PS 3521 .154 W4 [1901 Copy 1 wHO AND WHAT AND WHERE IS GOD> L, ESTELLE DAY KING. Class Book Copyright ]^^ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. V WHO AND WHAT AND WHERE IS GOD} BY L. ESTELLE DAY KING Ask, 3Lsk until Truth's ^ns^er shdl thy e^ery question meet. Seek, seek until Life's treasures shall thy faithful vision greet. Knock, knock until Wisdom's portal shall be STVung open 'wide. Let, let the Principle of Lo^e fore'ver be thy guide. i-^ PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR NEW LONDON, OHIO J90J pMfc LIBRARY OP j eOMGRESS, Two C0HE8 RecErvcD JAN. 10 1 nCopy«WGHT ENTRY r'jTn^. / a^/cfr.i.- oi.t^s^ a^ XXa Ho, COPY a. I II COPYRIGHTED Wisdom waits for every head, And Love for every heart; Light exists for every eye, And Truth for every ear; There is Good for every hand, A Way for every foot; Salvation awaits each soul, Life g-ives itself to plan And unfold the perfect man — God stands while eons roll. DEDICATION. To all who read these words, No matter who they are; Whether of low or hig-h degree, Whether near or far, My Friends, To him whose childhood days Are to me as f rag-rant flowers; Whose faithful face has g-iven me Many happy hours. My Brother. To him whose indulg-ent heart Has seldom said me nay. And whose loving kindnesses I never can repay. My Father. To her through whom I owe my all, And whose noble spirit no sod Can cover. Who is love itself, And who I hold as next to God, My Mother. I lovingly dedicate these lines. L. EsTKLLE D. King, PROEM. The La^w is changeless. We reap as ive som) ; To all good say **Yes/^ To error say **No/^ Dear heart, are you reaping sickness or sorro^w ? Ha've you sown tares (error thoughts) ^th your nvheat? Cheer up, re-so^w, there's a bright, bright tomorroTv, For Love is the Lam> and Mercy doth mete. CONTENTS. Dedication - - - - - - 5 Proem^ -__-.. 7 Whol 10 Humanity^ s Hearty - - - - 11 Who and What and Where is God ? - - - 12 Tour Choice^ _ . _ - . 23 Friendships - • - - ' . - 26 At-one-ment^ _ _ . - _ 27 ''We Come Forth From God;' - - - 30 Forgive^ .._--- 33 The Law of Attraction s - - - - 38 Our Redhirds^ _ _ - _ - 40 Life's Lesson s^ - - - - - 44 Little by Little, ----- 46 Stand in the Sunlight, - - - - 48 Grasp Good Only, - - - - 50 Tzf^ FF^r/^5, ' 52 The Story of a Broken Lens^ - - - 53 The Power that Won, - - - - 70 Optimism, ------ 74 Thanksgiving Eve, - - - - - 75 Christmas Chifnes, - - - - 76 New Tear's Bells, - - - - - 77 Could I ! ' - ' - ' - 78 / Want, - - - - - - 80 WHO} up rose the thoug-ht, earnest and sincere, Par above ; Down fell the words, so sweet and clear, God is Love. WHAT) Forth went the question, fervent and long, Like a ruth ; Back came the answer, firm and strong-, God is Truth. WHERE} Without stands the query often heard, Here and there ; Within lies the true, silent word, Everywhere. 11 HUMANITY'S HEART. This God which the world has so long- been seeking* Can never be found in any one place; Listen, dear soul, to your true self speaking-, You will find Him quickest in the heart of the Race. First, seek within yourself, g-o clear down to the core, Find your own individuality, then dare To look straig-ht into all hearts as never before. And you will see God's indwelling" spirit is there. Be true. The confidences and secrets of others Hold just as sacred as you hold your very own; Not just blood, but kindly sympathy, makes brothers, We are kin in mind and soul as well as flesh and bone. When you have found this God in Humanity's heart, And your faith in all mankind you bravely declare ; Then you will see that all thing-s are of Him a part, And that God and His King-dom are everywhere. 12 WHO AND WHAT AND WHERE IS GOD } Who and what is God ? Is a question asked down all the ages, It has burst from the lips of babes and out from the hearts of sag'es. But though children ask of children and wise men seek from above, None will receive a better answer than St. John's — ** God is love." What is Life ? Has also perplexed philosophers of every ag-e, For an answer they have searched the ancient records page by page ; But only the ones have found it who could turn away and look Deep down in Nature — God's masterpiece — the greatest, grandest book He could write, and there learn the lesson taught in every word and line, That Life is God, and God is Life, immutable and Divine. Pure, perfect, whole and eternal, without beginning or end, God, Nature, Life, all into one harmonious unit blend. 13 What is Truth ? As asked bj Pilate in the long-, long- ag-o, Will be repeated by his brethren till each has learned to know That Truth is God, and God is Truth, unalterable, the same Yesterday, today, and forever, no matter by what name You wish to call it, whether God, Love, Life, Truth, Nature or Spirit, It is the Creator, and all thing's are created in it ; It is the Great Primal Source of man and beast, and plant and clod ; It is the very Life of all that lives, but men have named it God. Yet its real name — the one which descended on Christ as a dove — Is ever and always the sweetest, and this one name is Love. From it spring's all our loyalty and trust, our patience, hope and g'race, It is immortal youth and beauty, the soul behind each face. 14 God is Intellig*ence itself, and has made all that is made, From the g-iatit worlds that roll throug-h space down to the grassy blade. God is the "Over-Soul" of the universe; the Great I Am, The Eg'O, Christ, or individuality of every man. Christ is the Light that shineth in the secret place of the Most Hig-h, The Soul-center — where God seems to leave off and man beg-in — the I Of each of us ; see this infinite side of every one you meet, Be he a prince within a palace, or a beg-gar on the street. God, the one creative energy, limitless and without flaw. Is the Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent Law Underlying all phenomena ; complete, changeless Being, In which there is no variableness or shadow of turning. 