LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Shelf .*.-^_5 1)6. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A DREAM OF LILIES ^ ¥^- ^\W M mi Sb Svitt: ©ream of &i{ie0 / qy ~-^- \ ^^^^'^^ t^'' Copyright, 1898. By J. G. CUPPLES COMPANY At'/ r lights i-c served. ©ebication Zo t^e szoect memory of m)? sister ^dcna )£)^o Ju^as tn^cn from eart^ in t^c sprmg?fime of ^cr gears an^ f6e fieautp of ^er innocence io^en t^^ &or^ );5ent ^omn into i^is gatben to gather fifies. Contnii^, A DREAM OF LILIES INADEQUATE LOST LABOR OLD year's ghost's AT NEW YEAR'S A CONVERT NEW LAND AND NEW LIFE THE KINGS AND THE STAR A BRAVE man's HOPE A PRAYER OF SHAD(^WED HEARTS CHRIST IN THE WILDERNESS " BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH " CONSUMMATUM EST CHRIST AND THE MOURNERS AT A GRAVE ON EASTER-DAV NOT OUT OF SIGHT (V.) 14 16 18 19 20 22 24 26 27 THE PRAYER OF ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX THE CHUKCII OF THE SACRED HEART LOTUS AND LILY TRUCE . IN SIGHT OF HOME CHOSEN .... VANQUISHED {FoK a A'ltii's Profession) MY father's house MISPRIZED AN ALTAR-LAMP A life's REGRET A CHRISTMAS RHYME " YE DID IT UNTO ME " RENDING THE VEIL THE SHRINE PROFANED THE HEAVIEST CROSS OF ALL THE CHRISTMAS THORN SUCCESS COLUMBUS, THE KNIGHT OF FAITH IN THANKSGIVING AUX 29 30 31 35 36 • 38 . 40 41 43 .44 . 46 47 50 52 • SZ 54 • 56 59 . 60 . 63 fvl.) I % §rfam of plica". She dreamed that on a hilltop bright and stilly, A garden girt with thorny hedges grew, Wherein no flower bloomed but the pure white lily ; Over it smiled far Heaven serene and blue. And fair, all fair, Lilies and buds and leaves beyond compare. And many a morn she sought that garden gladly To gaze upon the lilies sheltered there ; And, when the shadows lengthened, left it sadly. Sighing, " Would it were opened to my prayer ! " Alas, Alas ! The piercing thorns kept guard — she could not pass. Not dulled by cold delay, but fiercer growing. Her longing and her yearning — quenchless fire — Till flesh and spirit, all entranced, were glowing With the resistless flame of her desire. And then, one day. It burned through circling thorns her eager way. (0 ^^ Out of her glad heart singing swift slie entered, Nor recked she of the earth-life's drear eclipse — When lo ! on One her tranced gaze was centered, And the song faltered on her trembling lips — •■ Oh, who art Thou With l()\ing, sorrowful eyes and kingly brow? Oil, who art Thou among the lilies dwelling, Looking with tenderest pity upon me, In majesty the sons of men excelling ; Where'er Thou movest, see, how joyfully Upon their stem The lilies tremble as Thou sniilest on them ! "Oh, give me of Thy lilies, I entreat Thee — Here I would hide me from earth's gaud and glare, And at the gates of Life Unending meet Thee, Bearing the lily-bloom unstained and fair," — Then, murmured He, " Wouldst bear the lily, thou must follow me. " And, oh, remember that the way is dreary, Thorn-strewn and rough where'er thy feet are pressed ; And often thou wilt falter and be weary, (2) « And then there will be none to bid thee rest." — But still, she said, " Oh, let me follow whither Thou hast led. " I care not though all sorrows press upon me ; Darkness nor storm no more affrighteth me ; For Thine exceeding loveliness hath won me, x\nd all things are as naught except for Thee — And, even so. Whither Thou goest. Beloved, I will go." Then from its stem He brake a fair white lily Dew-gemmed and fragrant, and He gave it her — There in His blessed garden, bright and stilly — And she sank breathless ; then light v/inds astir, And, instant shone A deeper glor3^-light — and He was gone. Gone, too, the lily-garden erst so blooming, Gray was the sky above and chill the air. And the bleak earth the joy of life entombing. No trace of vanished flower or leafage bare. And all alone. She wept the bliss foregone she might have known. (3) k " (Jh, maiden, for thine answered prayer art grieving ? " Spake a clear voice. 