LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
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 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 

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MISCELLANEOUS 
 
 POEMS 
 
 -BY 
 
 Mrs. Hannah Van Loon. 
 
 mi 
 
 
 f f^" *s$ 
 
 No... 
 TOWANDA, PENKA - 
 
 "Bradford Republican" Printing House 
 
 1880. 
 
 
76 3 1K l 
 
 ,V3 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, 
 
 By MRS. HANNAH VAN* LOON, 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 
 
Preface, 
 
 Will some friends shake their heads, 
 And will the public's wondering looky 
 
 Be a rebuke I've merited — 
 
 Presuming thus to write a book 3 
 
 If Justice is my judge, 
 
 I know my sentence ere I'm tried. 
 My only hope is Charity 
 
 May turn the scales on Mercy's side. 
 
 Tins is all my excuse — 
 
 I while d away long hours of pain; 
 Trying to shape my uncouth thoughts, 
 
 So they might fit some tuneful strain. 
 
 And if too partial friends 
 
 Let kind hearts speak, instead of sense. 
 When they said, " make a book,'' they erred 
 
 For love, and love hath recompense. 
 
 If aught of hope or cheer 
 
 To one heart, bowing 'neath the rod. 
 My poor weak words have ever given, 
 
 Most earnestly I say, "thank God!"' 
 
 And, if this crucial test 
 
 Decides that naught of gold there be, 
 I'll hug this comfort to my heart — 
 
 How well my friends must have loved me ! 
 
Margaret. 
 
 Margaret, Margaret, 
 
 List to my pleading ! 
 
 Can'st thou be unheeding, 
 When I cry to thee out of a heart that is bleeding 
 Come, one little hour, from the shadowy shore 
 And talk to me, dear, in the olden love -lore; 
 Be my own true love, my darling, once more : 
 
 Be my own Margaret. 
 
 Margaret, Margaret, 
 
 They said you were sleeping 
 
 In the Lover's keeping, 
 And they chided, they chided my over-much weeping 
 Then softly I lifted the enshrouding lace 
 Away from thy hair, from thy beautiful face, 
 And I cried, " look up with thy shy, sweet grace !" 
 
 This I plead, Margaret. 
 
 Margaret, Margaret, 
 ■ Give me some token, 
 If aught I have spoken 
 Hath pulsed in thy heart, or thy deep sleep hath bro- 
 ken. 
 Dost thou not answer, by look or by word i 
 Yet, my own darling, I know thou hast heard, 
 For the white lilies on thy bosom stirred : 
 Thou hast heard, Margaret ? 
 
MARGARET. 
 
 Margaret, Margaret, 
 
 Come back and tell me, 
 
 What was it befell thee 
 That night my heart did in anguish bewail thee \ 
 Who stole thy roses and gave thee instead 
 Lilies, whiter than garlands we weave for our dead 
 How could' st thou sleep when so loudly I plead 
 
 To waken thee, Margaret I 
 
 Margaret, Margaret, 
 
 What was the waking, 
 
 What was the breaking 
 Of slumber that doomed my heart bitterest aching ; 
 Say, did the Bridegroom thee tenderly bear 
 O'er balm-breathing seas, to His mansion so fair t 
 A diadem, almost outshining thy hair, 
 
 Wearest thou, Margaret \ 
 
 Margaret Margaret, 
 
 If I were sleeping, 
 
 And thou vigil keeping, 
 I would awaken at sound of thy weeping ; 
 Or had I passed o'er the seas breathing balm. 
 Into the land of the olive and palm, 
 Thy plaint would reach me : thro' all heaven's calm. 
 
 I would list, Margaret. 
 
 Margaret. Margaret, 
 I am benighted, 
 
MARGARET. 
 
 No beacon hath lighted 
 My life's trackless sea, but the love that thou plighted — 
 Thou wert chart and compass, my frail bark to guide, 
 Now aimless I drift on the merciless tide, 
 And I shall be shipwrecked afar from thy side — 
 
 Pity me, Margaret. 
 
 Margaret, Margaret, 
 
 Thro' the June gloaming 
 
 I'm restlessly roaming, 
 Oh would to God I could hear thy step coming — 
 See how the pine trees bend low now to list, 
 See their arms out-stretched to welcome our tryst, 
 Here, where our troth-plight we tenderly kissed — 
 
 God help me, Margaret. 
 
 ^W 
 
 Sh 
 
DARKENED. 
 
 Darkened. 
 
 They brought a rose to my darkened room, 
 Impearled with dew, breathing soft perfume. 
 A rose to prove to my doubting brain 
 That lovely June graced the earth again. 
 
 I touched its petals in fond surprise, 
 I feasted long with my hungry eyes ; 
 Then the sweet flower by some subtle art, 
 Transferred its dew to my thirsting heart. 
 
 And then I knew, in my darkened room. 
 That earth was bright in her summer bloom : 
 And then I heard in sweetest words, 
 The brooklets answering to the birds. 
 
 And thought went back to another June. 
 When my voice caroled the song-birds' tune. 
 When glad I roamed through sunny bowers, 
 And garlands wove from brightest flowers. 
 
 Ah. life was then but a rhythmic beat. 
 Whose measures timed with my bounding feet ; 
 Whose future seemed with rare garlands hung, 
 With bird-notes changed to a fuller song. 
 
^*0W AKD THE??. 
 
 Now, who will whisper the sad, sad words 
 To waiting flowers and wondering birds, 
 That she who loved them may never come. 
 But weeps alone in her darkened room ? 
 
 Must I He here, with my folded hands. 
 Until life ekes out her golden sands ? 
 Of God-given being is this my part. 
 To crush back tears on a breaking heart 2 
 
 O, pitying God, come in tender love 
 And fill my soul till thy presence prove 
 That wondrous beauty and rich perfume 
 May reach even me, in my darkened room. 
 
 Now and Then. 
 
 What say ye winds at my window-pane i 
 Whisper ye love to the gentle rain \ 
 Or strive ye with amorous breath to dry 
 The tears that fall from a grieving sky \ 
 
 Ah, ye are chanting a funeral hymn : 
 
 To me ye are singing a requiem, 
 
 For my loved and lost of the bygone years. 
 
 And clouds keep time with their falling tears. 
 
10 NOW AND THEN. 
 
 Come closer, winds, to my window-pane, 
 And sing to me of my loved again ; 
 Sing soft and low, that no careless ear 
 The tender dirge for my lost may hear. 
 
 pitying winds, can ye pierce the veil 
 Of the mystic world ? O can ye tell 
 To me one secret of that fair clime ? 
 Will mine on earth, in heaven be mine i 
 
 Now come with me where she lies asleep, 
 Where the cypress bendeth, lone watch to keep, 
 Where flowers have bloomed thro' the long, long 
 
 years, 
 By my kisses warmed, watered by my tears. 
 
 When no more I weep at my darling's grave. 
 When tender grasses o'er me shall wave, 
 Will ye sometimes in the summer hours, 
 Woo gentle rains to the drooping flowers ? 
 
 But sing no dirge for my darling then ; 
 From an angel-choir catch the sweet refrain 
 Of an amthem glad, that through heaven swells, 
 Where two lovers roam, crowned with immortelles. 
 
"SABBATH BELLS. 11 
 
 Sabbath Bells. 
 
 Hushing every doubt and care, 
 Winning us to praise and prayer, 
 Chime the sweet bells on the air ; 
 
 Sweet Sabbath bells. 
 And the hills give back again, 
 Echoes of the tender strain, 
 While our hearts beat the refrain 
 
 Sweet Sabbath bells ! 
 
 Now they whisper pleadingly, 
 i i Sinner, I have died for thee ; 
 Wilt thou come and worship me ? 
 
 Come, sinner, come, 
 From thy toil and care away, 
 On this holy Sabbath day, 
 Come and learn to praise and pray 
 
 Come, sinner, come." 
 
 Now the chimes are full and sweet. 
 
 As the loving bells repeat, 
 
 u Haste, O haste thy laggard feet ; 
 
 Jesus is here I" 
 And the last, low, tender strain 
 Dies away o'er hill and plain, 
 While we sing the sweet refrain, 
 
 " Jesus is here !" 
 
(2 MY MAGICIAN. 
 
 My Magician. 
 
 While the purple twilight lingers, 
 Midway 'twixt the dark and bright ; 
 
 Reaching out with shadowy fingers, 
 Toward the day and toward the night, 
 
 Come magician, 'tis the hour 
 Sacred to sweet minstrelsy ; 
 
 Come, and with a heav'n-born power 
 Wake thy harp's sweet melody. 
 
 Strike no note of joy or gladness, 
 For my heart is sick with fears ; 
 
 Touch some key of plaintive sadness, 
 To unlock the fount of tears. 
 
 All my soul is dark within me, 
 All my hopes are stricken bare, 
 
 And the powers of sin enchain me. 
 In the prison of despair. 
 
 the blessed power of healing, 
 Minstrel, in thy tender strain ! 
 
 Thou the fount of tears unsealing, 
 I have wept away my pain. 
 
FAITHFUL PEN, FAREWELL. 13 
 
 Faithful Pen, Farewell, 
 
 I have nothing to write, 
 For the beautiful thoughts have all passed away, 
 From the bright world of Poesy gleameth no ray 
 
 To illumine my night. 
 
 Yea, my long starless night, 
 Where blindly I grope o'er the pitless way ; 
 Where song birds are mute that enlivened the day 
 
 Where there cometh no light. 
 
 Yet once more thou may'st write, 
 Dear faithful Pen, ere forever we part ; 
 Thou may'st pour out that long, bitter cry of my heart, 
 
 Thou heard'st on that night, 
 
 When I wailed for my dead — 
 Not the dead that he yonder with pale, folded hands, 
 In flower-strewn graves, where the white marble stands 
 
 At the foot and the head ; 
 
 But my dead hope and faith, 
 That I carefully shrouded and coffined from sight. 
 And laid in a grave in my sad heart that night — 
 
 Placing o'er them the wreath 
 
14 FAITHFUL PEN, FAREWELL. 
 
 I had tearfully made, 
 Of flowers that bloomed where my treasures were 
 
 shrined, 
 Now faded and scentless ; of them I entwined 
 
 Garlands meet for my dead. 
 
 Faithful Pen, ccm'st thou write 
 That long, waning cry, that sad cry of despair, 
 When I knelt at an altar broken and bare ; 
 
 When my day turned to night ? 
 
 When my breaking heart strove — 
 Thro' that long vigil of black midnight hours, 
 While faint from the odor of dying heart-flowers- 
 
 To keep hidden its grave ? 
 
 Ah, with ready delight, 
 Thou did'st speak in the past love's beautiful words — 
 Thou hast blossomed with flowers and sung with the 
 birds — 
 
 Art thou palsied to-night ? 
 
 I have nothing to write, 
 For the beautiful thoughts have all passed away. 
 This only I whisper, " my idols were clay !" 
 
 Whisper thro' the long night. 
 
TO 
 
 # * * * * 15 
 
 TO 
 
 Adown the path, saying never a word, 
 I walk to-night in the tender gloaming ; 
 
 But ah, my beautiful flowers have heard, 
 And one says, ' ' Hark ! it is she a-coming ! 
 
 I was almost sure she would come to-night, 
 
 So I have dressed in mv daintiest white." 
 
 Another says, ' ' I think I'll wear red, 
 
 The dress I wore when she stooped above me 
 
 And kindly lifting my bashful head. 
 
 Kissed me and said she would always love me. 
 
 Perhaps I don't look the best in red. 
 
 But I remember just what she said.'' 
 
 And here's a group in such lovely pink, 
 
 Tied cunningly with dainty, white sashes — 
 
 The sweet vain things — I shall always think 
 They peeked at me, from under their lashes 
 
 Slyly, to see if my face expressed 
 
 Surprise that they had such perfect taste. 
 
 And there, so stately and proud and grand. 
 
 Another group wear rich, purple dresses. 
 They are queenly ladies, born to command. 
 
 Ignoring compliments and caresses : 
 But I wonder what made Miss Purple sigh 
 When I kissed her neighbor, over the way \ 
 
16 TO 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 Sweet, little Pausies — I know, I know 
 
 Whose lips have welcoming^ for my coming 
 
 Whose shy soft eyes are with love aglow, 
 Shining on me through the tender gloaming- 
 
 I never can tell just how you are dressed, 
 
 But — I'll whisper low — but I love you best. 
 
 Those marigolds are so very fine, 
 
 In velvet gowns of the latest fashions ; 
 
 And yet they are not too proud to own 
 Even the poorest of their relations. 
 
 There is a lady in velvet now, 
 
 Chatting with little Miss Calico. 
 
 Of course I meant a long verse to write 
 
 About my pinks and their wondrous graces, 
 
 And every word they say to-night. 
 Lifting to me their beautiful faces : 
 
 But how can I write and make it rhyme, 
 
 With them a-talking all of the time \ 
 
 Xow, darling, will you not come to me 
 
 To-morrow night, through the tender gloaming 
 
 Then all my beautiful flowers will be 
 In fullest dress, to greet your coming : 
 
 And you will wonder how I could time 
 
 Even these poor verses, and make them rhyme. 
 
SATURDAY XIGHT. 1 7 
 
 Saturday Night. 
 
 Backward and forward, quietly rocking. 
 Busily knitting my old man's stocking ; 
 Steadily watching the firelight's gleaming. 
 Never I miss a stitch in the seaming. 
 
 Forward and backward, quietly rocking, 
 
 1 rying to finish my old man's stocking ; 
 
 Ah would you guess my thoughts are a-flitting 
 
 Far, far away from the stocking I'm knitting i 
 
 A child gathering flowers, with summer winds playing 
 Through tangled curls, that ever are straying 
 O'er cheeks that seem to have been imprinted 
 By colors with which roses were tinted. 
 
 A school girl murmurs, homeward returning, 
 "Ah, much I fear these lessons I'm learning 
 Xever will pay for the many long hours, 
 I'm shut awav from the sunshine and flowers." 
 
 Maiden and lover, through summer's soft gloaming, 
 Hand clasped in hand, are happily roaming, 
 Down where the scent from blight clover meadows. 
 Coming to them through deepening shadows. 
 
18 SATURDAY NIGHT. 
 
 Brings a rare joy with its subtle sweetness ; 
 Only a part of their love's completeness. 
 Ah, with a future all golden seeming, 
 Life has to them the happiest meaning. 
 
 Hark, sweet-toned bells are merrily pealing, 
 Where a fair bride at the altar is kneeling ; 
 Vowing that for love, one heart will give her, 
 She will be true forever and ever. 
 
 Hand clasped in hand, hearts beating one measure, 
 Love soothing pain and sweetening pleasure, 
 Sharing all gains and sharing all losses, 
 Taking the crowns to garland the crosses. 
 
 Ah memory, I love here to linger, 
 Ere stern-browed Time, with relentless finger, 
 Left on each form and feature his tracing, 
 The brightest tints in the picture effacing. 
 
 Let me pass quickly o'er each scene of sorrow, 
 When sad to-day brought a sadder to-morrow. 
 I'll not repine though clouds darken the even ; 
 Earth must grow dim as we near the bright heaven. 
 
 Clock striking twelve ? Ah, no wonder I'm blinking ! 
 Strange, what queer thoughts old folks will be think- 
 ing ! 
 Well, I am glad, while knitting and rocking, 
 I've got to the toe of my old man's stocking. 
 
ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT. 19 
 
 Another Saturday Night. 
 
 Now lay a fresh stick on the flickerin' fire, 
 And draw up my arm-chair a leetle bit nigher ; 
 The very old chair I was quietly rockin' 
 The night that I finished a-knittin' this stockin 1 . 
 
 I wonder how long my old man's been a-wearin' 
 These stockins', without any stitch of repairin'. 
 At the week's end, you know, I fresh them for Mon- 
 day : 
 A pair knit of lamb's wool he wears of a Sunday. 
 
 It's nigh on a year. Well my old man's been keerful. 
 But to-night he said sadly, ' ' Hanner, I'm fearful 
 You can't have no comfort this evenin' a-rockin', 
 For a heel and some toes I've punched clean through 
 each stockin'." 
 
 I confess to a-somethin' in my throat uprisin', 
 When he mentioned so sudden, a fact so surprisin' ; 
 But I choked back the lump with the air of a stoic. 
 And Fame has recorded deeds not more heroic. 
 
 I had just read in Proverbs, perhaps 'twas a warnin', 
 That "all things have their time," knittin' begetteth 
 darnin' : 
 
ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT. 
 
 But 't's comfortable-like, knittin', dreamin' and rock- 
 
 in', 
 Such a different thing from darnin' a stockin'. 
 
 My hands bother me so, a-tremblin' and shakin', 
 
 And my bones seem to try which can do the most 
 
 achin' ; 
 I've grown all so strange-like, so worn out and jaded, 
 Like my old arm-chair's cushions, I'm threadbare and 
 
 faded. 
 
 Well, brighten the fire, I must have light a-plenty ; 
 Darnin' stockins' at threescore, ain't courtin' at 
 
 twenty : 
 And dust off my specs, my week's work is unended, 
 'Till the heels and the toes of these stockins' are 
 
 mended. 
 
 Yes, my old man and me have got on well together ; 
 We've had some clear days and some right cloudy 
 
 weather, 
 We've drank of life's gall, of its sweetest wine tasted, 
 Reaped some plentiful fields, mourned some vineyard 
 
 toil wasted. 
 
 Sometimes the dear Master set tasks for our learnin' 
 That seemed all too hard for our weak minds' dis- 
 cernin' ; 
 
ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT. 21 
 
 Sometimes, when rough ways bruised our feet nigh to 
 
 bleedin', 
 We covered our eyes and just reached for His leadin'. 
 