15 It is the "still, small voice,'' — that inward monitor which speaks to all — Aye, more, the very force which prompts us to listen and heed its call. As God is Unity, Law is one all-wise, universal will. To acknowledge it in all our ways, is to this Law fulfill. God is Perfection, and includes the sum-total of All Good, The only Presence, the only Power, and is understood To be the Divine Principle or Cause, which lies back behind All action, all thought, and all form — the one and only Mind. Cause is the builder of all form, for all form is but effect. Back of visibility lies this invisible Architect — Formless Mind — in which we are lived and moved and have our being". For God is all there is to be, to realize this is seeing- 16 That "All is Infinite Mind and its infinite manifesta- tion ; " That God is the Creator, creative action and creation. Both noumena and phenomena ; expressor and thing- expressed, Cause and effect, founder and foundation on which all things rest. *' O my God, where art thou ? " Many a suffering heart has cried. And many a hungry, homesick soul has sought Him far and wide ; " Where is God ? " Children with wondering eyes have asked o'er and o'er, And still the seeking-, still the asking", we hear it more and more. Yet our God is all about us, in the very air we breathe, In the ball of earth we tread and in the fleecy clouds which wreathe The blue dome o'erhead, in the heart of man, in the wild beast's lair, For God means Good, and the Principle of Good is everywhere. 17 As there is only God, and Him manifest in all nature and All living, there is no room for evil or a satan. Grand Is this conception of Deity as All in All. One Wisdom, One God rules without a rival, supreme in the only Kingdom. One substance, in, out of, and by which all things are created, One government sustains and governs all, and all are related ; Are bound together by common ties into one vast brother- hood. Are of one blood, each heart fed from the Great Heart of Absolute Good. This Source and Cause is Consciousness itself, thus we can comprehend How God is as a loving Father, tender Mother, faithful Friend; Overshadowed by His presence, though we feel as a little child. We can subdue the heart within us, which sometimes beats so wild. 18 God is all the health and streng-th and joj that we can ever possess, All the vig-or and vitality that any one can express; But we must first fulfill the law, and though we fail a thousand times, We must follow the Principle or we need not look for the sig-ns. We must live the life for life's own sake; seek the Truth because 'tis true, And with its holy presence be permeated throug-h and throug-h; Be at one with God, who is the Lig"ht that banishes the nig-ht. Do as we would have others do. Do right because it is right. Abide in the center of our being, in the innermost I, — Man's trysting place with the Divine, the secret place of the Most High. Be the Love which forever flows alike to every child of earth. No rich, no poor, no low, no high, for all are divine by birth. 19 Creative Love is Omnipresence, filling* every point of space, It is the Law of Attraction, and holds each planet in its place; It is the substance of the spheres, and keeps the stars a-shining-. And with its tender g-low g-ives to our clouds their g-olden lining". It portrays the g-lorious sunset with all its varied hue; It sends the blood through every vein, and sparkles in each drop of dew; It binds the atoms of the g^ranite rock, and lifts the ocean's foam; It is the essence of all friendships and the lig-ht of every home. It is the whiteness of the lily fair, the crimson of the rose, It forms the dainty snowflake and nourishes everything- that g-rows; It is that wondrous something- which makes our lives worth living-. Which overlooks all human errors and makes us all forg-iving". 20 It g-uides each wandering- comet as it rolls to and from the sun, We have all been prodig-als, and it bring-s us back one by one; For no man will ever turn away from what he knows to be true, And boundless, immeasurable Good enfolds every one of you. You have heard this same old story, doubtless, many times before, You read it in papers modern, you find it in ancient lore; But its sweetness never chang-es, whether found beneath or above. It is the same dear old story, the story that *'God is Love." But pardon, pray, this repetition, as this is the month of cheer. The merry month of Christmas, and you know it conies but once a year. Yet it means far more than feasts, g"ifts, and the loads of sweets and toys That fill the hung'-up-stocking-, the delig-ht of the g-irls and boys. 21 It means to the grown up men and women, and the little ones, too. That the " Christ " is born in the very core of every one of you; At the very center of your being*, where each is a son of God, Born of Spirit immaculate, of a Love fathomless and broad. The old Law ever holds true, that all things bring- forth after their kind, As Father, so son. The race was born in the Bethlehem of Mind, And the star that stood over the city shines as bright now as then, The wise ones follow it, and find Christ in all the children of men. "Like begets Like," that which is born of the Spirit must be Spirit; That which is born of inherent goodness must All Good inherit. *' God has only himself to make His children out of,^* thus every Birth is a Christ birth, and every child a Christmas child. Merry 22 And happy should be the heart from the cradle to tran- sition. Could we but bid the seeming-s stand aside and give Love permission To reig-n supreme, destroy all unlike itself, and thus cast out fear; We would have a truly merry Christmas, and have it all the year. Let's look beyond man's errors and see in all faces the Divine, Mold Faith in our Christmas manna, and pour Love in our New Year's wine; Then Peace shall come with g-ood will to men, and Heaven draw very near, I wish you all just such a Christmas, just such a Glad New Year. 23 YOUR CHOICE, An indescribable something- Lies back of all creation; Some call it '' Spirit" or *' Being-," Some " Stillness," some " Vibration," Some of us call it Love, But most of us call it God. Some call it ''Good " or "Unity," Others call it "Wisdom" or "Soul," Some "Principle," some "Deity," Others call it the "Perfect Whole," But I like to call it Love, And I also call it God. Some say it is the " Creator," Others call it the "Inmost I;" Some "Consciousness," some "Redeemer," Others, " The Word," or the "Most High," But I like to call it Love, Though I also call it God. Some say it is "Omnipresence," Others, the "Universal Man," Some "Omnipotence," some "Omniscience," Others call it the " Great I Am," But I like to call it Love, Though I often call it God. 24 Some call it the " Great Primal Source," Others, the "First Great Cause;" Some say it is "Power" or " Force," And others call it "Nature's Laws," But I like to call it Love, Yet I sometimes call it God. Some call it "Mind," some call it "Life," And still others call it "Truth;" Some call it "Peace," some call it Light," And