Class -D Book.B4 ^in .4 CjDFMRIGHT DEPOSITi A MESSAGE A Message VERSE By MARIE MALMQUIST BOSTON THE ROXBURGH PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. Copyrighted, 1919 >By Marie Malmquist Rights Reserved AUG I I jbid IC1.A529539 r> DEDICATION. Dedicated to Humanity at large. M. MALMQUIST. A message is entrusted to my care, — A simple one, as beautiful as rare. Twas given me, to flowery rhyme inclined, The same in thought though different in kind. I know not how it came. I give it — Just as it is 'twas given me to give it. I know not how! I only know it came. I send it to you in The Sender's Name! CONTENTS Dedication A Message (Preface) The Little Lad of Nazareth 15 His Youth 14 His Manhood 15 His Message 16 I Find Him Truer Than His Word .... 17 He Knows Your Need, Dear Heart .... 18 You Cannot Conquer Love 19 Can You Wonder at the Joy Which Fills My Heart? 20 His Patience Knew No Bounds 21 Love's Gift 22 Simply Happy 23 Love 24 Faith 25 Daily Service 26 Song 2^ Arrows 28 Hope 29 Charity 30 Drillers of Wells 31 Wheels Within Wheels 33 .Billows of Rest 35 A Message 36 Salvation 37 In Flight 39 10 CX)NTENTS Thoughts 42 Widening Circles 43 Ruth 44 Error 49 Never Fear, We Are Near 50 Wedding Poem 51 You and I 53 Hymnal 55 The Waterlily 56 First Copy 58 Morning Worship in a Country Church 59 A Melody 62 The Fir Tree 63 An Explorer 65 Love Lore 67 Work 68 Bubbles 69 Farther Lights 70 Trench Tractors 71 The Seed 72 Womanhood 72 A Frown and a Smile 'J2> Progress 74 Other Gods 75 The Reason Why jy Time 78 My Telescope 80 A Dream 81 Humanity 83 Love's Dignity 83 The Pine 84 A Touch 85 CONTENTS 11 Two Tasks 35 The Moon and the Star 88 A Messenger no The Songster oi At Sunrise 0-5 Mother's Day ' 94 Flames That Are Now Are Low 95 The Present Trouble Will Not Long En- dure 9/ *? Soon Dawns The Day 98 Love Led The Way 99 Calvary 100 Why Need He Suffer More ? 101 Redeeming Love 102 Just Think, If You Would Yield 103 He Leads Me Still 104 Lift Me Higher 105 Resurrection 106 Learn Ye to Love 107 The Whole Day Due Tomorrow 108 Sunset Lane 109 The Portals of My Heart no Death in the Hamlet in At the Gate m Mount Olivet 112 Dost Fear to Pray ? 113 Lillies of Galilee 114 The Teardrop at the Cross 115 He Rode With Kings 116 Nature's Darling 117 'EJe fLittlt Eati ot ij^aiaretfi. Among the fields of Nazareth A slender lad we see, Who, in the winding woodland path, Makes friend of bird and bee. He loves the flowers of the field, He loves the summer sky; He loves the insect's glittering shield, The brooklet running by. But most of all He loves His kind, The people of the town, — The halt, the lame, the sick, the blind That He has always known. He loves them with a lasting love, This little lad of ours, Who, loving Nature, loves to rove Among the birds and flowers. 14 A MESSAGE The lover of the lily then Became a manly youth ; A lover of His fellow men, A seeker after Truth. With reverence for Nature's Law, And for the Law Divine In Nature. Nature's God He saw, — God in the Law Divine. He shared the sordid daily life, Its stinging poverty, With loyal heart and meekness rare, And sweet humility. In all His works, in all His ways He did His Father's will : With loving loyalty and grace Went forth his place to f^ll. A MESSAGE 15 Whence came His purity of love? Come, tell me if you can ! His heritage from realms above — This God and perfect Man. Must earth and Heaven silent be? Who will the truth proclaim? "My own Beloved Son is He, Redeemer is His name." The Father's Life, The Father's Word And faithful image He, Who bore the sins of all the world, — Oh Calvary ! Oh Calvary ! His tender Love, His deathless Love Is our Redeemer's fame; All in this world and Heaven above Shall praise His Holy Name. 16 A MESSAGE Can mortal ever sense a part The smallest ray or less Of such a love as fills His heart — Its intense tenderness? There never was, there never will Be such a Love as His ! How can you, mortal, fail to thrill At tenderness like this? The woman at the wayside well Felt something of its power; And mark! this secret I must tell: 'Tis All power from this hour. A MESSAGE 17 I find Him truer than His word, This Saviour that I love; And you and I can not afford To doubt this word above All other words for wealth Of never-failing truth ; Of age the never-failing health, The strengthener of youth. His