p s 3537 .C25M4-I i9U lilllllllilllllllll Class _____Z5:^537, Book ■. Cz5 H4 t«ni CopyrightN^. COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. Miss L/Izzie A. Schantz Danvers, Illinois IWeart Ceaves ^y TCUizle '^V* Scl)antz Copyright, 1911 By Miss Lizzie A. Schantz Danvers, Illinois ©CI.A293718 r "For voices pursue him by day, And haunt him by night, And he listens, and needs must obey When the Angel says: 'Write!'" — Longfellow. A Winter Nigtt Through the bare trees the angry north wind roars, Laden with snowflakes; wildly the branches toss And seem to battle with the raging storm; Now for a short brief space it's strength is spent. Again with added fury it bursts forth, Whirling the feathery snowflakes high in air. *Tis night, and not a star is seen o'erhead. Afar one flickering light shines dim Through the thick darkness that enwraps the land. There is a charm in nature when the winds Rush from the north; the icelocked stream, the snow, Fast'ning, as it falls, on every tree and shrub, Until the whole world is a robe of white, Makes scene as fair as ever was portrayed. Would summer's loveliness be half as great If winter's winds would ne'er o'ersweep the earth? Where were the beauty of the op'ning rose. The balmy summer air, the song bird's note, If the white snow did never cover all? And so in life, the darkest hour will pass. The sun but shines the brighter after rain; Adversity's chill blasts will rise and storm, Yet are they but the minor chords that help To make the music of our lives complete. Sweet sleep, come, weave o'er me thy gentle spell, Sweet dreams, come, lend thy charms to my repose, Wind send abroad thy plaintive voice tonight; Who does not love to listen to thy strains Music of winter! Breathe sweetest melody. Lull me to sleep. 5 ^^Until Deatk Do Us Part ' In the soft September sunshine You are standing by my side, Overhead in autumn beauty Blue the sky is reaching wide; In my heart a ray of gladness Brighter than the sun, has shone, For today the words were spoken That have made you all my own; Mine to guard and cherish always As the treasure of my heart, I'll be true to you, my darling, "Until death do us part." With your blessed presence near me I can walk the darkest way. Careless what the future brings me Since you are my own today. Place your hand in mine, beloved, Let me look into your eyes. There the blue of heaven lives always, There love's sunshine ever lies. And the earnest prayer that ever Thus I'll stand, goes from my heart. Heaven above and you beside nte "Until death do us part." The Heart s Desire When the morning light is breaking in the distant eastern sky, When, triumphant in the heavens, bright the noon- day sun shines high. When the twilight shadows gather, grow and lengthen broad and deep. And beneath night's dusky mantle all the world is hushed to sleep, I am' haunted by the vision of a pair of tender eyes, In my waking hours they're with me, even in my dreams arise. Must I not obey their language? When they call must I not go When, within their light to linger earth to paradise doth grow? Count as less than naught the frowning of a world that disapproves ? When the arms I love enfold me care I for it's hates or loves? When, to follow where they lead rrie satisfies the heart's unrest, And the fulness of contentment comes to dwell within my breast? Dearest heart ! my life can hold no happiness apart from thee. Pleasures vanish where thou art not, where thou art is bliss to me; Casting all upon the altar, joyfully to thee I come From thy lips to drink in rapture, in thy arms to find my home; Nevermore from thee divided, ever thy dear face to see, For my love can know no ending, but lives through eternity. Asleep In Memory of J. C. O. E'er the burning heat of noonday Had descended on his forehead He grew weary of the journey, Closed his eyes and fell asleep; When the glory of the Maytime Rested on the hills and valleys, And a whisper of the summer Through the woods began to creep. By the forest trees surrounded, Where the wild wood birds are calling. Where, across the crumbling tombstones Tangled weeds and grasses sway; In a spot now world forgotten, Near the old haunts of his boyhood, Quietly to sleep they laid him Till the resurrection day. Some Day Some day the chords that draw you close to me Shall slip away, and we shall both be free; And you will laugh at words you once have said, And I shall blush at thoughts of what once fed My heart with warmth and light from realms o'er- head, Some day the delusive veil will lifted be And we shall see the bare