through daisies and through clover bloom; 
 
 The hard, hard days of school are done, 
 Good old vacation time has come. 
 
 When the hard school days of life are done, 
 And he hears the Call to Eternal Joy, 
 
 She will be waiting there in the fadeless Sun- 
 Waiting to greet Wee Charlie Boy! 
 
 SWEET ANNE OF VIRGINIA 
 
 Pink rose fell asleep on her tender cheek 
 And its petals pink are still blooming there. 
 
 A deep red rose sought her lips in a kiss 
 
 And its flame still burns on her mouth so rare! 
 
 Into her tresses the midnight has sent 
 The shadows of its deepest, deepest hues. 
 
 A star smiled down into her eyes and lent 
 
 A brilliance more sparkling than sun-kissed dews ! 
 
 Like a dainty flower her form was made, 
 Slender and curving, with immortal youth; 
 
 While the moon has given its mystic charm, 
 So charming, charming, you are, dear, forsooth! 
 
THE PARTING 
 
 You do not miss me now, dear one, 
 
 For all the world looks bright and gay; 
 But after youth's bright glow has gone 
 
 There'll come a quiet, calmer day. 
 If ever tears should moist your cheek, 
 
 Or pain should touch your loving heart, 
 I know to me you'll come and speak 
 
 And whisper all the sadder part. 
 
 I know your cool white arms you'll place 
 
 About my neck in loving way. 
 While I within your eyes shall trace 
 
 The tale you yearn and long to tell. 
 So here I place upon your brow 
 
 A farewell kiss of love and pain. 
 For though you do not miss me now, 
 
 I know you'll come to me again. 
 
 THE "SANTA CLAUS" LADY 
 (To Miss Elizabeth Phillips) 
 
 Like a child grown weary at its play. 
 
 She stole from our midst to softly creep 
 Away from us all — the sad, the gay. 
 
 Just to snatch a peaceful, restful sleep. 
 I know the angels have found her now. 
 
 And have borne her spirit up to God; 
 For He had seen the fair head bow, 
 
 Had followed with her the path she trod. 
 
 A thousand baby hands on the way 
 
 Are raised to bear her soul to heaven; 
 Some clutch a doll and some of them play 
 
 With a coveted toy she'd given! 
 And God smiled down at her closed eyes ; 
 
 He soothed from her heart all anguish, pain. 
 Her dear eyes open to Paradise, 
 
 Never, ah, never to weep again! 
 
CLEMENTINE RITTENHOUSE ROBERTS 
 (Died November 22, 1911) 
 
 Calm was her life and beautiful; 
 Like an angel's her presence seemed. 
 Ever in God's ways dutiful; 
 Moments of life all worthy deemed. 
 Even the world's most commonplace 
 No one could better beautify. 
 Through all her years of grief or grace 
 Incense of Hope burned in her eye. 
 No hand stretched out to her in need 
 Empty withdrew, — this her dear creed. 
 
 Rude seem our words, when we compare, 
 In effort her to eulogize. 
 *Tis true, I know, that since she's there, 
 The fairer must be Paradise. 
 E'en as our grief in her sad loss 
 Nothing it can fully assuage; 
 Her hands have placed upon life's cross 
 Of immortelles a wreath, that age 
 Undying perfume shall retain. 
 Shedding its sweetness down unto 
 Eternity, there to remain. 
 
 Robed in her garb of spotless white. 
 On the breast of Christ she sleeps. 
 Beauteous as the Star of Night; 
 Earth, loath to yield her, silent weeps. 
 Rest, rest, of Purity the queen! 
 *Tis fairer than the flowers art thou! 
 Sweet be thy Rest — eternal now ! 
 
ToE 
 
 ros 
 
A BOWL OF ROSES 
 
 A bowl of fragrant roses. 
 
 All pink and sunset gold. 
 We stood beside them, dreaming. 
 
 Watching their hearts unfold. 
 
 And oh, the fragrance of them. 
 No word could e'er define! 
 
 Something from your soul breathed 
 with them. 
 And fled to the depths of mine. 
 
 Enthralled by the roses' essence. 
 