 Well, some sow and some reap while there's others for 
 
 gleanin'. 
 Each problem of life has a beautiful meanin' ; 
 And, if the good Master never catches us shirkin', 
 Sometime we will know why we needed their workin'. 
 
 If the warp be of love and the woof be of duty, 
 Let us patiently weave cloth of plainness or beauty; 
 Then we'll hear the u well done " when tasks are all 
 
 ended, 
 Wrought we with thread of gold or old garments 
 
 mended. 
 
 Well, these stockins' are done. A long time it has 
 
 taken; 
 But the light has been dim and my hands are so 
 
 shakin' : 
 And its perticler work, this 'ere toein' andheehn', 
 When you do just your best for the looks and the 
 
 feelin'. 
 
 Now I wonder what's that. Is the north wind 
 
 a-roarm 1 ? 
 Oh my tired old man is a-nappin' and snorin'. 
 Well, Saturday night begets rest on a Sunday, 
 And we won't have no worry 'bout stockins' for Monday 
 
12 KTOVEMBER, 
 
 November. 
 
 The drear November wind r 
 
 Burdened with weary rain r 
 Is beating ceaselessly 
 
 Against my window pane; 
 Drifting dead leaves, 
 From vines that cling 
 To low black eaves ; 
 And wind, and rain, and leaves all sighing, crying. 
 Are fitting requiem, for heart-flowers dying. 
 
 Cold fingers interlace 
 
 And press nu eyelids down ; 
 Shut out the pain and loss, 
 
 The gardens bare and brown, 
 And all things dead ; 
 Let bud and bloom 
 Be mine instead ; 
 On my wan, wasted cheeks droop pitying lashes, 
 Let me conjure love's flame from love's cold ashes. 
 * * * * * * 
 
 The lilac's scent and bloom. 
 
 The swallows in the eaves. 
 The south wind tenderly 
 
 Wooing the half-shy leaves ; 
 Mid white and pink 
 Of orchard blooms, 
 Swings Bobolink 
 Trilling his liquid notes — "listen sweet, sweeter 
 
 sweetest" — 
 Of all Spring's roundelays, Sir Kobert's is completest. 
 
NOVEMBER. 23 
 
 Adown the orchard path, 
 
 Under the full white moon, 
 A song thro' all my life, 
 
 Rarer than rare perfume — 
 Is't tender lay 
 That April sings 
 Or harp of May ? 
 Or is it soul-full June, from out her rose-bowers 
 
 singing ? 
 Or from Octocer's throne, is she an anthem ringing \ 
 
 A sense of some great gain, 
 
 Harmonious, complete, 
 Fiber ed thro' heart and brain, 
 A something subtly sweet — 
 My very own, 
 Yet glorying all — 
 A tender tune, 
 Soft as iEolian harp, swept by love's gentlest whispers. 
 To sweeter chords than chimes of bells at hour of 
 vespers. 
 
 sobbing winds be low ; 
 
 Skies, softly drop your tears. 
 Lest ye disturb my dead 
 In unmarked sepulchres — 
 Ghosts might arise 
 My weak brain could 
 Xot exorcise — 
 What are the dead to us after the sad entombing \ 
 If brown leaves drift away, there'll be another 
 blooming. 
 
24 EXORCISM. 
 
 Exorcism, 
 
 Sing to me, darling, some low loving words, 
 Touch now thy lute-strings to tenderest chords; 
 By sweetest exorcism, put thou to flight 
 The restless spirit that haunts me to night. 
 
 Lightly and lovingly soundeth a strain. 
 
 Bearing me back to my childhood again, 
 
 Where bright-winged song-birds make tuneful the 
 
 hours — 
 Care-free, I roam, plucking sweet-scented flowers. 
 
 Beat low, heart ! there are whispers of love, 
 As sweet methinks as the harp-notes above ; 
 Mutely I sit and with close- veiled eyes, 
 Bar I the world from my love -paradise. 
 
 Grave, earnest notes, how like duties they seem, 
 Almost too real after love's blissful dream. 
 Why, with love's harmony blende th its care \ 
 Why, for a smile, is the tribute a tear \ 
 
 Now soothing strains, by sweet Pity inspired, 
 Drop restful balm in my life, worn and tired ; 
 And while Faith whispers a gentle refrain, 
 My spirit soars from earth's sorrow and pain. 
 
 Author of music, thou kindly hast given 
 
 Earth some sweet chords, as a prelude to heaven ; 
 
 But the full chorus of rapturous praise, 
 
 Near thy white throne, our glad voices shall raise. 
 
HOMESICK. 25 
 
 Homesick. 
 
 Worn and marred by toil 
 
 On a stranger soil, 
 Father, list the plea of a homesick child, 
 
 Who entreats to come 
 
 To the well-loved home 
 From which so long he has been exiled. 
 
 Day is almost spent, 
 
 I am tired and faint, 
 And my burden greater than I can bear ; 
 
 And I long to-night 
 
 To be washed all white, 
 Meet for my home that is bright and fair. 
 
 My home which stands 
 
 On the golden sands, 
 That are kissed and kissed by the silver spray 
 
 Where my heart's delight, 
 
 Lilies snowy white, 
 With fragrant lips greet the perfect day. 
 
 Where in gardens fair, 
 The soft summer air 
 
 The scent of roses forever keeps ; 
 And the tender flush 
 Of their first sweet blush, 
 
 Never grows pale on their dewy lips. 
 
26 HOMESICK. 
 
 Father, let me come 
 
 To my own sweet home, 
 For weary, restless, I cannot wait ; 
 
 And why must I toil 
 
 On a foreign soil, 
 When I am heir to such rich estate ? 
 
 Why must I glean 
 
 On the harvest plain, 
 Or bind the sheaves where the reapers led, 
 
 While lilies white, 
 
 My heart's delight, 
 Woo me to rest in their scented bed ? 
 
 Why from grudging vine 
 
 Wring the tardy wine, 
 Perchance my portion but bitter lees ; 
 
 'Till I faint and fall, 
 
 While my roses call, 
 Their loving lips wet with healing dews ? 
 
 Must the jarring words 
 
 Of life's harsh discords, 
 Fall longer on my unwilling ear, 
 
 While soft harmonies 
 
 Flow from golden keys, 
 Blent with sweet songs from the white-robed choir i 
 
ALMOST HOME. 27 
 
 Must Thy homesick child 
 
 Longer be exiled, 
 With the brand of slavery on mind and brow \ 
 
 Father, loose the bands 
 
 From these trembling hands : 
 O, set Thy seal on my forehead now. 
 
 Almost Home. 
 
 I'm almost home, dear Lizzie, 
 
 Though travel-stained and worn : 
 For rough and dark the valley 
 
 Ere gleamed the light of morn : 
 But soon I'll rest me, darling, 
 
 Where " tears are wiped away," 
 Exchange earth's gloomy shadows 
 
 For realms of perfect day, 
 
 He called thee home, dear Lizzie, 
 
 When thou wert young and fair. 
 A bud of rarest promise 
 
 To bloom in purer air : 
 In anguish deep I watched thee 
 
 Passing from me away, 
 With breaking heart I saw thee 
 
 In lifeless beauty lay. 
 
28 ALMOST HOME. 
 
 Oft times in dreams, dear Lizzie, 
 
 As in the olden time 
 Thy soft white hand is lying 
 
 So trustingly in mine ; 
 And thy dear eyes are gazing 
 
 With. fondness in my own, 
 Alas ! the waking finds me 
 
 Despairing and alone. 
 
 But this dark night, dear Lizzie, 
 
 Is ushering in the morn, 
 That knows no change or darkness, 
 
 Of God's own radiance born ; 
 These feet, so weary, halting, 
 
 Shall walk the streets of gold ; 
 These eyes, so dim with weeping, 
 
 My Father's face behold. 
 
 My heart grows faint, dear Lizzie, 
 Death's damp is on my brow, 
 
 Earth's shore is fast receding, 
 Cold waves enfold me now ; 
 
 But through the mist there gleameth 
 A shining angel-band, 
 
 And one bright form draws near me, 
 
 My darling lost and gained. 
 
TO A FRIEND IN ENGLAND. 29 
 
 To a Friend in England, 
 
 What precious gift have I to send 
 
 To thee on thy birthday ? 
 What wouldst thou prize the most, dear friend 
 
 From one so far away ? 
 
 Some dainty gift, that cunning hands 
 
 Have wrought so skillfully, 
 To tell, thee that in foreign lands, 
 
 I still remember thee ? 
 
 Or wouldst thou choose some offering rare, 
 
 Some rich and costly gem, 
 To sparkle on thy brow or hair, 
 
 Worn in memoriam ? 
 
 Ah, dearest friend, souvenirs of art, 
 
 Mere wealth oft times doth give, 
 And well I know thy fond, true heart 
 
 Will dearer prize my love. 
 
 So on thy birthday I would fain * 
 
 The truest friendship prove, 
 And kneeling at God's holy shrine 
 
 I pray, " Keep her I love ; 
 
 And give her from Thy wealth untold, 
 
 Each day, some priceless gem, 
 And at the last a harp of gold 
 
 And fadeless diadem.'' 
 
30 FLORENCE. 
 
 Florence. 
 
 She has gone to rest, 
 
 With a cross of lilies upon her breast 
 
 And pale asters press 
 
 Their scented lips to her paler face ; 
 
 And the lilies sigh, 
 
 " We loved her so, we will with her die !" 
 
 And the asters make 
 
 Their life an offering for her sake. 
 
 Tender, soft, and sweet, 
 
 The organ grieves for the desolate : 
 
 Plaintive, low and sad, 
 
 A dirge is sung for the early dead ; 
 
 And Rachael's lot 
 
 Is the mother's now, for the child is not. 
 
 And the father's head 
 
 Is a little whiter since she is dead ; 
 
 And the sisters make 
 
 Pretence of calm, for each other's sake : 
 
 And a brother grieves 
 
 For as true a friend as the sad earth gives. 
 
FLORENCE. 31 
 
 By a coffin lid, 
 
 The light of a tender home is hid ; 
 
 And the night-winds moan 
 
 Over the bed where she lies alone ; 
 
 And the cypress blends 
 
 Its sighing voice with the moaning winds. 
 
 What inflnence sweet, 
 
 By day is guiding our weary feet ? 
 
 What beacon light 
 
 Shines out thro' the darkest hours of night ? 
 
 Ah the " earth to earth " 
 
 Was but the part that had mortal birth. 
 
 Still we watch and wait, 
 
 But she has passed thro' the golden gate ; 
 
 And our guiding star 
 
 Shines down to us thro' the gates ajar. 
 
32 MISTAKEN. 
 
 Mistaken. 
 
 I cannot remember just when I grew tired, 
 How the heart ache began ; 
 
 But most of the way I have so much desired 
 That the journey were done ; 
 
 And now I am weary, so weary of all, 
 
 I'm glad to He down with my face to the wall. 
 
 Why yes, there was spring-time, when violets bloomed 
 
 Thro' long sunny days, 
 Then came the summer, when roses perfumed 
 
 Such beautiful ways ; 
 All too soon; autumn dropped over all ; 
 Now I will turn my sad face to the wall. 
 
 I know you will say that He chastens in love, 
 
 Or else we would roam ; 
 That darkness below keeps us looking above 
 
 To the beautiful home ; 
 Tried and tempted as we, then He knoweth all, 
 And will be near when I turn to the wall. 
 
 Long have I waited my tube-roses' bloom — 
 Watched and waited so long — 
 
 I said, " of their loveliness and rare perfume 
 I will sing a sweet song." 
 
 To-morrow, just missing the song, that is all, 
 
 Place one rose in the clasped hands by the wall. 
 
WAITING. 38 
 
 I know by the music that floats through my room, 
 
 The " gates " are ajar ; 
 I know by the scent, Eden's lilies a-bloom 
 
 Are breathing a-near ; 
 And, I think, by the glory that shines over all, 
 I must have turned to the bright " jasper wall/' 
 
 The gates are all shut, St. Peter sends word, . 
 
 Himself holds the key ; 
 Then whence the perfume and the music I heard, 
 
 The glory I see ? 
 Ah, my tube-roses guessed and escaped from their 
 
 tharll, 
 Then my muse swept the chords for my song, that was 
 all. 
 
 Waiting, 
 
 I was waiting thro' the spring-time 
 
 For the roses June would bring, 
 Leaving violets ungathered — 
 
 Perfumed May's sweet offering — 
 But when Summer, crowned with roses, 
 
 Wove rare garlands for her bowers, 
 In my heart a chill November 
 
 Stole the sweetness from the flowers. 
 
34 WATTING. 
 
 I was waiting, while my fingers 
 
 Touched my harp-strings carelessly, 
 For the softer, sweeter music 
 
 Of the lands beyond the sea. 
 Dear old harp, again I'm waiting, 
 
 After weary wanderings, 
 Let us try a strain together, 
 
 Ah, I find but broken strings. 
 
 I was waiting thro' the vintage 
 
 For the sweetest, rarest grapes, 
 Xow but lees the wine-cup holdeth 
 
 That I raise to parched lips. 
 Love, I said, shall bless and crown me, 
 
 Fool and blind, too late I learned, 
 While a princely mien I waited, 
 
 I a kingly heart had spurned. 
 
 Still I'm waiting for the roses 
 
 That perfumed the summer-land ; 
 
 Still I'm waiting for the vineyard 
 ' Where the rarest grapes abound : 
 
 Waiting for the crown Love bought me, 
 When its price was Calvary ; 
 
 Waiting for the golden harp-strings, 
 Waiting, precious Christ, for Thee. 
 
A MORXIXG CALL. 35 
 
 A Morning Call, 
 
 Did I go to church ? Yes, I always attend — 
 'Tis our duty, I think, to be there — 
 
 Please don't mention it, I tell you as a friend, 
 I saw some things I thought very queer. 
 
 I never will gossip about church affairs, 
 I wish all my neighbors were so ; 
 
 'Tis none of my business what anyone wears. 
 Or how often, or seldom, they go. 
 
 Yet I think our church folks ought to dress plain, 
 And leave off their fashionable airs. 
 
 That stylish Miss G how worldly and vain, 
 
 In her flounces and curls, she appears. 
 
 One lady was there — I won't mention her name — 
 
 Perhaps you can guess who she is, 
 A full half -hour late — such things are a shame — 
 
 But it takes time to crimp, curl and friz. 
 
 I fully approved what the minister said 
 Of alms, and the claims of the poor. 
 
 I could not help looking at old Mr. Bred ; 
 The " coat flitted him," I am sure. 
 
36 A MORNING CALL. 
 
 I noticed too, when they passed 'round the plate, 
 
 A number had nothing to give. 
 I think that preachers ought oftener state, 
 
 " 'Tis more blessed to give than receive." 
 
 Oh yes, and an editor too, there I saw — 
 Quite a " good-looking" sort of a man— 
 
 I'm not in the habit of picking a flaw 
 About trifles, like some folks I've seen ; 
 
 But just as the preacher his " ninthly " commenced, 
 
 I happened to look 'round the house, 
 There the editor sat, his thoughts all condensed 
 
 On an ounce of " fine cut " in his mouth. 
 
 The sermon, I'm sure, was an excellent one- 
 Inspiring, devotional, chaste — 
 
 I think it a pity that one tiny crumb 
 
 Of such precious food should go to waste. 
 
 Elevating and grand, how could any one 
 Think of " fine cut," from first unto last 
 
 That editor's stomach must be out of tone, 
 Or he wouldn't have such a bad taste. 
 
 The text did you ask ? Why, I almost forget. 
 Was it Genesis ? No, 'twas in Job ! 
 
april 26th. 37 
 
 Something about Paul — how he saw a great light — 
 And of righteousness worn as a robe. 
 
 When folks go to church they should untrammeled be 
 
 By fashion, and all worldly care — 
 The styles scarcely notice — 0, Kate, did you see 
 
 How old-fashioned Miss C does her hair ? 
 
 Ah, must you be going \ Call again soon, 
 
 I am profited when we converse. 
 Some folks are so senseless ; their thoughts seem to run 
 
 All on fashions, or gossip, or worse. 
 
 April 26th, 
 
 The wind is abroad on a spree to-night — 
 A boisterous, rollicking spree — 
 
 We cannot accuse him of being " tight, " 
 For his movements are all too free. 
 
 Roughly he handles the bare-limbed old trees, 
 Rudely swaying them to and fro ; 
 
 Scattering dead branches wherever he please, 
 Making wreathes of the April snow. 
 
38 april 26th. 
 
 He tried to embrace an old, sober fence, 
 Coming 'round with a loving growl ; 
 
 Splinters flew at him, in anger intense, 
 And he sped away with a howl. 
 
 Window-panes rattle, and loose boards keep time 
 To a tune, both long and short measure — 
 
 Now groaning blank verse, now jingling a rhyme- 
 Such music is scarcely a pleasure. 
 
 If he must make such a terrible blow, 
 Why didn't he do it in March ? 
 
 Then we expected him, covered with snow, 
 The strength of our buildings to search. 
 
 r wish he would fold his noisy old wings, 
 And hie away home for a nap ; 
 
 I'm tired of the tune so hoarsely he sings, 
 He's caught cold, the careless old chap. 
 
 Alto and tenor, soprano and bass, 
 By one voice is not quite the thing ; 
 
 I hope, as such concerts are now out of place. 
 He'll not give another this spring. 
 
TO A BABY. 
 
 To a Baby. 
 
 Baby, baby, come to me, 
 Like the honey-bee that sips 
 Nectar from the rose-bud's lips, 
 
 I would gather sweets from thee. 
 
 Little birdie, do you know — 
 Chirrup, chirrup, as you may — 
 I know ev'iy word you say ? 
 
