LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 Chap.l..C^Copyright No. 
 Shelf.-wE_l.T3 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
Tact 
 
 AND 
 
 Talent 
 
 BV 
 
 W. C. YERGIN 
 
TACT AND JALENT, 
 
 AND 
 
 OTHER POEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 W. C. YERGIN.l 
 
 BC 
 
 isil^"^' 
 
 %eb 
 
 rer Oct Dcut$cbeW^pr 
 
 acbe. 
 
^ 1,?1^ 
 
 Copyrighted, 1896, by W. C. Yergin. 
 

 R CONTENTS. 
 
 Tact and Talent .' 5 
 
 Energy 8 
 
 Thinking Makes the Man 13 
 
 Mind the Glory of Man 17 
 
 Pride and Humility 21 
 
 Might and Eight 24 
 
 . The Mount of Miseries 27 
 
 A Snow Storm 86 
 
 To Cloa 39 
 
 Depression 41 
 
 A Reply 43 
 
 Won't you be my Bride? 44 
 
 Memory Gems — 45 
 
Tress of the Pioneer, 
 Big Rapids, Midi. 
 
Xlact anD ITalent. 
 
 What is Tact and what is Talent ? 
 
 Ask yourself these questions, friend; 
 Eor you need both Tact and Talent 
 
 For life's mighty dividend. 
 
 Talent's something worth the having. 
 
 True. But Tact is ev'rything. 
 Talent gives you power, attention; 
 
 Tact will roses round you fling. 
 
 Talent's sober, grave and weighty; 
 
 Tact is all of this and more: 
 It's the life of all your senses, 
 
 And its gold within the ore. 
 
 Tact is useful in all places 
 And it's useful at all times,— 
 
 You may ring your bell of Talent, 
 But your Tact makes sweeter chimes. 
 
 Tact in solitude is useful. 
 For it shows a man the world; 
 
 And it bears aloft his ensign. 
 If that ensign is unfurled. 
 
(5 
 Talent gives a man his power, 
 
 Tact to him gives ready skill; 
 Talent gives the weight and sternness, 
 
 Tact, celerity and skill. 
 
 Talent knows what needs the doing 
 Tact knows how — aye, that and more; 
 
 Plans, constructs, adorns the building; 
 Graces service at the door. 
 
 Wealth is Talent in a bundle, 
 
 Ready Tact is ten to one; ■ 
 Talent is the wealth that's hoarded, 
 
 Tact the circulating sum. 
 
 Take them in the social circle 
 Where is seen a wealth of grace; 
 
 Talent takes a part dramatic. 
 Tact distorts most ev'ry face. 
 
 And 'twill keep you in good humor, 
 
 Ev'ry night the whole week through; 
 But dramatic Talent whispers, 
 "Murder! ha! they're after you!" 
 
 Tragedies can give no pleasure. 
 When the actors lack of Tact; 
 
 But combine the two together 
 And they give a taking act. 
 
 There's dramatic Tact and Talent, 
 
 And of them is little lack; 
 But they seldom are together 
 
 At a time upon one track. 
 
7 
 
 So we have successful pieces 
 Which are uot respectable; 
 
 And, reversely, to be truthful, 
 Which is more electable. 
 
 Taken at the bar of justice 
 Where they work in rivalry, 
 
 Talent sees the journey ended, 
 Tact's the first one in from sea. 
 
 Talent oft is complimented 
 When 'tis pleading at the bar; 
 
 But for Tact the vict'ry's certain: 
 All is won while yet afar. 
 
 Talent makes the world to wonder, 
 Tact is more astonishment; 
 
 For it has no weight to carry 
 And is never falsely bent. 
 
 It has sail when wind is moving 
 Matters not from where it bl3ws; 
 
 It keeps eye upon the dial 
 And it knows just how it goes. 
 
 Take them into church a Sunday, 
 Talent speaks in words of worth; 
 
 But to Tact twice ears are eager 
 For the words before their birth. 
 
 Talent can obtain a living, 
 Tact will make one anywhere; 
 
 Talent wins a goodly title. 
 Tact receives one far more fair. 
 
8 
 
 Talent honors to profession, 
 Tact gains honor to the same; 
 
 Talent feels the weight it carries, 
 Tact moves nimbly — ne'er is lame. 
 
 Take them in the senate chamber, 
 
 Talent has the ears of all; 
 Tact wins hearts and captures voters, 
 
 And it knows just when to call. 
 
 Talent's voice may be commanding. 
 Tact is one that is obeyed; 
 
 Talent's honored with approval. 
 But for Tact the choice is made. 
 
 Tact seems filled with ev'ry wisdom 
 Yet it looks not wondrous wise; 
 
 Ever seems all plain and common 
 But awakens your surprise. 
 
 What is energy or power ? " 
 Once was asked an aged man 
 
 By a youth who sought for knowledge, 
 Worthy purpose, noble plan. 
 
 And the old man, full of wisdom. 
 