 We felt our beings thrill ; 
 Into our hearts crept a presence 
 
 That Time can never kill! 
 
 FIDELIS 
 
 To lead thee false, so many ways 
 Canst rise, while we are far apart! 
 
 My soul forever, ever prays. 
 Love keep thee true for me, dear heart! 
 
 To keep thee true, so many ways! 
 
 We have God's stars, we have the Rose! 
 My soul forever, ever says, 
 
 Thou are true ! Ah ! My heart knows ! 
 
 11 
 
REPENTANCE 
 
 Dancing with the handsomest man in the ballroom. 
 To strains of sweetest music, that lays the heart's 
 throb bare, 
 Sobbing in notes o'er fairest flow'rs that could 
 bloom, 
 Then soaring to death on the perfumed air. 
 While thus I dance 'neath lights that flash in bril- 
 liant hues, 
 And only seem to know persuasive voice and look ; 
 Through memory's veil I see another face and form. 
 And hear the humble music of a babbling brook. 
 Past all these rare exotics living here so grand, 
 
 I see a bank of purple violets and moss. 
 Where once I promised to be true, and all this 
 splendor 
 Cannot now, I know too well, compensate the 
 loss! 
 
 Where that other form is — my heart — I dare not 
 ask! 
 What bliss my sad life might have known, I dare 
 not think; 
 The pain that shrouds his life; unfaith he feels for 
 me — 
 These thoughts within my soul — I dare not let 
 them sink! 
 Then, why should I not hate this grandeur and this 
 life. 
 Which tempted me from one true heart and soul 
 away; 
 With its splendor making me believe 
 
 'Twould fill my young life with thoughts ever 
 bright and gay? 
 While, past this face, so handsome with its dreamy 
 eyes, 
 I see and wish 'twere another, ever and alway. 
 So my life is like April's changeful skies — 
 
 The trembling tear is living 'neath the smile so 
 gay! 
 
 12 
 
THE KISS 
 
 To answer your dear longing lips 
 In kiss that would your being thrill ; 
 
 To tremble forever in your soul — 
 Love, life nor death could ever kill! 
 
 One KISS! All love, all joy, all fire; 
 
 Dear, should within that heart of thine, 
 To kiss another live desire, 
 
 'Twere the echo of that one kiss of mine ! 
 
 YOUR VIOLETS 
 
 Close to my heart your violets 
 
 The whole day with me spent ; 
 Forgotten were life's vain regrets, 
 
 A charm to all things lent. 
 At morn, in church, they knelt with me; 
 
 My pray'rs I know they shared. 
 For through the blessed litany 
 
 Their golden hearts lay bared! 
 
 And when at length the sweet day died; 
 
 Each bird was fast asleep, 
 I heard them tell the eventide 
 
 They would my secret keep. 
 My heart well knows that violets 
 
 Are ever, ever true. 
 For as I held them to my lips 
 
 Their fragrance breathed of YOU! 
 
 WITHIN THE HEART 
 
 Why does the Rose its young heart hold 
 Hidden from all, save the Sun? 
 
 Not the Wind nor the Night can it unfold. 
 Try as they will 'till its life is done! 
 
 13 
 
Yet why does the kiss of the glowing Sun 
 
 Its petals all gently unfold? 
 Ah ! deep in the heart of the trembling Rose 
 
 Lives a flame of the Sun's own gold! 
 
 THE MOTH AND THE ROSE 
 
 The Dawn At first I loved thee for the attributes 
 of Love. I found possessed by you (in friendship's days) ; 
 
 I liked your many kind salutes; 
 
 The greeting in your eyes, your genial ways. 
 The things you wrote about; your magic mind; 
 
 The verses which, in passing, you would quote. 
 Always, when you left me, there'd dwell behind 
 Some lasting thought my heart would fondly note. 
 
 Love's In the beginning all this existed ; 
 Doubting. But for me, just ME, you never seemed to care. 
 In sorrow my poor heart desisted 
 
 Its doubting and its longing to lay bare. 
 I listened to your praise of others fair ; 
 
 I watched your eyes admire them (thus I 
 thought) ; 
 My answers then implied I did not care. 
 