 Tell some pretty stories now. 
 
 Sweetest baby, do you know, 
 With your cunning little wiles, 
 Winning gravest lips to smiles, 
 
 That I love you, love you so ? 
 
 Precious darling, what surprise — 
 As your dimpled hands I take, 
 Teaching you to " patty-cake " — 
 
 Gleams from out your sweet blue eyes. 
 
 Why, what ails my little pet, 
 Reaching hands again to me, 
 Do you want more cakes for tea ? 
 
 Well, we'll make another set. 
 
 Come now, baby, kiss good-bye. 
 What is't makes my darling grieve ? 
 Ah you naughty " make-believe," 
 
 You are only playing cry. 
 
40 MY PRIESTS OF PRIESTS. 
 
 My Priest of Priests. 
 
 There's a ' 'Holy of Holies " within my heart, 
 An innermost room that is kept ever pure ; 
 
 In this hallowed place , I have set apart 
 A Great High Priest who abideth there. 
 
 No foot hath trodden the threshold o'er, 
 
 Since the day that my Priest of priests passed in 
 
 And closely barred and guarded's the door 
 That leadeth into this holiest shrine. 
 
 In the outer courts, my friends may come, 
 They are swept and garnished all with care ; 
 
 There are bidden guests for every room, 
 And altars placed with off 'rings rare. 
 
 There are hands awaiting to wipe the tears 
 From the eyes of Sorrow, Care and Pain ; 
 
 There is balm for wounds, cordial for fears ; 
 For the travel-stained, are garments clean. 
 
 If hung'ring or thirsting ones chance to come 
 And knock at the door of the outer shrine, 
 
 Glad welcome there'll be, in the Father's name, 
 And a bounteous feast of bread and wine. 
 
 But ah ! never knock at the inner door, 
 The " Holy of Holies," within my heart ; 
 
 This innermost place is reserved evermore , 
 For Christ the High Priest, I've set it apart. 
 
UNDER THE PINES. 41 
 
 Under the Pines. 
 
 Have ye waited long for our coming ? 
 
 Have ye watched at the trysting hour I 
 Have ye wondered why, through the gloaming, 
 
 We came not to the ' ' lovers' bower I" 
 
 Alone, through the deepening shadows, 
 
 I have wearily, wearily come, 
 But the dear old path, through the meadows, 
 
 To-night seemed hidden in gloom. 
 
 No lover met me in the gloaming — 
 Bend down, I would whisper it low. 
 
 I nevermore watch for his coming, 
 
 Never wait for the trysting hour now — ; 
 
 For he met a face that was fairer, 
 And a heart more joyous and free. 
 
 Ah me, will she lightly be wearer 
 
 Of the crown that was heaven to me \ 
 
 I gave back the troth that he plighted, 
 Still hiding the tears that would start. 
 
 He knew not a life he had blighted, 
 Never guessed he had broken a heart. 
 
 He kissed me good-bye, when we parted, 
 And promised my friend still to be. 
 
 Oh no, I'll not deem him false-hearted ; 
 His love only wandered from me . 
 
4*2 UNDER THE PINES. 
 
 I remember your whispers grew gladder, 
 To blend in my love-song's refrain ; 
 
 To-night each sad sigh groweth sadder, 
 A chord of a heart's dying pain. 
 
 When autumn shall lovingly cover 
 The path with a carpet all bright, 
 
 They will carry me tenderly over 
 The way I have trodden to-night. 
 
 A voice will speak softly in sorrow, 
 As " dust unto dust" it consigns : 
 
 But none will be sad on the morrow, 
 For her who sleeps under the pines. 
 
 I know you will grieve when I'm lying, 
 With pale folded hands at your feet : 
 
 All the long, long day, sadly sighing 
 A dirge, that is mournfully sweet. 
 
 Good-bye, dear old pines ; still be keeping 
 Your watch. I am coming again 
 
 When my eyes are done with their weeping, 
 And my heart hath forgotten its pain. 
 
 And sweetly I'll sleep in the wild-wood, 
 Though tear-drops ne'er moisten my bed, 
 
 For you, truest friends of my childhood, 
 Will a vigil still keep o'er your dead. 
 
DEAR PINES, I COME AGAIN. 43 
 
 Dear Pines, I Come Again. 
 
 Not as I came in the years agone, 
 
 With gladsome song and with blithesome tread 
 My step is slow, and my heart makes moan 
 
 For the by-gone days and my early dead. 
 
 My dead, that never was seen of men — 
 My dead, that had neither pall nor bier — 
 
 That I made a grave in my heart, and then 
 Sealed close the place of the sepulchre. 
 
 Ah, do ye mind of the happy time 
 
 I lingered first in your fragrant shade : 
 
 As lightly singing some careless rhyme, 
 This mossy seat at your feet I made ? 
 
 And mind ye, too, of that sweet, sweet June — 
 
 When birds and bloom made all nature glad- 
 How ye strove to join in my merry tune, 
 Albeit your voice was a bit too sad ? 
 
 Ah me, ah me, was it fate or chance 
 That led his steps to my side that day ; 
 
 Bringing me treasures of old romance, 
 Bringing the world of sweet poesy ? 
 
 And, you remember, my slow feet crept 
 Adown the path over autumn leaves : 
 
 No words I said and no tears I wept, 
 Yet slowly, sadly, as when one grieves. 
 
44 DEAR PINES, I COME AGAIN. 
 
 Ye sang to me tender lullabies, 
 
 Your arms out-stretched in sweet sympathy. 
 Oh, would to God, I had shut my eyes. 
 
 And your lullaby proved a dirge for me. 
 
 Now tell me true, did his truant feet 
 
 Ever come back in the after years, 
 And kneeling here by our mossy seat, 
 
 Did he breathe my name with regretful tears i 
 
 whisper low, whisper soft and low, 
 
 Else the careless winds as they roam might list. 
 
 Did he ever speak of an olden vow, 
 Did he ever sigh o'er a broken tryst \ 
 
 Spring still puts on a soft garb of green. 
 
 In flower-decked robes is the Summer dressed 
 
 Crimson and gold proclaim Autumn's reign, 
 Through all I see but a wintry w r aste. 
 
 Dear pines, sing me olden lullabies ; 
 
 I am so tired that I fain would sleep ; 
 The lids droop low o'er my dimning eyes. 
 
 And the Lover cometh his tryst to keep. 
 
A PRAYER. 45 
 
 A Prayer. 
 
 Father, I bring my burden, and at Thy altar kneeling, 
 So faint with earthly striving — so worn with earthly 
 
 care — 
 To-night I plead Thy promise : ' ' Ask and it shall be 
 
 given :" 
 
 Father, hear my prayer. 
 
 Is there no balm in Gilead ? I am sorely wounded. 
 is there no physician to heal a sin -sick soul ? 
 Come near, Thou pitying Jesus, let me but touch Thy 
 garment 
 
 And that shall make me whole. 
 
 My paths have led so strangely — so darkly overshad- 
 owed — 
 So often I have murmured, " I cannot understand ;" 
 Help me, through faith, to trust Thee — to humbly seek 
 Thy guidance — 
 
 To know my Father's hand. 
 
 Father, dost Thou listen ? Thy weakest child is 
 
 calling 
 Through mists of doubt and darkness, that still obscure 
 
 the way : 
 Guide me into the sunlight — I've walked so long in 
 
 shadow — 
 
 O teach me how to pray. 
 
 Hark'n a voice now speaketh : ' ' I bore thy grievous 
 
 burden, 
 For all thy sins atoning on bloody Calvary." 
 Father, the sunlight gleameth athwart the gloomy 
 
 shadows : 
 
 I'll rest my all on Thee. 
 
46 THE BEAUTIFUL RIVER. 
 
 The Beautiful River 
 
 The lilies are sweet by the Beautiful River, 
 
 Its bright waters perfuming ; 
 I'll rest me, and rest me, for aye and forever, 
 
 Where the lilies are blooming ; 
 With sandals aloose, for my ways are all wended, 
 With hands lightly clasped, for my tasks are all ended 
 
 Over there is the City, in tender light lying, 
 
 Fair as bride's white adorning ; 
 Where there is no death, neither sorrow nor crying, 
 
 Where the Star of the Morning 
 Is the Light of the City, for aye and forever, 
 While its tenderest beams bathe the Beautiful River. 
 
 And out from the City, a sound of sweet singing 
 
 Floats thro' the wide portals ; 
 In anthems triumphant the harpers are ringing, 
 
 The joys of immortals ; 
 But sweeter the voice of the Beautiul River, 
 That whispers, " Here rest thee, for aye and forever." 
 
 'Tis the New Jerusalem ! 'tis the promised City ! 
 
 'Tis John's wonderful vision ! 
 She sitteth a bride in her virginal beauty, 
 
 Her people's Elysian : 
 And her music is floating for aye and forever, 
 Where her Star's softest beams bathe the Beautiful 
 River. 
 
MUSINGS. 47 
 
 What whisper ye, lilies ? I will bend me and hearken 
 
 The sweet words ye are saying, 
 1 ' Go not with the harpers, weary hands cannot waken 
 
 The grand chords they are playing. 
 There's a hush in the voice of the Beautiful Eiver 
 That will lull thee to resting for aye and forever'" 
 
 Musings. 
 
 Slanting sunbeams softly cover 
 
 Me with tender, golden light, 
 As I sit here, thinking over 
 
 All those wondrous dreams, to-night — 
 When I followed Fancy's leading 
 
 Through her bright, enchanted bowers- 
 When my feet were ever treading, 
 
 Paths half hidden in the flowers. 
 
 Ah, again I hear sweet whispers, 
 
 Like soft zephyrs set in tune ; 
 Now it seems a hymn of vespers, 
 
 Floating to the great white throne : 
 Louder grow the notes, and clearer, 
 
 Choral incense pure and sweet : 
 And my soul to heaven grows nearer, 
 
 Drinking in the infinite. 
 
 Now the evening's purple shadows 
 
 Mantle all the sunset glow. 
 Darker grow the daisied meadows — 
 
 Veiled in gloom is the mountain's brow 
 
48 MUSINGS. 
 
 And the vesper notes are dying 
 On the distant hill and plain ; 
 
 While night- winds seem sadly sighing, 
 " Heaven has closed its gates again.' 
 
 Spirit, are thy glad wings drooping ? 
 
 Ends so soon thy joyous flight ? 
 With the finite art thou groping, 
 
 Letting go the infinite ? 
 Art thou sad because yon mountain 
 
 Echoes now no sweet refrain 2 
 Thou may'st linger at the Fountain, 
 
 Drinking an immortal strain. 
 
 To the brightest, sweetest day-dreams, 
 
 Eude awaking may come soon. 
 Swiftly vanish golden sunbeams, 
 
 Pleasure's sky may cloud ere noon. 
 Paths that Fancy filled with flowers, 
 
 May by weeds be overgrown ; 
 And in ruins fall her towers, 
 
 Built without foundation-stone. 
 
 But there standeth, close beside me, 
 
 A sure Eock — higher than I — 
 In its shadow I will hide me, 
 
 ,Till earth's storms have all passed by 
 Till I see the walls eternal, 
 
 In the stead of crumbling towers ; 
 "Till I weave a wreathe supernal, 
 
 In the stead of fading flowers. 
 
MISSION OF THE GOSPEL. 49 
 
 Mission of the Gospel. 
 
 A mission I have to your fireside, to-day, 
 A welcome I ask which I hope to repay ; 
 Tho' humble my dress do not cast me aside, 
 For I bring you gold from dross purified ; 
 Yea. gold that will make you rich in that day. 
 When all earthly treasures shall pass away. 
 
 Glad tidings I bring to the sad and oppressed. 
 To fainting and weary ones I speak of rest. 
 If any are treading the pathway of sin, 
 I come to beseech you a new life begin. 
 If any are thirsting, to you I would say. 
 The fountain of life floweth freely to-dav. 
 
 And you who have laid up your treasures above. 
 Bear fruit of the spirit, hope, gentleness, love, 
 Long-suffering, meekness, joy, temperance, faith, 
 God's grace is sufficient, be faithful till death ; 
 Like a city that's set on a hill, let thy light 
 Illumine the darkness, guide the doubting aright. 
 
 Yes. welcome I ask in your home, in your heart, 
 While I strive in return God's truth to impart ; 
 Salvation through Jesus, my motto and song, 
 Upholding the right, condemning the wrong. 
 To work for my Master will be all my aim : 
 God grant that my mission may not be in vain. 
 
50 ASTRAY. 
 
 Astray. 
 
 Alone on the moorlands, bleak and bare, 
 Too weary to walk, and too faint to pray, 
 
 Oh ! why did I leave the Shepherd's care ? 
 From the safe, warm fold why did I stray ? 
 
 Will answer to voiceless prayer be given ? 
 
 Will the famished cry of a heart be heard, 
 Tho' darkened eyes cannot raise to heaven, 
 
 And white lips utter never a word ? 
 
 Will He leave the ninety and nine to seek 
 The perishing one, outside the fold ? 
 
 Will His great love traverse mountains bleak, 
 To rescue me from the bitter cold ? 
 
 Into the depths of despairing sin, 
 
 Will His* mercy follow my bleeding feet ? 
 
 From mire and filth will He wash me clean, 
 And give me robes for His presence meet ? 
 
 I, had an idol I could not take 
 
 With me, if I walked by the Shepherd's side ; 
 So I turned away, for my idol's sake, 
 
 To another path that was smooth and wide : 
 
HELPING THE ROBINS, 51 
 
 But I thought to go, ere night came on. 
 Back to the fold, to the Shepherd's care ; 
 
 But so far I strayed, ere day was done, 
 
 That night finds me on the moorlands bare. 
 
 So very dear hath my idol grown, 
 It seems to be of my life a part ; 
 
 Yet gladly now I will lay it down, 
 If I can tear it from out my heart. 
 
 Alone on the moorlands, bleak and bare, 
 I shall faint with fear, I shall die with cold, 
 
 Unless He come, and with tender care 
 Bear me again to His safe, warm fold. 
 
 Helping the Robins. 
 
 From my old mossy seat, draped with sunshine and 
 shadows, 
 
 I was helping the robins, this morn, in their tunes, 
 Looking o'er the green hills and daisy-starred meadows. 
 
 I said, "Of all lands, ours has lovliest Junes !" 
 
 Then up from the southland — all sweet with the kisses 
 Of magnolia and orange — soft zephyrs sped, 
 
 And they brought benedictions, in balmy caresses, 
 Coaxing lilies from me, giving roses instead. 
 
)'> HELPING THE ROBINS. 
 
 Then they wooed me to "dreamland," in far southern 
 bowers, 
 
 Where bright-plumaged birds carol all the day long ; 
 And I feasted my eyes on the tropical flowers, 
 
 'Till my soul grew all drunken with beauty and song. 
 
 Then dreamily floated before my tranced vision, 
 Such radiant beings in garments of white, 
 
 And they said, ' 'Come with us to the gardens Elysian, 
 Where the scent of the lilies is perfect delight. 
 
 "Where the musical flow of the 'Beautiful Eiver' 
 Blends with the sweet notes, happy voices prolong 
 
 Where the viol and harp is attuned to the Giver 
 Of beauty and fragrance, of love and of song." 
 
 rapturous joy ! now the "portal" uncloses, 
 
 And such beauty and grandeur no mortal hath seen 
 
 1 scent and I see Eden's lilies and roses, 
 
 And I hearken the music of Zion's glad strain . 
 
 From my old mossy seat, draped with sunshine and 
 shadows, 
 I was helping the robins, this mora, in then* tunes, 
 When out of my sight vanished mountains and 
 meadows, 
 And I ken'd the "fair land" where the months are 
 all Junes. 
 
WINTER — SUMMER. 53 
 
 Winter, 
 
 Nevermore the air is stirred 
 
 By the singing of a bird, 
 
 Only lonesome sounds are heard 
 
 And the dreary days seem long. 
 Bitterly the winds are blowing, 
 Wearily the clouds are snowing. 
 And my thoughts are never flowing 
 
 To the measure of a song. 
 
 Summer, 
 
 Cometh now a subtle sense, 
 
 How I wist not, nor from whence, 
 
 But with worldless eloquence, 
 
 Xature worships at the shrine. 
 High the fleecy clouds are climbing, 
 Tenderly the winds are timing, 
 With my thoughts that run to rhyming, 
 
 Fitting to a pleasant tune. 
 
MY MUSE HATH FLOWN. 
 
 My Muse Hath Flown. 
 
 My muse hath flown, and my harp unstrung, 
 
 Lioth idly by : 
 Tho' I asked with tears for the songs unsung, 
 
 Made she no reply ; 
 But sadly smiled, as she plumed her wings, 
 While I wept my harp with its silent strings. 
 
 Yet I will try just a note or two, 
 
 Tho' the chords be missed, 
 
 For the very few, the very few, 
 Who will care to list : 
 
 Only to say that I'll wake, ere long, 
 
 A golden harp to a glad new song. 
 
 Only to tell, as I weeping wait 
 
 On the hither stand, 
 That I hear a sound as of cymbals sweet. 
 
 From a far-off land : 
 Xow plainly fall on my ravished ear, 
 Triumphal notes from the shining choir. 
 
 can it be that my muse hath flown 
 
 To those fairer skies \ 
 And may she not be my very own, 
 
 There in Paradise ? 
 To sweetest chords, my harp's golden strings, 
 May she not sweep with immortal wings \ 
 
THE RIVER OF DEATH. •)•) 
 
 Yea, I have tried just a note or two, 
 Tho' the chords were missed, 
 
 For the very few, the very few, 
 Who have cared to list : 
 
 And now the harp, that in tears I swept, 
 
 On the hither shore I will leave unwept. 
 