 Slowly laid aside his book 
 And from o'er his long-worn glasses 
 
 Gave the youth an earnest look. 
 
When his quizzing look was answered, 
 
 He began in accents clear 
 To explain about the matter 
 
 Which the youth desired to hear. 
 
 "Now my young man/' said the elder, 
 "Lend your ears and give good heed; 
 And I'll give to you this knowledge, 
 Hoping that you may succeed. 
 
 "Energy is application, 
 Perseverance, industry 
 In whatever you're pursuing; 
 And it means activity. 
 
 "Nothing great can be accomplished 
 Without constant, active toil: 
 Motion is a law of nature. 
 Seedling in a fertile soil. 
 
 "Lack of action portrays dying, 
 If it is not death itself; 
 And when man becomes inactive 
 He is laid upon the shelf. 
 
 "See, to-day, the hugest engines 
 Gracing to Inven:ion"s hour! 
 These would be in fault, and useless, 
 If they had no moving power. 
 
 " But aw^aken steam within them 
 And they puff and snort and roar; 
 Take you over land and water. 
 Land you on a foreign shore. 
 
10 
 
 "Energy is steam and power, 
 And the motive part of mind; 
 And is never lacking in the 
 Truly cultured and refined. 
 
 " 'Tis, my friend, the force propelling. 
 
 This to you I'll demonstrate 
 By a common law of physics, 
 
 If it isn't yet too late. 
 
 "All transformed can be momentum, 
 To velocity, you know, 
 As to quantity of matter. 
 Prove it, and you'll find it so. 
 
 "Xow, for instance, take a body, 
 Small, and driven by great force; 
 Then reverse the situation 
 And pursue the selfsame course. 
 
 "Now the same force will move slower 
 Increased quantity, you'll find. 
 And you'll see the smaller body 
 Will the larger leave behind. 
 
 "So it is in Metaphysics, — 
 The extent of human power 
 May be changed into degrees of 
 High endowment, hour by hour. 
 
 "Yes, I see,'" the young man answered; 
 
 And he turned to go away. 
 "But, my friend, what is your hurry? 
 
 Linger yet five minutes, pray." 
 
" Yery well; though time is precious 
 
 To me as to ev'ry man." 
 " Yet how few that realize this 
 
 In their race to lead the van. 
 
 " But— returning to our topic— 
 So it is with lesser brain; 
 It quite often leave great talent, 
 Constant action makes it gain. 
 
 " Firm, undaunted, ceaseless vigor, 
 Is the principle in man 
 Which give strength and vim to effort 
 When he steps and says, ' I can!" 
 
 " And 'tis this which gives him genius 
 And that quality of mind 
 Bursting forth in manly vigor; 
 Oftimes rather hard to find. 
 
 " This is what meets opposition, 
 And defies and bears it down; 
 Gives to man his greatest prestige; 
 Wins for him his golden crown. 
 
 "This, you note, is quite peculiar 
 Of those famous intellects 
 That secure a name in hist'ry, 
 And to whom we pay respects. 
 
 "And they are the men of action. 
 Pioneers of thought and deed, 
 Who originate, discover. 
 What Is often greatest need. 
 
*' And they overturn old orders, 
 Always building up anew; 
 And, reverse old wornout systems. 
 Such is that which you should do. 
 
 "To this class belong Columbus, 
 Fulton, Watt and Washington; 
 Henry Clay, and B. J. Franklin, — 
 Noble men who've nobly done." 
 
 " Yes," replied the young man gravely, 
 "These live but in history; 
 But to-day, to be successful. 
 One must work quite diff'rently." 
 
 "True, perhaps, but wait a moment 
 And ril tell you something plain; 
 Though the present time is harder, 
 One must still have lots of brain. 
 
 " And I think, to tell you truly, 
 If the youth of our to-day 
 Had the principles of greatness. 
 That the w^orld would give them way. 
 
 " You have other thoughts of greatness 
 Than some youth of whom I know: 
 To be great in deed and action 
 Is true wisdom from the go. 
 
 " One can't load one's self with habits 
 And preserve the energy ; 
 That, makes one too much impeded 
 Ever truly great to be." 
 
13 
 
 Well, good sir, your words are wisdom: 
 
 And I thank you ere I go. 
 I will strive to profit by them; 
 
 For they're good advice I know. 
 
 XTbtnP^tnQ /iDakes tbe man. 
 
 Thinking marks the highest manhood 
 
 In this busy world of ours; 
 So develop thought and judgment. 
 
 In advance of muscle powers. 
 
 Many men to-day are children 
 From the fact they cannot think. 
 
 On through life they plod and hobble, 
 Each one but a rusty link. 
 
 Constitution may be settled, 
 But the judgment immature; 
 
 Muscles round and strong and hardened. 
 But the reason insecure. 
 
 Many ones can run and wrestle. 
 Work hard in the field all day; 
 
 But they can't observe or reason. 
 For they do not think that way. 
 