 While deep within my heart love's anguish 
 fought. 
 Perchance my hand you'd touch in careless way, 
 
 To casual things, quite commonplace, refer; 
 And while your heart but tender words could say, 
 On me, one thought, it seemed, you'd ne'er confer. 
 
 The Birth One day all earth, to me reborn, looked fair ! 
 of Love. My 'prisoned heart, I knew, had been set free! 
 
 I felt your breath upon my throat and hair. 
 And grew not angry at your bold decree ! 
 Your hands clasped mine; I felt your inmost soul 
 was thrilled! 
 Your eyes held mine in wild imploring love! 
 My lips, my heart, my being all lay stilled ; 
 From your encircling arms I could not move! 
 
 14 
 
ove's Through all my days of contact, (needless told) 
 weet I sure have met and known a host of men, 
 
 onfession. Who oft' indulged in demonstration bold, — 
 
 My soul despised them there and then! 
 But things I once abhorred you placed 
 
 In lovely way, my heart could understand. 
 Each homely fact your mind so sweetly graced, 
 All earth were changed to some bright fairyland! 
 Yet you, with all your quick discerning pow'r, — 
 
 You failed to read my heart, so well concealed, 
 For in that one golden (sacred) hour 
 
 My heart-throbs had all my love revealed. 
 In me you said you felt some lack, some chill; 
 
 Although my arms about you softly stole. 
 'Twas that I wanted (and I crave it still) 
 
 Not part of your great love — I want the whole! 
 
 ove's Thou must be as the moth, once, once so gay, 
 upremo At length desired the rose's heart to bare; 
 
 )emand. Sipping its sweets, the world forgotten lay; 
 
 The rose lies dead — the moth found faithful there ! 
 All the fire your loving heart doth possess 
 I want, and all the passion that can live 
 Within your soul, I pray, my tenderness 
 
 Shall win; that to no other thou shalt give 
 One thought of love, nor desire, nor dream; 
 
 Wish no love, feel no love, save mine, save mine ! 
 When that DAY dawns — is mine your love 
 supreme — 
 You'll find my heart can truly answer thine ! 
 
 Move's Come to me now, with your love, your desire ! 
 Promise. Come to me now, while flowers all bring 
 
 Their perfume to us ! Come ! Your soul on fire ! 
 Come! Let us dream, while earth weds the 
 
 spring 
 
 Come, since my heart its longing understands; 
 
 Come, let me feel your soul's sob and sigh ! 
 Thy form with kisses I'll anoint; thy hands. 
 
 Thy lips shall cling to mine, while Time goes by. 
 
 15 
 
Come with me now, to thy soul shall I prove 
 
 That Love is but LOVE when given to one; 
 That kisses are not the seal of true love, 
 
 When pressed upon woman's lips, just for fun! 
 Come! with your lips, your eyes pleading to mine! 
 
 Come, come, let me breathe from your soul love's 
 sigh. 
 Bliss, dear one, love's answer, shall be thine ; 
 
 Lie close to my heart, content, sweet, to die! 
 Hold me once more in your dear tender arms. 
 
 Again let me feel the throb of your heart; 
 My kiss shall be so loving and so long. 
 
 E'en eternity our souls cannot part! 
 
 Love's O, God, should fate to us, dear, prove untrue, 
 Foreboding. Time's tide should drift us far apart; 
 
 I pray, God bless thee! God keep thee, My Hugh! 
 Love keep my image alive in thy heart! 
 
 The From all the world my soul has chosen thee! 
 
 Soliloqup O'er all the rest my heart sets thee above; 
 of Love. Ah! Why? Because God sent thee unto me — 
 
 Because — because you taught my heart to love! 
 
 Love's If, by years or space, divided, we 
 Creed. Should find it was our part to live and bear, 
 
 One promise I would ask, dear heart, of thee. 
 
 Since your companionship I may not share: 
 Let all thy talents and thy mind's best thought 
 
 Be brought to some grand work that men shall 
 look 
 Upon thy life as one great battle fought, 
 
 Or class thy work in some far-reaching book. 
 Send to the world some message of thy mind, 
 
 Conceived in love or science, and allowed 
 To live, when Time has placed the years between 
 
 Oi-ir lives, of which. Sweetheart, I shall be proud. 
 Let me the inspiration be of some deed 
 
 By pen or act, in future (bitter) years, 
 
 16 
 
That men shall love, shall quote as their sweet 
 creed ; 
 Some thought beautiful enough to bring their 
 tears ! 
 
