<-yyyA<''/^A'y. ^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SEA MOSS SEA MOSS POEMS DR. LUCY CREEMER PECKHAM iQ^t^y^ BUFFALO CHARLES WELLS MOULTON 1891 Y^ CA <^ 5^^ Copyright, 1890, By Dr. Lucy Creemer Peckham. PRINTED BY C. W. MOULTON, BUFFALO, N. Y. THIS LITTLE BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED TO MY HUSBAND, JOHN A. PECKHAM, THROUGH WHOSE LOVE AND SYMPATHY I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ITS PRODUCTION, PREFACE. Dear Reader: If I need an excuse for issuing this little volume, the only one I have to offer is, that the thoughts, hopes and aspira- tions, for which I have here tried to find a voice, are those which have given me courage to live. Yes, more, they have made me in love with life, just as I have found it. I have not had skill to fully attune my in- strument with the divine harmonies, of which we all form some ideal, but I have done my best with the powers I possess, hoping my reader may perceive the meaning through my imperfectly spoken words. If such shall be the result, I shall not have sent the book on a useless mission. Respe6lfully, The Author. CONTENTS. PAGE Preface 5 Sea Moss 9 The Old, Old Story ii At the Shore i8 H. H ' 19 Burnt Matches 21 A Wedding Ring 22 A Christmas Secret 23 Knitted Work 26 The Feast of Lights 28 "Ephphatha" ■ 30 The Two Commandments 32 Loving 34 Faith ' 36 Unavailing 37 Why ? 38 Fulfilling the Law 39 Surrender 41 Come Thou to Me ! 42 A Captured Butterfly 43 Edith 45 Love 46 Evolution 47 A Love Story 50 8 CONTENTS. Queen Vashti 53 Fancy Free 56 Worship 58 Earth's Blessed Ones 59 Promises 61 Encouragement 63 Our Heritage 65 To-day 67 Barren Days 69 In Memoriam 70 Renunciation 72 Divination ' 74 Leaves .76 My Friend 77 In Part Only 79 The Unhonored Prophet 81 Not by Bread Alone 84 "Trust in Me" 86 Small Duties 88 SEA MOSS. IN the billowy deeps, down under the sea, Where, hid from the eye of humanity Sleep the secrets of ages, bright sea mosses grow, And the ocean's tides in their ebb and flow. As they sway and sweep o'er the rocky bed. Now stomi-lashed to fury, now calm as the dead, Safely cover and guard their deep, wonderful home With smooth, lustrous waves or with furious foam. While deep in the caverns the strange sea-life Fearful with power, or with rare beauty rife. Hides and is fashioned in myriad shapes; While scarcely a secret to man escapes. Yet he, in his tiny round of time. Would dive to the depths, as he fain would climb The shining ether and mount to the stars To circle their orbits with Saturn and Mars. For he seeks to solve that wonderful force That governs and holds in its chains his course: And he feels in his soul that the ebb and the flow. The rush and retard of the tides as they go Are like to his own heaving ocean of thought. Whose waves like billows, with mightiness fraught, Leap up just to break on some desolate shore, And be ever forced back by a mystical power. But the waves, now and then, bring up from the deep, From its bed on the rocks where the sea-urchins sleep, B lo SEA MOSS. A fragment of Sea Moss to lay on the shore; A tribute of truth from the treasure-house store. Only a fragment wrenched out of its place, Its life-beauty lost, and vanished its grace; Dead, tangled sea- weed, it looks, lying there. As if it had never with beauty a share. Only a fragment ! but what of the rest That lies hidden deep in the old ocean's breast, — Its being, living and clinging so strong That the waves, sweeping by, cannot bear it along ? A story of life that dead sea-weed tells. The soul searching truth must seek where it dwells, Must risk even life, would he find it, and know For himself how 'tis fashioned below; All the rush, the turmoil, and sweep and the roar Of the waves that so recklessly break on the shore. He must honor the tiniest grains of sand: For with these is lifted the barrier band Staying the waves in their headlong course — Yet the waves are but drops in a separate source — The adding of atoms lifts up the hills; The clinging of atoms forms all the rills; The blending of atoms creates the light; While atoms of thought shape the wrong or the right. Grasping the rock the Sea Moss grows, Holding it firmly, securely and close; It lives and thrives in the depths at peace. Yet the ocean's wild surging never will cease. And what to the dulled human ear is a moan. Hath, for it, no doubt, some pure, sweet tone; It hears and answers by mute caress. While it brightens to lovelier loveliness. THE OLD, OLD STORY. ii THE OLD, OLD STORY. THROUGH countless years the heart of man Has trembling sought to find some plan By which this restless soul might rise, Find and redeem. Earth's Paradise. In shadow, doubt, by sin beset, His good intent, by evil met And conquered o'er and o'er again, Till the whole world writhes, mad with pain. Whence comes our help ? O, Earth, so fair! Bathed in thy viewless sea of air, Hast thou no balm in all thy flowers. To soothe, and calm this ache of ours ? Deep hidden can thy caves reveal No altar, at which man may kneel, And shrive his soul, and go his way. Deathless and happy, free and gay, Beloved and loving, tender, true. Unharmed by sin's malarial dew. That checks his pulses, stifles breath, And gives his great love o'er to death ? Wise men, far in the misty past, Believed such good must come at last. And left the records of their hope. That coming years, at length, might cope Successful, with the mighty ill. When death should fall, and life should fill 12 SEA MOSS. The eternal with its boundless bliss. They slept, yet still the low winds kiss Their graves, and man, persistent, seeks His sinless, painless Paradise, and weeps. Early, the good Confucius saw The hidden treasure in one law: "If to thy brother thou shalt do No deed he may not unto you. To Earth shall come the reign of peace, And all the woes of mortals cease." Saved by the grace of Love alone! This was the great law's undertone. But Love grew slowly, men still wept, And left the wise man's law unkept. Then Buddha came, with spirit true, And he essayed this law to do. Men smiled and pitied, then adored; Then millions called sweet Buddha, Lord. Slowly the swarming world crept on. And Egypt basked beneath the sun; Absorbed its rays of glorious light, Till her dark majesty and might Loomed up in temples, crypts, and shrines; She reads in Heaven's illumined signs The oracles of mightier powers, Holding the fate of spheres like ours. Her rainless days and cloudless night With the low hanging stars alight, Sweep on, till ruined Egypt lies, Prone on her sands; and still the cries THE OLD, OLD STORY. 13 Of men go up for help, for pity, and for love, While her unanswering Sphinx above The sands, rears its majestic head; Only a might>^ monument of Egypt, dead. Thus reads thy fate! Thy low stars shine. Silent, alike, upon thy tomb and shrine; The world inquires thy mission; all we know Is, that within thy gardens once did grow A marvelous mind within a modest man, Whose life revealed again, the olden plan. That human love and sacrifice must lead To those fair fields where hearts do never bleed. While Egypt's mystic majesty in awe Held all humanity, fair Persia saw A sun arise, clothing the earth with fire. And filling all her heart with rapt desire To swell the praises of this glorious God, The source of life, of light, the great I Am, Whose throne is in the skies! His oriflamme Of splendor the mightiest monarchs puts to shame. He rules supreme the King of kings, his name. The fair Earth pregnant by his beams alone. Teems with her myriad lives where they have shone. He fills the human heart with latent fire. Till it's consumed in worshipful desire. "From darkness into light; from night to day, Behold the Glorious One, who leads the way! So Evil, must at last be overcome By mightier Good ! ' ' the great Zoroaster sung. While Egypt's fate in oracles was read. And Persia by her oriflamme was lead, 14 SEA MOSS. Greece with fair nymphs and naiads filled her vales And that grand bard, blind Homer, told his tales Of peopled wood and mountain, stream and glade Where unseen forces, never ceasing, swayed The lives of men. Zeus, Juno and Apollo were A trinity no evil might deter From seeking everywhere for good To bless both men and gods howe'er they could. Here Clio offered her half-opened scroll Wherein was writ' the history of the soul That still was seeking, never finding, -rest; Longing to be, but never being blest. Here Echo's voice, throughout the hill and vale, Laments her slighted love. The selfsame tale, Told o'er again, in language new and old: " I love, if ye love not again, my heart grows cold. I sicken, fade, and pine, till only sounds remain. ' ' Yet, over all the Earth reverberates the strain: " Love, only love, can satisfy my pain." Now, in a time long past, up out of Egypt's heart, Went forth a tribe of men, the world awhile forgot. But on the plains of ancient Palestine, They reared, at length, a temple and a shrine. Theirs was a God unseen, yet He, alone. Created Heaven and Earth, and was but One. All power was vested in His mighty Will; All life in Him had centre; naught could kill His chosen messengers of light and truth. Which He revealed clothed in eternal youth. Prophet and priest He chooses where He will, None may refuse, all must His law fulfill. THE OLD, OLD STORY. 