t. c°^.^')^^% .**.'J^!.**_ .o-^.'':^',\. ■r O - ^. *^. <-^ *' HO, > . * • • * /^ rv> JULIA HARRIS MAY. PICTURES FRAMED IN SONG BY JULIA HARRIS MAY FOR ART CLUBS, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES ^^ 1907 Mayhew Publishing Company Boston LIBRARY of CONGRESS Two Osplai Rftceiveo DEC 23 190^ 0LAS8 ay that picture by." As, one by one, half-hidden views appear, The raging multitude, in tones severe, Deride them all; a dim, demure Mozart They laugh to scorn, and cry, " Oh glorious art !' ' A Roosevelt is pushed into the slide; "How strenuous! Oh, put that daub aside," Cries many a voice ; a Whittier faintly shines In strange perspective, and half-vanished lines, " Snowbound!' ' they cry, " Oh, take that picture out." (The exhibition nears a shameful rout). "George Washington" the frightened leaders try, The crowd screams louder, "Never tell a he!" Confusion worse confounded doth increase What shall be done to make the tumult cease? Look! Look! upon the waU a face appears. Benignant, beautiful. Put by your fears. The light grows brighter. From the lifted screen. An eye looks forth, divinest ever seen. ]t is the Christ. Upon the crowd He beams, The noise is hushed, a breathless silence seems To fall upon the place. " Peace, Peace, Be Still' ' He seems to murmur. Quiet reigns until The exhibition ends. Each slide, though dim. Reflects somehow, the perfect light of Him Whom all men love. Unto the very close A rapt attention every picture knows; And, as the crowd disperse, some whispering say, " The Christ has calmed the seas again to-day.' ' 79 THE CHRIST OF THE ANDES Upon the snowy Andes' topmost height. A statue stands, it is a glorious sight, And those who view its huge dimensions say, "Why is that lofty statue here, to-day? Why does it stand upon a height that looks On Argentina's and on Chih's nooks ? By whose strong hewing were those boulders done That the great statue sets its foot upon ? What is the figure that so grandly lifts Its golden Cross above the mountain rifts 80 And points to Heaven? Is it the Christ I see? Why is the statue here ? Oh, answer me, Ye crags and hills; ye upward-lying plains. Ye snowy chasms where destruction reigns. Why is it here?'' Look, Traveler, once more. What dost thou read? A thought unfelt before? Thou readest ''Peace'\ The Christ looks o'er the land, To Chih, or to Argentine. His hand Pointing to Heaven, confirms the promise made, That two republics, once in strife arrayed, Shall fight no more. Oh Brothers of the South, Oh, papal priests ! let every heart and mouth Give meed of praise. While stronger nations fight Ye have looked Heavenward for a guidmg light ; And, on this peak, Oh, Brothers, — that for aye Brothers indeed shall be, ye placed, one day, A monument — True token let it be Of universal love and amity. Brothers and sisters Catholic, ye shame Those that perchance, have looked upon your name With doubt or dread —Upon this stone they read, "He who would serve the Christ, in word and deed. Let him have peace — No longer let the sword Be raised against the neighbor — To the Lord Leave every quarrel — Lift the Holy Cross, x\nd not the bayonet — Far backward toss The iron for the deadly battleship. Build schools and colleges — Let every lip As doth the mountain-top, sing war's surcease. Till continent to continent shall echo Peace.' ' THE PRESENXE OF THE KING. "Oh I thai I migln Do some great deed for Fatherland to-night I' ' A maiden said, and stood beside the well From Avhich the mossy bucket rose and fell. ''Some wondrous deed',, she sr.id 'Svhich fame would bring Until it reached the palace of the king, And He should send for me, and I behold IMy gracious prince. It would be joy untold To hear his voice; to hear him softly say: 'Well done, sweet maid!' ' ' Alas ! I only stay Beside the well, and lill, from night to morn My cup, to give the thirsty, and forlorn; But I will do my duty — • none shall say They lack for water, as they pass today.' ' A weary youth approached the wayside well ; His steps were weak — upon the ground he fell ; She lifted him; she gave the grateful cup; He drank; He was