I ii||w !!;!,'^il"!H III ''teii'iiip'iiil''^ ill ^■i ; i! I. :■:!:! il^' ilii!i;l!lhi|:il!l!:^il,i '^' I'll !' i il i ■B mm .^. Moi^^^o^^ Book ^SJ^Jh- PUi;SKNTi;i) HY \^62- KANSAS RHYMES AND OTHER LYRICS BY n\^yfi^ FREDERICK ATWOOD OBANE & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS TOPEKA, KANSAS 1903 T5 ^^ol T8 K3 0^ Gtfb 6 . - CONTENTS. Kansas Rhymes: Pagk. Kansas, 9 The Growing Corn, U The Hot Wind, 12 The Breaking of the Drought, 13 In June, 13 After Next Year's Crop, 14 Come to Kansas, Ig Raising Cane, 18 To the Dandelion, 22 A Bunch of Sonnets: A Love-Letter, 27 Antipodes, . . • 28 Life and Death, 29 The Awakening, ^ 3q To an Easter Lily, * 31 " Not Peace, but a Sword," 32 A Birthday Greeting, 33 Henry George, 34 Columbia — 1898, 35 A Tribute to H. B., 36 Love, 37 Other Lyrics: A Hymn of Thanksgiving, 4I The Song of the Scythe, 43 Bomoseen, ^^ A Fireside Song, 40 The Years, cq A Stumbling-Block, 52 A Hymn, 53 To a Friend, g^ (3) 4 CONTENTS Other Lyrics (continued) : Page. Cuba Libre, ^^ A Slumber-Song, ^' "I Would be Brave," 58 " What Lack I Yet? " 60 " He Shall be Called," 62 " Jesus, I my Cross have Taken," 63 Thanksgiving Day, 65 Lines read at an Alumni Meeting, 68 The Man who will Fight, 75 To Mrs. E. C, 76 To Mrs. B. — An Acknowledgment, 78 An Acrostic, 79 To my Wife — An Apology, 79 With a Christmas Gift, 80 Trifles: With a Copy of La Fontaine's Fables, 83 With one of Bill Nye's Books, 83 With a Copy of Ouida's " A Dog of Flanders " 84 Ian Maelaren, 85 Whitehall, 86 " I Went a-Fishing," 89 Biadohed, 90 A Ballad, 93 TO MY MOTHER J(ansas 'Rtenies KAI^SAS EHYMES. Itan0a0. Kansas : the home of surging, ceaseless winds ; The land of vast and undulating plains That like the mighty ocean stretch away Boundless, save for the curtain, azure blue, Which from our eye conceals the Infinite : A treeless waste, o'er which tumultuous flames Were wont to leap like panic-stricken steeds Urged on by whips of hissing scorpions: But yesterday the bison's wide domain; The realm of coyotes, antelope, and deer ; The hunting-ground of wild and savage men. Kansas : whose sod was superscribed " Free Soil," By men who journeyed far for Freedom's sake, And, prodigal of treasure and of blood, Wrote Kansas high upon the scroll of Fame. John Brown of Osawatomie was there, And Robinson and Pomeroy and Lane, And a great host of earnest, thoughtful men. Who wrought as patriots for the common weal. (9) 10 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEE LYKICS Kansas : the Mecca of a caravan Innumerable that journeys toward the west In search of homes and honest competence : The young man and his new-found joyous wife, Surcharged with good old Anglo-Saxon grit, Ready to face and eager to subdue The wilderness, as once their fathers did. The sod is broke — the golden wheat appears; The plow is followed by a wealth of corn : A sound of hammers — lo ! fair cities rise, Minerva-like, with temple, hall, and mart.' Kansas : a land of drought and want and woe,— Yet more a land of plenty and of joy ! Siroccos now may wither ev'ry herb, And next year's crop make food for half the world. Fickle, perhaps, but as a whole, most kind: If now she frown, 'tis but to smile more sweet; Her children know her and do love her well. Accounting her the best of this green earth.' 1896. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS H fH^t (5to\oim Corn* Upon a thousand hills the corn Stands tall and rank and glossy green; Its broad leaves stir at early morn, And dewy diamonds drop between. A myriad banners wave o'erhead. And countless silken pennons fly; The tasseled plumes bend low, 't is said, And only silken ears know why. Those bending plumes — those upturned ears Methinks it is the old, old story! Dame Nature still, with rapture hears The song she heard in Eden's glory. And so is wrought this miracle Of life and growth unto perfection, — A mystery that none may tell, Save that God gives to it direction. 12 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Day after day, witli scorcliing ray, The burning sun has risen and set. No cloud on high in all the sky Protects us from the dreadful heat. The wells are low ; springs cease to flow ; All nature droops in the terrible dearth ; The dust, in clouds, like vast gray shrouds, Envelops and hides the suffering earth. Then from the mouth of the heated South, Comes forth a breath so parched and dry That manhood quails and courage fails. For the direful hot winds are nigh. With fiery breath, the South-wind saith. As he hurries impatiently on to his prey, " Whatever of good the sun hath withstood My warrant shall hear and quickly obey. " The corn shall wither ; hither and thither Shall fly dead leaves in my furnace-like breath ; All nature shall languish, and man, in his anguish, Shall hate me and curse me in impotent wrath. " Then I '11 whistle in glee, when their mis'ry I see. And hotter and louder my breath shall swell, Until I am hurled by the Judge of the world Down shrieking below to the confines of hell." 1883. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEK LYRICS Listen ! — it rains ; it rains ! The prayer of the grass is heard; The thirsty ground drinks eagerly As a famished man eats bread. The moan of the trees is hushed, And the violets under the banks Lift up their heads so gratefully, And smilingly give thanks. May, 1902. fe9* t^* «^* 13 M ittne. Dame Nature dons a dainty gown And scarce can find excuse to frown. While all the world smiles in her eyes Approval of her sweet disguise. 1899. 14 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS fUtttt Bnt Pear'0 Crop. Oh, you '11 never find a country, Look you far or look you near. That can hold its own with Kansas — Sunny Kansas without peer! For there 's health in all her breezes, And the ozone in the air Makes you feel as rich as Croesus, Tho a pauper otherwhere; And you find yourself a-dreaming Happy dreams that will not stop. Till they 've got you past the harvest Of the I^ext Year's Crop. It is true sometimes things worry, — Sure, the outlook's mighty blue When the wind gets sou'-sou'westward And blows hot a whole week through ; When the chinch-bug gets his work in And the 'hoppers take the rest ; When a cyclone or a hailstorm Knocks the wheat-fields galley west. But we soon forget these trifles. For we know we '11 be on top When we gather in the shekels From the N'ext Year's Crop. 1895. KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 15 And in politics I 'm thinking You will find us much the same : If at times a trifle flighty, Level-headed in the main. We brought home our John James Ingalls And sent Peffer with his dreams, Just to be an object-lesson Of our statesmanship's extremes. But the Pops will be converted, Even Democrats will flop. When they bank their honest dollars After Next Year's Crop. Oh, we '11 get there — don't you doubt it ! And it won't be very long Till there rolls from off these prairies A Cyclopean, joyous song. For there 's Hope in Kansas sunshine. And there 's Faith in Kansas soil. And we know right well that Plenty Will reward our honest toil. So we whistle while we hustle. And we '11 work until we drop, For we '11 all be wearing diamonds After :N'ext Year's Crop 1 16 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Comt to Iian0a0. There's a mighty bracin' air, Here in Kansas. All you folks that 's in the dumps 'Cause you've had a lot of bumps, Jes' get up an' stir your stumps, — Come to Kansas. We don't loll around and mope, Here in Kansas. No, we don't ! We git a move On ourselves, which goes to prove That we 've struck the git-there groove. Here in Kansas. Things is movin' right along. Here in Kansas. I know tbey badgered us a spell. And some said they 'd live in hell Before they 'd undertake to dwell Here in Kansas. But them that stayed, they struck it rich. Here in Kansas. You bet your life they '11 never roam Across the ocean's briny foam — They 've got a Klondike right to bome. Here in Kansas. 