Class Book Copyright^*. COPyRIGHT DEPOSm ^ iyHiX'T^^/Zct ^y^. C7. (o//c^^IS hard to put things loved away, KJ^ And so be true to your ideals, Walking the darker path to-day When sunshine makes aglow the real; To hold a cause, the world might jeer, Because you set your duty higher, When never good it brings to you, And tries your soul as if by fire. That other feet may thereby find The darkened path of life the clearer. You give your aid to help mankind. So making life a little dearer. And hard to feel the chill of hand. Averted look or slight still plainer Of those who walk the brighter land. Content if they are but the gainer. This life is such a little thing. What hurts or stings not worth the heeding! The wound may hardly cease to sting When some in turn your aid is needing. Then doubt not that a loving care Is guiding, though the way be dreary, For He who numbers every hair Will give support when you are weary. IDEALS 55 Who shapes the snow-flake's star-like mote, And marches it in rythmic measure, Who guides the pollen by His thought To organize another treasure. Who leads the rivers in the trees, To bud and flower transfiguration, How to evolve He wisely sees Your highest, best amelioration. 56 AS THEY CAME TO ME Starving for Something Beautiful. Suggested by hearing a friend say a few days before she died, "I am starving for something beautiful." /^TARVING for something beautiful, 2^ Yearning for something bright, Thirsting as only soul can thirst For color, grace and light. Hues harmoniously blended. As in the spirit's dream, The sunlight making the golden. The moon the silver gleam« For the fairy forms of beauty, That when I close my eyes Come hovering all around me, Filling with sweet surprise. Draperies formed of the twinings Of penciled leaf and vine, With forms exquisitely moulded, Making of life the sign. For the brightly, glowing sunshine, That creeps where shadows lay. Dancing in mystical silence Till even they seem gay. So full and complete the brightness And splendor of which I dream. That the glow above is real. And shadows only seem. STARVING FOR SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL 57 But open my eyes, and greets me Only my darkened room, And my heart cries so for the beauties I wove in fancy's loom. And I try to bring them and hang them Upon the bare old wall, In the corners dark, where only The shade and grayness fall. But they vanish as I touch them, And heart grows cold and still With its load of loves and longings That life will never fill. Still I thank God for the vision, Though it gladdens not my sight, For dreams that open the portals To the blessed city of light. And I know that over the river, That now is chilling my feet. Prophecies uttered in yearnings Will find responses complete; That the Father of love and beauty Will surely answer my cry. My dreams fulfilled to repleteness. In beautiful mansions on high. 58 AS THEY CAME TO ME MAKJORIK MARJORIE ^^EAR little blue-eyed baby girl -^y Who set our hearts all in a whirl, When you a sweet evangel came, Bringing no gifts our love to claim But baby fame. You precious thing with starry eyes, Sweet dreams of heaven in them lies, So full of wonder and surprise. To kisses cooing queer replies With look so wise! MARJORIE 59 Dear dimpled hands that roses vie, Does wealth of pearls within them lie? That them you hold so close and tight, With clinging fingers pink and white, You little sprite! Never such cunning feet, I trow. Ten little rose-buds in a row, May they be swift to find the way Of golden stairs, day after day, Dear little Fay! Sweetest evangel may you bear To homes and hearts a blessing rare, To drive the flitting cares away. And line with gold the shadow gray. The livelong day! Dear little blue-eyes, still be true In every thing you find to do, Go early sowing precious seeds That yet may blossom into deeds. And golden sheaves. 60 AS THEY CAME TO ME Did I Kiss Him Much To=day? D ID I kiss him much to-day, Hands and hps and cheeks and brow? Did he know I loved him so? Never can I tell him now. Tell me did I kiss him oft, As I watched him through the day, Dreaming- not the angels then Nearer to bear my boy away ? ''Mamma, read the story through, Sit right by me on the bed. " Could I know in three short hours, I would hold my darling dead? "Bessie's Loves, "—I read it through, As the dusk grew on apace, Had I dreamed, Oh how I should Have rained the kisses on his face. ' 'Now I want to go to sleep, Precious mama, let me rest, Closely folded in your arms And my head upon your breast." DID I KISS HIM MUCH TO-DAY ? 61 Strange I did not understand, Patient boy, this cry for sleep, Watching all unconscious still, While death shadows round you creep. He is growing so, so cold, As I hug him to my breast. 0, my sweetheart did I dream This could be the longed for rest? Now I give you kiss on kiss, Lovett, darling, do you know How it breaks my heart, dear boy. So, so soon to let you go? Did a Father need you more? Will He better guard and guide? my heart's ease, shall we meet, Know and love on heaven's side? Will you come sometime my sweet. With caresses as of yore? Shall I feel your influence sweet, Guiding as you walk before? 62 AS THEY CAME TO ME Welcome to the G. A. R. 1^ AIL to the veterans who fought for our banner, ,^/J Advancing it high in the van of the fight, ^ Who carried the old Ship of State through the breakers That angrily threatened through treason's dark night. Hail to the soldiers who foot-sore and weary Loyally marched to the drum and hfe, Valiantly braving the death-storming bullets. Bearing their breasts for Columbia's life ! How proudly each soldier marched oft to the battle, With the daring of boys and endurance of men, They come with the silver a-shine in their hair. Their feet miss the ringing that followed them there. They come, aye! are coming, in touch with the hour. Voicing the loyalty then filling each breast, Behind them an army all silently lying, What love shall we give them, how hallow their rest? On land and on sea our flag waves triumphant. Not a single star dimmed, not a stain on its fold; On earth and on ocean a rainbow of promise For liberty's children to cherish and hold. WELCOME TO THE G. A. R. 63 ''All is quiet to-day along the Potomac," No hell-raining bullets, no sulphurous smoke, No groans of the dying, no blood on the river, But freedom triumphant God's blessing invoke. Now fling out your flags till the city shall blossom. Transcendent in beauteous red, white and blue, That trembling flame in a great sea of glory, With greeting befitting her patriots true. Ring the bells, joy-bells, in church, tower and steeple. Peal on peal reverberating up to the skies, That quivering throb with the hearts of a people Who never forget and whose love never dies. Boom, boom out your welcome ye deep-throated cannon ! As ye boomed out at Sumpter that long April night; As ye boomed out at Bull Run, Balls Bluff and Antietam, Or triumphantly boomed from Gettysburg height ! And shout, gallant freeman, 'till acclaims rend the ether. Floating onward, and on, over city and tide, 'Till Arlington's voices responsively echo Their royal salute from the army that died! ~^^^r 64 AS THEY CAME TO ME Ode of Welcome to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good Templars. BROTHERS and sisters we greet you to-night _ With words of welcome, of courage and cheer, As we meet again to work for the right, And pledge to the cause so vitally dear, "The world is our field," our mission is high, The fallen to raise, the erring reclaim. And out on the breeze, beneath every sky. Our banner's afloat, —a high mountain of flame. * Our army recruited from every land. From every nation, color and creed. With heart joined to heart and hand within hand. Our watchword— for God and humanity's need! We honor the hero who dies for the right. Where army meets army in deadly array; But to live and make live in glorious might Is royally grander than brothers to slay. Then where there is weakness and sorrow and sin, A heart-broken wife or mother to cheer, A child or a youth from temptation to win. To the waters of life that are sparkling and clear. There is our labor and strong arms we'll bear. Shirking no duty and fearing no foe. "The world is our field," its labors to share Our honor and pride wherever we go. WELCOME TO GRAND LODGE GOOD TEMPLARS 65 Then greeting we give, the purest and best, Our heartS; as our homes, your presence shall fill The north and the south, the east and the west. We welcome you all with right royal will! From where the Atlantic sobs on by its shore, Or peaceful Pacific just kissed by the sand, The great restless Gulf makes its deep-sullen roar. Or mighty St. Lawrence breaks flood through the land. The North Star State greets you with right hearty cheer. And again to our cause we pledge you anew; Subjects of Briton or subjects of Spain, Of dear sunny France or Italy bright! Wherever the tempter has planted his bane We join you in battle for God and the right. No nation, no creed, no high and no low. No north and no south, no east and no west, Only God's children, enough this to know, Then doing our duty we trust Him the rest. 66 AS THEY CAME TO ME PROGRESS. a wide swelling sea or limitless ocean, A beautiful ship so peerless and white, And close by the helm in eager emotion Progress is guiding in fearless delight. With Venus-like form and Juno-like daring, Eyes glowing like stars she peers through the night; Minerva might envy her goddess-like bearing Veering so wisely from left to the right. Stemming the tide of a great rolling river, Fearlessly sailing the wide inland seas, Never a tremor and never a quiver, But bearing her brow to the high northern breeze. Touching the shore of a state or a nation, The land grows bright and death-shadows flee, And sore-hearted men by wise revelation Lift their bowed heads and a heritage see. Women sad-eyed catch the beautiful vision, Watching they wait for the swift-coming dawn, Wrapt in the glow of a brighter elysian. Keeping their vigils till morrow's high morn. And shivering children are warmed in her smiling. She bringeth them bread, their hearth fires re-l^ght, And laughter and song are sweetly beguiling Echoes from homes that are happy and bright. PROGRESS 67 PROGRESS She bruises the sod, the harvests are glowing, _ Golden the sheaves, they are bristling with joy. Hurrying streams abundantly flowing. Turning the wheels in their helpful employ. She tears away creeds and blind superstition. Then pours in the balm love's alchemists know, Humanities bloom with brightest fruition, History's pages more luminous grow. Slavery, oppression and war's desolation, Shrink from the glow of her torches' bright glare; Wisdom and kindness and love's inspiration. Progress enhances with miracles rare. Hail, progress! All Hail! Hail beautiful angel! Onward and on all thy messages bear! Uphft and inspire, sweetest evangel, Till banished from earth all sorrowing care! 68 AS THEY CAME TO ME POVERTV. poverty! thou art so cruel ever Delighting still to add some sharper pain, Vaunting thyself where joyous smiles come never, And vanquished bliss shall never come again. Pursuing still where men are broken-hearted, Haunting them on with thy wild, frenzied eye; And high endeavor ever more departed, For at thy coming bliss and gladness fly. For you, lone wretch, thou art forever waiting, And new device of wretchedness employ, With every woe