 Custom self to thinking deeply. 
 And when reading understand; 
 
 Else you may be far in ocean 
 When you'd rather be on land. 
 
If a book is read with hurry, 
 
 'Tis a most confusing task; 
 But to read the while digesting, 
 
 Takes away each mystic mask. 
 
 If your reading wakes no thinking, 
 Either lacks the book or you. 
 
 If the book, take up another; 
 If yourself, exchange that too. 
 
 Some have stores of book-gained knowl 
 edge * 
 
 And are not e'en worldly wise; 
 But a knowledge wise and active 
 
 Is the knowledge that we prize. 
 
 You may read, perhaps remember. 
 Without knowing what you read; 
 
 But your health will be the better 
 If it's food on which you feed. 
 
 For your health, 'tis more conducive 
 
 Not to eat another meal 
 Till the one has been digested 
 
 And again you hungry feel. 
 
 And 'tis just as beneficial 
 
 Not to read another book, 
 Or leave one page for another 
 
 Till it's yours in ev'ry nook. 
 
15 
 
 "Join your thinking with your reading,'' 
 Is a maxim learned with ease; 
 
 And to do so is an action 
 Taat is always sure to please. 
 
 But a man is not a thinker 
 
 Who can reason only then; 
 Nor is he, whose mind is vacant 
 
 As he walks life's traversed glen. 
 
 Therefore, rest not that your thinking 
 
 Is as circumstances bid; 
 But before they come be active, 
 
 Then you've done as Lincoln did. 
 
 Guard your thoughts and train them 
 
 rightly. 
 
 Lest they wild and useless run; 
 Then when life draws to its closing. 
 
 You will hear the words, " Well done." 
 
 Do you know the art of thinking ? 
 
 If you don't, just try and learn; 
 And begin by reading maxims, 
 
 For they always do their turn. 
 
 And they are the pith of logic, 
 
 Methodizing memory — 
 Standing to support your statement, 
 
 If that statement truthful be. 
 
16 
 
 Mind by cause is ever active, 
 Even when you're fast asleep; 
 
 But it wanders desultory 
 If no guard o'er it you keep. 
 
 Watch your thoughts, and this will teach 
 
 you 
 
 What, and when, and how to think; 
 And your work will be the better 
 
 If you can this knowledge drink. 
 
 Mind can work to better "purpose 
 When it knows just what to do. 
 
 Its your servant or your master; 
 You rule it, or it rules you. 
 
 All it knows from other sources, 
 
 You can cause to be a gain; 
 For its work is not all grinding, 
 
 It can sow the golden grain. 
 
 It is only by grave thinking 
 That a man can know himself; 
 
 Yet without this, other knowledge 
 Isn't worth to him an elf. 
 
 So look in your mind more closely 
 Till you know your own true worth. 
 
 Thus conceit and ignorance, shall 
 Bring to you no blasting dearth. 
 
17 
 
 Yet not reading makes you wiser; 
 
 It's the power you have to think 
 Raises you into the highlands 
 
 Far above the swamp's low brink. 
 
 Thinking then is what makes manhood; 
 
 As you think you always are. 
 You can't rise above your thinking 
 
 At your home, or when afar. 
 
 Thinking rightly is self culture; 
 
 'Tis the germ of action true: 
 And the thought's before the action 
 
 Whether good or what you do. 
 
 Purity of thought makes purpose: 
 Place your standard very high; 
 
 Stake your claim where gold is plenty; 
 For you get just what you buy. 
 
 /llMnD tbe GIovq ot /IDan* 
 
 Mind to man is crowning glory 
 When calm reason holds its sway, 
 
 Jiut dethrone fair, regal reason, — 
 Lo! the glory fades away. 
 
 No possession so productive 
 
 If but cultivated right; 
 Other charm is never greater 
 
 In Time's ever onward flight, 
 
18 
 
 AVealth and birth and rank you may have, 
 
 Live in luxury and ease, 
 Be a teacher or a cobbler. 
 
 Work for self or whom you please. 
 
 But your being cross and crabbed 
 Shows at once you've lost your mind; 
 
 For when reason is the ruler, 
 You are wise, and good, and kind. 
 
 Wealth and birth, official station 
 May be, rank far up with you; 
 
 But these cannot have the rev'rence 
 That to mind is always due. 
 
 (-ultivated mind and morals, 
 
 Xot apart, but blent in one, 
 Ever have respectful tribute 
 
 And in life, are like the sun. 
 
 But so few of young men starting 
 At the ladder's bottom round. 
 
 Ever get beyond its middle; 
 And for this some fault is found. 
 
 But they had not calculated 
 
 And could not have started right 
 Or they would have climbed the ladder, 
 
 Keeping mind within their sight. 
 Thinking and not show makes manhood, 
 
 Though the most are all for show; 
 And parade about their learning. 
 
 But alone can learning go ? 
 