reality; Thf mockery of idle tales once told, The worthless baubles which we once did hold Dearer and sweeter than either fame or gold. Some day the faintest whisper, smile or sigh, As light as summer zephyrs floating by, Shall serve to take the wavering fancy hence, Reveal to the awakened mind and sense, A heart where dwells but cold indifference. Some day no more my lips shall feel your kiss, Your soft caress that fills my soul with bliss; Each shall view passion's death without regret, Our lives drift far apart, our hearts forget, Be sure, some day, but O, not now, — not yet. 10 TLe Harper Harper, with thy mystic numbers Thou hast waked the drowsy night, Chased the shadows into flight; When, with magical, swift fingers Thou dost sweep the golden strings, Lo, the darkness wakes and sings. Cans't thou guess what deep emotions Start and kindle in the heart. Called to life beneath thy art? Feelings that I thought had perished, Shrouded in the silent tomb, Burst once more to sudden bloom. Thine the power to voice the throbbings Of the world's great heart at will; Much I owe thy subtle skill. Wizard ! thou hast charmed the sunshine And the breath and bloom of May Where the spell of winter lay. 11 Tke Happy Present Tonight you are mine, and the roses bloom, And a shower of lighi illumines the gloom, And the gay, wild music rings sweeter and clearer As moment by moment the present grows dearer, And the past's barren pathways forgotten lie As in laughter and music the hours go by. Tonight you are mine; O life you are sweet! world full of gladness and glory complete! 1 knew not your gifts such delights could bestow, I dreamed not my heart of such sweetness could know As that which transforms the whole weary old earth To a rose scented planet of sunshine and mirth. Tonight you are mine, what more can life hold? Of what deeper contentment has lip ever told With your arms clasped around me, your breath on my cheek, And the mad music echoing the words that you speak, As we float on the waves of a passion of pleasure That voice cannot utter, and mind cannot meas- ure? What reck we of that which tomorrow may be! Tomorrow mlay ne'er dawn for you and for me. Life beats in the pulses tonight, warm and strong. Love chords the heart-throbs to an exquisite song; We ask for no happiness sweeter than this. And a few short hours hold a lifetime of bliss. 12 Heart Hunger O best beloved, couldst thou only know The powerless, gnawing hunger of the heart That cries out night and morning in it's woe, When the dusk gathers till the stars depart; — Cries out it's single burning, wild desire, All that it now but asks of earthly bliss — With deathless longing and with passionate fire. The one unceasing prayer, but this, but this — Just to behold thy face! to meet the glance Of eyes that looked in mine with tenderness. Alas my heart! o'er all earth's vast expanse. By noon or night, love's presence but can bless. 13 Estranged Where lay the fault, since fault there was, I wonder. Say, was it yours or mine? The sweetest thing that breathed the heavens un- der, On which the sun did shine You seemed to me, and now today we stand With unresponsive eye, and unclasped hand. Of all that once has been, the gleam and glory — There lives no trace, no sign. We go our ways ; life yet may hold some brightness, Things beautiful and sweet; The lips will laugh again, with seeming lightness Once more the heart will beat. But know this, friend, my very best I've given To you, who were to me a thought of heaven, Offered the heart's pure gold, it's goodliest treas- ures, And laid them at your feet. 14 For Love s Sake One day Love came and entered at my door, And as I bade her tarry at my side, Thus did she speak : "The heart, where I abide. Must leave all else to which it cleaved before. Pay homage at my altar night and day. In hourly sacrifices never tire. And beat with but one feeling, one desire. In service sweet to waste itself away." "And what, then, will the guerdon be?" I cried, And this her answer : "Sorrow shalt thou see, Tears as the rain shall thy companions be, And whitecheeked Pain shall dwell close by thy side." And tho my heart grew sad when thus she spake. So glorious was her form, her face so fair, I held her close, content to take my share Of pain, tears, sorrow, all — for dear Love's sake. 15 In tke Hartor Today I look upon the long months gone, Months filled with grief and bitter wretchedness, As on a dream, and marvel how they passed; Yet this at length I find, that not in vain They came to me, some good remains behind. The mem'ries