 The River of Death, 
 
 As I stand beside the River of Death, 
 
 Its tide closeth over my friends, one by one : 
 
 What mystery lieth the dark waves beneath, 
 
 Hold thev the kev that unlocks the " Unknown r* 
 
 Aye, long I have stood upon its cold brink, 
 And I long, yet fear, to plunge in the tide ; 
 
 So deep look the waters, I tremblingly shrink. 
 Still cowering here on the hither side. 
 
 And my fainting heart murmurs, o'er and o'er, 
 How long, oh how long, shall my weary feet 
 
 Linger on the strand of Time's barren shore, 
 
 Where Life's ebbing sands and' Death's cold waves 
 meet." 
 
 Now from the River there riseth a mist, 
 Enshrouding my form in its chilling fold, 
 
 And my locks are wet, and my brow is kissed, 
 By the icy spray from the waters cold. 
 
56 GOING HOME. 
 
 If only the " Mystic Gates" were ajar, 
 That I might see into the " Unknown " — 
 
 If only a light from the realms afar, 
 Ever over the darksome waters shone — 
 
 Might I catch one glimpse of the heav'nly strand. 
 One note from the choir on the other side, 
 
 Methinks that I would no longer stand 
 
 Trembling, on the brink of the darksome tide. 
 
 Down close beside the Eiver of Death, 
 
 Life's ebbing sands meet the dark waters' flow. 
 
 The mystery lying the waves underneath, 
 
 Ere long I shall know — ere long I shall know. 
 
 Going Home. 
 
 A strange boat moored on our strand to-night, 
 A foreign barque from the *' Mystic Sea," 
 
 Its gleaming sails,- that are snowy white, 
 This message glad wafted unto me : 
 
 That now the tread of my halting feet, 
 The weary night of my watch is o'er, 
 That endless morn, oh so fair and sweet, 
 , Dawneth for me on the golden shore. 
 
GOIXG HOME. 57 
 
 But where is he who went early home. 
 
 Whose barque was launched on the morning tide 
 
 He promised me he would surely come 
 To meet me, down at the waters' side. 
 
 He kissed good-bye, when he went away. 
 On fair young cheeks and on curls of gold. 
 
 Will he know these locks, grown so thin and gray, 
 And these sunken cheeks, haggard now and old ? 
 
 Ever and anon, as a boat drew nigh, 
 
 I watched and hoped for some sign or word. 
 
 But every sail passed me silently by, 
 
 'Till my heart grew sick with " hope deferred. 
 
 But now my barque waits the evening tide, 
 And my lover waits on the golden strand, 
 
 For the gleaming sails that bring his bride 
 To him and home, in the heavenlv land. 
 
 What wondrous sign do my glad eyes see ] 
 What shining light gleaming from afar \ 
 
 Ah my lover beckoneth unto me, 
 
 That the " pearly gates " have been left ajar. 
 
 A magic power hath the clime of heaven. 
 For sweet and strange, is the story told 
 
 In whispered words : ' ' Unto me is given 
 
 My fair young bride, with her curls of gold." 
 
58 OUR DARLING. 
 
 Our Darling. 
 
 All tunefullest birds seemed only a-singing 
 Their songs for her heeding ; 
 
 All loveliest flowers seemed ever up-springing 
 Where her feet were treading : 
 
 If with us she listened, then music was sweetest, 
 
 If with us she wandered, then beauty completest. 
 
 All that we saw was a light softly fading, 
 
 As a summer day closes ; 
 And on her cheek faint and fainter the shading, 
 
 Just lilies for roses : 
 All that we heard was the flowers a-sighing, 
 " Birds, hush your songs, for our darling is dying.'' 
 
 Then from hei* forehead we smoothed the soft tresses, 
 
 With bright ribbons tying 
 Them all so lovingly, pressed our last kisses 
 
 On lips unreplying 
 To our caresses, our pitiful pleading ; 
 Never before were they dumb or unheeding. 
 
 Sadly, so sadly, a low couch we made her, 
 Where willows were weeping ; 
 
 Tenderly, tenderly there we have laid her, 
 To long dreamless sleeping : 
 
 Lilies and roses we broidered all over 
 
 The velvet counterpane, lying 'ebove her. 
 
REGRET. 59 
 
 Oh what avails it that bird-notes are ringing, 
 Through sweet-scented bowers ? 
 
 Oh what avails it that summer is bringing 
 Us gifts of rare flowers ? 
 
 Our all of beauty and fragrance lies sleeping 
 
 Under the flowers, where the willows are weeping. 
 
 Regret. 
 
 Oh would that I had died, that I had died, 
 While I so fondly deemed 
 Fair Friendship what she seemed, 
 
 Ere she my trust so ruthlessly betrayed. 
 
 Oh would that I had slept, had calmly slept, 
 Beneath the summer flowers, 
 Before the weary hours 
 
 Had come to me, when o'er false Love I wept. 
 
 Would my ears had been sealed, to all sound sealed, 
 Ere they had heard that Truth 
 Had wandered in the path 
 
 Of error ; and therein her white robes trailed. 
 
 O Friendship, Love and Truth ! ye have not given 
 All that I have desired, 
 And I am so tired, so tired ; 
 Kind, pitying God, wilt thou not give me Heaven ''. 
 
60 RETROSPECT. 
 
 Retrospect. 
 
 This gala night 
 Recalls a scene of long ago, 
 When lif e for me was all aglow 
 
 With hope's soft light ; 
 
 When my heart beat 
 The time to music soft and sweet. 
 
 The festive hour 
 Was gay with music, dance and song, 
 When, stealing from the happy throng 
 To vine-clad bower, 
 Thro' rose-wreathed bars, 
 I idly watched the gleaming stars. 
 
 The soft June air 
 Was pulsing with sweet melody, 
 While zephyrs wafted scents to me 
 
 Of flowers rare ; 
 
 An Eden seemed 
 My bower of roses, while I dreamed. 
 
 Softly there came 
 Adown the star-lit path a step ; 
 Heart, faithful vigil thou did'st keep 
 
 Thro' the sweet dream ; 
 
 Thou knewest well 
 The step that bade my pulses thrill. 
 
RETROSPECT. 61 
 
 Words murmured low 
 Told tender love. I veiled my eyes 
 Lest they reveal their glad surprise, 
 
 Their depths of joy ; 
 
 But love divined 
 Their secret well. Love is not blind. 
 
 That morn of June, 
 Vocal with nature's melody, 
 A soft rose-light tinged earth and sky. 
 
 Then cloudless noon 
 
 Eich rays let fall, 
 But sudden tempest darkened all. 
 
 A fresh young life, 
 In brightness rivaling the June, 
 Had morn's rich promise of a noon 
 
 With pleasure rife. 
 
 Ah with'ring blight 
 That brought at noon a starless night. 
 
 I thought that all 
 My love was dead, long years ago, 
 That never more its anguished throe 
 
 My heart could feel — 
 
 But ah, again 
 To-night, I've felt the old-time pain. 
 
62 A VISION. 
 
 Why hast thou come. 
 Grim phantom of the long ago ? 
 Why hast thou ris'n to haunt me now ? 
 
 Begone, begone, 
 
 Unwelcome guest, 
 Go sleep with the long-buried past ! 
 
 Is there no place 
 This side the grave, where memory 
 May not pursue ? Then let me He 
 
 In Death's embrace, 
 
 And there escape 
 Forever from this phantom shape. 
 
 A Vision. 
 
 O pitying slumber, a vigil keep 
 
 To-night, o'er my throbbing brain ; 
 
 That I may forget in a dreamless sleep, 
 For a little while, all pain. 
 
 An angel came, clothed in shining white, 
 And I heard a sweet voice say, 
 
 "Come thou with me, from the weary night. 
 To the realms of perfect Day." 
 
A VISION. . 63 
 
 Then we quickly passed over death's dark stream. 
 
 And over a shining strand, 
 'Till I saw fair mansions in soft light gleam, 
 
 And a white -robed angel band. 
 
 And I saw again, as they lowly kneeled 
 
 To worship the great I Am ; 
 And I heard them playing on harps of gold, 
 
 Loud hosannas to the Lamb. 
 
 Then they brought to place on my brow a crown, 
 
 A harp to put in my hand, 
 And they drew me near to the dazzling throne, 
 
 To play with the angel band. 
 
 But humbly bowing before the throne, 
 With strange weariness oppressed. 
 
 I plead, " Give me neither harp nor crown. 
 Give me only perfect rest.' ? 
 
 Then the heavenly choir played a grand, sweet strain 
 
 And soft on my ravished ear 
 Fell these precious words — " Here is no more pain, 
 
 For the perfect rest is here." 
 
H4 BY THE SEA. 
 
 By the Sea. 
 
 We were wandering over the sands. 
 
 Down beside thee, O murmuring Sea — 
 Did'st thou know of the clasping of hands, 
 Of the tender words whispered to me \ 
 Methinks that thou knewest, for then far and wide 
 Thy soft moon-lit waves seemed to grow glorified. 
 
 O Sea, did'st thou know, did'st thou know. 
 
 Of the words, the vain words that they said, 
 When they laid him, my darling, so low, 
 Covering even his beautiful head \ 
 They said, "Come away now, he lieth asleep, 
 And will not awaken though much thou may'st weep.' ' 
 
 They said, " Come away now — he sleeps." 
 
 Did they think I would fret, I would cry \ 
 Fools ! wherever the Sirocco sweeps 
 It leaveth the fountains all dry : 
 And though the Sahara has oases for palm, 
 No green breaks the waste of my life's Dead Sea 
 calm. 
 
 I know not how long he hath slept — 
 
 Maybe one year, or maybe a score — 
 No record but this have I kept, 
 
 Snowy hair that was golden before : 
 How many. O Sea, of the cycles of Time 
 Would change sunny curls to thin locks of rime i 
 
BY THE SEA. 65 
 
 I am wandering over the sands, 
 
 Once again down beside thee, Sea — 
 Dost thou mark now how listless my hands \ 
 Dost thou hear what the winds say to me \ 
 They say, " Come with us where he slumbering lies, 
 And list by his couch while we sing lullabies/' 
 
 They say, " Come with us where he lies." 
 
 And once at their pleading I went, 
 But the flower-tints wearied my eyes 
 And my heart grew sick of their scent : 
 The cover was broidered all over his bed 
 With lilies so white and roses so red. 
 
 Is this a forgotten refrain, 
 
 Or true tale learned in sweet childhood-hours, 
 That ' ' The sleeping shall waken again 
 In a rare land of song and of flowers -:' 
 That " Beside crystal seas they shall walk golden sands, 
 And never aloose fall lovers' clasped hands f 1 
 
 Be quiet, be quiet, Sea ! 
 
 Bid thy whispering waves softly flow — 
 If it were a true tale they told me 
 
 Could I sleep, I would know, I would know — 
 Sea, thou art cruel such moaning to make : 
 How long, O how long, wilt thou keep me awake \ 
 
66 HIDE NOT THY FACE — I AM IN TROUBLE. 
 
 Hide Not Thy Face— I am in Trouble. 
 
 I am weary, Lord, of my crying — 
 
 Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God : 
 
 carest Thou not that I'm lying 
 
 'Neath the weight of Thy chastening rod ? 
 
 measure the depths of my anguish, 
 And loosen the fetters of pain ; 
 
 O end this dark night, where I languish, 
 A slave in the service of Sin. 
 
 Still darkness my life is enshrouding — 
 Is Mercy's ear deaf to my cries ? 
 
 Is Pity, with tearful eyes, brooding, 
 While I drain Sorrow's cup to the lees ? 
 
 O Christ, by Thy soul's desolation, 
 
 When Thou troddest the wine-press alone ; 
 
 By mem'ry of the blessed ministration 
 Of the white-robed, the heavenly one ; 
 
 For Calvary's sake, wilt Thou hide me 
 
 From the doubts that have pierced Thee again 
 
 From life's many ills that betide me, 
 From the long weary bondage of Sin ? 
 
67 
 
 Methinks now a faint light is gleaming — 
 Is Hope spreading her pinions at last \ 
 
 Thro' darkness, one bright ray is beaming. 
 Is it Bethlehem's Star of the East \ 
 
 Yes Savior, my Savior, I hear Thee — 
 Like a mother's sweet, hushed lullaby 
 
 Are the low loving words : " I am near thee. 
 Safely rest, weary child, It Is I ! 
 
 " My hands are strong to uphold thee, 
 If darksome or strange grows thy path ; 
 
 My arms shall closely enfold thee, 
 
 Thro' the valley and shadow of death." 
 
 Abraham's Sacrifice, 
 
 Then unto Abraham, God spake 
 
 And gave this wondrous strange command 
 1 ' Now get thee hence into the land 
 Whereof I tell. With thine own hand. 
 An offering of thy loved son make." 
 
 grand, sublimely grand, the faith 
 
 That answered not ; but reverently 
 
 Arose the mandate to obey : 
 
 The while a father's heart there lay. 
 
 As in the direst pangs of death. 
 
68 Abraham's sacrifice. 
 
 Afar from kin and native land, 
 
 Parent and child now take their way ; 
 Toiling on, on, from day to day, 
 Till in the distance they espy 
 
 The mount for sacrifice designed. 
 
 Now toiling up the mountain's side, 
 The child breaks forth in questioning : 
 ' ' Father, the fire and wood we bring, 
 But where's a lamb for offering?" 
 
 " My son, a lamb God will provide." 
 
 Pen must thou fail, thy task undone ? 
 Ah well I knew thou could'st not paint 
 That wondrous scene, upon the mount, 
 When Abraham in silence bent 
 
 To sacrifice his only son. 
 
 Hearken, from Heaven is heard a voice, 
 " Lay not thine hand upon the lad, 
 For now I know thou f earest God. 
 Thy heart the offering hath made : 
 
 Behold a lamb for sacrifice." 
 
 Again from Heaven is heard a voice, 
 
 " Because thou hast done God's command. 
 As lies upon the shore the sand, 
 So shall thy seed cover the land : 
 
 All nations shall in thee rejoice." 
 
CHURCH BELLS. 
 
 Church Bells. 
 
 Hearken the church bells, this morn are inviting, 
 
 In tones clear and sweet ; 
 ' ' Come where the Lord in his temple is waiting, 
 
 His people to meet ! 
 
 c ' Come to His altar, all thy sin confessing, 
 
 Thy doubt and thy care ; 
 Faithful and true, He hath promised a blessing, 
 
 In answer to prayer." 
 
 Plainly, so plainly, now they are saying, 
 " Turn, sinner, and live !" 
 
 Now they are tenderly, pleadingly praying, 
 '* Savior, forgive !" 
 
 Pitiful beils, I can tell by the sighing, 
 
 Of that tender strain, 
 That ye remember the couch where I'm lying, 
 
 In sadness and pain. 
 
 Softly ye whisper, "The Father heedeth 
 
 When helpless ones call ; 
 For at His feet the Son intercedeth, 
 
 ' I suffered for all' ' " 
 
CHURCH BELLS. 
 
 And methinks now, the sweet bells are telling, 
 These kind words to me ; 
 
 ' ' While to His temple many He's calling, 
 He cometh to thee." 
 
 ' ' Where two or three in His name are meeting, 
 
 He spreadeth a feast ; 
 Even beside thy low couch He is waiting — 
 
 O welcome thy Guest ! 
 
 " One who hath long and lovingly sought thee, 
 
 Thy sins to forgive ; 
 Partake of the bread and wine He hath brought thee- 
 
 eat, drink, and live !" 
 
 List, the last cadences whisper in dying, 
 
 " Thy Savior was slain !" 
 But the sweet echoes are softly replying, 
 
 " He liveth again !" 
 
 And while my lips are slowly repeating, 
 
 ' For me He was slain !"' 
 Accord with echoes my heart is beating, 
 
 1 For me lives again." 
 
FAITHFUL. 71 
 
 Faithful. 
 
 Pure, stainless tho' it be, 
 Yet all the heartless world would chide, 
 
 And its deep love for thee, 
 Darling, my heart must ever hide. 
 
 Impassable the wall 
 That fate hath built between our lives ; 
 
 In its dark shadow still 
 The precious flower of love survives. 
 
 A careless word or smile, 
 When we perchance do meet or part, 
 
 Tho' tense with pain, the while, 
 Is ev'ry fiber of my heart. 
 
 And I would ask no more 
 If I might know my rightful rest. 
 
 One little, peaceful hour, 
 Within the shelter of thy breast. 
 
 If only I might press, 
 Just once, my famished lips to thine, 
 
 In a long, clinging kiss, 
 No greater joy I'd ask for mine. 
 
 Oft times in happy dreams. 
 My tired head on thy breast hath lain, 
 
 And then from morn's bright gleam > 
 I've turned, and prayed to sleep again. 
 
7-2 FAITHFUL. 
 
 O can it be a sin 
 To cherish in my heart this love i 
 
 The only joy I've known, 
 An earnest of the bliss above. 
 
 And, darling, in the years 
 To come, will our souls drift apart ? 
 
 Watered with hopeless tears, 
 Will love's flowers wither in the heart \ 
 
 It may not, cannot be, 
 For love attuned our souls to flow 
 
 In perfect harmony — 
 No note of discord they may know. 
 
 Our love is not in vain ; 
 As gold is by the fire refined, 
 
 So our lives, thro' this pain, 
 Have grown more pitiful and kind. 
 
 • 
 And when a shadowy form 
 
 Shall beckon me, with its white hand, 
 
 To come from clouds and storm. 
 
 Home to the brighter, better land, 
 
 Darling, if only then 
 My head upon thy breast could he, 
 
 I'd know no dying pain — 
 I'd only know 'tis sweet to die. 
 