10 
 
 Take an engine and a boiler, 
 
 Generate in one your steam 
 And the two will work together; 
 
 But will one horse make a team ? 
 
 Great success means toilsome culture 
 
 All along some given line; 
 But if you shall hide your talent, 
 
 It will go to swell the nine. 
 
 This is but the law of Nature 
 And her laws are always just. 
 
 She bestows all kinds of treasure, 
 But they're found beneath the dust. 
 
 Greatest men are men of action. 
 
 Thinking into action goes; 
 But wrong action and wrong thinking 
 
 Brings to us our greatest woes. 
 
 Nature plants within each bosom 
 
 Principles of excellence; 
 But they must be cultivated, 
 
 Or they're not worth half a pence. 
 
 As the grand and splendid rivers 
 
 Kolling onward to the sea, 
 Owe their strength to spring and brook- 
 let 
 
 From the mountain and the lea, 
 
20 
 
 So, does wide and sweeping power 
 To distinguished people, come 
 
 From the spring-lets of self culture 
 That of all life are the sum. 
 
 You perhaps are poor, a stranger, 
 That is nothing in your way; 
 
 Captain Cook, a famous sailor, 
 Started from a hut of clay. 
 
 Fifty years was famed Lord Eldon 
 
 In the l^ritish parliament; 
 He was but a merchant's scion 
 
 But upon self culture bent. 
 
 Franklin, diplomat and statesman. 
 Was in youth a printer's lad; 
 
 And a penny roll or biscuit 
 At the noon was all he had. 
 
 Goldsmith, Johnson, many others. 
 Once were pressed— in need of gold; 
 
 But that did not stop their action. 
 Can you stop the heat or cold ? 
 
 Gird then, friend, for self instruction. 
 Set high price upon your time; 
 
 Then your tho'ts that will be purchased 
 Will be thoughts that are sublime. 
 
Thoughts of greatness come by reading 
 Books that teach the way of life; 
 
 And we rise by overcoming, 
 Being active in the strife. 
 
 If you wish for wealth and greatness, 
 
 Do the little kindly deed; 
 And give something to your neighbor 
 
 If your neighbor is in need. 
 
 ^5^^^^^* 
 
 IPriDe auD 1bumtlitp» 
 
 How often human nature looks 
 Up to the wealthy man of pride 
 
 Because it envies him his gold, 
 His social circle gay and wide. 
 
 But notice now the lilies fair; 
 
 They neither toil, nor sow, nor spin 
 And yet they teach a higher life 
 
 To him who has a soul within. 
 
 The flowers, fair and innocent. 
 Yield to the air a fragrant breath; 
 
 They're clustered oft upon the bier 
 And light approaching shades of death 
 
22 
 
 Yet many say, How happy he 
 Who has of plenty to be proud; 
 
 Who moves "neath golden canopy, 
 With Fame a pleasant shading cloud. 
 
 And happy he whose genius wins 
 Each bargain which he undertakes; 
 
 But such is not true brotherhood 
 When thirst by brother's blood he slakes. 
 
 And such is not true happiness; 
 
 For long as life's years onward roll. 
 Dark phantoms haunt, unto the grave, 
 
 The one who dares to crush a soul. 
 
 True happiness is like the buds. 
 And it will blossom in our lives 
 
 If we but plant within our hearts 
 That kindly loves which never dies. 
 
 There is a story of two men 
 
 Who sought the temple, once to pray; 
 One was a rigid Pharisee, 
 
 But which was justified that day? 
 
 Or which is truer, nobler mindV 
 And which makes one the better man? 
 
 A thinking as the Pharisee 
 Or like the humble publican ? 
 
 At all events, the humble man 
 
 Remembers he is lowly clay 
 And thinks of how much worse he is 
 
 Than those he meets with ev'ry day. 
 
23 
 
 He reads and loves to think about 
 Those men who tower far above 
 
 In wisdom, goodness, courage, grace. 
 And all the noble ways of love. 
 
 And thus his mind is filled with thoughts 
 That ever teach him how to live 
 
 And always how to be alike 
 The fiowTS that pleasant honey give. 
 
 The proud man thinks. How rich I am; 
 
 And wiser, better than my friends; 
 He watches ^lose the wid'ning gulf. 
 
 But cares no whit about the ends. 
 
 He, ever deep in love with self, 
 Feeds his conceit at others loss 
 
 And fills his mind with subtle thoughts 
 Which cover poison with sweet gloss. 
 
 Now both these men have their reward. 
 
 The humble man as years roll on 
 Becomes more noble, wise and good,— 
 
 His life advances like the dawn. 
 
 The other man gains greater wealth 
 Of gold, but ever dwarfs his mind 
 
 Until a shriveled frosted thing 
 Is all ambition leaves behind. 
 
24 
 
 /nbigbt anD IRigbt. 
 
 One eve, a man of quiet mien 
 
 Within a village hall was seen. 
 
