· to the unquiet heart and brain a use in measured language lies, the sa d mechanic exercise like...
TRANSCRIPT
AUTUMN LEAVES
I
GATHERED FOR A FEW FRIENDS.
BY
L . M . M O R E H EAD .
OCT 1 3 883W
NEW YORK
A N S O N D . F . RA N D O L P H C O M P A N Y ,
900 BROADWAY , COR . 20th STREET .
COPYRIGHT ,1 88 3 , BY
ANSON D . F . RANDOLPH COM PANY .
YORK
EDWARD O . JENK INS ROBERT RUTTER,
P rin ter a nd S iereofy/Ser ,Binder ,
20 N orthWilliam St . 1 1 6 and 1 1 8 Eas t 1 4th S treet .
To the u nqu i e t heart and brain
A u se i n measu red language l i e s,
The sad mechan i c exerc i s e
Like du l l narcot i cs l u l l i ng pai n .
The so lace of many a weary t ime,
The past ime of many a lonely hou r,
Like th e cadence of be l l s i n the i r m u s i cal ch ime,
Like the gatheri ng o f many a ways id e flower,
Like the gush of affect io n when o l d fri ends meet,
The wri t i ng of th i s has been mou rnfu l,tho ’ swee t
Oh book guard thy sec re ts,fo r many the re Iie
Close h id from the gaze of the cu riou s eye .
C O NT E N T S
MY INSP IRAT ION,
“WHY ,
To E Nov. 8 , 1 866 ,
To B“
Nov. 8 , 1 867 ,
IN M EMOR IAM—OUR SOLD I ER BOY , R .
ALONE !THROUGH SUFFER ING ,
TRANSPLANTED,
THE CLOSE OF A BEAUT I FUL OLD AGE,
OUR LOST CH IEF ,DAV ID TOD ,
THE OPEN GATE ,TH ERE ,
”
BACK AGAIN ,
NOT YET ,
AT-ONE-MENT ,
THOU KNOWEST BEST ,
SOME DAY,
REST AFTER GREAT ANXI ETY ,
THE OTH ER LI FE ,SLEEP ING GERMS ,SORROW MAY EN DURE FOR A N IGHT , BUTCOMETH IN TH E MORN ING ,
WHO KNOWS !“ TEARS , (NOT) ID LE TEARS,RETROSPECTION ,
]M P LORA,
BEAUTIFUL N IGHT ,
To-MoRRow ,
ONLY A WORKER ,
A SUM IN CANCELLAT ION ,
A FAREWELL TO SCHOOL-DAYS,
—SEA CHANGES ,A GARNERED SH EAF ,BROWN STUDIES FOR NOVEMBER ’
S EASEL ,AN OCTOBER P ICT URE ,WA IT ING ,
DOWN THE R IVER ,REMEMBERED ,
YET FORGOTTEN,
To A YOUNG FR I END ,
To A FR I END ON HER WEDD ING DAY ,
TW I LIGHT VO ICES ,THE CONFESS IONAL ,
NAME WRITTEN IN WATER ,
A CL I MB,
LAST HOURS OF DAV ID LIV INGSTONEAMER ICA TO PRU SS IA z—GREET ING ,
ONLY A WOMAN , WOMANLY ,
”
THE TEMPTAT ION !LI STENM I SS ION WORK FOR YOU A ND FOR ME ,
JENN I E’
S TROUSSEAU ,
A REC I PE ,To
“ TH E STAR-SPANGLED BAN NER ,
A NAT ION ’
S B IRTHDAY,
AN ODE—FOR DECORAT ION DAY ,
BR ING FLOWERS ,ON E F LOWER FOR “OUR SOLD I ERS ’ GRAVES ,ON THE BALL G I VEN AT TH E
“ WH IT E HOU SE ,
FEB. 5 , 1862 ,
M Y IN S P IR A T IO N .
MARCH 6,1 8 7 2 .
Twas ‘Mother ’ in my triumph hour,
And ‘Mother ’ in my t ime of tears .”O
O wi sh for fame—no V i s i on b righ t,
No love romance— no hero kn ight,
Insp i red th i s rhym i ng pen to wri t e .
On ly a “ l i t t l e lady fai r,
With earnes t eyes and s i lvered hai r,
Cheerfu l,yet worn wi th years of care
She w as not beaut i fu l nor—
young
To coax or prai s e w i th flatter i ng tongue
She on ly l oved th e l ays I su ng .
A l i t t l e woman fi rm and tru e,
Whose counse l fe l l l i k e gen tl e d ew,
So frai l,and yet so b rave to do .
IVY INSPIRA TION.
She s canned my h eart wi th l ov i ng care,
Saw where l i fe ’ s s to rms had swept i t bare
Of hope s that promi sed once so fai r !
Of qu i ck percep t i on to d i s cern,
She fe l t the s carce awakened germ
M igh t to a gratefu l so lace tu rn .
Moth er,on th i s
,thy natal day
,
Th!r grave i s wh i t e an d far away
,
Yet on the s now th i s flowerI l ay
As o ’ er thy ch i l d thou b endest l ow,
Who dares to say thou cans t no t know
That s t i l l fo r thee my numbers flow .
WHY .
To E NOVEMBER 8,1 8 7 2 .
SO many worlds,so much to do
,
SO l i tt le done,such things to be
,
How know Iwhat had need o f thee,
For thou wert strong as thou wert true .
NOBLE l i fe that can no t d i e,
A tru e pu re p resen ce ever n igh
A hope that b l e ss es—th i s is whyWe al l remember thee .
Not fo r thy growi ng manhood’ s grace
Ju s t shadowi ng o ’e r thy you th fu l face,
Whose beau ty penc i l n e ’ er cou l d t race,
DO I remember th ee .
Not for th in e eye of earn es t b lu e,
Tel l i ng of pu rpos e fi rm and true,
Tender, yet b rave to dare or doFor honor or fo r m e .
“lVH Y.
”
’Ti s not that others are not fa i r,
Nor that Iwant for fri ends or care
N or that my heart n o l ove can share
Wi th l ove for thee .
For l i fe ha th t i e s ye t pu re and sweet,
And fri ends i t glad s my heart to greef,Whi l e t im e y et t read s w i th no i se l e s s fee t
Toward heaven and th ee .
The worl d i s beau t i fu l,I know
,
Wi th su n l i t val e s and peak s of s now
Where s tate ly rivers r i s e and flow
On to the s ea .
Iwelcome each retu rn i ng Spri ng,
I know th e weal th the summers bring,
Whi l e al l its beau ty—each fai r th i ngTel l s me of th ee .
For knowing th ee men seemed more tru e,
With lovi ng th ee,l ove pu rer grew
Wh i l e fal te ri ng fa i th fre sh cou rage drew
Thus I remember th ee .
TO E NOV . 8,1 866 .
Death has madeH is darkness beaut i ful wi th the
HOU ’
LT ne ’er grow O ld,my darl i ng
,—in
God ’ s fo l d
SO safe l y housed from b l ight i ng heat and
co l d .
There no fi erce s to rm shal l b eat,—ou thy fai r head
Heaven ’ s gen t l e d ew shal l evermore b e shed
N e ’er to grow o ld,dear one
,nor-watch each part i ng
day,
The fri end most loved and lov i ng d roop i n s lowdecay
,
To lose some charm from l i fe,to s ee some hOpe go
down,
And k now our spri ngs are dri ed,and al l ou r fi e ld s
are b rownAnd I sha l l k now the e
,darl i ng
,i n that fa i re r land
Where thou cans t ne ’e r grow Old ! and touch thy
hand,
And hear thy vo i ce and know i ts low pure tone,
And fee l thee s till‘
my beau t i fu l , myown .