AFTER MANY YEARS. 
 
 After Many Years. 
 
 Dearest scenes of my happy childhood. 
 Viewed once more with a fond delight. 
 
 Dear old paths through the tangled wild-wood. 
 My feet press you again to-night. 
 
 On and on, through the scented gloaming. 
 
 Eagerly ; for my heart divines 
 There awaits for my tardy coming, 
 
 Welcomings from the dear old pines. 
 
 But the song I am slowly singing, 
 
 Burdened seems, as with hopeless tears. 
 
 And the gift I am sadly bringing 
 To my pines, after many years. 
 
 Is a life that is sick with grieving — 
 
 Crushed and bowed 'neath the cruel rod- 
 Is a heart that is unbelieving. 
 In all, all save a pitying God. 
 
 When a child, with my bare feet pressing 
 The soft turf, in this fragrant shade. 
 
 With sweet trust came I, oft confessing 
 All the thoughts that my bosom swayed. 
 
AFTER MANY YEARS. 
 
 Lordly castles I planned and builded, 
 Peopling them with the fair and young ; 
 
 And grand pictures, with gold all gilded, 
 On the beautiful walls I hung. 
 
 And my castles were ever haunted 
 By music sweet as a wind-swept lyre ; 
 
 With hushed breath, oft my fancy painted 
 Lovely faces for all the choir. 
 
 Rarest colors, that mortal vision 
 
 E'er beheld, with sweet breath of flowers, 
 Made life seem to me Elysian, 
 
 Where Love dwelt in enchanted bowers. 
 
 Oft times, when in my childish gladness 
 
 Wide her pinions had Fancy spread, 
 Undertones of a pleading sadness 
 - Seemed in the whisperings overhead. 
 
 Ah me, ah me, there was prescient meaning 
 In the whsipers. If I had known 
 
 It, maybe, I would not be singing 
 Songs to-night, to so sad a tune. 
 
 Ah me, ah me, if I had not wandered 
 From the friends of my youth apart, 
 
SO TIRED. 75 
 
 It maybe I had never squandered 
 All the wealth of a loving heart. 
 
 But the years with their sorrows freighted, 
 Have flowed into Time's soundless sea ; 
 
 And the bliss childhood dreamed and waited, 
 Is a dream still, to-night, to me. 
 
 Ah to-night, 'tis no idle seeming, 
 
 But a truth which my heart divines, 
 
 That, in sleep that will know no dreaming, 
 Soon I'll rest 'neath my dear old pines. 
 
 So Tired. 
 
 I am so tired, so tired, 
 And I have lost my way, I've strayed so far from Him 
 I think I did not watch, and I forgot to pray. 
 
 Somehow the path grew dim, 
 
 And I've been groping blindly, 
 Such long and toilsome ways my aching feet have 
 
 pressed — 
 Oh I must strive to find Him — to-morrow I'll begin — 
 
 To-night, I needs must rest. 
 
7(> SO TIRED. 
 
 Once, on a calm, sweet morn, 
 A melody was in my heart, a tender strain 
 Was blent with these blessed words, " Thou heavy- 
 laden, come !" 
 
 " I come," the sweet refrain — 
 
 That was long time ago — 
 Now I am weary, sad, by doubt and care oppressed ; 
 The morn no brightness brings to me, the day no joy. 
 
 The evening brings no rest. 
 
 I sit with idle hands, 
 I meant to work to-day. Alas ! the evening's come. 
 So much I had to do, but I grew tired and failed ; 
 
 Yes, failed — left all undone — 
 
 If I might only lay 
 My weary, aching head upon his pitying breast, 
 If I might only know His love, His blessed love, 
 
 That bringeth peace and rest. 
 
 I am so tired, so tired, 
 I cannot walk alone. Ah no I cannot stand — 
 Must I stay here and perish ? Die when Christ has 
 died? 
 
 Father, take my hand 
 
 And lead me thine own way ! 
 Surely Thou only, knowest what for me is best. 
 No. evil I will fear if Thou my way wilt guide, 
 
 Thou leadest unto rest. 
 
GRIEVING. 
 
 Grieving. 
 
 You have spoken to me harshly. 
 
 But I deem you did not know, 
 When a heart is sick to dying. 
 
 Words could wound it so. 
 
 Weak and erring, thought disloyal 
 Never in this heart had birth : 
 
 Was it well that you should question, 
 You of all the earth ? 
 
 Standing where the shining portal 
 Opens out upon the night. 
 
 Yet my grieving, tearful grieving. 
 Dims the golden light. 
 
 Lingering at the mystic threshold. 
 
 Ravished by a soft, sweet strain, 
 Still the cruel words you uttered 
 
 Float and float between. 
 
 When the shadows all are rifted. 
 
 When with spirit eyes I ken, 
 I will know the why you said them. 
 
 Then and not till then. 
 
PRESENTIMENT. 
 
 When the great " Recording Angel " 
 u True," above my name shall write, 
 
 Still your face will rise before me, 
 Doubting as to-night. 
 
 When I hearken to the welcome 
 Of the angels' choral strain, 
 
 Still will cruel words you've spoken 
 Float and float between. 
 
 Presentiment. 
 
 Darkened mounds are dimly blending 
 
 With my shadowed path to-night, 
 Where the cypress lowly bending 
 
 Whispereth to head-stones white. 
 Is it only fancy's weaving 
 
 That, ere the young moon shall wane, 
 Nevermore to joy or grieving, 
 
 My still heart shall throb again ? 
 
 Oh ! this strange, strange thought of dying- 
 
 Oh ! this mystic dreamless sleep — 
 Oh ! this dumb and helpless lying 
 
 In a silence long and deep ; 
 Deaf to call of those who love me, 
 
 Friends my heart to-night holds dear, 
 Friends whose joy or grief shall move me 
 
 Nevermore to smile or tear. 
 
PRESENTIMENT. 
 
 Ere the chimes for holy vespers 
 
 Many times shall pulse the air, 
 Will one voice be dumb that whispers 
 
 Low, to-night, the evening prayer ? 
 Pale moon, tell me, ere thy waning, 
 
 Will the pearly dew-drops lave 
 Tender grasses, fresh up-springing, 
 
 On a lowly, new-made grave \ 
 
 Cypress, when with gentle whispers 
 
 Low thou droopest o'er my bed, 
 Thinkest thou at hour of vespers 
 
 One prayer will for me be said ? 
 Thinkest thou the sod above me 
 
 Will by grieving eyes be wet ? 
 Thinkest thou the hearts that love me 
 
 Ever, ever will forget \ 
 
80 MINA. 
 
 MlNA, 
 
 One sweet May-day, the angel Death 
 Came on a mission from the skies, 
 
 In quest of flowers for a wreath 
 To grace a bower in Paradise. 
 
 Catching the breath of soft perfume, 
 The watchful angel soon espied, 
 
 Half hidden by the parent stem, 
 Twin rose-buds nestled side by side. 
 
 Awhile the shadowy white wings drooped 
 Above the bower where they grew ; 
 
 Then tenderly to earth he stooped, 
 Gathered and bore one bud away. 
 
 One bud of delicate perfume, 
 Of tender beauty frail and rare, 
 
 It could attain a perfect bloom 
 Only in heaven's purer air. 
 
 Removed from every blighting breath, 
 From chilling winds and changing skies. 
 
 Entwined within a fadeless wreath, 
 Our sweet bud blooms in Paradise. 
 
ILLUSION. 81 
 
 Illusion. 
 
 Waking or sleeping, they haunt me ever, 
 Strange, mystic measures I cannot grasp — 
 
 Sleeping or waking, they leave me never, 
 Shadowy forms that I cannot clasp. 
 
 Plaintive and sweet is a hymn of vespers, 
 Floating from shrine of a devotee ; 
 
 Tender and low, is it angels' whispers, 
 The twilight breezes have borne to me 
 
 -Now restless spirits seem near me, mocking 
 My weary brain with discordant tunes — 
 
 Now loving voices to me are talking 
 
 Of days of eld, of old rhymes and runes, — 
 
 Ah, well I know gaunt and ghostly fingers 
 
 Swept those wild strains from some spectral lute — 
 
 Weird harmony in my soul still lingers, 
 
 Tho' the chords are hushed, tho' the strings are mute. 
 
 Unreal, yet ever these spectres taunt me, 
 As I turn and turn in a fruitless quest — - 
 
 Unreal, yet ever these measures haunt me, 
 Filling my soul with a vague unrest. 
 
82 A CHILD'S rSQCIBY. 
 
 A Child's Inquiry. 
 
 Father, think'st thou I am nearing 
 Yet the " narrow way " I seek ? 
 
 Through the darkness, hoping, fearing, 
 T am groping, blind and weak ; 
 
 Crooked are my steps and slow : 
 
 Father, have I far to go ? 
 
 Mother, kneeling at thy altar, 
 Morning, noon, and night, to pray ; 
 
 Do thy footsteps never falter, 
 Walking in the " narrow way ?" 
 
 Mother, if 'tis well with thee, 
 
 Wilt thou plead with Christ for me ? 
 
 Sister, I am toil-worn, weary, 
 Hungering for the bread of life ; 
 
 Tired of all my wanderings dreary, 
 Perplexed by earth's care and strife : 
 
 Sister, are the way-marks plain ; 
 
 I the narrow way would gain. 
 
 Brother, listen. Day is waning, 
 And I'm fearful of the night ; 
 
 Long I've wandered, sad, complaining ; 
 Can'st thou guide my steps aright ? 
 
 Brother, long I've been astray, 
 Now I seek the narrow wav. 
 
THY WILL BE DONE. 83 
 
 Christian father, praying mother. 
 
 Lead me — I am very weak — 
 Loving sister, faithful brother, 
 
 You who know the way I seek, 
 Leave me not alone to pray ; 
 Help me find the " narrow way." 
 
 Thy Will be Done. 
 
 Vainly I strive to pray. 
 
 Thy will be done, O Lord ! 
 But tho* my lips essay 
 
 To speak, they form no word . 
 I'm helpless 'neath the chast ? ning rod. 
 Give grace and strength to me, God 
 
 When life was fresh and fair, 
 'Twas joy to say each word ; 
 
 How good Thy precepts are, 
 I love them all, Lord : 
 
 Thou gav'st in mercy every one, 
 
 God, my God, Thy will be done ! 
 
 But losses followed gain, 
 
 The tares grew with the wheat : 
 Pleasures were mixed with pain, 
 
 The bitter with the sweet : 
 Still my heart echoed every word, 
 His will be done, it is the Lord. 
 
84 THY WILL BE DONE. 
 
 But when the toil of years 
 
 Gives fruitage but of woe, 
 When blinded by my tears, 
 
 I see not where to go, 
 When friends I love have turned away, 
 Thy will be done, I cannot say. 
 
 " When all the way was bright, 
 
 Thine eyes marked out a path ; 
 And trusting to thy sight, 
 
 • Dim grew the eye of faith ; 
 'Tw.as only in prosperity 
 That thou would'st trust thy way to Me. 
 
 ,k What thou hast counted loss, 
 
 Will be a gain untold ; 
 What seems to thee but dross, 
 
 Will prove the finest gold ; 
 What thou hast deemed the chast'ning rod, 
 Will be a staff, thy help to God. 
 
 " Did friendship give a stone, 
 When thou did'st ask for bread ? 
 
 Art thou famishing alone ? 
 Then, surely, thou dost need 
 
 The Friend, who can all sorrow heal, 
 
 Who faithful is, thro' woe or weal." 
 
god's harvest. 85 
 
 Lord, thy voice I hear, 
 
 Altho' I may not see ; 
 Now lead me anywhere, 
 
 But so I walk with Thee : 
 Now Jesus pleadeth at the throne, 
 11 Father, at last, Thy will is done !' 
 
 God's Harvest. 
 
 Hearken to this command, the Lord of harvest gives : 
 ' ' Go laborers and reap for me the precious grain ; 
 
 Yea. need of harvesters hath He, to gather sheaves, 
 For see the fields are white on every hill and plain. 
 
 Brother, thro' dewy morn — sister, thro' glaring noon — 
 The bounteous harvest waits, the laborers are few ! 
 
 bring thy sickle forth — leave not thy part undone — 
 O hasten to the work He giveth thee to do ! 
 
 Will any say at eve, li My hands have never wrought 
 Within the harvest fields, I have no sheaves to bear, 
 
 1 waited thro the morn ; but ere the noon I thought 
 To go with reapers forth, the harvest toil to share. 
 
 ''Ah, will He know the fears that caused my soul to 
 faint, 
 When reapers passed me by with joyous shout and 
 song, 
 How o'er my rusted blade, in bitter tears I bent, 
 So near the harvester, idle the whole day long V 
 
8(3 god's harvest. 
 
 So near the laborers art thou, with tear-dimmed eyes, 
 
 Brother, His harvest waits where'er man's foot hath 
 
 trod ; 
 
 Glean but the scattered grain that in thy pathway lies. 
 
 Help raise some fallen one and thou hast wrought 
 
 for God. 
 
 Sister, hast thou grown faint beneath the noonday sun. 
 And laid thy sickle down ? Listen, He speaks to 
 thee ; 
 ' ' Share but a humble crust with some poor starving 
 one ; 
 Whisper a kindly word and thou hast wrought for 
 Me; 
 
 God grant there be no hands empty at eventide, 
 
 When from the harvest-fields Thou biddest all to 
 come ; 
 May each voice swell the song, that echoes far and 
 wide ; 
 The hymn of glad content, the joyous Harvest 
 Home. 
 
MABEL. 87 
 
 Mabel. 
 
 Just when the bud was blooming 
 Into the perfect flower, 
 
 When from its soft perfuming 
 Sweet was each passing hour ; 
 
 Just when its rare unfolding 
 Gave us such pure delight, 
 
 Loosed was our earthly holding. 
 Dimmed was our earthly sight ; 
 
 Softly were white wings drooping. 
 Over our earthly bower : 
 
 Gently an angel stooping 
 Gathered our precious flower. 
 
 There, by the Shining River, 
 Where the amaranths bloom, 
 
 There, where are soft winds ever, 
 Laden with sweet perfume ; 
 
 There to a heavenly bower, 
 Angels our steps will lead : 
 
 There we shall find our flower, 
 Pure as the love of God. 
 
88 JUST FOR TO-NIGHT. 
 
 Just for To-night. 
 
 Let me dream my sweet, sweet dream again, 
 Just for to-night, for only to-night, 
 
 Let my heart forget its loss and pain — 
 
 Entranced in a vision pure and bright, 
 
 Ere the morning light brings loss and pain — 
 
 Let me dream my sweet, sweet dream again. 
 
 Let me know the touch of a vanished hand. 
 Just for to-night, for only to-night — 
 
 Let it reach to me from the unseen land 
 
 Thrillng my soul with a sweet delight — 
 
 Oh, give me back from the unseen land 
 
 To-night, one touch of a vanished hand. 
 
 Let me hear again the old love-tone, 
 
 Just for to-night, for only to-night — 
 
 With a whispered love, all, all my own, 
 
 Let it come to me from the realms of light- 
 
 With a whispered love, all, all my own. 
 
 Let me hear to-night, the old love-tone. 
 
 Let me kiss my darling's lips again, 
 
 Just for to-night, for only to-night — 
 
 That I may keep through the years of pain, 
 One hallowed thought of a pure delight — 
 
 Tntensest joy, half akin to pain, 
 
 Just for to-night, I would know again. 
 
BERTIE. 89 
 
 Bertie. 
 
 A Little Boy, two and one-half years of age who never 
 walked or talked. 
 
 A little child was given 
 To win our hearts with love's sweet arts, 
 Then with love's chords draw them to heaven. 
 
 A tender, tropic flower, 
 That paled in bloom, exiled from home, 
 That drooped and pined for native bower. 
 
 Tense grew the mother's ear 
 For those sweet chords, her babe's first words ; 
 Music she vainly longed to hear. 
 
 Gently the Healer came, 
 The pitying Christ whose touch sufficed ; 
 The loosed tongue whispers His dear name. 
 
 The little helpless feet, 
 That never tried a way beside, 
 Are walking now the golden street. 
 
 Mother, thy patient love, 
 Thy unshed tears, thro' pain-fraught years, 
 Shall have sweet recompense above. 
 
 For at the pearly gates, 
 Methinks thine ear these words shall hear, 
 " Mamma is come, where Bertie waits !" 
 
9(1 COMMUNING WITH THE PAST. 
 
 Communing with the Past. 
 
 With a kind "good-night " they have sought their rest, 
 
 May angels watch o'er my dear ones' slumbers ; 
 But I linger still with the dear old Past, 
 Communing over the dying embers. 
 
 Memory has brought me the missing key 
 And helped to move bolts and bars away, 
 'Till the bygone years are again To-day. 
 
 Again I look on a sweet young face, 
 
 That softly framed in golden tresses, 
 Seems shining out with a holy grace, 
 Only meet for the angels' kisses. 
 
 Now fragrant June bringeth offerings rare, 
 
 And I weave a wreath for her shining hair, 
 
 For the ' ' Bridegroom 
 
 fair." 
 
 Here's " Will," and "Frank," and brown-eyed "Ned," 
 
 Placing their goal at thrice twenty paces ; 
 Fleet-footed " Will " has come out ahead, 
 He wins in most of their merry races : 
 
 But " one, two, three," and again they go, 
 With sparkling eyes and with cheeks aglow, 
 Ha ! ha ! " Brown-eyes " is the winner now. 
 