word is true ; as true as steel ! But He is truer still. We may through unseen cables feel A tenderness to thrill The hardest heart that ever beat Within the human breast. Come halfway and that Saviour meet, And trust Him for the rest. 18 A MESSAGE l^e Ixnoto0 gout iBlteD, SDear ^tatU Dear heart ! What depths of shame and woe and sorrow You spare yourself if you before tomorrow Accept the gift above all gifts most dear, — He'll do the rest, tired mortal, do not fear! Accept the Love He offers you with feeling Of greatest joy, and Soul, — accept it kneeling! Look at them well. His torn hands, while you kneel; Don't shrink from them — You would not let them heal. Look at His feet, His side, this Man of Sorrow ! Accept the gift — don't wait until tomorrow. Of Earth's Gethsemane He knows each part — He knows as well your every need, Dear Heart ! A MESSAGE 19 ^o\x Cannot Conquer JLott^ Must all His love, that boundless Love, be lost To you and me, at v^hat terrific cost He only knows, who bids the waves be still, And stops earth's thunder by His gentle wilK His message now is speeding on its way; Its mighty import mortals may not stay. Love conquers All, — you cannot conquer Love Deep as the seas, and high as Heav'n above. Deep as the ocean is that Love so free ; It conquers all things for it conquered me. And know this truth, high as the Heav'ns above : — Love conquers you ! You cannot conquer Love! .•^0 A MJuSSAGE Can Won ^ontiet at tje 30? llSal $ni& Can you wonder at the joy that fills my heart ■When I feel His glorious Love within me start ? Not in any least degree Of that Love that's part of me Must I lose or underestimate the worth. For the Saviour who was dead and rose again Has control of all my heart, and will remain King of heart and soul and mind, And with wonder I still find That His deathless Love grows dearer day by day. So that Love I sing to valley, hill and dale— To the birds and bees and flowers I tell the tale! And I tell it to you all, To you sinners great and small, — To the Sun and Moon and Stars and Heav'n and All. A MESSAGE 2l! 1(0 patience l^neto Bo T5ounri0. When tired of all that barred my Heav'nward way, Of all the things that bade my footsteps stray I trod, in helpessness, forbidden ground His tender, loving patience knew no bounds. And since His patience never yet gave way I trust His love that never turned away One single erring, longing, thirsting soul To lead me with that patience to my goal. Nor care I what my fate be here below, My home is Heaven, to that goal I go. 'Tis easy now to shun forbidden grounds — His tender, loving patience knew no bounds.. 22 A MESSAGE ILoW^ (3itt Love gave me life! There is no sweeter, dearer ; Love gave me light! There is no brighter, clearer. But of what use would blinded vision be? So it is well His face I cannot see. I know He's near, I feel His presence ever; My love is mine, and I am His forever. But earthly sounds have dulled my mortal ear — And it is well His voice I may not hear. But when my spirit knows no earthly fetter And I shall know my Dear Redeemer better — Then men and angels join with me to sing, And through Eternity His praise shall ring. A MESSAGE 23 Simply happy is my sweetest song; Simply happy as the day is long. Happy when at home and happy when away, Happy at my work, for then it seems but play ! Simply happy, sweetly happy all day long. Simply happy ! My eternal song ; Simply happy as the day is long. Happy when in sorrow, happy still in death, Happy with each dear delightful fleeting breath — Happiness is indeed Heaven all day long. Simply happy in my Saviour's love — Hear it sweetly echoed from the realms above. Happy in this knowledge : — He has set me free! Free to love Him dearly and right royally; Love Him from my very- inmost heart. 