TO E NOV . 8,
1 8 6 7 .
ALL that thy hand hath touched ha s prec i ou s grown ,And dearer grows as I draw neare r home
,
The home that c la im s th ee,now seems st rangel y
n ear !
Whi l e d eath ’ s dark s tream hath ne i th er ch i l l nor fear
Si n ce thou has t c ro s sed its cu rren t,—co l d and wide
,
E re thou d i dst s tand upon i ts farther S i d e,
And wi th thy gracefu l hand st re tched ou t to me
D rawi ng me ever to thy home and th ee
Oh when l i fe ’ s s torms are sobb i ng fai n t and l ow,
When the l ong shadows fade and pal e r grow,
How sweet shal l fa l l u pon my wi s tfu l ear,
In ton es so m i s s ed,so l o nged fo r
,
“Welcome,Mother
dearf’
IN MEMORIAM .
OU R SOLD IER BOY,R . M .
Thou hast the dew of thy you th .
noon t i d e su n had scorch ed th e tende r
gras s,
On wh i ch thy you th fu l s t eps so l igh t l y
fel l
N o breath of pass i o n d immed th e c rys tal glas s
Whi ch m i rrored l i fe fo r th ee wi th magic sp e l l
N o cl oud had ri s e n o ’e r thy morn i ng hours,
N O rude wi nd bru shed the dewdrop from the flowers .
F irm as thy fai th i n man,thy t rus t i n God
,
Pure as th e dewdrop gl i s ten i ng on th e lawn,
Free as th e Skylark spri ngi ng from the sod
S i ngi ng i n gladsome wel come to the dawn,
Crowned wi th th e hal o o f thy love and tru th
O n thee forever res t s “ th e dew of you th .
”
8 [N ME /VOA’IAM .
We wou ld no t,cou ld not
,l oved one
,ca l l th ee back
,
Though much we m i s s thy gladsome,winn i ng
ways,
To tread wi th u s the worn and dusty t rack,
Who s e fl owers l i e wi theri ng th rough the autum n
days,
To bear wi th us th e bu rden and the heat
O r fal te r on l i fe ’ s march wi th bru i s ed and weary
fee t .
The dew Of you th i s th i n e,thy heart ’ s pure t ru s t
N e ’e r l earn ed to doubt ' i f fr i en d were fal s e o r
tru e
N e ’er l earned tha t l ove cou ld crumbl e i n to dus t
O r t ru th and hono r ru l e the nob l e few
The spark l e s on th e cup were th i n e,th e d regs are
ours,
Thou art c rowned w i th l ivi ng,we have wi thered
flowers .
THROUGH SUFFERING .
To l ive in hearts we leave oehind i s not to d ie .
EAR after year th e c ross she bore,
Yet covered i t wi th flowers,
And swee t the sm i l e h er face s t i l l wo re
Through su ffe ri ng ’ s weary hou rs .
Her gentl e p re sence ever th ril l ed
Our hearts wi th love i nt en se,
The very ai r sh e breathed seemed fi l l ed
Wi th heaven ly i nnocence .
So sweet,so pu re h er l i fe ’ s evange l
Echoed wi th notes from heaven,
Walk i ng wi th mortal s,yet an u ncrowned ange l
Wi th naugh t to be fo rgiven .
She heard a vo i ce we cou ld not hear
The pearly ga t es s tood open,
She knew God ’ s l ove wou l d dry each tear,
And heal each hear t now broken .
THROUGH SUFFERING. I1
Why mourn that She has gone beforeTo draw u s up to Heaven !
A sweeter gu id e Shal l n evermore
To lovi ng hearts b e given .
Wai t i ng upon the “ sh i n i ng shore
Of L i fe ’ s ce le s t i al r iver,
Her gen t l e i nfluence b righ ter growsIn Heaven ’ s pure l igh t fo reve r .
TRANSPLANTED .
The op’ning bud to Heaven convey ed ,
And bade i t bloom forever there . ”
IN MEMOR IAM .
E had a t i ny flower
That b los somed fo r an hou r
Sweet and fai r !But “ th e gardener ” came on e day
And took the flower away
From our care .
He knew rud e winds m igh t b low,
I—Ie feared the ch i l l i ng snowM igh t impai r
Its l ove l i n e s s so pu re,
SO He took i t “home I’
m su re,
To H i s care .
Ah baby Nel l i e,why
Does ou r heart so ach e and S igh
St i l l in vai n,
TA’AA/I
SP LAN TED . 1 3
J u s t to h ear that coax i ng me,
And that w i nn ing sm i l e to see
Once agai n
But the mu s i c o nce so sweet
O f you r l i ttl e patter i ng fee t
O n the floor
Wi th you r coaxi ng,cu nn i ng ways
,
Your tri ck s and baby p lays,
Are no more .
And the t i ny we l l -worn shoe
L i e s mot ion l es s,whi l e you
,
St i l l and col d,
In a l i t t l e coffi n whi te
Are h idden from Ou r s igh t,
’Neath the m o ld .
But N el l i e,dear
,we know
You wi l l s t i l l i n beau ty grow,
Day by day,
In the “ sweet bye -and -bye .
We wi l l not que s t i on “why
You wen t away .
THE CLOSE OF A BEAUTIFUL OLD AGE .
IN MEMOR IAM .
HEN di e the young,we say ’Ti s wel l
How much 1 3 spared,ah who can t e l l
,
Of s i n o r sorrow .
They n e ’ e r can l os e you th ’ s ten der b l oom,
Nor know’
th e fi e rce,the scorch i ng noon
Of l i fe ’ s to -morrow .
”
But now a beaut i fu l Old age
Has c l os ed i ts “book o f l i fe,each page
H ow brigh t and glowi ng,
So c l ean,so fai r
,each l eaf app ears
,
No blo t o f w i theri ng doubt,no fears
Its record showi ng .
From h i s own hear t h e l ooked on man
And thu s so tenderl y d i d scan
The weak and erri ng,
THE CLOSE OF A BEA UTIF UL OLD AGE . 1 5
Whi l e thus h i s God,tho ’ wi se and j u s t
,
Was s t i l l “The Father ” he cou ld t ru s t
As k i nd and lovi ng .
Yes,nob l e was th e b rave
,t rue heart
,
And nob ly d id he act his part,
Ti l l s tern es t du ty
A lovi ng worsh i p s eemed to be,
Where fai th,and hope
,and chari ty
B lended i n beau ty .
Along th e s t ra igh t and narrow way
H e humb ly walked,and
,day by day
To Heaven drew neare r .
A l i fe o f l ove can n ever d i e,
It on ly mel t s In to the Sky
To sh i ne the c l earer .
OUR LOST CHIEF
W ri tten on the day o f the funeral ceremon i es in honor OfAbraham L incoln .
ISE ,G OOD
,and TRU E
,—each s imp l e w ord
Recal l s th e fri en d we mou rn to -day
Whi l e eve ry heart w i th l ove is s t i rred
As s t i l l those s impl e word s we say .
SO w ire to. choo se th e path o f r igh t ,SO gooo
’ to man,so true to God
,
Those word s shal l gl ow wi th l ivi ng l igh t,
And gu id e u s i n th e path he t rod .