 Be strong! Be good! Within the hearts of men 
 awake 
 
 Fine feeling, some impulse that shall live through 
 All Time. And, love, I pray the years shall take 
 
 From out my heart no smallest thought of thee! 
 
 )ne Toast Then, sweet, should all my prayers unanswered be; 
 or our We two on earth should never meet again, — 
 
 ,ove. Here's to our love ! Undying memory ! 
 
 Come life, or death, come shadow, joy or pain! 
 Here's to your lips ! The first that stirred 
 
 The deeps of love, asleep, unknown before; 
 That brought to life Love's mystic, potent word. 
 
 To dwell within my heart forevermore! 
 Here's to thine eyes! Ah! Tonight would I give 
 
 All, all I possess to kiss them to sleep. 
 Here's to our meeting, from whence I didst live! 
 
 Here's to our parting — O God, my Black Sheep! 
 Yet here's to our loving each other, DEAR! 
 
 May mine be a benediction to you. 
 Here's to our loving, again, with a tear, — 
 
 Here's to my soul, my darling, here's to Hugh ! 
 
 deathless O tears of wild regret! I cannot bid 
 .ove. Farewell! Farewell! While still my heart 
 
 1 should live! 
 
 ' Come back, come back, the love so blindly hid 
 
 In a thousand caresses shall I give ! 
 
 Come, light of longing love within your eyes ! 
 
 Entreating lips, upon mine own to sigh! 
 Come, like the Moth upon my heart to rest. 
 
 And — I — the Rose — content with thee to die! 
 
 (Nineteen-twelve. ) 
 
 17 
 
Miscellaneous 
 
"PUSH" 
 (To a Pet Cat Who Strayed Away) 
 
 Dear little "Push," with soft, white breast, 
 Your tail was rather long and thin; 
 
 As I stroked you and you caressed, 
 I felt you ne'er a prize would win. 
 
 But I loved you, "Push"; you'd always purr 
 When e'er you'd feel my friendly touch. 
 
 You were dear to me, dear "Push," you were. 
 And I miss you, oh, so much ! 
 
 Dear little "Push," I wonder where 
 
 You've gone; I hope to you they're good. 
 
 Give you cream and canary birds, 
 Fat mice and all choice pussy food. 
 
 I hope you've grown quite nice and fat. 
 And that your tail's Angora style ; 
 
 Your new friends might demand all that. 
 Though I just loved you all the while ! 
 
 But "Push," dear "Push," if you miss me 
 
 As much as I am missing you, 
 I know you'll in the hammock be. 
 
 Some morning soon, oh, please "Push," do! 
 
 BLACK SHEEP, WHITE SHEEP 
 
 Little Bo-Peep found a black sheep. 
 
 One day in a pastoral field; 
 So strange he looked, she could not keep 
 
 A gaze from him, she tried to shield. 
 Bo-Peep and Black Sheep soon became 
 
 The warmest friends in all the land. 
 For his black coat he felt great shame. 
 
 As she stroked it with loving hand. 
 
 21 
 
One eve Bo-Peep fell fast asleep ; 
 
 Black Sheep remained quite wide awake, 
 He stooped and kissed little Bo-Peep, 
 
 Then ran he to the placid lake! 
 
 At rosy dawn Bo-Peep awoke, 
 
 Reached her hand Black Sheep to caress. 
 No answer to the words she spoke, 
 
 She thought he met with some distress. 
 "Black Sheep! Black Sheep! Come back to me! 
 
 Black your coat, but your heart was fair!" 
 A big brown squirrel in a tree 
 
 Hears her cry in the forest there! 
 
 Old squirrel ran off to the lake, 
 
 Found Black Sheep lying on its bank. 
 
 Bo-Peep's prayer to him did he take. 
 Black Sheep, in silence, backward sank. 
 