and curse retaliating, Thou heapest high with almost fiendish joy. His was a life-time bristling with pleasure. Men crowded hard who should his bounties share, Ambition urged and wealth's beguiling treasure, Drove far away all thought of doubt and care. Still the gay world her revels weirdly keeping, Forgets the stabs that poverty must bear, Who laughs with you is seldom with you weeping. All shrink from pain, from weariness and care, Thou bruiseth sore the weary-footed mother Slow toiling on that children may have bread- And clinging close, aye, closer than a brother, Still burdens add until she shrieks with dread. POVERTY 69 She was so happy in her youth's glad morning, ^ And peerless grandeur filled her noon-day skies. And brighter dreams still seemed forever dawning, As visions fair of fame and fortune rise. But thou! cruel poverty, pursuing, Pinioned her feet and hands securely tied, Till all her loves have gone past all returning, And faith and hope have faded out and died. And ever so in church and state and nation, Not for the poor, they keep their vigils long - For enterprise and wealth, their legislation. Forgetting want and poverty and wrong. But never night so long it hath no morning. Never a day so long it hath no end; Never so low in poverty and sorrow. But something still a little hope may lend. For poverty has her strong ally — labor. And labor is God's lever for the soul. And truth is labor's brightly flashing saber, Forever pointing to a far-off goal Evolved is freedom, often from oppression, And rampart wrong has heralded the right. And science yields her wonderful possessions When want and labor loyally unite. Labor has ever healing in her motion. She quickens thought and sweetly woos repose, And leagued with want she conquers earth and ocean, Full high advanced their ensign proudly goes! Labor a curse? Ah, no! it is a blessing. Easing the heart of weariness and care. And want has oft some health or wealth possessing, A potent spell to make the world more fair. 70 AS THEY CAME TO ME Speak from the Heart. SPEAK from the heart! Let every word Have the deep ring of truth. Responsive minds will feel the sound, Returning echoes full and round, And the clear music of its tone Trills with a magic, all its own. Speak from the heart! It's language clear Is resonant with life. Words insincere, fruit large with pain Forever mirrored back again; Distorted in another heart. Dethroning joy with traitor art. Speak from the heart! Honor the one With word sincere and true. Speaking out bravely for the right. Dispelling doubt, distrust and blight. The earnest of what life should be Is found in truth— truth makes us free. Speak from the heart! *' Words only live Forever," sages say, And on eternity's broad sea Ring on with human destiny; Their circles widening evermore, Touching at last the other shore. NOT ALL BAD 71 Not All Bad. The convicts of the Massachusetts penitentiary sent six hundred dollars to the general relief fund for Chicago sufferers at the time of the great tire. VV^HEN the wail of pain and horror .^^X/ From the homeless, houseless crowd, Sounded from a burning city, Touching- hearts with pleadings loud Through the nation, through the nation. Quick response brought quick salvation. How each heart with pity softened, How each hand held out its store, For they felt the cry electric Loud above the burning roar; Brothers still to brothers crying. We are stricken, suffering, dying. Quick the telegraphic wires Flashed it all the wide world round. While by telegraph far surer. That, by which the soul is bound, Heart to heart was interceding For humanity's sw^eet pleading. And it mattered not what nation, Mattered not what sect or creed. Whether great or whether lowly, But all brothers in their need. And the pain their own hearts wringing, Deep responses quickly bringing. 72 AS THEY CAME TO ME Proving yet again the lesson, That whatever Hnk you strike, Whether tenth or the tenthousandth, Surely breaks the chain alike. This the seal of God's own signing, And humanity's entwining. When this hopeless wail of anguish Rent the heavens with its prayer, And these victims wild with terror Weary sank in chill despair; Wondered none, kind hearts were pressing. Eager to the work of blessing. But from out the dreary prison. From the convicts' gloomy cell, Did you list for words of pity? Look for gifts the aid to swell? Dreamed you lives so bleak and lowly Could respond so high and holy? Mothers may the babes they nourish, Bare their bosoms to the cold, And brave men to save the weaker Died most grandly we are told; But these prison men were giving From a life that was not living. They were wretched; who had pitied? Who had cared their lives to bless? They were sinning, not deserving, So were left to their distress; But they heard the homeless crying, God will note that grand replying! NOT ALL BAD 73 This was Christ-like, when those wretches Hushed their griefs to hear that prayer; Angels might have wept for gladness, For it proved the true gold there. And that God in His refining Here must find His image shining. Now Chicago in her glory Reigns the queen of all the West, Does she feel for those in prison? Will their lives with care be blessed? Will their cell homes be the brighter, Made with love and sunshine lighter? 74 AS THEY CAME TO ME LIGHT. ///^ET there be light!" It was Jehovah's voice 3^ That made command, and through the great etern Responses came as tremulous of choice; Thrill upon thrill reverberates in turn. Louder and louder swells the glad refrain, Quiver on quiver shakes the slumbering earth; And rocks and rivers speed the grand acclaim Where echoes sound the morn's impassioned birth. Revolving swift, currents on currents roll, The jeweled tides break from the vasty gloom. Electric throes pulse-quick from pole to pole And morning stars sing in the great illume. Earth, air and ocean palpitate and glow, The misty ether trembles in delight. In purple splendor mountains brighter grow. Sun, moon and stars are throbbing into light. TO MARY A. LIVERMORE "^^ To Mary A. Livermore on her Eighty-third Birthday. f7"RE glory of another star Vi^ Is added to thy crown of years, Earth and its fleetness move afar As the celestial city nears. With lengthened days thy hfe is crowned, Thy hands are full of golden sheaves, And as the glowing numbers round Dearer and brighter impress leaves. Yes, impress leaves to brighter glow, A beacon light to other feet, Deeply impressing, ' 'As we sow. Must be the harvest we shall reap." Wide! Wide! the message thine to bear. To blossom in some other life, Inspiring still with visions fair That sweetly win from wrong and strife. Thy love of right hath made thee strong, Forceful and earnest to console, Untired, though justice tarries long. For urge of soul hath made thee bold. 0! woman, beautiful and true! May lengthened days still wreath thy brow, God give thee strength and wisdom, too. To love compelling all as now. 76 AS THEY CAME TO ME Love's Mysteries. ^T'S ever the same old story ^3 So often told and retold; Its magical, mystical mission, Eternities only unfold. Burning with fires most celestial, Only to freeze with its fears, Thrilling with dreams most seraphic, Answering only with tears. With roses brimming to-morrow Saddens and darkens to-day, Glowing with skies all empurpled. Leaving them sombre and gray. Brightly the life blood is bounding, As swiftly chilling again, Dancing with rapturous passion, Deadened with exquisite pain. Peasants grow great by its magic. Princes bow low to its sway, And Poets who sing of its glories Pass in repinings away. Philosophers calmly explain it. Then to its raptures supreme. Yielding in willing obedience. Smiling in love's blissful dream. love's mysteries '77 The blissful dream has awakening, The portion is ever the same, And only God's pity can soothe it, But Death love's pulses can tame. Told in the garden of Eden, Aglow with roses of June, In the haze of Orient twilight, With zephyrs breathing perfume. Csesar forgot, in its madness. The glint of the old Roman crown, Anthony's valor was vanquished By the queen of love and renown. And so 'twas *'the same old story" So often told and retold. And so the miracle deepens, And still love's mysteries hold. 78 AS THEY CAME TO ME Storm on Lake Michigan. CEASELESSLY the restless waters Dash their bosoms on the shore, And they whisper, moan and thunder, Till the soul in awe and wonder Trembles at the fearful roar. Far off waves with stealthy creeping, Nearing mount to billows high, Wildly, madly inward sweeping. Bursting now in angry weeping , And expire with moaning sigh. Tossing high the foamy feathers, Strewing pearls with matchless grace; Now receding, now advancing, As if all the furies dancing Panted for the dizzy race. Mustering again their forces, In their elemental might, Till it seems the powers infernal, Must from stores of wrath eternal Pour their terrors on the night. Woe betide the luckless vessel. That with proud, defiant mien, Tempted by thy placid smiling, STORM ON LAKE MICHIGAN 79 Dares thy bosom sweet beguiling, All thy cruelties unseen. 0, you mighty waves, resistless, Warring with supernal might, — Glowing with the shock of battle, Thrilling with the crash and rattle Of ecstatic wild delight. Thou dost charm with power magnetic. Rioting, tempestuous sea! Waking by thy fierce commotion. Awe, akin to deep devotion, And I lose myself in thee. 80 AS THEY CAME TO ME Where the Ways Parted Aunt Mary's Soliloquy. "^ chanced to-day on a letter, -^^ A letter grown yellow with years, Its tone was one of devotion, With nothing- of doubting or fear. Will you be ever forgotten? Will the stars cease shining above? Will the sun cease to rise in the morning When I cease to remember my love? I thought of the olden emotion. And how I was thrilled by his words, Heart swelling as deep as the ocean. Or sweet as the music of birds. But our ways had parted forever. Life's work each had done in his way, The skies not less blue that we parted. Nor earth less smiling and gay. The world had crowded between us. And looking backward 'twould seem A spot of mystical beauty, A glorious mid-summer dream. But never a start of emotion As I turned the long written page. And in fancy hear the gay laughter That once put my heart in a rage. WHERE THE WAYS PARTED 81 Our ways had parted forever, But our lives were richer by far, For the mystical spirit uplifting, That proved a real guiding star. For where the ways parted, remember. And each one was walking alone, A strange inspiration had followed. And a wonderful brightness had shone. And so it was better we parted. E'er we knew we only had dreamed; While I to you was an angel. And you as Hyperion seemed. For the world that is earnest and real, Makes poetry vanish from life. So better we parted forever. That I was never your wife. 82 AS THEY CAME TO ME We Love The Light. VV^E love the light for its own sake, ^^.