hidden close within my heart, As white and sweet as lilies that we place Upon the breast of our beloved dead, These they have left; I have been brought more near To all God's humblest creatures every where. I had not known what human hearts can feel, What minds can suffer, yea, I had not lived Had I not known the night as well as day. 16 K^espite My soul, thou dwellest in a goodly land. Where vales are green, and peaceful waters glide; Rest here, my soul, and be thou satisfied; Rest here, my soul, nor seek to understand The misty future that before thee lies; The present smiles as Indian summer days That bring thee dreamful airs and golden haze, And after, barren fields and frowning skies. 17 Dorrcw^ Somewhere in dimlit paths of future years Where shadows dwell, with arms outstretched, she waits To lead the shrinking soul within her gates, There to receive it's dismal dower of tears; And closer than is Love's is her embrace, And far more loath her ling' ring feet to go, And thou wilt know her pallid tear-washed face, And wasted form, in sable robes of woe. And each and all will sometime meet her there, Although the spirit struggle and rebel; And some there are who with her long must dwell. And some have perished in a cold despair; But he whose heart is true, whose faith is sure, From out her shadows purified will move, Stronger in soul to labor and endure. Richer in mercy, tenderness and love. 18 My Books With reverent hands I turn the precious pages That speak to me in voices from the past The mighty thots gigantic minds have cast Upon the world, to live thru coming ages. The hidden war the passionate heart wages Here lies revealed; the hopes that bloomed and died; The tales of joy or woe, of pain and pride, The passion that with helpless fury rages. The earth groans 'neath it's burden of distress, The glorious mission shall be yours forever With Beauty's smile our hungry lives to bless. My friends, from whom nor time nor place can sever ! Others may pass away or love me less, You still remain, unchanged, to wander never. 19 A Farewell "Take thou the path apart," so Fate hath spoken, And I needs must obey; Farewell at last, I shall possess thee never On all my future way. Not here, while walks the soul it's destined path- way, Though sad or glad it be, Nor yet beyond the tomb, when time is ended, In all eternity. 20 Tke Poet One sang, and many turned aside to hear, And they whose souls were fashioned to conceive The beautiful, still listened with delight, And inly blest the singer and the song, Till far and wide, in countless homes, the strains Flowed from the lips, familiar and beloved; And often the charmed world, half envying, said: "What joy must fill the soul that thus can soar Above the woes of earth, its pains and cares And bless and beautify the lives of men With treasures gathered from the realm of tho't. And far away a lonely woman dwelt, Whose feeble flesh had often shrunk beneath The touch of pain, and who in silence bore A bitter fate, and fed a hungry heart On dreams of love, and for the power of song Paid with the loss of all life held most sweet. 21 Chanty I bear thee on my heart, Now while thy young life feels its first distress, Thy young lips taste their first of bitterness. When peace has fled, and hope and courage fade, Helpless my arms, and powerless to aid, Each day, each hour I bear thee on my heart. The night of sin is dark, The shadows deep, but love can find thee still, Love, strong to suffer, to endure all ill. Before the mercy seat doth make her plea Praying that God be gracious unto thee. Love finds thee still, although the night is dark. 22 To A Sufferer As dull today gives place to sad tomorrow, And one sure doom thy weary eyes doth greet, As slow, with feeble steps thou threadst the street, Fain from the warmth and light new strength to borrow — And seemingly unknown to pain or sorrow The many forms push by with eager feet, So full of busy life, hopes high and sweet, And thine the pain strewn pathway, steep and nar- row — Remember, they to whom, perchance, today Sometimes half wistfully thy glance is roving, Likewise will hear the call from work or play. A brief time more for toiling, hoping, loving. Till these, too, reach at last upon their way, The destiny to which we all are moving. 