24 A MESSAGE The song the morning stars First sang in Paradise, When, at its birth, the bars That shut out human eyes Were lowered, is the light That found its way to earth ; And guide it as we might, 'Twill always trace its birth. We but suppress its song WTien we to mortal sight Adjust, and focus wrong Its rays of glorious light. A MESSAGE 25 Win some one now for Jesus, And sing to him of faith ; — A loving, tender Jesus, A never ending Faith. Some one who doubts and fahers, And stumbles on alone; Our faith, as living altars, Lends to our Saviour's Throne A sweeter, nearer pathway \\'ith Him as friend and guide, And over trail and highway He's ever by our side. And we may find Life's Fountain When trust is in our heart; It turns to hill each mountain When He becomes a part Of every sweet emotion In Nature's every art! His Throne our hearts' devotion, As we are in His Heart 26 A MESSAGE Sing every day of your own desire, For something is lifting you out of the mire Of all that may hinder you in your song: — Love Him and live for Him all day long. Sing of His love in your own sweet way ; Love Him and hve for Him day by day. No other meaning may now be true — All that you sing must be all of you. All of your being and all of your heart, And of your nature He must be a part ; Then for your own soul have no other fear Than just this one that to Him you are dear. Softly and gently and tenderly reared You as His daughter will be more endeared By your sweet willingness never to stray Far from His own will. Just love and obey. A MESSAGE 27 Anchored in Jesus I trust in His love, And wait for a Peace to come down from above ; Living in love as His glorious guest To fill all our needs He's doing His best. Sorrows may come, but we may not give way, In His dear presence is strength for each day. Nor may we ever His loving care doubt, — He is as tender within as without. His lovino- helmet protects us from cold — Other gifts come here from sources untold; All of our morrows will show us this truth : — He is as tender in age as in youth. Love Him and trust Him, and sing ever true, He died for others as well as for you. No one may doubt He can cleanse all within — Lighten His burden ! Go ask others in. Others who linger in sickening doubt ; Tell them He cleanses within and without. Feeds then and garbs them, and leads them with care, Leads them in sorrow with tenderness rare. 28 A MESSAGE Love of my life now my own Saviour is,^ — No other truth may stand out like this. No other theme my own song may grace Than only this one that's crowning my days.. Song of my love ! Then go out and win Some other soul, and bid him come in ; Go bring the saddened ones one and all, — Win them and lead them on with your call. The fleetest arrow in this House of Sin Is His who gave His Ufe your own to win. It is so sure, and yet so sweet and keen, It must be felt in order to be seen. Him, motive power in piercing Error's shield, Be, tender heart, a target in His field. All other arrows each may leave a scar — His arrows heal, and never yet did mar A saddened heart who came to Him for aid. Because for healing every one was made. And Sorrow's Son, your ever loving friend Will to your healing all His power lend. A MESSAGE 21) Hope lives and blooms on Faith and Trust, And sometimes blooms alone; It only dies because it must When touched by blighting tone Of needless frosts. There is no need Of letting our hope die; Another's hope our own may lead. Then never reason why. Live on in Trust, and cherish Hope, And sing on joyously. In darkened vale, on sunny slope Then blooms sweet Charity. 30 A MESSAGE In modest garb and winning way Of youth as well as age Sings Charity her humble lay Alike to child and sage. Nourished by love she grows to blend With Faith and Hope her song ; More lowly themes their essence lend To speed her growth along. Although so varied, yet the same Theme runs her path along. She is majestic in her aim Though lowly be her song. She is to Love an open field, And softly we may try How much of it our lives may yield Dear friend, both you and I. A MESSAGE 31 Our Saviour's life, our Saviour's death, His passage through the grave Is each and all full proof this breath Returns to Him who gave Us Hfe. We need no other word Than our own soul's response: — To waste this life we can't afford, We walk this way but onK:e. We drill our wells, or dig our graves, And love, and only know That God knows always how to save His creatures here below. And we must not lose sight of ac4:s That all are for the best ; And not o'erlook the desert tracts, That thirst like all the rest Of God's great golden garden spot, His dearly loved Earth. Then, dearest dear, neglect it not — The place that saw your birth. But live, and work, and love, and bloom In swaying to and fro. And let oblivion, death, and doom Do just as others do 32 A MESSAGE That shrivel up and feed on ghosts, And eat