^z Wherever it is glowing; The light of morning, noon or night. With inspiration flowing; The light of sun and moon and stars, So silently revolving, That in their solemn, ceaseless rounds, Such mysteries are solving. We love the rainbow's varied lights, That are, alas! so fleeting. With royal arch of shades and hues So marvelously meeting. The light of dew, impearled on grass. So brightly, brightly shining. The sun reflected in the west Through clouds with "silver lining." We love the light of ocean shells, Where pink and pearl are vying; The light that lies in starry eyes. All other light defying. We love the light of diamonds rare. Where flash on flash is sifting; Rubies and opals, — amethyst, Like brooks with sunlight drifting. WE LOVE THE LIGHT We love Aurora's shadow light, Forever, ever dancing. With subtle charge and whirl and flash, And motion most enchanting. The light that breaks the vasty deep, The ocean caves re-lighting, That glints and glows amid the waves, Its jewels all igniting. We love the fire-light's happy glow, Where kindly hearts are meeting, They bring again the dear old time With all its happy greeting. We love the light of love divine In every heart reflecting, We love the Giver of all light. All other loves perfecting. 84 AS THEY CAME TO ME ATTRACTION. strange and unsolved, this law of attraction, That the universe holds, and atoms as well, It draws and is drawn by mystical action, Or reversed the conditions as swiftly repel. And marvelous, too, this strongest of forces, Gives never a sign of manifest life, And only is known by subtle alluring. Of impulses vague as divinity's might. And yet all a-thrill is the earth with its magic, The planets attentive, their courses complete, The physical world, her harmonies blending. Humanities heart her responses repeat. Sung by the palpitant stars in their orbits, The earth by her seasons and cycles and years, The ebb and the flow and swelling of ocean. And hearts all responsive to smiles and to tears, The musical gushing of robin and linnet. Rollicking bobolink, blue-bird and thrush, The cooing of doves in thickets and meadows, And the silence oppressive of eventide hush. In the oriole's low, unmusical calling, Happily mating midst hedges a-thrill, That border with green the half hidden waters. That splashes and washes the foot of the hill. ATTRACTION 85 In blossoms galore, pink, golden and purple, All seeking affinities, redolent sweet. As pollen will ever unerringly wander To that which attracts, to perfectness mete. The rose or the aster give swift recognition, Uplifting its face to the kiss of the sun, Attracted, the vine leaps high to the branches. Lovingly trailing till summer is done. The dew on the mosses and grasses a-glitter, Impearled, it may be, but the space of an hour, Responsively rounds and thrills as the planets. By this law of attraction's mysterious power. 86 AS THEY CAME TO ME The Treasury of the Snow- "Have you considered the Treasury ol' the Snow?" Job. VV^ERRILY the snow is falling, ^ I l Fairy flakes to flakes are calling In their wild delight; Gaily on and on still trooping, Not for trees or forests stooping In their rythmic flight. On the starry host is going. Like the river's constant flowing, Lances glistening bright; Every hill and vale possessing, Spread their tents for sweet refreshing And their camp-fire's light. How the little Arabs flying, Now and then their wings applying, Whirl in mimic rhyme; Liliputian army, drifting, Here and there forever shifting, Careless seem of time. Careless? Not one atom winging, But in harmony is swinging Constant to the spheres; Each for measure, measure showing. THE TREASURY OF THE SNOW 87 Time for time forever flowing, Stern precision nears. Potent and mysterious forces, Not the lightest flake divorces From the great intent; As attentive planets coursing Ever yield to subtle forcing, Naught can circumvent. So these white-robed scouts on duty In a thousand forms of beauty Do the work assigned; By this magic law of sixes, That their being intermixes. All is well defined. Snowflakes still with lessons glowing. Wondrous miracles are showing. Making life's delight; Marvel, love and adoration. Learn we by this revelation, Of a snow-fall light. ~^^^r 88 AS THEY CAME TO ME Myrtle's Dream. /r^-INGERED the twilight on the distant hill, 32^ Loitered the river round the quiet mill; The sky was blushing from the sun's last kiss, And crimsoned still with its delicious bliss; But he was by her side, and summer's glory Was banished quite by love's sweet allegory. The bobolink had found its grassy nest, But warbled still, hushing itself to rest; Robin redbreast, whip-poor-will and linnet. Chanted a song with sleepy quivers in it; He murmured low, had ever song of bird Within her breast such rhythmic measures stirred? The children stringing daisies on the green, Counting their petals, singing rhymes between; Holding the buttercup beneath the chin, Blowing the thistle to tell if wishes win; Linking their leafy chains, might happy seem, But not such bliss as filled our Myrtle's dream. The pearly immortelles and marguerites. Whispering to grasses all their secrets sweet; All the zephyrs through the woodland singing, All the golden lily bells a-ringing Could not by half such ecstasy express As when his kisses on her lips were pressed. myrtle's dream 89 Oh, there are moments when a world of bliss Is rounded full in one delicious kiss; And there are moments when a life would seem To find its measure in a dream supreme; When love's sweet rapture makes the senses reel, And hearts seem bursting with the joy we feel. The cold, gray clouds are drifting swift and low. The leafless boughs are swinging to and fro, The sun is setting in a misty chill, The goldenrod is brown upon the hill ; But Myrtle sits alone, her love dream o'er. Her world as dark as it was bright before. Oh, there are moments when the pains of hell Alone can all the soul's deep anguish tell; When love's red lightning makes its cruel aim, Scorches and burns the heart with cruel pain. Another's head is pillowed on his breast. Another dreams none ever half so blest. 90 AS THEY CAME TO ME Summer Rain. PATTER, patter, tinkle, tinkle. Most delightful summer rain; Humming, humming, twinkle, twinkle, How the waters dance and wrinkle. As a thousand pearl drops sprinkle Meadow, river, lake and lane. Softly sighing, softly winging, Midst the apple-blossom snow; Joyous tidings deftly bringing. Setting lily-bells a-ringing. While a soft, melodious singing Swells the chorus of its flow. Now the whispering grasses bending Flirt with daisies hidden low, And the silver spray descending Fill the golden cups extending. While the flowers, bright glances sending. Smiling thank the sparkling flow. Whirling, dimpling, bubbling, splashing, On the pavement, on the street, And the crystal waters flashing. Seem in rythmic measure dashing, Waking memories by their splashing. Setting them to music sweet. A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 91 A Beautiful Woman. In Menioriam. /^ loving, beautiful woman, I said, ^J^ Over and over the livelong day. When they had whispered she was dead. That the pure spirit had passed away, Still the dear face kept hovering near, Beautiful woman! I said again, As the fair brow and the eye sincere Shadowed my heart with a weary pain. Lovingly earnest, the face still there. And with just the same life-like repose, As the saddened smile she used to wear Seemed only as fragrance to the rose. A beautiful woman! little we dream The height and depth that the words convey, How pain's full measure or joy supreme Its impress leaves on spirit and clay. The subtle glow a-shine in the face, Giving the eye mysterious power, Thrilling with an all unconscious grace. Something apart, as perfume and flower. This the beautiful woman we knew— This the celestial body foretold. Slowly building, symmetrical, true. In this transcendently higher mold. 92 AS THEY CAME TO ME This beautiful woman knows no death, Only unclasped by a Father's hand Is this wonderful fetter of breath That holds two lives in its mystic band. Honest, faithful, kind, loving and true. Child, sister, maiden, mother and wife, As higher thy fair ideals grew, Refining and chastening thy life. The one of earth with the earth shall rest, But that of soul, of beauty and grace. Adorning the clay, — a transient guest. Finds brighter life in a better place. Farewell! farewell! with many a tear We lay thee, darling, to thy rest! Thy spirit to God who gave it, dear. And will strive to feel He knoweth best. APRIL 93 APRIL APRIL. C>PRIL days again are comiDg, \ Merrily the streams are humming Murmurous in song. All their icy chains asunder, Greening meadows smile in wonder As they rush along. Warm-breathed April, winsome, smiling. Bright, capricious and beguiling, Waking wood-land dells. Anemones and violets springing. Where thy joyous steps are ringing Bright with daffodils. 94 AS THEY CAME TO ME Star-lit fields are green and fallow, Where the dandelion, yellow. Golden-hearted gleams. Crocuses, like cloud rifts lying, Prairie winds are softly sighing Sensuous as dreams. Maples bask in scarlet glory, Zephyrs quickly tell the story To the tasseled trees. South wind every bloom caresses, Snowdrops vie with water cresses In their art to please. Orioles, vermilion flying. In a flash of sunshine's dyeing Seem the soul of fire. All aglow with southern splendor. All thy notes so weird and tender Loving hearts inspire. Blackbirds clamorous are singing, Jubilant the air is ringing With their roundelay. Robins trill their love-notes mellow, Building nests in birch and willow Through the livelong day. Song galore, the thrush and linnet Flood with music every minute All the ambient air. Bobolinks their sweethearts calling. Rollicking as v/aters falling Are their carols rare. APRIL But why tears, 0! April merry? Is thy heart forever weary That thine eyes are wet? Weep you that the hours are fleeting? Hardly stilled the words of greeting E'er life's sun has set? Blithesome April! cease thy sighing, Learn this lesson, all are dying- Dying into life. Springtime dies in summer glory. Summer soon repeats the story In the harvest rife. 95 96 AS THEY CAME TO ME FANCY. IVINEST gift ever to mortals given, Gold fretting e'en the saddest, somberest hours, Upgathering threads a sterner fate had riven, Welding again with wondrous, witching power. The darkest hours we dwell in fields elysian, Glow in the white heat of celestial fire. And through the mist of amethystine vision We are possessed of what we most desire. No sea so broad but she outrides its billows, No stream so swift her feet are not more fleet. Forest and lake or shallows, reeds and willows. Have made response in songs she made more sweet. No throne so high her flight has not transcended. Borne on her wings the peasant is a king; The purple splendor, loyal arms defended. Knows not the joys that her bright minions bring. No dungeon deep, however dark and dreary. Can bar the coming of her silent feet; No wretch so low, however sad and weary. But sometimes thrills to fancies good and sweet. As high as heaven, as wide as earth and ocean, She revels free, defying bars and bands; From priest or king she challenges]devotion. None are exempt from her all-potent wand. FANCY 97 Subtle as ether! Cunning- in devices! Aurora's lights are not more fleet or rare! On ozone wings she floats midst tropic spices, Bright as the sun and as the moonbeams fair. She dazzles youth with love-dreams softly glowing, Red roses warm in hues of orient dyes; Man, health and honor, station deftly showing, Beaming in gold her occidental skies. Her starry feet have crossed the mystic river, Returned our loved, we hold them once again; Longings fulfilled we almost feel the quiver Of loving lips that would assuage our pain. Goddess divine! vouchsafe thy strong uplifting. Inspiring still when spirit fires burn low; 0! light the way where we are drifting, drifting, With beauties high that grand ideals grow. 98 AS THEY CAME TO ME TA-yjr'-'^yi'i *;- V ..ii[i>4%v".;.i-. .ii' ';'t>?