I i ROBERTA HARRISS WHITING ROSE PETALS BY ROBERTA HARRISS WHITING BROADWAY PUBLISHING COMPANY 835 Broadway, New York rt- COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY Roberta Harbiss Whiting UiANSr£RKEO FFTOi; MAR 2U 1bi2 z^' NOV -6 1914 V ROSE PETALS IRTUE acteth like a rose, Their petals purity, thus unclose. OH YE ROSES! OH ! ye roses, how I love you! And the life your blooms impart! How you weep whene'er I touch you Heaven's tears from out your heart! And you turn me too, — to weeping, With your faint and fragrant breath, Stirring thoughts within me sleeping, With a silence like to death I Opening wide the guarded portal Where white Memory spreads her wing Gathering up the flowers immortal That around Life's sorrows cling. -5- ^Hir^^-r, ROSE PETALS AGUE memories, like the faint fra- grance of roses — Sweet souls of flowers. V PETALS, petals, they are falling, And the sweetness of the rose I have crushed here near my heart, dear, Let its secret here repose. INFLUENCE upon character depends upon the subtle charm of a subcon- scious will; the latent power of higher ener- getic philanthropy, making plain the need and comfort of the soul to be guided to a loftier realm thro' great ambition. -6- ROSE PETALS DAWN 'T^HERE is joy again when the sun doth -■- rise, To wash the bloom from the summer skies, Of blended colors and morning glow, As the golden heart of the new day cries. Far away and sweetly the meadow lark sings, And fills with ecstasy the tinted air Of early dawn and life's new hope Sunny fields— soft blooms everywhere. EOSE PETALS SPRING gURNISH your glistening petals! Lift up your drowsy heads ! Wear your gowns of pink and gold! Tis Spring and the daffodil weds! She weds with blossoms blowing, When soft winds sweep our nests, When violets come to greet you With bluebells, too, our guests. And when the sun shines brightly The dewdrops dance with glee ! Make haste your weddings merry; Come, skip away with me To lands of golden sunshine ! To green things at our feet, Spring has fair wedding parties With blossoms frail and sweet. -8- ROSE PETALS IVJ'USIC o'er the waters, a tinkling foun- ■^^■^ tain — In My Lady's Bower There are roses, roses — they complete the hour. T ILIES sweet and snowy white, ^-^ Roses droop within a night. Faint the odors that will cling And sad memories always bring. A DROP of dew in a rose cup, -^^ Fell from its resting place, And kissed my lady spring time, And painted pink her face. "XT IRTUE, like the dew on lilies and roses, ^ shineth always brighter through the eyes and soul of a beautiful woman. ilOSE PETALS LINCOLN'S LOVE HE loved her, a fair young blossom, Youth's tender heart knelt at love's shrine. And kissed the dews of the coming dawn, And enfolded the petals of his heart, In her sweet secret keeping, In a rose that did not fade. But growing brighter in its glowing hue, From this sweet boundary, A golden radiance did light his soul. To all eternity, And spread the wing of burning fame above His noble life. .10- ROSE PETALS "O EFINED thoughts like cultivated flow- ■^^ ers throw their sweetness thro' rari- fied atmosphere touching lightly the golden chords of harmony in the human soul and breathing melody to soften the discords of the world. TTOLD fast to Truth, and Honor will fol- ^■*- low; thus Liberty will shov/er thy footsteps with rose petals of success. -11- ROSE PETALS LOVE AND MUSIC TN rhapsody the golden keys of light -'' Stirred the soul of mortal lure, The calm of echoing music In life's harmony the treasure was sure. Then love touched the threads of beauty That were woven in wisps of light, They thrilled with sym.pathy the silken cords O'er the bright silver waters of night. -12- ROSE PETALS A SUMMER FLIRTATION PAIR Summer held her festival of golden ■*- yellow hues, The skies, too, lent their glory in cobalt and azure blues, She was also decked with topaz, and dazzled in the sun. Waving her fleecy laurels, thinking her bat- tle won. But alas! old Autumn near her gave signals in disguise, "I'll be surprised if you stay here," said Au- tumn very wise, "For I've prepared my wardrobe with its richest garments rare ; The summer that you boast of Autumn will surely share. Then Summer threw her cloak of gold over her shoulders white, And the lilies all about her gave perfume to the night. She gazed with satisfaction in the mirrored Garden of Dreams And sighed as she