15 He brooks no faltering, favors no delay, The nations do His bidding, all a tribute pay. To stay His purpose, vainly Egypt tries. While from her plains go up the anguished cries Of men oppressed, and boundless pity's claim. Then, Moses leads his brethren in God's name, Through their Red Sea, and Wilderness of Woe, To heights where his rapt vision sees below The outspread plains of the long promised lands, Whose fruits shall ripen 'neath their faithful hands. There, for long years, Jehovah is His name; There Egypt's whilom slaves His majesty proclaim; Moons wax and wane, the nations rise and fall, King follows king, Jehovah crowns them all. And when to Him they rear the temple's dome. And fain would think that there He finds a home. His prophets say, He is not worshiped so; He lives in contrite hearts, where grief for other's woe Finds harborage; this is His dwelling place; He has no other anywhere in space; Yet, is He ever>'where; in utmost bound Of all creation is His presence found. The darkness of deep hell cannot His face conceal. Nor all the light of Heaven its loveliness reveal. Thus did His prophets speak. His psalmists sing, Until the whole wide worid came wondering To seek for proof in book and legend, where The learned men had written with great care. Their stories of the heroes of the worid. Perchance, it might be, something would unfold The secret of the riddle; but they saw Only the same old underlying law: "Love ye each other; this shall ease your pain, i6 SMA MOSS. Thus, only, shall ye Paradise regain." " My servants have been yours," Jehovah saith; "But prophet, priest and king have suffered death; Now will I send my best beloved Son; Look, and be like Him, the Immortal One; Watch ye His Hfe, record each word and deed, And it shall serve your deepest, utmost need. ' ' Upon the plains of Palestine one night. Some wandering shepherds saw a radiant light. While stars and angels sang of David's Son, To their rapt souls, and called "The Blessed One;" A new-born babe whose life should bring To Israel's fainting heart, its Saviour, and its King. Time grew apace. The Child's unfolding life, True, sweet and pure, was spent in holy strife To win to purity of deed and thought, By loving trust, those who His counsel sought. His tender love looked deeper than our eyes. There was for Him no wonder no surprise. Love opened Heaven, revealed the thought of God; Pain was no longer pain; sorrow no more the rod To punish sinners, but the electric band Linking each throbbing heart, each trembling hand. Life's sacrifice was joy. 'Twas highest bliss To die for love, though murdered with a kiss. * ' Forgive, "He cried, ' ' they know not what they do. Our Father, bless them still ! ' ' Oh, glorious Love to you Tongues must confess, and knees forever bend. For Thou hast conquered death! Love has no end ! Its circle widens with the lengthening years. THE OLD, OLD STORY. 17 And deepens to receive Earth's falling tears; Bending above the starlit arch of blue To form the lens its eyes of Faith look through, To see its treasures on another shore, Where it can claim them when the struggle's o'er. Through Life's long ages has the human cry, Been love me Love! or I shall surely die. Till One took up the burden of the song And said, "Ye cannot die, Eternity is long, And God is love. Ye move in Him and live, And have all being. He alone can give Ye power to die. But Love must save its own; And ye at last shall bow before His throne; Shall bless each pang, rejoice for every woe. That taught you your humanity to know." Look, and believe! Truly, the Saviour lives! He knows love is immortal. See ! He gives Freely, Earth's life for its sweet sake, and wears The thorny crown of its betrayal. Bears With unfailing courage all the ills That hedge its utterance, until He fulfills Its perfect measure, holding up for men The treasure He has won. He lays life down That He may take it back. Its thorny crown In Love's great crucible has changed to gold. And thus, once more, is that old story told Of Love the Conqueror; but oh, the glad refrain, To give, to give, is sweeter than to gain! The years have paid their tribute, and they say, Love cannot die, his resurrection day Cometh each morn. Oh, glad, strong Word That greets each new-bom babe, as Son of God ! i8 SEA MOSS. AT THE SHORE. FOR MINNIE M. BURKE. THE waves swept up with their curling foam, Fluffy and white, as they broke on the strand; We lay on the beach to watch their flow. Over the pebbles that strewed the sand. They covered the rocks with glittering gems. Swinging and tumbling their salty spray, Then rolling out with the undertow. Swept backward and forward the livelong day, With murmuring tones from hidden deeps, When the song of life in her bosom wells, The sea sang soft to our listening hearts. The rhythmic story she ever tells. Of the life we live in the heart of God, Of infinite Love, of infinite Hope; For our souls forever at one with His will. Are limitless in their scope. The sea sang soft and low that day Of a new, fair life that should waken soon; And our hearts beat glad to the sweet refrain, Of the waves' bright promise that afternoon. August 2, 1890. H. H. 19 H. H. IN MEMORIAM. OH ! Spirit, sweet and gracious, have you learned In your new Home, how dear you were to Earth? Can you look now into our hearts to find How we loved you, we women left behind To miss your wholesome cheer? Have you dis- cerned The loneliness we feel as reverently We take your gifts to us ? Do you know how Your Christmas Symphony its music swells Within our souls to lift them up toward '*That great tideless stream, where all our voices Meet and melt into the solemn silence ? ' ' Have you sought out your New, Old Friends, Whose far-off worship, earth-life never told ? Do you know how your courage lent us strength To meet and overcome a threatening fate ? Thou Queen of Loving Hearts! to whom the rich And poor alike were known; is there a tribute Dearer paid thy worth on Heaven's fair shore, Where shining ones lead thee triumphant on From joy to joy, than this, our lonely hearts Are offering, now, to thee, whose rounded life Enriched the name of Woman? "She loved us! " Through the marble door, beyond the stairway. And the high walls that shut us out from thee, 20 SEA MOSS. We may not glance to see if thou dost smile, To hear the echo of thy words; but if thou dost, Then smile again, great soul, to hear us add Our own refrain. Oh, Woman, we loved Thee! New Haven, September, 1885. BURNT MATCHES. 21 BURNT MATCHES. FOR S. M. C. D. THE joyous Christmas-tide is here again, And now another year, like a burnt match, Waits in our fingers till its ember fades. To be thrown, careless by, with scarce a thought. As like to other years, as match to match, And like them serving only by its flash And little flickering blaze, just bright enough For us to see the pointers on life's dial. And note the flight of time, when from some dream We wake to wonder at the lengthened night. What thoughts on thoughts this blackened match suggests If we but set our fancy moving on Into the star-flecked space, whose flashing lights Have all been kindled by some tiny spark! Where dwells this power which flashes into sight, Fading again in shadows of the night ? A tireless game of hide and seek it plays, Startles the vision by some forked-tongue blaze, Sweeps into ruin all our rose-twined bowers, Razes to Earth our temples and our towers; Yet, we still worship, while our altars fall. And trust that Love which shall endure through all, While from the blackened embers of the past, It wakens that new life which must forever last. Christmas, 1888. SEA MOSS. A WEDDING RING. FOR E. C. AND C. L. A LITTLE golden circle! When joys shall come, Gladdening your hearts as summer rain Gladdens the thirsty earth, may loving lips Touch reverently this token of your bond. Because ye joy together. And when pain^ — God's guardian angel in disguise — Hovers, as ever now and then he must. Above the roof that shelters all dear love. Oh, hold this little token closer still. And lean each, heart on heart, till he has passed. Whenever shadows deepen, ever lean Closer, for be sure no evil can approach To work you harm, except some shadow creeps Between your souls and steals away their light. Thus shall your plighted faith grow deeper. Sweeter, purer, and the earth enriched By all true lives, upon its bosom Shall gratefully enroll your names with those Good men call blessed for their pure intent! A CHRISTMAS SECRET. 