We 'need not s tumbl e,
’ t i s so c l ear
Whi l e t ru th and goodn es s po i n t th e way
The pure i n h eart can have no fear
In fo l lowi ng we mou rn to -day .
Oh mothers of ou r s t r i ck en l and
St i l l fo r th e l ivi ng we shou l d pray,
That th ey may grow wise, good, and frz z e,
Like th e loved ch i ef we mourn to -day .
THE OPEN GATE .
we walk through bl ind fo ld,and the noi seless doors
C lose after us forever . ”
H turf so green,Oh bend i ng sky 3
Oh flowers w i th lu sc i ou s pant i ng breath,
Ye sm i l e,ye b lo ssom
,and ye d i e
Can ye no t so lve the mys t e ry—death !
’
We come wi th fl ow ers— his own loved flowers,
Li l i es w i th scented,t i ny be l l
,
And by his grave th rough May ’ s b right hou rs
“Ye sit and of his V i rtues t e l l .
We smooth the sod w i th j ea l ou s care,
And somet imes d rop a t e nder tear
“Te say how swee t h e w a s— how fai r I
IVe th i nk none e l se cou ld be so dear .
Wh y shou ld we say“ he w a s w e k now
Tha t he i s l iv i ng—l ov i ng s t i l lWhere al l h i s H eaven -bo rn gi ft s may grow
,
YVhere pu rer l ove his heart may th ri l l .
THE OPEN GA TE . 19
We th ink of a l l h i s p rogres s now
How al l h i s hopes fru i t i on bear,
With ne ’er a doubt o f why o r how,
Nor shadow of an earth -born care .
H is l i fe we say was sun sh in e l ent .Or l ike the dew to bl os soms given
,
And know the grave th ro ugh wh ich he wen t
Was but the “Open Gate to H eaven .
THERE .
The l ife that knows no end ing,
The tearless li fe is H ere .
”
T hath been O ften said,
“Li fe is not worth th e l iv i ng,that the years
But s i lver o ’er th e head,
d im th e eyes wi th many,many tears .
I know ’
tis sad to l ive,
When those we loved the bes t have gon e before
Gone,we wou ld fa i n b e l i eve
,
To wai t fo r u s upon a happ i e r shore .
Ah near the pearly gate s,
Which open wide on stree t s of pu res t go ld,
I k now my mother wai t s,
For moth er-l ove can n e ’er grow fai n t nor co ld .
Ki nd ly she ’ l l wel come me,
For here her heart was ever S l ow to b lame,
And ah,i t can no t be
That h eart s shou ld grow l es s k i nd near love’
s
flame .
Oh,honored fath er d ear ,
How many lo ng and weary years have pas sed
S i nce thou d id s t teach me hereThy fai th so beau t i fu l—ah
,s t i l l Ihold i t fas t .
In h eaven so l ong
Wi th happy ones who know not gri ef no r tears,
With that b l es s ed th rong,
How can h e know of al l my doubts and fears !
And there I know i s one
Whose s t ro ng young arm wa s bared th rough
for me,
My b rave true son,
Sweet to my hear t wi l l thy glad we lcom e be .
Another wai t s me there,
Who l oved me once,when Iwas young and fai r
,
With braids o f sunny hai r
Bu t wi l l h e k now me now,so bowed wi th care
Ah in that rad i an t c l ime
Al l t race of age o r pai n wi l l d i sappear
Fresh i n myyou thfu l p rime ,He ’ l l know me there wi thou t a sta i n or t ear .
2 2“THERE .
”
We shou ld no t wi sh to d i e,
Though “ fi e ld s are green beyond th e swe l l i ng
t i d e
Though dear ones hover n igh
To take ou r hand upon the other s i d e .
I dare no t W i sh to d i e,
Ti l l H e who p laced me here Shal l ca l l me home
Here l e t me humb ly try
To l earn H is wi l l,i f ye t my task is
w
do ne .
Nor do I “wish to d i e,
Bu t calm ly wai t to hear th e s to rm subs id e,
When the las t “ sweet good -bye ”
Shal l speed me k i nd ly o ’er th e swel l i ng t i de .
BACK AGAIN .
’
THROUGH THE OLD CHURCH DOOR .
th e church so ru st i c and home ly,
Through the o ld fami l i ar door,
pas sed to th e seat so l on e ly,
Where oft I had sat before
And the Ho ly Book s tood open,
Whi l e the teacher ’ s word s to -day
Were the word s o f ou r b l es s ed Saviou rBefore H e “wen t away .
”
I have m any th i ngs to say,be loved
Bu t ye can no t bear them now .
Of al l,ye shal l know hereafte r
If i n fa i th ye humb ly bow .
Then i nto my heart there came s teal i ng
A sp i ri t o f peace and Of re s t,
But how,or why came th e fee l i ng
“He knows who knoweth best .
“BACA
’
A GAIN.
”
Whi l e the years on the i r no i s e l e s s h i nges
T urned back to my wi s tfu l V i ew,
Ti l l the pas t w i th th e presen t b l ended,
And I saw as the ange l s do
As c lo s e to my heart seemed pre s s i ng
The loved ones one by on e,
Ti l l th e a i r was fi l l ed w i th b l e s s i ng,
And the l on e one no t alo n e, ,
Then I saw the dear Old “Mother,
As oft Ihad seen her th ere
I kn ew i t was she and no otherWho k ne l t by my s ide i n prayer
For th e hai r was so soft and c l i ngi ng,
Though the gray had changed to go ld,
And the vo ice I heard then s i ngi ng,
Had never grown fai n t no r o l d .
And near to my s id e sa t another,
With ri ngs of c l u s te ri ng hai r ,The so re ly m i s s ed e ld er “b roth e r
,
“My boy,
” so good and so fai r,
SO manly,so tal l and s l end er
,
“My pride in th e years gone by !I fe l t his care yet so tender
,
In th e glance of h i s earnes t eye .
NOT YET .
W hen I Shall an swer to my angel name .
OME day when we Shal l k now as we are
k nown,
When lone ly h earts shal l b e no more a l o n e,
When forth from pri son bars th e b i rd has flown,
“ Some day
When we shal l vai n ly st rive to track i t s fl igh t
Wh i l e soari ng upward toward the rad i an t l igh t
Which fa i th as su re s shal l b l e s s ou r longi ng s ight“ Some day ”
Not ye t wh i l e care s t i l l shadows o ’er my brow
Nor ye t wh i l e earth l y love is s trong a s now,
But,dear on e
,I sha l l b e as pu re as thou
,
Some day
My res t l e s s h ear t wi l l ceas e its l ongi n gs vai n ,Forgive th e fri end o r foe who deal t th e pai n
,
When I shal l an swer to my ange l name,
Some day .
N OT YE T . 2 7
Never aga i n,O heart to hunger as of o ld
Nor fea'
r the com ing storm,nor Shri nk from co ld
,
Shel tered so safe wi th i n the Shepherd’ s fo ld
,
Some day .
My cheek wi l l Show
NO earth ly so i l wi l l
My trembl i ng vo i ce
When IShal l sorrow never n ever more
To hear the com ing of th e boa tman ’ s oar,
Tha t bears ou r loved ones to the Vi ewle s s
Some day .
no channe l for a t ear,
on my robes appear,
agai n be strong and c l ear
Some day .
AT—ONE—MENT .