thought of Autumn with his trail of golden beams. -13- ROSE PETALS "Ah! I'm the Queen of Seasons, with a wealth of gems and flowers, The beauty of my garden fills the world with happy hours. The treasures from my storehouse were kissed by the golden sun, You may take them," said fair Summer, "I've made them every one." So near the door of her garden, clothed in a gown of light, She wooed old Autumn onward, with her gems so pure and bright; The winds of Fall fell softly on this Maid of summer clime. And Autumn's breezes cooing heralded the Winter-time. So closing her doors of azure, opal, and daz- zling fire, She bade farewell to Autumn with his wild and strange desire. She would not marry Autumn, with his great and greedy heart, And give him all her treasures and her won- ders in fine art. -14- ROSE PETALS THE thriving heart can not feed upon the fallen leaves of dead love. -15- PwOSE PETALS MEMORIES f\ WITCHERY, the charm and the breath ^^ of you ! And the soft sweet soul in the heart of you ! The love I would give you, rose of mine ! ^ With your wealth of pure gold and Love Di- vine! your wild influence, you soft-petaled thing ! Life that is in you with message of Spring! 1 love you! I take you; and press you, my heart. With soft-bosomed petals, my rose thou art ! Yet here on my desk you are drenched with tears. The hallowed memories dying with years; Yet in you fresh youth once stirred with the soul! memories; memories! Love that is old! -16- ROSE PETALS THE winds were so sweet and soft, love, that I dreamed an angel fanned her wings and breathed o'er my face. And as she swept away through clouds of ethereal beauty, she threw from her arms roses so sweet with the pure love of Heaven that they stirred the inmost senses of my soul; and now I awake and find this Paradise all true. And "ah!" she sighed, "may it please God that Eternity may be all Love." -17- ROSE PETALS PHYLLIS THE air is aglow with sunshine; the air is a- tilt with birds; My heart is glad with singing; my soul is happy with words. The blossoms are sweet and falling; and the girl in her pale pink gown; My heart is happy with singing; for Phyllis is here in town! rosebud blush that is creeping o'er the youth of a lover's pride! heart, that in love is sleeping ! bright, glowing, glad Spring-tide ! The blossoms are sweet and falling on the girl in her pale pink gown; My heart is happy with singing; for Phyllis is here in town ! Her face all sunshine and flowers; her eyes so bonny and true. To beckon the blythe of her heart, dear, un- der her skies of blue. But ah ! dear heart, how I love her ! a blos- som in her pale pink gown ! My heart is aglow and glad, dear; for Phyl- lis is here in town! -18- ROSE PETALS VT" OU blushed last night when the petals ■*■ were falling, As you crushed the sweet roses I sent to you. They brought back to us dear memories, re- calling Our love-time — youth-time, as pure as their dew. -19- ROSE PETALS SPRING MAIDS l/'IOLETS, gowned in palest hue, ^ Trimmed with royal purple blue, Bedecked themselves in filmy light; Bloomed from early dawn till night They promised April to do their best; And help him earn a summer's rest By sending perfume o'er the earth, Giving it a glad, new birth. The crocus, in her yellow gown, Wore a hat so large and round. To star the Winter's bare, brown sod To help the trav'lers' weary plod. The jonquil, too, with slender stem, In faith and truth she promised them In wondrous beauty to softly blow O'er the Earth so green below. The tender pinks of field and lawn Were filled with Life, and then were born. And shed their blossoms in the air. Wafting perfume everywhere. -20- ROSE PETALS The dazzling white of many trees, Wearing gowns of light and breeze, Are showering down to April fair Blossoms — perfume everywhere. Old April has a secret, too, Filling all the world anew With Life's wonders and her charms Smallest thoughts are Life's alarms. He's busy getting ready, too, For a wedding under blue, Where all the bridesmaids, pink and white, Toss their heads in sweet delight. For dear old April, don't you see. Marries himself in ecstacy To a June rose, fair and sweet, Showering petals at his feet. And her sweet perfume thrilled his soul With the Love we call the old; But April makes anew each year Plighted troth with brides so dear. -21- KOSE PETALS TIME holds her golden bowl of opportu- nities, and fills to its