ALPHA A FEW POEMS COLLECTED TO COMMEMORATE THE FIRST HOME-COMING OF RICHSQUARE August 22, 1908 By MERTON W. GRILLS Of Richsquare Academy Class of 1891 THE NICHOLSON PRESS RICHMOND, IND. 1908 .1?' LIBRARY of CONGRESS I wo Copies Keceivt* AUG 31 19U8 CLASS? O^ XXCjj N«. Copyright applied for, 1908, by Merton W. Grills lv ) Dedicated to the hallowed memory of William W. White My Instructor of academic days "Alpha" The Motto of the Class of '91 The Class: JOSIE LEE PAUL-PETRO AARON F. WHITE OLIVE GILBERT-ELLIOTT MERTON W. GRILLS PARTHENIA NICHOLSON-STUBBS RICHSQUARE ACADEMY BUILDING WEST, INTRODUCTION This is my first poem for the public — a production for Richsquare Alumni, April 2, 1S98. I here present it as read at that time. I feel that I would like to make some changes at this date, now a decade is passed. Probably in another decade I could still make it better, but if changed it would not be the poem of the Alumni meeting of '98. So, reader, kindly consider it the product of youthful years and take it for what it is worth. A FEW weeks since my friend, Aaron White, — while I was here at Richsquare one night — made bold in a public place to say — and those who heard ; let him have his way, that Richsquare's Class of '91 out ranked all others under the sun because one of its members was a poet — I held my breath for I did not know it. I thot of Josie and the rhymes she wrote, but I'd never heard they were of note, I thot of "Tena" and Olive and then I listened to Mr. White again. I was holding my breath but I beg to say his next remark took it plum away. For he spoke out loud, no little squeak, "Mr. Grills is the one of whom I speak." I dropped my head — I was smitten dumb, I couldn't have told where I'd "cum frum," And while I was in this help- less state and trying my best to cogitate and make up my mind what was the best to do, 'twas moved and seconded and carried thru; that Mr. Grills be Alumni poet for '98 and write a poem for the date following the one that All-Fools use. (That bad measure please excuse.) Now hearers all, I'll call your attention to a re- mark or two that's worthy of mention. Poe, the poet, at one time said, "Poetry's not written from the head — It's all a matter of inspiration and can't be controlled by a man in the nation." And that, I believe, is a say- 9 ing true, and before I'm done you'll believe it too. That explains the reason why (you can't find another and needn't try) people talk of the Muses and myths like that. There are times when to write a poem comes just "pat" but at others, and I can't tell why, by far you'd better attempt to fly. Then when Holmes was talking at breakfast that time, he said ; most anyone could write a rhyme — but poems, they are different things that just come sailin' round on whigs and catch a man when he isn't thinkin', and make him white and feel like sinkin' — that in a second the poem is written. It makes no difference be one standin' or sittin'. Just copying poems is all men do — Just simply writin' the thot or two — this they can do very much at their leisure, using pen or pencil just to their pleasure. I've felt the shock — I know what it is to have a thot just come whiz and strike so hard and strike so clear I'd carry it for days, both far and near. At last to relieve myself of it my pencil and paper I'd have to get and write it down in words of my own that ran along with a musical tone. But the resolve I took upon that night was, an entire new poem for the time to write. I've grieved that I did it, but I'd promised true, and a promise to myself is sacred too, so I've watched and longed from day to day for a bright, clear thot to come my way, but it stayed away : it came not about and I've found myself completely without. The poor little thing that here I've brot has grown because I've thot and thot — It's just a crippling affair at best, I'll leave it to you to say the rest. I've given no subject because I thot that was more dignity than I ought to extend to the poor little biz. It's now explained so here it is. 10 I THE ALUMNI POEM OF '98 RICHSOUARE ACADEMY HAVE heard it often told, You have heard it 'til it's old, How the Alpine avalanche Takes up trees, both root and branch, Takes up boulders in its course — Nothing stands before its force, All gives way. And looking back There's naught. but ruin in its track. To such stories leave the poet — They're not true and we know it. If one looks up toward the summit It is clear, that no plummet Set that line. For here and there Is a curve ; most anywhere. Ask you why those curves were made — Why from its path the great force swayed ? Here's the reason, all students know it — 'Tis no answer from a poet — Some obstruction in the path Heeded not the mighty wrath — Only turned it from its course, Was really master of that force. A pebble, near the mountain top, Might have caused it, once, to stop. 11 Where the mighty rivers flow There is force full well we know — Force, that tho it seems at play, Soon will eat a hill away. Yet a rough stone lying here Makes a curve somewhere near — And