1898. KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTHER LYKICS 1^ There's cattle on a thousan' hills, Here in Kansas. A million hog-lots daily dine Ten million fat and healthy swine That pretty soon '11 be under brine, Here in Kansas. We 've got the finest of the wheat. Here in Kansas. An' corn-fields ! you jes' orter see How everlastin' big they be! An' then I know that you 'd agree To live in Kansas. What 's that you say ? " The Pops run wild There in Kansas ! " N'ow don't be scared one little mite : They bark a lot, but they don't bite ; Fact is, they '11 soon be out of sight. Here in Kansas. Agin, to all good folks I say, Come to Kansas. We 've got good fodder, salt an' swill — We 've got more Ian' than we can till — We '11 welcome you — you bet we will ! Come to Kansas. 18 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Wiai0im Cane. The other da,y, a farmer From the burnt-np strip came in. He looked so hale and hearty And wore so broad a grin That I couldn't help but ask him The reason of the same, And quickly got the answer : " You see, I 'm raising cane. " The hogs will fatten on it, And the calves, they like it so That — you may take my word upon it You can almost see them grow! And the chinch-bugs never touch it, And the 'hoppers, too, abstain ; — You 're dead sure of making money If you 're only raising cane." Then my worthy friend, the farmer, Went forth upon his way, To tell, no doubt, another How he 'd been making hay. But thru my head kept running The words of his refrain. And I wondered if I 'd better Start in to raising cane. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 19 And while I pondered on it, Mj eye ran down the street And hit that vacant corner — Just forty-four front feet — On w^hich I'd paid the taxes Ten weary years, in vain. And I felt that I 'd been raising What sounds a deal like cane. And the winters, springs and summers That have fled since '79, Passed again in swift procession, Sending chills adown my spine; For I saAv with clearest vision What calamities have lain On a million Kansas people Who've been blindly raising Cain. Away back in the '80's When we thought the earth w^as ours — When the corn-fields looked like forests And we never lacked for showers — When the shekels flowed from Europe, And New England's dollars came — Did anybody tell us We were really raising Cain ? Did anybody tell us, In those jesirs of senseless greed, That we were daft — plumb crazy ! — Were sowing thick the seed 20 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS That would shortly bring a harvest That would be to us a bane — That would rest a nightmare on us, A true legacy of Cain ? No : never came a warning, But instead there came a Boom ; A boomerang, indeed, it was, And nearly struck our doom. For almost ev'ry living thing Had mirages on the brain, While town-lots sold to music — Oh, didn't we raise Cain ! And when the fuss was over And the pendulum swung back. And the sheriff came to see us. Saying gently, " You must whack," Sure, we knew full well his meaning, And it did'nt soothe the pain To remember our transgressions While we were raising Cain. And you know how things went crooked From Beersheba unto Dan — Went all awry, as only Affairs in Kansas can; How crop failures and low prices And scarce a smitch of rain Made votes to set Llewelling To raising still more Cain. KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS It is amazing — very ! It is surpassing strange That after all we 'd suffered From Pops and Dems and change, When light, at last, seemed dawning. When we might whitewash the stain. The G. O. P. got funny And went to raising Cain. O my farmer friend, so jolly, Your cane may be all right ! But the sort of stuff that 's common Has got us in a plight In which I think we 're bound to stay Until, with might and main. We start to raising common-sense And quit a-raising Cain ! 1896. 21 22 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEE LYEICS %o tte SDandeUon. Bright, wayward flower that coverest all my lawn, With the rich hue that blurs the jaundiced eye, Would I could use thee for a pawoi At some brave shop whereto the passerby By triple balls of thine own color 's drawn. Could I once pledge thee for but just enough Of yellow dust, oft called " the stuff," I 'd think so kindly of thee that, I swear, Rather than mar thy rest I 'd leave thee there. When first I met thee in this Western clime. What transports filled — aye, overflowed — my heart A friendly face was thine, Which to my soul didst unexpected joy impart, I had not seen thee for so long a time. Oh, thou wast dear to me in childhood's days, And when in summer's haze Thy head had lost its gold and all turned white, I blew thy hair out by the roots, in keen delight. Thy strong, aspiring, hollow stem I split And made long ringlets, spirals, odd-shaped wheels — For nature put a curl in it. So when I found thee, then I cracked my heels In glee, and down upon the grass did sit And gloat upon my treasure. Thou didst call Such memories up, that, sure for all The world, it seemed the wheel of time had slipped. And thirty years had vanished Avhen it tripped. KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTIIEE LYRICS 23 And so it was I nursed thee tenderly, And guarded thee from harm of every kind, — Preserved thee for futurity. Spring came again ; and then my anxious mind Was gladdened by thy face and progeny. O joy ! O rapture ! all my vs^atchful care Bore fruit beyond my dreams ; for there, With full a hundred faces, thou didst smile. And all my fears for thee didst quick beguile. Another springtime came: thou didst show up As usual — only more, a thousand fold ! Rare happiness o'erflowed my cup — It did, indeed ! — But mark me, I do hold A good thing overdone were best done up ! Thou overdidst thyself — that 's just thy fix : Thy wondrous, thy amazing tricks Of reproduction were, it seems. The reason why I took thy leaves for greens, And cut thy legionary head off when in bloom — Did many things which one should take amiss. But thou tookst gladly, as a boon. And throve the more, and seemingly in bliss At my ill-tempered treatment, called for room. More room, yet more in which to spread thyself. IS'ow I would swap thee off for pelf. For of thy charms too prodigal art thou; Thou 'd have the earth with half a chance, I vow. 24 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS O Dandelion ! it grieves me much that tliou Hast fallen from thy high estate, and come To what I see thee now — A pest ! a first-class nuisance ! I 'm dumh : It almost breaks my heart! My head I bow In abject sorrow that thou, a Yankee herb, Of whose bright virtues all have heard, Wliose praises have gone forth in noble song, Shouldst ever have come West and gone so wrong ! 1891. B, Buncb of Sonnets. (25) SONNETS Si JLo\it'%ttiet. I sit within mj desert home and gaze With vacant and unseeing eyes upon The various adjuncts of the place whereon Our mutual thought and toil have sought to raise A sweet oasis: and as I look, a haze Blots out the scene, and in its place is come A vision of green hills, and streams that run With gentle murmur like a song of praise. 'T is the home of childhood and of early youth ; The hallowed ground that holds in sacred keep Mem'ries that cluster 'round the dawn of life. A face and form is there, which, in all truth, Is rarely absent from my thought — a sweet Girl face — so sweet I whisper, " Little wife ! " 1888. (27) 28 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYEICS Sintipo\it0, He said : " The world is black with sin and shame ; Men's hearts are fully set to do the wrong; They lust for gold and power, and in the throng IsTone think on Faith or Honor or true Fame, But only rush with headlong, reckless aim At their o"\vn selfish gain. So they be strong, It matters not who fall. Alas, how long Shall this vile world roll on in mortal pain ! " Said she : " The world is passing bright to me. I know that Virtue is a mighty force, That Love is strong, and Truth can never be O'erthrown. Faith's limpid stream from its high source Springs full and free, and on its tide I see Brave barks courageously holding their course." 