 'Tvvas in the autumn of the year 
 
 When leaves were red, and gold, and sere. 
 
 He did not come, as some men do, 
 AVith pomp and state and much ado; 
 But like the morning light he came,— 
 And thus he ever seemed the same. 
 
 The people from the country near 
 Were in the hall that they might hear. 
 The bills had said, " Exactly eight;" 
 And not a person entered late. 
 
 Then, stepping to the platform's hight, 
 " My words," quoth he, " are for the right. 
 I'm not arrayed 'gainst any man. 
 Nor do I stand for clique or clan. 
 
 "But men are fooling breath away 
 O'er current issues of the day. 
 Two wrongs, they say, don't make a right; 
 And yet all parties arm for fight. 
 
 "They haul, and pull, and saw about; 
 For this and that man raise a shout; 
 And say that times are getting worse 
 And money's less within our purse. 
 
"Now let me tell you something, friends: 
 These, do not lead to highest ends. 
 But if the people all were good, 
 You each would help each all you could. 
 
 " And if all men were without guile, 
 They'd never wear deceiving smile; 
 N^or ever hate, or cheat, or steal. 
 And plan against their neighbors' weal. 
 
 " They'd never gamble, drink or chew, 
 Nor do the things our Lord won't do; 
 They'd not kneel down in church and pray, 
 Then quarrel the balance of the day. 
 
 "Nor can these errors be repressed. 
 Nor any evil be redressed 
 liy making laws to force a man 
 To follow after better plan. 
 
 " Though men, who in the pulpit stand. 
 Are voicing loud o'er all the land. 
 That, if on Sunday one saws wood, 
 Just legislate and make him good! 
 
 " This principle is all at fault. 
 The law may cause a man to halt; 
 But in his mind lie thinks the same 
 And may be plans to dodge its claim. 
 
 "Pure, earnest love to God and man 
 Has been the law since time began. 
 And when by love men think and do, 
 They will be good and times good too. 
 
26 
 
 *' The people came to Christ one day 
 With stones, to crush a life away; 
 And said, Good sir, this woman, here, 
 Ilath sinned. Wilt thou make sentence 
 clear ? 
 
 " He, stooping down, wrote in the sand. 
 The stones fell out of each one's hand; 
 And feeling guilt, they slunk away 
 Because they, too, had sinned that day. 
 
 *' But Christ nowhere will sin uphold, 
 Outside the gate or in the fold. 
 And, though these men accused her, sore. 
 He sweetly said. Go, sin no more! 
 
 " But he has died that you might live 
 And longs to pardon and forgive; 
 And, impart strength that you may choose 
 The good, and ev'ry wrong refuse. 
 
 " Oh come, while it is yet to-day! 
 Oh come, cries he, Turn not away! 
 Trust me, when crushing wrong is rife 
 And you shall have eternal life.*" 
 
27 
 
 Xlbe /iDount ot /iDtserles, 
 
 While looking through a book one clay, 
 
 A reader old and worn, 
 I chanced upon a page all marked, 
 
 Its corners crimped and torn. 
 
 I always like to look at scrip, 
 
 And study every trace; 
 For these portray the character 
 
 As does the human face. 
 
 Upon this page began some prose 
 
 With title as this lay; 
 'Twas written many years ago; 
 
 It opened in this way:— 
 
 While seated in my elbow-chair 
 To think grave thoughts and deep. 
 
 The curtains of my vision rolled 
 And I was fast asleep. 
 
 And as I slept my fancy woke, 
 And pleasant was my dream; 
 
 For I was wafted far away 
 Beyond times flowing stream. 
 
 And there I saw all kinds of flow'rs, 
 
 The countless angel band; 
 But no departed souls up there 
 
 From out our lower land. 
 
28 
 
 I looked around all wonderment, 
 And saw a native near — 
 " AVill you explain this mystery, 
 That doth to some appear ?"' 
 
 " How readest thou ?" the answer came; 
 " Doth not the Bible say 
 That David's not in heaven yet. 
 But waits the final day ? 
 
 " In death, all sleep beneath the dust, 
 This fact none can decry; 
 For ' each and ev'ry soul that sins,' 
 God says, ' shall surely die.' " 
 
 And then the scene began to change, 
 
 New things came into view; 
 And when upon the earth once more. 
 
 Old thoughts were changed for new. 
 
 Methought I saw upon this sphere, 
 
 A broad expansive plain 
 Where naught but grass and mosses grew. 
 
 Instead of golden grain. 
 
 And as I looked I heard a voice 
 To mankind speak and say, 
 " Come, throw your burdens on this plain 
 Xor wait another day!"' 
 
 Quite near the center was a place 
 
 On which I took my stand, 
 That I might see the people come 
 
 From out each border land. 
 
29 
 
 And, as I stood, from ev'rywhere 
 Came people young and old- 
 Each threw away a ditf'rent load, 
 One threw away his gold. 
 