23 L A CHRISTMAS SECRET. FOR MABEL SHERMAN, 1885. ISTEN girls! Now, I haven't a doubt. And I'll tell you something I've just found out. But don't you ever, ever tell. Because, if you do, I'll never, — well — I don't think I'll ever let you know Anything else I'm going to do. You know I sleep in the little room Just off Mamma's. Last night in the gloom Of the silent night, she thought I slept. She came in softly, kissed me, and stepped Softly back to her room and Papa's, . But left my door a little ajar. I could not catch, at first, what she said, Though I heard my name; my face grew red; Then, something about Christmas. I couldn't keep still Though I tried, and tried with all my will. So, I finally crept right out of bed And up to the door and bent my head As I heard her tell him I wanted a ring, And a real French doll, and a perfect string Of things I'd wished for all the year. I shouldn't have dreamed the precious dear, Could have remembered half I'd said, But Papa just laughed and shook his head: 24 SEA MOSS. " My purse won't be deep enough for them all, You must narrow your choice or the prices fall; My Santa Claus account, you know, Isn't quite as large as a year ago. But the darling shall have her doll and ring; Now, what do you want St. Nick to bring Yourself little mother?" She laughingly kissed him and shook her head. Then I cried, and shivered, and crept into bed. But will you believe it ? I could not go To sleep, for my thinking cap kept bothering so And I knew, — what a whirl of things I knew All of a sudden: and they grew, and grew. Till at last I saw the whole thing clear. Christmas comes, you see, once a year. And Fathers and Mothers don't want you to know How much they love you, for fear you will grow Selfish, and naughty, and may not receive, When they give you the best they ever can give, Their little gifts in a loving way. So they hide themselves, and carefully say: "It's Santa Claus brings the gifts that day." Then, you think, you know, it's a wonderful thing, And you are as happy as Queen or King, They only think of the joy they can give, For they'd make you happy as long as you live. And they don't seem to care for themselves a mite; I found that out for myself last night. Now what do you think I'm going to do ? I wouldn't want Mamma to guess it though. But I'm going to be good the whole year through; She'll wonder and ti-y to account for it all. But I don't want to tell, for fear I should fall A CHRISTMAS SECRET. 25 A little short, sometime in the year; And I can't break a promise to her, that's clear. But next Christmas time when the presents come And she shows me that Santa Claus brings me some, I shall whisper to her my secret, and say, I've a Santa Claus present for her that day. c 26 SEA MOSS. KNITTED WORK. FOR JULIA. I BOUGHT a skein of beautiful yarn, Smooth and soft as could be, And said, "I will fashion with this some charm To send, sweet friend, to thee. ' ' As my needles flew from right to left, Fair dreams through my fancy sped. With visions of lives that were brave and true, And I've knitted these in with the thread. My thought outstripped the tireless^ wind, And passed the horizon's bars; Knelt at their glistening golden gates, And played "at home " in the stars. Then it entered the dingiest cellars of earth, To weep with the lonely there; Wiping the tears from pale, sad cheeks Sharing their grief and care. I dreamed of Love, of a Passion strong As the wind-swept ocean's tides; Fathomed its sorrows, aspired with its joys, And learned where its Peace abides. And as swifter and fast the stitches grew, And thy spirit to mine drew near, KNITTED WORK. 27 I whispered my visions right into thy heart, For there, there were ears to hear. Yet I see in the knitting some faults appear, There are stitches not perfectly true; I forgot, now and then, the work in my hand, I was lost so completely in you. Yet, the charm is there, like my earnest love, Homely, but warm and strong, And these little mistakes in the meshes show How even our love may go wrong. Deckmber, 1886. 28 SEA MOSS. THE FEAST OF LIGHTS. WITHIN the Holy Place, faintly and dim, The lessening oil gave forth its odorous flame! To Israel's people, her temple doors were barred; Her gates an enemy held strong against her. Every heart was tense with strong emotion And dearly longed to feed the flickering flame, Lest He, to whom their prayers were offered Should despise their v/eakness, and avenge Their disregard by leaving them in darkness And alone. Day after day passed by. Battles raged fiercely, and hot. The bravest faltered. And the sorely stricken plead for mercy. Till at length, the dying smiled to hear The Temple was retaken, their fierce foe Overcome, and * ' God, even their own God, Had gotten them the victory." With fearful hearts Did Israel's priests enter the Holy Place, But there the lamp still burned. Some friendly hand Had daily fed its little flame until An Arm had strengthened Israel's weakness! Then a great shout rang throughout the dome ot Heaven, And Israel promised in her raptured soul, That thro' all time, a Feast of Lights should be, In token of remembrance of that Power THE FEAST OF LIGHTS. 29 Which, even in darkness and despair, Still keeps its holy chrism alight on earth. That light still shines in Israel's Holy Place, And from its flame ten thousand lamps are lit, As Love, with glowing torches hastens on To cheer faint souls who still in darkness sit. December 27, 1883. 30 SEA MOSS. ''EPHPHATHA." Mark vii. 39. SOUL, why so silent? Hast thou not perceived How all the earth is vocal with its joy? And for the boon of life thou hast received Shall not one grateful word thy lips employ ? Hast thou not felt the sunlight's blessed warmth, Nor looked with rapture toward the azure sky, Nor seen the beauty in Earth's flower-decked robe, Nor fancied once what all these signify ? Hast thou not heard it whispered in the trees As leaf to leaf its brief life-story tells ? Nor heard the birds relate it in their songs, Till night and morning with the music thrills ? Has not the ocean's anthem moved thy blood To quicker pulses, nor the murmuring shells Caused thee to wonder at the mystic power That holds its echoes in their pearly cells ? I marvel that this wealth of vocal life From thee brings no response. How dumb thou art! What shall awaken thee to thought and speech ? What shall the current of thy feeling start? I long so for thy voice! — I reach my hand And clasp thine own — myself I give to thee! Canst thou not love me ? Hear my love's appeal, Then open thou thy Hps and answer me! ' * EPHPHA THA. " 31 Oh, magic touch! The pulsing tide of life Leaps swiftly, tingling through each nerve and vein, While cheek and eye glow with electric light, And lips pour forth a full melodious strain. Love's mighty force sweeps every barrier by, Opens the flood gates, fills life's fount with wine. Rends its dark veil and frees the fettered soul, To crown it with a lustre all divine. 32 SEA MOSS. THE TWO COMMANDMENTS. Mark xii. 30-31. THOU Shalt love with all thy heart! " 'Tis God's promise to thy life, And to feel the kindling flame Waits thy heart through weary strife. "Thou shalt love with all thy soul ! " God has spoken, and the word Echoes through the mighty dome. Lingering till its tones are heard. "Thou shalt love with all thy mind ! " Thy rich intellect shall bend And its homage gladly give. To its noblest, wisest Friend. "Thou shalt love with all thy strength! " Fainting with the effort now, Heart and soul and mind and life Feebly at this altar bow. Yet, the pure well-spring of Love, From the heart of God outpours; And, as rills and rivers swell, When descend the dews and showers So, the river of His love, Groweth deeper and more wide, THE TWO COMMANDMENTS. 33 And its ocean circles Earth With a pulsing, crystal tide. Thou shalt clasp thy brother's hand, Without doubting or distrust; Knowing that his love is thine, And his judgment of thee, just. Thou shall yield to him thy heart. Freely as thy breath to Heaven, Asking nothing, giving all. And receiving as is given. Sweet fulfilling of the law! Brightest promise of His word ! Life with golden glory beams. Since this message we have heard. *' Thou shalt love! " so long we've wept, That our hearts with sorrow ache. We had longed to love, but never Loved just for sweet loving's sake. Now, His promise has been given All our fears and doubtings cease; God is Love, love brings to Heaven, Joy, and righteousness, and peace! 