 But the Sheep she called was not thee, 
 
 For she murmured, "Black Sheep! Black Sheep! 
 
 Here a wooly White Sheep I see, 
 So, I a-searching still must keep!" 
 
 At night, when rose bewitching Moon, 
 Black Sheep, with coat all silky white. 
 
 Little Bo-Peep didst steal upon 
 
 And found her weeping to the Night! 
 
 The proof of Love did faithful keep; 
 
 Bo-Peep's heart knew his heart true ! 
 So well Black Sheep loved his Bo-Peep 
 
 That he became a White Sheep, too! 
 He held Bo-Peep close to his heart. 
 
 For warm and safe her could he keep. 
 "You never chided my black part, 
 
 Will you love still more your White Sheep?" 
 
 22 
 
A BUNCH OF WITHERED VIOLETS 
 
 How fresh my life the day I plucked thee! 
 
 Then was youth in brightest prime: 
 Thy purple petals emblems to me 
 
 Of a far-off happy time. 
 How bright the sun! How glad the meadows, 
 
 Laughing with the singing brook; 
 Violet envied by the red rose 
 
 In its modest, happy nook. 
 How bright my hopes ; like their own freshness. 
 
 Filled my mind and soul with joy; 
 I, too, was dancing, laughing, singing, 
 
 Naught could then my mirth destroy. 
 Thus singing, plucked I those sweet flowers; 
 
 Took them home and filled my vase; 
 Little dreaming of the hours 
 
 When again I'd see their face. 
 
 Oh, little bunch of withered blossoms! 
 
 Would I again could sing to thee. 
 Sadly sighing, I raise thee gently — 
 
 Of happy days you speak to me. 
 All withered are your purple petals: 
 
 Withered, too, my happy dreams. 
 Then the violets waft their perfume, 
 
 I am young again, it seems. 
 Just in that little breath of perfume 
 
 All my blighted hopes come back; 
 Ah! Dear, sweet perfume to remind me 
 
 Of many things my life doth lack. 
 But when my life is past and over. 
 
 And people my life's work recall. 
 Oh, may there be one breath of perfume. 
 
 That may breathe, "Forgive her all." 
 
 23 
 
A DISAPPOINTMENT 
 
 A letter she had just received 
 With all a woman's greatest joy, 
 
 And as she ran she was not grieved 
 For throwing down her baby boy. 
 
 She took a hair-pin from her head 
 And tore it open eager, quick; 
 
 With disappointment she's near dead, 
 'Twas a rejected manuscript. 
 
 TWO DAYS 
 
 From all the days of Time God chose 
 Of just their brightest hours some part. 
 
 And formed them, as he formed the rose. 
 Into a day for me, dear heart. 
 
 O, day, all sun and song, all glee; 
 Sweet promise rare of life to be! 
 The brightest hour earth ever knew; 
 The day my soul went forth to you ! 
 
 From out the deepest griefs and woes. 
 From o'er the vales of Sorrow's tears. 
 
 Earth in a bitter hour arose 
 
 And sent one day to shroud all years. 
 
 O, day, all clouds and pain, all tears. 
 Whose memory forever sears! 
 The darkest day earth ever knew; 
 The day my soul learned thine untrue! 
 
 REPAIRING THE JUDGE'S GOWN 
 
 A great big gown, with a very small tear — 
 So easy, 'twould seem, at first to repair; 
 Yet, leave it undone, so fast would it spread, 
 That soon the whole gown would be but a shred! 
 
 24 
 
A dear little boy, with a wee, tiny fault; 
 
 So easy, 'twould be, at first to correct ; 
 
 Yet, let it grow greater through life's brief span — 
 
 That wee, tiny fault makes a bad big man ! 
 
 Though I never have seen this Judge in the gown, 
 He's known to every one here in town; 
 He's recorded in Memory's fond Archives — 
 "Judge Gorman — Repairer of Poor Little Lives!" 
 
 A ROSE FROM THE UNDERWORLD 
 
 She stood in the crowded court-room, 
 
 Weary, ashamed and forlorn; 
 Shunning the faces about her. 
 
 Wishing she'd never been born. 
 She glanced at the judge, with his gavel, 
 
 Judicial, looking so stern. 
 Waiting to hear her unravel 
 
 A story awful to learn. 
 