'I'hen she beheld afar An angel with while wings the still air cleavings And on his brow there blazed a radiant star — - Nigher and nigher, lie came, and held unsheathed a sword of fire. " Love bade thee choose the lilies, rise and cheer thee. Love bids me guard thee : lo ! I walk beside, Unseen, henceforth, though ever, ever near thee." " And will thou never l(?ave me, then ? " she cried. — "Wilt surely stay? " "Lo, I am with thee till thy dying day." But though she rose, her will to Heaven resigning. And though the task Cxod gave her was undone — For that dear Visible Presence she was pining — " Naught," she said, " gladdens me beneath the sun. When shall I see Mine own Belove'd in Kternity." •7. '-r ^ ^- -Jv ^ She woke. Sad dreams and glad alike have ending, And oft we're fain to weep when glad ones go, (4) :^ ./' Bui since her dream a strange, sweet peace is blendinc With all her work and will—and even so — She's fain to deem The lily garden was not all a dream. (5) The least of loving is in having, clear ; To-morrow you will wake to weariness, And shrink, betimes, in heart-sickness and fear. Ah, woe ! from hands that now you'd kneel to kiss. You'll wake to your life-dream fulfilled, aghast ; Would God this dream, as other dreams, had passed ! The least of loving is in having. Light Night with a firefly : quench the flame that glows From thirst for the Exhaustless, Infinite, With the small dewdrop in the heart of a rose. The best of loving will be having, never. Till, having All, you're sure of it Forever ! ir.) Xo.-it Cabov. Oh, Giver of all good gifts! VViiat render we Again to 'I'hee of all Thy hands have given ? What hast 'i'hou of our strength, () God in Heaven ? Thou gavest the singing voice — wiiat songs for Thee ? When most we fear Thee, a presumptuous leaven Pervadeth all our prayer. Or, niggardly, We grudge 'I'hee what a friend hath full and free, A thought at dawn of day, a word at even. Lose not your patient sweat, O fashioners With plane, or drill, or chisel — though the men Of fairer face and softer hands forget. They err, but the All-Knowing never errs. What matter, when the work's done, plane or pen, So the heart's will to God's dear Will was set ! II. Who gathereth nr^t with nic, he scattereth ; W'ho standetli not with me, against me stands-^— (7) i Vs^ Beating the air with unavailing havids ; His work is idleness, his life is death— So warnest Thou, Christ, Lord of all lives and lands, In whom our hope, yea, even our daily breath. Oh, what men's praise ? — a wind that fluttereth The choking, blinding, burning desert sands. Oh, what avails it that is not for Thee, That spreads not every day the boundaries Of Thine Earth-Kingdom ; sets thy flag aflame On farther heights and headlands ? Oh, that we Should lose for paltriest seeming all that is, For time's exaltin":, risk eternal shame ! (8) ^1^ ^^itt*^ (Out nycar.^' CiUo.^t.o' at ^\c\v ^far'is. "A IIai'I'V Nkvv \\:.\k and many ! '"—one or tenor a score ? — Till the old life's done and the new bejiun where we reckon by years no more ! 'Twere sweet to rest nrjr (jiiestion, here at the fateful ;,Mte. Unmindful of the years gone by, as of the years that wait. r)h, but the dead, lost years to-ni;^ht, like souls in drearest pain, Grieve for all life's vain vigils, vain love and labf>r " Where are the crowns of glory our pallid brows should \\'here the ininiortal fruitage our empty hands should bear ? (9) Where are the songs of triumph it should be ours to sing? What shall we plead for you and for us when we come before tlu' Kin^' ? Redeem us, oh, redeem us ! and if you will — ah, well, 'i'he time that is left is so short at best that every day must tell. Late, seeing the end of tlie world in your fair shrines ligiUning-riven, In the signs in the sun and moon, in the stars that fell from Heaven Stricken, shattered, sori'-iicarted, you shrank from the eyes of men. Moaning, '() (lod ! is Heaven tlie cliance to begin airain ? ' ]>ut lo ! the love of I lis Heart and the mercy of His ways. To whom the days are as ages, and tiie ages but as days (lO) iww^^a^ Again the New Year dawiu'lh —again the woiulroiis