-^, 's^- fcf k> \\^fM^m^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. %it. Snp^ngl^tlltt. Shelf :__Z..T. UNITED STATES OF AMEEIOA. U/aysid^ Papsies. By j^du/ard preiber(^er. i *i Wayside Pansies BY EDWARD FREIBERGER Washikgton New York Chicago Brentano's, Publishers, 7^ n>^ Copyright, i858. FY EDWARD FREIBERGER. FOR ARE GATHERED, 1 CONTENTS, Flora's Favors 7 "Elaine" - - - 9 At Beauty's Touch i7 Spring ^9 Mia Stella 21 The Mystic Voice 23 A Birthday Greeting 25 To a Debutante 27 An Ideal Feast 29 After the Fete 3i Inspiration - - 33 Via Vit^ 35 Life's Beacons 37 Change 39 My Silver Drinking Flask 4^ Grace 43 Adelaide 45 Roberta and Adele 47 The Language of the Heart 49 Florine ■ ■ " 5^ floras 5^^^^^^^' i88S. I would that I ruled Flora, queen of flowers. To bid her lay her kingdom at thy feet, To bring thee bliss, to give thee gladness sweet, To lead thy \va\- through beauty-lailen bowers. Not only pansies then would bright thy hours, But violets, too, froni many a fair retreat Where modesty and thought in concord meet, To rain their sentiments in gentle showers. The lilies pure would ever seek thy face To gain thy beauty's favor, and to prove Their lives and thine a wondrous garden plot Of living joy. the halo of thy grace. I'd crown thee last with roses, rich in love, Then humbly pra>- to thee: '^Forget-me-not." TO ANNIE RUSSELL. A view at early morn : The vast expanse Of firmament is burdened with a mass Of nimbus clouds, so dense they drape the earth As with a pall, so dark all hope of li^ht Seems dead. The sorrowed world in silence mourns Its loss. But suddenly behold a small And humble ray, the sun's sure messenger That rends the gloom, then quickly grows in strength. And, battling with the clouds, dispels them soon, Thus shedding on the earth the glorious boon Of joy-bequeathing day ; so in that world Where life and poesy make consonance, When clouds of unbelief in human kind Eclipse the precious faith of heavenly grace,— The past a dream of longings unfulfilled, The present void of every bliss, bereft Of earthly good and peace ; the future dread An idle fantasy, in hope a blank — i A welcome ^ieam of hope the darkness breaks, And, tender, waxes stroni:( until the world Finds rescue in the worth of woman's love. This j^ieam of love is but a poet's thought, So simple, pure, vet stroni^, a maj^ic warmth It gives unto the soul as does the sun Unto the budding summer ilowers. Thus clear From depths of thought, from dreamy realms of love Dotli rise the offspring of the poet's mind, A being pure as whitest clouds that light The highest mountain peaks and shame tlie snow Upon the vale beneath ; so joyous, fair, Hiat ecstacy it gives to gentleness : So full of virgin love that Eros lays His arrows at this fancy's shrine and pays Such homage true; as to an angel would A child. Thus England's noble laureate, His soul impreguant'with exalted thought Of woman's simple glory, noble faith And love, as oft insj)ired chi\;dr\' In storied days of old, in jo)' gave birth To an ideal, tender, true and fair, So unpretentious yet all-powerful. It lives and }'>ines and lo\es. It lias its hopes And sutferiiigs and then in death lives on, Its unreqnited lo\c tlic threnod}^ That moans of death, of death tlie goal of love : '' Elaine the fair, Elaine the lovable. Elaine, the lily maid of Astolat." As snnbeams U) the rose, Ehiine to love: A holy emblem of the saeredness Of woman's love : a li\ iiig song so sweet More sturdy harmonies toward silence bend And list with raptures of deliglit and ])raise : A fanc\', yet a h\iiig thing, a thought And yet a life that gives such worth to lo\e It }>roves love's guardian angel, while the blush Of shame hides fickle, false and skeptic souls. All praise to him who gives thee birth. I^laine, Whose harp brings gladness to so many souls. Whose song tells honest hearts the wortli of love, \Vho gives the world thy voice, as music ra That far more softly •' on the spirit lies Than tired e)e-lids upon tired eyes." Elaine, oft to the musings of the soul Thou art the ilear companion, comfort, guide, So true and gentle, fair and loxable. So patient, meek, ennoblmg, if there live A seed of goodness in mankind thy soul Will quicken it to life. ire, And man lives on, Well blessed with memories, but oft in hope, Some fate would make thee mortal, let thee live As pure in life as in the spirit, thought Or fancy that ideal worth doth give To thee. As mem'ry dwells on some dear friend Or loved one true by distance banished far From view, fond thoughts so well allied