34 SEA MOSS. LOVING. WHAT is loving? Is it to measure out Fond, honeyed words to charm the ear ? Is it to fold white arms about a yielding form And whisper softly, "Sweet, I do love you? " Is it to bend in flattering homage With the throng who crowd when victory's won ? To smile in sympathy when all is well ? To feel a pride when some fine act is done By one who calls us friend ? By evidence Like this may it be proven we Love ? Is nothing else required ? When sad-eyed grief And harrowing disappointment cloud the brow; When weak and erring, faltering in the way. Heart-laden and oppressed, and fain to drop The armor of the right, because it weighs so heavily; What does Love then ? Does he Stand idly by, with folded hands and wait In calm indifference to see the end ? Or turn away to find him other joys? Can he find fullness only with the strong And brave and comely? Oh, is it true! Have poverty and weakness, pain and sin, No friend but well-gloved Charity, who with Her robes held back, extends a dainty hand, And with full consciousness of her superior. Soul-chilling height above such woes as these Deals out her scanty alms of words and deeds ? LOVING, 35 Are there no tenderer arms to clasp And closely hold, while there's so great a need ? O, Thou Omniscient, Omnipotent God ! Who in Thy great creation, made us men. Hast made to every heart some heart respond ! And sympathy, its kindred soul seeks out Claiming it for its very weakness' sake; While Pain clasps hands with Pain, and growing strong To conquer, or endure, still seeks relief. And Poverty, touched by sight of poverty. Her own scant robe ekes out to clothe and warm. Even Sin, at the sad sight of sin's great guilt Appealing to a greater love beneath, Lays down its load, and weeps and prays and rests. Love proves not best his grandeur in the sun Of fame, or wealth, or power. 'Tis proven, when In the dark shadow of distress and need. He pours with lavish hand his treasures forth. Studding the darkened vault of night with stars, New worlds of Hope and Trust and Purity! 36 SEA MOSS. FAITH. DROP thou the seed into the earth! Nor longer with closed fingers idly stand; No genial sun or rain can ever reach The germ thou'rt holding shut within thy hand. Drop thou the seed into the earth! 'Tis useless quite to lift closed hands to Heaven, Tho' thus through weary years you pray and wait, No other answer, save this, shall be given. Drop thou the seed into the earth! Its quickening life shall gently there unfold, And by a kindly bosom warmed and nursed. Shall bloom and bear a harvest manifold. Drop thou the seed into the earth! When that is done, a consciousness of good. Shall, like a blissful rest, steal over thee. And give thee dreams of dawning angelhood. Drop thou the seed into the earth! And know the sweetest pleasure in all lives. See how a miracle by thy faith is wrought; Earth's altar lifts to God thy sacrifice. April, 1876. UNAVAILING. 37 UNAVAILING. OlSIE day up toward a shelving shore, A careless wave, at flood-tide crept; Laughing and rippling more and more. As near and nearer the waiting shore, With dance and glitter and sparkle it swept. At last with a touch like a kiss. The shore and the little wave met; Then the wave leapt back to the ocean's breast With a pain in its heart, and strange unrest, And the rugged shore as with tears was wet. O, fain would the bright little wave Have lingered to sport with the shore; With its low happy murmur to woo it; With its clatter and sparkle to sue it; And play in delight at its side evermore. But the little wave sobs and sighs, For the shore that it kissed and left; And though hidden deep in the ocean's breast. It never, no never' 11 be quite at rest, And the shore is sad, of its smile bereft. And echoing still, that moan of pain Is ever heard by the patient shore, That surf-beaten, storm-lashed, or still and lone Listens for one low murmuring tone, And waits the return of the wave evermore. 3g SEA MOSS. WHY? TWO fleecy cloudlets on a twilight sky, Float slowly nearer in the deepening blue, Till both in one mysteriously are blent. Its edges tinged by sunset's crimson hue. Two ships sail proudly on a summer sea. And, side by side ride on at ease awhile. Then each to distant port sweeps on its way; One meets the gale, on one fair breezes smile. The happy cloud serenely floating high, Beholds the parting ships, and wonders. Why ? New Haven, March i, 1878. FULFILLING THE LAW. 39 FULFILLING THE LAW. BY a hand unseen a seed was dropped In the rich, red mold of a human heart; As the new Hfe quickened, a thrill of pain Shattered the shell for the germ to start. Upward it pressed with inherent power, Upward through darkness, uncertain of right, Shooting its fibrous roots lower and lower. Reaching its tendrils to climb into light. Hopefully, painfully, Struggling slow Up through the mold Does the young plant grow. And the rich mold yields to the mystic force Which draws new strength from her quivering veins, Herself, at once, the sea and source. Of the rivers that water her numberless plains. But high in the dome that encircles her form A burning, pitiless sun shines down, And threatens with fervid heat to sere And blacken whatever it beams upon. Yet ever upward Into its light, Presses the germ That is hidden from sight. 40 SEA MOSS. For it somehow feels that this burning Sun Though it threaten destruction is still its God; That the dull, blind pain of its struggling life, Will cease when it reaches above the sod; When it clambers out into light and air Where its stifled breath may be bold and free, The pale green germ by the sunlight kissed. May rise in its strength to a stately tree. Trustingly still Obeying the will And fulfilling the laws Of its Mighty Cause. For Nature imprints upon all she presents, The immutable law which an Infinite hand; With a pen dipped in life's glowing current has writ. With a power of decree that no force can withstand. The germ grows by law in the mold of the heart, And reaches by law toward its Sun-God above; By law all its blossoms of beauty must bloom And thus shall it ripen the fair fruit of Love. So, growing ever. Fainting, ah, never! Heart do thou still Thine own sweet will. New Haven, August io, 1876. SURRENDER. 41 SURRENDER. YES, I believe. I see that evermore Love wins its way, each obstacle removes; Outreasons reason's self, and lifts the soul Up into clear, calm heights, out from the grooves Worn by the weary plodders in the way, Who, all unlovely and unloving, tread That deeply rutted path which leads them down To that dark death-in-life, where hope lies dead. Yes, I believe. I see that one by one Love claims his own, and lifts them to his rest, And all life's turmoil, sin, and strife go on; But in His circling arms they still are blest. Their fair bright faces beam with holy light, Their gentle hands reach down to give relief, Their gladdened voices, strong with hearty cheer, Call out: "Come hither, soul, and leave thy grief." Yes, I believe. "Help Thou mine unbelief ! ' ' Unfold the truth and I will make it mine. Pour the rich cordial in my waiting cup; Refresh my heart with this strength-giving wine; •' Help Thou mine unbelief," and I no more With dread and doubt will cloud the Heaven above. Dispel the darkness which enshrouds the light And teach me how to use this leaven of Love. PiTTSFiELD, September 15, 1881. 42 SEA MOSS, COME THOU TO ME! COME thou to me! Oh, take me to thy heart, And let me weep these tears out on thy breast; Bend thy dear eyes on mine, and let me see The welcome, which shall bid my spirit rest. Fold me within thine arms; thy warm embrace Shall hide me from the bitter winds that sweep Across my path; and for one little hour, Let me, shut in from storm and tempest, sleep. My pillowed head no throb of pain could know; I would not even dream, so deep my rest; Hushed would every sigh, and every wish Be stilled, if only my soft pillow were thy breast. There is no other rest in all this world for me, Save those dear arms. There is no other place Of refuge from my grief; but Earth and Heaven Shall smile upon me still, while I can only look into thy face. A CAPTURED BUTTERFLY. 43 A CAPTURED BUTTERFLY. SO my downy- winged beauty I've caught you at last, And now I shall hold you, quite lightly, but fast. But the price of your liberty, as you shall know. Is to tell where you came from, and whither you go. " I was hid in a chrysalis dark as a tomb. And dreaming of beauty, and light and bloom, Till the rapturous beat of my tiny heart. Burst the wonderful walls of my cell apart. "Then, I found the beauty, the light, the bloom, 'Neath a silver-flecked arch in a spacious room, While low, sweet music, on soft summer air. Sang of love, and my vision of life was so fair. " So I caught the light on my fluttering wings; I tasted the honey each flower-cup swings; And the love-token sent from bower to bower I hastened to carry from flower to flower." But whither? "Oh, Stranger, the grasp of your hand Sends through me forebodings I don't understand; A shadow of death, like the curtain of night, Threatens all beauty, all life, all light. 44 SEA MOSS, " My companions flit freely o'er garden and lawn, And your hand hurts me, Stranger; I long to be gone To find one who loves me through brief sunny hours Where we swing in the cradles of blossoming flowers. " In the fields over there, where the buttercup's gold Enriches the green, there are sweet stories told; Oh, swift to fulfill our bright hopes let me fly To live out my full life in joy, e'er I die! " EDITH. 