the winding river's so Because of stones that check its flow. Worlds swing onward in their course, We are told, with such great force That men can not calculate It into numbers small or great Yet the school boy, so 'tis told By philosophers young and old, Turns Earth from its course each day Just by jumping in his play. Then this conclusion all may reach (It's well within the ken of each) This universe will all reply To the change of atom, low or high, And the God who poised it so As to slightly come or go In response to changes small Wastes not anything at all. We are mortals living here, For some purpose, on this sphere — Every action that we make, 12 Every thot that we take, Every thing- we look or feel Has effect for woe or weal And in the onward sweep of time Adds chord or discord to the rhyme. Man to Heaven is on the road But may turn from a sharp goad — Just a word in anger spoken, Just an action may betoken What will cause a brother's fall. Cost him life and soul and all Like the stone that turned the river Send the soul far from the giver. Let us then be very careful Let our lives be ever prayerful Let our thots and words and deeds Ever be for what man needs — Looking to the God in Heaven Trust in Him to use our leaven And with hearts placed in His hand Follow on at His command. 13 THE LONE PINE TREE 1905 \X TE STAND alone on a sand hill's side And view, to the East, a valley wide— With homes and orchards, fields and farms, Rivers and branches, lakes and arms — And miles away, 'gainst eastern sky, Rise lines of sand hills, white and high. 'Tis a beautiful scene — This one we behold With its waving fields of grain, turned gold, With lakes of water, silver and blue, And rivers wending the green sward thru, With houses and gardens, fields and wood — The view is such as does one good. But our gaze it is caut, by a pine tree tall, Standing alone — away from all, Near a small lake's silver rim. The wood's been cut away from him And he stands alone in his towering height Daring the winds, and all of their might. He stands far straighter than any tree That from this point one's eyes can see — His every line is clear and true The whole tree pointing into the blue — A mighty tree : standing alone Pointing above to the Maker's throne. 14 Our mind, from high on the hill of life, Looks o'er the valley of daily strife With alluring promises — ambition's reward- Its glittering joys — Its folly's sward: And we think, how grand and how alone Is he who lives toward the Father's throne. & A PARODY EXTRACT FROM A LETTER JUNE, 1898 OITTING in the depot, Walking up the track, Talking with the loafers, Examining the hack, Reading all the signs, Wondering if 'twill rain, Bless me, but it's joyous Waiting for a train ! 15 THE BELLS OF THE CITY 1900 Totally in the grasp of a fit of "The Blues" I sat on a veranda in West Richmond and heard the fire bells announce "Gas Out," from their three different towers. The following line came to me like a benediction of consolation. n^HUM-M-ME, Thum-m-me, Thum-m-me, We hear the bells of the city — From over the river and valley, far, Where the homes of thousands of people are, We hear the bells of the city — Of evenings, when long shadows lay, In the quiet night or the busy day We hear the bells of the city. Thum-m-me, Thum-m-me, Thum-m-me, We hear the bells of the city — From their far-off distant towers, As dutifully they tell the hours, We hear the bells of the city. Their full tone floats to me From some point I can not see. We hear the bells of the city. Thum-m-me, Thum-m-me, Thum-m-me, O, hear the bells of the city — As they give the fire alarm, Announce "gas out" or other harm, We hear the bells of the city. 16 And always when their tone is heard All pause and do not speak a word ; To hear the bells of the city. Thum-m-me, Thum-m-me, Thum-m-me, We hear the bells of the city. The city — a place of daily strife, All men rushing as if for life, But hear the bells of the city: Their every tone does clearly tell Of a silent power that guards all well. Then hear the bells of the city. Thum-m-me, Thum-m-me, Thum-m-me, O, hear the bells of the city ! Announcing danger and the help that's near, Telling the time that all may hear. O, hear the bells of the city. What's beyond the power of man to meet The power of the city does complete — O, hear the bells of the city. Thum-m-me, Thum-m-me, Thum-m-me, I hear the bells of a city. Out of the distance and far away To the hearts of man comes every day The tones of the bells of a city. Down thru the day — Thru the quiet of night, Telling of care and omnipotent might — The clear ringing bells of God's city. 17 NUGGETS, WASHED FROM THE SAND Every crank for his own handle. You can tell the good fruit by the clubs in the tree. "Snaps" exist only in the minds of unthinking people. A man isn't fit for anything if his friends can't ride him some. It's an old and true saying that "Variety is the spice of life." But one can't live on spice. It's the largest tree that the wind strikes the hardest — The more one amounts to the more he has to