to hopes Of quick reunion that the mind betrays The eye, reveals the absent in the flesh, So fancy plays a welcome trick to cheer The senses, when upon the stage of life Appears Elaine, the fair, the lovable, Elaine, the lily maid of Astolat. As many humble blossoms flower along The wayside, often unobserved, unknown To those who most should prize them, but which have A store of sentiment and fragrance still As pure as greater blossoms, and when bound With greater tend to give them added worth. So doth a humble poet,* young in years. And grateful to the elder for his grand * George Parsons Lathrop, whose dainty play of "Elaine," based on Tennyson's idyl, suggested these verses. Ideal, lend a higher moral force, An added charm, a greater worth to make This pure and fair and tender fancy live An earnest of that crown of man's estate, A woman's love. These are vain types : the great Sir Lancelot, for her most high of men. Who thinks in humbleness that in him dwells No greatness, save it be some far-off touch ^ Of greatness to know well he is not great : And Guinevere, the beautiful, who loves Sir Lancelot, the valiant knight, all clothed In samite robes, a queen of beauty rare, Whose face and form might well move men from love To passion, aye, a queen of beauty loved And loving in an open shame : a queen Of beauty, one whose radiant eyes of blue Might well undo for men their better thoughts, A3^e, men as strong, as weak as Lancelot : A queen of beauty, who, self-loving, thinks He is all fault who hath no fault at all. For who loves her must have a touch of earth. There is a Llanyd, too, a wilful soul. Who mocks at love the while she knows she loves. And a Roselle is there who prizes more 13 Than kniglitly lo\e the hiring tlasli of gems. These are hut mortal lo\es : Thine is tlie dream Of heaven : a self ohlixion. not death. Elaine, thou art a nol)le jo}- to all Who in their wakeful dreams ideals lind To rol) tliis eartli of all its earthiness. " A thing between an angel and a tiower." ^lan looks upon thy sunlit eyes and finds A touch of hea\-en ; to hear thy tearful \'oicc Is to give ear to saddened music, strange, Seraphic, too, for 'tis the food of love. Thy sad and sorrowed soul doth hover near, And in thy light is found a jo\- as 't were A rainbow gladdening with its beaut}' fair, And saddening that so (juic Id}- it grows faint And pales awa}-, though man knows well 'tis yet The glorious s} inbol of a ])romise made B}' hea\en to eartli. .\s on the sombre barge The altar of th}- lo\e, thou liest clothed In virgin white, adown the living stream Borne statel}. tlioii. in heart-touched silence, dost A noble proof impart that in thy death The lo\e that woman has for man has been So purified that childhoocrs pra^•ers are not More pure, more sacred in the eyes of God. Elaine, thy life a boon, a sadness sweet M To all on earth, thy death a holy joy In heaven. The richness of thy gift to man Thou knowest well, as longing minds who seek Ideals lofty, know their toil is not For many ignorant, who think that they Are wise, but for the few, who wise, confess Their ignorance. Such souls thou hast inspired Anew, uplifted high to noble aims And deeds. They feel thy influence as doth Sir Lancelot, for he becomes through thee A holy man. Thy mission is fulfilled! Oh! fair Elaine, in fancy and ideal, Oh! fair Elaine, in truth and life, the two So purely wedded in immortal soul, The poet, thy creator, hath all love Of those who feel and know the misty tears Of sorrow and of joy, as rainbows tell Alike of sunshine and of clouds. 15 I at 3cautu'5 Coucf?. TO E. W. S. How dear and handsome plain and simple things are made, When touched by hands of beauty and of art. A simple band in beauteous form may be arrayed, To cause the praise of mind and joy of heart, As village brooks, though small, may great and famous be, When poets music catch from dimpling rill. The great Materna gave a silken band to me. Its beauty rare was added by your skill ; You two in life's great opera practice noble art, — Both may from minstrel grateful praise command. She gains a queenly triumph from the vocal part, While you with equal grace — adorn the bajid. 17 In winter time I drink and sing For jo}' that spring is near ; I drink again when comes mild spring, For joy that he is here. —From Mirza Schaffy. 