23 1 omorrow Flecked with the sunshine and the clouds of fate, Thou waitest, beyond mortal ken or sight; A thief, to rob me of my small delight; A lover, for whose glad approach I wait. Through present calm we hear thy tempests rain, Cheating the soul of pleasures of today. Chasing the laughter on our lips away With visions of what thou do'st hold of pain. When slow hours drag, and sorrow lingers late, The parched soul, thirsting for the draught de- nied, Whispers its hope e'er yet the tears are dried: "Tomorrow's joys will surely compensate." Tomorrow ! in thy lap our hopes we lay. To thee the millions look in joy or dread; On the elated heart thy gloom is shed; Thy promise lifts the burdens of today. 24 A Memory Thou wert fair ! thou wert fair ! not the beauty of aught on the land or the sea. With all that is brightest and sweetest, can rival the glory in thee; For thou earnest how? who that could answer? who sent thee the heart could not know, But received thee unasking, undoubting, as the best that this life could bestow ; And for silence and gloom there was laughter, for want there was plenteous store, And the glad Ught streamed into the chambers that were empty and cheerless before. O the whole being welcomed thy coming! O the woe and the waiting were long ! And the heart could not hide its rejoicing, but broke into rapturous song; And the song was a psalm of thanksgiving, a jubi- lant hymn of delight That greeted the light of the morning and sang on thru the silence of night ; For the joys that were mine with thy coming made the hours with gladness replete, And were all but the purest and fairest, with no bitter, but only the sweet. And now that thou'rt dead I will fold thee in gar- ments all precious and bright. The sunshine dyed garments of splendor that were woven for thee by Delight, And lay thee away in a corner of the innermost shrine of the heart 25 Where Memory looks on thee often as the years with their sorrows depart; Embalmed in the dews and the moonshine, no decay shall steal over thy form, But lovely, as in thy brief lifetime, thou remainest, bright, glorious and warm. 26 Tne Larger Grief We shrink from grief that summons up the tears Forth from' the heart wells, and the shadows press A while upon us, and the darkness hears The choking sobs that voice the soul's distress. But O, God help us in the greater woe That sweeps the whole life empty, we beseech ! The dry eyed anguish that no voice can know, But lies beyond the reach of tears or speech. 27 Tke Empty Nest Not many a moon has hung her amber light In yonder peaceful heaven since thou wert gay With blithesome voices that aroused the day, Or crooned to rest a tired world at night; Now have thy merry tenants taken flight, And where the erstwhile bannered branches sway Aeolus wails a wierd spun roundelay And cruel rains make sad thy hapless plight. Thou tiny home ! I look on thee until Something of pity in my heart has grown. Well should thj?^ mute forlornness touch me when Thou art a symbol of my heart that still Cries out, — an empty nest whence song has flown "Come back dear love, and make me glad again.'* 28 Self Knowleage 'Not so we choose to walk, not thus we do," We say, when hearts are free, the world's yoke light. And proudly think to read - ourselves aright When life is good to taste and skies are blue. Till, lo ! some great heart tragedy doth chase The mists asunder, and reveals at last What years disclosed not, and we look, aghast, On our own souls, as on a stranger's face. 29 Desolate Ah well I know, when first your anxious eyes Followed my steps, the will that urged my feet Into the way that fancy counted sweet, Nor would forsake, was neither good nor wise; Till lo, one camle whose home is in the skies, And where was will of mine his will to meet? He taught me all things, and with power replete, Made old things new and brought back paradise. Now he is gone, (my story is not new,) And the dull mind's eye can no longer see The things without, but only things within; Ah, had Love stayed his shining feet I too Had striven not unworthily, for he Who casts out fear, doth also cast out sin. 30 Song to tke Nigttwind Nightwind, that with whispers tender Woo' St the clouds to thy breast In a song no tongue can render, Sing my heart into rest. Spread thy wild wings o'er a valley That lies low, where sweet sun dally With the pine-gemimed forest's splendor In the heart of the west. O shreds of a past Where the heart leaves were shed ! That sleeps and wakes and murmurs, Living ever, tho dead. Crooning nightwind, tender lover. Matchless minstrel thou art; While thy pinions round me hover Hear the voice of my heart. Take the tears, of love a token. All the grief unheard, unspoken, But the goldspun hours lived over Leave till time shall depart. O shreds of a past Where the heart leaves were shed! That sleeps