45 EDITH. KISS me, my loved one! Close against my cheek Rest your red lips, warm with their fresh, young life. Tell me you love me, I am worn and weak; Tired with life's struggle. Yet, kiss me, sweet. Your breath shall be a healing balm. I shall grow braver, truer, loving thee, And feel my spirit's turbulence grow calm. Kiss me, then, rest your sunny head upon my heart, I never am too tired to hold it there My sweet one; loving is an art Not all excel in; shall we not, then, dare To think our love is brightest, purest, best. Since, dear, it brings such rest ? Stay, darling, stay. I cannot let you go. Fold down your lashes o'er those beaming eyes; How dear this trust has made thee! Now, why that look of wonder and surprise ? Is it not faith that saves, and faith That leads to work ? The mightiest deeds Are done through loving trust. The world's Deep graves give up their dead to satisfy Their needs whose love brooks no denial. And I must live for thee. Kiss me, dear, then sleep! May 26, 1884, 46 SEA MOSS. LOVE. AS changeful as the summer sky is Love. Yesterday, I saw him decked in gold and red. He proudly plumed his wings, and gaily Sent his arrows into space. To-day he sits All pale and sad, with ashes on his brow, And tears like rain are falling o'er his face. Oh, Love! dear Love! why art thou weeping here? Surely not all thine arrows missed. Thou king of archers? "Ah! No," said he, "I weep Because I see, the wounds my arrows make So fast find cure. I grieve because these mortals Will not learn to hold as treasure trove My feathered shafts. See how they pluck them out. And cast them down, then turn them to their Selfish joys again. All day I pulled my bow But every soul had on a mail of gold. I wounded only one poor heart, alas, I fear My occupation's lost ! " But even while the 'plaint Still stirred the air, there came a radiant girl. Bringing a tribute to this woeful god. "Oh, Love, sweet Love," she said, "lift up thy head; The world is not quite lost; one joy-tipped dart Found lodgment in a heart that will be true — Oh, Love, sweet Love, put on thy smiles again." May, 1884. EVOLUTION, . 47 EVOLUTION. A LITTLE wave of motion In a protoplasmic speck; More pronounced the gentle action, And a tiny darkening fleck Is sending forth fibrillae ; Upward, downward now they go, Then a surer, stronger, throbbing; Ryhthmic pulses and a flow Of faint red color, tinging Each thread with a glow Born of a divine imputation Called a heart's-beat now. What attraction in the motion! How from earth and sea and sky. Speed the atoms towards its center, Till in massive strength they lie Held by the supreme cohesion Of the cogent power, until It evolves, by simple rhythm, Forces mightier, stronger still, Which compel another tribute. From the earth-embracing air, — Inspiration, the inbreathing Of a finer atmosphere. Birth of Pain! This sentient being Soon shall learn what thou canst teach, 48 SEA MOSS. For that restless, tireless organ, Thou shalt find a way to reach. Changing its impassive action To a goaded, quivering flight; Or, as with a lance-thrust checking Each pulsation with affright, Joy must also give its lessons. Sweeping music o'er the strings, In the sweet, sad notes, affection Softly by its cradle sings; While its rich, red current going Swift to meet life's ambient source, Still absorbing, still o'erflowing Till, within its chosen course Pain, with Joy and sweet affection In a union strong fulfill An inherent compact. Bringing forth a Will ! Do the skies sing rapturous paeans ? Does the universe rejoice ? He believes it, this strange being, Giving utterance now to choice. Good and evil have existence; These two he must keep apart; 'Tis a truth, by inspiration Carried to that throbbing heart. Now, he girds him for a battle; Fierce the contest is, and long; Clashing through all realms and stations Now with weeping, now with song. Up he climbs to loftier summits, Rarer still the air inbreathed, EVOLUTION. 49 Larger, stronger grow the heart-beats; And, behold, his sword is sheathed. While uplifted hands plead dumbly. Outstretched toward a broo.ding Good. Then, in tender benediction. Bends he, where he proudly stood. Ever keeps the rhythmic motion. Pulsing in his swelling breast; Beating, beating, while he gazes Northward, southward, east and west, Upward into depths of azure. Downward into fires below. Till he sees through all the oneness. And his being thrills aglow With a newer inspiration; Light ineffable, in beams Of refulgent glory, show him Realized his fairest dreams; While the dull insensate atoms Which the lesser life below. Could not bring within its circle, Now, the full attraction know, Of the wave of Life, that Love Set in motion, in an atom, long ago. Just a little wave of motion; Now, a heart-beat, full and free. Pulsing, throbbing, aching. Loving, Till its rhythm makes the music of Eternity. February i, 1889, 50 SEA MOSS. A LOVE STORY. Told a la Technique. HE had a chair in the college; She was a student there. He gave fine clinical lectures, And demonstrated with care. She heard with attentive interest, Answered well at the "quiz," Criticised all conclusions, Never was known to ' ' fizz. ' ' One day, at the surgical clinic, She was asked a prognosis to give. In a case of severe traumatopyra; She decided the patient would live. Because the febris traumatic Had taken no pysemic form. No purulent infiltration, Impended to cause alarm. She asserted the areola membrane Was still intact and firm. And laudable suppuration Was all that she could discern. His levator palpebrae superioris. And corrugator superciHi Arched, in astonished admiration At her charmingly learned reply. Her condition became hypersemic; Congestion of the capillaries flushed A LOVE STORY. 51 The entire facial epidermis, And she instantly her lingual organ hushed. Then, a rapid cardiac impulsion. And nervous irritation supervened, To conceal which, upon her palmar surface She immediately her bending forehead leaned With a graceful pretence of re-collecting The flying thoughts within her fertile brain. Then, a little bit of hauteur affecting, Composed herself to answer once again. But the nervous irritation seemed contagious. The Professor from the subject quickly turned To one that appeared to be irrelevant : " How is inflammatiuncula discerned ? " On the instant her obicularis oris Its antagonistic principle displayed. Holding rigid the relaxing facial muscles. Lest the tendency to risis be betrayed. After this that grave Professor Kept the student in his eye, Till his glances made her furious; Till they caused her many a sigh. For the intercostal muscles And diaphragm combined To effect a perfect equipoise 'Twixt her physique and mind. Still the sense of weight oppressed her, And, at length, the sessions through, She prepared for her vacation. Having heard the last " Adieu," When the grave Professor asked her. Bending low to take her books, To be seated for one moment 52 SEA MOSS, In the quietest of nooks. "For," said he, "there are some symptoms In a case I have in hand, I should like to place before you; Can I make you understand ? 'Tis a case of cardiac lesion, And involves a patient's life. Such, at least, is my prognosis, What he needs, is, — just a wife. He will live if only you Can prevent a final rupture; Now, please say : What can you do ? " Sympathetic palpitation Made her tremulous and weak, While a single osculare He imprinted on her cheek. This proved quite an anaesthetic, And within that quiet nook, For a brief and happy moment, Every woe the world forsook; And she promised, unreserving. To his solar spectrum be, Form his spiritual cardiac plexus, Reinforce his brave M. D. QUEEN VASHTI. 53 QUEEN VASHTI. THE palace gleamed with light of perfumed lamps, While gold and sheen of many colors shone In sumptuous hangings. A banquet, spread On costliest service, graced the royal board, With well-baked meats and rare and luscious fruits And wines sparkling with the bright sunshine still Lingering in their rich, red and amber hues. Ahasuerus sat merry with his lords. The wine's insidious strength dethroning him, Reigned in his stead. Under its wild sway He let the sceptre of his reason fall, while With a merry madness he hailed Wine As monarch of the feast. Fair Queen Vashti, With all her maiden train this night, also Held festival. Her palace halls were gay And redolent with perfumes. The soft lights Caressingly revealed her peerless charms. The pure, clear texture of her olive skin, The tender glow in her dark lustrous eyes, The delicate contour of her ripe lips Parted in smiles o'er teeth like dainty pearls. Made up a picture for a poet's dream; But the sweet grace with which she moved Enhanced each charm. In modest conscious power She won the maidens' hearts, subduing even The King, to whom her gracious yielding was 54 SEA MOSS. As incense to a god. For him She wore her brightest robes, her sweetest smiles, Giving him homage which she felt his due. But even while luxuriously at ease, Surrounded by her maidens, sat the Queen, The curtains swept aside, and there appeared. Straight from the King, a messenger, who Bade Queen Vashti come in unveiled loveliness Before the court. The King had sworn his Queen In beauty was supreme throughout the East. His lords were eager he should prove the truth, And waited to behold the fairest face In all the Orient. Deep silence fell Within the banquet hall. Queen Vashti's graceful head Drooped low upon her breast; her sad eyes Rested on the ground a moment, only one; Then, in her firm but gentle tones she bade The messenger return unto the King. " Go, tell the King I cannot come," she said; "He knows it is not meet I should appear Unveiled before his lords. It is my joy That I am beautiful, when at my feet he sits. But I am fair for him alone. He is my husband, I his Queen, his wife; I dare not so demean my womanhood. And thus become a by- word and a jest." That King who wore Ahasuems' crown Was impotent with rage, and swore with oaths. Foolish and loud. Queen Vashti should not so Defy his wish, but she should learn his will Was law; to be by her, therefore, obeyed. His courtiers, flattering still his vanity. Declared their Avives would follow Vashti's course, QUEEN VASHTI. 