others call it " Endless Youth," But I like to call it Love, Though I sometimes call it God. Some call it the ' ' Only Substance, " Others call it the "Holy One; " Some say it is "Intelligence," "Father," " Holy Ghost," and "Son," But I like to call it Love, Though I often call it God. Some say it is "The Infinite," Others call it the " Silent Voice;" Some say it is the "Law of Right," Each one names it his own choice. And so I name it Love, And I also name it God. 25 Some call it this, some call it that, Their choice I do not refute; Some saj it is ** Divinity," Others call it "The Absolute," Though I like to call it Love, Yet I also call it God. I like to call it God because This word includes all other names. All that it can be, is, or was. And the goal of all our aims. So sometimes I call it God, And sometimes I call it Love. I like to call it Love. Haven Of rest, and that dear word, Father, The essence of Home and Heaven, And that most sacred word. Mother, So I sometimes call it Love, And I sometimes call it God. ^ FRIENDSHIP. A priceless treasure is a loj-al friend, Better than silver, yea, better than gold. Countless chang^es come and g^o, yet I hold Dauntless and fixed, is friendship to the end. Kvery attribute which man possesses Flows to him from the universal source — Gifts of the spirit. What a mighty force Has embodied itself in man ! Expresses Itself through him in that staunch being, friend. Just stop; think for what that word really stands. Know'st thou it stands for the Image and Likeness of God ? In it all qualities blend. Making it a pass-word into all lands, Nothing claimed for it is too great or grand. Open your soul to this divine inflow — Prayer is but the soul's sincere desire — Question thought not kindled with love's pure fire. Reach upward, then outward, strive to bestow Steadfast friendship which nothing can sever. True love seeks not for a return, but makes Us first, fast friends with all mankind, then takes Virtue's clear light and shines on forever. What ! Be false when others are false to me ? Xeriffs of tried gold should not tempt me so; Years should find us the same firm, faithful friends; Zealous champions for humanity & the good in each human heart. Hard ? No, God-love so anxiously its own defends. ?7 AT-ONE-MENT. As a stream is ever at-one with its source, Soman is at-one with The Great Life-Force; As lig-ht is ever the showing- forth of heat, And rocks are a part of the soil 'neath our feet, As all Nature bring-s forth, each after its kind, So man shows forth the One Universal mind. There can be no separation in Spirit, The children of God must All-Good inherit; As a ray of lig-ht comes from the sun above. So the real man comes forth from Infinite Love. Say not that he, like his flesh, is dust unto dust, For the imag-e and likeness of Spirit must Also be Spirit, pure, holy and divine. God is the All-in- All of your life and mine. To make this truth — Man's oneness with God, Spirit — Manifest, we must recog-nize it, claim it, Know that, in beiag- and essence, we are it, And then with earnest, steadfast purpose, live it. What of our failures, mistakes, or so-called sin ? Of the many prizes which we never win ? Of the yearning-s and long-ing-s which seem in vain ? Of the striving-s and heartaches mingled with pain ? They are mistakes made in the problem of life. For the works of Spirit are done without strife. 2S It takes both Wisdom and Force to solve a problem. The Principle of Mathematics is emblem Of God, as the Divine Principle of Man And the Universe. To work life's problem can We succeed, unless we are one with Principle ? How can we be true unless Truth's disciple ? Problem with Principle must ever ag^ree, Or mistakes in the solution there will be ; And roug-h and thorny will be the pathway trod, Unless we realize our oneness with God : They are the bumps men get as they walk life's floor — Most of us are babes and can but little more Than creep — They fall, but, eager to reach the goal The}^ rise again, but the road is steep, doubts roll Like stones, from other minds as well as their own, Doubts as to their firmness, some call it " Back-bone," Doubts as to their goodness, their intrinsic worth, Their inborn God-likeness, and their royal birth. Yet inexperienced, they fall and get a bump. Few knew the undeveloped mind ; few saw the lump In the anxious throat ( Every soul is blind which peers Into a wayward heart and sees there no tears), As they failed, though they did try with all their might. Harsh thought said, "Good enough for them," "Serves them right," 29 "The J knew better," etc. O World, wake from sleep, Call unto other hearts like deep unto deep, Hear sweet Charity as she pleads for every one, ' ' Father, f org^ive them, they know not what they've done. " We came from one source, we journey toward one end. All are one in God, let each be to each a friend. Let each know that " I and my Father are one," And each say, " His will is mine, let it be done." Man is one with man. Realize this at-one-ment. Man is one with God. This is the true Atonement. Stand fast in this Truth wherewith Love hath made you free. And be as true to Truth as Truth is true to thee. Oh ! Call not men poor, crawling- worms of the sod, But teach them the Oneness and Allness of God. Say not, "There's satan below and God-wrath above," But show them the Oneness and Allness of Love. 30 " WE CAME FORTH FROM GOD. ' ' " We came forth from God." Oli, those precious words, By day and by nig-ht they ring- in my ears, As sweet as the song- of children and birds. For they came to me 'mid sorrow and tears. " We came forth from God." I hear the words yet, They were spoken so earnest, strong- and plain To hearts that were heavy and eyes that were wet. Over and over I hear them again. " We came forth from God." This sentence contains The secret of orig-in and destiny. It shows man's real character and explains His inheritance and divinity. He must be like the Source from which he sprang-, A pure stream cannot send forth waters both Bitter and sweet. Fig-s on fig-trees must hang. For you have heard it said, "A g-ood tree doth 31 Bring forth fruit after its kind." God is Good, Therefore, doubt not man's inherent g-oodness ; Ever since time began the Law has stood Firm in its unalterable kindness. I am not talking of man's seeming sin, Of his false beliefs and his ignorance, For they are but the mistakes he makes in His blind gropings for his inheritance. His inheritance of all that is good, All that is pure, true, noble and divine. " We came forth from God," or else the Christ could Not have said, *'A11 the Father hath is thine." I am talking of the immortal man, Created in God's own image and likeness; Made out of Spirit and divine in plan, Begotten in Love and true holiness. 