1892. KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 29 %itt and SDtatj^. 'T is sweet to live, aye, very sweet, indeed, When roses bloom and all tlie birds do sing; When winds blow soft, and bappj days take wing In swift succession, leaving eacli its meed Of pleasant meni'ries and the pregnant seed Of joys to come ; when glowing visions bring Deligbt unsullied by a doubt or sting; When loving word but heralds loving deed. But if the wintry blast strike to the bone. And all earth's dearest hopes take wing and fly : If, asking still for bread, thou 'rt given a stone ; If, in life's highway, smitten thou dost lie, Sore hurt and bleeding and alone, alone ! — Then truly it were passing sweet to die. 1893. 30 ICANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS God sends the angel of tlic Spring. The breeze That hastens from the distant sunny lands With dewy kisses, whispers his commands To silent thicket, dreary fields and trees All stark and bare ; and presently all these. Erstwhile so dead, are vivified. There stands The tree in living green; the naked sands Are clothed; and birds hymn forth his kind decrees. And long ago, at this glad time of year, Our Savior broke the heavy bands of Death And rose a conqueror from the mighty strife. And He will come — some morn He '11 reappear — Perchance, some Eastertide — and with a breath Call all the sleepers back again to life. 1896. KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 31 %o an (faiSUt %i\v* A silver trumpet heralding the dawn ! IsTot tliine the blare the brazen bugle flings Upon the startled air; thy coming brings Glad tidings — not a call for battle-brawn: A happier mission thine, and far withdrawn From the red pomp that marks the path of kings. Of better things than these thy presence sings — Of holier deeds art thou a fitting pawn. O fragrant lily, white as wdiitest snow ! Sweet emblem of the power and love of God ! Speak to our souls ; our wavering faith increase Until w^e stand on Pisgah's height and know That He who brought thee from beneath the sod Will so bring us to life and joy and peace. 1898. 32 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS " iRot ^tact, bttt a &tootO/' Not Peace ? Alas ! not peace, but bitter strife ! The snowy banner may not be unfurled But we, tlirougliout this weary, sin-sick world, Must bear o'er sea and land the martial fife, Must see the crimson battle-flag and knife. Must see a brother 'gainst his brother hurled And Order into wild Confusion whirled : — And, haply, lead where purple tides are rife. The Sword must stay so long as Evil stays. For wdld Ambition must be Waterloos; And Yorktowns for Oppression ; nor yet cease For Wrong an Appomattox, till the blaze Of that great Sun of Righteousness shall loose The bands of Sin : then will we sing of Peace. 1899. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 33 Si mrmaif (Buttins. A birthday greeting I would gladly send, More eloquent than man did e'er indite To maid or matron, queen or sybarite; More loving words than lover ever penned. Or spoke, or thought, or ever tried to lend To voice or parchment. It should be all bright With memories of happy days, and light With hope of future joys that will not end. To her to whom this greeting comes, 't is meet That I should bring glad tribute. My arrears Of debt I cannot pay, but at her feet I lay the best I have, and have no fears That my dear mother will not warmly greet Her son's memorial of her seventy years. 1894. 34 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Manhattan weeps ! O'erwhelmed with bitter grief, The Greater City bows above the bier Where lie, all silent, lips whose words sincere But yesterday made vocal high belief. High hopes, and high resolves. Then as a thief Came Death ; and that brave heart that knew not fear Was still. No more, no more, upon that ear The loud acclaim of thousands for their chief ! An honest man is dead ! The world may mourn, For, of this species not too many live. He loved his fellow-men unselfishly, And was beloved by myriads that are worn And weary with unequal strife — who give, With glad surprise, homage to such as he. October 31, 1897. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYKICS 35 Columbia— 1898. Stand forth, O daughter of the mighty West, Stand forth erect in all thy native grace, And take with simple dignity the place To which God calls thee. Surely, thou art blessed With all-abounding strength that the oppressed Of ev'ry clime may look upon thy face With confidence and live : the while the mace Of Tyranny falls weak at thy behest. Aye, stand thou forth, Columbia, erect Before the world, clothed in integrity; Free from all pride or avarice or fear, And with thy voice and thy strong arm protect The right, subdue the wrong. Then Liberty And Law shall thrive — Injustice disappear. August, 1898. 36 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Kead at t|ie Celebration of tlie 6l0t ©fttimap of Keb. l^ocace 15u0fineU. 2D.2D. Right glad are we to-niglit — right glad! We greet each other with a friendly smile, We speak kind words and think kind thoughts, the while We seek to our good wishes still to add Good wishes more abundant. True, he had — He whom to-night we honor without guile — Long years ago our love. His latest mile On life's highway we garland, and are glad. Yes, we are glad; for with us still abides One who has been both counselor and friend ; A shepherd of unruly sheep, he guides With watchful care his flock, eager to lend Assistance to the weak — their weakness hides. Oh, may good angels still his path attend ! 1897. KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 37 node* (Read 13th chapter of I. (Corinthians.) Tho Eloquence sat on my lips enthroned; Tlio I could read the future as a book, And grasp with facile mind each subtle crook Of philosophic wisdom; tho I owned The power to solve all doubts ; aye, tho I moaned A self-made beggar, or with cheerful look Faced fagots for Truth's sake,— I could not brook To look on God unless with Love enzoned. Ah, Love transcends all virtues — is divine! It nestles in the heart like brooding dove; Is kind ; looks not with envious eyes ; doth shine Unconsciously as do the stars above; And longer than the stars, — they shall decline, But while God's throne endures, so long shall Love. 1897. XiPtics. (39) LYRICS Si H^vtnn of ^^m^0sMm. The springtime toil, the summer heat, The busy autumn, all are past ; Our bursting bins o'erflow with wheat, And labor finds reward at last. For richest blessings on the sod We offer thanks to nature's God. A cry for help rang in our ears — From blood-stained, famished lips it came; A people wretched, poor, in tears. Besought our aid in Freedom's name. For courage to give just reply We thank thee. Lord, O God most high ! When War's dread flame lit up the land, And carnage hovered o'er the sea, Lo ! then our Captain took command. And brought us speedy victory. Of mighty deeds we make no boasts Save by thine arm, O Lord of Hosts ! (41) 42 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS The tempest passed, no clouds remain, And sweeter is the air to all; Miasmas that for long had lain Are swept beyond our country's wall. 'No North, no South, no East, no West! Praise God for union and for rest ! A vast domain! a people free! A nation conscious of its strength ! God grant it grow in symmetry. And be enlarged in breadth and length ! May our dear country ever be God's holy land of liberty! November. 