P s 046516 Jomarvow and omerioems Mary Chandler Jones / 'm^Llj^:{AEi / !& ropyri^i(.V'___i^ i-f (:oi^YRt(;nT I)i:fosit. TOMORROW AND OTHER POEMS TOMORROW AND OTHER POEMS BY MARY CHANDLER JONES THE PILGRIM PRESS BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO cr .Oa ^ ' \ o COPYRIGHT, I9I4 BY LUTHER H. GARY JliN -c 1914 THE PLIMPTON PRESS NORWOODMASSUSA ■©CI,A37r)211 TO MY MOTHER ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the poems which appear in this little volume, acknowledgment should be made as follows: "Mt. Monadnock and the Green Moun- tains," to the New England Magazine; "Thanksgiving" and "Do You Know the Land?" to the Independent; "The Key Note" to Munsey' Magazine; "All Saints," "Un- til We Die," "The Grace- of our Lord Jesus Christ," and "Sir, We Would See Jesus," to The Congregationalist. M. C. J, CONTENTS PAGE Tomorrow ii The Sun Dial 12 To THE Unknown . 13 Facing East 14 Mount Monadnock 15 Until We Die 16 All Saints ^ . . 17 My Cup Runneth Over 18 'The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ" . 19 The Upper Room 20 San Diego ..." 21 Of My Friends ^2. To A. E. C 23 For Company 24 Sympathy 26 Autumn's Heralds 2.J The Mystery of Dawn 28 The Birch Road 29 The Church Path 30 Over the Hedge 32 The Blind Gentian 34 Contents PAGE Lights 36 "No More Sea" 38 "Do You Know the Land?" 40 Thanksgiving 42 The Boy with the Shepherds .... 44 "God Rest You Merry!" 46 The Strait Way 48 The Garden and the Highway .... 50 "Sir, We Would See Jesus" 51 "This is Eternal Life" 53 The Tryst 54 The Key-Note 55 Tomorrow and Today 56 TOMORROW \ Tomorrow "TOMORROW" I HAVE not feared to live, since, come what may, I have been sure that, somehow, all would be Made ready still, in manner fair for me. And so, free-hearted, I have gone my way — Some work, some rest, a little time for play. Sunshine and stars, the mountains and the sea ; Home and my friends, in blessed company — What have I lacked, from little day to day? And shall I say, "Tomorrow!" with more doubt Because its dawn shall whiten strange and far? I never knew "tomorrow" ; yet have I At even laid me down to sleep, without A question of that morrow's morning star Or that its sun should climb the brightening sky. 11 Tomorrow THE SUN DIAL (S. C. C.) NOT from far gardens, dark with an- cient yew, Bordered with box, with timeless roses sweet. Came brass or stone, quaint-graven, to repeat Warning of yesterday, 'mid sunshine new. Not made for English gray or Tuscan blue But for today and here, in cold and heat, His dial stood to catch the shadow fleet. Marking the hour, true as the sun is true. And even as, with his own skill he wrought By light to measure common work and play, Scarce caring what another hand had done, So, in the hidden garden of his thought, His own the dial was that caught the ray And measured life by the Eternal Sun. 12 Tomorrow TO THE UNKNOWN O "Heart's one choice," if down the un- blazed years, Wherein I lose myself and fear to go, There be one trail that leads to you, although Tangled with thorn, and blind with mist of tears, I pray high heaven that nor doubts nor fears May turn me from it, foolish, seeking so Some easier path, since evermore I know Life's sweetness dwells where your dear face appears. You are my home. Beloved. Far and far I travel till I meet you, nor will stay At hostelries, nor yet with any friend; But, when I find the one place where you are I will abide so long as it is day. And after — till Eternity shall end. 13 Tomorrow FACING EAST THERE is a window, facing toward the east, Where I may catch the first strange, whitening ray Of that fair miracle which shall be Day — The morning star its prophet and its priest. The dawn winds whisper softly, "Night has ceased !" And valley mists turn rosy that were gray, While from behind the hills, far, far away, Springs up the light — by God's own hand in- creased. Maker of Light — Oh, give me still to keep Some eastern window where the light may grow. Then, howsoever long and cold and deep May be the night, there shall the morning glow — And when Thy dawn across my earth shall break, Lord of the sunrise, grant that I may wake ! H Tomorrow MOUNT MONADNOCK AND THE GREEN MOUNTAINS I KNOW a mountain that stands all alone, King of the vassal hills which round him keep A waiting silence. Night and morning heap Their drifting mists of glory, zone on zone, About his shoulders, till the cold gray stone Gives back the rosy splendor. Tempests sweep In idle fury round that crowned steep, lonely monarch! Solitary throne I 1 wonder if he ever looks across To the far ranges in their restless climb Of summit after summit, longing so For nearer comradeship, though gained by loss To his own glory. To be strong, sublime. Alone — is that the pleasure mountains know"? 