19 mia Stella. As oft a weary wanderer has strayed Through deserts of misfortune, pain and grief, Assailed by sands of sorrow, all belief In human bliss by misery's tears unmade, So wandered I, distressed, without a guide To show the course where life and duty lay, — Save for a feeble gleam through mist}' gray, — In doubt if any feeling could abide Within the world to make me blissful here And give me peace and happiness above : When shot from heaven's battlements a star. I wished : "Oh, that I might be happy." Far, So far away did seem the boon so dear. Then you I met. I found new life in love. CI)e IHysttc Poice. "Who called Pauline?" "Who called Pauline ?' The flowers, dropped flowers, thy silent friends That thrived and blossomed sweet and pure And tender as thyself, Pauline. Thy mem'ry gone, thy mind a blank, Thy love sought that of Flora, chaste. The blushing rose its love declared, The pansy gave thee all its thoughts, The violets, blue and white, made show Of love and modesty. Then came The periwinkle, bearing sweet Remembrances. " Forget-me-not," In accents clear, but soft and low. Was whispered, when syringa's voice Proclaimed fond memory's return, Thus flooding all thy soul with peace. The flowers, fair one, had called Pauline. They saw their beauties in thy grace And caught new life from thy dear face. 23 d 3trtl]bay (greeting, I hope, sweet friend, thou wilt be pleased to know That in a distant land there dwelleth one Whose thoughts reach out, on this thy natal day, To thee, for whom another symphony Of time is to begin ; its music rare To be attuned to noble deeds, to thought, To love, to kindliness, to friendship, faith. Old Father Time the sole composer is Whose constant music, sad or joyful, man Perforce doth hear. The noblest orchestra Is nature, while the life of every man Is aye a voice to full completeness give The master harmony divine, sublime. Each life affects, so grandly swells the theme, One other life, or more, and they self-hear Their song who sing for thee. The tones of thy Soft speaking are so pure, so sweet, so true That they make consonance with all who sing, Yet hear their truest echo in thy heart. 25 On this, the day that first th}' voice was heard, Thy parents, brothers, sisters, friends give joy And bless thy name. They ask of Him who tunes The vasty, clamoring sea, that thy sweet speech May long be heard on earth to gladden hearts And bring delight and love, content and peace ; That in thy chosen path thy every step May lead to victory ; that all thy life May be a melody of health, of grace, A harmony of perfect happiness. 26 Co a Debutante. If flowers of spring possess the virtue rare, To glad the mind and deck the fair, And fame and fortune tempt to linger near The favored few they love to cheer, Then these few buds will prove the s5mibols true, That Hopes fulfilled will smile on you. 27 dn Zbcal ^cast I have no need of bills of fare, That at the banquet fill a space, For viands rich or vintage rare Within my thoughts can find no place, When I am near thee, lady fair, So full of wit, of charm, of grace ; For then I feast upon thine eyes, And drink delights of Paradise. 29 after tl}c 5ete. A ribbon blue, Of dainty hue, Reminds me of the pleasure, That once I had, When moments glad, Gave joy to hours of leisure. May this frail band, That from your hand I had as priceless treasure, Still prove the bond, Of friendship fond, That time can never measure. 31 3nsptration. A poet pined for happiness, some ray Of inspiration pure, to glad his heart That long had been oppressed and oft astray From Faith and Hope that play so great a part In life's strange tragedy. He asked for light To speed the shadows from his path so sad. He longed for some dear comrade to make bright His mind and make his grievous senses glad. He sang his wishes to the stars, that they Might send him peace and joy and loving voice To lead him where content and pleasure stay, Where love doth dwell and make the heart rejoice. The stars were silent, but an angel fair Was sent to earth to bring the poet peace. The angel was a woman pure. — His prayer Is answered and his soul has found release. 