32 '* We came forth from God." How full the promise Given the children of humanity. '* I am the Alpha and Omega." In this Lies both our orig-in and destiny. "We came forth from God." In Him we are living* Like birds in the air and fishes in the sea; Are one with Him in essence and being-, In Him we abide as the branch in the tree. " We came forth from God." We constantly breathe Divine substance, holy, spirtual breath. Seen or unseen, we His Spirit receive, God is all life and there can be no death. The earnest soul who did this lesson teach, I thank most sincerely. Firmer is trod Life's pathway, as we realize and each Day repeat his words, "We came forth from God." 33 FORGIVE. Forth from mj heart spring's a little word, but So full of meaning to the human race, It holds the power to transform each hut And palace into a heavenly place; It surg-es throug"h every atom of my Being", and finds rest only as it pours Itself forth and is met, in other hearts by The same word as waves meet their ocean shores, I recog"nize a yea, yea, down in the Fathomless depths of every throbbing- heart, For even thoug-h by all denied, yet we Feel that each is of the One Life a part. Pure Wisdom forms each atom of the whole. Divine blood builds every tissue and cell. Truth, wakened or slumbering-, in one soul Lies deep in every other soul as well ; The g-reat divine inheritance of one, Is also the inheritance of all. The g-rand qualities of Being- burst forth, And like far-oif birds, each to each does call — No soil but holds rich treasures in its depths — And I know in each of the hearts that live There is stored in some one of its secret Chambers, that tender, soulful word, forgive. Dear friend, have you aug-ht ag-ainst another, Believing- some one has done you a wrong-? Has your pride been hurt, your feeling-s wounded, 34 Either at home or ming-ling- in life's throng- ? Do jou still cling to that old seeming- g-rudg-e, And think over the wrong- that has been done, Then mistake yourself for jour brother's judg-e And tell over his faults to every one ? Then out from mj soul there spring's this same old Word, forgive. It is the Law of Being". Being- is God, and God can no more help Forg-iving- than lig-ht can keep from shining, But He forgives according to a fixed Law of His own Being. He forgives just As fast as we fulfil His Law. If we, Through our blind ignorance, sow tares, we must Refit the soil and sow good seed before We can reap the golden harvest of right Being, right thinking*, right doing. Sin is Forgiven only when destroyed. As light Forgives darkness by dispelling it, so Truth forgives error. Think not that error Or sin can be indulged and forgiven. That is, wiped out, without suffering, for God forgives sin as the principle of Mathematics forgives a mistake in Numbers — by adjustment only — only By at-one-ment with Divine Law can sin Be blotted out. Happiness is the state Of Being, and he who co-operates With the Law of Being masters his fate. 35 The keen eye of All- Wise Love penetrates Throug-h all darkness and error and beholds Itself in the Law, beholds Its living- Likeness in man. Action of Law unfolds The divine g-erm within him, forg-iving- Mistakes as fast as Truth is embodied. We forg-ive ourselves when we stop sinning- — Falling- short of Truth or missing- the path — We must work with the Law unremitting-, Or we bruise ourselves, then call it God's wrath. "God's wrath ! " Such a thing- is impossible. Can lig-ht shed darkness ? Can fire freeze ? No. Then why say that God (Perfect Love) can hate ? Far better say that waters cannot flow, That mighty planets cannot roll in space, That the twinkling- stars cannot shine above, That the earth cannot send forth flowers fair. Than say God cannot be Unchang-ing- Love. No ice can withstand the torrid sun's rays Nor darkness resist the lig-ht it beg-ets, No error can thrive where Truth supreme reigns, No hatred where Love forg-ives and forg-ets. Would you know happiness — joy, full and free? Would you find a lasting- peace and content ? Then be forgiveness itself. Be like the Sunshine and yours shall be a life well spent. Well spent, because the true soul who forgives Constantlv, knows that he is no better 36 Than tlie most undeveloped child that lives. He knows that he is as much a debtor To the Principle of his being- as Any one else can be. He cannot boast Of superiority for he has Learned that he who shows forth the most Noble attributes and does the most g"Ood, Is simply farther advanced in the Laws Of spirtual unfoldment ; has stood The test of temptation only because Of g"reater development of moral Strength within him. Thus he takes no credit, Neither g"ives credit to any mortal For being- good, knowing- that from Spirit And Truth universal, each attribute Is derived ; that no man orig-inates His own g-oodness. Christ g-ave all g-ood repute To God, not to self or associates. All noble deeds He credited to the One God in each personality. To Him who is All. " Why callest thou me Good? there is none g'ood, but one, that is God." See'st thou not that all morality Must be God embodied ? Man in order To embody the Truth must turn from all Condemnation. Charity, the border- Land of Love, holds rich treasures g-reat and small. Principle does not blame, judge or condemn; rf Nor does man, when he understands the Law, Criticise another for seeming- sin; Nor does he mag-nify each fault and flaw. He knows he either has or mig-ht have been Just as bad, for man is not saved by works, But by the Christ Principle of his being-, Which shows him that the God-likeness ever lurks Beneath the dense shadows of sin, freeing- Soon or late, each mentally from the Bondag-e of ignorance and error. This Principle also teaches him that to be Happy he must conform to the Law. Bliss, Fullness of joy, is of the Spirit and Endures throug-hout all time. Sense pleasures Must be redeemed by head and heart and hand. Understanding- of Principle measures Man's capacity to forgive. It means For him to be ever ready and willing To help any fellow-creature. He who leans Upon Principle for guidance, filling Heart and head with only the pure and true, Seeing the common origin of all ; That the same God who is God of the few Is the