15 Tomorrow UNTIL WE DIE OLIFE, we know that some day it must be Thy warm, dear sun shall set to rise no more, And through the soul's unbarred and swinging door The mist shall sweep that rolleth in from sea. Yet from that hour of night we would not flee, For sunset ever holds the dawn in store, And death is life which leadeth still before, After the opened gate hath set us free. Nay, 'tis the unseeing eye, the unheeding ear. The hands that falter e'er the heart hath failed, The heart that finds love's tasks too stern and high— 'Tis shrinking life, not loss of days, we fear. These things, not death, whereat our souls have quailed. Life, grant that we may live until we die I 16 Tomorrow ALL SAINTS NOT to the high, saints do I pray today, On whom the martyr fire, the martyr wheel, Set the great glory of their holy seal ; But unto those who walked our dusty way. Nor dreamed that they were saints; who made life gay For other lives, while sorrow's bitter steel Pierced their own souls; who kept their broth- ers leal By their own loyalty. To these I pray I O brows, surprised by halos all unguessed. Forget not — nay for that I need not ask — The weary struggle and the homely strife By which you won your dwelling and your rest. And for that sake aid ye each toil, each task, And help me climb up to your blessed life! 17 Tomorrow "MY CUP RUNNETH OVER" I HOLD a cup of life which doth o'errun; Not half its blessing ever can be mine, For sweet as treasured honey, clear as wine, The bright drops fall, asparkle in the sun. So much achievement evermore unwon. So much of joy forever but a sign ! Shall I, in ashes, sorrow and repine Because my cup of blessing must o'errun *? Nay, Giver of all life, I would look up In full content, in utter thankfulness That so much greater than my tiny cup Thy treasure is. But grant that I may bless With staff and scrip, with heav'nly bite and sup, Some poorer souls from thy free lovingness ! 18 Tomorrow "THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST" F ORTH from Thy gracious presence, Lord, we go Once more along the world's untender ways. We may not pause upon Thy face to gaze Nor linger in Thy happy courts; for lo. Thou hast sealed us ambassadors, to show Thee to the world that hath not known Thy praise. Then, to our common tasks, our hurried days. We turn again, since Thou hast willed it so. To make rough places plain, the crooked straight. To help the weak, yet envy not the strong, To make the earth a sweeter dwelling place In little ways, or, if we may, in great, We pray. Lord Jesus, grant to us Thy grace. 19 Tomorrow THE UPPER ROOM O Master mine, what time with weary feet, Bearing my water jar, I go my way — Though still I feel Thy presence, day by day, Beside the well, along the crowded street. Walking with Thee in friendship strong and sweet; Yet when Thine errands press I scarce may stay To listen long to Thee, nor long delay To answer freely, as were dear and meet. So I would keep an upper room for Thee, Clean from earth's dust and quiet from its din. Only Thine own, O blessed Master mine ! Wilt Thou not enter there to sup with me. The world shut out, nought save Thy love within, To break for me life's bread and pour life's wine? 20 Tomorrow SAN DIEGO (The Angel's Kitchen, by Murillo, in the Louvre.) A r^HERE was a monk who thought his task too low I To offer unto God from day to day, A spendthrift he, dreaming the gold away Of that sweet service which his hours might show. Then angels came and ministered, for lo ! When earthly hands will not, the heavenly may, And God's good plan shall neither change nor stay Because our hearty shrink back, our feet are slow. Lord, it is thine to give the unfailing bread And thine it is to fill the unwasting spring; The unfading dawn is kindled by thy might. But oh, be mine the hand that, comforted. From Love Unbounded ministering, may bring A crust, cool water and a candle light! 21 Tomorrow OF MY FRIENDS YE are my crown of glory, O my friends I My noblest honor and my chief delight. Wherefore I think upon you day and night, And ever your dear company attends My journey, and a steadfast sunshine sends O'er worlds and years, to keep my pathway bright. Ye do high service, far beyond my might, And for my weakness, so, ye bring amends. God make me worthy of you ! Not as one Who can be equal, but as one who may. Like to the moon, giving earth back the sun, Reflect your truth and sweetness day by day And to less blessed lives may minister Because her own friends are so much to her. 22 Tomorrow TO A. E. C. YOU, who have heard the nightingale a-singing, Filling with passion all the star- bound dark; You, who have seen at whitest noon upwinging One tuneful speck — and known it was a lark ! You, who have heard our own dear thrushes chanting Through pine-sweet aisles their cadenced even-song — How dare I offer, through