 Her cheeks had lost their power to blush; 
 
 She had reached her story's end, 
 As in the court-room's strained hush 
 
 She felt she had not a single friend. 
 "Please, judge, send me far from the reach 
 
 Of men with the evil glance; 
 Do something for me ! Don't preach ! 
 
 Just give me another chance!" 
 
 Then the judge looked at the woman — 
 
 Soul-soiled by her traffic with men; 
 Disposed of her case, and, sighing. 
 
 Took up the court-list again. 
 One day, long past, the judge received 
 
 A package that we untied. 
 And found within a little note. 
 
 Which we saw him read and hide. 
 
 2.S 
 
We had seen his strong lips tremble, 
 
 And his great eyes fill with tears, 
 As he drew from the box a lovely rose, 
 
 Pure and sweet as the unborn years. 
 "Your Honor, I had never dreamed. 
 
 As I watched the lips that curled, 
 That you'd be kind! Please, please accept 
 
 A Rose from the underworld !" 
 
 This same rose reached a little lad. 
 
 Who long on a cot had lain. 
 He held it to his fevered lips — 
 
 Looked at the Rose and smiled again. 
 I know the fragrance of the flow'r 
 
 To the lad was none less sweet ; 
 And as precious to the judge, the soul 
 
 Of the woman of the street ! 
 
 SOUL TREASURES 
 
 The rose we most admire we leave 
 Untouched upon the vine to blow. 
 
 The gifts most treasured we receive 
 We fold away and prize them so. 
 
 Our tend'rest thoughts we seldom speak; 
 
 Deep hidden in our heart of hearts, 
 Speech to express them seemeth weak, 
 
 And there they fill sweet unknown parts. 
 
 The heart we love the best is oft 
 
 The heart to claim we have not dared; 
 
 While that same soul perhaps has thought 
 We never loved or never cared. 
 
 But ah, these treasures hidden deep; 
 
 Unseen, unknown to human eyes. 
 Make all the light of life and keep 
 
 The clouds from hiding God's blue skies. 
 
 26 
 
REPLY TO INGERSOLL'S "EULOGY" 
 
 Not dashed against some unseen rock; 
 
 Not at the billows' roar to sink! 
 For all thy later words but mock 
 
 Such thoughts that make thy spirit shrink! 
 Hast thou not said, and justly, too, — 
 
 "This dear man was flow'r and vine, 
 Tender, yet brave, kind, loyal, true?" 
 
 So fair a flower must fairer shine ! 
 
 Thus, sailing happily along, 
 
 The beauteous vessel found at last 
 A harbor ringing with sweet song, 
 
 Whose portals are from jewels cast. 
 Enthralled, enchanted, here he halts; 
 
 His soul now sings in ecstasy! 
 Ah! this is where our earthly faults 
 
 Rush o'er our minds — unworthy we! 
 
 Yet, while musing thus in wonder. 
 
 The little bark has glided through; 
 Watchers on the strand must ponder, 
 
 Another mate but lost to view! 
 And, should each "one to whom he'd been kind" 
 
 One blossom place for memory 
 Upon his mound, not "wilderness 
 
 Of flow'rs" — sweet perfumed canopy! 
 
 While though thy pen would oft' restrict 
 
 The knowledge thou didst sure possess. 
 Thy soul doth also contradict 
 
 The thoughts thy lips must needs express! 
 Thy gentle life! So full, so sweet! 
 
 Brightened each path thy feet had trod. 
 Deep in thy soul you lived to meet 
 
 The One Divine, Eternal God! 
 
 27 
 
O, lovely mind that could'st conceive 
 
 One thought so sweet, sublime as this: 
 "On his forehead fell the dawning 
 
 Of the Grander Day"! Like the kiss 
 Which twilight gives departing day: 
 
 Warm, tender, ling'ring, full of hope, 
 Whose parting feels no least dismay — 
 
 Soon, soon they'll meet on yonder slope ! 
 
 TODAY 
 
 O, do not think that the days gone by 
 
 Are sweeter than today; 
 Fairer to regretful eye 
 
 They look, down mem'ry's way. 
 