55 And thus connubial strife fill every- house. Was she fit consort for so wise a King ? Let her descend from her proud place and feel The power so willfully defied. Let Some fair maid be found whose will can yield To high authority sit at thy side, A Queen indeed. And the King said, " Amen." Then Vashti knew the sharpness of the truth, That, ever, ' ' Virtue is its own reward. ' ' Stung by the rude reproach, suffering but strong. She left the King's domain, disgraced, discrowned. Oh, if her vision might have pierced Through the dark vista of the coming years, I think her eyes had found no room for tears, Nor need her heart have felt one jealous throb. When that young, simple Hebrew girl, whose heart Was with her people, found favor with the King, And saved her wretched kinsfolk from the sword. For the brave modesty of the fair Queen Has won a crown whose lustre brightens As the ages roll. And where Queen Vashti Is spoken, it becomes a synonym Of womanly reserve and dignity. PiTTSFiELD, Mass., December 14, 1880. 56 SEA MOSS. FANCY FREE. WHICH is the brightest flower you have seen ? Tell me, oh, tell me, my king, my king! Has the fair rose with her blushing face Won from you tribute to regal grace ? Has the stately lily, so pure and white, Touched thee with sceptre and called thee knight ? Or, can the bloom of the daffodil Hold thee, and charm thee, despite thy will ? Tell me, oh, tell me, my king, my king ! Which is loveliest flower you have seen ? * * ^ * * * * *'X- Lady, the gardens of earth are fair, Roses and lilies bloom everywhere; They blush and pale in the golden light. Each is lovely and all are bright. The red rose blushes, the white rose shines. They're fit for garlands or fit for shrines; The beauty and brightness of each fair flower, Tempts me to dream in her summer bower. I sigh when the violet, purple in hue, Hid in the grasses and wet with dew Sends its sweet perfume afloat on the air; I linger and live in a transport there. FANCY FREE. 57 The stately lily, so pure, so white, Finds ever in me a loyal knight; While the yellow bloom of the daffodil Tangles the web of my fancy still ! But which is the brightest, I cannot see, For, oh, lovely lady, they're all fair to me! 58 SEA MOSS. WORSHIP. A WISH from the Infinite Will sped forth, Sparkled a moment in a woman's eyes, Met answering glance from eyes she loved. Then slept as a memory within her breast. Nourished from the fountain of her heart, It fed upon her life, till one proud day It blossomed in a perfect human flower Nestling in pale, pink loveliness against her bosom. A mother's eyes glowing with tender love Grow clearer visioned, till awe-hushed she sees In this pink flower a holy thought of God Enshrined that she may worship, and her soul Kneels at the altar, blest and satisfied. June 25, 1880. EARTH'S BLESSED ONES. 59 EARTH'S BLESSED ONES. THOSE faithful, patient souls, serene and sweet, Who, in humility, do wait on Truth, Counting no price too high, no sacrifice Too great, to make for its dear sake. Stooping to learn the smallest fact, they are Repaid for toil, for weariness, for pain. The blessed mourn, yet Truth, the Comforter, Doth comfort them; for, in its light, they see In Nature's laws, best evidence that God Is Love, and strive with mighty faith To find the straightest paths to perfectness. All in the earth is theirs, and Good and 111, Serve but to make them truer to their tmst; While, pure in heart, they see God's face unveiled; His thought revealed, on heights, in depths, where only Fearless souls may dare for Truth to seek. These walk alike unflinching through the fire, Or, bravely ride the swelling, boisterous flood To place a beacon on Truth's holy hill That light may shine for poor humanity. Struggling below in darkness and distress. Though battle-scarred, and striped with many stripes, These souls rejoice if they but reach the goal. And barely falter up its steeps, and fire One torch, e'er overcome by the deep sleep God's mercy gives to His beloved. Even 6o SEA MOSS. Though they know their tiny flame serves but to make The darkness darker seem, till, up the steep. Torch after torch is borne, and kept alight Until commingled they shall illumine Heaven, And send their radiance on the Earth beneath. When all humanity at last shall see The golden links of Life that closely bind Each human heart to heart, and all to God. March 22, 1879. PROMISES. 6i PROMISES. WHEN the yellow leaf falls;— Well, what then? Will the summer never Come again? Just beneath that leaf's stem, On the tree; Is a bud enfolded, You may see. When the sweet-voiced songsters Fly away, Will they out of hearing Ever stay ? Summer birds and flowers Each to each belong; Where the sun shines brighter, There is song. When the river's ice-bound, Strong and deep; E'er its mighty silence. Will it keep ? Underneath the ice-chain, Pure and warm. Still the river courses; Strongly calm. 62 SEA MOSS. When the shadows deepen, In the soul, Must heartache and sorrow Life control ? Even Light's refraction Must be proven. Would we see its beauties Interwoven ? Broken lives some whole life Prophecy; We shall know its fullness, By and bye ! March 29, 1879. ENCOURAGEMENT. 63 ENCOURAGEMENT. UP, soul ! Be not disheartened ! Faint not, nor fear distress; This failure but the clearer shows The way toward success. The path which thou hast chosen, Is full of pits and snares. The fall awakes thy vigilance; Defeat, all unawares, Had met thee later on the way, But for this blessed fate. Through which thou 'rt taught humility, E'er yet it is too late. Faint not! Be not disheartened ! From failure wrest success. Make frowning Fortune smile on thee By thine on cheerfulness. Blame thy shortsightedness or pride, If any censure fall; Or, what is best, waste not the time In mourning o'er it all. Thou art not wounded mortally, Thank Fortune for thy life, And keep the favor she has shown By winning in the strife. 64 SEA MOSS, For, if thy feet had felt no thorns, Where roses paved the way; Would Life's great truths have touched thee As they have done to-day ? If 'midst the summer verdure fair. No hidden serpent coiled And threatening, raised his hooded head, The future had been foiled Of true success; for, only he Who overcomes, succeeds. By falls and failures, man alone Discovers what he needs. As darkness alternates with light; As sorrow shares with joy; So gold, refined and utilized. Is tempered with alloy. January 28, 1880. OUR HERITAGE. 65 OUR HERITAGE. DAME Nature surrounds us With all that is fair, And bids us rejoice In her exquisite care. In her lap there are roses, But each has a thorn; We choose 'twixt the two, And weave us our crown. Deep in her fair bosom Are hidden her gems; She smiles as we set them, "The world's diadems." Discover her secrets. Unfold each wise plan, And her mirror reflects thee, Perfected, O, Man! For thou art endowed With the key to the whole Of this infinite scheme, By the birth of thy soul. Thou mayst bridge the deep chasm, 'Twixt present and past. And rest on the future With infinite trust. 