these echoes haunt- ing. My tiny call, yet do your ear no wrong ^ Nay, for the thrushes sing but in the summer, The nightingale and lark nest oversea The frozen woodland loves a lowly comer — To wish you mirth I sing, a chickadee I 23 Tomorrow FOR COMPANY THERE be who sing for pennies (Poor minstrels they, with hunger for their dole) ; There be who sing for praises (Ah, woe is me I Can clapping fill a soul *?) ; There be who sing, o'er land and sea. For all the earth to hear; There be who sing a lullaby, Beside a cradle dear. Or softly down some twilight street A homeward step to cheer. But as for me — no lullaby Nor hasty-coming feet For whom my voice is home and rest After the noon-day heat. No single soul in all the world To find the world more sweet Because I sing. Yet still, I sing — A little song and low To cheer my own heart through the dark, Where I must sometimes go; 24 Tomorrow Or, if the sun shines bright abroad, Because I love it so. And so I sing for company, (Lone pilgrim I, swift faring day by day). Glad if they say, who chance to hear — "The world is good I One singeth by the way I" 25 Tomorrow SYMPATHY A SMILE forever lieth low In eyes where shadows never dwell, Albeit there they come and go, For griefs she may not tell. The griefs of others are, I ween, More grievous than thine own, my Queen ! O clear, sweet eyes, that put aside All sorrows of their own. And in their calm depths, opened wide, Reflect the sun alone. The joys of others are, I ween, More joyous than thine own, my Queen! And when, across, the shadows creep. From lives in shadow laid, Yet still the tender smile doth sleep Behind the tender shade. The joy that lights thine eyes, I ween. Is gladder than all griefs, my Queen I 26 Tomorrow AUTUMN'S HERALDS J UST a bit of traced gold In my pathway lying, Fallen ere the wind's a-cold And the snow a-flying. Just a crimson banner flung Out upon the breezes, Autumn's victor signal, hung O'er each tree he seizes. Just a cricket, piping shrill In the dry, brown grasses. And a haze above the hill Tell me Summer passes ! 27 Tomorrow THE MYSTERY OF DAWN OVER the far hills creeping, creeping, Comes the light of another world. Kissing the fields as they lie a-sleeping, Staining the cloud-flags, dawn-unfurled. First a silence; then birds a-twitter. Half-hushed song from a leaf -hid nest; Rainbows over the grasses glitter. While the light grows from east to west. See ! it whitens from hills to zenith ; Hush! is it not some strange, new light? Who can tell what the wonder meaneth? This is the day we lost last night! 28 Tomorrow THE BIRCH ROAD THROUGH a mile of moonlight birches Runs a road I love, Where the dusty valley searches For the heights above. And my road scarce knows it rises, As it climbs and creeps, Till — oh wonderful surprises — It is past the steeps, And the far hills spread before it, And the woodland gray, Turns to sunset glory, o'er it. Will there come a day When, in golden breadth and beauty, We our hills shall find. And, through fruitless-seeming duty, Leave the vale behind. Coming, with a glad surprise. To our wished-for heights and skies'? 29 Tomorrow THE CHURCH PATH OVER a mowing sweet and gay With clover and with daisies Fares forth a little, fragrant path, Whereof I sing the praises. Down thro' the hushed and cloistered wood With one dear thrush-call ringing. Across a green, moss-hidden brook That goes with secret singing; Out to the sunshine once again. Where strawberries are growing. And through the shining, whispering leaves The free, glad winds are blowing; Into the open ! there you stand, Set round by mountains only; And in the midst the little church, So white — so still — so lonely. 30 Tomorrow The house of prayer, the hills of God, The vale of strength and healing — Give thanks here for the little path. And for the wide revealing. 31 Tomorrow OVER THE HEDGE I WHO have no garden, Ordered, sweet and fine, ' Pray you, keep your hedge low, Happy neighbor mine! Not a single blossom Would I steal away, Tho' I breathe the sweetness All the livelong day. I, who have no garden, Everywhere I go; Find me wayside flowers — Gay and free they grow. Birds and winds have planted. And the Lord of all Makes Himself a garden. Where the seed may fall. I, who have no garden Where the birds may nest, Watch them flying over In unwearied quest. 32 Tomorrow Not for me their twilight Or their matin song, Only just to watch them Flying all day long. Why I have no garden Surely God must know, For He has so many. And I love them so! Neighbor, keep your garden Trim enough for two — Since perhaps my garden Has been given you ! 