revived, and, looking up, Exckimed: ''Oh! maiden fair, thou hast well done! Thy daily deeds were small; but one by one Thou hast performed them — due reward they bring To thee, at last; for lo ! / aw the King I '' 82 Do little duties bravely — it may be The Christ is in the one that's next to thee; And if thou dost it well, 'twill surely bring To thee — at last — the presence of the King! 83 SIMPLICITY THE HIGHEST ART. From my.ny countries hi-.ppy travellers came Unto the Exposition. Every name And race and language were collected tb.ere To see the glories of the Lake-side Fair. I enter with the crowd — I wondering gaze Upon the great White City, many days. — The Court of Honor, and the Peristyle, And the great Fount, I see; I walk awhile Around the splendid buildings that can show A fleeting glory; with amaze I go To castles and to palaces that seem The reaHzing of my childhood's dream Of Fairy-land. Unto the Museum, The Palace of Great Art, at length, I come. How my eyes glisten! as I move along! What glorious statues! What embodied song! Why do I smile ? Why do the tear-drops start ? I have aw^akened to the power of art, Unfelt before — Beside a grand Corot, A radiant Rubens, or Correggio, A Bouquereau, a Barbizon — Millet, Or Alma-Tadema, a while I stay. A bright Makart its half- nude maidens shows. The symboled "Senses" — Michael Angelos, In copied casts, are there; Velasquez' Kings Of Spain; Blake's wild imaginings; Reynold's Child Angels; PortnJts by Malbone "The Horse-fair," "Knaus' "Madonna," the "Alone" 84 Of Israels — The quaint "Leif Ericson" Of a Norwegian artist,' ' — One by one I view these pictures till my tired eyes long To rest awhile and watch the passing throng — Just down the corridor a crowd I see Before a picture — gazing cjuietly; No word is spoken, but with tear-dimmed eyes — They look upon it — Wondering I rise And stand beside them — 'Tis a homely scene (A cottage kitchen) sandwiched in between More gorgeous paintings. Why do hundreds stay. Beside the canvas every passing day? Only a humble home! A mother stands And holds her son, departing, by the hands, And looks a fond goodby. A simple thing ! But every heart to it is answering. Each mother sees her boy — each man descries His own dear mother — Memory glorifies The country cottage — Thither thousands press, And watch the scene with tearful happiness — Oh, while grand pictures are forgotten there, ''Home ties" will be remembered everywhere. Remembered, yes, my heart remembers still. This wood-cut copy can my eye-Hds fill. Though Hovenden, the printer, early died, And, through "a child's life saved" was glorified. His deed heroic may forgotten be. But not the picture — still it speaks to me Of home, and childhood, and a mother's heart. Simplicity I 1 1 is the JiigJiest Artl 85 THE WIVES' OBEDIENCE. Come hither, my mountain children, My boys both brave and true! My girls, so sweet, and f?ir, and good, I have a story for you. A story for you my darlings. In loving words exprest, It shall be true, And fresh and new, . I'll do my very best. Then children, gather round me, Come Kate, my black-eyed one, Come Delia, my sweet oriole. Our long day's work is done. I'll sit to-night in my corner. In this cozy old arm-chair. Come Matt, and Bell, A tale I'll tell If you'll sit beside me there. Long, long ago, in old England, There lived a wilful king. Who demanded that all the people Should mind him in everything. They must do just the thing that he told them This wise man upon the throne. Must even pray In the very way, And tlic words that were his own. 86 So he ordered all of his subjects, To go to the king's own meeting, And stopped the preachers of other churches, In the middle of their speaking. In the middle of their sermon, girls. And shut them up in jail. ''What a vacked king," Says Matt. Nothing Could make their courage fail. Down, down by the rushing ocean. In the days of this wilful king, Was a quiet little hamlet. Where they heard the billows sing. Where they heard the billows sing, boys, But could not sing their Psalms, For James, the king. Was listening, With soldiers all in arms. Sometimes, to the secret caverns, They went, of a Sabbath day, And worshipped the God of their fathers. In a very simple way. In a very simple way, girls, The way they loved the best. But when King James Found out their names, They had no peace nor rest. Then they longed to leave old England, And go to a happier land, But the king said "No, you cannot go You must do as I command. 