33 Thou art the woman helpful, fair, the one Whose beauty joys his heart and bids him write Ideal thoughts and songs of praise, though none So rich thy grace, thy glory to requite. Thy soul-lit eyes give lustre to his life, The sound of thy sweet voice is music rare, Thy gentle spirit fills his thoughts, and strife Is exiled far. To him the world is fair. Thou art his inspiration and his star, His guardian angel, his ideal fond, That heard his griefs and pinings from afar And came to bring him bliss in Love's strong bond. I m 34 Via Pitcc. A life is like an ocean wide, the years Are but the ships that bear us into port, The goal, the hoped-for haven where resort The souls who know nor pain, nor strife, nor tears. To day you step upon a new-made craft. That swifter still must bound above the sea. Than that abandoned to the waves, to be Henceforth a dream through which you wept and laughed. Your friends sail on and sing in joy to you, And hail you with all greetings of delight ; They hope your voyage ever may be bright With nature's gifts, with love to glad the view. May calm, content and peace on you attend, And long and happy life have tranquil end. 35 life's Beacons, Men are as sailors on a darkened sea Where winds and waves as enemies contend To keep them from the Land of Light, the end. Where all is peace, where souls from storms are free. Each newer beacon 'long the wid'ning shore Is hailed with gladness for a danger past — And brightest hopes invite us till the last, When Hope itself assures us hope is o'er. You pass another beacon light to-day, And all serene of heart lend fearless ear To roar of rushing waves that yet give cheer, For in their murmurings they seem to say : What though your bark be tempest-tossed, in peace 'Twill ride the storm, till life shall find surcease. 37 1 (£t]ange. The silver spring to golden summer turns, To leaden winter bronzed autumn pales, While man in blindness struggles through the night, Until in heaven he gains the jeweled crown That glows with gracious light of living day. 39 2TIy Silper Drinking S^^^^^ Whenever you and I may meet again, Midst gayest pleasures or in deepest pain, And you should chance to ask If absence long has held your friend still true, I'd firmly answer ''Yes," and bring to view My silver drinking flask. My friend so fair, 1 ever think of you, And seek for words of thanks that are 3'our due, Thougli easy is the task Imposed on Friendship fond by Memory dear. 'Tis sweet to greet the absent with the cheer That fills my drinking flask. Thus oft when I am lone, when I am sad. And sorrow chills the heart that once was glad, O'er grief I draw the mask That knows no pain, and hides all trace of strife. For then I live again, and bless the life Born in my drinking flask. 41 More oft I feel a silent, tender joy, That no despair, no grief can e'er destroy. For then I humbl}' bask Within the friendly sunshine of a face That first taught me to know and prize the place That holds my drinking flask. Whate'er my lot when you are far from here, Til ever hold your worth, your friendship dear, And from Joy's richest cask, I'll pour life's gayest pleasures unto you, And drink to bless the hand that brought to view My silver drinking flask. 42 (Brace. I know thee not as I would know thee Grace, And yet my knowing heart is rich with thee: It holds thy truth, thy worth, thy beauty, free And fair as guiding stars eyes mortal trace. It turns to thee and yearns upon thy face So radiant pure, with eyes of ecstacy Entreats thy soulful gaze to shine on me And teach my love to find in thine a place. Oh, lady fair, thy name I fain would write With stars on firmaments, for worlds to see And know that all my thoughts are e'er of thee. That I my solace seek in such sweet light. My heart may not be free, unless thy face Shall light its path to thee, to share thy grace. 43 Ctbclaibc. UPON HER EIGHTH BIRTHDAY. Come, little sunshine, let me sing to thee That gladdened day when first thou shone on earth. Thy birthday, child, that sent thee fair, to be Sweet messenger of sun, and love and mirth. Sunbeam Adelaide ! We mortal kind to God our blessings give ; He makes this earth a heavenly Paradise, Where unseen angels sing and flowers thrive, By sunshine graced, illumed by children's eyes, Oh, fair Adelaide ! How hopeless, faithless, frail would man appear Heard he no angels in temptation's hours : How desolate were this terrestrial sphere, Unblest by sunshine, children, or by flowers, Like thee, Adelaide ! To-day I greet thee as an earthly grace, As child, as angel, sunshine and as flower ; I stand before the glory of thy face And know in innocence heaven's holy power, Saint-born Adelaide ! 