T one wi th Thee,dear Lord
,my sp i ri t l ongs
To know that s t ri fe and confl i c t now may
cease !It pan ts to h ear th e glad
,t r i umphan t songs
Tel l i ng o f warfare pas t,and res t
,and peace .
Oh b l e s sed ato nement,wh ich i ndeed atones
For al l the seem i ng wrong,th e i l l
,th e pa i n
,
That e ’en the ru th l es s tyrant,s e l f
,deth rone s
,
And p lan t s th e st e ri l e was tes wi th golden gra i n .
To have no wi l l bu t Th i n e,O b les sed Lord
,
To humbly walk the path Thyse l f hath trod,
To rest se rene ly on Thy prom i sed Word,
Is not t/z z'
s be i ng reconc i l ed to God
THOU KNO'
WEST BEST .
Iwill lead them in paths that they have not known .
OD ’S way i s no t l ik e ou rsWe wou ld have brightn es s on ly—each long
summer day,
Whi l e from the perfumed flowers
Rude winds shou l d never s teal on e fragran t b reath
away
NO dark,o r th reaten i ng c loud
Shou ld ever s tai n the b lu e of Heaven ’ s fa i r canopy,
No thunder l ong and loud
Shou ld b reak th e eternal ca lm of sky,and earth
,and
With fevered l i p s how soon
The fam i shed earth from fou ntai n s lock ed
seal ed,
Wou ld crave that ri chest boon
Which on ly c louds and storms can ever
3 0TH OU A
’
JVOWE S T BES T .
God’
s way is not l i k e ou rs ,We wou ld have on ly j oy—th e eye shou ld k now no
tear,
Nor through th e l ong n igh t hou rs
S hou ld weary su ffe rers tos s—nor fond hearts th rob
wi th fear
N O rude ly wakened dream
Shou ld Show the p rec i p i ce on whi ch we b l i n d ly
s tood,
No d i sappo i n tm en t k een
Arou se the sou l t o s eek the t ru e,th e oa good .
D eath shou ld ne ’er tak e away
The fi rm,t ru e h eart on wh i ch ou r own cou ld re s t
,
That we m ight learn to p ray ,Thy wi l l
,not m i ne
,be done .
“Thou knowes t
b es t .
God ’ s way is not l i k e Ours,
H e l ead s u s eve r by a “ path we have not known
Through thorn s perchance o r flowers
It s t i l l w i l l b ri ng u s to “H is Rest,ou r Home .
SOME DAY
W hen my ships come home .
SHALL be ri ch some do)! i n sums u nto l d
Of l igh t and love—more d ear than pearl sand gold
,
When al l my Sh i ps com e home,so seamed and o ld
,
Some day
Fre igh ted they were,with fai th
,and hope
,and
Oh,prec i ou s s tores Idearer than gold en dust
,
They wi l l b ri ng some retu rn,I fee l th ey must
,
Some day .
My sh ip s are com ing home I know how they
Have braved the s torms wh i l e on the i r homewardWay,
Bu t—they wi l l anchor i n some qu i et bay,
Some day .
I see th e c loud s—I hear the w i nd ’ s l ow wai l,
I fear them not,th e “Prom i se ” can not fa i l
,
3 2SOME DA V .
And I shal l s ee the land -approach i ngsai l ,Some day .
Wi th o i l and wi n e from Off some sun ny shore,
With go ld and gems,O rich and prec i ou s s tore
I ne ’er shal l wan t fo r l igh t,no
,nevermore
Some day .
The shadows l engthen toward the com i ng n ight,
My sh ip s are n ear i ng land wi th sai l s so whi te,
I shal l b e ri ch—in l ove,and warmth
,and l igh t
,
Some day .
REST AFTER GREAT ANXIETY .
He shal l not be afraid of ev i l t i d ings .
OW peacefu l l y th e week has c lo s ed,whi ch
Opened fu l l o f fears,
How calm its su n l igh t d i es away,whi ch
dawned th ro ’ mists and tears !my s t rai n ed ear, th e even i ng wind sobs ou t a
k i nd farewel l,
“ evi l t i d i ngs i t has brough t—nor crue l ta l e tote l l .
Pass to thy res t forever,O troub l ed
,anxi ou s week ,
O ne heart sha l l ever k i nd ly of thy vani shed hours! Speak .
For though thy morn was cl ouded o’er wi th gl oomy
doubts and fears,
Thy even i ng showed i t s rai nbow ,arched wi th grate
fu l sm i l es and t ears .
Oh ! fo r that h igher,fi rmer fai th i n th e prom i s e
Thou hast made,
3 6REST AF TER GREA T ANXIE T Y.
That he whose “ heart i s fixed on Th ee n eed n ever
b e afrai d
No haun ting noonday shadows,nor evi l t i d
i ngs com e
To pal e th e eye wi th weep i ng,or st rik e th e s en se s
dumb .
How bl es t are th ey -th e happy few—who that swee tt ru s t at tai n
,
Even sorrow on the i r qu i e t h eart s,fa l l s l i k e a
mer rain .
O ’e r sunny s lopes,o r rocky s teep s
,wi th even s tep s
th ey t read,
Whi l e l igh t from th e “ E ternal H i l l s upon th e i r
path i s shed .
THE OTHER LIFE .
It l ies around us l ike a cloud,
A world we can not seeYet the sweet closing o f an eyeMay bring us there t o be . ”
—MRS . STOWE .
HE other l i fe,ah what i s i t !
Luri ng forever from ou r s i d eThe he lp fu l heart
,th e wi l l i ng hand
,
Leavi ng u s s t i l l to breas t th e t i d e .
The oth er l i fe ” that look s so dark,
Yet many t im i d o nes have gon eInto that vast uncerta i n vo i d
,
As home-bound swa l l ows breas t th e s torm .
The other l i fe that s eem s so far
From home,wi th al l i ts tender t i e s
,
Yet,l ov i ng hearts th e soonest go
To seek that l i fe b eyond th e sk i es
The oth er l i fe,ah can i t need
As we th e hearts so t ru e and brave !Our “need s eems sore s t —yet they go
,
Leavi ng fohd hearts to ach e and crave .
THE 0THE ] ! LIFE .
The oth e r l i fe take s al l we love,
And g ive s u s noth ing in re turn
Save hand s that beckon from above,
And p i ty i ng heart s that O’
er u s yearn .
Theo ther l i fe —i t s c i rc l e grow sAnd W i d en s wi th each flee t ing year
,
Whi l e l i nk by l ink th e chai n i s fo rged
That draws u s n ea r,and ye t more near .
The oth er l i fe —i t s Open gateL i e s j u s t acros s the grave
,we know
’Ti s open w i th th e summer flowers,
Nor c losed when fa l l s th e w i n ter ’ s snow .
The other l i fe —prophet i c penAlone i ts wondrous b l i s s has to ld
On ly p rophet i c ears have heard
The mus i c from i ts harp s o f go l d .
The othe r l i fe —how myst i c s eem sThat sou nd to du l l
,i n s en sate ears
Yet k i ndred vo i ces s i ng th e songs
That swel l th roughou t i t s h eaven ly spheres .
SLEEPING GERMS .
HERE comes a t im e when,s t e rn and hard
,
The tree po i n ts co ld ly to th e Sky,
When winds no gen tl e wh i sper i ngs speak,
Bu t fi erce l y th rough the b ranches cry .
Whi l e far beneath congeal i ng fros t s
Ki nd natu re h ide s a foun tai n sweet,
One day to swel l thos e fibre s hard
And wi th new l i fe the Spr i ng to greet .
