P s 3509 iH"^' r^ir^ •« ^■^.■^ ■VSP lDA-LOISE>fltS10N ^^>?^^ai^ il 1 *4 . ■kckA&jiJiJUMH^HiiiiULUJLiilf If ' M^M **4»*r Class Book -r^o - V ■7 r MW. \')\Z CiJPYRIGHT DEPOSIT THE GKAY DAY IX FLORIDA, A DAY NOT SOOX FORGOT. SONGS OF THE SOUTHLAND IDA LOIS EASTON Illustrated from photographs by E, 0, Gross RICHARD G. BADGER The Gorham Press Boston Copyright 1912 by Ida L, Boston All rights reserved * * The Oorham Press, Boston, U, S. A. CONTENTS A Gray Day in Florida 9 Sunset on the River 10 Clover 11 Growing Old 12 Florida in Winter 14 To the Housekeeper's Club of Cocoanut Grove, Florida 15 To Ruskin 17 Miami 18 . Ship-Mates 19 Autumn 20 The Silver Lining 21 Southern Skies 22 Sailing On 23 The Jaunting Car 24 Killarney 25 Biscayne Bay 26 A Song of the Deep 27 Alone 28 To the Dog Star 29 Soldier Key 30 To Friendships ' 31 Under the Shadow T. 32 Divine Appreciation 33 The Voice in Nature 34 The Queen of the Southland 35 Life's Day 36 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS A gray day in Florida Frontis Facing Page The sunset on the river 10 While the live oaks spread wide arms o'er head 14 The Royal palm that in stately calm 18 We find the heaven of our rest 22 The paddles gleam 26 O, Soldier Key, thou jewel'd isle ! 30 There is melody and gladness 34 / / / SONGS OF THE SOUTHLAND A GRAY DAY IN FLORIDA The gray day in Florida, A day not soon forgot, Where pine trees rise, to greet the skies In graceful beauty wrought. The sweeping moss, gray colored toss Its streamers to the breeze. The holly red, its color shed, 0*er shining bright green leaves. The gray day in Florida Is made for revery; Not gloom thy mood in piney wood. But silent sympathy. The color tone, the gentle moan Of wind, from gulf or sea. A picture rare, in clean pure air, A memory for me. 9 SUNSET ON THE RIVER The sunset on the river, Can*st thou forget it, ever? Those gorgeous dyes That streamed the skies! And seemed to burn forever. The waters glance and quiver. As rain-bow hued They seem imbued, With color blending ever. 10 « > K H z o W H W O « O o X H H < CLOVER I search the far fields over To find a four leaf clover; I find the three leaf, never four — Although I seek as never before And o*er each tuft I hover. My love must be a rover ! Else I had luck in clover. Faith, Hope, and Love, I read above, Each plot of three leaf clover. 11 GROWING OLD Life's not so bad, Nor yet so sad When we are growing old; We meditate In quiet state And wondrous tales unfold. Of all the noise We made when boys, Then we were young and gay ; Ah ! girls were shy As we went by — And danced in bright array. The world was ours. So full of flowers — We did not look for thorns; Nor would we dare To cry, beware ! "In life, there must be storms.** We hesitate Thus to relate, Our aims, and standards high; Of course, you know we fell below Our castles in the sky. But life was free And rampant we, Up hill and down the dale; Nor meditate Upon our fate. As we good fellows hale. 12 In bright review The pictures true — In memory pass before us, A faithful mate — Thy hand — my Fate — As twilight gathers o'er us. The vivid past We see at last. As life's long day is closing. The shades of night. They do not blight, But new life seem unfolding. 18 FLORIDA IN WINTER In this land you know, the wild flowers grow, And birds in chorus sing. The whole earth glows, as it seems to know 'Tis far from the old frost king. The beauty bright, of the morning light ! The sun comes up from the sea And kisses the day, flowering so gay, That you smile in sympathy. The orange grove, with its fruit of gold. The lemon and grapefruit bloom. And pineapples rare fill the pure air With the fragrance of their perfume. The palmettoes bring to this tropic scene A charm that is never lost. While the live oaks spread wide arms o'er head, Draped with the sweeping moss. The days go by, 'neath this clear blue sky. In beauty and love and song. So swiftly time flies, that we stop to sigh. That life's not twice as long. 14 < K W CO a e CO CO O § I— I w Ed Q !/3 H 3 ^ H Q Hi OS Q TO THE HOUSE-KEEPER'S CLUB OF COCO- ANUT GROVE, FLORIDA To-day we meet, And warmly greet, The one who did conceive The thought, that wrought, This work, and brought. This power we perceive. As then her grace And influence place Her at the legal head; Her heart, and hand. Has formed this band. And helped to win the race. All honor due, The valiant few; Those women stanch and true, Who organized And realized. The work that they could do. Full twenty years Their history bears. Of trials not a few, And deeds accrue That bring their due Of smiles, and happy tears. The times they strived And side by side, O'ercame their labor dire. But upward grew This Club-house you And I, so much admire. 