each other up. Leave in the hands of Heaven's Hosts The issue. Friends, look up ! Oh, mortal ! Do not waste in strife A day you live but once ; Count each a pearl, they are your life. The life you live but once. A MESSAGE 33 "Do unto others as ye would That they should do to you." But listen now ! What if you should Make something else come true? Supposing now, you think like this : — ''His promise never failed; He says, — Whatever measure is The one that you've entailed Upon yourself for friend and foe To measure as his due Will be the one that friend and foe Will always give to you." Then think: — "Now, this I want for me; If I do thus and so Unto my neighbor, it will be But right that he should go And give me just the thing I want. I give him more than that If I put on a smiling front What I am driving at I'm sure to get. What I give him Is of no use to me. I keep His law, — in finest trim My own affairs will be." 34 A MESSAGE Think you The Man of Galilee Would e'er approve of this ? If deeds from self are not set free The teaching is not His. In purest selfless deeds of Love Our Master's time v^as spent; And with His services He v^ove No thought of Self, but v^ent On quiet, lowly, humble deed, Or loving errand bent. And you and I are both agreed No better life was spent. No other Hfe, no lesser aim Is worth your while or mine ; Let's up and win in His own name, — Come, friends, fall into Hne! Fall into line, and softly tread The path of loving deed. .Come, feast upon life-giving bread! It meets your every need. A MESSAGE 35 speak softly of His suffering, But bear in mind His Cross; Your soul His victory will bring To victory, not loss. For every pang your heart may feel His heart will feel as well ; To Sorrow's Son make haste to kneel, He knows and loves you well. Leave every doubt and every fear — Go, curb your arrant will; Then, in your humbly willing ear, He whispers 'Teace, be still." 36 A MESSAGE A blossom smiled by the pathway — A tiny yellow flower; The brambles grew thick about it, Yet it smiled on hour by hour. So near it grew that human feet Would brush it time and again. But the brambles above and about it Kept oft* from it harm and stain. Those brambles that sucked the food Away from its tiny root But served to protect the flower From the crush of the straying foot. So the Master lets some things hinder, Some things hold us down ; But those things that seemingly check us But help us attain our crown. What though the noise about us. The worry and toil and sin Are holding us down ! They flourish In order to let us in — Into the growth of Eternity ! Off from the things that have been! In to the glory of Heaven ! Out from the tumult of Sin. A MESSAGE 37 Say, have you thought just when The Sav- iour wins? — 'Tis when you let Him save you from your sins I His name is Jesus, — know you what it means, This name on which a weary sinner leans? The name received by Joseph as the One, The only fitting one, for Mary's Son? And do you think that Name will e'er impart Relief to any but a willing heart? And, think you, when you find that you are free. That you will e'er a willing sinner be? And, do you think when once He wins your heart, That He is ever willing to depart ? Come, treat Him fairly, as you would a man, And solve this problem, for I know you can ! This Name in which you trust that you can win Will never save from anything but sin. 38 A MESSAGE And not that other man's upon whose deeds you frown — The sins that Christ can save you from must be your own. And when that other man, and you, have found that out And find relief — Is there the smallest doubt When you, and he, and neighbor, friend, and foe. And old, and young, and all men, high and low, Have come to Christ, and He has set them free, — The slightest doubt, think you, of what re- sults might be? No! That, and only that, will make this total sum : — The World for Christ will bring Millennium. A MESSAGE 3»^ 3n jFIiffSt Two souls winged up from a noisome trench. One was German, the other French. Where thousands were hurrying to and fro. And none of them knowing where to go, These two wanderers slackened their pace As each recognized the other's face. As over the battle they greeted each other The Frenchman said to his German brother : — "Strange that we two here should meet, And each of us bound for the Mercy Seat. You killed me, and I killed you, Each to his country staunch and true; But here we journey we know not whither, Let us make that journey in peace together.'