There comes a time when tender you thIs met by pas s i on ’ s hatefu l gla re
,
When reason i ngs fal s e as sai l th e tru th,
When ch i l d i sh seems the long-u sed prayer .
There comes a t im e when se l fhood rearsIts haughty fron t of dari ng prid e ,
When What Iwi l l ” i s al l i t s a im,
When every sen s e s eems glo rifi ed .
SLEEPING GEIi’IlIS .
There comes a t im e when coun se l s s eem
Like i d l e words o r foo l i sh p l ay,
AS pearl s when fou nd by savage hands
Seem worth l es s s to n es to fl i ng away .
Benea th al l th i s l i e l i t t l e ge rms
L ike las t year ’ s fl ower’
s scatt ered seed
(Erewh i l e above them rank ly growsMany an i d l e
,bal efu l weed),
Sown by a mother ’ s w i s tfu l care
Far back i n happy Ch i l dhood ’
s years,
When pen i t en t fo r wi l fu l wrong,
Her sweet rebuk e b rough t gen t l e t ears .
God guard s wi th care th ese tender germ s
Les t pas s i on scorch the i r l aten t power,
Or fai th l es s fr i end wi th b i t te r tau n t
B l ight th em i n you th ’ s u nguarded hou r.
Some day some tender,s earch i ng word
May wake to l i fe that l aten t power,
As Spri ng-t ime s ets th e j u i ce s free
That soo n may grow to fru i t and flower .
WHO KNOWS !
H i t seem s such a pi ty to tak e i t away,
The D eath Angel tenderly wh i spe red One
day
To h i s twi n b ro the r,Sl eep
,who watch ed by the bed
,
Where s lumbered yet ca lm ly a bright cu rly head .
’Ti s tw ice I have fo ld ed my dark wings befo re,
J u s t wai t i ng to en te r th i s l ove -guarded door
Then tu rn ed from the portal,
“Not yet mu st h e d i e,
Whi l e so tenderl y l oved Iwi l l come by and by .
Ah it s e em s su ch a p i ty,once more Ihave come
On my errand of mercy to ca l l th e ch i ld home .
Again I have fo lded my w i ngs at th e door
I have wai ted in vai n,fo r they l ove h im the more
More beau t i fu l s t i l l i s that caske t o f c lay
Where dwe l l s th e young sou l Imus t beckon away .
Ah swee t bro th er S l eep,how sad and how stern
Mu s t I s eem to th e fond h earts that over i t yearn .
Ah i t seem s such a p i ty,your watch has been l ong
,
And tende r and k ind as h i s moth er ’s low song,
WH O KNOWS !4 3
Ki s s i ng down h i s fai r eye l id s,wh i l e sooth i ng each
fear,
For you come wi th a b l es s i ng,Ib ri ng bu t a tear
But s ee down h i s pathway,what p i t fa l l s are there
On the cheek of h i s mo th e r l i e fu rrows of care
And you,gen t l e S l eep
,may forsake h im some day
,
Then th i nk ’ twas i n mercy I ca l l ed h im away .
TEARS, (NOT) IDLE TEARS .
They that sow in tears shal l reap in !oy.
AST P hilo e’
s graven s tones—o ’er Egypt’ sbu rn i ng sand s
State ly and calm her wondrous river flowsWhi l e du sk-y to i l e rs t i l l th e th i rs ty lands ,He al l -unheed i ng toward th e ocean goes .
The s tony Sph i nx,who keeps h er secret wel l
,
Looks calm ly on as s t i l l th e months go by
O ld M emnon murmu rs bu t no tal e wi l l t e l l
Where the vas t river S h idd en fou n tai n s l i e .
The sun sh i n es on,the moons s t i l l wax and wane
,
He heed s no m u rmu rs,yi e l d s to no cares s
Wi se l y h e b i des h i s hour—th en not i n vai nH e overflows to vivi fy and bl es s .
Tears thu s shou ld be as soft,persuas ive rai n
,
Which break s and mel t s th e l ong,u ny i e ld i ng clo d !
Where pat i en t hands may reap th e go lden grai n,
Or ch i l d ren gath er dai s i es from th e sod .
“TEARS
, (N OT ) IDLE TEARS .
”
4 5
Oft-l avi sh ed tears bu t w aste the heart ’ s r i ch so i l,
On wh ich h igh hopes and nob l e though ts shou ld
grow,
As summer ’ s wast i ng s torms undo the to i l
O f carefu l hands,or sp ri ng ’ s ben ignant glow .
Then waste no t tears the i r foun t shou ld guarded‘
b‘e,
That no impa t i e n t touch un lock i ts d eep reces s
Wi th wi s e and tender love l e t th e supply be free
That i t may on l y overflow to save and b l es s .
RETROSPECTION .
Speak to the chi ld ren of Israel,that they go forward .
—ExoDU SXIV . 1 5 .
ACKWARD a l ong l i fe ’ s path Iwou ld to -day ,Retrace my weary steps
,
Such fal t e ri ng s teps that were not so alway,
Bu t firm and s trong,—perhaps
It i s becau se the devi ou s,way-worn path
Look s a l l too rugged now,
Where fu rrow fol l ows fu rrow i n th e swath
Of t im e ’ s re l en t l e s s p l ough .
The stubbl e ru s t l e s i n the fi e l d s so brown,
Ly i ng th e path bes i de,
The h i l l s eems s teeper,whi l e the fu rzy down
Look s co l d and b l eak and wide .
Where are th e flowers that b l o ssomed i n gras s,
And where th e wavi ng grai n !
Imis s th e Lark ’ s wi l d caro l as I pas s
Acros s th e du sty p lai n .
RE TROSPECTION. 47
Ju s t here I s tumb led once—can I forge tThat crue l
,sad m i stak e !
My heart- s t r i ngs qu iver as Iwri t e—and yetIt seemed the way to take .
The ch i ld ren that once walked th i s pa th w i th meAre busy
,bearded men
Whi l e some “are not,
”o r se em
,alas I to b e
At t imes so far,
—and then
I l i ft above th e roadway t ru s t i ng eyes,
And O ft t imes s ee qu i te c l ear
P i ctu red agai n s t th e glow i ng,su nset sk i es
,
Those m i ss i ng ones so dear .
Onward,my sou l— th e pas t i s th i ne no more
,
The fu tu re l eave to God
H e l eadeth thee ” “The Master goes befo re,
Fol low the path H e trod .
To -day i s ou rs to fi l l w ith l ove and l i fe“ Forward i t s bugl e cal l
To wi se r e ffo rt and to nobl e r s t r i fe,
’Gai n s t evi l ’ s power and th ra l l.
IMPLORA.
WR I T TEN FOR THE WOMAN ’
S T EM PERANC E MOVE
M EN T ” IN OH IO .
Ye shall reap if ye faint not .”
I woman,fai n t no t I though th e wi shed
fo r morn i ng
D e l aye th long to b l e s s thy wa i t i ng s igh t
The dark es t hou r i s j u s t be fo re th e dawn i ng
D i sp e l s the gloom,th e hop e l e ss b lank o f n igh t .
Oh Iwoman,fai n t no t th rough th e n igh t SO dreary
,
One watched for thee- fo rsaken and al one,
Pray ing i n agony wh i l e worn and weary,
With none to watch one hour ” wi th H im,no t
one I
Oh Iwoman , fa i n t no t on H i s t ru th re ly i ng,
Fea r no t to walk where H e,ou r Mas te r
,t rod
H umb ly l ik e H im—al l p ri d e,al l se l f deny i ng
,
Strivi ng to win th e wretched back to God .