 And there a troop of gay-hearted girls 
 
 To fresh spring- woods their light steps are wending ; 
 
COMMUNING WITH THE PAST. 91 
 
 The south-wind tosses their tangled curls, 
 
 While sweet bird-notes with their songs are blend- 
 ing ; 
 And merrily on, for right well they know 
 The hillside where sweetest wood-pinks grow, 
 And where the earliest violets blow. 
 
 But time speeds on, and I see again 
 
 A bridal group at an altar kneeling ; 
 While yonder passes a sable train, 
 
 And funeral notes on my ears are falling : 
 And a bride goes forth to the untried years, 
 And a mother toils through her hopes and fears, 
 And a mourner watches through falling tears. 
 
 A soldier's grave in a Southern clime 
 
 And sad-faced comrades above it bending ; 
 O brown-eyed " Ned," ere thy manhood's prime, 
 Of life's short race thou hast found the ending : 
 But a shining goal sure thy feet had won, 
 For thy youthful brow wore the laurel crown. 
 Thy country gave to a patriot son. 
 
 9 
 
 An old man sits at the close of day, 
 
 With soft night- winds through his white locks play 
 
 in g; 
 
 His wistful gaze seemeth far away, 
 
 And listen, what are the pale lips saying : 
 1 ' 'Twas ever thus with my laggard feet, 
 In every race they were sure to beat, 
 But I must be near the goal to-night : 
 
92 COMMUNING WITH THE PAST. 
 
 " * The boys will wonder what I'm about, 
 
 They'll say. ' What can be his steps belating f ' 
 Now, did I dream or was that their shout ? 
 
 " Come on, come on, at the goal we're waiting." 
 11 Yes, boys, I come, but my feet are slow." 
 A soft light breaks o'er the furrowed brow, 
 And the laggard joineth his comrades now. 
 
 Yes, guardian angels will keep to-night 
 
 My dear ones resting in quiet chambers ; 
 But dear old Past it has been so sweet 
 To sit with thee by the dying' embers. 
 To be a child on the hills once more. 
 To hear the songs that I heard of yore, 
 To list again to love's sweet, sweet lore. 
 
 The last faint spark of the dying fire 
 
 On the cold hearth-stone at my feet is falling ; 
 The faithful clock, in the corner there, 
 The hour of midnight is loudly telling : 
 
 And Memory says, ' ■ Leave the bygone years 
 And let me shut all their mystic doors :" 
 But rent in twain are the bolts and bars. 
 
ADA. 98 
 
 Ada. 
 
 The wearisome journey is past, 
 
 The goal of the christian attained : 
 The feet of our darling at last 
 The Beautiful City have gained. 
 Joyful the anthems angel bands play, 
 " One more, a victor, is crowned to-day. 
 
 His blessed Word her staff and her guide, 
 
 She patiently journeyed His time ; 
 Before her, just over the tide, 
 
 Lay the haven, the beautiful clime. 
 " Father," she pleaded, nearing death's strand. 
 ' ' Thy child is weary, reach her Thy hand. " 
 
 Oft-times, as we journey, we sing 
 The songs that our darling loved best ; 
 And sweet are the visions they bring 
 Of her, in her beautiful rest ; 
 In soft shining garments the purified wear 
 With roses of Sharon a-gleam in her hair. 
 
 She is a blessed light, shining down 
 To us, from the City of God ; 
 
 And eagerly our feet press on 
 The way that she patiently trod : 
 Soon, footsore and weary, we'll halt at death's strand, 
 Father, in mercy, then reach us Thy hand. 
 
94 TIRED. 
 
 TIRED. 
 
 Droop low, weary lids, and cover my eyes 
 
 Away from the light. 
 He will know, just the same, tho' but tired'st sighs 
 
 My lips breathe to-night, 
 If words I must plead, ere I be forgiven, 
 Then surely to-night remain I unshriven. 
 
 When Time was but telling the noon of my years, 
 
 My day had eclipse : 
 Thence — forward my heart hath not known smiles or 
 tears, 
 
 Only eyes, only lips. 
 Just life's weary tread-mill I plod, on and on, 
 With steps that uncertain and halting have grown. 
 
 Ah well there's a morning, a noon and a night, 
 
 For mortals decreed ; 
 And sometimes a gleam from Morn's pinions of light 
 
 Illumes eventide ; 
 And sometimes Night spreadeth her dark wings too 
 
 soon, 
 Eclipsing a promise of goldenest noon. 
 
 Closer creep, weary Ms, veil out all the light, 
 
 Perchance I may dream 
 That softly above sable pinions of Night, 
 
 The morning doth gleam : 
 Then sandaled with joy, Hghtly touching the years, 
 My heart shall have part in my smiles and my tears. 
 
TIRED. 95 
 
 Low, dreamy, and tender, a faint chime of bells 
 
 Stirs softly the air ; 
 The vales catch the sound from the far-away hills, 
 
 And whisper a prayer : 
 Tis the hour of vespers, and incense doth rise 
 From lowland and upland, of prayer and of praise. 
 
 I see where two lovers, in sweet converse, walk 
 
 A daisy-starred path ; 
 I know they are talking the happiest talk, 
 
 The plighting of faith . 
 To the shadowy woodland their light footsteps wend, 
 Where, to welcome their troth plight, the fragrant 
 pines bend. 
 
 A-down a cathedral's grand, shadowy aisles, 
 
 Where tapers burn low, 
 I see where a pallid-faced devotee kneels, 
 
 Telling over each vow. 
 nun, is your heart with your altars and shrines, 
 Or far, far away, 'neath sweet-scented pines ? 
 
 Keep close, weary lids, I would hear them again, 
 Those chimes sweet and low ; 
 
 But why does that voice sound like pleadings of pain 
 That would unsay each vow ? 
 
 And why does the incense, from altars and shrines, 
 
 Blend and float with the breath of murmuring pines ? 
 
96 MY CHILDREN. 
 
 My Children, 
 
 A little darling babe lay in my arms, 
 
 And from its resting place 
 
 Smiled up into my face, 
 Until it held me bound by nameless charms. 
 
 Only a half year, now from gentler arms 
 
 It smiles down in my face 
 
 From its sweet resting place, 
 And draws my heart to Heaven by stronger charms. 
 
 A brave, bright boy still played about my knees, 
 
 Coaxing with tender wiles 
 
 My saddened lips to smiles ; 
 His sweet soul looking out thro' loving eyes. 
 
 Four happy' years I held this precious joy. 
 
 To-day his little feet 
 
 Play on the golden street, 
 And 'round my knee there climbs no darling boy. 
 
 But this God-given hope brings strength and joy, 
 
 And often -times beguiles 
 
 My saddened lips to smiles, 
 That sometime I shall go and claim my boy. 
 
 And then my little babe shall come to me ; 
 
 And from its resting place 
 
 Shall smile up in my face, 
 And my arms nevermore shall empty be. 
 
RE-UNITED. 97 
 
 Re-United. 
 
 Georgie — Zadee, art thou waiting 
 
 On the shining strand ? 
 Wilt thou thro' death's shadows 
 
 Reach to me thy hand ? 
 Wilt thou lead me, sister, 
 
 Thro' the golden gates, 
 Walking close beside me, 
 
 Up the pearly streets ? 
 
 Zadee — Georgie, I am waiting 
 
 On the shining strand ; 
 Walking thro' the valley, 
 
 Christ will hold thy hand. 
 Safely He will guide thee 
 
 Thro' the golden gates : 
 Come, my darling sister. 
 
 Zadee for thee waits. 
 
 Georgie — Good-by, all my dear ones, 
 
 Sister bids me come ; 
 And we'll ask our Father 
 
 Soon to bring you home. 
 Zadee, morning gleameth 
 
 As I leave earth's strand. 
 Glory ! hallelujah ! 
 
 Jesus holds my hand ! 
 
98 THE BRIDAL. 
 
 The Bridal. 
 
 Hush thy sobs and listen, brother, 
 I have something I would say, 
 
 Ere the final words be spoken, 
 Ere we clasp hands in good-by. 
 
 Since the hour thy bashful welcome 
 Caused the orphan's tears to dry, 
 
 Thou hast been a friend most faithful, 
 Tender, loving, kind and true. 
 
 Mind'st thou of our happy childhood, 
 All engirt with loving care \ 
 
 When the winter seemed but summer 
 Sleeping just to wake more fair ? 
 
 And the orchard, where in May-time 
 Pink and white blooms drifted down, 
 
 While on top-most branches swinging 
 Robin sang his merry tune ? 
 
 Mind'st thou when the south wind whispered 
 u The sweet April- time has come," 
 
 How we sought the sunniest places, 
 Where a violet first would bloom ? 
 
THE BRIDAL. 
 
 Then across the dewy meadows, 
 Trying which could fastest run ; 
 
 Baring feet to wade the streamlets, 
 Growing brown in wind and sun ; 
 
 Clambering the steepest hillside, 
 Where the wood-pinks hid away ; 
 
 Mimicking the merry blackbird, 
 As he sang his roundelay ; 
 
 Raking in the scented clover, 
 
 Oh what wondrous plans we made ; 
 
 Plans from which to build our future, 
 " Our," you know, we always said. 
 
 Wand'ring through the sweet June roses, 
 Now to man and woman grown, 
 
 Blue eyes lifted, shy and tender, 
 To the brown ones looking down. 
 
 Words low-spoken, yet each accent 
 Burned into my heart and brain, 
 
 "I will bring a bride, dear sister, 
 Ere the roses come again." 
 
 How the twilight gloomed and darkened- 
 The heavens a pall — the earth a bier — 
 
100 THE BRIDAL. 
 
 How the dying roses whispered 
 Farewells on the fainting air. 
 
 Hush thy sobs and listen, brother, 
 Ere we part I this would say, 
 
 Infinite the Love that willed it, 
 All my doubts are cleared away. 
 
 Only when this crown of sorrow 
 Pressed me with its bitter pain, 
 
 Knew I how the Elder Brother 
 Sorrowed, seeking me in vain. 
 
 Now He comes, the Elder Brother, 
 To the sound of marriage bells. 
 
 Bride at last, His hand shall crown me 
 With a wreath of immortelles. 
 
LET ME KISS YOU dOOD-BT. 101 
 
 Let me Kiss you Good-by. 
 
 Yes, I know we must part, thy love is another's, 
 The fond hopes I've cherished, unuttered must die ; 
 
 Henceforward our love must be sister's and brother's, 
 Only one boon I ask, let me kiss you good-by. 
 
 Our love-chain is severed, and what now remaineth ? 
 
 Shall I sit down in tears, or heart-broken, and sigh I 
 The last link is rent, it no longer enchaineth, 
 
 So all that remains is to kiss you good-by. 
 
 You will take to your heart one fair as the morning. 
 
 Bright and pure as the dewdrops, as sparkling they 
 he ; 
 An exquisite flower your home-life adorning. 
 
 When the one is forgotten who kissed you good-by. 
 
 A sweet dream was mine, with a bitter awaking, 
 On my altar of love only ashes now he ; 
 
 But through rifts in dark clouds oft sunshine comes 
 breaking, 
 So I'll watch for the light while I kiss you good-by. 
 
 Yes. sad hours will come, when my heart's weary 
 
 aching 
 Will perchance find relief in a tear or a sigh ; 
 But heart-fiber is tough, not easily breaking, 
 And I'll hope for the best and kiss you good-by. 
 
 If only to me nature kindly had given 
 
 Aught of beauty or grace, to charm lover's eye, 
 
102 GOD BLESS YOU. 
 
 Perhaps our love-chain had never been riven, 
 And the kiss I now give would not be a good-by. 
 
 In my Father's house I, too, shall have beauty, 
 And love that fountains of heaven underlie ; 
 
 Happiness unalloyed, where never stern Duty 
 
 Says, "life's cross you must bear — kiss your loved 
 one good-by," 
 
 God Bless You. 
 
 Only "God bless you !" 
 It was friendship's offering, nothing more, 
 
 But it came to me in my sorest need, 
 
 And I treasure it with a miser's greed, 
 And I softly whisper the dear words o'er. 
 
 Only "God bless you !" 
 Just three little words, but they softly fell 
 
 A benediction into my life, 
 
 And wrought, in place of its care and strife, 
 A brooding peace by their magic spell. 
 
 Only "God bless you !" 
 Just three little words, through my tears I see, 
 
 But they sink down, down through the strange, numb 
 
 pain 
 That all day long on my heart hath lain, 
 And they waken a soft, sweet melody. 
 
 Only " God bless you !" 
 They are beautiful words, beautiful words ; 
 
 And though Fate shape me sad destiny, 
 
 And though I bow to the stern decree, 
 Through my saddest songs they will be sweet chords. 
 
BABY HATTIE. 103 
 
 Baby Hattie. 
 
 In the hushed noon of night 
 We heard low whisperings ; 
 
 Sweet as tho' spirit hands 
 Were sweeping viol strings : 
 
 With bated breath we leant, 
 
 To catch each low-breathed word, 
 
 And this was the sweet song, 
 The wondrous song, we heard : 
 
 " Come, baby, come 
 Where the sunbeams play, 
 
 And birdies sing 
 All the long, bright day. 
 
 "Come, baby, come 
 From earth's cold and rime, 
 
 To the heav'nly land, 
 To the sunny clime. 
 
 " Come, baby, come, 
 And thy head shall rest, 
 
 When tired of play, 
 On the Savior's breast. " 
 
104 BABY HATTIE. 
 
 Then thro' the gloom of night, 
 We saw the gleam of wings, 
 
 Then surely spirit hands 
 Swept over golden strings ; 
 
 For thro' the pearly gates, 
 
 Ajar to let her in, 
 We heard the angels sing 
 
 Once more this sweet refrain 
 
 " Come, baby, come 
 Where the bowers are fair, 
 
 And the birdies' song 
 Fills the tender air : 
 
 1 ' When tired of play , 
 In the sweetest rest, 
 
 Thy head shall lay 
 On the Savior's breast." 
 
 Now thro' each noon of night, 
 We watch for gleam of wings, 
 
 And list with bated breath 
 For sound of golden strings. 
 
 For in the sunny clime 
 Beyond the pearly gates, 
 
 Cradled on Jesus' breast, 
 Our baby for us waits. 
 
ONLY A DREAM. 105 
 
 Only a Dream. 
 
 Only a dream — a sweet, sweet dream — 
 Fraught with the tenderest joy ; 
 
 I murmured softly, life is complete, 
 And gold is without alloy. 
 
 Summer had donned her emerald robe, 
 Spangled with dew-drops and flowers 
 
 June's balmy breath, redolent of bloom. 
 Kissed leafy woodlands and bowers. 
 
 Bright- winged songsters flitted through air 
 
 Trilling a happy lay ; 
 But sweeter and tenderer melody 
 
 Flooded my soul that day. 
 
 One half -blown rose, laden with dew. 
 
 Emitted a rare perfume, 
 I plucked the flower, shyly whispering. 
 
 For me thou hasted to bloom. 
 
 Thou art an emblem, lovely rose, 
 Of my life so fresh and sweet. 
 
 My soul hath fragrance as pure and rare. 
 Hath a beauty as complete. 
 
106 ONLY A DREAM. 
 
 Only bright flowers and happy birds 
 Vie with my heart to-day : 
 
 Only the songs that are joyous, glad, 
 Rival its tuneful lay. 
 
 Only a dream, in youth's sweet morn — 
 I wakened haggard and old — 
 
 The melody gone from my stricken soul, 
 Tarnished my treasured gold. 
 
 Only a whisper, faint and far, 
 
 But my frightened song-birds fled- 
 
 Only a breath, but so poisonous, 
 It left my heart-blossoms dead. 
 
 Poor, faded rose, that balmy morn 
 
 Blooming so fresh and sweet — 
 Withered ere noon — surely thy lif e 
 Of mine is an emblem meet. 
 
 Only the ashes left to me 
 
 Of a sweet, sweet dream of love. 
 Only a striving, through tears to see 
 
 If this is the " Way " above. 
 
UNFINISHED. 107 
 
 Unfinished. 
 
 Yes, dear old friend, well have you said, 
 
 " A wondrous change the years have wrought !" 
 A blithesome, brown-haired lass you sought, 
 
 And only me you found, instead. 
 
 A- weary now, a- weary now, 
 
 For life's sad burdens press me sore ; 
 And all the light of days of yore 
 
 Has faded from my aching brow. 
 
 But let me for awhile, to-night, 
 Forget this weary, weary pain, 
 While with some long forgotten strain, 
 
 You wake for me the old delight. 
 
 Yea, sing some tender song to me, 
 And all the harp-strings of my heart, 
 By mem'ry swept, shall bear a part 
 
 In the dear old-time melody. 
 
 Nay, dearest friend, mind not my tears, 
 To-night they are not born of pain ; 
 I'm looking thro' a summer rain, 
 
 At rainbow-tints in vanished years. 
 
 Now play for me the sweet prelude 
 
 To the grand anthem, I love best ; 
 
 Hark, angels whisper, " Soon, the rest 
 We'll play you, 'round the throne of God !" 
 
108 
 
 On reading in the " Item " 
 
 What Becomes of Editors?" 
 
 In the Item, a few weeks ago. 
 
 Somebody expressed much regret 
 For the editors' uncertain fate. 
 
 And feared they'd be *' left in the wet, 
 On that score they've nothing to fear. 
 
 No such apprehension have I ; 
 Indeed, there is reason to think 
 
 Their future will be hot and dry. 
 
 The good they all claim, that they do 
 
 Oft savors so strongly of evil. 
 That, sometimes. I almost suspect 
 
 In that they are helped by the " devil.' 
 Indeed, they're a peculiar set. 
 
 Created our patience to try : 
 One comfort they'll have their old ' ' help 
 
 To stir up a breeze where it's dry. 
 
 Now whether "three parties" there'll be 
 
 In the future I really don't know : 
 Politicians, who cry for reform. 
 