87 Must do as I command you, Must sing and pray like me. The way is plain, You must remain. And use my liturgy.' ' But these people were very stubborn When they thought that they were right, So they hired an old Dutch captain, To carry them off some night. To carry them oil, some night, boys. And nobody else should know. For they could sing. In spite of the king. In the land where they wished to go. So they sold their humble dwellings. And stored their goods in chests. And, one night, just after the robins Had gone into their nests. They left the dear old home-nests, And went to the sandy shore, Each boy and man To the vessel ran, And carried their chests before. But hark! 'Tis the noise of the bugle. The soldiers have heard the tale ; Woe, woe to the simple gospellers, The captain is going to sail. The captain is going to sail, girls, Alas, he will not wait To save the lives Of maids and wives, But leaves them to their fate. 88 He leaves the wives and children, All wailing by the sea. Who call aloud to the captain, ''Come back, come back for mc.' ' But only the roaring water Answers the wailing cry, And far away, Adown the bay, The vessel is saihng by. Within a gloomy prison, These women still are heard. They call to the soldiers around them, And they send to the king this word: ''Send us, Oh, king of the Enghsh To our husbands over the sea. Should we obey Their will? Oh, say. What the part of a wife should be ?' ' Then wise King James was puzzled. What answer he should give. Must not women obey their husbands, As long as both shall live? As long as both shall live, men. And shall I hold to-day. In a prison cell, Those who so well, Their husbands would obey? If I send them to their dwellings, No food or clothes they own, The husbands have carried all their store, To a land where I'm unknown. To a land where I'm unknown men, Shall I support the wives? Or shall I say, "Go, from this day, United be your lives ?' ' I cannot keep them in prison ; For my own church Avould hate A king, who punished a faithful wife For wishing to join her mate. For wishing to join her husband, Ah, I shall have no peace Till these women go. It must be so. How the gospellers do increase !' ' And so a staunch old vessel. One pleasant April day, Sailed into the little harbor. And anchored in the bay. And anchored in the bay, girls. And all the happy bands Wives, little ones, Daughters and sons, Sailed for the Netherlands. And how they landed in Holland, And how their sweethearts wept, And how their happy households Their old religion kept. Their old reHgion kept, boys. The very grand old way. Some other time. In prose or rhyme, I'll tell, but not to-day. 90 And how perchance, some Prudence, Who wept on the vilhige shore, Has many a blushing descendant. Who lives by your very door. Who lives by your very door, girls. And still is true to the right. Like the niothers before. I will tell no more, Now sing me a song to-night. Yes, sing me a song to-night, girls, While I sit in the same armchair. And you stand argund the piano, And play me the dear old air That I used to hear in my childhood, — "The breaking waves dashed high," Come Delia and Bell, You can pay me well. For my story if you try. 91 LEIF ERICSON. Across the pathless sea they sailed, Leif Ericson and his crew. The tempest roared; the wild winds wailed; They spread their sails anew. ' ' On ! On ! still on, my men !' ' he cried. I'm sure there is another side.' ' Behind them are Norwegian pines. And Greenland's snow-capped plains, And Iceland fields, and Swedish mines, And dwellings of the Danes. Three thousand miles of surging foam Between them and their distant home. They seek a land of flowery spring, Of balmy summer days. Where, all the year, the robins sing And woods are filled with praise. But ah ! the Western air is cold No music do the w^aters hold. >i< * * ^ Leif Ericson enraptured stands One sunny April day. And westward points his eager hands; "Look comrades! Look this way!" He cries; for lo! The horizon's brim Lifts up the longed-for land to him. " 'Tis there! 