50 IMPLORA .
Oh Iwoman,fa int not l o I a c loud al l -gloriou s
Of w i t ne ss es su rround s thee day by day
Courage l ik e th i n e must make thy fai th V i cto ri ou s,
Cou rage to work,
!
and fai th to Watch and pray .
Oh Iwoman,fa i n t no t
,though the morn de layeth
Beho ld we coun t th em happy wh i ch endure .
Of many,ange l s say
,
“Behold,he prayeth I”
There ’ s “ j oy i n heaven,
” God ’
s prom i se s are su re .
BEAUTIFUL NIGHT
And there shall be no nigh t there .
H I n igh t so beau t i fu l ! sha l l we no t m i s s
th ee “ thereThe ho ly n igh t that b ri ngs swee t re s t from
care,
draws her k i nd ly ve i l o ’er d roop i ng flowers,
soo thes to s l eep the s t r ivi ng,t i red hou rs I
Shal l we no t m i s s th e p lan et s come and go,
As here we watch for them from su n to s now,
The morn i ng s tars that hai l th e dawn i ng l ight
The star o f even i ng,heral d o f the n igh t !
The wayward meteo rs flash i ng to and fro,
The s tead fas t s tars that o ’er u s b urn and gl ow,
O ld watch fu l S i ri u s spark l i ng l ik e a gem,
With al l th e p ri ce l ess j ewe l s of n igh t ’ s d iadem I
We shal l no t m i s s the go ld,th e gems of day
,
For “ th ere ” ou r feet sha l l t read the sh i n i ng way,
5 2BEA UTIF UL IVIGH T.
Where gate s o f p earl s t i l l guard th e go lden s t ree t,
Where go ld en harp s ou r eager ears sha l l greet .
We shal l no t m i s s the flowers,for “ th ere we know
Bes id e the “ t ree of l i fe they b loom and grow
M ore b eau t i fu l than we have d reamed i n happ i e s t
hou rs
Are those immortal,n ever-wi theri ng flowers .
No n igh t is th ere,fo r “ th ere th ey n eed no S l eep
There l abo r i s bu t res t “ th ere ” none may weep,
Our Fath er ’ s work they do,and b l es t are th ey
who share
In that swee t work of m i n i s t ry and care .
TO -MORROW’
Dream ing of a to-morrow,wh ich to-morrow
W i ll be as distant then as ’t is to-day .
”
OW cans t thou cheat u s so,
Oh l i fe I as day by day and year by year
Our thoughts move res t l e s s ever to an d
fro,
to se i z e th e good that seems so n ea r
Wi th hope ’ s to -morrow .
SO mean—and ye t so far IOur hand had almos t grasped i t on e fa i r day ,And s t i l l i t l u res u s l i k e a rad i an t star
Whose l igh t may prove that fi tfu l,spec iou s ray
That l ead s to sorrow .
Ah Iwhy not b ri ng to -day
The good thy mocki ng l i p s have prom i sed long,
Our n eed i s sores t now—to -morrow,dos t thou say
Ever to -morrow !
54 TO-IIIOBRO
A boon may com e too l ate,
AS l igh t to h im whose weary l i fe had passed
Wi th i n the dungeon ’ s gl oom,ah
,cru e l fate I
T o -morrow came too late—and l igh t at las tBrough t on ly sorrow
.
TO -morrow,say the waves
,
The stormy wate rs w i l l have su nk to s l eep ,
To-m orrow ’ s su n wi l l gi l d th e peacefu l graves
O f men who now ’ rou nd camp -fires s l umber deep,
Nor fear to -mo rrow .
To -morrow Iwi l l come
Thus speak s th e l over aft er “ sweet good -n igh t .
To-morrow,says th e m oth er
,wi l l my boy retu rn
Ah I thu s thro ’ l i fe thy song though sad or brigh t
Is s t i l l to -morrow .
To -morrow do st thou say !To-morrow Iwi l l i t b ri ng u s l ove o r go ld !
Art t ru e at l as t—or dos t thou cheat a lway,
Wi l l a l l my sh ip s come home,tho ’ s eamed and
Yet safe to -morrow !
ONLY A WORKER .
We m igh t have been IThe saddest words o f tongue or pen .
OST hopes,l o s t j oys, l o s t you th I—how wan
i t l ook s
L i fe,with so much of l igh t and warmth
gone ou t
(We often read of such sad l ives i n b ook s ,Somet imes wi th tears—and oft w i th many a
doubt
Yet l i fe s t i l l l i ngers,though so much has gone
,
We ga‘z e back wi stfu l o ’ er the darkened scene
We ask,i f yet ou r task i s almost don e
We th i nk of a l l we shou ld or m igh t have been
I“might have b een a star,to th row one ray of l igh t
Over the dark ened path o f those who trod
Through clouds and s torm,s t i l l s t ruggl i ng th rough
th e n igh t ,Grop i ng and s earching for th e way to God .
56 ON L Y A H’ORKEA’ .
I “m ight have been a poem,pure and tru e
,
Sooth i ng some sorrowi ng heart w i th tender
word s
Brac ing some s i nk i ng sou l to l i fe an ew
Or glad’
n ing ch i ldhood , l i k e the song of b i rd s .
I might have b een a foun ta i n,coo l and cl ear
,
Such as from desert rock once free ly bu rs t,
Where t im id b i rd cou l d d i p wi thou t a fear,
Or grate fu l t rave l e rs pau s e to quench the i r th i rs t .
Em b l em of pu ri ty and Tru th D iv i n e
What b l es s i ngs cou ld I y i e ld to fai n t i ng men I
What l e s son s from each crys tal d rop shou ld sh i n e I
Lesson s n e ’e r graved by d iamond nor by pen .
I “might have been a flower sweet and rare,
With beau ty such as pain te r n e ’e r cou l d p lan,
Pouri ng ou t fragrance o n the u ncons c iou s a i r
Wh i l e waft i ng heavenward,pra i s e from gratefu l
man .
Ihave been bu t a beggar—s t re tch i ng ou tBeseech i ng hands
,cravi ng m o re l ove
,more l igh t
Upon the path so rough,so
.
hedged abou t
Wi th thorn s,and oft en dark as s tarl es s n igh t .
Ihave been bu t a worker,t i red and worn
,
Yet watchfu l ever,t remb l i ng
,fearfu l—l es t
WHY NOT
Oh beau t i fu l Fai th , make i t clear .
ES—Fa i th i s a beau t i fu l ve stalWho comes wh i t e-robed and seren e
,
When wi l l and be l i e f are i n confl i ct,
To stand as an ange l between,
To say to th e tu rbu l en t pass i on
Of heart s as they chafe and they swel l,
Be st i l l,
”—after l i fe ’ s fitfu l feve rBe l i eve me i t a l l w i l l b e W e l l .
She s tand s by the shadowy val l ey
Into wh i ch so bewi l d ered we gaze,
Whi l e we seek for our l oved ones so vai n ly
Wi th eyes that wou l d p i erce th ro ’ i t s ma z e ,And te l l s u s “ th e val e is no t gloomy ,The w ay not so weary nor l ong,
That ou r dear ones are s t i l l very n ear u s
We almost m igh t j o i n i n th e i r song .