* The German silently grasped the hand That on earth had been turned 'gainst his Fatherland. Then said the German, as they travelled to- gether Onward and upward, they knew not whither: 40 A MESSAGE "Come, let us drift to that nearest star And rest awhile, and find out where we are!" The heights grew higher, the depths grew deeper, As they neared the star, and found the keeper. The keeper silently looked them o'er. He had seen such wanderers often before. Then said the Frenchman, while scanning his face Awed by his majesty, beauty, and grace: — ''We have come up from the battle yonder, What is the name of this place, I wonder?" The keeper smilingly shook his head — You'll find that out for yourselves," he said. "For to each wanderer that ever came This place is known by a different name. One called it Heaven, another one, Hell, — What you m.ay call it, I cannot tell." "We have been travelling to and fro. Pray, let us rest awhile with you!'* Then said the keeper, while showing a cham- ber With walls of gold and a couch of amber, — A MESSAGL 41 "This is the best that I can do — There is room for one, but not for two !" Up spoke the German : — *T'm the stronger, — I can hold out a Httle longer ; And since you have not room for two, Don't, I beg, let the Frenchman go !" 'Tf one of us must be turned away," The Frenchman said, ''Let the German stay. But of the two I'm the better sleeper, I can rest on the floor if you'll let me, keeper." '*No !" thundered the German, 'TVe slept like a log While stuck in the mud in the midst of a bog! You put your head on that pillow yonder, — Mine shall rest on the floor just under!" Said the keeper then with a gleam of mirth, *'Why didn't you set this going on earth? ''Behold the couch that held but one The two can rest in comfort on! "And the mansion of which this room is a part Is just as big as your own heart." Then they saw the walls — A flood of light ! The narrow chamber — A world of delie-ht! 42 A MESSAGE They hover above us on shining wings These shimmering, tender and beautiful things ; We watch them in silence, and list to their flutter, On pinions of heaven. Our lips may not utter But tiniest part of the message each brings As they hover above us in widening rings. We watch for their coming, and catch on the wing Some beautiful, tender and shimmering thing. We catch them and clothe them in garments of earth, And selfishly think we have given them birth ; The circles e'er wider and wider grow, But whence the origin we may not know ! A MESSAGE 43-' COitirning: €itt\t0 Our wider circles are streams of Love In all things mortal and all above ; They hover above us, and touch our heart, And fountains of Hope within us start That surge and swell with immortal good, And grow into tender immortal food. These widening circles fainter grow As we walk in Hope in this Here Below ; And as they swing farther from their nest They grow in strength till they fill our breast We feel the growth of their unused wings, We feel their power in their widening rings, Till they stray from their nests within our heart And their own widening circles start. And from these widening circles start Fountains of joy within our heart; They surge and bubble and swell within And other widening circles spin. Like intricate webs spun in Larger Lands By wonderful, skillful, immortal Hands. 44 A MESSAGE A childless widow stands with foreign skies above And wrings despairing hands in misery and love. Full well she knows 'ere long her lonely path will run With feeble, tottering steps along towards the setting sun. And Ruth and Orpah must return to homes from which thev came; While their decision she must learn without a thought of blame. They weep, they mourn, they wail, they stifle sigh and moan, — Then Orpah turns to homeward trail, and Ruth is left alone. Naomi turns and grieves to find Ruth, weep- ing at her knee ; Ruth's tender, tortured heart and mind Naomi could not see. She could not see her tender love for things of childhood days ; j The flowers beneath, the skies above, the wild birds' easy grace. A MESSAGE 45 Each verdant field, each shady nook, — How they entreat her stay ! The banks along the babbHng brook — She can