and wakes and murmurs. Living ever, tho dead. 31 Tke Flirt He has not found her fair, his voice replies Nought to the call from out her spirit's need— The God, whose altar fires thousands feed With living hearts, a joyful sacrifice, — On others he has smiled, but has withstood Her plea of outstretched arms, who might have been Her soul's best talisman and shield from sin, The pride and glory of her womanhood. Therefore, because Love hears not, though her whole Soul cries to him, one is her frequent guest Who wears Love's garments, in his likeness dressed, The outward form of light without the soul; And as she stoops to drink his amorous breath The idle mimicry seems real, quite. And the world hears, nor are its judgments light, But sees not the sad heart that beats beneath. 32 The Universal Question When the glorious light broke forth with joy The wonders of life to trace, And the word was said that sent a world To swing in measureless space, And thot on thot disclosed to view Fresh visions of truth and grace, — When being was beauty, life linked to life, A harmonious brotherhood, And man, newcome from the Maker's touch. In His image and likeness stood, The Lord of the universe viewed His work And saw that it was good. Had the Master Builder's judgment erred Or wrought an imperfect plan? Had the Infinite less than the perfect thot When His word created man? Had the evil a place in the mind of Good When the journey of time began? Yet today the cry of man's despair Is echoed as with one breath. And we search among the herbs of earth For the power that quickeneth, And look for peace to the brawl of war, For life to the shades of death. If the voice that once thru Eden's groves Rang: "Adam where art thou?" Should startle the sons of men away From their dear bought treasures now. Must the answer still be "Lo, in fear, In blindness and shame of brow?'* 33 The Spirit of October Spirit of the dreamful moon, Once again, thy form advancing Comes, amid the forest glancing, Setting heaven and earth in tune. Crimson gleams thy robe of splendor, Heavenly tints thy brow have crowned, All the air grows soft and tender; Soothed, as love beside its lover, Dreams the earth, 'neath lights that cover Nature's face with glories 'round. Not the outer world alone, But within the sacred places Of the heart thy magic traces Golden gleams I once have known. Laid aside with silent weeping. Covered o'er with dust and dew Maytime memories are sleeping, Till, thy breath upon them falling, To today the past is calling, And a dead love lives anew. 34 Cliangc *Ever thine," thou smilest, "dear one, will I be, Shall my love not live throughout eternity?" Ah, thou little know'st how soon thy words shall seem As the empty murmur of a vanished dream. E'er yon feebly outlined crescent thread of white Shall have reached her golden, shining round of light, Some indifferent words shall fall upon thine ear, And a changed world to thy vision shall appear. Some thought, sleeping in the mind's unused re- cess Yet may rise in strength, with pow'r to curse or bless. Come to thee, a sudden wonder and surprise, 'Twixt the op'ning and the closing of the eyes. Does the soft voiced wind, blown from a western shore, Augur of the gales the morrow may deplore? Do the joyous hours that laugh without a tear, Reck of griefs that washed the cheeks of yester- year ? May buds yield to June, and darkness follows day; Men's minds climb from heights to depths, from grave to gay ; O'er our heads the shifting cloud-drifts roam and range, 35 Passion dies and hearts grow tired; may'st thou not change? What allures today tomorrow may repel; Evening voices chant thy bright day's funeral knell ; And the glance that caused some face to shine today E'er tomorrow may in coldness turn away. 36 Tke Passing of C. E. The trill of a bird In the warm air heard, The wave of a bough of white, And thru green alleys a bit of clay- Has crossed the day of delight, Just a bit of clay On its pitiful way From tempest and turmoil to rest, And if hands are not tender old earth is more kind And takes the worn form to its breast. "Goodby, goodby, goodby," The breezes of April sing low The dream and the dreamer have parted, and on Rolls the tides of humanity's flow. Ah well, lack a day ! 'Tis the old world's way, (Press on, there's a haven ahead) When vice is early, and justice late, And stones are given for bread; And below there's an earth Of a marvelous birth, O'erhead there is glory and light, Somehow Love is present, somewhere there is peace, And sometime will wrong be made right. "Goodby, goodby, goodby," Still whisper the breezes so mild. Sink down to the silence, if vanquished, what care? Earth covers her storm battered child. 