^^i OUTWARD BOUND Outward Bound. "^ am watching the white-winged ships go by, -^3 ^s they ride on the trackless deep, Dreamily fair is the star-illumed sky, And the mighty billows asleep. I follow them still, far over the blue. As onward they royally ride, Their towering masts so staunch and so true. Defying the tempest and tide. OUTWARD BOUND 99 I wonder what fate encircles their way As they vanish out of my sight, Their canvas making a shadowy play In the mists of the distant light What fond hopes are freighting the goodly ship? What prayers out-winging each sail? Will the wail of despair the wild winds waft, Or joys most ineffable hail? Will they drift along with the summer breeze, Caressing each quivering fold? Or find their graves in the treacherous seas That the reveling breakers hold? But my phantom sails are vanishing slow. Far over the star-bedight seas, And they swell and flow and joyfully go, Cajoled by the whispering breeze. 100 AS THEY CAME TO ME Can Vou AtYord It? AN you afford it? The day is bright, It is the time to plant and sow; Can you make merry and squander the light, Letting the spring and the seedtime go? Can you afford it? Your pulses run high, You should be strong for earnest strife, Carelessly letting the days go by, Making no mark in the best of life? Can you afford it? It must be clear, You need your best of heart and brain, To waste and dissipate and sear, You take the weakness, loss and pain. Can you afford it? An honest name Is better far than riches here, To jeopardize a spotless fame, — Do you not see you pay too dear? Can you afford it? Brain must be clear. Heart pure, arms strong, valiant to do! There's always demand for men sincere. Men who are ready, loyal and true. AM I ALONE 101 Am I Alone? (Written at Green Lake in the Rocky Mts.) aM I alone? Rocky mountains Upward soar on every hand, Piercing, seemingly, the heavens With their massive colunins grand, And the blue still overarching. All these granite pillars spanned, Makes a temple most transcendent, Formed by Deity's own hand. Rushing waters, leaping, laughing, In a wild, tumultuous dream, Over rocks are deftly weaving Foamy lace adown the stream. Reveling in pearls and opals, Rioting in bliss supreme, Waking, longing for the loved ones, Till their presence real seems. And I cry, would they were near ma, Could these wondrous glories share, Catch this miracle of beauty. Feel the upward, lifting prayer. That from mount and valley riseth, Outward floating on the air. Sobbing pine trees, singing waters, Murmuring winds all blending there. Am I alone? No. I have them. Each had answered to my cry. Time and distance cannot sever. Love to love will make reply. And the soul to soul responsive. All ignoring time and space. Feeling kindred spirit calling. Quickly flies to its embrace. 102 AS THEY CAME TO ME OUR BABIES Our Babies. 'fT^y^O little sprites come to my room S^ With gleeful shouts and merry dancing, They brush away the cobweb gloom With feet forever gaily prancing. Such soulful eyes of heaven's blue, Such wealth of love within them glowing. With tresses, sunlight glinting through, Sweet dimpled cheeks and glances knowing. OUR BABIES 103 Forever gliding in and out, Like shadows from the sunshine hiding, And fearing nothing, nothing doubt. They revel in a faith abiding. Sweet Heart and Heart's Ease are the names And nom de plumes that they are sailing, In all their merry romps and games We find them true and still unfailing. Dear, sweet evangels, bringing cheer In roguish pranks, my boy the winner, Face very like a saint sincere, Dear, loveable and winsome sinner. With loving arms around my neck, ''God will keep care of 'oo, " he's saying, Will boons unanswered never wreck His soul's undoubted trust in praying? Now little three years, precious girl, With earnest eyes so quickly lighting. Comes with bewitching toss of curl And querries, "Nana, what 'oo writing?" How oft I look into your eyes. Sweet violets with thoughts awaking. And awe is mingled with surprise That baby thought such strides are making. They rule the house with kisses sweet. Dear, dimpled hands, with roses vying. Ignoring all the rules complete, And lovingly all laws defying. 104 AS THEY CAME TO ME Such storms of questions come amain, Of sun and moon and starry lighting, What makes the rainbow and the rain? Our constant help they are inviting. Who made the world and trees and flowers? And who made God? Oh, questions trying! What makes the bright, electric showers? They rack our brains with baby prying. Why do we die? They learn that, too! How spirits go and where are living? And what are spirits? Tell me true, And still we give and still are giving. Dear little ones, I query still The very questions you are solving. And still I ask, and famished still For higher life and light evolving. Ah, little sunny heads too soon These mighty questions you are trying, For they will weary e'er the noon, And vex you that there's no replying. Dear little Sweet Heart, keep your trust, And still believe, true to the yearning, We know so little that we must Be very reverent in learning. God has implanted in each breast This longing for a life undying. And hope, His very best behest. Thrills every heart, its doubts defying. THAT OTHER DAY 1^^ That Other Day. To My Husband. ^N dreams comes back ''that other day, ,»^ In smihng, rosy June, When all the birds were caroling Their sweetest song in tune; And you and I walked down the lane That lay through shining green, A silver ribbon rippled on Through flowery banks between. We loitered by the rustic bridge That spanned the little stream, And forests clasped their hands above A perfect sylvan dream. We two were mirrored in the wave, While whispering boughs o'er head Seemed to be saying all the while The very words you said. We peered through birches on its brink To perfect sapphire skies, And all the world seemed just as fair To love's enchanted eyes. 106 AS THEY CAME TO ME We doubted others e'er had loved As we, that happy day, That other skies had been as fair Above Hfe's perfect v/ay. That other castles had been reared So pink and pearly white, Base, arch and frieze so firm and fair, So radiantly bright. The same old story told again, The brook sang gaily on, Floating along our fairy ship The jeweled hour was gone. We saw the waves grow amethyst From rose of setting sun. In perfect trust of ''Love's young dream' That other day was done. HON. WILLIAM WINDOM 107 Hon. William Windom, of Minnesota. In Memoriam. a glorious life! brave, truthful and loyal, Earnest for right in life's devious ways, To pass with lips warm, with utterance royal, To silence compelling all other than praise. To have the ears ringing with sweet adulation. Rapturous thrilling, responsive to cheers. Earnestly urging the weal of a nation, Inspired and inspiring with wisdom of seers. More from the earth can one take through the portals. How add to life's crown a lustre more fair, Then incense of love of spirits immortal. Inspired and uplifted by wisdom and care. Far greater to leave thy seal on the nation. Of honor and manhood, of justice and right, And richer by far a people's oblation, For impress bequeathed to their sovereign might. 108 AS THEY CAME TO ME What Does It Matter. SOMETIMES 'tis hard to do your best, And strain each nerve to high endeavor, To make the most of hfe's behest, And stem the tide with never favor. To have it said he did not do This thing or that they find still wanting, But never raise a hand to do. Nor find a pang of duty haunting. Yes, sometimes hard to hush your pain. To soothe some brow you knov/ is aching, To put aside all hope of gain, Another's comfort to be making; Than have them never know the cost. Nor size the burdens you are bearing, Or stop to question what you lost. While other's griefs you had been sharing. Yes, sometimes hard to keep life sweet. To higher issues, still aspiring, Love, lore, art, beauty, all complete. In the most reverent desiring. When never sympathetic smile Comes in a cheering recognition. Until you safely rest the while^ Where hope has found its bright fruition. But then what matters this to you. Who do your best, in joy or sorrow! If you are pure and sweet and true. Who aids to-day v/ill aid to-morrow. And though you clasp no helping hand, You may assist another's rising; And every effort made or planned Will give you wealth of strength surprising, DREAMS 109 DREAMS. ^^N REAMS ever an illusion seem, ^^^ But facts are mothered by a dream. Peerless Electra, queen to-day, But yester's dream is here to stay. All dreamers feel the skeptic's ban In every good they bring to man, But once fruition holds its sway, The world will cheer, as well they may. Dreams that possess and hold the mind. Full often rich fulfillment find; Open the doors and give them cheer! Then listen to their message clear! Columbus dreamed of worlds afar. And guided only by a star, He boldly crossed the ocean blue. And an old world was born anew. Newton had dreamed, and plainly saw, And taught the world attraction's law — That this great force with guiding hand Held worlds and planets in command. Watts did of locomotion dream, Ocean and earth are spanned by steam. And time and distance hold no more The destinies of man in store. Franklin beheld the lightning's play, And dreamed they might man's will obey; 110 AS THEY CAME TO ME He coaxed them from the clouds away, And earth is luminous to-day. And Morse still dreamed and visions wrought Of lightning harnessed to a thought Dispelhng time and tide; 'tis clear The world was ready for the seer. Marconi dreams that thoughts are things And only waiting for their wings, — And the realties' bright rays Transcend the dream a thousand ways. Were this not so they could not go And round the world a record show. Edison had dreams of forces grand Held firmly by a wizard hand, More potent than Prometheus' fire, Man to ameliorate, inspire. Naught in mythology or art Could lift the world's great throbbing heart; With half the wondrous glories brought By Edison's dreams wrought out by thought. Dreams are evangels sent before, To clear the way for truth to soar. Then dreamers dream, and Time, the seer- Great alchemist will make them clear. Minerva, Mercury are slow To bear the messages aglow With blessings by the dreamers sent For man's uplifting and content. TRIBUTE TO GENERAL GRANT HI Tribute to General Grant. ^ OLUMBI A mourns her son, and bowed in sorrow C!V_^ Draws her bright mantle o'er his silent breast, And folds him in her arms, for on the morrow With her departed heroes he shall rest. The North and South, and East and West uniting. Bring immortelles, and leave them on his bier. And the sweet incense for a country's plighting Makes bliss immortal more divinely dear. And dusky millions with their hands uplifted, Free from all shackles kneel beside him here; Exultant freedom! with all bondage rifted, Crown him with blessings of a love sincere! A common woe thrills and unites the nation, A country's love quickens in one caress. That humbly feels how poor is all oblation, She may return for what he did to bless. A son of toil, he rose by plainest duty To be acknowledged peer of prince or king; And honest work bloomed into royal beauty His legacy as the most precious thing. 