66 SEA MOSS. May bind in one sheaf Thy rich gleanings of Time And bearing thy burden, Still upward may climb, Till the heights where repose Wisdom only can give. Are reached; and we find What the life means we live. TO-DAY, 67 TO-DAY. NOW is the fullness of the perfect season! This is the day holding all days in one. The present hour enfolds both faith and reason In its embrace, claiming a victory won. The ache of hearts to-day is spent in healing; The joys of life increase as it holds sway; The times which hitherto seemed void of feeling Are throbbing as a human pulse to-day. The Life which wraps the earth, a crimsoil ocean, With ebb and flow, laps it on every side. And surges with its ever-restless motion, Claiming its own, to with its own abide. Each noble deed to-day bears on its bosom, Was yesterday a yearning in some breast, Responding to that longing for the fusion Of good with good, throughout all life possessed. To-day has clouds, but who would miss the wonder ? The sunshine colors them with rosy light. To-day has storms, the snow-flake, or the thunder, Awakens us to visions of God's might. That hearts have ached, must ache, e'er reason teaches Its lessons of the best, the highest skill 68 SEA MOSS, To-day has learned, and in its turn it preaches A quick submission to a Mighty Will. To-day, to-day a gladdening earth rejoices And Life drinks deeper of the crimson flood; While what seemed ill in yesterday, all voices Within its soul, to-day declares was good. The glorious Past sends all its beams to brighten The radiant splendor of this peerless shine; And the fair Sun of Righteousness shall lighten The East and West with Reason's rays divine. Christmas, 1880. BARREN DAYS. 69 BARREN DAYS. SING not of barren days! The fruitful Earth Responds to all sweet influence, quick and well; The summer showers, the winter snows, Ne'er fall in vain. So, earnest, loving toil. Meets its reward. Does thy one talent lie Shut out from enterprise ? O, not for love, Then, friend, hast thou the Master served. For Love Would lay its only treasure at His feet Nor think of selfish gain. The waning day Would be replete with joy that earth had power To lend thee aught to give; freely to give thine all. The fruits that others taste Are not for thee. The flowers that others wear For thee bloom not, unless thy gracious heart Glows with reflected warmth, and finds its joy In others' bliss. Thus is our bright crown woven; Not what we hold, but what we give is ours! A perfect life is made by perfect love; And Earth's warm bosom thrills with eagerness To give thee all she hath; but while so close Thou dost her treasures hold within thy heart. Eager to bargain gold for so much gold; She will not take thy mete, and barren days Must be thy lot, till some bright gleam reveals To thy lone soul this mystery of bliss. PiTTSFiELD, March 26, 1881. 70 SEA MOSS. IN MEMORIAM. J. A. G. CONSIGNED to earth! The last sad rite is o'er! The solemn bells at length have ceased to toll. The stricken Nation sits with bended head, For still reverberating through its soul, Are mournful echoes of the sad bells' chime, And only can the healing hand of Time Reach down to comfort us. That great, calm soul, has found the Infinite; The brave, true heart that only sought His will And all our Nation's good, has ceased to beat. Its work is done. The finite hand is still. But is he dead, he whom the Nation weeps ? Be still, and watch, ye sufferers! He but sleeps; Time's hand will comfort us. For he has left, as priceless legacy, A spotless fame, a tender love, and pure; A deep devotion to a noble cause; Undying faith that Right shall still endure; And even though patience, hope and courage lie Bereft of strength and only wait to die, Knows Time shall comfort! Oh, from those heights beyond our ken, To which thine eagle soul has flown, IN MEMORIAM. 71 Canst thou look back to haunts of men And know us, as we would be known ? Then shalt thou see how deep our love For thee and those thy heart loved best, Our earnest lives would gladly prove The Nation honors thy bequest. From the dim future comes a potent voice, "The Nation shall not cry to God in vain. He is not dead who seems to sleep in death; I called him, and he came, that he might reign In grander state. The little pomp below Was not for such as he. 'Tis empty show. Time's hand shall comfort thee! " September 27, 1881. 72 SEA MOSS. RENUNCIATION. THE Dear Christ met, in his pilgrimage Through the thronged highway of Earth, A graceful youth, whose courtliness Betokened a princely birth. From eye to eye a flashing glance Betrayed the other's thought, And the strong, young soul with royal powers. Light from the Master sought. "What shall I do;" was his earnest quest, "The Eternal Life to win ? " "Keep God's commands," the Christ replied, "Live on the Earth without sin." "This have I tried from my earliest youth, But a shadow follows me near, Dogging my steps through days and nights Till my soul is rent with fear. ' ' The Master's eyes, with gracious love, Searching his anxious face, Faithfully fathomed his inmost thoughts, And answered with tenderness. "Wilt thou be perfect? O, brave young soul ! But one path waits for thee; RENUNCIA riON. 7 Thy riches encumber, thy state enthralls, Leave them, and follow Me. " I am the pathway into the light; To Me hath our Father given, To teach men knowledge of perfect life, On Earth, as it is in Heaven. "Come, I will lead thee into His rest, And sin shall tempt no more, And thou shalt open Life's pearly gates. And cross its threshold o'er. ' ' Through it the rhythmic, peaceful flow Of harmonies sublime, Shall quicken thy spirit and feed thy soul Through this short reign of Time. "There in the heart of an Infinite Love Shall thy soul and mind find rest; Thy loving labor enrich thy life. With treasure we learn is best. ' ' The face of the brave young man grew pale. Could he pass the stern ordeal ? From those searching glances he turned away With sorrow deep and real. * ' I am not brave to drink this cup. Though it be given to me;" And the Master, knowing his humble heart, Loved him most tenderly. PiTTSFiELD, Mass., April 27, 1882. F 5^4 SEA MOSS, DIVINATION. THE tides of life thro' the great city pour With ceaseless ebb and flow, until the light Fades with the sun's decline, aye, even then, Do car, and wheel, and hoof-beat jar the night. With constant hum and roar. Silent, I sit apart, yet feel within my breast The throbbing pulses, answering other hearts Beating with ever-changing joy or grief. Thro' all the city's avenues and marts, With never pause nor rest. The longed-for boon, still sought but never found. Or, found too late, by hands too weak to hold; While sordid aims usurp the throne of Right And Love's mis-named; honor is bought and sold. And Virtue goes uncrowned. Within, without, a restless spirit weaves This tangled skein, impatient of repose; Toiling incessant to feed torturing fires Which fade at length to flickering ember glows, And which at last it leaves. Yet still my heart, thro' all this rush and flood. This noise and turmoil, agony and bliss. Which makes the city's sounds a song or wail, DIVINATION. 75 Feels that above, beneath, and twined with this, Are silver chords of Good That harmonize beyond our human sense. In that deep silence, when Eternal peace. Infinite, illimitable perfectness. Unites all sounds, and all Earth's discords cease - In God's Omnipotence! Philadelphia, November 5, 1882. 76 SEA MOSS. LEAVES. RICH in the autumn light The green, the gold and red, Flash, dance, and pass from sight To sleep in their snowy bed. Who knows what dreams they dream. Who knows what whispers they hear. As the winds sweep over their couch With its messages dread or dear ? Who knows if they be not glad, That they are leaves, not flowers, That they may be shadow and rest In the summer's wearying hours ? Who knows their blush is not born Of gladness they feel in their veins. That love may find shelter from storms Or that beauty by being reigns; Reigns, royally, from her throne, Whatever her scepter may be; A flower with luster, and rare perfume, Or, only a leaf on a tree ? 3/V FRIEND. 77 MY FRIEND. FROM all sweet, warm and loving hearts, From all pure, lofty souls and royal minds, My own has singled thine, O, Friend most dear! It sets thee high above its trivial loves, And pays its homage with devotion true To all that's sweetest, fairest, noblest, best, And only asks to be allowed its worship! Craves thy benignant smile and kindly glance, Thy hand in gentle benediction raised. Seems it so strange to thee, thou spirit meek, That one should seek such influence from thee. Whose footsteps oft have faltered in the way; Whose heart has felt its dire distress and need, Its love unsatisfied; disappointment's cross Press with its heaviest weight on shoulders Burdened to their utmost with the strain ? I'll tell thee, dear, the secret. 