bubbling brim sparkling waters of intellect and fathomless depths of unsearched treasure. In the chalice of her train, golden light. Time and Eternity help us to turn into the Divine knowledge that no man can hold Time — but while we have Time we can all make good, not evil, of its golden moments. .22- ROSE PETALS THE VOICE OF THE SOUL '"p HY voice like an echo when moonlight ^ is pale, And Earth's greatest progress seems one lonely vale. The years pass in silence; the nights seem so long To the conquered and vanquished, the soul's lost song. With lure of the old love, with memory's de- cay, With burning of Life's fire and dawn of the day. In dreams of the past bringing warmth to the soul Lost is Life's passion in its colorless mould. I've thrown off the garment that fettered and clung To soul of mortal that with Life had begun Its battle for the right and justice and peace The wild hope and yearning that would give release. -23- ROSE PETALS Life's golden memories are crumbling to dust And years of sorrow, yet follow them I must To gates of a Paradise far o'er the skies; There Life shall find Life again — thus my soul cries ! ^npHE sure dawn came tripping down the -*- early pathway ; far away she left her doors ajar, and the light of day came creep- ing thro'. The little fairy, Dawn, was decked in sil- very, filmy wisps of gauze, and dewdrops clung about her little form, and fired and dazzled in the sunlight. She stopped and filled her cup of gladness with morning dew, and fanned he^ magic wings o'er a sleeping Youth, bathing his brow with love and feeding his soul with hope. -24. ROSE PETALS THE SOUL KISS 17 AR, far into the darkening night ^ I feel thy sweet warm breath and kiss, And feel thy soul's communing love. Can Life be just a dream of this? I hear thy call when the dewy hours Are beckoning on another day; Awakened then from dreaming sleep — Behold thy soul has flown away! -25- ROSE PETALS V^HAT are the joys of friendship? Let ^^ me see. The wide expanse of country and of sea Could not compass one sweet hour without thee. Ah ! just a quiet hour with one we love ; With sympathizing souls; the world and skies above Could not break those ties we trust; The sweet quiet joys and confidences with a friend. -26- ROSE PETALS SOMEWHERE there is hidden in this world of tears Some smile for the weary and hope in the years, Some gladness given, some kindness done In Life's vast storehouse, some day dream won To beckon its golden promise on, Some hour of pleasure where hope is born. POUR from ethereal urns drops of cold dew upon the hearts of fragrant lil- lies and there steals a sweetness even of heaven. -27- KOSE PETALS THE LONELY CHILD npHE waning moon shone wonderfully bright On the beautiful child that lonely night, And all that the sad little lips could say Was: "I want to go with Mother to stay." As the sad sweet eyes looked up to Heaven A wonderful prayer to the child was given, For ere the cool dawn o'er the Eastern skies The little one fled to the lullabys Of a Heavenly Choir; and a glad warm breast Of Mother, with Mother only to rest. As a beautiful chorus of angels sing With Mothei- and Child 'neath the Heavenly wing. -28- ROSE PETx\LS MEMORY npHERE in solemn beauty bright tears, ■^ drops like pearls of precious store, lay unmindful upon the satin cheek of one I loved; and lo! in after years, when glisten- ing dew on late September flowers heralded the fast depai-ting hours, I only thought of you. H ! the summer days are over, And the clouds are drifting low, And the fields that were in clover They have lost their wealth and glow. -29- ROSE PETALS SLEEP np HE bright westering sun falls in mel- -■■ low light o'er all the landscape, Rest you weary one, and in sweet content- ment, Let thy thoughts stray in yonder meadow And drink the sure narcotic of fair lotus land. Let all the world sleep in one quiet nook, And let the sweet sense of lulling lullaby Charm the magic power of sleep. Rest, you weary one, and let no shadow come To mar this pure quiet happiness. Let the voice of many whirring wheels Be in tune with the song of some sweet sing- ing bird Softly singing the evening vespers; A vast, mysterious, holy power, A quiet, restful sleep, A sweet sense of dewy night, With a sure hope of returning day. -30- KOSE PETALS ROSE PETALS FOR CHILDHOOD jff^:-'^?. KOSE PETALS YOUTH COME with me to the land of lilac, To the land of sweet summer time; Come with me to the land of blossoms, Dwell with me in the sweet June time. Come with me to the land of fairies. Where bright dreams are always true, Spun with gold and wisps of pleasure, Where the skies are always blue. / come with me, my boy, my treasure, To the land where dreamers go, And the ships of joy and pleasure | Gently rock you to and fro. ) Come with me, joy, youth- time. Where fair lilies gently blow, . p.