33 Tomorrow THE BLIND GENTIAN w HEN the autumn lays her finger Playful, half, on plain and hill. Loath to go, forbade to linger. Waits the exile Summer, still. Then, in all the golden dower Of those first September days. Springs a strange, pathetic flower, Up and down the woodland ways. Blue and bright the sky above it. Yet it never sees the sky, Nor the winds that seem to love it As, caressing, they pass by. Shut forever from the sweetness Which goes smiling far and near. Blind to all the dear completeness Garnered in the closing year, 34 Tomorrow There beside the roadway gleaming For the tired passer-by, Brave blind gentian — never dreaming That you give us back the sky ! 35 Tomorrow LIGHTS S we rushed home across the dark, After the sun went down, We saw full many a farm-house lamp And many a glimmering town. A Some lights were set for folk to toil And some shone out for play — And there were candles, watching long That wearied so for day I Across a river, mirror-black, The bridge lamps marched; and then Far off at sea a lighthouse flashed To guide the sailormeni We saw the moon come up ; we watched The darting fireflies. A hero from the magic east, We saw Orion rise. 36 Tomorrow At last the lamp, the hearth of home, For welcome bravely drest — Oh, all the lights of earth are good But lights of home are best I 37 Tomorrow "NO MORE SEA" OH, yesterday I sat beside The gold-green sea, and watched the race Of the far breakers, as the tide Came sweeping in, apace, apace. I saw the far-flung rainbow spray, I heard the grating pebbles roll; And as God's ocean filled the bay, His greatness stilled my soul. Across our fevered plains of death. Where the red sun rode hot and dry. The east blew in, with healing breath, From fresh, lone wastes of sea and sky. The little children on the sand Built castle, dike and magic cave. As tho' for them alone were planned The frolic of the turning wave. 38 Tomorrow Ah, sweet that world where it is true No need for ocean there shall be, But what will little children do. When there is "no more sea'"? 39 Tomorrow DO YOU KNOW THE LAND? DO you know the land where t±ie days are long, And the business it all is play, Till the sandman comes with a sweet, low song. And carries the dwellers away To lands that are fairer than daylight lands — Where the fairies come with gifts in their hands ? Do you know the land? Do you know the land where the sweet Queen reigns, The Queen who is half a saint; Who kisses away all her subjects' pains, And comforts every complaint With a smile and a song that are sweeter far Than the fruits of our grown-up strivings are? Do you know the land? 40 Tomorrow Do you know the land where the dwellers stand Impatient to be set free Into the wonderful grown-up land — Such a fair, fair land to see, With no sums to do and no words to spell. With never a school nor a bedtime bell? Do you know the land? Oh, beautiful land! If we could return And dwell in thy gates once more, I suppose that our foolish hearts would burn To be off, as they did before ; For, beautiful land, we loved not thee Till thy gates swung open and made us free I Do you know the land? 41 Tomorrow THANKSGIVING FOR the winter's saintly snow, For the springtime's hopeful green, For the summer's happy glow, For the autumn's golden sheen — Thee, O loving Lord, we bless In a song of thankfulness I For the gladness of the days When the sun shone clear and bright. With no hint of cloud or haze. From the morning to the night — Thee, O loving Lord, we bless In a song of thankfulness I For the peacefulness of night. Silent folding round our sleep. When nor danger nor affright Stirred the darkness, restful, deep — Thee, O loving Lord, we bless In a song of thankfulness I 42 Tomorrow Shall we take the good alone? Shall we leave the evil out? Can we for the cloud, the moan, For the danger and the doubt, Thee, O loving Lord, still bless In a song of thankfulness? Darkness showed thee Light of Light, Sorrow proved thee Friend of Friends, Danger taught thee Might of Might, Truth of Truth when doubt descends: For this learning, thee we bless In a song of thankfulness ! "All our times are in thy hand," And we thank thee for the whole; All has waited thy comm.and; For our joy, and for our dole Thee, O loving Lord, we bless In a song of thankfulness I 43 Tomorrow THE BOY WITH THE SHEPHERDS LAST night my father bade me go To guard the sheep with him From bear and wolf and other foe Along the hillsides dim. And while the silly sheep we kept, Or ever day was nigh, A glory as of dawning swept Across the midnight sky. My father fell upon his face (Ah, why was he dismayed^), But such sweet presence filled the place I did not feel afraid. And first there came a tender word Unto our waiting ears — A sweeter sound than any bird — It filled mine eyes with tears. 