not go away. Her life upon the verdant plain has been a life of bliss, — Can she endure that deadening pain, and go away like this? When, through her tears, she tries to view each dear familiar place The dearest thing to her 'tis true, is sweet Naomi's face. ''My daughter, why yet longer stay ? The day is dying fast ; The shadows deepen on your way !" Naomi speaks at last. "The shadows deepen, it is true, — Think you I'll leave you? No! My path will be the one where you and I to- gether go. Entreat me not to go ; we must not linger here. With you I now must go ; the people you hold dear Shall be my people too, and your God mine shall be, And where you die I'll know where I must buried be. 46 A MESSAGE .And may the God who now sees all that's in my heart. And who has heard my vow — If ever I depart In any least degree, retract what here I've said As He sees fit to punish me, His wrath be on my head." A stranger Ruth goes forth far from her home, to be With love and simple worth, the stay of Naomi. Of poverty the two its very essence find When Ruth asks leave to go into the field to bind The sheaves that she may glean where kind- ly reapers bend To strenuous tasks with sickles keen, and merry shouts that rend The balmy morning air till noon's oppressive heat, And tired workers there the owner's greeting meet. Responding to his cheer, with kindly thought intent, His trusted overseer his explanation lent A MESSAGE 47 As Boas stays to ask ''Whose may this dam- sel be, Tn this most humble task? No Jewish maid is she." This answer came at once in accents kind and slow : — "One of Naomi's sons, whose story we all know In far off Moab wed this maid, who at his death refused To leave Naomi ; though 'tis said she is to our ways unused She now with ceaseless care performs this lowly task. She stood this morning there so modestly to ask If I would let her glean what our good reap- ers left : And now we all have seen how tirelessly and deft That slender arm and hand, that nimble foot can be To, in a stranger land, find bread for Naomi." With intent ear and eye looks Boas up at liist And sees Ruth standing by, with modest eye downcast. 48 A MESSAGE "My daughter! Listen now, pray do not leave my field ; Your story well I know. ]\Iay God His bless- ing yield." "And, men, — this charge from me : — Let this thing be your care — Her sheaves must many be; may no one ever dare To hinder in the least this gentle damsel's will ; And let her thirst appeased be at the crocks you fill." She looks into his face and says while bend- ing low : "Why have I found such grace in your sight that I now Although I am not one like your handmaidens here, I have your kindness won for some one I hold dear?" "My daughter, well we know your tender thought and care For her whose furrowed brow you smooth with patience rare. And for whose faltering tread you smooth the roughest ground; Jehovah grant your head with blessings may be crowned." And Ruth's own worth in Bible truth is shown, — Of Orpah's fate on earth is very little known. A MESSAGE 49^ Speeding through every tiniest part, Every sinew and every heart, Every corner and every spot, Every angle and every dot, Error is making his heedless way, Chasing Hfe's beauty and love away. Fearful in power he looms indeed. As mighty in bulk as he is in speed! Only one arm can aim at his head. Sting his heel, and strike him dead ! Love is the arm and Love is the power — Love is his master, — now is the hour ! Men and women, with love at your head,. Go find Error and strike him dead ! Strike at his altar, strike at his home, " '"''^ Strike at his billows, and strike at his foamf Strke at his bulk and strike at his speed! Go kill his leader whose name is Greed. Exterminate all of that slippery tribe Who hang onto Greed and his steward Bribe ! Find them and crush them and bum at the stake All that is aiding the slimy snake. With Selfishness fanning the flame of Greed The Snake of Hate is bred indeed. 