withstand. There are many things you say about dogs that you can say about men — that's no indica- tion that the men are dogs either. Christianity is de way yo lib and treats folks. Tendin' chu'ch an' praah meetin' dat a'ah mighty nice, but it don don't make no Christian. I can't think of a more selfish, mean, con- temptible man than the one who always wants to laugh, but is never willing to be laughed at. 18 Those that we see and hear the most are not the most important — the hands indicate the hour and the tick that it is going, but it's the spring that runs the watch. Don't expect everything to be perfect — gold is not found native. Quartz has to be crushed or the sand washed away, but the miner doesn't complain about that. The whiter the paper the blacker the blot ap- pears, the brighter the day the darker the storm cloud seems. The darkest night is when the stars shine brightest. Laws sakes, yuah can done gallivate all ovah the worl' chasin' pleasure an' not get one single moment's happiness. Happiness comes to de h'art for doin' good — It's right from Heaben. "Don't get out of your class — Maude S. don't belong at a plow. We have a horse out at the barn, for which we could not get a hundred dol- lars, that is worth a score of her, at farm work." — A Friend. There are many people today worrying about "nothing to do" ; that, if they would spend the time and energy, now used in worry, in learning how to do something, would soon have so much employment they could hardly get time for sleep. 19 THE FALLING STAR On the night of July 4, 1900, a chance acquaintance re- marked, "Somebody's dying," as a meteor glided its down- ward way across the northwestern sky. I afterward learned that to be part of the folk-lore of our country. I had never heard it before, and the trace it left on my mind was far brighter than the glow of the meteor. T^ID you ever sit of a still, clear night And gaze at the heavens blue ? When all above was studded with light, In that dome so high and true. Did you ever gaze in that dome above? So far, so great, so grand, With its myriads and myriads of twinkling stars As numberless as grains of sand. And talk, as you gazed so far into space, With a friend that was sitting by Of the countless stars — of the far far away — Talk of their whence, and their what, and their why? When down from among them one all alone Came dropping to earth and to you. "A meteor" you cry, as it catches your eye, And you watch it pass space thru. But the voice at your side, like the ebb of the tide, Whispers, "Someone is dying. When a star falls from those arched walls Some soul to heaven is flying." 20 The God that created the heavens and earth Created the stars in the blue — Created a star for each living one, A star's there for me — one for you. The great God in his might will put out its light, When to Heaven our souls are flying — That men may all know, when they see it go, That someone, somewhere, is dying. $ MEDLEY 1901 M ARY had a little lamb, It's fleece was white as snow," "In a barn it used to frolic Long time ago." "And we'd sail down the river in my little, light canoe," "Just as the sun went down." "Cannon to right of them, cannon to left of them, vol- leyed and thundered" "And old Dan Tucker came to town." "The curfew tolls the knell of the parting day, The lowing herds wind slowly o'er the lea," "Stay, jailor, stay and hear my woe ! She is not mad who kneels to thee !" 21 "For every evil under the sun There is a cure or there is none," "Lift the heart, and bend the knee, Warrior that in battle won." "Let us sing of the days that are gone, Maggie," " T won't,' said the frog, 'so don't make such a row'." "I'll say 'Twenty pounds, and it can't be less, And twenty pounds, I'm certain, will buy me a cow'." "There's a land that is fairer than day" "By camp fires gleaming, 'mid shot and shell." "You're as welcome as the flowers in May," "Gin a body kiss a body, need a body tell?" "Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are" "And the goblins '11 git you if you don't watch out." 'Give your head a shake, shake, shake, And turn your body about." 'The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home," "From the fields there comes the breath of new- mown hay," : 'So remember what I say and be true, clear," "For a cloudy morning oft brings a pleasant day." 22 HANS HOFFER AND HIS LITTLE TOG, SHAKE 1890 OOMEVAY I alvays liked togs: beeg, leedle ^ an mejeum, but my vife, dot is Katerine, she only likes leedle vons, pecause da seltom bite peobles, alreaty. So ve 'alf some zix or vive leedle vellows running de home arount. Veil, de oder tay, alreaty, vonce, I vas startin town to my lower blace and ven I get on the road a leedle vay, alreaty, dar vas my leedle plack tog, Shake, running along mit me, py him- self. Now I tidn't vant him along so I calls him and stops vonce so dot I gits out ven he cooms up and catches him, py shore, and trives pack to de house mit him. Ven I gits dair I kives him to my vife, dot vas Katerine you know, and dells her to keep him at home, alreaty. She