112 AS THEY CAME TO ME The funeral cortege winding down the mountain, In all the pomp and pageantry of state, Sublimer grows as the o'erflowing fountain Of love's sweet homage to her chieftain great. The starry flag at half-mast waving slowly, The muflled drum, the solemn, measured tread Of great processions in their grief bowed lowly, Bear witness how a nation's heart has bled. The booming gun that thunders through the mountain, And sends its echoes shuddering through the vale. The tolling bell, its mournful numbers counting, But fitly voice a nation's saddened wail. The last triumphant march in peaceful glory, From Mt. McGregor downward to the sea Is finished, but Ulysses Grant in story Lives the inspiring genius of the free. Soldier and statesman, victor calmly sleeping, Love's benediction hallowing thy rest. Live on for aye, safe in thy country's keeping, While native land close folds thee to her breast. Boom, cannon, boom! from ocean to the ocean! And mufifled drums with sweet emotion swell; Toll, tolling bell, a nation's deep devotion, Wave banners, wave, a country's fond farewell! WHAT HE PAID 113 What He Paid. yyNITH smiling skies so softly o'er us bending, l^XJ And swelling music flooding all the air, Bright, curling banners, their enchantments lending, As breezes woo their silken foldings rare. Most joyfully the surging crowd is swaying. Exultant eyes are softly glowing bright; And veterans tramp to a full chorus playing, With heads erect, a grand and goodly sight. How proudly, too, each loyal heart is beating. Inspiring all with thoughts of long ago; When wearily there comes a one-legged soldier, Filling the ranks with measured steps, and slow. How every pulse is timed to his slow measure. How quickly pain has entered every breast; God! how he has paid for this great treasure We celebrate as freedom's best behest! How he has paid with poverty and sorrow. With hope and ease that have forever flown; Fame and ambition bringing him no morrow, Loveless, perchance, he bears his cross alone. 114 AS THEY CAME TO ME A mighty host all silently are pleading For just appreciation. Direst pain, Hopes unfulfilled, mained limbs and hearts still bleeding, Are what he paid, is paying for their gain. 0, proud Columbia! cherish these so loyal. Who in thy need stood faithful by thy side, And show remembrance of their deeds so royal In care for those who live as those who died. Naught for the dead, so little for the living. Canst thou bestow for the great boon they gave. Then show thy love in grateful, careful giving. And prove a nation wise as well as brave. MYSTERY 11^ MVSTERV. ^ S it life or is it death? ^ This I question o'er and o'er; Everything is here but breath, All that we had loved before. Just the same dark, clustering hair, Drooping lids but shade the eyes, And methinks the love-light there, Should they open in surprise. Still the sculptors dream as fair! Could we solve these mystic ties! Lips the same expression wears^ Though this silence on them Hes. What is this mysterious power That has fallen on thy breast? Is it life's supremest hour? Or is it a dreamless rest? More than these then somewhere still All this charming force abides, Safely working out His will, But ever His, whate'er betides. Father, give us perfect trust, Though we may not see the way, All our hearts interpret just Crying ever for the day. 116 AS THEY CAME TO ME The Hour Before Dawn ' ^Y^JIE darkest hour is just before day," v*^ Over and over the words we say, As borne along on the waves of life Wounded and hurt by the whirl and strife. We bind the bruises and hopefully say, ''The darkest hour is just before day." Our castles have fallen, our dreams long flown, The works of our hands around us are strown, A mass of ruins as desolate As the Sahara's, and dark as fate. Just as assuringly hope will say, "The darkest hour is just before day." Then up again and onward we press. Our feet are bleeding, oar hearts no less, Fainting we fall, and are cheated again, Our mirage of bliss proved only a pain. Still just as smiling hope will say, ''The darkest time is just before day." Friends proved faithless, like shadows they fled, Alone! alone! we stood by our dead! Hushing the sobs we would not complain For soon we have our loved ones again; And Faith and Hope unitedly say, "The darkest hour is just before day." THE HOUR BEFORE DAWN 117 And Hope may be right, we know not all Of God's great plan for His children small, And all may be right if understood In the sweet light of His fatherhood. The angel Hope may truthfully say, "The darkest hour is just before day." Success is never just what it would seem, Nor failure as bad as often we dream. What is, is right, the poet hath said; His ways are right if aright they are read. The ministering angel Hope may say, ''The darkest hour is just before day." If aspiring ambition and aim Still makes the most of the heart and brain, And effort, not gain, is best for the soul. Enriching it still as days onward roll. Then Hope may most triumphantly say, ''The darkest hour is just before day. " 118 AS THEY CAME TO ME 'Cast thy Bread Upon the Waters. CAST your bread upon the waters, And it shall return again After many days with blessings, Soothing like refreshing rain. Never question shall it profit To do any kindly deed. But let heart and hand be ready To give aid in every need. Not great hoards of gold and silver Are required this help to give, But a loving, kindly purpose. May aid others yet to live. Is it courage they are wanting? Speak a word of healthful cheer. It may only be the speaking That shall make the future clear. If some weary one has fallen In temptation by the way. And is saying, ' 'No use trying, I have striven not to stray, ' ' Say so gently, it is human. None are perfect, none are good; None can say that they have ever Sin, the tempter quite withstood. CAST THY BREAD UPON THE WATERS 119 Not exactly like their neighbors, But all slip'ry paths have found, And each foot has sometimes stumbled Here or there in life's great round. Try again, be not discouraged. Better you have learned the way, Then, perchance, you walked in darkness, Morning now, and perfect day. Rouse and raise a voice of warning, Thousands crowd the path you trod; Turn your fall into a blessing, Such repentance pleaseth God. -^^r 120 AS THEY CAME TO ME Our Country. ^^HE brightest, dearest, fairest land, ^_g ' Most glorious of earth, Is this, our own dear native land, The land that gave us birth. Aurora's first pellucid beam Kisses her rock-bound shore, And loving benedictions seem To whisper o'er and o'er. Her swelling hills and forests' dells, In grandeur unsurpassed, Her meadow^s, brooks and ledgy fells, Enchanting first and last. Her prairies broad, bounding the sight. With ether's trembling rim. Where acres fallow, warm and bright With blessings fairly brim. Majestic rivers, swift and deep. Tumultuous and strong. The nation's wealth with curve and sweep So proudly bear along. Her rifted mountains glowing white In heaven's caressing blue, With adoration and delight Enthrall our hearts anew. OUR COUNTRY Her harvests broad, her mines are deep, Her people strong and brave, Where wiUing hands still sow and reap With never serf or slave. Our flag, the hope of every land. Blossoms on every sea, By freedom's inspiration fanned, Symbol of Liberty! The fairest gift within her hand To all alike is free, Her public schools, so wisely planned, Safeguard her liberty. Her Sabbath bells are sweet and clear As joyfully they ring, Worship sincere with none to fear, To all good tidings bring. Born of the ages, rise in might, Thy destiny fulfill! For God is God, and Right is Right! And all must work His will. 121 122 AS THEY CAME TO ME Keep Vour Courage. ^^F you find your burden heavy, -^^ Wearisome and hard to bear, Meet it bravely, never falter, Gird your heart to do or dare ; Stronger you will grow and stronger With each new and added care. If the shadows lengthen ever, O'er the steep and toilsome way, 'Neath your feet you surely hold them When the sun has reached midday; And from thence they will behind you As they did before you lay. Though the skies are dark and cloudy, Keep your courage, never mind! For the sun will shine to-morrow Just as bright and sweetly kind; And a joy be born of sorrow. Making life a thing sublime. Never night without a morning. Bare your arm and take good cheer, Never road without a turning, Up and onward, never fear; Soon your life shall lie before you With the wav divinelv clear. BEREAVED 123 BEREAVED. ^"0 lose the inspiration out of life, \^^ To plod along alway by paths diverging, Feeling the want of something undefined. And which the soul's necessity is urging. And what this loss? How faintly words can tell, All language fails, the heart alone defining; A subtle influence yet may comprehend The whole of life with all its fine assigning. No matter what we name this unexpressed. It still is real, impressing, animating; Arousing all the latent fires of life With brightest possibilities elating. Ah, sad indeed, whatever else is gained, To feel this sense of loss forever waking; When breath of blossoms, music's softest strain, A word, a thought, may set the lone heart aching. 124 AS THEY CAME TO ME O Innpenetrable Future. (D UT into the unknown future Of a deep, mysterious sea, Thou hast vanished from our vision In the great immensity. And a deeply solemn feeling, Fills and overwhelms the soul. As we try to catch the glimmer Of the mystic, unseen goal. 0! impenetrable future, All inscrutable the way, How our eager eyes are searching. If to catch some hopeful ray! Shall an echo never, never Of thy voice come back again? Bearing some assuring message To assuage this longing pain? Shall the soul still calling, calling, Never hear responses sweet? And this yearning for thee, darling. Bring no thrill with love replete? IMPENETRABLE FUTURE 125 Was each cord forever broken By this subtle tie of breath? Not one silent, loving token? Then this sleep is surely death! Loving faith will not surrender, Soul avers she sees and hears, Feels thy loving presence ever Comforting when sorrow nears. Hope can almost see the glimmer Of thy robes etherial white, And a radiant face surrounded By a fair, celestial light. Even in the rocks and ether Thrills a life, defying sight, Then this psychic force can never Lose itself in soulless night. For this form of love and beauty. Image of our God divine, Breath of Him, the life within us. We will trust His love benign. Hear the Saviour sweetly saying, '1 a mansion will prepare," And how gratefully we leave thee, Darling, to His tender care. 126 AS THEY CAME TO ME Out on the Plains. w AY out on the plains, wide spreading, As far as sight can reach, Where green-brown lands are stretching A waved-washed ocean beach. The blue of heaven above me, The great seared waste below, That far, far off in the distance Are meeting and blending slow. My soul is awed with its vastness, So silent the old earth lies. Solemn and grand and eternal, Spanned by the o'er-arching skies; Wider and wider out-reaching. Unbroken by river or tree, As if the dreary expanses Lovingly folded the sea. The sun in glory resplendent, Down-sinking in billows of fire. All the horizon is golden. Clouds flaming higher and higher. That deepen into vermilion. To mellow in amethyst light; And the rosy glow of the twilight Has purpled into the night. Luna, with silvery garments. Comes sailing into the night. Her starry train close follows,^ Be