15 The science of good living, Domestic love, and being, They first did study well; Until the art Became a part In every home to dwell. These homes were blest. The Town attest, And all who sojourn here. Have been inspired ! And so acquired — A larger field and sphere. This "Annual Tea," It seems to me. In years, so strongly mark, The future fair, With prospects rare. On which you may embark. May twenty years Of heart-felt cheers Ring down the coming time And fill your hearts With love, and arts. And — other things — that rhyme. April £7, 1911, Twentieth Anniversary. Dedi- cated to Miss Flora McFarlane, organizer — first President, also President of the Club at this time* 16 TO RUSKIN Great hearts must lead a solitary way, *Tis reaching far above the marts of men That separates, and makes for them An atmosphere, the loneliness of which they pay. So Ruskin, in thine hours of loneliness, Thy followers are bound to pay In like, their coin, or suffer solitude, To reach that realm of blessedness — That filled thine heart with gratitude. 17 MIAMI We have found here a land Where a faithful band, Of people, brave and free, Have built them a town That doth compass around The beauty of land and sea. There are flowers that bloom, And rare birds that plume. In this south-land by the sea, There are trees that rise 'Neath these sunny skies, In towering majesty. 'Tis the royal palm, that in stately calm, Seems viewing the soft scene o'er; While the boats on the bay Pass the live long day Sailing away from the shore. No colds winds blow. On this land, I trow, — This south-land by the sea. No frost, nor snow, Come here I know To mar or blight that tree. 18 THE ROYAL PALM, THAT IN STATELY CALM, SEEMS VIEWING THE SOFT SCENE o'eR. SHIP-MATES Two weeks at sea, ah! that to me Means peace and rest. From ship to shore, to meet no more- New friendship's test. 19 AUTUMN Red and yellow, green and gray, Nature's rampant colours gay, Deck the hill-side and the vale, 'Tis the Autumn's bright array. Autumn leaves of russet hue, Sparkling with the morning's dew, Nature's dicing garb, the best Clothing for the winter's rest. 90 THE SILVER LINING There are no clouds reflected. That are not silver-lined; God's beauty laws deflected Upon our hearts and mind. So, sadness has its mission. Look, for its lesson true; Dark are its cloud monition. But silver-lined its hue. God's plans are interwoven With sunshine and with shade. His creatures should betoken The glory He has made. 21 SOUTHERN SKIES The splendor of a starry night In southern skies Is full of wonder and delight To northern eyes. From winter's cold and bitter blast To summer air; We find the haven of our rest In scenes so fair. The balmy air and silent flight Of quiet hours; The changing shadows of the night This solace ours. This jewel'd crown, so passing fair The Holy One Hath set above in beauteous air When day is done. n € WE FIND THE HAVEN OF OUR REST IN SCENES SO FAIR. SAILING ON Out on the sea, with the billows blue. Our good ship is sailing on, Far and away, you have left me, dear, To meet with a brighter dawn. Memories dear, of the days gone by. As our good ship is sailing on. Of you and I, that looked up at the sky As we sailed on, and on. "One of us dear, will be left to grieve," As our good ship is sailing on; "The other will live, as we believe Up there with the heavenly throng. " Ah ! me, it is I, that looks up at the sky. As our good ship is sailing on. My eyes are dim, as I weep for him — Alone, I am sailing home. 23 THE JAUNTING CAR This jolting rig is not too big For two on either side, But look for war, there'll be a jar, Before you learn to ride. Up hill you go, then down, O woe, You bounce from side to side; A sudden shock ! you* ve struck a rock, And there and then capsized. 24 KILLARNEY O ! ye lakes of Killarney, I wean — More lovely than aught I have seen, With blue sky above you, The mountains about you. Reflections upon you, a dream! There's a moss covered bridge, On a wonderful ridge, With a view of the waters both ways, And a very old Abbey, that does not look shabby — That tells us of "ye ancient days." 25 BISCAYNE BAY Oh, Biscayne Bay, Thy bright array Of boats, that come and go, By night and day. They seem to say — We our allegiance show. The paddles gleam, On silent stream Or drift, on moon-kissed wave; While songs float o*er, And reach the shore In strains both gay and grave. 