say she vill, tint den I trives avay, right off. Ven I kets town to my blace, vat you dink ! dar is dat leedle tog, Shake, shust as spry as von kricket. So I runs him town — he would not cum for callin, by sure, and ven I has him caut I puts im in von pasket in de pack of my puggy vat has a lit on it. Veil, dinks I, you sthay dar now vonce 'til you is vanted, von time, and I koes apout my varm. Veil, ven I cooms pack, alreaty, dar is Shake, vonce, runnin rount alreaty, and he vont coom ven I calls him so I runs him town, py sure, and catches im again, vonce. And I puts him in a pox before de puggy seat dot I puts my feet on so he don't get hout — dot makes sure of him. Den I coes home and ven my vife, dot vas Katerine, cooms to me at de kate says I, vonce, 23 "Vy tidn't you keep Shake at ome?" Says she, "I tid." "Veil," says I, "he vas running arount, alreaty, ven I cot to de varm and I haf im in dis beeg leetle box." "Dar is some mistake," says Katerine, — she is my vife, — for Shake is in de voodouse." "No-o," says I, "I know my togs." "Veil," says she, "ve no quarrel. I show you." And she to de voodouse starts on de run. Now Katerine, dot is my vife, she is not very vide up put she is tall out and she runs fast slow. Put ven she opens de door out cooms leedle Shake. "Py sure," says I, "dot is von on me, alreaty. Now coom dake dis leedle vellow and ven I haf hat my tinner I dake him to de varm pack." So she did and I unhitched and ved my horse, right avay, queek. As I vent to de house I dakes de pasket in, along, and as I vas late vonce an all de rest done eatin, alreaty, I shust set it town on de table and vent to eatin my tinner. Veil, as my vife, dot vas Katerine, she stands py de table and sees vat I get enuf, alreaty, vas talkin she loosens de lid of dot pasked and out shumps an- other leedle tog, Shake. Veil, I vas surprised also vas my vife — so surprised dat she hollars out von leedle, great pig schreem. Veil, vat you dinks, alreaty? Py sure, dar vas tree leedle Shakes. Von on de table eatin butter, vonce. And three on de vloor playin mit two. Py sure, ven my tinner I hat I hitched up and I takes dose lettle togs pack to de varm to fool me again, vonce, alreaty, some oder time. 24 RICHSQUARE FRIENDS CHURCH AND THE NEW. 25 THE WANDERING LIGHT 1897 LEAVING Chicago in late summer by what is known f as the Third Division of the Pan Handle, ones first diversion is observing the vast fields of cab- bage which, like a mighty sea of green, extend on every side to the point where earth and sky blend. Not only by the vast expanse of green is one reminded of the sea,- but the arms and necks of cabbage extending into the suburbs like bays and gulfs, make one feel that the little groups of houses on the outskirts must be capes, promontories and peninsulas, while here and there a few isolated houses surrounded by cabbage on every side look so like shore islands or reefs that the traveler has to shake himself in order to find again that he is in the fields of reality. Slowly there blends into this green sea of provender for man another color. At first in patches and spots but steadily growing in proportion until it predominates then excludes all else. It is provender for beasts — grass. And dotted about over it like the spots on a polkadot kerchief is stored the last year's crop — stacks of hay — alone, in pairs, in groups. In all directions these gray-brown banks rise and in the distance mat to- gether until all earthly, within the optical ken of man, is bounded by stacks of hay. This sounds monotonous, yet I dare say that nearly every one who has made this trip from Chicago to Cin- cinnati has drawn many long breaths of admiration as they flew through Hoosierdom. It is not all cabbage and hay. Soon one passes the prairies and the varying views of Indiana's rich cultivation flash in rapid suc- cession before him. True it is, railroads are not built with a view of displaying the beauty of the country through which they pass, yet some exquisite views are obtained in each county in making this trip through Hoosierdom. "The waving fields of golden grain, 26 Yield richer store Than the silver ore, In the mines of all Potosi." Thrice blessed are the people who own land here and so their homes, their culture, and their education, — which is quite strongly indicated by the school house — crowned mounds — evince. One feels that the broken surface is being entered just in time to save him weary- ing of such rich luxury as he has been flying thru. Here his eye is attracted by the templed hills. Every mile or so there comes to view a school house — one of the forts in the republican line of fortification — so freshly painted, so newly modeled, so well kept that they at once convince the observer of wide-awake interest taken in them. And the long, slim, straight flag-poles that stand by most of them bear evidence of home- loving, country-loving hearts in their vicinity. Such hearts make happy homes and pleasant lives. They know or partly know that "God is love," and Heaven, where love reigns supreme. Thus living