 The times are just as good today, 
 
 In fact, they're better, far; 
 For, people today are just as good 
 
 And just as true they are ! 
 
 So, make new friends whene'er you can; 
 
 Trust them and love them, too; 
 Remember, as Time's wheel goes round, 
 
 The old friends ONCE were new! 
 
 GOD INFINITE 
 
 There is no space too small 
 
 In which to pray; 
 And God, to hear us, ne'er 
 
 Too far away! 
 
 28 
 
To 
 My Beloved Sister 
 
CHARLOTTE 
 
 The smile you took to heaven, Charlotte, 
 
 Returns today in springtime's smile; 
 I know the flow'rs have not forgot' ; 
 
 I know they miss you all the while. 
 The daisies come to speak to you; 
 
 The birds are singing, earth is gay; 
 They seem to ask me in their song, 
 
 "Where is thy lovely mate today?" 
 
 If all the world had never cared. 
 
 Or loved, or missed, or longed for thee — 
 I loved you well enough, Charlotte, 
 
 For all the weary world and — me ! 
 To me you were the fairest thing 
 
 God ever made to earthly be. 
 And now your angel-hoverings bring 
 
 The tend'rest solace unto me ! 
 
 MY CHARLOTTE! 
 
 Her eyes, so tender and so blue. 
 
 Before me beam in all life's ways, 
 And anything seemed sweeter, too. 
 
 If once upon it dwelt their gaze. 
 So gentle was her touch, so kind. 
 
 It seemed a flower brushed my cheek; 
 Her voice brought ever to my mind. 
 
 The thought that thus the angels speak! 
 
 And when she smiled on me, it seemed, 
 
 A light from Heaven, pure, divine. 
 Dwelt in her look, or that I drearned. 
 
 Some angel-face looked into mine. 
 Dear eyes ! What light must in them dwell, 
 
 Illumined by God's presence sweet! 
 I'll live by mem'ry's mystic spell, 
 
 Until, God please, dearheart, we meet ! 
 
 31 
 
THE DREAM 
 
 Each eve I watch the sun go down, 
 Birds fall asleep, and flow'rs, too; 
 
 Night spreads o'er earth a silv'ry gown: 
 Fair morn, I dream, will bring me you! 
 
 And so life's hours have grown to years, 
 With ev'ry hour a wish for thee! 
 
 Sweet throbs of hope, concealing tears; 
 Each day dreaming you'll come to me. 
 
 My latest touch thee to caress ; 
 
 My dying heart to wish once more, 
 To breathe thy name, then thee to bless. 
 
 Praying I'll meet thee on God's shore! 
 
 IN DREAMS YOU COME 
 
 A soft caress upon my hair, 
 
 Gentle as falling dew; 
 A presence felt, divinely fair; 
 
 I dream, dearheart, 'tis you! 
 
 My weary eyelids kissed to sleep; 
 
 A hand-touch tender, light. 
 A sigh of peace from love's own deep; 
 
 Good-night, dearheart, good-night! 
 
 THE GOAL 
 
 When but a child, the fairest buds. 
 
 My own tiny hands could gather. 
 From nature's meadows sweet and free. 
 
 Were always plucked to give to her. 
 In school, each mark of praise I'd win, 
 
 Or any honor they'd confer, 
 I received with joy just because, 
 
 My happy thought was telling her. 
 
 32 
 
Thus, as the years rolled on for me; 
 
 And earth bestowed her smile or slur, 
 'T was all the same to me, for oh. 
 
 My only world was loving her! 
 While in the dance or merriment, 
 
 With music, lights, and all the whir; 
 They always seemed a minor part. 
 
 My one sole thought was pleasing her. 
 
 And often when the sinking sun 
 
 Stoops low to kiss the earth, a blur 
 Creeps to my eyes, rememb'ring well 
 
 The last long kiss I gave to her! 
 And were she here with me today. 
 
 How sweet would be this earthly spot; 
 But, ah, I might not care so much, 
 
 To reach where you have gone, Charlotte ! 
 
 33 
 
lllVi™i»^,°'' CONGRESS 
 
 018 395 457 A