26 ■«■, c < Q m ^^ 'at I O O Q C H W J o o H fa K Q « O A SONG OF THE SEA Roll on ! thou deep blue sea ! Thou dearer art to me Than rippling brook. In shady nook, Or water-fall may be. Roll on! thou restless sea! More dear art thou to me Than lakes that lie Reflecting sky. Though peerless they may be. Toss on ! thou storm-swept sea ! Thy wrath is dear to me As lightning's flash And thunder's crash, In forest land may be. Roll on ! thou silent sea ! Thou art most dear to me. Though thou be calm Thou art a balm. In all thy moods to me. 27 ALOXE I am lonely tonight, O! so lonely, No voice that I love greets my ears; My pathway is loveless and dreary, And hopeless, my future appears. Alone, in the clouds of my sorrow, This world, when with you, seemed so fair; How sweet was the perfume of flowers, And birds sang in pure sparkling air. \Mien I laid you to rest in the evening, The night of my darkness had come; I vainly prayed sunlight would enter, And bless, with its joy, my dark home. But the shadows are ever about me, That seem to obscure every scene Where once only glorious beauty. And joy, with you, deary, had been. \Miere art thou! my love, 0, my deary! The days since you left me are long; The clouds are all hea\y with weeping. My heart has no joy, and no song. \Miere art thou, as ever about me. Strange faces, and voices, and forms. Make earth seem a wilderness to me. As I long for your true lo^'ing arms. Will the sun ever shine on my pathway? Will my soul hear the music that blest ! Will my shadows disperse on that bright way That leads to the haven of rest? 28 TO THE DOG STAR O ! Sirius ! mysterious I Thy brilliance from afar. Adown the age Adorn the page, In history of the stars? In ancient time, a red hue thine, "WTien shining o'er the while, The Arabs see. Their hopes in thee. To overflow the Nile. Thou brightest one! A mighty sun! Controling worlds afar. Art thou the home! Of souk that roam? Away among the stars? 29 SOLDIER KEY O, Soldier Key, thou jewel'd Isle! Girt round about with emerald sea; With turquoise sky, thou doth beguile: With pearl of peace, our spirits free. The gilding of thy morning light ! The brilliant sunlight of thy noon; The opal tints at night-fall bright — The charm and witchery of thy moon. When night o'ertakes thee, little Isle — And starry skies look kindly down, Me-thinks the angels sweetly smile And claim thee, for their very own. Away with every sordid care; Away! from grief and sorrow flee. Breathe here, God's crystal atmosphere, And fill thy soul with ecstasy. 30 ■?>Ci¥?*W!W.^i.i-.. W H tc CO 1— t Q < Q W "j H W § ^ W i-s a o t2 fS O >H « w <5 tii Q « Z w tJ Q O J W ■— s H « o o TO FRIENDSHIPS There are friendships of old. That are better than gold — Yet ! the friends that are new Are as precious and true, As of old ! I am told. SI UNDER THE SHADOW Ye who suffer through bereavement, Ye who mourn, and sob, and cry In the darkness, no abatement, Hear the message from the sky. "All that weary, heavy laden. Sad and lonely — sore distressed; Come to me ! my yoke is easy. Come to me! I'll give thee rest." Thou art not alone in sorrow. Though the clouds are dense and grim, Christ is there, sent down from heaven, Christ! the bearer of our sin. Hear him call thee, sad and lone one. Call thee through the dark long night; He is mighty, and there is none Other that can bring thee light. 32 DIVINE APPRECIATION To see His power, in every flower. To hear His voice, in every song — This is the soul's most sacred hour That holds it high amidst the throng. 33 THE VOICE IN NATURE Have you heard the voice in Nature, Have you caught the strains d.i\4ne? Calling you from pain, and torture, Is this heavenly blessing thine? There is melody and gladness To be found in solitude. There is balm for all thy sadness In a flood of gratitude. Waken to a sense of beauty In the earth, the sky, and sea. Live again, it is thy duty; Fill thy heart, and joyful be. Breathe the air just fresh from heaven, Sunshine from the bluest skies; Perfumed air, "vs-ith flowers laden, Here, where summer never dies. Let the song birds fill thy being With a thrill of joy di\^ne! God, hath given these strains for healing Sick and weary souls like mine. 34 THERE IS MELODY AND GLADNESS TO BE FOUND IN SOLITUDE. THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH-LAND The stars by night, look kindly down Upon Miami — Snow white town; The waters lap, upon her shore In soft and soothing song — while o*er Her silent beauty steals the breeze Of tropic isles, amidst the sea. 35 LIFE'S DAY Morning! and the heart is gay. Filled with light and love, Speeding the hours away; Care free as a dove. Noonday! and anxiety, Cloud the brow with care. Just a bit satiety, Marks a face once fair. Evening! and the restful chair. Toil and strife are done; Calmly waiting, free from care. The setting of the sun. Midnight! and life's day is done; Cold, and calm, and dumb. Lies the form once radiant. As the noonday sun. 6 1912 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 015 906 781 6