 Ere long, this pile grew mountain high 
 
 And many miles around; 
 Eor in it were thrown all defects 
 
 That 'mongst mankind are found. 
 
 There was a certain woman there, 
 
 Of thin and airy shape; 
 Who acted very solemnly 
 
 And folks did at her gape. 
 
 She carried in her hand a glass 
 That made all things look large;— 
 
 Held it before the eyes of all 
 Without the slightest charge. 
 
 She clothed herself in tlowing robes, 
 
 As doth a fairy queen; 
 And on them were the heads of imps 
 
 And spectors, red and green. 
 
 She wore a wild distracted look- 
 Miss Fancy was her name— 
 
 She led each mortal to this place 
 Without one bit of shame. 
 
 And when she'd led them to this place 
 And they'd thrown down their lot, 
 
 She'd disappear to make believe 
 She'd not been in the plot. 
 
30 
 
 I saw a lot of people there 
 
 And all of them I knew ; 
 Some came from out the cities near, 
 
 Some from the distant " Soo." 
 
 They'd rather not had me about, 
 
 But still I lingered near 
 And saw what each one threw away ; 
 
 The sight was droll yet drear. 
 
 One man threw down his poverty, 
 
 Then ran as if for life; 
 Another dropped a tight closed sack. 
 
 And in it was— his wife. 
 
 And then a lot of lovers came 
 
 With burdens of all kinds 
 Made up of passion, darts and hate. 
 
 Some came with feeble minds. 
 
 But these laid not their troubles down, 
 When once they saw the heap; 
 
 Instead, they took them back again; 
 I guess they thought they'd keep. 
 
 And then I saw old women come 
 And throw their wrinkles down, 
 
 Perhaps they thought it made them 
 young; 
 But wrinkles are a crown. 
 
31 
 
 Young women came, stripped off their 
 tan; 
 
 Some threw their feet away; 
 Perhaps they were a little large, 
 
 I did not hear them say. 
 
 I saw a heap of noses red; 
 
 A pile of ugly lips; 
 A lot of nasty rusty teeth; 
 
 Some old disjointed hips. 
 
 But what surprised me most of all 
 Was that this monstrous heap 
 
 Was built of things that were not sins. 
 And things we all might keep. 
 
 But oh, what fools we mortals are! 
 
 We know 'tis good that wins; 
 And yet we'll wear our longest coat 
 
 To cover up our sins. 
 
 I noticed one throw down the hump, 
 
 That grew upon his back; 
 And one. a very wicked man, 
 
 Threw down his mem'ry sack. 
 
 Some folks threw down their modesty; 
 
 Fine folks threw down their spleen; 
 A few threw ignorance away; 
 
 Kone, passion black or green. 
 
32 
 
 Now when the whole race of mankind 
 Had cast their burdens down, 
 
 Miss Phantom took me by surprise^ 
 She played me for a clown. 
 
 She held her magnifying glass 
 
 So I could see my face; 
 I fairly wilted at the sight 
 
 Of such outlandish grace. 
 
 One way it seemed to be too short, 
 
 The other way too wide; 
 My nose seemed just a little long; 
 
 My mustache, it looked dyed. 
 
 I threw my face off in disgust; 
 
 But luckily for me 
 Another just then did the same; 
 
 To trade we did agree. 
 
 I took his face and put it on. 
 Great horrors I what a sight! 
 
 I dare say 'twas a foot too long, 
 And uglier than night. 
 
 He had some trouble with my face, 
 
 I don't know what it was; 
 But when I got it back again 
 
 Somehow it seemed to buzz. 
 And now I saw, with pleasure great. 
 
 All species of mankind 
 Delivered from their grievances; 
 
 But some had fault to lind. 
 
33 
 
 They stood and looked around the heap 
 
 And said they didn't see 
 But what the things some threw away, 
 
 To them would pleasures be. 
 
 So, as they looked and found this; fault, 
 
 A voice was heard to say. 
 You all are now at liberty 
 
 To change without delay." 
 
 At this, Miss Fancy came around 
 And worked with might and main 
 
 To give each one some other pack: 
 She used her glass again. 
 
 Some observations now I made 
 While looking round about, 
 
 I saw a slave that had worn chains. 
 Instead take up the gout. 
 
 But by the changes of his face 
 
 I know he felt chagrin. 
 He looked as if he'd lost a friend,— 
 
 Perhaps his nearest kin. 
 
 It was amusing, quite, to see 
 Exchanges that were made: 
 
 Oft illness went for poverty. 
 And pain with ease would trade. 
 
 The female world, amongst themselves, 
 
 Began exchange of looks. 
 But I can't tell you all they did, 
 
 In less than seven books. 
 
34 
 
 But though they changed for this and 
 that, 
 
 They were not satisfied: 
 One got a boil for some gray hair, 
 
 Then sat her down and cried. 
 
 This seemed to be about the fact 
 
 In every person's case ; 
 For all were splut'ring over faults: 
 
 Their ills seemed out of place. 
 