^ Come with me, joy, youth-time, ^ Buds to blossoms often grow. -33- ROSE PETALS TO ELIZABETH r\ LITTLE peach blossom, were you ^^ blown this way, Or were you pillowed on a cloud of night? Or were you left here by the angels to stay, A treasure of sweet Love and Light? Your eyes, too, they mirror the Heavenly skies ! Your dear little mouth with a rosebud hue; Your dimples were given to help my souFs loving For baby, my baby, just you I -84- ROSE PETALS Y BABYHOOD OU sweet little flower of Youth! You beautiful thing! Your footsteps tread in magic paths Sweet blossom of Spring! You stand on tiptoe and you peep O'er the garden wall, Where poppies there as red as your cheek Beckon and nod, and call. Come, little boy, to this fair world, Where slumberous poppies grow, Your fair little head with golden curls Nod to the lilies that blow. You stand 'midst buds and roses too, Your eyes so bright and brown. This wonderful world is good and true Where Youth and love are found. -35- B ROSE PETALS LULLABY LOWING winds, blowing o'er the South summer sea, Bringing your kisses to baby and me Far away out on the Rockaby Land There's a dear one waiting for us, my man. Watch the kindly ship as it tugs along To a fair haven and love that is strong; So blowing winds blowing bring back to me The happiest joy that can ever be ! To a loving wife and a cooing babe We hope the voyage is safe o'er the wave ; So blowing winds blowing bring back to me The happiest joy that can ever be ! Far out o'er the ocean the breezes blow, Little Boy, the ship is making the shore; So blowing winds blowing bring back to me The happiest joy that can ever be ! To Mother and Babe and Home that is best The Captain of the waves always finds rest ; So blowing winds blowing bring back to me The happiest joy that can ever be! -36- ROSE PETALS FAIRIES T WOULD not care so much for life if I ^ did not see Some dainty little fairy peeking up at me From some darling buttercup or rosebud fair. Did you know that fairies whispered from the flowers everywhere ? I would not care so much for joy if I did not know That every little girl and boy could tell you where they grow. Are they in the blooming meadow grass, or by some willowy brook; Are they with me when I sleep and dream, or in some fairy book? sweet child life! When the sunbeams play with you, You will find the sweeter joys under skies of blue. Sometimes though the fairies cry — the dew- drops are their tears, But they have always smiled through sun- beams many happy years. -37- ROSE PETALS And all the time I've wondered just who the fairies were; Sometimes I could almost see them and hear them gently stir, Somehow, though, when clouds were dark, and winds swept by their beds, I could not find a single one; they hid their little heads. But I have talked to fairies until I'm sure I know What makes them come with sunshine, and when the flowers blow. I can almost see them laughing as they romp and play with me. The fairies are glad sunbeams; that's the secret, don't you see? -38- ROSE PETALS THE LITTLE TOY HORSE THE little toy horse was laid away On the shelf near the dark attic stair, With trains and wagons that used to stay Always near his own Mother's chair. Ah ! the dust and silence of many years And the httle toy horse still sleeps on; And the tin soldiers bow their heads with tears And the drum is all tattered and torn. Till alas ! one time a sunbeam creeps In the attic of forgotten days, And lo ! the soldiers were not asleep, And the toy horse was on the highways. To bring to sweet childhood's happy dreams And awaken in a great man's breast The dearest, the nearest always seems To him. Home sweet Home, is the best. The little toy horse lifted his head As the great man stroked his proud mane. And tears fell from the dreams he thought dead. But were brought back to life just the same. -39- ROSE PETALS BOY THE grass so cool and the rippling brook And the lazy drone of the honey bee, And all