WH Y N OT !59
She te l l s you your loved ones are happy,
She wh i spers you ’ l l mee t them agai n,
You be l i eve—whi l e you fee l as you l i s ten,
Your heart craves them ever the same
When you fal te r s o footsore and weary
She p laces a s taff i n your hand
And says,
“Whi le the path may be rugged,
It l ead s to a beau t i fu l land.
”
At the storm -c l oud when lowest and darkes t
She gaz es wi th up l i fted eye,
And te l l s you that soon i n i t s b eau ty
The rai nbow wi l l s pan th e c l ear sky .
Be pat i ent,
” ’ t i s bu t fo r an hou r
The p i t i l e s s s l ee t and th e rai n
Ah,yes I sh e can t each u s to su ffe r ,But
,alas I can she take away pai n !
She bri ngs you a cup—Oh I so b i t t er,
And says, i f you on ly wi l l t ry
To d ri nk i t wi thout e ’en a murmur ,How sweet i t w i l l b e by and by
But here,
” says the heart i n i t s angu i sh,
Ah Iwhy not be happy whi l e here IWhen the earth is so fai r i n i t s beau ty
,
Oh,beau t i fu l Fai th
,make i t c l ear .
FADING FIRELIGHT FANCIES .
The leaves o f memory seemed to makeA mourn fu l rust l ing in the dark .
”
S lone ly watch i ng by th e firelight’
s glow,
When n igh t ha s shu t ou t carefu l,re s t l e s s
day,
Thought,l i k e a t i re l e ss s ent ry
,to and fro
Tread s th e long round of M emory ’ s sacred way
The “ Vi a sacra,l i n ed wi th tombs and graves ,
Where S l eep the bu ri ed hopes o f bygon e years,
Whi l e over all Love ’ s ch er i sh ed flower st i l l waves
The sweet fo rget -me -not,p lan ted wi th many
tears !
P leasan t the hou r,al though I sit al on e
,
And watch the fad i ng embers s l owly d i e,
And hear th e cri ck et ch i rp wi th home ly to ne,
Whi l e on th e wal l fan tast i c shadows l i e .
’Ti s th en I dream of al l that m igh t have b een,
And dare to dream of j oys that yet m igh t be
Pai n t wi th sweet Fancy ’ s pen each glowi ng scene ,Such as Hope wh i sp ers ye t m ight wai t fo r me .
FADING F IRELIGHT FANCIE S . 6 1
In that calm hour when earth -born care is s t i l l,
To h igher,purer good my thoughts asp i re
,
With fi rm reso lves that Sel f no more shal l ch i l l
The warm l i fe -cu rren t fed by Heaven ’ s own fi re
Then sweet affec t i on s,wh ich
,l i k e b rood i ng dove
N es t l ed so c los e ly th rough the p ry i ng day,
With gen t l e murmurs s t i r th e depth s Of l ove
To throb and swe l l ben ea th the i r po ten t sway .
Then to the h eart s eem absen t fr i e nd s more near,
(And one we th i nk of oft , -bu t se ld om name,)
Wh i l e th rough i t s chambers sweeps the secret fear,
Le s t he shou ld ne ’ e r retu rn to us the same .
Sometimes beyond the fi tfu l embers g low
Sweet,earnes t eyes
,wi th wi s t fu l gaze I see
A s i s te r ’s eyes l ooked thu s long years ago
And now i n Heaven are look i ng ou t for m e .
Fad i ng,s t i l l fad i ng — now the l igh t i s gon e
I hear the Apri l W i nd ’ s l ow,sobb i ng cry
D ream ing —s t i l l dream ing e —yet I s i t a lone,
Whi l e at my fee t th e pal e,co ld ashes l i e .
SO LONG AGO .
Bl i ss was i t then to be alive,
But to be young was very H eaven .
OST thou rem ember,sweet
,thos e care l es s
dayswalks—th e talk s— ou r merry ch i l d i shp l ays
So fa i r,so fai n t
,th rough the en fo ld i ng haz e
O f long ago
Is i t so l ong ! Why , l i fe i s short , th ey say
And sad,—ah
,wel l I l e t that b e as i t may ,
Sorrow at l eas t s eem-ed far away , that daySo long ago .
Hast p layed at h i de-and -seek i n gras s so h igh
Hast ever see n s i n ce then so b l ue a SkyOr has i t s eemed so near to you and I
As long ago
Where no i sy rook s were cawi ng overh ead ,Under the p i nes o ne day we sa t and read
,
Choos i ng a hero from the book—w e sa i d
SO l ong ago
SO LONG AGO. 6 3
Two lit t l e maid en s free and happy qu i te ,And you
,—SO l ove ly i n th e go ld en l igh t
,
That fl i ck ered th rough the p i nes,—SO warm
bright,
And long ago .
Above the b rook,where loud i t sp lashed and rang
,
Two orio l e s had thought the i r n es t to hang,
Whi l e to i ts r i pp l i ng fal l th ey tri l l ed and sang
So l o ng ago
Ah I do th ey chas e the p i l fe ri ng b lu e -b i rd now !
Flash ing the i r orifl am e from bough to bough,
Where l i t t l e maiden s watch ed w i th uptu rn ed brow,
So long ago
And heroes,—o ’
e r ou r path has t ever s trayed
One tru e and nob l e,as—th e book port rayed
The chosen i d eal o f each'
litt le maid
So l ong ago .
The brook ne ’er t i red u s w i th i ts r i pp l i ng song ,Though th en
,as now
,i t babb l ed on and on ,
Through summer days that n ever s eemed too l ong,
So long ago .
64 SO LONG AGO.
After a day so rou nded,SO compl ete
,
Dos t tho u remember how our bu sy feet
Came home so t i red,
” and s l eep was oh,so sweet
,
So l ong ago !
And how we c l imbed th e coo l grey rocks to fi nd
The tendere st fern s,h id i ng so coy beh i nd
From pryi ng su nbeams—or th e woo i ng wi nd
So l ong ago
We ’ve c l imbed more rugged rock s S i n ce th en,
sweet,
With pat i en t heart s s t i l l to i l i ng up th e s teep,
We never kn ew of b ru Ised or weari ed feet
So l ong ago .
Do s t thou remember h ow we watch ed the moon
In dreamy talk o n th rough th e n ight ’ s s t i l l noon,
Ti l l p eace and res t enwrapped th e sh adowy r o om
So long ago !
Or when we watch ed the fi refl i e s pal e and gl ow,
Dodgi ng the bat s swi ft wh i rl i ng to and fro
Whi l e cr i cket s ch i rped the i r monoton e so s l ow,
Long,l o ng ago !
A SUM IN CANCELLATION .
A LESSON FOR F L I RT S .
ES I l e t u s cance l a l l the d eb t
That l i e s be tween u s —it is bes tTo square accou n ts b efo re we go
s eparate path s,or—e ’en to re s t .
Some songs we ’ve sung togeth er—andSome s to ri e s to ld—wh ich d id not l i e
,
Some h i eroglyph i cs t raced i n sand,
Which none cou l d read bu t you,or I.
Some flowers have wi the red i n ou r hand s,
Gathered i n happy hou rs go ne by,
They talk of l ove i n east ern land s,
”
With fl owers wh ich bl os som bu t to d i e
Some pl easan t walks we can ’ t forge tO ’ er fragran t grass i n twi l igh t hours
,
Imeant to b l o t ou t al l—and yetFragrance wi l l hang ’ round wi thered flowers .