1898. ICANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 43 Now, Clovertops, be humble ; 'Now, Blue-eyed Grass, bend low; Now, Timothy and Herd's-Grass, That tall and stately grow, Bow down to me — Bow down to me; Come, make obeisance low. For a king am I, And tlio you die, Ye may not say me no. O speckled Tiger-lilies, Buttercups so bright, O Dandelions and Daisies, Why shrink ye in affright? I come for you — I come for you — 1 come with all my might; So bow you low — Down, down you go ! Ha ! ha ! you 're vanquished quite. O Bumble-bee, so burly, In your black and yellow coat. You'd better not be surly Or I '11 fling you in the moat. I 'd have you know, I 'd have you know 44 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS The flowers on wliicli you dote Are truly mine In haying-time, — So cease your angry note. Grasses, Bees, and Blossoms, I care not what you say, — 1 heed not joy nor sorrow, But slay, slay, slay! I '11 cut you down, I '11 cut you down, — You need not weep nor pray; I cannot feel. My heart is steel. My mission is to slay. So, Clovertops, be humble; And Blue-eyed Grass, bend low; And Timothy and Herd's-Grass, That tall and stately grow, Bow down to me — Bow down to me ; Come, make obeisance low. For a king am I, And tho you die. Ye may not say me no. 1895. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 45 A little lake unknown to fame, 'Mid wooded hills and meadows green, Deserves right well the rhythmic name Of Bomoseen. The red man gave the name, 't is said, And simple justice did, I ween, Unto the beauties that are shed On Bomoseen. " The Beautiful ! " — By milder phrase Could not be pictured that demesne Of wood and rock and dancing wave Called Bomoseen. A child, upon its banks I lay And watched the shimmer and the sheen. The sunlight and the shadow play On Bomoseen. There, too, would often me beguile The whitecaps flashing thick between The headland and the wooded isle On Bomoseen. And w^hen a lad, no sport I knew That was not counted poor and mean If measured by a boat's glad crew On Bomoseen. 46 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS I 've laughed aloud and laughed again To hear that jolly voice terrene Laugh back from eastern hills so plain O'er Bomoseen. I've heard the whippoorwill's sad note, The " whoo " of bird of solemn mien, The nighthawk's cry, high up, remote. O'er Bomoseen. I 'vc heard a chorus, passing great, Make music that might please a dean Ten thousand voices all elate From Bomoseen. And water-lilies white as snow From off her bosom did I glean, In halcyon days when sun sank low O'er Bomoseen. Aye, happy days ! for oft with me In my frail skiff, demure, serene, A maiden sat, content to be On Bomoseen. The sweetest maid in all the land ! I see her yet as she would lean To let the water kiss her hand. On Bomoseen. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEK LYRICS 47 The world holds many a limpid gem O'er which gay shallops oft careen, But I will place the diadem On Bomoseen. O little lake, unknown to fame ! Tho countless leagues may intervene. In dreams I'll smile and speak thy name, Fair Bomoseen ! 1897. 48 ICANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS a Mttmt feionff. The calendar marks Winter, The mercury is low, The ground is white, and all is bright With the brilliance of the snow. Within our home is springtime — Sunshine and warmth are there — A rosebud blooms and fills our rooms With beauty rich and rare. So what care we for winter? Jack Frost may come and go — The snow may stay or melt away. We heed it not, for oh ! — A bud from oif Love's rosebush Has fallen at our feet; We nourish it and cherish it, For it is wondrous sweet. It tells of Love's great m^'stery — Of Life's strange genesis; It draws our hearts with all the arts Of perfect artlessness. We watch, its slow unfolding, We guard it with all care ; Tho 'tis so small, it's to us all That seems most sweetly fair. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 49 To Him who made the flowers And singing birds and light, We humbly pray, "Oh, guard alway Our tender bud from blight." 1893. 50 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Once more is turned the glass; Once more begin to pass The swiftly flowing sands That in all climes and lands Mark Time's swift flight. Age cannot check that flow, Though Death, with tight-strung bow, Impatient bides the hour That gives into his power A man of might. Nor can Youth's eager haste To seize, at once, and taste Life's golden fruit so fair That seems, oh, wondrous rare! Augment its speed. But ever on and on, Heartless automaton — This stream is never low. Its banks will ne'er o'erflow, — Yet give it heed. It bears your life away. It warns you of the day That, be it soon or late, Comes to both small and great, — The day, your last. KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 51 The years — tliey come, they go, Like the sea's ebb and flow; Even as the pulses beat. So fall their hurrying feet, Till life is past. Thy years, they soon will end; Then heed them well ; attend. While run the sands for thee, To those things that shall be For lasting gain. For past Death's awful door Is Life forevermore ; A land where Time is not, A home where are forgot Sorrow and pain. December 31, 1895, at midnight. 52 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Si fetumbUng'-SIocfc. Because, professing still to be A follower of the Lamb of God, I walk in devious patlis where He Is never seen — has never trod, E'en thus it is that some thru me The Master's face may never see. Because, professing to be wise And to have found the Truth, the Way, I oft am seen in Folly's guise. Unmindful whom I thus betray. Yet so it is that some thru me To Heaven's gate may lose the key. Because, professing His dear name. Whose love is infinitely great. My tongue will even friends defame And flashing eyes oft tell of hate, — Alas, alas! that some thru me May, hopeless, face eternity. 1899. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 63 Si l^pmn. Written by request, and sung at a meeting of the Kansas Synod of the Presbyterian Church. O shepherds of God's myriad flocks, How fare the sheep — how fare the sheep ? The wolf is nigh ; rough are the rocks ; The winter snows are deep — are deep. Hear they the tender shepherd's voice? " This is the way — this is the way ! " And do ye in your hearts rejoice When leading back a sheep astray ? The Shepherd good gives to his sheep His life for theirs — glad sacrifice; For love supreme doth never sleep, I^or is it measured by a price, "Feed thou my sheep," the Master said, " If love of me in you be seen ; By living springs let them be led. And into pastures ever green. "Aye, feed my lambs — the little ones; Be patient, tender, never wroth ; Wlien bruised on Folly's jagged stones. To carry them be nothing loth." O shepherds of God's myriad flocks, How fare the sheep — how fare the sheep ? The wolf is nigh ; rough are the rocks ; The winter snows are deep — are deep. 1809. 54 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS O friend ! as at God's altar now You take a solemn, holy vow, And pledge jour love and faith to Him Who died to lift the world's dark sin. And as upon your head low bowed The symbol falls, may not a cloud In all your soul's horizon lie To hide the glory from on high. And as you take of bread and wine In memory of the love divine That gave a Savior to the lost And blessed a world at priceless cost, — Oh, may a blessing reach your heart Commensurate with " that better part " Wliich Mary loved, that you think meet — To sit and learn at Jesus' feet. And as the days and years go by, Should pleasures come or pleasures fly. Should sorrow, pain and anguish bring Their sharp, remorseless, bitter sting. Oh, look to Him whose willing ear Is never closed to prayer sincere. Who strength will give in hour of need, And everv crv for succor heed. 1884. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 65 Cnba JLihte, Awake, fair Isle, from thj troubled sleep ! O Pride of the Western Sea; The night is fled with its shadows deep, And the morn is come, and the glad waves leap To kiss the feet of the free. Look up, and behold ! Thy sky is bright, ISTo longer the clouds hang low; The wild bird sings with all his might, And mountain and valley are richly bedight. And thy rivers sparkle and glow. Arise ! for the chain of the tyrant is broke, Thy fetters rust under the wave ; Long ages of wrong are blotted in smoke, A strong arm uplifted has severed thy yoke, — Lo ! freedom has come to the slave. And laugh! a long and a joyous laugh; Rejoice, fair Isle, and sing; The Oppressor is swept from thy shore as chaff, And Liberty's cup is yours to quaff. Safe under the Eagle's wing. Then pause: aye, look around thee — think deeply and well, For Destiny waits on thy nod. The world's loudest plaudits 'tis thine to compel. Or, headstrong in folly, to strike quick the knell Of Freedom on Cuba's green sod. 56 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS And praj : that the King that humbleth kings And exalts them of low degree, Will give thee the wisdom that righteousness brings, And add to that virtue all other good things That belong by right to the free. Then forward ! secure in an absolute trust, — God's favor will ever avail. To thy judges say sternly, " In judging, be just ; Lift Honor on high, raise Truth from the dust." Then hail, Cuba Libre, all hail ! 1899. 1895. KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 57 91 Clumber* &onff. O je sleepers, tappy are you, Lying low, lying low! Life's rude shocks no more can sear you. Pain from rest no more debar you, — Happy are you so! Slumber, O my loved ones, slumber ! Sweetly take your rest: Naught can trouble, naught can cumber Them who sleep among the number That our Lord hath blest. Heed you not the tempest's raving, 'T will not work you harm ; 'T is the waking who are braving Wind and wave, and toiling, slaving. Ever in alarm. Sleep, oh, sleep ! the night fast flyeth. Soon will dawn the day; Earth, in all her being, sigheth, ISTature to her Maker cryeth, " Take the curse away ! " Sleep, till He who slept shall call you To a life more bright; His dear voice will not appall you. But forever will enthrall you With supreme delight. 68 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEE LYEICS •* J toould ht 15tabr." I would be brave: Tho perils compass me about And terrors yawn on ev'ry side — Tho all the lights in heaven be out And utter darkness be my guide — Tho driven to the last redoubt, Still with strong heart would I abide — I would be brave. I would be true: Tho there be those that know not Truth, Wlio scoff at Honor's high decrees, Who stifle Duty without ruth. And stab a friend with careless ease, E'en tho the playmate of his youth ; Yet should all men be like to these, I would be true. And I would hope: Tho all about me cry, " Despair ! " Tho Pestilence stalk thru the earth, And crime and vice pollute the air — Tho were to perish all of worth And naught remain that once was fair — Tho lost were Gladness, Joy, and Mirth, I still would hope. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEE LYEICS And I would trust: Aje, to the end would trust in Him Whose watcliful eye will guide my feet Along Life's road made rough by sin, — 'Mid burning heat and frost and sleet. Till at the end a quiet inn Shall welcome me to rest, to sleep — So would I trust. And I'll believe That after sleep I shall awake — Awake to life more full, more sweet, Wlierein my heart shall never quake, Nor hesitate my doubting feet: — Then of joys unending I'll partake, Aye, then my life shall be complete : I will believe, 1895. 69 60 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Mark 10: 9. " Good Master, what rare thing — What act of mine can bring Peace to a heart at strife. And win eternal life? " I have tasted all earth's good. In the place of power have stood ; My name is without stain, I have wealth and friends and fame. " I have kept the laws of God, In the paths of truth have trod ; I have done what seemed the best. Yet my soul finds still no rest. " O Master ! cannot you, Who art so good and true. Who sight hast given the blind. And art so wondrous kind, — " Canst not Thou give to me A perfect remedy? My soul is sore beset: What, Master, lack I yet?" The Lord looked on the youth, And loved him for his truth ; Yet, to the earnest cry Sadly He made reply : 1894. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 61 " One thing tlioii lackest yet, One law thou hast not kept ; Tho favored be thy lot, Thyself thou knowest not. " Behold ! thy wealth is great, Princely thy name and state : Canst thou let slip these things And bear life's bitterest stings? " 'T is written, — even to thee, — ' Thou shalt worship naught but me.' Dost not thine inmost heart Adore the splendid part " That now thou hast ? Look deep ; Then, if thou still wouldst reap The harvest of the blest. And find unfailing rest, "Go, throw wide thy door, And to the suffering poor Give all thou hast. Then see Thou come and follow me. " So shalt thou find thy quest ; So shalt thou have the best That this world holds — God's love, And great reward above." KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS **^t fefiall be Callen." He shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The ever- lasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6.) Wonderful is liis name Wlio for our sins was slain, Whose love beyond degree Hatli made salvation free. A Counseller is lie Wlio intercedes for thee; His precepts, just and pure, Through all time shall endure. He is the Mighty God ; By his potential rod Created worlds arose; All things in him repose. The Everlasting Father Is waiting, waiting ever, With pitying heart and mild, To welcome home each child. He is the Prince of Peace ; He bids all wars to cease ; Upon his glorious throne He rules by love alone, 1883. KLtVNSAS BHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS "Jesus, I my cross have taken. All to leave and follow theeJ' Thus was sung as, slowly pacing, To the river's brink they came,— Godly pastor and fair maiden, There to honor Christ's dear name. "Perish every fond ambition, All I've sought or hoped or hfioiunJ^ Solemnly the music followed, Wliile with firm and thoughtful tread Entered she the rippling waters, Murmuring softly as they sped. "Let the world despise and leave me. They have left my Savior, too." Farther now into the river — River of Life to her to be — And the hymn came sweetly, sadly. Like a mournful prophecy. "/ have called thee, ' Ahha, Father,'' I have stayed my heart on thee.'' Silence then: her eyes uplifted Saw what mortal dare not tell, Then a moment lay she buried 'Keath the river's limpid swell. 63 64 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS " Know, my soul, thy full salvation. Rise o'er sin and fear and care.^^ Strongly pealed again the anthem — Faith and triumph marked the song That arose in joyful cadence From the sympathizing throng. " Thinh what spirit dwells within thee — What a Father s smile is thine." Softly now: the sunset glory Mirrored in the placid tide Seemed a benediction on her — Heaven's own portals opened wide! " Haste thee on from grace to glory. Armed hy faith and winged by prayer." Aye, it will be so: for surely He who heeds the sparrow's fall Will not lack in tender mercy When for succor she shall call. 1892. KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 65 May benedictions rest upon The memory of those good men Wlio planted in New England soil, In days long gone, the seeds that then Seemed but to have precarious chance Of taking root and holding life; For hard and rocky was the ground. And long and bitter was the strife. The winter winds blew cold and drear ; The snow lay deep on all the land ; Gaunt Famine stared with hollow eyes, And Fever raised her burning hand. A wily foe lurked in the wood ; ISTo sail appeared upon the sea ; The solemn service for the dead Was heard with fearful frequency. But those brave men and women true Had in their souls that living fire Which no adversity could quench. And Death did but their zeal inspire. They trusted God with all their hearts: To worship him without constraint They left the home their fathers knew. And faced distress without complaint. 