the skies of azure blue Are filled with hopes that I can see. To command a ship on the far away wave I would help a Nation's cry, And send the cheer to thousands brave, And never mope or sigh. But, alas, I am only a boy yet. With a wealth of hopes laid by, And most of the dreams are treasures lost 'Neath a sweet and azure sky. .4(^- ROSE PETALS MY TRUST V\7ITH0UT you for my hope my heart it ^^ would break, Without the love that you give me my soul you could take, And scatter its perfume to the winds and the wild, Be forever my trust, my own beautiful child. Without your eyes to look on me with the warmth from your heart. Without your lips that would woo me, with your love to impart, A blessing, a mission forever thou art; A wondrous beauty to come to my heart. Without you in this life, my life it would seem As a ruinous part that is woven of dreams; So give me the hope and the glad bright gleams To love and to be loved forever it seems. -41- ROSE PETALS npRUTH searcheth the eyes of Wisdom, -*■ finding always that to gain knowl- edge, to be loved, to be honored, to be pure, or to be noble, or worthy of establishing any great and imperishable structure, or to soar to the heights of ambition, we must first learn that there is but one way, and that by the honored pathway called "Truth." -42- H ROSE PETALS HERALDS OF EASTER-TIDE T PLANTED by my garden gate, ^ Just near our shaded bowers, Some lowly little violets dear, Such sweet and tender flowers. Then Winter's rain and glist'ning ice And bright and frosty snow Kept spreading o'er our landscape drear And my flowers could not blow. Until one day, in meekness sweet, From softest zephyrs near My window there came a perfume From my violets so dear. With sweet remembrance then I stole Out to the quiet bower Where, in all their modest beauty, They were blooming every hour. Lo, dead and half forgotten there. So lowly in their beds. They heralded glad Easter-tide And lifted up their heads. And on the Resurrection Morn, When all things are made new, We'll breathe the soul and perfume From the tender violets blue. -43- :\ ROSE PETALS THE CHRISTMAS STAR r\ WEARY world, weary world ^^ Lift up your hearts and sing Fill all the air with joyous song To-night is born a King ! weary world, weary world, With footsteps rough and sore, With eyes so dim and falling tear With heads now bending low. weary world, weary world, The light is drawing near. And all the weak and lowly sing, soul, thou dost not fear. glorious world, glorious world, The Heavenly host doth sing The Star that led the Shepherds on, Where Christ was born a King. glorious world, glorious world, Let sorrows flee away. Let every soul and every heart Be glad on Christ's Birthday. -44- ROSE PETALS THE CHRIST CHILD WITH US BEHOLD the angels of God, With wings of holy light, Playing their harps all golden. Starring the skies of night. And angels of glad tidings Are singing from afar. The dear Christ Child is with us From the east glows the star. 0, go ye, weary traveler And rest beneath its light; Go kneel thou there and worship On this glad Holy Night. Let all hearts glow with gladness ! Let Peace reign on the Earth ! All hail the Day He cometh ! All hail the Savior's birth ! Sing ye; Sing ye, glad angels, The Heavenly host above The dear Christ Child is with us, And all the world is Love. -45- r^'^'^^'^'^r^.y^ ROSE PETALS /^H, sweetheart, do you remember the ^^ balmy summer night when first we met? You were young and full of life and hope. I can see you now, and memory dwells lovingly on the picture, you were so young and happy and free. How my soul yearned and mine eyes pleaded love as you stood and played those sweet low strains on your violin. Do you remember, love, the sweet messages, the tender tokens of love when you left for school? I missed you then as I have every hour of my life since. And do you remember, love, the wonderful summer nights, how the world seemed, all made for us, and the lawn at that dear old country place ; how the moon shown on our young hopeful hearts; and how we strolled and talked, oblivious of all crowds about us? Ah moonlight, love, heaven, how soon did it end, and Ah! the waiting? -46- T ROSE PETALS REVERIE HE morning of Life held out its fairest flowers. Youth drank from the depths of the lily cups the cold sparkling dews of joy. Youth is sweet; and mingled with Love, it merges into a bright