they have part of Heaven on earth because so much love is in their homes and lives. The rural districts and villages in this part of Indi- ana, tho within a few miles of some of America's largest and busiest cities and within the most railroad netted section on the earth's face, are in many ways strikingly quiet. The majority of these homes are very domestic. The great benefits of their education being shown in living up to the idea, "If you would make a man happy, strive not to increase his means, but to de- crease his wants." Instead of roaming about the world and spreading out their minds to the wants of every zone and clime, they live at home ; make it the most attractive place on earth to their children and the dear- est under Heaven to their own hearts and with apprecia- tion, strong, look about them for the beauties God has placed at their door ; for the blessings he has given in true friendship, kind neighbors, and loving kindred. Thus "Happy the man whose wish and cares a few paternal acres bound" comes to be their lot. 27 Midst such people the one institution that comes to the home is the school; which gives to the minds of the children and youth a line of employment at once de- lightful and beneficial. Hence, next to the minister, the schoolmaster comes to be the source of consolation and advice in their existence and oft times, if he is a Godly man, his intimacy, his counsel and his entertain- ment even come to be more close and appreciated than those of the minister. In one of these quiet, happy neighborhoods, a few short years ago, there taught a teacher young in years, but thoughtful to a degree much in excess of many older, whose wish and aim was to benefit mankind — to make the earth better than what he found it. A few years in college and a few in city business life led him to more fully appreciate the happiness and quiet of these country homes, with which he had now come to be so closely connected, and enabled him to more easily lead the pupils to enjoy the knowledge gained without cre- ating a desire to travel and acquire possession. A greater factor in human happiness is not known than reasonable satisfaction. Smiles would rest on nearly every face if all minds were like that of the poor man who was looking at a rich friend's casket of diamonds. Being asked if he wouldn't like to have them, he said : "O, I get more pleasure out of them than he does. I can see all their beauty and that is all he gets, but he has to assume the responsibilities of guarding them from thieves while I have nothing to trouble my sleep." Life's joys are not gotten from a swinish desire to possess every thing, but from the pleasure of knowing that the things exist and being able to appreciate their beauties. The one idea that seemed to pervade this teacher's school was a love of country, friends and home. As the starry banner rose to its position on the pole of mornings, gracefully, beautifully displaying its colors to the sun and breeze, cheers could be heard in every direction, varying in clearness and strength, ac- cording to the distance that they came and the lungs that gave them origin. 28 A place in the hearts of the pupils soon gave this young man a welcome into their homes and the high regard of their brothers and sisters, no longer in school, while the little tots, not yet old enough to enter its domain, looked upon him with a feeling of loving awe and admiration. It would seem that so surrounded with respect and affection one would be exquisitely happy. So indeed he should, but this teacher felt de- pressed — felt loaded with care and responsibility. It is a strange fact, but nevertheless true, that most men who do their duty as fully as they know how get dis- satisfied because they can't do the duty of others. No man on earth has a right to be happy if the Christian hasn't. Yet it is common to hear ministers say, "It is a question whether one should ever be gay and lively — dares be light and trivial." Yet no man who looks around him carefully can doubt that rail-faced, melan- choly voiced, sombre dressed church members have done more to keep the world from Christ than any ele- ment of the devil's workers. These long-faced "Chris- tians" (?) forget that Jesus came as a Savior and try to take the world's salvation onto their own shoulders. They are generous hearted, to be sure, but such a load is too much for mortality, that is why Jesus came. Di- vine power was required and divine power was sent. This that teacher failed to see. He did see, however, that in his school there were little disagreements between pupils, disobedience and rudeness on the part of pupils ; that in the district neighbors occasionally back-bit, cheated, or otherwise mistreated each other; that in the neighboring town at times were fights, brawls, blackmailings and slander- ings ; that in the papers were long accounts detailing prize fights, robberies, murders and suicides, all of which crept into this quiet neighborhood in more or less marked ways and marred its tranquil beauty as a muddy rivulet tarnishes a clear river or the edge of a cloud darkens the beauty of an otherwise fine morn- ing. Ofttimes the spirit of "Peace on earth, good will toward men" growing in a youthful heart would be thus seemingly totally destroyed, — the spirit of love, 29 purity, and patriotism seemingly stunted. (Had it been his to right all these wrongs the load would have been enough to discourage him.) This he saw and was laden, but he was conscientious and no man can be conscientious without producing results. What the teacher saw he saw only in part — the immediate re- sults, while the future growth of the moral character around the wound he could not see. Much that man sees and thinks is bad is only seen in part, God sees it in full and knows 'tis good. 