66 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Theirs was the faith that lives by works; No lukewarm platitudes they knew; The ill they cared for and the weak, The while they made laws just and true. They fasted oft and often prayed, And labored, too, with all their might. Through that first winter's dreary days, Until, at last — oh, joyful sight! — A weatherbeaten ship was seen — The Lyon, coming up the bay. Full-freighted with all needful things: Then came our first Thanksgiving Day. Not thrice a hundred years have sped Since Winthrop, as chief magistrate Of that small band of Pilgrims there, Proclaimed a solemn public fete. And charged that each and every one Should bow before Jehovah's throne And render grateful thanks and praise For hunger stayed and word from home. And yearly, from that day to this, New England folk have kept a day Half sacred in their calendar — Wliich heaven grant they keep alway ! — KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS For then tlie wandering child comes home, And homeless ones find hearty cheer ; The fires of love and joy burn bright, For God has blest them all the year. And, later, over all the land This happy custom has been spread ; The ISTation's chief the day proclaims, And threescore millions bow the head. Thru all the sisterhood of States The welcome message, flashing, flies. Till far-off Oregon responds And Massachusetts quick replies. The fair twin sisters of the i^Torth Join voices in the glad acclaim. While from the dusky, sunny South Comes up a languid, sweet refrain. The anthem swells from sea to sea, From orange grove to dark pine wood, " O render thanks to the Most High — O praise the Lord, for He is good." 1891. 67 68 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Read at an Alumni meeting of the State Normal School, CastletoHj Vt. Old Father Time is very old, His age no man can measure ; But still with footsteps strong and bold He scatters wide his treasure. He sows broadcast the days and years, The weeks, the months, the seasons; He sows the seed of joy and tears, Nor deigns to give his reasons. Yet every twelvemonth passing by Brings one of joy and gladness, In which fair nature breathes no sigh And rarely dreams of sadness. And as this month draws on apace. And summer smiles around us. Our tho'ts revert — if not ourselves — To the scenes that here surround us. For was it not in one bright June That we, in all our glory. Our hearts with nature's all atune. Spoke here our little story, KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 69 That told the whole, wide, careless earth, With all due animation, We 've passed, at last, — please note our worth, — The final examination ! " Ah, happy were the days spent here; And yet we hardly knew it. So bright the future seemed to us, So eager to pursue it. We built our castles in the air, And bravely them defended; We slew great giants of despair And all that on them tended. O happy days ! O harmless dreams ! You're past and gone forever; Life's battle quick has dimmed the beams That glanced from youth's bright armor. For life is not a tournament To please the lads and lasses, But is a battle where are lent Strong blows and ugly gashes. And he who in defense of right Refuses to surrender, Is sure to feel the venomed spite Of many a false pretender. TO IvANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS But letting pass all care and strife And life's too frequent sorrow, Let 's have one day of the old life, Regardless of to-morrow. We '11 walk again familiar ways. And climb tlie hill of knowledge — We'll rush pell-mell from hall to hall, And "cut up" a la college. We'll call each other by the names That years ago we went by ; We '11 be the boys and girls we were Before we were alumni. Oh, could these walls their silence break, And (with discrimination) Unfold the history of these rooms From earliest occupation. And paint with true historic grace Each scene of fun and frolic, And not omit to give their place Some things more solemn — colic — Could all these things be written down And clothed in language proper, Methinks each 'lum would give a sum Far past their weight in copper. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 71 And jet perhaps it's just as well — Yes, just a little well-er — That these old rooms should hold their tongues, And not "tell on a feller," But only whisper in our ears. In accents soft and tender, The things that we are knowing to. And bid us still remember. Ah, how our tho'ts tumultuous rush. As well-known objects greet us; We feel that truly we 're at home. And our friends are here to meet us. For though we see but here and there , A classmate's face before us, We have about us everywhere A vast, a countless chorus. That, voiceless, speak; that, dumb, yet sing. Unto our hearts the story That we may never quite forget, Tlio our heads grow old and hoary. We look below us and we see A town so old, so ancient, Some say 't is dead ; but 't is not so — It 's resting, calm and patient. 72 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Perchance it dreams of long-lost years When it was all-important, When thru its streets rushed armed bands, With all war's sounds discordant. When came brave Allen and his men. And Arnold, full of hauteur ; When came St. Clair in wild retreat, And the escaped of Warner's slaughter. Perchance more peaceful are its dreams Than of battle's fierce abandon; Perhaps the dream is of noble men, As the elder Hjde and Langdon. Our restless eyes soon leave the town. And o'er the country wander To the same green fields — the same old woods, And Birds-Eye over yonder. And just across the great ravine Spruce Knob, as spruce as ever, Looms up still richly clothed in fir, Still generous and clever. For has not this same mountain been To half of Rutland county The source of ail-but boundless joy And gummed us with its bounty ? KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYEICS 73 All honor, then, to old Spruce Knob; May her virtues never perish ! And while shall last her knobby spruce, Spruce Knob we'll surely cherish. The mountains, valleys, hills and vales. We know them all, — we love them ; But nearer yet are dearer friends, That we must place above them, — This spacious park, these grand old trees, These buildings quaint and olden; These rooms so dear with memories Of years all bright and golden. Ah, Thought paints with a rapid hand The pictures as we knew them. And Fancy stands forever by To heighten or subdue them. Through misty eyes we see again Those dear familiar faces, And find them, as in former days, In their well-remembered places. Through dreamy ears we hear once more The hum of recitation; And, listen! — can it really be A soft " communication " ? 74 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Well, yes, it may liave been, — for know. Full wisely it is spoken, ISTot all the growth these halls have seen Has a diploma for its token. For many a maid with laughing eyes And a saucy tongue has planted Seeds all unknow^n to botany — Seeds ne'er to be transplanted — In the tender, fallow soil Of hearts young, strong and manly, Which gTCw a wondrous growth, I ween. And bore its fruit as grandly. Ah, not among the least of all Our Alma Mater's blessing, Have been the loves and friendships made While round her table pressing. And tho shall dim our memory be Of cubes and hydrostatics. And much of all we boasted here Lost in our brains' dark dusty attics. Yet still unchilled our hearts shall be. And ever warmly beating, Wlien to us comes — tho distant far — The C. N. S.'s greeting. 1895. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS ^5 It is now mucli the fashion to eulogize Peace, — A sentiment, truly, that ought to increase; But there 's a thing that I do, and I still think it right, — I take off my hat to the man who will fight. I have oft known a horse-thief, caught in the toils, To clamor for peace — oh, his zeal fairly boils! And the man who suspects that his purse would be lighter, — He utterly loathes a man that 's a fighter. And others there are who are always for peace — The wretchedly lazy ; may their tribe fast decrease ! But I honor the man who thinks himself right. And throws off his coat for a square, honest fight. There's the devil himself, — he is mightily prone To do hellish work when you leave him alone ; He's a coward, and quickly will take unto flight If met by a man who is willing to fight. So I take off my hat to the bellicose man ; Of every good movement he 's found in the van ; Be he preacher, or poet, or statesman, or wight. Hurrah, thrice hurrah ! for the man who will fight. 1899. 76 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS IRead at tfie Celebration of tfie 80t5 ©irtfitrap of a^tjEi. e. c. We 've met to-day to honor one Wliom we have known so long, so well, That when her favors first begun We cannot tell. We know that long and long ago. When we were children, very small, Her doughnuts won our hearts, and so She fed us all. And when at last full grown we stood. The deeds she did, the words she said AVere wise and true, and sweet and good Like her white bread. And all along life's hilly road. When faint and weary and in need, She helped to carry every load, A friend, indeed ! We celebrate her eighty years Of faithful, honest life and toil. The seed she cast in joy and tears Struck fertile soil. ll^or is our friend's life's labor o'er; Tho fourscore years rest on her head. They rest but lightly, — twenty more Mav hear her tread. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS T7 Old age — and truly, good old age — Is honored by both God and men, A blessing which Heaven grants the sage: We say. Amen! Amen; and may it oftener come — As it has come to you, dear friend — With health and hope: may it so run To peaceful end. June, 1891. 78 KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTHER LYKICS ^Ho !9l^r0. T5- Acknowledging a New Year's Gift. " The cup that cheers " I had eschewed, And Mocha's fumes no longer bound me ; The kitchen pump, tho old and rude. Supplied the nectar nature found me. I was content with simple food, And cistern water filled the measure Of my desire for liquid good; 'T was ample gastronomic pleasure. I thought with pride how wise I was. And hugged m^yself, philosophizing On myriad ills that have their rise In things not good, tho appetizing. My logic was complete and trite, You couldn't move me with a hawser ; Yet my resolves all took to flight When I beheld this cup and saucer! And when from out this China ware I drink the herb of China's growing, I '11 fancy that the fragrant air From violet-covered fields is blowing, And in my heart I'll surely bless The kindly thought that led the giver To thus so happily express, " Bon voyage on Time's turbid river ! " 1897. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Sin Sictofitic, This band of yellow metal bright — Oh, may it bring you rare delight! May it, as summers come and go. Yet dearer to your true heart grow. What tho it binds your life to mine — Is not Love's vassalage divine? From its sweet bondage who 'd be free ? E'en Freedom courts such slavery ! Uo ^n mitt. AN APOLOGY. I 'd write you, Love, but cannot do it ; For, when I take my pen in hand, I see your face and can't withstand The impulse to quit all and woo it. 79 80 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS mu^ a Cgti0tma0 (HitU My dear little wife, here 's a present I bring you ; It 's not very costly, nor yet very large, But it carries more wealth than a Croesus could fling you, Or the Lady of Nilus from her silk-winged barge. Oh, it bears in its bosom a blessing unmeasured By the riches and honors of earth's high degree ; It holds what in all time good women have treasured As dearer by far than the pearls of the sea. It brings to you, darling, what would, were it able, Give you all that is good in this brief stormy life, "What would shield you from ev'ry rough wind and the babel That fills this big world with commotion and strife. And Avhen at the last you arc led by the angel To the brink of the stream whose dark M^aters none fly, 'T would still go before you, a loving evangel. And bring you safe home to your mansion on high. You doubt if such wonderful treasure may be there ? You ask, " Will it last, and be ever the same ? " Pray look in my eyes for your answer, and see there The love of your husband, ma chere petite fermne. Utifles. (81) TEIFLES 1894. 1896. mUf^ a Cop? of JLa ifonta(ne'0 ifalile0. The devil by all is conceded to be Tbe Fatber of lies of ev'rj degree, But pardon me, please, — right under your eyes. Indeed and in truth, is The Fountain of lies. ^* ^w ^w mit^ cm of 15(11 il2?e'0 Boolt0. When you read the lies of 'Nje, And are puzzled to know why He doth lie, — Why he lieth up and down, — Do not frown, But believe these lies are sent Only to bring merriment — And renown. (83) 84 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Wit^ a Cop? of jQDnitia'0 **Si SDos of Jplandetd/' To you, I'm sure, it will occur, When you shall know this Dutchland dog, That how-wow virtues thrive right well Amid the gloom of Flanders' fog. And more than this you too will find While grieving at Patrache's plight, — For Antwerp's suburbs cannot hold All beastly curs that walk upright. For there are dogs as well as men, (My meaning, surely, you will catch,) And so I pray you will forgive This doggerel, this puppy snatch. 1893. KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 9an 9^aclattn. " Beside the bonnie brier-busli " — The bonnie, bonnie brier-bush — Maclaren, like a sweet-voiced bird, Sings such rare songs mj heart is stirred, My heart grows warm, my eyes are dim. My better self looks out to him Wlio brings to careworn men like me A glimpse of honest Arcady. 85 1897. 86 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS mmtwi ISTestled in between the hills Down whose rngged sides the rills Leap and laugh 'mid daffodils, Lies Wliitehall. Thru the middle of the town Wood Creek carries water down To the bay upon which frown Mountains tall. And there, too, Champlain's canal With its locks tyrannical Holds the flood a criminal, At ^^niitehall. There on towpath plods the mule Careless of the ridicule That, tho his by ev'ry rule. Can't appall. But he 's mulish just the same, — Kicks so hard, yet looks as tame As any brute that ever came To Wliitehall. Still, I 've come to think that he Does about the same as we Would want to do were we to be In his stall. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEK LYRICS 87 East-Nor'-east, as sailors saj, Mj birthplace was not far away: Six miles, to be exact, it lay From Whitehall. Vermont's high hills rose to the east, Crowned evergreen as for a feast, Until to mountain-peaks increased That verdant wall. And westward on the horizon's brim The Adirondacks, massive, grim. Stretched northward farther and more dim -From Whitehall. To me those Titan walls hemmed in A mighty world, wherein the din Seemed surely great enough to win The hearts of all. And when a boy, I could not see What could prevent man, bird or bee From being wild with ecstacy In Whitehall. I thought that town was near the skies, And had I had a chance to rise I would have said, " This will suffice, — You needn't call." And there were steamers on the bay, And yachts and row-boats were at play, And rafts and barges always lay At Wliitehall. 