haze, Avhere Spring sings a lullaby, the buds burst with fragrance, and all the land is young. Youth looked yearningly into my eyes, and the blue of Heaven reflected there thrilled my soul with pleasure. Youth stood in a beautiful spring garden all around, and away in the distance the buds were opening to the sun. The haze was lifting its blue veil, revealing a brilliant landscape. Into Youth's young hands I put my soft throb- bing palms, and we walked silently across the meadows and up the sloping lawn to a grand old mansion that stood out in the morning glow. We lingered near the wide flights, and there in the misty morning glow. Youth begged for a union of hearts and my heart was stirred. Autumn dwelt in the noisy city. His locks were tawny, his eyes had a deep burn- -47. ROSE PETALS ing gaze. He begged me to leave Youth and go with him into the distant haze of the city. In the Indian summer of his Autumn time I yielded, and put my little hands in his and walked resignedly by his side. The Autumn glowed red and yellow; then the cloud winds swept the lands; and seared and dying was Autumn time. Again I walked up the broad flights of the home of Youth. The silence of the hall filled my soul with grief. I could not find the com- panion of the morning hours. Had he, too, mingled with the haze, and faded and sank in the depths of the forest? I could not find Youth; my heart cried out. I longed for a sight of the soft young smile that did not vanish with the sweet warm rays of the morning sun; the smile that lingered like the odors of min- gling blossoms and like music of many golden throated birds. All was Spring, all was blossoms, and it was not the Autumn time. Again I could not find Youth. Alas ! from the blazing mingling haze of the red and yellow forest Youth emerged. There was a cover of spun gold on his head, and the pink of the rose on his rounded cheek, -48- ROSE PETALS and the fire of the Heavenly stars in his deep blue eyes. My heart once more rejoiced, my soul burned with pleasure — and — alas ! again ht was not Youth; he had grown tawny witli age; his locks were bronze and heavy, and even again it was Autumn time. My hands were placed in his, and his gazv was burned into my soul, and from this vi- sion I heard: "You loved the Autumn time your youth loved the Autumn, and I was yet a bud, too young and tender for flowers of blushing beauty to bloom and grow in splen- dor. So, like the Autumn, I sank into the distant forest, and there alone with the years, I became like the Autumn that I rev- eled in, and now I am Youth though I am Autumn. "Come," he said, and once again we walked in the garden of Spring, in its beauty, where the birds were singing and the roses were full blown. My life's long dream was Youth, and now I am Youth again. Again, we walked in the garden of Spring. Hovering about all the place was a cool mist, the air still and moist. The pink and purple -49- ROSE PETALS skies shed an opal haze over the landscape, the dew glistened on the tender petals of buds and flowers. Faintly, even the birds began to twitter. Twas morning, and night was opening sleepy eyes, with the shyness of laughing day smiling upon heavy lids, and like shadows hiding in every corner, so bright and luminous was the golden sun. We walked with the air of the early morn- ing blown about us, with birds and blossoms and all nature giving forth incense to all things that love our beautiful sunshine. Joy came into my soul. Again Youth was encircling my ethereal being. Again, with bared head and laughing eyes Youth searched my young heart; the bud had blos- somed into a full-blown rose, all blushing and fragrant. Youth and the Maiden looked down a pathway strewn with beauti- ful flowers. Love had entered the door of their souls. "Look," said the Maiden, "be- yond that pathway all decked with pink and white and green, there shines the bright lit- tle fairy Hope; and how beautiful is the Spring time of Life !" Autumn stood near also, her pathway strewn with bright scarlet and yellow leaves -50- ROSE PETALS and rich red fruit. "Look," he said, "beyond you can live in the sunlight of that dream. Eternity is shining with its vigilant fire of life, that glows and entrances as you tread the pathway, and so there is always Hope in Spring and also Hope in Autumn/' -51- \ n^^' >l#^''i LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 018 477 515 3