'Tis the blowing of the wind that makes the oak sturdy, — the freezing of the wheat that makes it "stool-out" and produce ten to twenty heads where there would have been but one. The teacher often said to himself as he sat by his fire and mused (or looked from his window at the setting sun, or wandered about 'mid the country's quiet scenes), "That 'there is never a day without a cloud' may be doubted, but surely there was never a neighborhood without a 'kicker'. O ! that men could only see what a sweet peaceable world this would be if they would leave alone each other's business. Why as I look about me at their strugglings I'm reminded of their own swine that, when a pail of swill is emptied into their trough, root at each other and crowd one an- other about until much of the slop is splashed onto the ground and the remainder drank by a few of their number that did not try to crowd their neighbors out. It seems to me men ought to see that selfishness reacts and that its worst effects are on the possessor." While pondering these thoughts one morning and longing to help each of his pupils to love and live them, a scholar just arriving said, "I saw the Wandering Light last night" "What is that?" the teacher asked, and the pupil, a young man of nearly the teacher's own age, told him of a marvelous light that at various times had been seen in that neighborhood. Its rays were pure and white ; it moved about steadily and quietly, yet none had ever been able to draw near to it ; it had been seen in wood and field, on hill and in hollow, in winter and spring, summer and autumn; but it had always appeared within a radius of two 30 miles. It was not lightning nor a falUng star, it was not an artificial light, nor a will-o'-the-wisp; it never flashed suddenly, into • existence nor suddenly disap- peared. Instead it dawned slowly from whence no one ever knew and quietly vanished at just what time or place the observer was never able to exactly tell. "No one fears it. In .fact, all rather long for a more inti- mate acquaintance," the young- man went on, "for our grandmothers tell us that the Indians used to say it was carried by ,a good spirit sent by the Great Father and that some, day-it would prove a blessing to some one. Of course,, each .hopes that it may fall to his lot and some have .even, tried to catch up with the light in order to give, an opportunity for the blessing to be be- stowed upon, them. What that blessing may be is un- known, some, think riches, some fame, some beauty, .some . happiness, some contentment, but that is the story of the Wandering Light." ,. • That day the teacher mused, when tasks allowed, of the mysterious Wandering Light. When the even- ing came and the scholars had gone r e sat down to .rest his mind from the day's toil by reading from the poets but over the page a light seemed to wander and often he raised his eyes to view the landscape and •muse in regard to the Wandering Light. The day fol- lowing he asked the boy for details of his seeing it. He said that on the preceding evening he had gone to set up with a sick neighbor and late at night, very weary and sleepy, had started home across a wood but had lost his course and wandered quite a while when from some unknown quarter came a beautiful white light and moved in an accompanying manner until as he followed it he came to some trees that he recognized as near his home. For a moment he forgot his mys- terious companion in the joy of having found his loca- tion then, as he turned to look for it, he had found it gone. When or where he knew not. The days went on and with them duties came and went, many occurences went down into the history of the past and the teacher was busy, yet he forgot not the Wandering Light and ofttimes yearned to know 31 of its blessing. The stories told by the neighborhood mothers and grandmothers all came to be familiar to his mind yet he was not satisfied and ofttimes as he read from his favorite poets or sat by his window, after a hard day's work and mused; or walked mid nature's beauties — drinking in the blessings of God thus direct- ly from his hand — he found his mind clinging fondly to the mystery of the Wandering Light and his imagination building beautiful explanations of its mis- sion. The first few days following a deep snow-fall there are few breaks upon