'Tis because Beneath all this, I see unconquered good Still reigning in thy soul. Unconquered kindness Thrilling all thy words. I know that Wisdom Cannot claim her throne, until she shares with Love Each laurel leaf; dips his arrow-points for pens Into the ink with which she writes her edicts. But when she speaks through thee, my hope is strong, My trust more patient, my desires more pure. An undertone through all thy utterance swells By which my spirit learns that Love and Wisdom 78 SEA MOSS. Are at one within thy heart; and if thy feet Keep not their tread through human weakness, My homage shall not fail. I have not given My fealty to the clay, which needs must crumble, But to the soul, that shapes its destiny And makes it, for a time, a monarch's throne! June 9, 1886. IN PAR T ONL Y. 79 IN PART ONLY. I Corinthians, xiii. 10. APART of it all is heartache! The drops we know as tears Falling refract the pure, white light, Till the broken ray appears Tinted with flaming colors, Caught in the meshes of pain, While we gaze dim-eyed to the future, From the sunshine that scatters the rain. And part of it all are the shadows. Falling 'twixt hearts that love. Darkening the skies of affection, Hiding the spirit that moves To those actions we call our duties, Those hardest of tasks to fulfill, By the flickering lights of the gloaming Where goblins are haunting us still. And part of it is Love's dying, slain So oft by his own dear hand. While the gleam of cerements white and chill Strike awe through his silent land. Yet the white light still keeps shining Though rain and the shadows fall, And Love smiles in the resurrection, For He shall endure through all. 8o SJSA MOSS. His promise shines in the raindrop Alight with the flame of Hope; The power that fashioned the shadows Has infinity for its scope. And Love is the only Perfect; Yet that which is Perfect shall come, And shall we not see how the parts fit true When the Glorious Whole is done ? June 23, 1887. THE UNHONORED PROPHET. 8i THE UNHONORED PROPHET. WHY does his country leave unloved thro' life, This man whom other lands accord applause ? These, far off, see his few heroic deeds. They hear some startling words thrill in their ears, And straight their veins seem filled with fire. Yet do the hearts beating against his own, The hands that feel the grip of his rough clasp. Give him scant welcome, or, at the best, "Damn with faint praise" his vigorous words. Have we not met this Prophet in our homes ? Has he not eaten at our board, and slept Beneath our roof, and told us to our face Our bread was chaff, that our best beds were hard ? That, bye and bye, when that should come Of which he prophesied, good bread, far better beds, Should make a wiser people happier far ? And when we gazed upon his unkempt hair. Beheld the dust on his unsandeled feet; While listening to his protest 'gainst the bath As idle and luxurious waste of power; Saw his curled lip and frowning brow Turned on our Venus or our Belvedere, Protesting that we worship at unworthy shrines, And are at best, but ignorant idolaters Can we remember, in the pain that stings 82 SEA MOSS. Unjustly, that but a while ago This caustic tongue gave utterance to truth, Which will re-echo through all time; And time, that tests all truth, will give them weight When he whose rude lips spoke them Shall have turned to dust ? Our hurt Is in the Present. We do know, that we, As well as he, can think great thoughts; That even our kindly care for him, If he had willed, had helped to make His memory pleasant when he went his way. We've lived with him; and well we know That this whole saint is a whole sinner, too. With such a vicious way of doing well That he can rather make us choose do ill Than be like him, if there were room for choice; And it were ill to choose to be courteous. Graceful, kindly, mild, patient with Folly; Seeing need even to smile with her Since she comes as guest; and we fain Would feel our kinship with the frailest life, Believing that to be the dearest tie Binding our hearts to Earth. Repent, we say, Of what? Our Loves? Why, they're the best we know! Be cleansed ! Our frailties put away! Why, Prophet, we have given you our best, Our rarest perfumes at your service laid; We would have helped untangle your untidy locks. Bathed you in limpid, cleansing floods, But you would none of such kind service! THE UNHONORED PROPHET. 83 Yet, say to us, be pure! Oh, go thy way! We cannot understand, and do not Hke The odor of thy long-worn robes. We cannot, While thou art so close, hold thee at thy full value. Some far time, when space has her enchantment Lent, and when the artist Years shall paint Thy picture on their canvas; thy tatters, Picturesque, shall touch our hearts. And we shall wish, with our full human kindness, We could have loved thee, in thine own, despite; Wish we might have peered beneath the trammels Into that soul beneath; felt glad response To all its yearnings. But until then our hearts Can feel no need which thou canst satisfy Except thou first submit thyself Xo thy own law And put away thy dross which hides thy gold. February 24, 1880. 84 SEA MOSS. NOT BY BP.EAD ALONE. HE knows thy need. Through thy Hfe's pulsing tides He hears the beating of thy hungry heart. The thought thy lips dare not an utterance give He fathoms, fans, and feeds the flame His love Has kindled in thy breast, until its strength Consumes all dross of being, and thy spirit, pure, Reflects His image in its yearning love. He knows thy need, yet, not by bread alone Shalt thou be fed. He offers thee a richer boon. His word is life. Through all the vaults and mines, Those laboratories in the under world. Where, from the inanimate. His chemistry Combines the inert atoms into living forms. He speaks to thee; unfolds beneath thy gaze The secret of thy kinship with all life. While from above, through the vast silences, Where whirling worlds, embosomed in blue deeps Of space illimitable, speed to some end His will pronounces good. His voice is heard Pervading all the stillness; He has attuned Thy soul to feel divinest harmonies. Till drinking in sweet music, it becomes entranced. He knows thy need. When that sharp agony, The conscious dissolution of strong ties, Which made thy sentient life a treasure-house NOT BY BREAD ALONE. 85 Of royal loves, reveals that mystery Of separateness, and loneliness Enshrouds thee in darkness, doubt and grief, His nearness thrills thy vibrant heart-strings Until joy wakes anew, and Peace pours forth Deeper and truer notes in its exultant praise. He knows thy need, thine earth-born weakness, And thy heaven-born strength. He writes His law In both, and sends thee, thus equipped and girded. To that task, encompassed only by the eternal life, Full knowledge of thyself, and likeness unto Him Who call thee child. From His great storehouse Thou shalt be supplied, nor know a want His Love may not relieve, even though Thy flesh within the furnace fires of pain Should be consumed, or be devoured by Passion's hungry wolves; He will not leave thee. For He knows thy need. September 12, 1888. 86 SEA MOSS. ''TRUST IN ME." RINGING through the years we've heard the adage Telling us, ' ' God helps who helps himself. ' ' But the mocking present ever answers, Repeating hke repeating an echo, "Helps him- self!" When the days unfold their heavy burden. And the nights in darkness close around, When deep pitfalls gape, and mountain summits Are goals to which our way-worn feet are bound; When some blinding, lightning-flash of sorrow, Drenches us in its flooding rain of tears; While the shuddering, fearful heart is trembHng With its dread of the coming days and years; When no human voice can e'er avail to quiet The tempest in the spirit's surging deeps, As we're fainting with life's burden and its longing. O'er the angry waves a solemn silence creeps; While from within that stillness with a sweetness Like music from some far-off melody, Comes a message to the falling, maimed and help- less, " I have chosen thee this burden, 'Trust in Me,' " TRUST IN ME.'' 87 *' Step by step I've ever led thee forward, Strongest held thee where the way was hard, Bore thy burdens when they grew for thee too heavy And I still thy perfect safety guard. " Help thyself ! My child, how proud thy weakness! This thy greatest help: impHcit trust in Me. Rest thou here, and rise o'er life triumphant To that glory which is still in store for thee. ' ' May 4, 1889. SEA MOSS. SMALL DUTIES. WHAT romance, what poetry is there In the strife with "the wolf at the door ? " In the thousand and one petty trials That cannot be gilded o'er? What romance, what poetry is there, In the ache of the back and brain, That comes in the hourly struggle, A simple subsistence to gain ? Where shall we look for the "sweetness And light " the poet sings ? When the bread is burned and bitter And a booming fog-bell rings Through the dank and deepening darkness, While anchored amid the gloom We feel our life-ship rocking Above a hungry tomb, " Let each one bend to his duty, Be it never so irksome or small, ' ' Is the call of each man to his fellow, " And the best must be gained for all. " Yet ever we sigh, is it worth it. This ache of the back and the brain, Just for the sake of our duty, And to simple existence maintain ? SMALL DUTIES. Deep in the pulses of Nature, Down in the heart of the world, Throbs ever the hope and the promise That small daily duty impearled; Set round with a loving endeavor, Is the passport, revealing the right To be held in eternal remembrance. And ushered at last into light. That the waves engulfing the sailor, But speed him more quickly to shore, Where they find him employed at his bravest, Forgetful his own life to store. Life lived for love of the neighbor; Death faced for a duty, though small; Makes living or d)dng a poem, And romance uplifting us all. April 17, 1890. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 016 165 443 7