37 Memories Upon the swelling hillsides still clothed in summer's green Already subtle traces of autumn's touch are seen, And from the dales the sunlight has pierced with golden shaft They come, the ghosts of hours that once have lived and laughed. Just a little sweeter than aught that's gone be- fore. Just a little fairer than all the future's store; But all thy tender graces the years have swept away, Nothing now is left me but a memory. Dew and star shine brought thee, moments of de- light, Dew and starshine turn my thots to thee at night; Pleasant lies life's pathway, but that which once the heart Felt, was not of earthlife, but of heav'n a part. 38 The Light of Love Thou lovest? Then rejoice, for on thy soul The light has fallen that shines upon the way Which leads from darkness upward into day. From troubled dreams unto thy spirit's goal. That light divine hath power to make thee whole! Fear not to trust thyself unto its ray Tho now but sorrow may thy toils repay Thy heart not being schooled in self control. Be still, 'tis of God's giving; they who love Haye felt His presence and the power thereof. 39 Lines on A Western Valley Lightflooded, peacefilled, as the hours that I spent by thy side, Lie the low falling fields, in the joy of a summer day's pride; low lying fields that are full of the voices of birds, As the long vanished hours were full of the grace of thy words ! 1 look on the green and the gold, on the shade and the sheen, But the ghost of a flown away glory arises be- tween. And no longer the music of gold throated warblers I hear, But laughter and voices of viols ring out on the ear. The hurrying feet of the wind bend the cool scented grass, Even so did the hurrying hours rejoicingly pass. And it is but a vision of old, born again, that I greet. That speaks thru the eyes to the heart from the vale at my feet. "Praise Love!" sing the fields and the woods, the vast blue overhead, "The sweets of His giving live on when the sor- rows are dead." Thrice worth all the burden-bowed days, all the heartbreaking tears Is this vision of heaven born joys from the graves of past years. 40 Lines on Tne Deatli of H. B» Tune thy lyre, O wind of springtide, Let thy sweetest numbers wander Where the boughs of stately cedars Cast a softly trembling shade ; In the dusk of fragrant branches Weave thy songs, for youth and beauty, Gladsome lips and heart of sunshine In their shadow have been laid. Mixed with sound of wild bees' droning Day and night thy whispers murmur, Day and night, soft intonations, Sweet as mother's lullaby ; At thy touch the rank-grown grasses Swing their tufts of seeded tangles, Tiny creatures of the forest Dart among them swift and shy. There the idle hours linger, Languorous, with restful pulses, Spent breaths from the lowhung meadows Lie upon the dreaming air; While yon swiftly flashing vision Speeding by on lightning pinions Seems to send a passing greeting To the silent sleeper there. 41 A Dream Last night, in a dream, you were with me, the same as of old, And the oldtime delight, like the summer's breath, over me rolled. The strange, sweet delight that has power to change dust into bloom, Bring gladness to gloom. What brought you, O vision of beauty so soft and so deep? Unsought, uninvited you entered the gateway of sleep. Opened wide the closed doors of a country where joy lights the ways, Love hears and obeys. Did some thot, buried deep beneath the old rub- bish of days, Start up from the tomb, like a spectre, to walk the old ways? Or did soul, rising free from the flesh's limitations with power, Meet soul for one hour? 42 The Priest I wonder if ever, when music's strains flow In waves on the incense sweet air, In the altar's bright blaze as you kneel, bending low, Your lips breathing words of a prayer — Some feeling that long had been hushed into rest, With no likeness to heavenly fire. Wakes to sudden, impetuous life in your breast In a passionate wave of desire. Did never a yearning, unspoken tho deep, Turn your musings from objects divine Away in a strong, irresistible sweep To the world you have vowed to resign? 