 Expect. I suppose, 'twill be so : 
 But editors. I'm very sure. 
 
 About party and hobby '11 forget — 
 Overcome by the heat and the dry, 
 
 They'll wish they'd " left in the wet." 
 
THE FIRST ROBIN. 109 
 
 Our companions always, 'tis said. 
 
 Will help ns to good ways or evil ; 
 Of course then they'll " go to the bad," 
 
 Who get their work done by a " devil !" 
 I know that they always complain 
 
 Of " tight'' times, and a hard, thankless lot 
 In the future they'll get their reward. 
 
 Snug quarters both dry and hot. 
 
 If only to print now and then 
 
 They can get a " New Constitution ; ,? 
 Their papers and pockets they'll fill 
 
 And make sure their future condition : 
 So they had better keep ' ; heart," 
 
 Hold their heads firmly and high ; 
 If the present seems is cold," they will find 
 
 The future is both hot and dry. 
 French Creek, Pa.. June. 1874. 
 
 The First Robin, 
 
 My little boys have left off their playing. 
 
 And with their faces pressed close to the pane, 
 
 Willie to Rob is eagerly saying. 
 
 11 Just wait a moment, you'll hear it again — 
 
 There, don't you see its little head bobbin' ! 
 
 H-o-o-rav. h-o-o-rav, I've seen the first robin !" 
 
110 THE FIRST ROBIN. 
 
 1 ' What, that brown thing the wind is a-swinging ? 
 
 That is a leaf left there from last year ; 
 And what you call a robin a-singing, 
 
 Is the wind whistling through dead branches there- 
 Ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! you've seen a queer robin ! 
 Just an old leaf a-bobbin' and bobbin'." 
 
 " There, there it goes, now surely you'll own it 
 Is a real robin, with grayish-brown wings, 
 
 And a red jacket, and cunning black bonnet. 
 Oh just to listen, how splendid he sings ! 
 
 Dear little birdie, his black-head a-bobbin', 
 
 I am so glad I found the first robin !" 
 
 " Yes, 'tis a robin, I just was mistaken ; 
 
 This pane of glass somehow isn't right clear, 
 And mamma says she's heard it's a token, 
 
 When robins come, that Spring is most here 
 But I am thinking this venturesome robin, 
 If he keeps warm, will have to keep bobbin'." 
 
 ' ' This pane of glass is queer, only showing 
 You an old leaf, while I saw a nice bird ; 
 
 But what was it made you hear the wind blowing, 
 While a bird singing so plainly I heard ? 
 
 Now, since you see and hear it's a robin, 
 
 Let's get some crumbs to keep it's head bobbin'." 
 
NAOMI. Ill 
 
 Naomi. 
 
 Thro' the moaning of the March- winds, 
 Thro' the Spring-time's sobbing tears, 
 
 These words fell in tender accents 
 On our darling's wondering ears : 
 
 ' ' From thy toiling in the vineyard, 
 Child, thy Father bids thee come ; 
 
 Loosen off thy dusty sandals, 
 Thy tired feet may rest at home. 
 
 In the gardens sweet with lilies, 
 In the mansions of the King, 
 
 On the banks of shining rivers, 
 Thou shalt songs of Zion sing. 
 
 In the white-robed choir of Heaven, 
 Near the Lamb who once was slain, 
 
 Thou may'st waken golden harp-strings- 
 To a sweet, undying strain." 
 
 Only waited she to whisper 
 
 Loving words of hope and trust ; 
 
 Then the golden bowl was broken, 
 And the silver cord was loosed. 
 
 Gentle sister, dear Naomi, 
 
 Did our Father love thee best ? 
 
 He hath left us weeping, toiling, 
 And hath given thee sweet rest. 
 
112 ON A FRIEND'S WEDDING. 
 
 On a Friend's Wedding. 
 
 The beautiful bride, in satin arrayed, 
 White roses her dark curls entwining, 
 
 A stately queen seemed, who Love's sceptre swayed 
 O'er one subject, all other resigning. 
 
 How Hugh came to know which ticket to choose 
 
 In Life's lottery. I can't devise ; 
 Cajoling Dame Fortune, by some cunning ruse, 
 
 From her hoard he has drawn a rare prize. 
 
 The pretty bridesmaids looked bewitchingly sweet, 
 The groomsmen's hearts to them did incline — 
 
 Just here I'll suggest, that to make life complete. 
 Two lives into one must combine. 
 
 Very happily passed the golden-winged hours, 
 Every one was pleasant and smiling ; 
 
 Our paths seemed strewn with bright-tinted flowers, 
 Our hearts yielded to music's beguihng. 
 
 May the flowers of love their fond hearts entwine, 
 
 Sweetest fragrance ever emitting ; 
 Fresh as her bridal wreath, when he whispered 
 " thou'rt mine," 
 
 May they be when their life's sun is setting. 
 
TO THE AUTHOR OF "LAUREL BLOSSOMS." 113 
 
 To the Author of a Sad Lay Entitled 
 "Laurel Blossoms." 
 
 I chide thee, friend, for thy mournful lay, 
 For thy voice attuned to a saddened strain, 
 
 When thou shouid'st strike as glad notes to-day 
 As angel's sang on Judea's plain. 
 
 The wise men brought from the East afar 
 Their precious gifts at the Savior's birth : 
 
 Guided by one brightly gleaming star, 
 
 They found the Light that shall gild the earth. 
 
 O, poet- friend, bring thy gift of song — 
 
 'Tis more than gold, frankincense or myrrh — 
 
 And echoing hills shall the notes prolong, 
 Thy meed of praise for the wondrous Star. 
 
 Not loveliness of the "laurel-blooms," 
 
 Not fondest love that earth e'er hath given, 
 
 Nor tropic flowers with their rare perfumes, 
 Thrill us like song with foretaste of heaven. 
 
 Have treasured friends of thy sunny youth 
 Proved false ? Ah well, thus He leadeth thee 
 
 To the Faithful Friend. Thou hast proved the truth. 
 " When all else forsake, ye may come to Me.'" 
 
114 THE UNKNOWN LANDS. 
 
 Now tune thy lyre to a gladder strain, 
 To joyous notes let thy voice accord ; 
 
 Let thy rich gift swell the glad refrain 
 Of souls redeemed by a risen Lord. 
 
 The Unknown Lands. 
 
 I am going over the Mystic Sea, 
 Far away to the Unknown Lands ; 
 
 Even now the boat which has come for me 
 Anchors down on Life's ebbing sands. 
 
 I have watching been for the boatman pale, 
 Ere he comes, sends never a word ; 
 
 It is but the gleam of a snowy sail, 
 Then the order to be aboard. 
 
 I have sometimes thought T would rather stay 
 Where my friends and my kindred are ; 
 
 For the Unknown Lands are so far away. 
 I have dreaded the voyage there. 
 
 But such tales of marvel have come to me 
 Of these Lands, of their wealth untold— 
 
 ( )f ships that ride on a Jasper Sea ; 
 Of cities with streets of gold ; 
 
IX THE DEPTHS. 115 
 
 Of inhabitants, that are all arrayed 
 In robes that are white and fine ; 
 
 Of grand, sweet anthems by harpers played ; 
 Of a palm and a golden crown. 
 
 So I think, dear friends, while you wait and watch, 
 
 I wall go o'er the Mystic Sea ; 
 And the loving King, with his healing touch, 
 
 Of all pain will heal even me. 
 
 In the Depths. 
 
 No, I cannot join your singing- 
 Dearest sister, I would be 
 
 Only notes of discord bringing 
 To your perfect harmony. 
 
 Darkness in my soul is warring — 
 Fiercely warring with the light — 
 
 And your softest tones are jarring 
 Rudely on my heart to-night. 
 
 From the depths my voice is crying — 
 Depths your glad eyes have not seen- 
 
 Who can reach where I am lying, 
 But the lowly Nazarene ''. 
 
1 1<> IN THE DEPTHS. 
 
 Who can still the sorrow breaking 
 In such wild waves over me, 
 
 But the Christ, who, softly speaking, 
 Calmed the storm-tossed Galilee ! 
 
 I have prayed for night to hide me 
 From the cruel, glaring day. 
 
 Do not weep, your tears will chide me, 
 Say " good-night," then go away. 
 
 Nay. dear sister, do not kiss me. 
 My lips are too hard and white : 
 
 Only ask your God to bless me, 
 
 When you kneel and pray to-night. 
 
 Perchance, when the morn is bringing 
 Light to earth, there'll come a dawn 
 
 To my soul, and then your singing, 
 Dearest sister, I will join. 
 
LOTTIE. 117 
 
 Lottie. 
 
 Nestling within love's bower. 
 A tender bud expanding, pure and sweet. 
 Gave promise of a beauty rare, complete. 
 
 When it should burst in flower. 
 
 With tenderness untold, 
 We watched each pink -white petal soft unclose, 
 In blissful dreaming of the perfect rose 
 
 We by and by should hold. 
 
 But, ah : if loved flowers bloom, 
 Fragrant and fair, beneath caressing dews, 
 They know ere long earth's blights and frosts, and 
 lose 
 
 Their beauty and perfume : 
 
 And so in Paradise 
 The angels pleaded, " Let us go and bear 
 This bud of promise to a purer air, 
 
 Where bloom immortal is." 
 
 A little while we weep, 
 Missing the fragrance that hath left our bower, 
 But soon we too may go where blooms our flower, 
 
 Our own to hold and keep. 
 
118 KIND WORDS. 
 
 • Kind Words. 
 
 Defiant, bitter, cold, I stood aloof, 
 
 Searched jealously my heart and barred all out — 
 ''They cannot know," I said, " 'tis not enough, 
 
 This pity that they give me half of doubt !" 
 
 And then one I had scorned, had deeply scorned, 
 Spake tender words to me, kind words to me 
 
 While, thro' the eyes that looked in mine, there yearned 
 A soul of sympathy, sweet sympathy. 
 
 'Twas manna fresh from heaven, 'twas blessed dew, 
 Distilled on dying roots of faith and hope ; 
 
 The gracious plants came forth, all clothed anew. 
 Their balmy tendrils lifting up and up. 
 
 Away the bars that guarded my proud heart, 
 The lava-tide of feeling swayed and swept, 
 
 Until I bowed me down to woman's part, 
 
 To woman's part I bowed, and wept and wept. 
 
 Oh, thirsting souls are seeking ev'ry day, 
 
 For " troubled waters,'' that some love hath stirred : 
 And hearts are hungering, around our way. 
 
 For what we each can give, a kindly word. 
 
A MIDSUMMER FANCY. 119 
 
 A Midsummer Fancy. 
 
 The soft south-winds are wooing me to keep 
 
 With them this morn, a tryst ; 
 While languorous scents of flowers and bird-songs, steep 
 
 The air in dreamful rest. 
 
 I'll hie me from the busy haunts of men, 
 
 Where carking care is rife : 
 My weary soul has naught with them akin, 
 
 I'm sick of toil and strife. 
 
 A castle I will build of make-believe, 
 
 Arched o'er with shining roof ; 
 And then, with Fancy's shuttle, I will weave 
 
 Gold warp with silver woof. 
 
 I'll make a texture where the lilies kiss 
 
 The air to sweet perfume ; 
 Where bright-winged warblers, 'twixt their songs, 
 caress 
 
 The roses into bloom. 
 
 I'll have rare gardens, and fresh, vine-clad bowers, 
 
 With glinting lakes between ; 
 And border all the walks with sweet-breath'd flowers, 
 
 Of tenderest, daintiest sheen. 
 
120 DREAMS AND REALITIES. 
 
 I'll place an organ, where the lofty palms 
 
 Form orchestra, most grand : 
 Whose keys shall glory speak, from grand old psalms, 
 
 Swept by a master hand. % 
 
 I'll have the women all so pure and fair, 
 
 The men so grand and true, 
 'Twill seem that Heaven's gate was left ajar, 
 
 And I have wandered through. 
 
 Dreams and Realities. 
 
 Roses and lilies gleam 
 In sunny plots ; and there I'll build my bowers, 
 An odorous place wherein to while sweet hours. 
 
 And fashion my day-dream. 
 
 The sunshine seems to pall, 
 And Autumn's riuie is ruthless and relentless ; 
 See where my garlands he, faded and scentless. 
 
 Ashes of roses, all ! 
 
 Hearken, O spirit mine, 
 For grand cathedral hymns are sweetly blending 
 With glorious organ-tones. Incense ascending 
 
 From Music's hallowed shrine. 
 
DREAMS AND REALITDSS. 121 
 
 What sad notes float between — 
 Ah, 'tis an offering from the shrine of Sorrow, 
 The censers, hopeless hearts, that ken no morrow 
 
 Of sunshine or of sheen. 
 
 Pulse tenderly, my heart, 
 For even now thy door Hope is unclosing ; 
 And Love walks softly in, on Faith reposing, 
 
 While Pity dwells apart. 
 
 Dear harp, I'll try thy strings — 
 Responsive to my touch, a dirge replying 
 Says Hope and Pity weep, where Love is dying, 
 
 And Faith droops low her wings. 
 
 Is this the crucible 
 Wherein the gold from dross He is refining \ 
 We call it pain and loss, in our repining, 
 
 And murmur, my soul ! 
 
 Because the grand notes fail, 
 Shall we prelude a dirge with sad complaining, 
 And prematurely blight with tears down-raining. 
 
 The flowers we love so well 1 
 
 Lord, make it plain to me 
 Where Thy way leads from mine, and it sufficeth- 
 Self must be crucified, ere soul arise th, 
 
 Meet dwelling-place for Thee. 
 
■Vi'2 HOPE. 
 
 Hope, 
 
 Nearer to me 
 Darling, for my dim eyes would fain 
 Trace thy dear features once again , 
 
 Once ere I die. 
 
 Nay, do riot weep ! 
 With earth's long, weary vigil past, 
 How sweet to close my eyes at last, 
 
 To quiet sleep. 
 
 To know, this day, 
 The mystic veil that hangs between 
 The mortal and immortal scene, 
 
 Shall pass away. 
 
 % Yes wondrous fair, 
 
 Blessed with thy love life still had been — 
 Thy love, to me a priceless crown, 
 I joyed to wear. 
 
 But one rude breath 
 That swept across the white heart-flowers- 
 Those tender blooms of love's sweet hours- 
 Brought blight and death. 
 
HOPE. 123 
 
 No tears we shed 
 Above our broken altar, where 
 Love's blossoms, once so fresh and fair, 
 
 Lay crushed and dead. 
 
 My very own, 
 My all of joy that earth had given — 
 The love by which I measured heaven- 
 No longer mine. 
 
 Then through the night 
 Of doubt, and fierce unrest and pain — 
 My soul no anchor where to lean, 
 
 No beacon light — 
 
 Christ softly spake, 
 " I give to thee immortal love, 
 I suffered death that love to prove, 
 
 Death for thy sake." 
 
 Unspeakable 
 This love of loves, that came to bless, 
 That with sweet hope, and joy, and peace. 
 
 Makes glad my soul. 
 
24 WE ART. 
 
 Weary. 
 
 Sunshine and song birds, and sweet-scented flowers 
 Have made the day gladsome and bright, 
 
 Yet I was weary through all the long hours, 
 And I am a-weary to-night. 
 
 Weary of all that my hands find to do — 
 
 A-weaiy in heart and in brain — 
 Darling, my darling, still tender and true. 
 
 Come love me, love me again, 
 
 Just as you used, when to quiet my pain 
 You drew my tired head to your breast ; 
 
 let me play. I'm a child, once again. 
 That you are beguiling to rest. 
 
 Now with the lashes drooped close on my cheek, 
 
 I've banished the world far away — 
 Darling, my darling, I'm weary and weak, 
 
 Close, close to your heart let me he. 
 
 Mind you that song — sweet, loving and low — 
 
 We sang ere we drifted apart ? 
 Xo, do not sing it, I'm too weary now. 
 
 Just whisper it out of your heart. 
 
 So, with your hand gently stroking my brow, 
 As time to the dear words you keep — 
 
 Darling, my darling, I'm so happy now. 
 And these are glad tears that I weep. 
 
LIFE. 125 
 
 Life. 
 
 Life's best part shall be mine ! 
 Hark, from yon player's touch a trembling prelude 
 
 floats, 
 Mine shall the glory be to waken grander notes ; 
 Ah me, ah me,. I've swept only discordant keys. 
 
 Life's chalice holds sweet wine, 
 And many laughing lips upon its brim are pressed ; 
 I'll wait a vintage rare, a nectar gods might taste ! 
 Ah me, ah me, I've drained only the bitter lees. 
 
 Who shall interpret lif e i 
 Who tell what means the part that on earth's stage is 
 
 played ? 
 Why is this mocking thirst, this hunger unallayed ? 
 And oh, somewhere, sometime, shall we be satisfied i 
 
 Is being one with strife ? 
 And will each day's rehearsal help to decide what part 
 The Master will assign us, when all is learned by heart ? 
 Oh, when death lifts the curtain, will weal or woe 
 
 betide ? 
 
 Life seems a mystery — 
 I hear the mourner's plaint, I hear the victor's psalm — 
 Close on the bridal bells they toll a requiem, 
 And pompous Opulence dwells hard by Poverty : 
 
 And I ask, " what shall be ?" 
 Tried in the crucible, my fine gold proved but dross — 
 I thought to weave a crown, I made instead a cross — 
 
 I pleaded for a loaf, a stone was given me. 
 
12H THE HEART'S NOVEMBER. 
 
 Hearken now, niy soul ! 
 A Hand is writing on the tablets of my heart, 
 And Inspiration reads : " Life is of God a part. 
 God, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End." 
 