loving Father of the many. Helps to speed the years till error and wrong Shall by the right arm of Love be riven, Cast in oblivion where they belong — Each soul bv both God and man forgfiven. e>' 38 THE LAW OF ATTRACTION. Life is omnipotent, and maketh whole, Joy is sunshine for all kinds of weather ; Peace is the fragrance from a tranquil soul, But it's Love that holds the world tog-ether. Hope is a g-uiding- star which never sets, Beauty is Soul shining- through Nature's face; Understanding, the light which Faith beg-ets. But it is Love that holds all thing-s in place. Mind is cause. Thoug-ht is the action of Mind, Flesh is result. What truly is, is best. Mind thinks, showing- forth thought after its kind. But Love is the base on which true thoughts rest. Man's true, spoken word is a torch to bear. Whether he live in a cottag-e or hall; Charity, a robe we all need to wear. But Love is the sum and substance of all. 29 Knowledge has been Power since time began, And, thoug-li it's harder to practice than preach, Intelligence shows that Mind is the Man, And Love is the height to which all things reach. Happiness is the crown of every goal, Wisdom to Truth, our life-barques tether ; Virtue is the nectar of every bowl. But it's Love that binds us all together. Spirit is substance, from Mind to a clod. Kindness, the firm bond between every race ; The sum-total of all is Love or God, And it's Love holds the Universe in place. 40 OVR REDBIRDS. On our side porcli railing* there lit one day A brig-ht little bird with a coat so g"aj, For his plumag^e was red as a red, red rose, And a ring- of black feathers encircled his nose. He twittered and chirped, as much as to say, "If you make a move I will fly rig-ht away." And so we kept still while he hopped about, Looking- both this way and that way, no doubt, To see if we were so extremely neat Not a crumb could be found for birdie to eat. Down on the porch steps he did quickly pass. Then straig-htway hopped out into the g-reen g-rass. Soon he loudly chattered, "For g-oodness sake ! If here isn't a piece of johnny cake." Quickly he closed 'round it his brig-ht red bill, Mouse-like we kept ever so still, so still. A few more crumbs on the g-round he did spy. Then he softly whistled a sweet "g-ood-bye." I said to my friend, ' ' Just suppose we take And put on that rail some fresh johnny cake. We will put the crumbs there, then wait and see How much of a temptation it will be." 41 The next morning- we watched, and not in vain, For back came our whistling- bird ag-ain. He found that his breakfast table was spread With plenty of water and plenty of bread. He chuckled and chattered at a g-reat rate, As he hopped on the rail and his breakfast ate. The g-rass was pretty under the morning- dew, But prettier the bird as he chirped, "Thank you." Back to the porch a number of times he came. And found his nice table set just the same. Then he twittered and chattered, "Now please do Just be liberal and set it for two." We joyfully added another plate. And to see our new g-uest could hardly wait — We believed in the divinity of all thing-s made, From yon shining- orb to that breakfast laid ; We believed that all thing-s were made by Love, From the bug-s beneath to the birds above ; We believed that all love, howe'er expressed. In all living- thing-s is God manifest. Be it from man to man in deed and word. Or from beast to beast and from bird to bird. All life is God-Life. When this is understood, We will behold all thing-s as "very g-ood," 42 And have charity for every eye that weeps, And sympathy for the smallest thing- that creeps — Before very many hours could pass, My friend chanced to look throug-h the window g-lass, And exclaimed, *' Just come and look ! Sure as fate. There is our pretty redbird and his mate." True enoug-h, there beneath the cherry tree Were two birds just as cute as birds could be. One with wide open mouth 'twixt lips so red, Who was by her companion being- fed With a bug or something- else he had found As he hopped here and there over the ground. Closer and closer they came till he Flew to the pump ; she, more timid, chose a tree. He coaxed and chattered and told her not to fear. That there was no one who would hurt them here. At last he proved himself a successful swain, His coaxing and cooing had not been in vain ; He stood triumphant on the rail ; by his side. In all her beauty, stood his gentle bird bride. He was as handsome as any bird need be. She as sweet and dainty as any you see. He wore a suit which was dashingly red. While a top-knot crowned each delicate head. 43 They were symbols of Love and a pretty pair, And all human-kind should their g-entleness share. Soon the g-allant husband beg-an to break, In his usual way, a piece of johnny cake. Then he put some into her open bill, While we sat watching, oh, so still, so still. Then he chirped and chattered, "Don't be so 'fraid. This breakfast on purpose for us was laid." But she ate sparingiy, the place was new. So they said "bye-bye" and away they flew. But the ice was broken, the victory won ; No longer need they seek from sun to sun For bugs and worms and their daily bread. For a bountiful table now is spread On that porch railing, and for a plate Is used, not china, but a great big slate. From everything good in the eatable line, A little is put on that slate 'neath the vine. And the redbirds come at their own sweet will. And twitter and chatter a "Peace be still." They whistle and talk to us every day. Their beauty and song does all kindness repay. They are building a nest very close, I hear. Thus proving the proverb that Love casts out fear. 44 LIFE'S LESSONS. Had sorrow always passed me hy. And had I never known pain ; Had temptation never come nig*h, And doubt never crossed my brain ; Had despair never touched my brow, And had I never known sin ; Had I to God no broken vow, No tempests rag-ing- within ; Had my life been all brig-ht sunshine And never ming-led with rain ; Had worldly pleasures all been mine. Would all this have been real g-ain ? I might have lost that deeper joy Which sprang- forth from life's crosses, Or missed the Truth without alloy, Which compensates life's losses. 45 Had I of sorrow had no part, I could never have been drawn So close to humanity's heart, And into its depths have g-one So that I could feel its beating- And its warm blood ebb and flow, As sense pleasures seem retreating-, And desires come and g-o, I mig-ht have lacked true sympathy For the hearts I meet each day ; I mig-ht have lacked sweet charity For all who have missed the way. I am a nobler, truer friend. Not a child of earth is spurned; Each has my friendship to the end. For the lessons I have learned. 