jeweled and sparkling bright. So filling the dome with angels, That Titian nor Angelo knew. The same that chanted the chorus Dawning creation's review. THOUGHT 127 THOUGHT. ©wonderful, mysterious thought! That holds the universe at will, Art never fettered, sold or bought, But higher soar and higher still; Thou art not bounded by the stars. Or by the ether's purpled rim, But onward speed to fiery Mars, Or onward still to planets dim. No prison walls can bar thy feet. No dungeon cell can stay thy flight. Still as the lightning wings more fleet, Thou art too swift for mortal sight; But still this mortal body holds Thee with such subtle, tender thread. And no philosopher unfolds. Where thought abides when life has fled. But holy writ has called us oft ''The temple of the living God." Then is it this we call just thought? No longer fettered by the clay? Shall I still be a living thought When earth to earth has passed away? Loving, uplifting, working still. Inspiring deeper, grander strife, Then soul-full thought still work thy will, Till death is swallowed up in life. 128 AS THEY CAME TO ME Then Cometh the Morning. CIFT up your heads and be not doubting! _^ God is God, so have no fear! Lo! the Eastern clouds are lighting, * 'Peace on earth" comes sweetly clear. All the earth in travail groaneth. Heralding the birth of dawn, Ushering the day prophetic Of humanities new born. Though afar the roar of battle, Dying groans and anguished cries, There shall rise a fair to-morrow, Brightening all the orient skies. Man shall rise to fairer vision. Forceful thought and quickened life- Banished tyranny, oppression, Hushed the din of war and strife. What though still the shadows gather With the coming of the dawn, All earth's weary toilers watching, Feel the stir of coming morn. Music of the forge and anvil Rings with hope's magnetic fire. Mines and mills with larger promise Eager hearts and hands inspire. THEN COMETH THE MORNING 129 Science, with her new found forces, Spanning ocean, earth and time— Marvelous the revelations Wakened by a century's chime. All the treasuries of nations Pour their riches at our feet; Knowledge of all seers and sages Brings a wisdom most complete. Possibilities are waiting. Greater and more wondrous far, Quickened human life uplifting, Love's own light the guiding star. So the coming man and woman Must courageous be, and strong, Hearts to feel the woes of ages, Ears to hear the wail of wrong. Ken to see beyond the glamour Of the brightly glowing gold. Wise to guide that truth and justice By its glint shall not be sold. Honest, earnest thought and action, Faith sublime and love sincere. Jeweled are the hours and minutes God's own hand is guiding clear. -^^ 130 AS THEY CAME TO ME SUCCESS. ^^ will succeed! God helping me, ^^ Though step by step I make my way, However rough the path may be I will not doubt, but work and pray! I will succeed, though storms may blow. Though clouds drift low and skies obscure, And darkness shrouds the way I go, I'll learn to wait and to endure. The world is ripe for willing hands, Where heart beats quick and pulse runs high, That swell to burst the slavish bands That trammel souls that feign would fly. There's words for freedom to be said, For justice in her rusty chains. There's wrong to conquer, right to spread. In by-ways, high-ways broad and lanes, Where hearts grown dark and hard with pain. Fear and distrust and burning wrong, Where weary feet, tired hands and brains All wrestling strive to burst their thong. There in God's hands I'll place my own. And where He leads with fearless tread. Forgetting not that good alone Can light the dark where He has led. If mine to dry a falling tear. Or mine to ease some heart's wild throb, To bring a word of hope and cheer, Or hush with love a wailing sob, I'll count my life a fair success. Will patient toil to work His will. Enough of joy to others bless, Then anxious heart hear, "Peace be still!" THE OLD YEAR ^^^ The Old Vear. E is dying, the wonderful year, So waited and welcomed with joy, Each footprint is marked with a tear, And visions he laughed to destroy. What a marvelous life he has led. What carnival held in his day, While armies have echoed his tread. Their life-blood made brilliant his way. The nations he roused to new strife. And councils are awed as they hear The crying for freedom and life In notes that are startling and clear. He has ruffled the wind and the wave. And the storm and hurricane's roar Have daunted the hearts of the brave, As they wailed to the dip of his oar. But now he is passing away, The mists and the shadows are near, The conqueror, weary and gray Sleeps well. It is well with the year. 132 AS THEY CAME TO ME And many will bless thee, Old Year, For hopes that have bloomed in thy smile, And many will curse thee, Old Year, For promises blighted the while. The bells that ring slow for the old Will merrily chime for the new, And eyes will grow bright to behold Their dreams of the rosiest hue. AMBITIONS 133 AMBITIONS. 50 one by one they perished with the hours, And I have hallowed every grave with tears, And on each mound have scattered precious flowers. The blooming hopes that gladdened other years; But buds and blossoms, withered, too, and dead. Breathe no sweet fragrance o'er the lowly bed. Oh how I tried to keep my darlings here! And filled the days with eager, restless toil. If they but throve no task was deemed severe; But spurning dreams still burned the mid-night oil. And yet they would not live, and day by day I saw my sweet ambitions fade away. With folded hands and aching heart I cry, "What now shall fill the barren, restless day?" Love whispers, "Thou hast me, and I More brightly burn as fond hopes fade away, ' ' And love's divinest ecstacy or pain Floods the uplifted soul, and loss is gain! 134 AS THEY CAME TO ME Work and Wait. ;ORK and wait, nor be faint hearted; Trust a Father's loving care. From Him thou art never parted, He wiU give thee strength to bear All the burdens, all the labors He requireth thee to share. Work and wait. The clouds most dreary Yet may blaze with rosy light. Though thy feet be sore and weary. One can guide their steps aright. Place thy hand in His and humbly Trust to this all perfect sight. Work and wait. In morning early Go forth sowing precious seeds, Every germ shall bring forth pearly Grain or blossom into deeds High and holy— God has promised He will satisfy thy needs. Work and wait. If whitened harvest Needs thy sickle, sharp and strong, Bear thy arm, be brave and earnest, Bring thy golden sheaves along To the garner of the Master— ''What I could," thy humble song. Work and wait! Life's hours so fleeting Is not all; Oh! look away; Hear thy Father's kindly greeting. It will all thy toil repay, Of ''Well done, thou good and faithful; Enter into perfect day." ODE TO THE MOUNTAINS 135 ODE TO THE MOUNTAINS. Ode to The Mountains. YI^OUNTAINS regal, bleak and high, ^ I I Upward rising to the sky; Cloud-caressed and storm-king wooed, Still sublime in every mood; Whether sunlight bathes thy brow, Or the snowy wreath, as now Winds its crystals round thy head Like a grim old monarch, dead. Towering still, sublimely grand, By the storms or zephyrs fanned. 136 AS THEY CAME TO ME Hiding in the clouds thy face, Or as oft, in smihng grace, Wooing tempests to thy side That upon the whirlwinds ride; While unchanged the centuries roll With their wealth of life and soul; Change and death are but the waves That thy broad foundation loves; Birth of nations, fall of powers. Move no more than summer showers. Revolutions pass thee by As the winds that gently sigh; ' Human life and joy and woe. Like the shades that come and go, Passing leave on thee no trace That shall mar thy royal face. Silent, awful, regal, grand, Guarding still a mighty land; Wild majestic as of yore, When we have gone, as those before, And the millions yet to come In the silent tomb are dumb. But though years and ages fill. Change is written on thee still; Whether by the lightning's flash. Or convulsion's fearful crash, Air or water, frost or sun, Work the destiny begun. Slowly crumbling, sure decay, Write it plain, ye pass away! WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY 137 Washington's Birthday— 1905 /P\ freedom's consecrated land \}y Raise glad acclaims for Washington! Whose valor made the country free To cradle God's humanity; Led on by His almighty hand, The hour had struck, oppression done. The time was ripe for Washington. Ring out sweet bells, ring peel on peel, This birthday of our Washington! From every church and school and steeple, The glad hosannas of the people. Who to no earthly despots kneel; To all the land has freedom come, Then hail, thrice hail, our Washington! natal day, proud natal day Of the immortal Washington! What songs of praises shall we sing? What rich oblation shall we bring? A nation's gratitude to pay. And prove each loyal heart a son Of the heroic Washington. native land! Dear native land Of the majestic Washington! Your cannon boom from sea to sea, 138 AS THEY CAME TO ME Herald a nation's jubilee! A continent by ocean fanned, Kissed by the morn and evening: sun, Blessed birth-land of our Washington. Wave banners, wave in splendor rare Above the tomb of Washington; And yeomen strong from all the land Join in the freeman's anthem grand. Millions shall on our scepter bear, Complete the work he had begun, Our patron saint— brave Washington. POOR RUSSIA 139 Poor Russia. POOR Russia! So poor in all that is best, In homes proud and happy with liberty blest, In sturdy defenders from labor's great mart; To fight for her honor with right loyal heart; In kindly protection her children to lead, Where the lash and the prison are made to succeed; The last wretched toiler must hunger and bleed To grind out the taxes her nobles to feed. The road to Siberia, so rugged and long, Is paved with the hearts of patriots strong. Her chains, as her mines, that are silent and deep, Are rusty with tears where her own children weep. Poor Russia! So proud of her nobles and kings, All the paraphernalia autocracy brings, Scions of royalty, and dukes by the score, And gallant officials to guard every door; Generals and officers covered with lace, And armies well trained in soldierly grace, Her temples and palaces, marble and stone, What matter for these that her people must groan. Her fountains and gardens and grand colonnade Where royalty dances in brilliant parade. 