43 Wina and. Poplar What said the wind as it passed this way Touching your leaves of green Till they trembled and thrilled in ripples of joy With a murmur of sighs between? Did he bring you a tale from wonderful lands That lie *neath a foreign sky, Or was it only a kiss that he stole As lightly he skurried by? 44 Immortality Have I not felt thee, blessed gift of God, In moments rare, when Soul has felt the sway Of feelings born not in this earth and day, And for a space in higher regions trod? What tho the outward sense doth not perceive The spirit's pow'r, still held in error's clutch. This much I know : sometime the magic touch Which wonders marvelous doth still achieve — Will yet transform this fragile robe of clay And outward formfe attest Its inward sway 45 The Answer I looked about me and shuddered at the view which met my sight, The cruel greed that crushes, and the lust that smiles to blight, The woe that lives on unheeded, the tears that are made to fall, The sin and crime that flourish and trail their slime thru all Till my faith began to waver, and I cried in sor- row and pain : "Is there none to stand firm and faithful, unshaken thru loss or gain? Must Virtue fall on the highway where Vice hath boldly trod? In all this struggle and conflict, O tell me, where is God?" Then the still, small voice made answer, (O the peace that the whisper brought!) "Dost thou look without on the evils the failures of men have wrought? Hast thou sought for God without thee, and hast thou sought in vain? Go look within and find Him, and thou never need'st seek again; To manifest His presence is thy privilege day by day, Tho others may stumble and falter thou yet canst keep the way; Eternal power upholds thee tho the path thou never hast trod; Be true to thyself, and in all things and always shalt thou see God." 46 (Sin Tl'dxd)tn* Siaaie 5f. ©(f)an^, ®ant)erg, Sa. ©^ iiiar einmal ein ®i(f)ter, ber iDoi^nte in eiuer armfeligen Quite, tneit a& )oon hem Sdrm ber ©tabt, na^e an einem ]d£)ioneu ^albe. ^ie DJ^ot^ fa() oftmaB gur X^ixv !)inein, unb ber ^'vinimeu tvax t§m audt) fein grembling, unh t)on ben greuben ber SSelt l^Qtte ber arme ®td^= ter no(f) fel^r toentg einpfunben. SSenn er fid) einmal l^inauS unter bie Tien- \d)en tDaqte,, font er nxeifteng enttoufd^t su feiner jtiEen ^albe§>^emai^ guriidf, benn 3it)i{(f)en i^m unb jenen ha bran^en tear !ein reciter @in!Iang ; fie berftanben il^n nic^t, ober er berftanb fie nic^t. 3Bag er oBer berftanb, ha§> tvav ha^ 9lauf<^en bc^ 28inbe§ in hen S3iaumen, bie ^pvadje ber SSogel unb ba§ Swollen be§ ©onner^. Hnb al§> einmal eine ber fd^onen grauen an^ ber grofeen (Btaht einen gangen Jierrlid^en ©om- mer in ber SSalbe^rul^e berbradjte, ha lernte er and:}. ha§> iDunberBare (S^efiil^I fennen, bo§ bie @rbe toieber neu madjt, unb hen ^immel in hie ©eele fen!t. 51I§ aber bie SSogel gen ©iiben gogen, ha gog an^ hie f(f)one grembe iDieber in il)re §eimat]^ guriid, unb ni(f)t nur im SSalbe tuaren bie fiifeen Sieber berftummt, aud^ im ^ergen be§ S)ici)ter§ tDurbe e§> ftiEe. Vinh aR hie SSonne unb ber ^mmer,, bo^ @Iiid^ unb ber ©dC)mer5, ha^ fein ^erg erf(^iit= 47 terte tt)te em mad^ttger SKtnb bie ftolge (iidje Big in bie SBuraeIn erf(f)iittert, moB er in feine @e= btdjte unb fanbte fie in hit SSelt !)inau§. Unb ntand^e fonben ©inlafe in ^ergen, bie Qleid) if)m greub nnb 2eih empfnnben f)atten, aber audf) l^iele fel^rten gu il^m guriid. £)a 3og er fid> intmer mel)r t)on ben SO^enfd^en Snriic!, nnb fein ^erg iDurbe imnier tranriger, nnb bagn fam nod^, bofe feine 5trmnt]^ immer snnal^m, fobag bie 9cot{) nid)t nnr gnr ^()iir fjinein fa^, fonbern aud^ ben gufe anf bie Sd^n)el= le fe^te unb nid£)t nur bie ©eele, aud^i ber Seib be§ ^i(^ter§ fing on gu frdnfeln. 2)a fud^te er eine§ ^age^ einen S^u^erer anf, ber im SBalbe n)ol)nte, t)on bem gefagt iDnrbe, er ^^abe fd^on t)iefen Seuten sum ©liidf ber= Ijolfen. S)em flagte er fein Setb. S)er S^^wtoer t)orte i^m 3U, unb al§ er gu ©nbe n>ar, ntetnte biefer: „2)ir fvinn geljolfen loerben. S'd& t^erf^redje S)ir 9fleid)t]^um unb ©rfolg, tv\e ®u in S)einen fd^i3nften ^raunnen e§ i)ir nid£)t borgefteEt ^cift. 2)ein D^ufim foE burd^ hie ganse SSelt bringen, unb We toerben fid^, gliidflid^ fdEio^en, S)id& greunb gu nennen; aile 2Biinf(i)e i)etne§ ^er= geng foEen erfiiEet toerben, toag ®u unter= nimmft foE S)ir gelingen unb hie 5frmut^ foEft 2)u nidit mel^r fennen. ®ie§ aEe^ merbe id) !Dir geben, nur @inem foEft 2)u entfagen." „llnb ba^ iT^cire?" ,,'^ev Siebe, bie Seine 33egleiterin bi^ Ijier* Fier geniefen ift. Stnbere toerben S)ir biefe§ @e» fiibi entgegen bringen, nur S)u felbft foEft fie nic^t me{)r em^finben/' 48 S)er ®i(f)ter \ann eine 2BeiIe nadj. „^ut" \aQie er bonn, „i(ij bin sufricbert. 2Sa§ uiiE td^ mit ber CieBe? 3>ie Ijat ntir rtur Summer ge^ brac^t iinb ift fcf)ulb an aE meirtcnt ©lenb." @r fa]& md}t ba§> Bosi^oftc Slilsen in ben 5(u= t^en be§ ^Qw^erer^, unb nnter Dielen S)anfc?