46 LITTLE BY LTTTLE. Little bj little the Truth-seekers grow, They note not their prog'ress but yet we know God-Life through them is forever flowing, Cleansing- and healing-, warming- and g-lowing" ; Beliefs in matter, evil and decay, Little by little are passing- away. Day by day are scattered the seeds of Love, While error by error they rise above ; Steadfast and persistent, the Truth they seek, And over and over the true word speak ; Listening- to the " still, small voice within," Little by little the prize they win. Month by month tog-ether they hold the true thoug-ht. From its hig-h ideals noble lives are wrought. Making God manifest, none can well shirk. Each for himself must accomplish the work. Though fear and hope alternate seize the soul, God's hand with wisdom is guiding the whole. 47 In the loom of Mind, with the shuttle thought, They are slowly weaving- what can't be bought ; An understanding- heart, a conscience white. As little by little they do what's right; To entwine the thoughts with a master's skill, They must work as one with the Infinite Will. Step by step they climb the great spiritual height, Walking by faith till clearer grows their sight. Thought upon thought from the All-Good they build, Till with Faith, Hope and Love their hearts are filled So full that to others they must overflow. To some weary watcher his True Self show. Year after year on they press without strife. Their guide — He who is the Way, Truth and Life. As one by one does the Great Truth release. Soul by soul comes into its inward peace. Till their highest praise of Divinity They voice together in glad symphony. 48 STAND IN THE SUNLIGHT, Stand in the brig-ht sunlig-ht of God, Its g-ood is always shining-, It penetrates the darkest clouds, And g-ilds a g-olden lining. Stand in the bright sunshine of Hope, It strengthens the heart each day. And sheds rich beauty and gladness On all who may pass its way. Stand in the bright sunshine of Peace, And let it reflect on all ; It will yield no bitter remorse, For its cup holds joy, not gall. Stand in the bright sunshine of Love, In it no error can thrive ; It is the elixir of Life And keepeth the soul alive. 49 Stand in the brig-ht sunshine of Truth, Its rajs are shining- steel ; It claims naug-ht that is unlike God, And knows only g-ood is real. Stand in the brig-ht sunshine of Life, In it is no death for the soul ; It is the quintessence of Being-, And maketh *' every whit whole." Stand in the sunlig-ht of Power, Power that comes from on hig-h. Power that spring-s forth from Spirit, And concentrates in the '* I." Stand in the brig-ht sunlight of Faith, 'Twill g-leam on the pathway trod. Be loyal and true, let naug-ht come Between yourself and your God. 50 GRASP GOOD ONLY. O world, all that God is, or made, is g-ood. The One, only Creator, created Nothing- unlike Himself. Truth is unsealed ; Grasp it so firmly that your fixed oneness With the immutable, unchangeable Law of absolute Good ma}^ be revealed. All that is g-ood — grasp it so, grasp it so ; But all error — let it go, let it go. Dear one, every soul is centered in Love, Centered in the one great Source of all-good ; We are pushed from and by this one Life-force Into existence. Our false beliefs and Ignorance of Truth is what ails us all. Remedy — find, then abide in our Source. All true goodness — grasp it so, grasp it so ; But all hatred — let it go, let it go. Which do you most see, the good or error. In another ? If you see and praise the Good you help unfold it, but his mistakes — Help him to destroy them with the Truth, thus Forgive them and forget them, let them go. By recognizing only the good, man makes The without as the within. Friend or foe, Remember not his error, let it go. 51 Faults and wrong-s you find in others or in Self, justig-nore them, let them g-o ; then grasp The opposite g-ood — the rig-ht — with so g-reat A firmness that it can but replace them. Only g"ood can overcome evil, and The true must dispel the false, soon or late. The Christ-truth in each soul — g"rasp, g-rasp it so, But his errors — let them die, let them g-o, Porg-ive them and forg-et them, let them go, It will make the world a happier place. Than to cling* to the g"rudges and the slig"hts. Let your love be like the sun, shining- on All alike, lig-hting- dark places, turning- Away wrath, filling- the world with delig-hts. All the g-ood you find — g-rasp it, g-rasp it so That the error will have to, have to g-o. See the Man, the Real Man, the Christ Man, in Every soul you meet ; behold this Imag-e And likeness of God ; g-rasp it, don't let it Go ; cherish it as a true and tried friend ; Know that the errors and false beliefs do Not belong- to him. He is pure spirit. All that is g-ood and God-like — g-rasp it so, But all that is unlike God — let it g-o. a TWO WORLDS. There are two worlds lying- side by side> One unseen, the other the seen ; One is deep and the other is wide, Both are formed from Spirit, I ween. One is cause, the other is effect, And both I call spiritual ; One is acknowledged to be perfect, But some call one material. The realm of Mind and the world of clay, Are the ideal and the real ; One we revere and sometimes obey. The other with the senses feel. We each of us build our own thought world, We make it either g-lad or sad, According to the kind of thoughts hurled From our mind, whether sfood or bad. 53 THE STORY OF A BROKEN LENS, I am only a broken lens, Not even encased in a bow, But I have a little story That I want all my friends to know — It may do you good ; for sometime, Somewhere, you may chance to meet A fellow like the one I did. Within your home or on the street. It was an ideal morning- In the beautiful month of May, Just such a lovely morning- As precedes an ideal day ; I lay on my mistress' table So happy and content, For my partner and myself Were never on sensation bent. Our g-reatest joy was in resting- Quietly on our mistress' nose. For she sometimes needs friends like us When she reads and when she sews. I lay there resting- and dreaming- And listening- to the May birds sing, When I was startled by hearing- The door-bell g-o ting--a-ling--ling-. 