140 AS THEY CAME TO ME With fleets on the sea, and her armies on land, She challenged Japan with her armaments grand. The world stood amazed that the baby should dare To measure her arms with the great Russian bear; That for right she should fight with a powerful wrong, There was sympathy deep and earnest and strong. Russia's army before so carefully lined, She quite had forgotten the army behind; Who, having no father to give them a care. To hear a petition or grant them a prayer. And asking were answered with cannon and shell, All crimsoned the snow where her citizens fell! Now the army behind most plainly will score An army out-ranking the army before; Wiser heads it will take to wipe out the ban Than to silence battalions of plucky Japan. Before it was glory and conquest and forts. Behind it was kingdom and subjects and courts; Her children down-trodden in poverty's toil Begging existence from the lords of the soil. But groans of the dying and starving to-day Go up to Jehovah in fearful array; The bear in the palace now trembles afraid. The bear born of sorrow is howling with rage. And ten times ten thousand who lie in their gore Are swelling the curses that centuries score. But the mills of the gods grind exceedingly fine. Blood- washed may they come to a freedom benign; And the high and the low in God-given might, Their Liberty measure for Justice and Right! a FOR GOD AND THE RIGHT 141 For God and the Right. ROUSE ye brave freemen! The time draweth near, All the world stands in awe your answer to hear. Shall tyranny triumph? Shall treason af right? Or stand ye up bravely for God and the Right? The crowned heads of Europe now trembling await, For they in our future but read their own fate; Shall kings rule, or people in God-given might? Oh, answer for freedom, for God and the Right. Your forefather's spirits seem whispering to you, To the heritage left you, brave sons, be true; The land that we died for no treason should blight, Then do your whole duty, for God and the Right. A voice as of thousands comes from battle plain, See to it, our brothers, we died not in vain; The birth-right of Freedom our children ye plight When manfully standing for God and the Right. The dear, dear old flag that seemeth to vie The rainbow, God's promise and star-lighted sky. Waves you prophetically on to the light, Found only in Freedom, in God and the Right. Then for your brave martyrs, the land you love well Your banners, your free schools, and dear Sabbath bells, Speak calmly, speak bravely. Oh speak in your might For Country, for Freedom, for God and the Right. 142 AS THEY CAME TO ME Then and Now^. ,E gather in commemoration Of old, old time association, Each bringing- to this festive board Some memory sweet from his treasured hoard Of early times - we call them olden, — When life was bright and dreams were golden. And promise had made all labor light, Rough places smooth and the dark sides bright; As with a will, for good times coming. Long strides were made for that grand summing. From North and South we had gathered here, Each with a purpose, glowing with cheer, And clinching all in sweet relations, New England's sons with best vocations Had made their homes and given a hand In making bloom the beautiful land. The loving wife and the mothers true, The halo of love o'er rough life threw. And the young bride who had laid away Orange flowers for traveling gray; Blessed with her smiles and her courage strong The thorny way as they toiled along. And honest pride one could but know, For such a home in its pristine glow, THEN AND NOW 143 Unbroken lands in primitive green Flower-decked the fairest ever seen: With wave-like swells and with colors gay Stretched out for miles and miles away. Here music wild and weird rose high From dashing waves to the midnight sky; In the unceasing cataract's roar, Launching its waters from shore to shore. And a gayer song and fuller glee Thrilled Minnehaha, merry and free. As it warbled, laughed and threw its spray In fairy dance or magical play. With rainbow shadows the livelong day, And joyfully floated on — away. And beautiful lakes, the sweetest I ween That ever were kissed by boughs of green, With beachen shores lay in the light Of summer suns or blossomed at night; With myriad stars, the heavens through. With lavish hand from its vaulted blue. This was our home. And what of the life That with earnest thought and soul was rife? Did we lack pleasures and joy refined To feed and to satisfy the mind? Not so, our places of worship were plain, But prayers were earnest, nor preaching vain, And the winter evenings brought their cheer Of gathered friends that were true and dear. 144 AS THEY CAME TO ME While all the great events of the day Were in true parliamentary way, Discussed in lyeeums where we met In grand debate by an august set. But Pve been dreaming. What is this? A vision delusive or mirage bliss? The work of magic or wondrous fay? This marvelous town, this city gay That lies before us in beauty to-day? Here schools and churches, spacious and tall, Have domes and spires to crown them all. And the organ's swell and ringing bell Seem trembling with the joy they tell As they scatter music, full and round, Till the air vibrates with sweetest sound; While from open windows softly float The light guitar's and piano's note. From home's palatial or vine covered cot. For culture is the rich and poor man's lot. And here— right here with iron hands, That bind with masterful hand the lands; The engine is plying too and fro. So like the shuttles that come and go, And the nation's woof, its noisy tread Is as surely weaving thread by thread, While silent, working its finer part. Binding mind to mind and heart to heart. This great magician, telegraph wire, Hugging the world with its belt of fire. THEN AND NOW 145 The giant cataract bound in chains Is clanking his bands and straining the reins That hold him in check— the poor old slave! As a thousand wheels turned by his wave, Sawing the lumber, grinding the grain. Forging the iron, welding the chain, Sending the shuttle with fairy-like tread, Whirling the spindle that spins the thread; So like our lives, with many a flaw, But guided still by beautiful law. And yet of all the wonderful here, This is the most— for isn't it queer? The Father of Waters, (have you heard?) Is in every sense of the word A Mason? 'Tis true, and wears to-day His apron in a masterly way. But half the glories I may not sing In the humble tribute that I bring To this gay banquet, and where we meet The friends of other days to greet. Then touch your glasses with a merry ring, And while to the wind all care we fling, Pledge in cold water, sparkling and clear, To every son and daughter here. Love for the old and joy to the new. Loyal to the past, to the present true; Nor let us forget the loving hand That gave us homes in this favored land. And while the past gleams out like a star, And beams of the present more radiant are. We trust the future's hope- freighted-fleet May bring us joys as lasting and sweet; While to that love we gratefully bow That blessed us then— is blessing us now. 146 AS THEY CAME TO ME Now Ve Shall Succeed. %^RAVE sons of Erin, now you shall succeed! -S^ You hold within yourselves the aid you need, When life is nobly on the altar laid Your cause is won, nor need you be afraid. When grand convictions have so filled the heart As leaves no room for self to hold a part, , When burning wrongs have so inflamed the breast- To royal deeds you shall not be oppressed. 0, Irishmen, be brave and undismayed! For homes and rights are in the balance laid, God's mills grind slow, but they are ever sure, Then bare your breasts like men and still endure! So long you sowed that others yet should reap, And they still fatten whilst you work and weep, So long have heard your children cry for bread Whilst bloated lords your sweat and toil have fed. So long have waited, thirsting for the light, Starving for knowledge that was yours by right. Borne the oppressor's yoke and felt his heel. Crushing the heart and hope without appeal. You have the right to wear what you shall win, To ask the better never is a sin; To make of your abilities the best. You have the right, less is to be oppressed. NOW YE SHALL SUCCEED 147 You have the right to reap if you but sow, The right to learn whate'er there is to know, To clothe and feed your children, and inspire The love of liberty and its desire. Then make demand and press it as thou wilt! And every drop of blood for freedom spilt Shall have a tongue of fire to wake the land, And of plain men make heroes bravely grand. The gods love manhood, then fear not the strife, Hold loyalty to cause above your life. The God of Justice will your battle fight, Then strike for homes, for liberty and right! 0, suffering sons, be worthy, suffering sires! Still let oppression kindle freedom's fires! The Lord is just and every groan and tear Must be atoned by treasure doubly dear. To die as heroes, better than live slaves. You cannot ask for fairer, greener graves Than the bright Emerald Isle that ocean laves. If still above the flag of Freedom waves. 148 AS THEY CAME TO ME EXILED. ^AREWELL, farewell home beloved, ^i I have loved you long and well, ""^ Loved you loyally and fondly, How the tender memories swell. Here we came in youth's glad morning. Hearts abrim with promise bright. All the future years adorning With hope's rosiest delight. On our bridal day we started For this land of radiant dreams, Hand in hand and joyous hearted. Looking back how fair it seems. Here we worked and planned together, Planting tree and shrub and vine, Made our home as birds a-feather. Lovingly their nests entwine. Made it where the brightest sunshine Should its fairest radiance lay, Hope and love its cares should refine While we walked life's devious way. EXILED 149 Here our fairy castles lifted, Pink and pearly, rosy bright, And the locust blossoms drifted In the softest evening light. And we dreamed that we should slumber In the wood beside the lake, When the autumn days should number And the years long shadows make. But the sullen clouds were drifting. That should wash away in tears, Loves and castles quickly rifting With hopes darkened into fears. You are sleeping, dearest, sleeping, Where Atlantic waters roar, I am weary, lone and dreaming Of the days that come no more. ~^^ 150 AS THEY CAME TO ME Passed Away. P ASSED away, I do but dream. Oh! this pain, I must awake. No not real— it does but seem God would not our darling- take. Passed away. Oh! eyes so dear, Never more to meet our own. Ears are aching for the cheer Of her lightest word or tone. Passed away, but no, not dead, Were it so our hearts would break, Sleeping? Yes, they might have said, Folded hands a resting take. No not dead, but gone before. Through the portals open wide, Soon we too shall seek the shore That her swifter feet have tried. Passed away, Saviour dear. Fold her to thy loving breast! Angels chant the requiem clear, Crowned with labor, love and rest. SHOW ME THE WAY 151 Show Me the Way. SHOW me the way, my father, Show me the way! Let me feel Thy arms around me That I may not stray. I am weary, faint and doubting, Give me courage still; Still to wait and work nor falter If it be Thy will. Show me the way, my Father, Trusting in Thy light. Clasp my hand and hold it firmly. Guiding me aright; That my feet may never falter. Though the way be steep, Lead me ever, kindly lead me Through the waters deep. 152 AS THEY CAME TO ME Another New Vear. aNOTHER New Year has unfolded Its marvelous volume of white, Its pages are all to be written, How-be-it in shadow or light. And time, the mighty recorder. Is holding the pen that shall write Each act, or each deed that is brought him By the angel of day and of night. Written in gladness and sunshine, Written in sorrow and tears, Written in anticipation, Or disappointment and fears. Written in reveling pleasure, Or in crime that blisters and sears. In dreams that were vain and delusive, Or in deeds that uplifts and endears. Written by feet that are slipping While vainly praying for light; By hearts grown cold with imploring For the light that should guide them aright. But alas! the book will be written In letters that naught can efface, And never a highway or by-way Is left a wrong to retrace. And never a word that is spoken Can be washed by many-fold tears. And never a heart that is broken Shall find the