 Perhaps "tis different with those 
 
 Who evils long have had; 
 They grow accustomed to their hurt 
 
 And think them not so bad. 
 
 At last all had the heap picked up; 
 
 They made a piteous sight 
 While wandering up and down the plain 
 
 In such a sorry plight. 
 
 From every side came loud complaints 
 
 And murmurs of all kinds, 
 Deep groans and lamentations drear — 
 
 Express of wretched minds. 
 
 Again the voice was heard to speak. 
 And this is what it said: — 
 " Go cast those burdens down again! 
 I'll give you yours instead." 
 
35 
 
 At this, Miss Fancy disappeared, 
 
 But in her stead was sent 
 The goddess Patience, whom we love 
 
 Because she spreads content. 
 
 This goddess wore neat fitting dress- 
 Was earnest and serene ; 
 
 And when she looked toward the sky, 
 Her smiling face was seen. 
 
 When each had laid his burden down. 
 She stood beside the heap; 
 
 It shrank up to one-third its size- 
 Some turned aw^ay to weep. 
 
 She gave to each his proper load; 
 
 And also knowledge how 
 To bear it most commodious, 
 
 And too, to pay life's vow. 
 
 They all marched off contentedly. 
 
 So grateful now to know 
 That they had not the thing they chose,- 
 
 Some other person's woe. 
 
 All this has taught me to be wise, 
 
 As well I think it might; 
 And not to envy or repine 
 
 At morn, or noon, or night. 
 
3S 
 
 The smoke from chimneys all around 
 Would scarcely swerve to left or right; 
 
 And birds would cluster in the trees 
 As if to take their yearly flight. 
 
 As noon drew near, a whit'ning veil 
 Would dim the form of distant hills 
 
 Then slowly spread, in subtle stealth, 
 Enshrouding land, and lakes, and rills. 
 
 And now, at first, a stray Hake fell,— 
 An indistinct approaching speck 
 
 Slow-circling, edging t'vvard the ground, 
 As if it could the earth bedeck. 
 
 But soon you'd see another fall; 
 
 Another, and another one, 
 With motion as it pleased them best, — 
 
 As men come home when work is done. 
 
 Then faster come and larger grow 
 The flakes. And now thick clouds of 
 snow 
 
 For half an hour in hurry fall, 
 And then the wind begins to blow. 
 
 The day declines; the snow grows dense; 
 
 The wind increases hour by hour; 
 Until outside like one great tent 
 
 Is spread the snow o'er Nature's bow'r 
 
39 
 
 And trav'lers, meeting on the road, 
 Each other hardly see or hear; 
 
 For sight and sound have little scope 
 In such a snow -filled atmosphere. 
 
 The passing train, half mile away. 
 Scarce makes its screeching whistle 
 heard; 
 
 And if a forest tree should fall. 
 
 You would not know it had occurred. 
 
 The sun goes down; the darkness comes; 
 
 A wild confusion then ensues; 
 And drifting, whirling, darting snow, 
 
 Awakes a spirit of " the blues." 
 
 Around the corners whips the wind 
 A moaning, groaning as it goes; 
 
 And seeking crevice, nick and crack, 
 Adds all it can to poor men's woes. 
 
 As I sit and watch kind sister 
 By the bed of mother dear. 
 
 Years agone are softly speaking, 
 Whisp'ring words into my ear. 
 
 And they tell me that when little. 
 Mother sat and watched o'er me; 
 
 And that soon, among the roses, 
 Her sweet face no more I'll see. 
 
40 
 
 She has been the best of mothers, 
 And I fain would bid her stay; 
 
 But the Angel Death must claim her 
 Till the resurrection day. 
 
 Then upon that shore immortal, 
 She the Saviour will adore; 
 
 And her face in angel beauty. 
 We shall look upon once more. 
 
 But, dear sister, we will miss her 
 During all our sojourn here; 
 
 And we shall be sad and lonely. 
 Till the Life King shall appear. 
 
 Then there'll be a grand reunion; 
 
 Friends that here have passed away 
 Will unite no more to sever 
 
 In that grand eternal day. 
 
 Yes, my sister life is ebbing, 
 But it will return some day; 
 
 So let's pray that when it cometh 
 God will wipe our tears away. 
 
 It is sweet to have a mother 
 Though she's old and feeble grown; 
 
 For her love outweighs the planets, 
 All its depth cannot be known. 
 
41 
 
 In this world, no bard or poet 
 Can her praise too often sing; 
 
 For the living have their being 
 By her love and nourishing. 
 
 This poem was written one night, several years ago 
 when mother was not expected to live. But I am happy 
 to state that she recovered and is still living. 
 
 ^5^ ^5^ ^5^ 
 
 Bepressiom 
 
 My soul, why art thou so oppressed ? 
 Whence comes this boding, strange unrest ? 
 What means this weight that bears thee 
 
 down? 
 What Fate is looking now with frown ? 
 