54 M}^ mistress, who was near by, stepped Forward with all her usual grace, And met a dignified stranger — With a big satchel — face to face. I judged from his mien and manner He was Aladdin's Magician, But he presently announced that He was an "expert optician." Then, stepping across the threshold, Gave himself an invitation To deliver to his hearers A fine optical oration ; Which he did with an eloquence Excelled by none, equalled by few. As he tried to convince my mistress That her blue eyes were all askew. With one she could eas}^ see afar, With the other only close b}- ; To make them both alike, he said, Was not one bit of use to try ; For his test machine was exact. And both of them he had tested, In spite of the fact that she. In her gentle way, had protested. i 55 Then he found that at least in one thing- She was bound she would have her way, She would not purchase spectacles Of him, or anyone that day ; She would not buy his g-lasses and Pay him two dollars and a half ; She could get them for fifty cents Elsewhere, and how it made us laug-h. But our laug-hing- turned to terror As the g-reat optician said, "Let me see your g-lasses, madam, The ones you find oft on your head." My trusting- mistress then picked us up ; I would have screamed outright And told her not to do such a thing-, But so extreme was my frig-ht I could not speak a word, so she Handed us over to that man. A friend who had been very busy Writing- at her desk, then beg-an To take more than a passing- interest In what was being- said and done ; She turned and watched the optician As he wiped us one by one. 56 On his pocket handkerchief. How he Polished mj mate and then rubbed me, Just as though we had never had A bath, and through us no one could see. Then he mixed us with his glasses Which he had brought with him, to show How it takes such different lens To fit different eyes, you know. Then, oh ! All at once — '' presto change "- Another lens was in my place. And soon with my blest companion Was put on my dear mistress' face. Where I went I hardly knew, For I was scared almost to death. So fast I flew from place to place, It quite took all my breath. My innocent mistress did not See me, neither did my friend, But I saw a look upon her face Which I did quickly comprehend, As she noted with what positiveness The learned agent put to rout All statements that my lady's eyes Were just alike ; "Without a doubt 57 You never noticed it before," He said ; "Nevertheless, 'tis true ; Here are your g-lasses ; see, they speak For themselves. Now try to look throug-h Them and read from this newspaper, First with one eye, then with the other. Don't you see, your eyes are no more Alike than sister and brother ? " But in spite of this powerful Argument he had to fail. He could not persuade my mistress - Nor of his glasses make a sale. Then there came a funny feeling In the region of my heart. As he tossed her " specs " into her lap And then prepared to depart ; For I did not want my mistress Left in such an awkward plight, With one eye close up to her nose. And the other way out of sight. My faithful friend then leaned forward — The agent looked cold enough to freeze — As with a gracious smile, she said, "Just let me see them, please," 58 She took the spectacles in her hand And g-ave them just one glance, Then said, "Pray, pardon me, but there May have been a mistake, perchance. For as sure as men are only lads g-rown Tall, and women but grown up lasses, I tell you frankly, just so sure. These are not the lady's glasses," A look of strange bewilderment Quickly covered the agent's face. But with feigned composure, he said, '*If you can find them any place Among my goods — you are welcome To search my satchel through and through You can take them ; they may have got Mixed up with the rest, it is true." But my friend, who had been closely Studying him while he was speaking, Did not move, for she much preferred To have him do the seeking. Which he did most thoroughly. For he had nothing else to do ; And yet, I was so very close I could have scared them b}^ saying " Boo. i> 59 But I kept as still as a mouse, And let him searcli throughout his pack Over and over again, Back and forth and forth and back. At last, turning to my mistress, He exclaimed in sheer despair, '* Are you quite sure, noble madam, That those are not your glasses there ? " '* Quite sure, " she replied, "To prove it I will tell you the reason why ; The missing lens has two small nicks, One on each side. Now you may try, Sir, to find a nick in this one." But he did not try. Instead, Over his case of glasses He quietly bowed his head, And looked again in vain to find The missing lens ; then he replied, " I cannot find it, neither can I make it." With this he tried To look as though all that was Possible to do, had been done. Then he leaned back in his chair, and His eyes sparkled — but not with fun. 60 While I saw in my friend's mirthful Kjes as plain as in any book, That she was thinking- that there was Yet one more place for him to look ; She pitied him, but quickly said, "Pray, sir, look in your pockets." It was like a dynamite bomb, And burst his eyes most from their sockets. While my good mistress held up her hands And thought my friend exceeding- rude, Thoug-h she confessed that she herself Was with some such a thoug-ht imbued. The warm blood then mounted to the Agent's brow, for he was well awoke, And knew that his next sentences Must be studied before he spoke. " Think you that I have stolen the Glasses ? Can you possibly see Any plausible reason why They would be of use to me ? If I have taken them, I will Give a brand new pair of lens As a present to the lady." And before this story ends. 61 You will see that this last statement Of his was very true indeed, For to try to prove his innocence, Of course there was not any need. His ang-er increased, and he was Not the same g-entleman ag-ain ; For his error had been wounded. And was writhing in its pain. My friends both tried to comfort him. And smooth his ruffled feathers down, But it was of no use ; he only Scorned them, and answered with a frown. My friend said if she had misjudged Him, it might to him a lesson be, So the next place he went, he would Be extra careful and see That he did not mix up other People's spectacles with his own. He spoke up very sharp and stern Quite different from his usual tone. *' I guess I know enough to attend To my own business." It scared me, I thought he would eat her up, for He looked as cross as cross could be. 62 "Perhaps jou do," my friend replied, *' But there is one thing- very clear. That with all your boasted confidence, You surely did not know it here." Then I knew he wished he could have Been an "African mag-ician," For just a little while instead Of an "expert optician." At last he saw that there was left But one thing- more for him to do, And that was to fulfil the most Willing promise he had made to My friend. Therefore, he took my Mistress' "specs," and quick as a wink Out went my cherished companion. And that other lens, don't you think, And in their place a nice new pair Of lens, numbered just the same, Por you see he knew, without any Testing-, just how the numbers came To fit my lady's eyes. He was Such an expert that he could just strike The rig-ht ones ; for, he said to her, " You can see through these both alike." 