50 A MESSAGE 'Btttt jFear, mt Sitt iReat/ Angel voices whisper now As we walk this vale below On the place that saw our birth "Never fear, We are near Our beloved here on earth." Tender voices every one Whisper sweetly one by one Thro'out sadness, gloom, or mirth :- "Never fear. We are near Our beloved here on earth." Sweetly now I hear them call Gently, firmly, one and all, Still with tenderness begirth : — "Never fear, We are near Our beloved here on earth." A MESSAGE 51 There dwells deep down in each human heart, Alike most precious to high and lowly, A thought of home, and it forms a part Of every mood, bright or melancholy; It grows with youth into manhood years, To own a home, with its joys and fears. He strives with a firm endeavor, With zest unabated ever. No strife nor trifling may enter there. Nor words unjust or unkindly spoken! For Love is ruler — let each beware Lest its scepter be bent or broken. For Love is shy, — Love may take wings *Mid all the bustle of common things Unless it is rooted deep — Rooted both firm and deep. 'Tis said that woman must know no fights, — That man alone may express her meaning; That woman's effort to gain her rights Are wanton sheaves and not worth the gleaning. But fight she must, in her own sweet way, With all her weapons in bright array ; And each must be right for use Without a question of truce. Her loving smile drives each care away, — Her tender touch makes a burden lighter, 52 A MESSAGE And if her handclasp sends Hate astray She is indeed a most noble fighter. AVith little foxes that may come in She must make battle, and she must win — No use with them to he tender, For she must never surrender. A home is sacred ! How much indeed Of Heaven is there within its portal ! No place for selfishness, lust or greed Nor little sins that beset each mortal Must e'er be found in this sacred spot, — The finest purpose, the purest thought Should dwell in a habitation That proves the heart of a nation. There is no praise in the world as sweet As father's praise for his loyal daughter, As, grown to womanhood, pure, discreet, She proves the worth of the truths he taught her. Let earthly beauty decay — It must! Let gleaming ornament? turn to dust ! The finer beauty that we adore Lasts truly forevermore. There is no height that Love may not scale ! There is no distance Love may not cover! There is no roadway, nor path, nor trail. Too difficult for an ardent lover ! May God be with you. A happy life, Both long and happy as man and wife Be yours, apart or together, In everv kind of weather. A MESSAGE 63 Sou anti J* What mav we make of it, if we try, This world we are Hving in, you and I ? A blessed old world or a sad old world? A good old world or a bad old world ? A world for the true and the free — A world fit for you and me. What may we find in it if we try. The home we are thinking of — ^you and I ? In all the world the cheeriest place, Of all the faces the dearest face We shall find in it, you and I? In this home of ours by and by. What may v/e make of it if we try, This home we are planning, you and I ? A haven of refuge, solace, and rest, A place to do and be our best — A place where we are agreed That Love shall reign indeed. What may we be in it, if we try, — This home we are making, you and I ? King and queen in this sacred spot, Though we may be by the world forgot,- Loving and loyal and free In this home of ours, you and me! 54 A MESSAGE What may the outcome be by and by If we live our ideals, you and I ? Others who see us may wish to find A home and hearth of the selfsame kind ! But they can't, you know, if they try, For we won't be there, you and I ! A MESSAGE 5^ Well within a tangled forest sat a maiden all alone, With the cedars all about her where the king of daylight shone. And the grasses and the mosses vied in fra- grance with the best, And the winsome scarlet berries lent their brightness with the rest. Fringe of moss and edge if leaflet had a beauty all its own — One as dainty as the other, each as modest and unknown As the maiden 'mid the tangles in that forest all alone, With the sky and clouds above her on her mossclad woodland throne. With the best of Heaven within her, with the best of Earth about — The Creator's finest purpose, consecrated, pure, devout. She was Lady of the realm where the king of daylight shone, — A blue canopy above her, and a mossclad log her throne. 