its surface. The rural folk seem to be hemmed in by it or loth to mar its pure beauty, cattle stand in the barn yard or one corner of the field, even the hogs only break down a small area and though now and then one will wander out from the trampled zone a few feet, it is only to grunt disconso- lately and return to his fellows ; but after two or three days the hogs, the cattle and the horses all become rest- less and wade about just for exercise and the people begin again to pursue the occupations of life. One morning in the dead of winter when the snow lay thus unbroken upon the landscape one of the school girls said, "I saw the Wandering Light last night." The night before a neighbor on his way to the train had stopped at her father's home and begged that one of the family go to his house to stay with his children, as he and his wife were unexpectedly called away and the children were at home alone. He had been at several of the neighbors, he said, and found no one that would go so he had stopped here as the only re- maining hope. Though her brothers objected, her parents did not encourage, the weather was cold, the night dark, and it entirely overturned some pleasures planned, she had gone. Sometime after midnight her slumbers had been disturbed. Listening, she had heard sounds as though some one were trying to enter the house. Immediately she thought of burglars. Slipping from bed she peeped from behind the curtains. Without it was intensely dark but against the snow she could see the outline of two men who were then at- 32 tempting to pry np a window. As she watched think- ing what 'twas best to do and almost fearing to breathe, a pure white light came down the road, stopped at the bridge and then, as the men fled, it crossed the garden, followed the course they had taken and disappeared. Its appearance so reassured her that she went to bed and to sleep trusting the wondrous Wandering Light for protection. She had in the morning found the burglars' tracks, but where the Wandering Light had been the snow was undisturbed. That evening the teacher visited the scene but could find nothing to solve the mystery of the Wandering Light. This second appearance of the Wandering Light so closely in the wake of its last caused much talk in the homes of this quiet country neighborhood. That it had never appeared before except after long intervals of absence seemed a historic fact and this sudden change of its tactics caused interest and comment. All the incidents of its appearance since white men came to know of it, were told and retold until they were familiar to every child. The teacher heard them and, in the manner of students, tried to draw firstlies, second- lies and conclusivelies, but they would not draw ; so he came at last to admit that the Wandering Light was as much a mystery to him as to any one. Further, he came to put much faith in the old Indian tradition and he often longed for a full knowledge of its mission to man. Much reading from the poets may have caused him to be more credulous ; faith in God and his love for man may have caused it ; it may have been weak- ness. Be that as it may, it is safe to say that no one more fully trusted in a fulfillment of the prophecy than did the teacher. Spring came. The rough winds of winter gave place to balmy southern ones ; the cold, deep-drifted snow gave place to barren hills and fields, which in their turn gave place to grass and flowers ; the screech of snow and pop of frozen trees were no more, but in their stead came the chirp of insects and twitter of birds. Mid the rush and planning that comes with the spring nearly all forgot the Wandering Light. Of the 33 few who still gave it a place in their thoughts the teacher was one. Yet he had not mentioned it for weeks and was busy with the closing scenes of his school, when one forenoon a patron came to the door inquiring if any one had seen a certain little four-year- old girl. He said she had wandered away and had not been seen since early morning. As none of the scholars had seen her the teacher requested that, if she had not yet been found, word be sent him at noon. Noon came and a messenger reported that no traces had yet been found so the teacher dismissed the school, sent home the younger pupils and organized a search party of those older. Throughout the afternoon the search went on — through fields, over hills, in hollows, by branches and rivers, yet no word came. Men and women ate a hasty supper only again to resume the search, especially in the wood and by the river. The night was thus far spent when the clear tone of a farmer's bell broke upon the silent air and was quickly followed by another. Then shouts arose and shout answered shout, for this was the signal of the finding. Weary searchers hastened toward the home of the child and the bells both far and near pealed forth to cheer their hearts. When they arrived she was there alive and well, but who had found her? This no one knew. Her mother sitting in the kitchen alone had heard a patter of feet on the porch and turning to the