consoling of years. cruel and pitiless volume The mighty recorder will write, How-be-it in sorrow and anguish. Or in deeds that are glowing and bright. BE NOT DOUBTING 153 Be Not Doubting. SONS of labor be not doubting, Trust Jehovah's power for right! Right is just as sure to triumph As is morn to follow night; Be courageous for the battle, For your homes and country fight! Oft it seems that wrong is rampant. Reaping where it had not strown. Gathering a smiling harvest That some weary hands had sown; Never doubt that in the gleaning Each will gather in his own. Greed and graft are widely sowing . Poverty on every hand, Heeding not how wretched toilers Multiply throughout the land; Breeding hate and crime and envy That extravagance has fanned. Though the arrogant and haughty Labor grinds with sweat and moil, They are training with their burdens Men who shall possess the soil; Men with brains and brawn and muscles, Banish slavish want and toil. 154 AS THEY CAME TO ME Loyal men heed not the glitter Though it seems all good to hold! Manly worth the world is needing, Men who are not bought or sold; Jealous only of your honor, It has value more than gold. Have you history forgotten? How the nations have evolved Freedom from the dire oppression, Kings and autocrats forestalled? When their reckless dissipation. Laws and people held in thrall? Glory in your honest labor! Bravely compromise, defy! From the world respect compelling. Truth and justice still the cry! Willing hands, clear brains are wanted, Men so grand they will not lie! Down your arms! Be not disloyal! Use the ballot, yours by right! Guard it as you guard your banner. Symbols of your country's might! These your birthright, keep them ever, To the world a beacon light. Liberty! Born of the ages! Hold it not with reckless hand! Star of hope to all the nations That the winds of heaven have fanned; Say it reverently and proudly, "This my own, my native land." AFTER THE BATTLE 155 After the Battle. /^ thousand faces, upturned and white, ^\ A thousand hands in death's close fold; Dear eyes that nevermore shall light. And loyal hearts, pulseless and cold. Poor, silent lips, so pale and still, That told their tale of love last night; And purposes all unfulfilled That dazed with promise's happy Hght. A thousand mothers weep to-day The eldest son or youngest born, And sunny heads so coldly lie. Wont to pillow on bossoms warm. And widowed hearts as cold and chill. As the dear forms they pressed last eve, Who on red couches lie so still. You doubt a wife was left to grieve. A thousand plans of work to do, A thousand dreams with beauty fraught. To bless the world that men so true Would with their hands and brains have wrought. Have all gone out in one day's strife, All swallowed deep in one dark grave? What compensates this waste of life, This hellish draught the people gave? 156 AS THEY CAME TO ME Of blood and tears, of grief and pain, Of breaking hearts and widow's moans, Of hopes and purposes and aims, To glut the caprices of thrones? When will Thy fatherhood, God, With man's dear brotherhood be learned? When will the nation to Thy rod Of love bow down in darkness spurned? Must the measures of wrath be filled? Must the wine from the grapes be trod? Meet for the temple Thou shall build To crown the kingdom of Christ, the Lord. ■♦■ ^r ^^^ -•- ■ My Valentine. a valentine rare I send to my darling, My sweet little Gladys, so quaint and so fair, I will fill it with kisses for the dear little lady. And Cupid evangel— my message shall bear. Bright as the rays of the sun in the morning. Is every dear glance that comes from her eyes. And gay as the linnet her laughter is peeling, Such queer little sayings still fill with surprise. Gladys, my heart's ease, as sweet as the roses, Our dear little daisy or lady's-delight, I would smother my girlie with ten thousand kisses If I could but have you and hold you to-night. GONE WITH THE FLOODS OF THE YEARS 157 Gone with the Floods of the Years, PASSING away with the year, My hands are stretching in vain, Imploring with many a tear, Will bring you never again. Dear sweet loves, never again. Passing away with the year. My bright, my beautiful dreams, Cherished with longings and fears, Now only for memories themes; Sands, sands in a flowing stream. Passing away with the year. Melting in darkness away, I kneel alone by the bier, Of hopes that wake not with the day. Wake never more with the day. Passed with the flood of the years, And I am calling in vain. Bring, bring me my flowers. The waves sob, "Never again," Echoes sigh back the refrain. 158 AS THEY CAME TO ME What the River Said to Me. ^%^ IVER, river, onward rushing, ^^\ Ringing, singing to the sea, I am listening, heart-beats hushing To the song you sing to me. Waters, waters, sparkling, dashing. Tossing in the wildest glee, Make the song of thy glad splashing Sweetly audible to me. Waves all froth-capped with the lashing Of the rocks that bar thy way. Weird the notes of restless thrashing, Tell, Oh tell me what they say! I would catch the deepest meaning Of thy thunder's awful roar, Still content if but the gleaming Falls to me of thy great store. Seemingly I hear you saying, • As I bend my listening ear. Hushed in deepest silence, praying That thy words be strong and clear. WHAT THE RIVER SAID TO ME 159 Life is like the river sweeping Onward to the unknown sea; Smoothly, gliding, madly leaping In its efforts to be free. Onward, onward, curving, swaying, Hedged by adamantine walls. Onward, onward, no delaying. Sever all the binding thralls. Snapping fetters make the ringing In the melody you hear; But for rocks there were no singing Of the waters bright and clear. Bounding higher, gayer dancing For the obstacles they meet. Stronger for the next advancing, Plowing furrows broad and deep. Wave on wave, still madly dashing. Tear and bruise in their wild might. But the brightest sparks are flashing Where the waters hardest smite. 160 AS THEY CAME TO ME Prayer for the President, ®UR nation's God to thee, Author of powers that be, We look to-day; And while Thy hand doth guide The storms that o'er us ride, Bless Him who stems the tide, Guide still our President! Insistent may he be To make our country free, From faction strife; But resolute and true, With urge the right to do. Ideals high pursue, God guide our President! True, honest, loyal, wise, Earnest for fair emprise. Still may he be; May love's compelling hand. Make for righteousness our land, Liberty exalted stand, God guide our President! May graciousness benign. With wisdom most divine, . Make clear his way; Brave to the right defend. Swift, needed help to lend. Love's heroism blend. Father, in our President! NOT YET 161 Not Vet. HOT yet, not yet! Dear Father, put away The bitter cup! let it pass to-day! coward heart, why feel such sore afright, Only to think of what might come to-night! Might come to-night; and lips so dewy red. Be white and cold, the warm, sweet life all fled. And dear bright eyes a misty veil enclose Where love nor anguish wakens their repose. And Oh, not yet! would we this life depart, We love so well, the work we have at heart, — Ambition, fame— let us but reach their goal. Our names to write on their immortal scroll. Let not misfortune with its cruel pain Our idols raze, though loving them were vain. They are so fair, approaching the divine, That life were death if these we must resign. Holding the present with such keen delight Of joys possessed, 0! let us dream to-night. Is life so sweet that we would longer stay? Who made it so, is with us still alway; And if not yet we clearly see the way With its Elysian, fairer than the day. See not the pearly gates or streets of gold, And azure skie^ with amethyst unfold. 162 AS THEY CAME TO ME Still doubt not that His wisdom will inspire This love of life, with longings, better, higher; And past the mists enshrouding mortal sight Life, love and joy, immortal shall unite. Where now we see in part we then shall know The little knowledge we have gained below, Increased a thousand fold love's mounting fire In the omniscient flooding all desire. SENTENCED 163 SENTENCED, AN INCIDENT SENTENCED you say! and life's long day With prison walls is hedged around; No hope for him, a starless way Through all the years that life shall bound. He killed our boy, took his young life And sent his soul unwarned to God, Nor keener pain from grief's sharp knife Can pierce my heart above the sod. They say our boy was rough and wild. Wicked and sinning, and I know He never was a patient child, But answered quick with word or blow. They cannot know how when a child He held my head and bathed my brow; So sorry when reproof was mild. Making resolves to date from now. And when my darling's fate I mourn. That other mother's face I see; And on the very winds are borne That mother's tearful wail to me. 164 AS THEY CAME TO ME Yes, husband, sign, 'tis surely right, My name, I add, to set him free, And then will pray the Lord of might As I have done so do my me. If more than mother's love and care Encircles all His children round, I know my own is safely there, For only this such love can bound. MINNEHAHA 165 MINNEHAHA. 211 INNEHAH A. laugh away, . Lash thy waters, dash thy spray, Joyful notes forever soar In thy merry splash and roar. Rainbows flitting in thy foam, Turning it to fairy dome; Laughing waters, tell me pray. Do not angels round thee play? Does Titana's glittering throng, Lead the dance or breathe the song, Midst thy crystal waters bright. Shadows flitting in delight? Do not seraphs love to dwell In this fair, sequestered dell? Does not zephyr's breath, say. Mingle with Eolian lay? List again, tell me more! Let thy theme be days of yore. When the red man joyfuUy Ranged these prairies broad and free. Did the warrior at thy side, Where the sparkling waters glide. Woo the maid his heart held dear, Minnehaha, was it here? 166 AS THEY CAME TO ME Was not here the evening prayer Wafted on the evening air, > To the Spirit great on high Who inhabiteth the sky? They heed me not! On they go Dashing on the rocks below; Laughing notes are all I hear Minnehaha singing clear. SILVER WEDDING BELLS 167 Silver Weddino: Bells. ^\3ING, ring the bells, the joyous bells! -VV Peel on peel for the matchless wedding!' Joy bells only whose music tells Of wedded love's progressing. Ringi ring the bells, the joyous bells! For the golden stairs they are climbing. Twenty years their music tells Of waiting, working and rhyming. Hand in hand may they hear the bells, The loving numbers counting. As year on year their music swells With love's flame higher mounting. Ring on and on, till gates ajar Open in happy greeting! And the Elysian fields afar Echo with joyful meeting. 168 AS THEY CAME TO ME FANCIES. "^^y am musing to-night upon faces, *<0 How varied and different the traces That are written by sorrow and care; Unerringly marking the races, And each one's nativity places By something unfailingly there. Pathetically telling of losses. How painful and hard are the crosses That come to their portion to bear; And plainer still of the drosses, Of hopes lying under the mosses That dazzled with promises rare. Radiantly writing the joy, Almost without an alloy Some fortune capriciously brings; When fame has crowned them with glory, And love repeated the story, And sealed it with promise and ring. 2 ms V LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 111 015 908 156 4 •