56 A MESSAGE In a quiet little inlet to which many waters run A modest waterlily spread its fragrance to the sun. It had no thought for beauty and it had no thouofht for fame Yet the finest of earth's beauty from that waterlily came. It simply bloomed and blossomed as the God of Nature meant When He placed the modest lily there to fol- low its own bent. Its petals made its beauty, and its fragrance made its fame Till you felt the lily's fragrance when you heard the lily's name. That waterlily bared its heart and scented all the air, Till the birds and all the insects thought that waterlily fair. And it rested on the surface of the quiet water where The Wanderer by the wayside came and saw the lily there. A MESSAGE 57 Nor did those birds and insects who saw the lily there E'er know the silent depths from which the lily drew its grace ; And only just the Wanderer knew where tiny rootlets went To find the bloom and fragrance that the waterlily lent. 58 A MESSAGE I wrote a tender little song — It seemed a sorry scrawl. Some words were crossed, some others wrong, Some would not do at all. The more I wrote the more I found The paper marked and blurred; But through it all I ranght the sound As if the songster whirred In ever widening circles on Until, a tiny spot. He seemed to rest when he had gone Where others saw him not. But every one could hear him trill His wondrous melody, And every one could feel the thrill Of heavenborn notes set free. The song appeared in fairer form Upon a fairer page, — This little love song, newly bom, That would not die with age. But how, until this task was done, I could have torn the true Unsightly, scarred, original one I cannot see, — Can you? A MESSAGE 59 9?otninfi: UHot^^ip in a €o\xntti^ CfiutcS* The air is balmy, the wind is right, The Sabbath morning is fair and bright. In vale, on hillside, by winding ways Where patient toilers on working days All, one by one, to their labors plod Today are seeking the House of God Upon the hillside; its modest spire Points toward Heaven. From mud and mire It lifts the spirit. It hfts the mind From earth, its pleasures, its sordid grind, Its endless worry o'er gain of pelf, — And leads the heart on to find itself. The heart that, slowly like plodding worm, Shall find itself, but in higher form, A gleaming jewel when things that rust And crack and crumble have turned to dust. The heart that, softly, where others trod In faith looks upward and faces God. The door is open. The music peals In deep-voiced thunder, or softly steals In sweetest cadences to each ear To which The Maker gave power to hear. The door is open. All enter in. And leave behind every thought of sin. 60 A MESSAGE The preacher rises, — with kindling eye He welcomes worshipers drawing nigh; Gives out the hymn and leads on the song To praise Jehovah, — his voice is strong. Then others join in the song until The hymn is finished and all is still. Then reverently each bows the head; , The prayer is offered, the board is spread. ' Each heart draws nearer the sacred goal, The Bread of Life that can feed the soul. For child and sage and lost one returned Are all as one where faith is concerned. The aged head with its fringe of gray, The youth, the infant, all bend to pray. A nameless peace now descends o'er all From Him who hearkens before the call; And each and all claim the sacred right To catch a ray of eternal light. The prayer is ended. The blessed Word Of Him, the Mighty, the All-adored, Is simply read by an earnest voice That shames the hypocrite's babbling noise. It points the way for the wayward son ; It warns and pleads with the erring one. Lo ! Through the window a ray of light Bursts forth, and rests like a halo bright About the head of the man who stands Like yielding clay in The Master's hands; A MESSAGE 61 It draws the mind to that crown of thorn. By mortals made, and The Master worn. Another hymn, and another prayer, The benediction pronounced, and there Begins the greeting of friend to friend, — The morning worship is at an end. With hearts at rest those who came to pray Serenely homeward now wend their way. 62 A MESSAGE The stars were sounding a record — A melody from the sky To a plate both grooved and lacquered By a stranger passing by. The moon was tuning another — A brilliant harpsichord To make, in touch with the other, A melody unto The Lord. The twigs in the sombre forest Were stringing Eaolean harps To a harmony, ever the choicest Of sweet little flats and sharps. The song, indeed, was the starlight — The harp the Wanderer's dreams ; The harpsichord tuned by the moonlight Was found in its tender beams. The twigs and the lights and the silence Made melody unto the L