 Earth-life is but a school, 
 And every day's rehearsal shall tell for woe or weal, 
 Upon the last great drama, Death only can reveal : 
 Then I no more shall question, for I shall understand. 
 
 The Heart's November. 
 
 There was a May when singing birds 
 
 Seemed everywhere ; 
 When winds were music, set to words 
 
 In love's sweet lore. 
 
 There was a June when soft skies bent 
 
 O'er fragrant bowers, 
 To ask if Paradise had lent 
 
 Earth all her flowers. 
 
 Then fair September pressed her grapes 
 
 To rarest wine, 
 And gave the chalice to my lips, 
 
 A draught divine. 
 
127 
 
 October wore a splendid crown, 
 
 That happy year ; 
 And earth laid all her crosses down, 
 Heaven was so near. 
 
 November time ! Ah me, ah me. 
 
 Forsaken bowers ; 
 While dreary skies bent tearfully 
 
 O'er dying flowers. 
 
 November, thou gav'st me the wine 
 
 Of bitterness. 
 November, thou in lieu ef crown, 
 
 Gav'st me a cross. 
 
 November, thou art like my heart, 
 
 Songless and bare ; 
 And heaven and earth are far apart — 
 
 Dear Lord, so far. 
 
128 DEAD FLOWERS. 
 
 Dead Flowers. 
 
 My beautiful flowers, thro' summer time 
 Your breath was a rare perfume, 
 
 But the cruel frost touched your hearts to-day, 
 And robbed you of scent and bloom : 
 A joy you have been, beautiful flowers, 
 Companions and friends thro' many hours. 
 
 The wind sings your requiem now, dead flowers, 
 
 A lonely, desolate sound ; 
 My aching heart times the weird, wild tune, 
 While hours drag slowly around ; 
 And freezing drops of November rain 
 Seem hopeless tears, born of ceaseless pain. 
 
 There's a dreary cry in my heart to-day, 
 
 A sobbing, desolate cry, 
 Like the wind's wail, thro' the cypress boughs, 
 O'er graves where my loved ones he : 
 Where loved ones He, ah, affection laves 
 The flowers that bloom on how many graves ! 
 
 I would gladly lay all my burdens down, 
 
 My burdens of care and pain ; 
 And softly sleep near my cherished flowers, 
 'Neath the grieving wind and rain : 
 Aye sweet the hope of a dreamless sleep, 
 Nevermore to watch, nevermore to weep. 
 
1 
 
 ONE YEAR. 129 
 
 One Year, 
 
 On happy faces fell the light 
 
 That gleamed across the old hearth-stone ; 
 Only a year ago to-night, 
 
 Now, wearily I sit alone. 
 
 The fire-light just as brightly gleams, 
 But now I see through mists of tears. 
 
 Only a year to-night 3 It seems 
 
 I've lived since then a score of years. 
 
 That fireside picture I can trace, 
 
 Outline each face so fair and sweet ; 
 
 And fashion forms of youthful grace 
 From shadows flitting 'round my feet. 
 
 Voices respond to memory's call, 
 Familiar sound hath every one, 
 
 Now gay, now grave, the accents fall, 
 And my heart thrills to each loved tone. 
 
 Only a. twelve-month has Time told ! 
 
 Why, have I counted time aright ? 
 See, I am haggard now and old, 
 
 And I was young and fair that night. 
 
130 ONE YEAR. 
 
 Perhaps, perhaps, time seemeth long 
 Because my heart pulsates so slow : 
 
 A year ago — when I was young — 
 My life-tide ebbed to quicker flow. 
 
 The fire burns low, the shadows fall 
 In denser shapes, around the room : 
 
 See there's a hearse, a funeral pall ; 
 Here silently the mourners come. 
 
 My white lips press a still, cold brow : 
 O God, give back my very own ! 
 
 Now, in my mute despair, I bow 
 
 Where whitely gleams a marble stone. 
 
 The pitying skies weep wearily, 
 The winds moan by as if in pain ; 
 
 Nature is sighing drearily 
 
 To my heart-dirge a sad refrain. 
 
 What sound is that ? Ah ! 'tis the clock 
 Striking, the midnight hour to tell. 
 
 How sounds, to-night, my vague fears mock ; 
 It seemed the tolling of a bell. 
 
 Hark, there are voices on the winds, 
 Such wild, weird voices, calling me ; 
 
 I shudder as I close the blinds, 
 
 Lest, peering through the gloom, I see 
 
181 
 
 Wild eyes, in ghastly faces set, 
 Embodied spirits of the storm, 
 
 Whose out-stretched hands seem to entreat 
 Release from their sad, restless doom. 
 
 I've drawn the curtains, closed the blinds, 
 Coaxed the low fire to bright, clear glow ; 
 
 And now I'll turn from ghosts and winds 
 To brightest page in memory. 
 
 On a Friend's Birthday. 
 
 On thy birthday, 
 How many friends their gifts will bring ; 
 While I, too poor for offering, 
 
 Have love for thee, far more than they. 
 
 No rare device, 
 Fashioned for friend by cunning hand ; 
 But there's a gift, you'll understand, 
 
 Beyond all art, beyond all price. 
 
 These flowers I send, 
 In humble trust that I may prove, 
 Pure as their fragrance, is the love 
 
 I have for thee, my more than friend. 
 
 Go say, sweet flowers, 
 That this fond hope my bosom swells, 
 Sometime we'll cull the immortelles 
 
 Together, in the fadeless bowers. 
 
1 32 A NEW SONG. 
 
 The New Song. 
 
 So long by Babylon's stream, I sat and wept 
 
 In sad captivity ; 
 And when the chords of my loved harp I swept. 
 
 With tears they answered me. 
 
 And once I whispered, O my harp, how long 
 
 We've sung a mournful lay ; 
 For Zion, city of our God, one song 
 
 May we not sing to-day ? 
 
 I swept the chords. A low and sad reply 
 Woke 'neath my trembling hand : 
 ' ' How can we sing of Zion's hope and joy, 
 While captives in this land ?" 
 
 " O hath the Mighty One of Israel 
 
 Forgot to loose our chains ? 
 So long, while enemies o'er us prevail, 
 
 We weep on Babylon's plains !" 
 
 But hark ! a voice proclaims, " Rise, get thee hence ; 
 
 Now signed and witnessed thine 
 Thy Father giveth an inheritance, 
 
 Fruitful in corn and wine : 
 
 k ' And he hath broken off thy grievious chains ; 
 
 Despoiled thine enemies : 
 Now where the living streams make glad the plains, 
 
 Break forth in joyous lays !" 
 
GETHSEM AXE . 1 33 
 
 Dear harp, responsive to my eager hand. 
 
 Thanksgiving notes prolong ; 
 We've reached at last the promised land 
 
 Jehovah claims a song. 
 
 Gethsemane. 
 
 " Sit ye here while I pray." 
 And then He drew apart with Peter, James and John, 
 4 ' My soul is sorrowful ! tarry ye here and watch ! 
 
 Yonder, I'll pray alone." 
 
 A little further on, 
 His face pressed to the ground, prostrate the Saviour 
 
 lay, 
 " Father," he supplicates, "if it be possible, 
 Let this cup pass away." 
 
 Rising, he cometh back ; 
 Ah ! did the Son of God in his deep, sore distress, 
 Seek human sympathy i He findeth them asleep, 
 
 O'ercome by heaviness. 
 
 ' ' What, Simon ! sleepest thou ? 
 Couldst thou not watch one hour ?" Again he went 
 
 away, 
 And, kneeling, pleads once more, " Father if possible, 
 
 Let this cup pass away." 
 
134 GETHSEMAXE. 
 
 Again with weary steps, 
 And form bowed low by grief, He cometh where they 
 
 lay; 
 One moment o'er them bends a stricken, grief -marred 
 
 face, 
 
 Then sadly turns away. 
 
 O depths of agony ! 
 fearful night, when He the wine-press trod alone ! 
 That thrice repeated prayer the pitying angel heard, 
 
 " Thy will, not mine, be done." 
 
 Behold a white robed one, 
 A messenger from Heaven appeareth with him now ; 
 Sustains the fainting soul and sets the heavenly seal 
 
 Of peace upon His brow. 
 
 They recked not when He came, 
 Nor heard in their deep sleep, the loving voice that 
 
 said, 
 " Sleep on, and take your rest: behold, the hour is 
 come : 
 
 The Son of man's betrayed." 
 
 While yet He spake, they came : 
 1 ' Hail ! Master," Judas cried, and gave the signal kiss. 
 Oh dark Gethsemane ! base treachery 
 
 Martyrs the Prince of Peace. 
 
LILACS. 135 
 
 Lilacs. 
 
 I was very weary 
 
 Waiting for the flowers ; 
 April's snows were dreary, 
 Chilling were her showers. 
 One gloomy day I could but weep 
 Over my lilacs, still asleep. 
 
 Daffodil so yellow, 
 
 Peeping through the snow, 
 Cried out loudly, ' ' halloo ! 
 Here's a flower for you !" 
 Hearing my disappointed sigh, 
 She hung her head and wiped her eye. 
 
 Now pray don't be jealous, 
 
 Little daffodil ; 
 You are very zealous 
 Every place to fill. 
 Can't you wake up those lazy flowers ? 
 Or must thev wait for warmer showers \ 
 
 Just kick off the cover, 
 
 Give each one a shake ; 
 April's almost over, . 
 Time they are awake. 
 If it takes them long to dress, 
 May-flowers will be scarce, I guess. 
 
13C> LILACS. 
 
 Lo, this bright May morning, 
 What a sweet surprise ! . 
 Purple hlacs blooming, 
 
 Greet my gladdened eyes ; 
 The while a fragrance, rich and rare, 
 Is floating on the balmy air. 
 
 Borne upon a sunbeam, 
 
 Comes a bright- winged bird ; 
 May-be 'tis a May-dream, 
 But I think I heard ; 
 " I love you, Lilac, always will, 
 But please don't tell Miss Daffodil. 
 
 " You were late in coming, 
 
 And one sunny day 
 I was flitting, humming, 
 Whiling time away ; 
 Longing for something sweet to sip, 
 I kissed Miss Daffy's yellow lip. 
 
 ' ' She was very charming, 
 
 And in love straightway, 
 
 Think you I did harm in 
 
 Calling there next day I 
 
 You know I'd nothing else to do, 
 
 And was so lonely, without you." 
 
LILACS. 137 
 
 Brightly, tear-drops glistened 
 
 In Lilac's soft eye : 
 Eagerly I listened 
 For her low reply ; 
 1 ' Sir Humming Bird, I can't approve 
 Your careless way of making love. 
 
 1 i My trust in you is shaken 
 
 By the tale you tell ; 
 If I'm not mistaken 
 You're a little ' swell. ' 
 As I have something else to do, 
 I'll say good-morning, sir, to you." 
 
 Mr. Bird went flitting, 
 
 Humming, ' ' I don't care 
 Lilac, still emitting 
 
 Fragrance through the air, 
 Kept bathing in the sparkling dew, 
 To make her dress keep fresh and new. 
 
 I V 
 
 Word, nor thought, can measure 
 
 Thy rich gifts, O Spring ! 
 Purest, sweetest pleasure 
 Is thy offering : 
 Fragrance and song through all the air, 
 Freshness and beauty everywhere. 
 
138 SISTER AND BROTHER. 
 
 Sister and Brother. 
 
 Two little children, with sun-browned hands, 
 Gathering flowers in the meadow-lands. 
 Two little children, with wiser looks, 
 Trudging to school with slates and books, 
 Conning the lessons o'er and o'er, 
 They add, each day, to their wealth of lore. 
 Bounding homeward at close of day, 
 Chasing butterflies all the way. 
 A lad and lassie now, they plan 
 Work to do, when woman and man. 
 One, as when, with sun-browned hands, 
 They gathered flowers in the meadow-lands. 
 Man and woman, each thoughtful brow 
 Beareth the seal of life-work now. 
 
 This is the message, word for word, 
 
 The loving sister one spring-day heard : 
 
 " The Lover waits in the heavenly home, 
 
 Put on thy bridal robes and come." 
 
 Who can tell what heart said to heart, 
 
 In that child-hood home, when the loving part 
 
 Or what the foreshadowings of bliss, 
 
 That stole all pain from the good-by kiss ? 
 
 Only a little time he waits, 
 
 Then softly knocks at the golden gates. 
 
 And she he led through the meadow-lands, 
 
 Welcomes him now to the shining bands. 
 
GLAD NEW SONG. 189 
 
 Glad New Song. 
 
 When my way seems dreary, 
 I'll sing a cheerful song — 
 
 When my feet are weary, 
 I'll say, ' it won't be long V 
 
 Soon I'll pass the portal, 
 The. shining gates of gold : 
 
 And with eyes immortal, 
 My Father's face behold. 
 
 At the entrance leaving 
 Eobes thro' sin I've trailed : 
 
 From His hand receiving 
 Garments undefiled. 
 
 Then these hands now lying 
 On my aching head, 
 
 Will be softly playing 
 A golden harp instead. 
 
 Then these feet that sadly 
 
 Falter, day by day, 
 Will be walking gladly 
 
 In the shining way. 
 
 Hope, her earthly mission 
 Will have done, ere long 
 
 Changed to sweet fruition, 
 To a glad new song. 
 

 4i^ 
 
 
INDEX 
 
 
 Pages. 
 
 A Child's Inquiry, 
 
 82 
 
 A Midsummer Fancy, 
 
 119 
 
 A Morning Call, .... 
 
 35 
 
 A Prayer, .... 
 
 . 45 
 
 A Vision, . . . . 
 
 63 
 
 Abraham's Sacrifice, 
 
 . 67 
 
 Ada, ...... 
 
 93 
 
 After Many Years, 
 
 . • . 73 
 
 Almost Home, ... 
 
 27 
 
 Another Saturday Night,- 
 
 . 19 
 
 April 26th .... 
 
 37 
 
 Astray, ..... 
 
 . 50 
 
 Baby Hattie, .... 
 
 . 103 
 
 Bertie, ..... 
 
 . 89 
 
 By the Sea, .... 
 
 64 
 
 Church Bells, .... 
 
 . 69 
 
 Communing with the Past. 
 
 90 
 
 Darkened, ..... 
 
 . 8 
 
 Dead Flowers, 
 
 . 128 
 
 Dear Pines. I Come Again, 
 
 . 43 
 
 Dreams and Realities 
 
 120 
 
 Exorcism ..... 
 
 ... .24 
 
 Faithful, 
 
 71 
 
 Faithful Pen, Farewell, 
 
 . 13 
 
 Florence, . . . . . 
 
 30 
 
 Gethsemane, . ... 
 
 • . . 133 
 
 Glad New Song, . 
 
 . 139 
 
 God Bless You, .... 
 
 102 
 
 God's Harvest, . . . . 
 
 85 
 
142 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Going Home, .... 
 
 Grieving,. . 
 
 Helping the Kobins, • . 
 
 Hide not Thy Face — I am in Trouble, 
 
 Homesick, ..... 
 
 Hope, ...... 
 
 Illusion, ..... 
 
 In the Depths, . 
 
 Just for To-night, 
 
 Kind Words, 
 
 Let me Kiss you Good-by, 
 
 Life, ...... 
 
 Lilacs, ..... 
 
 Lottie, ...... 
 
 Mabel, . . . 
 
 Margaret. . . . . . 
 
 Mina, ..... 
 
 Mistaken, . 
 
 Mission of the Gospel, 
 
 Musings, . . . . . 
 
 My Children, . . 
 
 My Magician, . 
 
 My Muse Hath Flown, 
 
 My Priest of Priests, 
 
 Xaomi, ..... 
 
 Now and Then, . 
 
 Xovember, .... 
 
 On a Friend's Birthday, 
 
 On a Friend's Wedding, 
 
 One Year, . 
 
 Only a Dream, 
 
 Our Darling, . 
 
 Presentiment, .... 
 
 56 
 77 
 
 51 
 
 66 
 
 25 
 
 132 
 
 81 
 
 115 
 
 88 
 
 118 
 
 101 
 
 125 
 
 135 
 
 117 
 
 87 
 
 5 
 
 80 
 
 32 
 
 49 
 
 47 
 
 96 
 
 12 
 
 54 
 
 40 
 
 111 
 
 9 
 
 22 
 
 131 
 
 112 
 
 129 
 
 105 
 
 58 
 
 78 
 
IXDEX. 
 
 143 
 
 Regret. 
 
 Retrospect, 
 
 Re-United, 
 
 Sabbath Bells, 
 
 Sister and Brother, 
 
 So Tired, 
 
 Summer, 
 
 The Beautiful River, 
 
 The Bridal, 
 
 The First Robin, 
 
 The Heart's November, 
 
 The New Song, . 
 
 The River of Death,. 
 
 Tired, 
 
 T x * # # # 
 
 To a Baby, 
 
 To a Friend in England, 
 
 To the Author of a Sad Lay entitled 
 
 Blossoms," .... 
 
 The Unknown Lands, 
 Thy Will be Done, 
 Under the Pines, . 
 Unfinished, .... 
 
 Waiting, . 
 
 Weary, . . . . . 
 
 What Becomes of Editors, 
 Winter. ..... 
 
 Laurel 
 
 59 
 
 60 
 
 97 
 
 11 
 
 138 
 
 75 
 
 53 
 
 46 
 
 98 
 
 109 
 
 126 
 
 132 
 
 55 
 
 94 
 
 15 
 
 39 
 
 29 
 
 113 
 114 
 
 83 
 
 41 
 107 
 
 33 
 124 
 108 
 
 58 
 

 I 
 
 
 . <k 4 
 
 
 m_ 
 
 ■ 
 
■ 
 
 
 "V I