'Tis there!' ' at length he cries. As to the West he peers, "See, comrades! Hills on hills arise. Dry up your homesick tears." 93 ''Land! landT' he calls, his grand eyes lit With joy; "but oh! w1t:i1 land is it ?' ' ^1= >]' * ^i- Leif Ericsons are we, and all On life's Atlantic go, And watch the wnters rise and fall. And sunsets fade and glow. And Avonder, wonder, as we glide, What land is on the other side. The ocean almost crossed, we gaze Upon the horizon's brink. '' 'Tis there! 'Tis there! A few more days And we shall land,' ' we think. But Avhen its shores our eyes have lit We blindly cry, "Oh, what is it?" Sad sailor, standing on the deck, As yonder shore draws near! Fear not upon the rocks to wreck; The pilot's eye is clear. And he wdll guide your w^ondering quest To the America of Rest. " Oh, Avhat is it ? Oh, where is it ?' ' No longer will you say, But, ''Oh, how glorious to commit Myself to it to-day' ' — Perhaps you'll say, twixt smile and tear, "I did not think it was so near." 94 THE SHADOW OF HER FACE. TO MY sister's PHOTOGRAPH — 1888-1906. Thy picture hangs above the bed Where we were wont to he, And looks upon my lonely head With a protecting eye. I sometimes think within those eyes Thy spirit lingereth, And almost see the hds arise And Hsten for thy breath. 95 Only a shadow — thou art gone. 0]"i, where thy soiil-seif is, Hast thou into a something grown More beautiful than this? What robe immortal dost thou wear? What perfect form is thine ? What gold of heaven illumes thy hair? What gems thy forehead twine? Thy very self I fain would see, When, through the gates ajar I view" thee beckoning unto me, Where all the angels are. When we thy eighteenth birthday spent, Well I remember now Thy radiant face, thine eyes that lent New glory to thy brow. Thine eighteenth birthday into Heaven, What doth its dawning show ? Dost thou beloved, transformed, forgiven. Remember us below? Dost ever listen for my voice Or footsteps drawing near? Dost thou in all my joys rejoice, And do I grow more dear? I do not know, but this I know. As I thy picture see. The ^adow of thy face doth grow More beautiful to me. 96 THE LEDGE. I remember a rock by the river, A wide and sloping ledge, Where we often walked together, love, Down by the w^ater's edge. Where we picked the early Mayflower And pledged our love anew. And carved our names In deep-cut frames, Do you remember too? I went to the dear old ledge, love, Only the other day; And I walked along the very slope Where we ran in childhood's May. I saw the olden carvings And I looked for yours and mine. They were washed away; They could not stay Down by the water-line. 97 Far off in a quiet corner, ' Beneath a low fir tree I read in undimmed markings The letters, ''M. J. B." I thought of the dear old choir love,- And from it seemed to flow A full rich tone Like Jenny's own Singing so long ago. I thought as I looked around, love. And remembered the happy past I almost thought for a moment That nothing on earth could last. For the best of all the names, I said Once on these ledges shown. Have vanished here To reappear Upon some church yard-stone. Then a voice seemed to come from the river And to echo through the air In sweet and soothing tones, love. It whispered "Child, Beware! Life hath its crumbling ledges, Death hath its grave-yard stone. But up above Is a world of love, And decay is there unknown.' ' 98 I heard the warning voice, love, I liearcl and I mean to heed. For I liope in the Book of Life, loAe, Those vanished names to read. And I trust the Rock of Ages Once cleft for you and me, Our names will bear In letters clear Through all eternity. UOFC 99 17 W ^^'\ ^^^ "--^P/ ^'^'■''"^^ °'™** /\ ..^, p^; .^^^- ^^ "V^^V^- ^^^^ -^^ \^!W^.* ^' '^ ^^q.. .'i>% ^^"^ 0- ''^^ . V^^\^^ "o^^^-^/ ^^,"^\/ "V^^V^ \J'^?^V^ V'^^V^