>= iDorten entfernte er fid). Unb tria ber Q^nbexev gefagt I^atte, fo ge- fcflQ^) e^. Seine Sieber fonben ^lo^Iirf) ©efaEen nnb lunr^ ben iiberaH nerlangt, nnb fein dlame iDurbe be= fmmt burd^ ha§> gange Sonb nl§ ber genialfte ©id^ter ber !^eit. Sente, bie t)or5er ad^tIo§ an if)m borbei gegongen maren, fomen il^m el)r= erBietig entgegen, unb er rtiurbe gefuc^t unb gefeiert, too er erfd^ien. S)ie f)o]&en ©ummen, bie feine SBerfe ein= brad^ten, mad^teji ber ^Irmut^ balb ein @nbe. ©in reidfier 33en)unbcrer feine§ ^alente§ ftarb unb ftinterlie^ il^m fein ganseg 95ermogen. %n ber ©telle, too feine armfelige §iitte ge= ftanben l^atte, baute er fid) ein prad)tt)oIIe§ ®d)Io^ unb ftattete e§ au§ mit ben foftbarften (Sdj'dl^en. ©ine SBeile fonnte fid^' ber S)id)ter in feinem neuen (Bliicf, unb in feinem ^ergen banfte er bem S^uhevev, ber i!)m 3U aEem tier^olfen l^atte. ^od) nad^ unb nad^, al§> bie ^lleugeit feiner Sage abnal^m, iiberfom i^n mand)moI ein @e= fiil&I ber lTnruI)e, unb bie glansenben gefte, bc= nen er je^t bettool^nte, fanb er sutoeilen imfcig- lid^ langtoeilig. SSol^I fd)Iugen ilim tiiele §er§en entgegen, unb fitfee Sip|)en imb ftraBIenbe STugen lad^ten il^n an, unb einc SSeilc freute er fid^ an i^nen, bod^ 49 itJurbe er oud^ i!)rer uBerbrufftG/ hmn fein ^erg BIteB unberiiftrt, er l^otte ja jebeg JDarmere %e- fill}! terloren. „2SQg fef)It gu memem ©liicf?" fragte er fid) mandimal, ioenn er aEetn an feinem ^amin= feuer fafe unb feine lui'iiriofe Hmgebung anfal), Jd} f)abe aHe^ tr)a.§ ber SO^enfd) braud^t, iim gliidflidf) 511 fein, imb hod) — " ©r fiid^te Hon ^leuem Qerftreuung, gleid^nicl Wo er fte fanb, Iiei Ijol^en ©eiftern, ober unter bemn, hie nur fiir roufcfienbe 3Sergnugungen lebeu, imbefiiinmcrt auf toeid^e %tt fie fie ftnben. 2)od) ber Std^ter I}atte bie ^o^eit feiner eige= nen (Seele unterfdjci^t; in ber ©efeUfc^aft Don SP^enfd^en bon niebrtger ©efinnung fii^Ite er fid) aBgeftofeen, unb Siebe gu l^euc^eln, mo er !einc cmpfonb, tuar ilm nnmoglid). (5r mad^te eine meite 9^eifc nnb Befol^ bk $IBnnber f rem ber ^cinber, unb oBtDol^I er ftaunte unb BetDunberte, fie l^efa^en nid^t bie 5J?ad^t, fein ^Jers ju ergreifen luie einft ein lac^elnber Sriif)Iing5morgen, ben er Don feiner §titte an^ tegriifete. ©0 tDurbe ba§> SeBen farBIog unb alt, unb gule^t gogen fid^ and} bie 50^enfd)en Don i^m in- ritdf; fie fanben aud^ feinen redf^ien ©efallen an jeinen Siebern me!)r, benn nur mag Dom ©ergen ifommt finbet 2Bieber!Iang im ^ergen, unb ^n 2)id)ter otjne SieBe ift ein ^erb ol^ne geuer. llnb oftmalg ging er in btn 3SaIb, um bie (^teEe 3U fud£)en, mo er btn 3ctuBerer einft ge- tunben ftotte, aBer er fanb fie nid^t. Mo Bift S)u?" rief er bocnn in ben 3SoIb ^inetn, „fomm rier unb Befreie micf) Don jenem unfeligen ^^iinbnife unb giB mir mein ^erg mie* 50 ber, ba% id) mirf) and) an aE biefer $errIt(^!eTt freuett fann." ^ber ber ^Qw^s^er fam nt(f)t, unb ber 2i>alb gab il&m feine ^tntmort. ITnb bie S^^te t)ergtngeit. Unb qI.^ ti3iebcr etnmal ber ^riil^Img fetn QlIia!)rlTd)e§ SBunber inirfte, ha fu^te ber S)id^= ter eine§ f(f)onen 5lbenb§ trieber einmal hen SBalb Quf. 5tIIeB fd^tert fid) etner neuen ^off- nung Jiinguoeben, unb al§,^ bie niebergel^enbe (^onne ber SSelt einen liebeboHen @ulenady:= grn^ gugulad^eln f(^ien, itnb l\o tDa§> td^ l^abe, @oIb unb Df^ui^m, ha§> Sob ber SSelt unb aK bie ^rad)t, bie bod^ ni(^t begliidft, unb gib ntir tvxe- ber jeneg felige ©efiil^I, ha§< mid) einft erfiiEte!" Sange t)er]^arrte er fo auf ben ^nien unh al§> er enblid) ha§> ^oupt erbob unb hie ^firanen t)on ben ^Utgen iDifd^te, fiefie, ha ftanb i)or i^m bie (Jtd)e, unter beren ^d^aiten er einft ben 3auberer gefunbcn ftatte, unb hen er g^i^^elang t)ergeben§ gefud^t Ijatte, unb auf einem ^fabe 3'tDifd)en hen Bauniien font ifim ein iDunber= l'd^bne§ 2Beib entgegen; bie ftral3lenben Slugen fd^ienen gen ©imntel gu f^iegeln unb ein lilien^ toeif^eg ©etoanb umflog ben ^errlid)en Seib. „Xu I)aft mid^ lange t)ergcben§ gefucf)t/' fl^rad) fie, auf ben ^id^ter gutretenb, „enblid) f)oft S^u ben rid^tigen SSeg gefunben. S^ bin bie Siebe unb fomme t)on @ott, ben ^Wenfc^en 51 il&re (^iu^eit mtt i!)rem S(f)o^fer 3u offenBaren unb tDer mid^ i:)erfto6t, ber iritt feine eigene (^eele mit giifeen. „9^ur toer mix StUeS opfert, ift meiner tt)ur» big, unb tDetl 2)u Bereit Bift, biefeg gu tl)un, foH S)tr 3lEe§, rt)a§ ®u Befi^eft, er!)alten toerbm, unb id^ toerbe Bet ®ir BleiBen unb ^i^ nimmer berlajfen." 52 AUG 1 W1 One copy del. to Cat. Div. AUd 2^ \9ti LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 018 407 669 A