63 It was very funny how quick Her eyes, which had been so askew, Became as near alike as two peas. As thoug-h they had been made brand new. Our visitor arose but made A little speech before he went ; He had traveled much and was by An optical company sent To examine eyes free of charg-e. And all his work was guaranteed. Guaranteed to be, or not to Be ; which, I cannot say indeed. *'To read and see at a distance With the same glass," he comprehends What it is to be *' manufacturer Of this new bi-focal lens." He said he had been in many homes, And he spoke this with much feeling, But this was the first time he had Ever been accused of stealing. With this remark, he and his satchel Vanished quickly out of the door. Leaving poor me, with both my nicks, Not far behind him on the floor. 64 I was rig-ht back of his satchel, Just underneath an easy chair, And it was strang-e that none of them. Not even he, had seen me hiding- there. Soon my friend spied me, picked me up. And g-ave a cry of g-reat surprise. As she saw my two nicks and held Me up before my mistress' eyes. They could not help but laug"h as they Gazed into each others' faces ; Shall I tell you what they said while He went on to other places In search of fresh subjects ? For doubtless He had played this same g-ame before. They talked the experience over For a day or two or more. Did they see him as a wicked Man, who was completely bad. Because he tried to swindle them, And failing-, became slig-htly mad ? Did they condemn him for being- So dishonest and deceitful ? Did they blame him because he was Both treacherous and ung-rateful ? 65 No indeed, for my blessed mistress Is so exceeding- g-ood and kind, She quietly remarked, " There is A man I call morally blind." My friend said, "He is like all the Rest of us, he needs to annex Unto his mental faculties A pair of spiritual ' specs. ) ?) " I tell you, thing's are put upon People," my mistress often said. Her heart is big- and deep and broad, And on all humanity shed Its warm rays of love and truth and Tender compassion for the erring- ; In its depths the g-reat, g-rand qualities Of true womanhood are stirring-. They both ag-reed it was a severe Case of astig-matic blindness. As he seemed to lack what is some- Times called "the milk of human kindness ; " No matter how severe the case, No matter what's been done, mark this, What Shakespeare said is very true : " Ig-norance is the only darkness." 66 He did not know the Law, that the Good of one is the g-ood of all, And the wrong* we do to others Reacts and on ourselves does fall ; He could not see that an honest Mind is the only source of wealth, And that soul as well as body. He should keep in perfect health. But you say that he knew better — That he knew he was doing wrong- In taking from another what He knew did not to him belong. Yes, I grant he had been told, and Perhaps believed it in his head ; Perhaps be had heard it many Times and about it he had read ; But this can never save a man From committing a so-called sin, For intelligence and heart-wisdom Are unfolded from within. You may employ a thousand men And give to each a pail or bowl, Then tell them to carry water And pour it in a hole, 67 But you will never have a lake Nor a stream that will not g"o dry, For every self sufficient things Has in itself its own supply. Every lake and river takes its Rise in accord with Nature's laws, And every man has a soul spring* Within, fed from the First Great Cause, So all man can do for self or To help unfold his brother man, Is to see this divine spring with- in and work as one with its plan ; From it flows all g-oodness and Honesty, all virtue and true worth ; It contains all the attributes Of God. Man is It showing forth. To see the lig-ht of Life and Truth In every man and bid it shine, Is the only way to over- Come the darkness of sin and shame ; To blame, condemn and harshly judg^e Another for being- unkind. Is to cover up our own true Lig'ht, and be ourselves quite blind. 68 Wait, Love will unfold the g-ood in Each, and peace adorn every brow ; Work, knowing- that each is doings The best he, in his heart, knows how ; The best that his present realization Of Absolute Truth will permit. Condemn not, judg-e not, but let thy Face with sweet charity be lit. The deep yearning's and striving's of Others are by us oft unguessed ; Many a rose of triumph buds and Blooms unseen in each human breast. Error is not in the Real Man, Himself, but in his false belief, Knowledg'e of truth, of what he really Is, is his only relief. Love every child of earth, leave not One out. Look beneath faults and flaws. The same Life lives us all ; all are Children of the one and only Cause. One is no better than another. For the seeming' difference lies In their degree of soul-consciousness Or unfoldment, for each one tries 69 In his own degree. It is a g-ift, Therefore neither you nor I Can do more in our deg-ree than He in his. If so, tell me why. Could we abide in the consciousness That man in God is wholly free, Our charity would cover all, "As the waters cover the sea." We would speak kindly to the erring-. And would never, never forget That with their apparent mistakes And with all their seeming- sin, yet, They are joint-heirs to the same g-ood ; Children of the very same God ; Perhaps we fell much oftener, According- to the path we've trod. There, I have told my little story, And taug-ht opticians another trick ; For if they read this and still deceive, They will be sure the lens has no nick. But God g-rant all may learn much more From this story of a broken lens. That g-ood alone bring-s true happiness ; And here, with this wish, my story ends. THE POWER THAT WON. Master, luhich is the great commandment in the taiv ? Jesus said unto him. Thou shalt love the Lord thy Godivith alt thy heart, and