grace - Aiul still in )()ur iiands our ransom you hold for a little space. I'ut one year more, or many? — the time is short at best, Redeem us, oh, redeem us I the restless dead would rest." 00 Mm ^ ^ ronvcrt. pRAisK ! I'riciul, in soolli, Ymi do inc j^ricvoiis wron<^. I had my youth. Yea, and my ycnilli was lo, 111! is come ;il hisl, lliy Spouse, thy King ! Why look on Him in wiiile and wordless anguish ? Why \vei;p? Those tears are not love's welcoming. His sad eyes meet thine own, in mercy heeding 'i"hy soul's wild agony rellecled there, Shrink'st thou because His fair white brow is l)leeding Unrler the royal crrnvn His bride must share? Shrink'st thou because His choice means pain unspoken, Shadows and tears, dread changes, bitter loss. The sword unsheathed, sweet bonds forever broken ? Shrink'st thou because His sceptre is a cross? (23) r: ^on.5iummatMm (»:,$t. Do I wake or dream .-' Is it sight or seeming? Dying — the sword upHft and gleaming ? 1 am fair and strong. I had phmned me a day serene and long. Is it ended quite Planning and lal)or and love's delight .' O Lord. Life-Giver, Life-Cherisher, see The little lives that have need of me. Hearts bound in mine. By the love of that human 1 leart of Thine, Tender for all. The awful word of Thy power recall. My kindred dear Are not in Heaven, but all, all here— Oh, much to live for and much to love, Hast Thou given me, God above ! Over and done ! \\'hy, the best of my life is but just begun. ' (24) C Not yet at its noon The sun of my summer-time — soon, too soon, Thou art calling me. Lord of Time and Eternity, What are a score of years to 'I'hee ? Stay the hand on the dial — Nay, no denial ! 1 would live, 1 would live — I've lived true to Thee- Have pity on me ! ***** No respite, none ! Then, God, if it must be, 'J'hy will be done. Ah me ! Ah me ! Through the dusk of this drear eclipse 1 see The dear, dead Christ, For me and my Heaven sacrificed, White on the Cross the Atonement dread Consummated. Let me hide my face in the dust at His feet While the last hours fleet. I will trust His love for the life that's done, And tiie life begfun. (25) t-, .g^ 1^ (TUvi.^t and the ^tlourncv.si. Down on the sliLidowed stream uf time and tears, Voice of new grief and grief of ancient years — Sad as wlien tirst from loving lips 'twas siglied — " Hadst Thou been here, my l:)rother had not died." Comfort us. Lord, wlio heardst poor Martha's plaint, Heal the sore heart, uplift the spirit faint — ■ O Thou, the Peace that cometh after strife ! O Thou, the Resurrection and the Life ! Why didst Thou take the love we leaned on so ? We know not, but hereafter we shall know. Speaks now our faith, through tears Thou wilt not chide, " Most wert Thou here when our beloved died.'' m^..' m 3^t a Cuavc on tfajsitfr-llay. Credo .... /// Ju'SKrrcclioiinii A/iu/i/orian. I KNOW tin,' s\\\v^ of (KmiIi il> N-ictory — SincL' OIK' more dear than niinr own life is dead ; .\n(l I can iicvcr more 1)C' comforti'd, \\ liak'vcr love may come in years to In-, 'I'ill (lod i;ive I)a{k what I)(alh has wrenched from ine, \'et, ye would shiy my hope. \\ho was it said "There is no resurrection for such dead, W'liat thou hast lost hath jK-rished utterly?" I'"alse seer ! my dead shall li\'e aL;ain, i know. Those eyes f)iu:e oh, so kind ! shall .smile again ; .And the dear hands that wrout^hl hut <;c)()d to me, Mold mine in warm close clasp. i can forego Life's solace, and he patient with it.s pain Until the day-hrcak and the shadows flee. (27) v*^ STot out of %ii^ht. So sad in life, cvrn wlu'ii thy lips were smiling, Those conilortini;', compassionate eyes of ihine ; So eloquent, another's pain beguiling, " r.o, my friend grieves, and all his grief i^ mine." Who knew thee came to thee in trust unbounded^ Was e\-er depth thine own soul had not sounded ? 