 The time was glad but yesterday; 
 This morn, the heart was light and gay; 
 No wretched stomach casts the gloom; 
 No waning stimulant gives room 
 
 To such strange shadows, drear and cold, 
 As rise, like death-shapes, from the mold 
 Within the closure of a crypt 
 Where poison waters long have dripped. 
 
 'Tis like a frigid day and snow 
 
 That settles down when June buds blow ; 
 
 Or like a bright midsummer day 
 
 By fierce midwinter chased away. 
 
42 
 
 My friends are true, — what friends I care; 
 My love is true, — the letter, there, 
 Exhales perfume to sense and soul, 
 I^or breathes but trust in years to roll. 
 
 Yet in the years now far away 
 Where distant past is leaden gray, 
 Are tracings, made by crushing woes 
 That ruthless stalked, like giant foes, 
 
 O'er tender heart-buds' springtime bloom; 
 And many hopes lie in the tomb. 
 But not these graves themselves obtrude 
 And bind by melancholy mood. 
 
 These hallowed graves received warm tears ; 
 And many flow'rs, in later years. 
 Have come above the sacred dead 
 To give a fragrant breath instead. 
 
 Ah, no! 'tis not the far or near 
 Of other days, nor insincere. 
 Inconstant ones of present day. 
 That drives the cheerful thoughts away. 
 
 The gloom is pressed by taunting gnomes 
 Whose wings now shade, who knows what 
 
 homes V 
 And gladness glides from where they lurk, 
 Chased by their cry, " jS^o work! no work!*' 
 
43 
 
 After the day has sung its song of sorrow, 
 No more remember it was sad and drear; 
 For it is so: the sun somewhere is shining 
 
 And in our lives its radiance will appear. 
 How fair the day when love is overflowing! 
 How bright the blossom rising in our 
 hearts! 
 Dear love! 'tis love that makes the world all 
 joyous; 
 And life has nothing fairer it imparts. 
 See, love, I come! my feet are light with 
 gladness; 
 For love and life their beauty overcast. 
 And now I speak though all the lonely 
 
 silence, 
 " Hope on dear heart, our lives shall meet at 
 last," 
 
 Oh it was long, the heavy day of sorrow. 
 
 The hours seem long until we meet again. 
 -But all the way is flooded now with sunshine 
 And life is voicing Love's melodic strain. 
 From near, from far, the harpers all are 
 merry — 
 The music forms like countless flowers 
 ablow; 
 And fairy shapes, with rose and perfume, 
 gaily 
 
44 
 
 Are passing on the breezes to and fro. 
 Thus earth is changed and heav'n is brought 
 to mortals: 
 And so we wish life never will be past; 
 And filled with love, my heart speaks to you 
 
 ever, 
 " Hope on dear heart, our lives shall meet at 
 
 [Song.] 
 
 A winsome Miss of twenty, 
 A lad just twenty-three, 
 
 With hammock went one evening 
 To swing beneath a tree. 
 
 Of course to keep her near him, 
 His arm around her strayed; 
 
 And softly he kept saying- 
 Saying as they swayed: 
 
 Chorus. 
 Won't you be my bride, dear ? 
 
 I love you! 
 Be what I am asking, 
 
 O, please do. 
 Listen to my pleadings; 
 
 Don't say nay. 
 Won't you be my bride, dear ? 
 
 Answer yea. 
 
45 
 
 One year these two had courted; 
 
 And so while by her side 
 He thought 'twere well to ask her 
 
 If she would be his bride. 
 The hammock stopped its swinging; 
 
 lie knelt close at her feet; 
 And when he'd told his story, 
 
 These words he did repeat: 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 Two years have passed since swniging 
 
 That lovely summer night. 
 He's sitting in the parlor 
 
 Where all is gay and bright; 
 Ilis wife is bending o'er him, 
 
 A smile upon her face; 
 For he once more is singing, 
 
 While holding baby Grace: 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 ^5^ ^5* ^5^ 
 
 /nbcmors ©ems. 
 
 Merry coming merry going, 
 Days are long or days are short, 
 
 But with music, they forever 
 Keep with Friendship s bright cohort. 
 
40 
 
 Shall I forget so true a friend 
 
 And all the many hours 
 That, like a summer day, has lived 
 
 In Friendship's realm of flow'rs? 
 Though other hours will come and go 
 
 And other friends be near 
 I'll prize the fair forget-me-not 
 
 That brightly blossomed here. * 
 
 Smile, when the sky is clear; 
 
 Smile, when the sky is glum; 
 Smile, when the day is bright; 
 
 Smile, when the night is come; 
 Smile, when you've many friends; 
 
 Smile, though you know of none; 
 Smile, all the days of life; 
 
 Thus is the triumj^h won. * 
 
 " Those that toil bravely are strongest,'' 
 Was said long, long ago. 
 And it fights my hardest battles 
 And gives me joy for woe.