! 
 
Glass _ 
 
 Book_ 
 
 Copyright N°_ 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
ECHOES 
 
ECHOES 
 
 BY 
 
 FORBES STRONG 
 
 WITH 
 
 Original Illustrations 
 
 by 
 
 A. J. SCHMIDT. 
 
 MADE BY THE WERNER COMPANY, AKRON, OHIO. 
 
7<^ 
 
 
K 
 
 X 
 6 
 
Copyrighted 1910, 
 
 BY 
 
 FORBES STRONG 
 
 ©CI.A259861 
 
DEDICATION 
 
 To My MOTHER: — Affectionately 
 dedicated by The Author, 
 
 Forbes Strong. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 This world is broad — too broad to span, 
 Its mysteries are too deep for man. 
 How dare one then presume to say, 
 Their views are but the only way? 
 But all can say, of creed or clan, 
 They're aiming for the Spirit Ian'. 
 
 The Author. 
 
ECHOES 
 
 I 
 
 Oh! memory: — Thou art divine; 
 Amid the brain cells thou entwine, 
 Bitter or sweet, inscriptions deep 
 That seem to mock while victims weep. 
 What thought has chiseled on the brain 
 Thou calleth back in sad refrain. 
 
10 Echoes 
 
 II 
 
 There comes to me a name today 
 
 Of one whose form is silent clay ; 
 
 And as my thoughts fly far through 
 
 space 
 And with the unseen interlace, 
 I feel her presence come so near — 
 I listen with attentive ear 
 To give her life-like vision chance 
 To speak the words her bright eyes 
 
 glance. 
 
Echoes 11 
 
 III 
 
 A mental picture oft doth bring 
 Sweet reminiscence on the wing 
 Of thought, — of loved ones gone from 
 
 sight : 
 Still fancy paints with strange delight 
 Such life-like scenes, we feel inclined 
 ('Tis no delusion of the mind) 
 To feel and touch the unseen hand 
 Of one who dwells in fairyland. 
 
12 Echoes 
 
 IV 
 
 What is it that controls the will ; 
 
 That guides o'er distance; speeds o'er 
 
 hill; 
 O'er mountain, ocean; rivals light; — 
 Omniscient in its onward flight? 
 In myst'ry's realm infinite thought 
 Returns with vessels richly fraught; 
 And in that state of dreamland deep 
 I feel our loved ones vigil keep. 
 In revelation, lessons teach 
 To guide us, — yet in silent speech. 
 Oh ! blessed state for scope to dream 
 And visions of our loved ones gleam. 
 
o 
 
Echoes 13 
 
 V 
 
 One night a mighty presence came 
 And breathed to me a sacred name. 
 "Come stroll with me a little way, 
 While slumb'ring here your form must 
 
 stay, 
 And I will show you wisdom's light 
 To guide you safely day and night." — 
 We strolled on mossy banks beside 
 A running stream of crystal tide, 
 Short space, when up the mountain steep 
 She gained the top with single leap; 
 With magic touch she placed me there 
 And bade me stand with cautious care. 
 
14 
 
 Echoes 
 
 VI 
 
 "To step from off this mount/' she cries, 
 "Destruction at the bottom lies." 
 Then swift as thought, on — on she 
 
 sped; 
 Like frightened fawn from me she fled : 
 While on that mount I stood alone, 
 And dismal were the night winds blown 
 As if to send my feather weight 
 To safety's realm or hades' gate 
 Would only strengthen zephyr's pride; 
 Their interest lent on neither side. 
 
Echoes 15 
 
 VII 
 
 In some extremely mystic way 
 A rock, in mid-air, upward lay, 
 While wand'ring breezes kissed its face 
 Of stone, and rolled it on through space. 
 That's death! I thought, it doth not 
 
 spare 
 E'en one, 'tis monarch of the air. 
 I gazed in silence far through space 
 When on a gilded hill I trace 
 My guide. With ease she climbed the 
 
 height, 
 
 While from above shone rays of light. 
 
16 Echo e 3 
 
 VIII 
 
 A vision words cannot deride, 
 With head poised slightly on one side. 
 Symmetrical — her form and face 
 Would those of Venus proudly grace. 
 So gentle, yet with courtly mien, 
 Smilingly bowed that phantom queen. 
 While Angel hosts from every side 
 In kindliness looked on with pride. 
 
** While Angel hosts from every side 
 In kindliness looked on with pride." 
 
Echoes 17 
 
 IX 
 
 She charged: "The mount on which 
 
 you stand 
 "Is earth's domain and dang'rous land. 
 "Keep at the top, if you descend 
 "No helping hand can mortals lend. 
 "If on your soul you make a mar, 
 "Your efforts must erase the scar. 
 "The Golden Rule is wisdom's light; 
 "Keep it well trimmed and plain in 
 
 sight. 
 "Steer from that deep abyss — vain 
 
 pride : 
 'Tis deep and high, 'tis long and wide. 
 
18 Echoes 
 
 IX (continued) 
 
 "That rock, called death, that floats 
 
 above 
 "Is but the touch of purest love. 
 "Nay! Nay! I cannot wait for thee; 
 "I only brought thee here to see 
 "The reed on which man leans is bent; 
 "Profit thereby, 'tis int'rest meant; 
 "And as the night gives place to morn, 
 "This visitation do not scorn 
 "And deem it but an idle dream, 
 "For dreams are oft not what they seem. 
 "Don't trust to the propitious rule. 
 "Each casket must refine its jewel." 
 
Echoes 19 
 
 X 
 
 A fog now rises wide and high ; 
 In vain to sight my guide I try ; 
 But cloudy mists overspread my sight, 
 Closing from view that golden light. 
 And as I wander home alone, 
 I marvel that I saw no throne ; 
 Though gazing on angelic shore — 
 The distance an eternal lore — 
 No pearly gate, dividing line 
 Through sacrament of bread and wine. 
 But as the chrysalis, entranced, 
 Shades brilliant hues, so light en- 
 hanced : 
 Transparent as the buoyant air 
 Were deeds exposed to brazen glare. 
 
20 Echi 
 
 XI 
 
 Suddenly, consciousness supreme 
 
 Shone clearly : — 'twas a lucid dream ; 
 
 But it awakened inner sight 
 
 To prize the worth of wisdom's light. 
 
 Mythical it seems to thee — 
 
 A revelation 'twas to me — 
 
 Grandly revealing Infinite law 
 
 Is self redemption; and I saw 
 
 No cross celestial disc to mar 
 
 Beyond the mist — "The Gate Ajar." 
 
Echoes 21 
 
 WHO MADE GOD? 
 
 Oh! what a mystifying thought 
 
 That God Himself to this world 
 
 brought : 
 What did He make Himself of, pray? 
 Surely it was of different clay 
 From that He used for Adam or Eve, 
 For into them He had to breathe. 
 Now, who for Him prepared the way? 
 The Christian folk, "the wind," would 
 
 say. 
 But this confuses us, you know — 
 What made the gentle zephyrs blow? 
 
22 Echoes 
 
 Just gaze upon the nothing plan, — 
 And from it came this perfect Man, 
 So full of wisdom, love and light, 
 He made the depth, the wondrous 
 
 height ; 
 He made the sun and moon to shine ; 
 He made the stars, all things divine ; 
 He made the night, also the day ; 
 He made the dashing, foaming spray. 
 And Scripture says, He made each 
 
 thing : 
 Now, what unto Himself could bring 
 The breath of life? The nothing plan 
 Could not produce the perfect Man. 
 
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