door had met her. The only explanation was the child's story : "Dathered pitty flowers for Dranma. Dot 'ost. Stopped by a dreat big tree and tried. Den next it was all dark and I was told and hungry and I tried adain. Den a pitty w'ite 'ite tummed and I went wiv it to w'ite here and dats all." The child's story was told. So far as she knew that was all, but the people said "It was the Wandering Light" and went to their homes in silence for they felt more than words could express. The week following as the teacher sat in his school room one evening, musing in the twilight over the poem he had been reading before the darkness fell, 34 by that peculiar sensation, which informs one of the presence of another though unseen, the teacher became aware that he was not alone. Raising his eyes he saw, crossing the room, the figure of a maiden, noiseless of motion, beautiful of feature, per- fect of contour and with a hallowed head. The pure whiteness of her robe, the perfection of contour, the airiness of appearance, the radiance of face and hal- lowed head all proved her more than mortal. When she stopped before him waiting — waiting it seemed for him to speak, he said, "Fair visitant, to this my loved room, I fain would ask thee what thou art, whence thou comest, and on what mission," "I am a servant of the Creator," the visitor replied, "and in His service hap- py. I came from nearly at thy door. For years my home has been among these hills and hollows. I have seen them occupied by savages, have seen civilization dawn and brighten on them and now see promise of it crystalizing into the pure clear light of day, when man will love his neighbor as himself and do unto others as he would have others do unto him." Tis mine to record deeds of more than ordinary sacrifice and love and to reward the actor in an apparent man- ner. I am here because I desire to speak with one who in his work develops so much love and tender- ness in the hearts of those with whom he comes in contact — one whose work to my record has added much. Dost thou know the good that thou art doing?" The teacher's face was sober, his nerves felt a pe- culiar thrill but his answer was quiet and came from the depths of his heart. "I have hoped to be doing some good and I often think that I am, but the world is so large that what I do goes but a little way. Then there are so many who, it seems to me, ought to help, who do not, and so many who claim much that do so little or nothing at all that I ofttimes feel sorely dis- couraged." "Ah ! my friend," his vistor replied, "the cloud is of thy own making. Take courage, be of good cheer. Men being satisfied with what is good say nothing, but complain of what is bad. That is why wrong seems 35 predominant. Look for the good — thou wilt find it if thou dost. Do thy part — let thy light shine in the darkness, trusting the rest to Him who controls the universe — thou wilt be happy if thou dost. 'Tis true thy teachings are not heard by all the world, but thou canst not see their future effects. If they are now heard and believed by a few, is not that enough? They will go forth teaching to others who in their turn will ex- tend them on through future generations. Thou hast helpers — everywhere. And no idea, which does not prove faulty, is ever forgotten — so the world from day to day grows better. Then worry not. 'Tis only thine to live in one place, only thine to live one moment at a time. 'Tis only a part of the air and light that falls to thy lot, only a few of the world's beauties that thou seest, nor wouldst thou have it otherwise even if thou couldst for thou dost not wish to rob thy fellow men of their portion of these blessings. Why then shouldst thou try to cure all wrongs, why try to take the bur- dens of others upon thy shoulders, when unasked? Cure thine own faults, do thine own part, let thy light shine in the darkness and trust the Unseen Guide, who rules the universe, for the proper application of thy work." She passed from the room. The teacher was alone. Without the darkness of night had gathered and there by his window a pure white light was shining which quietly glided over the brow of a western hill and dis- appeared at a moment of which the teacher was un- certain. The teacher told the story as I tell it to you, and some said he had received the blessing, but others, and he among them, believe that for some pure heart there is something richer yet in store, and now when the Wandering Light is seen by the people of that quiet country neighborhood — which is much oftener than it used to be — the observer hopes that some day he too may see and talk with the bearer of the Wandering Light. 36 Richsqjjare Academy Building as it Appeared Before ] 37 Copies of "Alpha" zvill be mailed to any address on receipt of the retail price — twenty-five cents. Address all orders to MERTON W. GRILLS, Hagerstown, Indiana. I would like to hear from each purchaser and reader of "Alpha." If the reading public enjoys this a more extensive volume may follozv. I am respectfully, the author, "ME." 38 M>b 31 1908