45 Oh, dainty bud of May, 'neath love's warm beam, So bright with nature's modesty, so fair In youthful innocence, thou art a dream Of truth, of purit}^, a promise rare, May-flower Adelaide I Oh happy child, thou little siren dear, To lure both old and young with jo3'ful song, As though its tender melodies you hear In echoes of some far-off spirit throng, Song-child Adelaide ! Oh little angel, happy as the spring. As tender as the sunbeam, bright and gay, Long may thou live thy mother's name to sing, To cheer her life and ours with songs of May, Angel Adelaide ! May all thy days be melody and mirth. Or else, as night's dew comforteth the flowers, May thy life's sunlight have more prized worth For beaming through the tears of summer shower^, Joyous Adelaide 1 46 May 29, 1888. The years are naught but ceaseless streams that flow Into the ocean of eternity. Earth's children are but heart-led wanderers That through life's wonderland from stream to stream Haste on in paths that ne'er ma}^ be retraced. The rivulets of childhood safely crossed, — Two maidens, fair with springtime hope and love. Approach a brook whose gentle song doth swell In consonance with nature's choristers: " Oh maidens, list unto my song of hope. Of jo}^ of sorrow, innocence and love. This forest-wild is rich in living streams, For Hope to fear, and Mem'ry feast upon. The rivulets that sang to you of glee And bade good cheer attend midst thorns and flowers. Ne'er knew such joy, such strength, such faith as I, Who flow between the future and the past, 'Tween joys of spring and love of summer days That hasten on by autumn cares pursued, Oft forced to banishment by winter's tears, •47 Each stronger stream doth greater dangers bring, Before their awful power I am as naught. And th. le better nurse your hopes And let your fancies thrive in their embrace, Ne'er will the}' sing such boundless ecstacy As I, to Hower your path and bless your days. Like you, I am on changeful journey bound, And ev'ry leap o'er rocks and pebbles tends To dangers of which 3'esterda}' was dumb. In happy, merry mood I rush along And laugh and sing till Silence kills my song. E'er long at rest on ocean's breast I'll be, A pearl of water in the jeweled sea. Oh pause, if pause you can, to learn of spring, Of poesy, of joy, of youth, of love, The living glory of their wedded faith : For spring is poesy: and poes\' Is joy : and joy is youth : and youth is love ; But love of earthly boons is mightiest. 'Tis spring and poesy, and joy and youth. With love in exile spring will never smile, When love is dead fond poesy is dumb, Not thrilled by love joy ne'er its blossom finds. Deprived of love, our youth will never bloom. Now speed along, oh, maidens fair, with love To cheer you on, with blessings from the brook." 48 CI]e language of tl^e f^eart ADAPTED FROM JEAN PAUL. «*» On high Olympus' brow reigns Jupiter : Within his grasp the world, the fate of man, His sceptre making human destinies. On sunlit waves of space there floats to him In modest stateliness, a spirit fair, The guardian angel of the sentiment In humankind, the holier aims of man. The angel prays : " Oh, Heavenly Father, lend Thy people poor the boon of richer speech, A language that will full expression give Unto their joy, their sorrows and their love." Thus answers Jupiter : " Have not I blest Them with the tender tear, the tear of joy, Of sorrow and of love? " The angel pleads : " Not e'en the tear can give the heart a voice. Oh, Father Heavenly, give thy earthly sons A speech to sigh of longing infinite, Of mem'ries of the little morning star That shed its guiding light o'er childhood's paths, A language giving voice unto the glow .49 Of youth's aurora, golden, heaven-sent, A language speaking for white winter's sage As bright and high above the vanished sun Appear the golden, evening clouds, that tell . Of life immortal. Give the human heart A language new, oh, Father Heavenly." In realms of spheres a joj^ous song is heard, Ecstatic, soul-inspiring and serene. All nature sighs in blissful thankfulness; Then Jove with smiling front commands his child, "Descend to earth, thou hoi}' one, teach man Thy song," and wafts the Muse of vSong to earth. She blessed mankind and taught the glorious tones With which the human heart ma}' voice the gods. ^ 50 ^lorine. As knights in olden time went forth to fight For crowns of war, and won the world's applause, Whose echoes told of triumph in a cause That gave to honor strength, and blessed the right, So I will battle but in moral might. My sword a song of thee that nations pause To hear ; ni}^ shield ni}^ faith in thee, whose laws Shall lead the world from darkness into light. My love for thee shall be my helmet strong. Then will I sing the glory of thy name, Thy grace, thy beauty and nobility. Then will the world find peace in love and song By thee inspired. The heavens will jo}- proclaim, And laurels won shall bring thee ecstacy. wm mmZ.2L^^^^^^^^^ mm\ jsV^2.»-JI" ;k=: ^US^^ s^M *:- i m:^X^ Wi^ 4 -