1896. KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS The water filled me with delight; At sight of it my eyes grew bright, I'd run away — which wasn't right! — To see a fall. And there were other things to see That always interested me, And made me ever want to be In Whitehall. The massive piles of lumber there, The smokestacks tall that rose in air So very high they made me stare, Wlien I was small. The railroad ran right in the street ; It wasn't very nice to meet, With horses skittish, young and fleet. In Whitehall. Then, too, that tunnel took my eye. And made me wonder when and why They went straight thru a hill so high — It made me crawl ! And there were endless things to buy, If one had cents ; it made me sigh 'Most ev'ry time that I drew nigh To Whitehall. My wealth was small — ofttimes non est Wliich, like as not, was for the best, For had I worn old Croesus' vest, I 'd 've bought it all ! KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 89 **J mmt a*iF(0|iinff." I went a-fisliing, don't you know, And with a friend who made me row A punky boat that wouldn't go N^o faster than about so-so. I rowed four miles, and called it fun; But when the sport was well begun Big thunderheads shut out the sun. And Boreas came on the run. To reach a bridge we broke our backs, While nearer came sharp, awful cracks That added vigor to the whacks We madly made in making tracks. And there we sat and heard the glee Of forty thousand frogs, while he Who caused my woe said placidly, " We 're mighty lucky, don't you see ! " It rained and rained, and rained some more — Soon muddy rills poured thru the floor. Ran down Jim's back, and then he swore And damn'd the thing from shore to shore. We got back home ; but as for me, I 'd face the awful Snicker- Snee Before again I 'd tempted be To fish with Jim for company ! 1894. 90 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYEICS Read at a meeting of The Philharmonic Society, July, 1891. Should jou ask me why I did it — Wliy I murdered Hiawatha — Why I strung these words together, Having neither rhyme nor reason — Having nothing to commend them Save their number, which is legion, — To your quick and angry question, I would sorrowfully make answer, Bowing low my head in anguish, I would answer you in this wise: " It was not a deed of malice ; Dark Revenge had no place in it; Neither was it cruel pleasure That impelled me thus to carve him. It was done in desperation — In a wild and lurid moment "Wlien my soul was lost to reason. And the rhythm of my being Disappeared in utter chaos," Therefore, friends, be not too hasty ; Blame me not till I have spoken. And I'll paint the provocation In such language, with such pathos. That your hearts shall take on strangely. Palpitate and swell with pity. Be they hard as nether millstones. Hence, I pray, give close attention While I briefly tell my story. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS ^1 In tlie hottest days of summer, I was called upon to render "ISTotes on Music" at a meeting Of a club that I belonged to. ISTow the club was made for music, Made with music, made of music: All the members but jour servant Warble, play, or blow the cornet. !N'ow, pray see! I had no business To be mixed in such a fashion With a music-loving people, ISFot being gifted likewise with them. Could I vocalize like Dewey, Sing a song at Parr or better ; Pound sweet sounds from oif the iv'ries As the greater part of you can; Could I quickly fill a measure With a Peck or more of bird-notes; Man a mandolin or something; Or, like Bowman, wield a baton, — Then, ah, then it had not happened, This infliction never had been. Long and faithfully I labored To fulfill the task assigned me: When I read the daily papers. Scanned I close their every column, Hoping there to find brief mention Of some fact to entertain you; All the magazines I searched thru, Thinking, " Surely here I'll find it — Here there must be something for me." 92 KA.NSAS EHYMES, AND OTHEK LYRICS But, believe me, there was nothing — Absolutely nothing found there. Thus I searched, high, low, and crosswise. Searched until I gi*ew half-crazy, — Till it seemed that all musicians Must be dead or gone a-fishing. As the days sped quickly by me, " Notes on Music " haunted, vexed me ; In the busy hours of business, In the silence of the night-time. Came those words and stood before me, Grimly came and stood before me, Came and stood there, silent, mournful. Then it was I seized my Faber — In a fit of aberration Fell upon that honest Injun, Took his movement, feet and measure. Plucked a plume from out his headdress. And so made this Biadohed That has told this tale of sadness, — Told this tale of fruitless effort In a manner so pathetic That the hearer, gently sighing, At the close will, sotto voce. Say without a trace of malice, " I have suffered less than he has." KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEK LYRICS 93 Si asallati* Reciting the breaking forth of the righteous wrath of John. Ho ! all ye sons of Belial, Ye bad men far and near, Unto this tale of righteous wrath Lend an attentive ear, An exhorta- tion to bad men every- where to And mend your ways while yet there 's repent time, for Lest haply on you light fear of Swift punishment and gruesome ills, punish- Your badness to requite. Our John he is a citizen Of honor and renown — Likewise an Irishman is he. From Londonderry town. He measures in his socks, I ween, Six solid feet of brawn, And his hair it is the color of The eastern sky at dawn. A lover of square-dealing folk, A friend to whom to tie. His heart is big and warm and true And honest is his eye. Likewise a hater hard is he ; A sneak he'll ne'er abide ; A liar or a thief, I say, Had best go quick and hide. ment. John a worthy man. Sturdy, and of florid complexion. A lover of right- eousness. And a hater of evil. 94 KANSAS EHTMES, AND OTHER LYRICS Explan- For John does hasty things sometimes, atory of Wherefore, perhaps, 'tis due John's That I remark that John his hair temperament. It has an auburn hue. A bad man And once upon a time did hap comes to That to this town did come town, A bad man from Missouri, who who Of villains was the scum. has done This evil man had roped us in, us ill and Eke John among the rest, now seeks to And now had come to make us dance consummate To the tune that pleased him best. his villainy. The victims of this cruel man We meet, and. In conclave grave did meet, in dismay. Debating were it wise to fight consult Or fall down at his feet. upon Full sadly did we view our plight ; the Filled with chagrin were we impending That men of trade, erst deemed astute, evil. Should e'er such asses be. We Chock-full of grief, we called him in, — resolve Despair had made us brash, — to com- And bade him name our ransom, with promise. The discount off for cash. KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 95 A wicked smile sat on his lip, Satanic was his eye, As lie coolly told the weight of gold Our ransom would us buy. Then we looked down our noses, and Had never a word to say. 'T was a monstrous wrong befell that throng Of witless wights the day ! The man is ar- ro- gant. Sadness pre- vails and John's wrath ferments. Then suddenly a movement like It A cyclone born in May breaks Swept 'cross the room, and, with a boom, forth Struck the bad man square away. ' ' Then rose there dire commotion, The Loud tumult filled the air ; bad There were pleadings, imprecations hot, man And from that man a prayer ! prays. Full many arms united were, John And forced John back a peg, is While the bad man from Missouri like ^^- A scared poltroon did beg. strained, But John he shook with fury, And, with Killarney yell, He leaped again with vowed intent To send that man to — well. but again breaks forth. 96 KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTHEE LYRICS The color of John's hair mentioned. By great valor we save the vil- lain's life, who suffers justly for his wicked- ness. The intro- ductory exhor- tation is re- newed. If you can't ^ess, no matter, — It had better not be said ; But of this I will acquaint you — Our John his hair 't is red ! Then, with despairing valor, Right in our John his track We flung ourselves, a hope forlorn, And held the fury back. And thus we saved the villain's life ; Full lame and sore was he, And a worse scared man you never saw, Nor are you like to see. So, all ye sons of Belial, Ye bad men far and near, Unto this tale of righteous wrath Lend an attentive ear, And mend your ways while yet there 's time. Lest haply on you light Swift punishment and gruesome ills. Your badness to requite. 1898.