1 wonder is it jo}' to thee in J leaven, Oh, loving", helping, giving — now to know The love and grief to thy dear memory given. Thou art not gone — we cannot let thee go — Beyond our reach — ah yes ! — and crowned with light, I'ut still in sight — oli, never out of sight ! And shall it be in vain, oh, dear befriender .' Nay, ours the blame, if thou no blessing bring. Thou art unchanged — man-brave and woman-tender And Christ-like merciful and pitying. Look with remembering eyes to God, while we Look on thee and grow faintly like to thee. (28) ' c S. /* ,-i?^/^k TV % 9 Z\it ^rnycf of ,%t Bernard of Olairvaux. A FREE TRANSLATION. Remember, Mother, throned in Heaven's splendor, That never on this earth has it been said That any heart which sought thy pity tender Was left uncomforted. So, vi'earied of world-friendship's changing fashion, And bankrupt of world-treasures utterly. And trusting in thy mercy and compassion, I come at last to thee. Why name to thee my needs in my entreating — Thou, taught in human hearts by the Divine — Long time agone, whjn soft His Heart was beating, Fond Mother, close to thine ! O plead with Him who on thy breast was cherished, Sweet sharer in the world's Redemption Pain ! O let it not be said that I have perished. Where none came yet in vain ! (29) 5"hf C'hurch of thr *anfa Hu-avt. Lord, to riiv i;li>'\' tliis ncw-iisrii sliriiu- ! Wi-'vc: ^ivi'H (1111 best and Unow it .ill iiniiicct We'd strew our Wvrs like llowcis luloir \'\]\ Icct, Ami still hi' Thv i;lad debtors. Love l)i\inc. "I'is ours and Tliiiii' loni, hier and altar liiione ; ( )iir bi'st of (Ml I li and all ol ilcav'cn meet licii; — l''air bride, sued ( liild, and old dead niotliei dear, 'The sinner sinivcn, llic weak lo saint's sireii^tli ^rowil. All ( ;i\-ei , w hat are our poor t;ilts to 'I'iiee ? And what are we that 'I'liou shouldsl i rase our love, And prize Thine own — ^i\-en back in si^n thereof, As father with hisehilds' i^ifls tenderly ! With pit\' for our po\'ci t\' alone, And, e\'en as Tliv I leail hath shared our ,:;rief. And ( raved, like ours, for < oinloit and reliel. Share with us lieic, our lo\c lialh built 'I'll)' 'I'liione. HCotusi and Hi^ily. So.MK iiMKs ;i (lark hour loiiK'tli for us wlio arc bound lo hear 'VUv l)ur(icn of lo\vl\- hihor, the fetters of lowly care. An hour when the heart i^rows sick of the w()rk-cla\'"s weaiy round, Loalhiui;- each oft-seen sii^ht, loathing; each oft-heard sound ! Loathing our very life, with its [Mtiful daily neeil, LearniiiL; in pain ami weakness that lal)or is doom indeed. Antl this the meed of the struggle — tent, and raiment and bread .'' Oh ior the " Requiescant." and tiie sleep o( the pardoned dead ! Oh the \isions that torture and tempt us ('x)W shall the heart withstand !) - The fountains and groves and grottoes of the Oodless Lotus-land ! Oh the soft, cntrt'alinj; voices, niakiiii; the tired heart U;ap, " Come over to us, ve toileis, ami we will siii<^ ye to slei"!")." A fatal slei'|i, I tidu ! hiil we are sad imlo (K-atli, And tile I,oliis liowtT iminans us with its swih'I aud bane- ful hicalii. W'e look to our Icllow toilers — what lu'l|), what eouifort there ? 'Ihey're bowed b\- tin- scll-sanic burdcu, beset by the si'lf-sanie snare. « I'alleth the ashen twilight meet elose f a lovely pearl — a wondrous one — The rarest, purest pearl in all the land. Oh, my dim eyes that saw not how it shone ! I dropped it in the dust, nor mourned it gone. But kissed the flaunting flowers in my hand. To-day — oh, late and vain or tears or prayer! Oh, late and vain, lost pearl, my fondest quest ! Though now, at last, I know thee radiant fair, And now I know thee sweet beyond compare — Now that thou shinest on another's breast. (43) ;^n 3lUuv-3Damir. O SHINING meek and shining bright, An Altar-Lamp, indeed ! With ready, tender, helpful light For groping wanderer's need. A\'ithout the temple-walls he stands, His heart is sore with sin ; — Through pictured saints' outreaching hands Thou beckonest him within. Into the House of Christ the Lord, The wanderer's rest from roaming — Where robe and ring and festive board Await his longed-for coming. Sweet beacon-light, what joy is thine ! I breathe, in far-off greeting ; — So near, so near the Heart Divine, Thou tremblest with its beatin