44 Tomorrow Then, straight, the whole wide sky was riv'n With one triumphant strain; It was as if the stars of heav'n Had found their song again. And what they sang I cannot say Save of a Baby, born In Bethlehem. We took our way To find Him, e'er the morn. Though now no more the glory fills The waiting midnight sky, And up and down the longing hills The herald echoes die, Yet when I guard my father's sheep Along the hillsides dim. That Baby seems with me to keep The watch, and I with Him. And once again, some far, sweet day I find and follow Him, alway I 45 Tomorrow ''GOB REST YOU MERRY!" GOD rest you merry!" Dear my friend The quaint old wish is mine to- day; Wherever you may fare or fend, "Let nothing you dismay !" For laughter lifts the weariest load, Too sore for grieving hands to bear; And singing cheers the loneliest road; Brave smiles can vanquish care. "God rest you merry!" There is need For many a merry heart and glad ; Too oft our sighs our songs outspeed — The world is very sad. "God rest you merry," with the mirth ! That fills His holy dwellingplace ; Then, down the waiting ways of earth Wear His joy on your face. 46 Tomorrow And so the dear old wish, my friend, I send you from my heart today ; "God rest you merry" to the end ! "Let nothing you dismay !" 47 Tomorrow THE STRAIT WAY I THANK Thee, Lord, Thou madest hard The path of sin For me, with many a gate and guard Without, within — Thy grace, and scarce my will, hath barred And hedged me in I When other feet have wandered free, My wish, ingrate. Hath beat its barriers helplessly, But soon or late My tutored heart grew glad to see The path made strait. Yet even in this narrow way. Where I have toiled. With common dust of common day My hands are soiled, And tender things to miry clay My step hath spoiled. 48 Tomorrow Within Thy light, alike all stain; Akin we are — I, and those wearier hearts of men, Who wandered far. Down-bowed, I pray, "Forgive again! Save, Morning Star!" 49 Tomorrow THE GARDEN AND THE HIGHWAY GO forth into your garden, O heart with sorrow torn, And Jesus Christ, arisen, Shall meet you there, this mom I At first you may mistake Him, But linger for awhile And you will learn to know Him In voice and word and smile. Go forth along life's highway, O hopeless souls that grieve. And Jesus Christ shall greet you And walk with you at eve. Perchance you will not know Him, Yet tell Him all your dread And He your house will enter To bless your daily bread. 50 Tomorrow "SIR, WE WOULD SEE JESUS" SHOW us thy face, O Christ, that we may love thee, For some forget and some have never seen, But there is naught we e'er can place above thee When once we see thee, beautiful, serene ! Show us thy face, that shone of old with bless- ing All up and down the ways of Galilee ! And, like thy fishers, thy dear might confessing. We, too, for very love shall follow thee ! Show us thy face, thorn-wounded for our heal- ing— O, heart of mine, canst thou that crown for- give'? — Those bleeding hands were for our pardon's sealing And thy heart fainted that our souls might live! 51 Tomorrow Show us thyself, Lord Christ! In lovingkind- ness, Above the tumult of the world between, Show us thyself and put away our blindness. We needs must love thee when we once have seen. 52 Tomorrow ^THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE" SHALL a man live tomorrow'?" What matter, and who shall say? Why from the future borrow? Ask more, "Doth he live today?" 53 Tomorrow THE TRYST THE Little Dream walked with me, hand in hand, Up to the Place of Waking. *'0h, cross with me into the Morning Land," I begged, "for dawn is breaking. "You never saw the sunshine on your way. And I — have fared without you So many weary roads, day after day, Sometimes, almost, I doubt you I" {The Little Dream speaks.) '1 may not pass beyond the Gate of Sleep; Here I must wait you, only — Yet doubt me not, though 'tis but here I keep The tryst. I, too, am lonely!" 54 Tomorrow THE KEY-NOTE I MAY not sit alone and sing The long day through, In autumn woods or fields of spring, For I must do My little task of every day, And sing at that — if sing I may ! But oh, believe me, I have guessed What joy may be In birds and stars and loving quest Of free things — free From prisonings of daily care, The liberty of wings to share. Yet I am sure the lord of song Hath set within Each common task a sweet note, strong Enough to win Some music from each day's turmoil, If we but hearken while we toil I 55 Tomorrow TOMORROW AND TODAY TOMORROW is with Thee, O Lord, Wherever it may rise — And so we will not fear to go Full bravely forward, since we know Within Thy love it lies. Tomorrow is with Thee, oh Lord, When it shall whiten far. Beyond the sunshine warm and bright, Beyond the healing touch of night. Beyond the morning star I Tomorrow is with Thee, O Lord, Or near or far away ; But in the dusty roads of life In weariness, or joy, or strife Our business is Today. 56 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 016 235 315 9 ' %