A S UM IN CAIVCELLA I'
IOIV. 6 7
Forget,I pray
,one even i ng
,when
Mycheek bu rn ed wi th a ri che r glow ,
The crim soned su n was set t i ng th en—1
To h im that b lush Iwel l m ight owe .
Some s ighs and t ears are l a i d away,
Where memory s to re s fo rb i dden th i ngs,
We need not reckon them,I hope
,
Wi th songs,and books
,and fl owerS —and
You neve r knew how hot the tears,
Nor weighed how heavy were th e s igh s,
And shou l d we meet i n comi ng years
You ’ l l th i nk,
“ how time has d immed those eyes .
And now our hearts s tand lone and co l d,
’Twere wi se to knock at Fr i endsh i p ’ s door,
And l earn of h im so t r i ed and o ld,
To be bu t fr i end s,and—noth i ng more .
A FAREWELL TO SCHOOL -DAYS .
C LASS SONG FOR COMMENC EMENT .
GO LDEN years,tu rn back and Show
Your reco rd fai r o f happy hours,
When,gatheri ng food for s te rn es t need
,
We seemed,l i k e bee s
,to S lp from flowers .
Far i n to l i fe you r p rom i s e s tre ams,
Shedd i ng a l igh t o ’e r path s un tri ed
Whi le argos i e s o f hope and tru st,
O ’er l i fe ’ s w id e ocean seem to gl i d e .
Sweetened by fri end sh i p ’s tender grace,
A generou s rival each became
Such pu rpose h igh shon e i n each face,
E ’e n emu lat i o n gave no pai n .
Forth from th i s day our paths d iverge,
Some lead i ng up th e mou ntai n ’ s s teep,
Some te nd i ng to sweet she l tered homes,
Where al l may sm i l e and some may weep .
A FARE I/VELL TO SCHOOL—DA VS . 69
O youth ’s sweet sp ri ng- t ime,fare th ee we l l
,
(O fri ends .
I we part w i th happy tears .)Our fu tu re l ives thy prai s e mu st te l l
,
A harves t for tho se budd i ng years .
O van i sh ed years of pat i en t to i l I
Youth ’s garnered sheaf o f we l l - spen t hours,
The to i l is al l fo rgotten now
We on ly s ee the fru i t and flowers .
SEA CHANGES.
0 sea Io ld sea Iwho yet knows hal f of thy wonders or thy pride I”
H the tr ibu te that th e sea b ri ngs
As l av i sh ly each wave fl ings
Some dai n ty weed or b lo s som upon th e
t i de -washed sand
From every wh i te -fri nged swel l
Is flung a t i n ted she l l,
h id e i n nook or c revi ce for Chi l dhood’ s eager
hand .
Oh I th e beau ty that the sea ho ld s I
Whi l e j ea l ou s ly each wave fo ld s
With i n i t s swel l i ng bosom the dai n ty fragi l e th i ngs
NOW sh i nes a crim son s ta r,
Or i r i d escen t Spar,
Whi l e t i ny un ivalves float by’
on grey and s i lve r
w i ngs .
What changes do th the sea bri ng INot poesy ’ s imagi n i ng
Cou ld from decay such beau ty,
wond rou s
th i ngs evok e
SEA CHAN GE S .
7 1
If'mermaid s weep , we know
There pearl s and amber grow,
And lo fty cora l i s lands ri s e where t i ny i n sect s work .
Oh I th e beau ty that the sea ho ld s I
Where lovi ngly i ts arm fo ld s
Around some Sp i cy i s land where nods p lumypalm
Where l eap i ng waves are brigh t
Wi th phosphorescen t l igh t,
And gl i des the fa i ry naut i lu s th rough w aters soft
and calm .
What marve l s doth the sea show,
As to and fro th e t id es flow,
Respons ive to the l ady moon who look s so calm
be l ow
Where qu iveri ng waters greet
Her glance so bright and sweet,
Whi le throb s h er pu l se i n measu re to th e wate r ’ s
ebb and flow .
Oh Ith e s tori e s that the sea t e l l sI
Whi l e back and forth each wave swel l s,
Reveal i ng to the su n l ight some s ecre t k ept for years
72 SEA CHANGES .
A bri ny,brok en spar
D ri ft s by from shore s afar ,Where t reach erou s rock s were h i d i ng—cru e l as
s i ren ’ s t ears .
Oh I sad ly doth th e sea moan I
Whi l e break i ng ’ rou nd some grey s ton e,
A . s en t i n e l above th e spot where on ce a sh ip went
down
Th e rock,so s te rn and col d
,
Heed s not th e requ i em ol d,
The movi ng sea seems p i t i fu l—the ro ck canfrown .
Above th e wreck th e sea ro l l s,
Whi l e surging waves the be l l to l l s,
Heard On ly by the mermaid wi th i n her crys tal cave,Where coral fores ts grow
,
Spread i ng th e i r fro nd s of snow,
And no d i s tu rb i ng b i l l ows reach th at qu i e t o cean
grave .
A GARNERED SIIEAF
It fell u pon my heart l i ke d ew,
The awak ’
ning I can n e ’er regret,
For though i ts b l i s s fu l hou rs were few,
Thei r memory l i ngers wi th me yet .
The d ream whose l i ne s were once so b righ t
Has van i shed wi th the summer ’ s l eaves
Whi l e hopes wh ich b loomed in summer ’ s l igh t
Are garnered wi th my autumn sh eaves
BROWN STUDIES FOR NOVEMBER ’S
EASEL .
LOSED i s th e b ri l l i an t pagean t of the s low l y
pass i ng year,
Her scarl e t bann ers float no more o ’er wood
land far and near
Worn natu re don s h er ru s se t hood and th rows her
garlands down,
Whi l e shrunken l i e her summer spri ngs and “all her
fi e ld s are brown .
Where once ou r eyes were gladden ed by the fre sh
and nodd ing grai n,
The l ong,brown furrow naked l i e s
,beneath th e
fal l i ng rai n
Through al l th e melancho ly days the heavens wear
a frown,
Whi l e sh runken are ou r summer spri ngs,and “ al l
ou r fi e ld s are b rown .
”
76 BROWN STUDIES .
O ’er d i s tan t h i l l s of sombre t i n t th e cra ftv sport s
man s trays,
Track i ng th e shy,b rown rabb i t h ome
,c l o s e h id i ng
from h i s gaz e
H eavi l y fa l l s th e au tum n haze en fo ld i ng wood and
town,
Where summer spri ngs are sh ru nken and “ fi elds
are bare and brown .
”
In golden brown the part ri dge gl ean s th e fi e ld fo r
s catte red seed,
F l ee i ng for safe ty th rough th e b ru sh or i n the tan
gl ed weed
Whi l e no i sy,happy school -boys shak e the pri ck ly
chest nu t down,
We mo tirn ou r summer spri ngs so dry and“ fi e l d s
so bare and brown .
H i s glo s sy p l ume of go lden brown,th e t i ny ch i p
munk waves,
Whi l e th e acorn and th e beechnu t wi th cunn i ng
care h e saves
Beneath th e oak,i n s imp l e t ru st
,he lays h i s t reas
ure down,
Whi l e w e,
—alas I ou r Spri ngs are d ry,and al l ou r
fi e ld s are b rown .
BROWN S TUDIES .
77
The mock i ng j ay fl its by u s as we b i nd our meagre
sheaves,
With tremb l i ng hearts we l i s ten to th e ru s t l e o f the
l eaves,
For under l eaves so se re and brown we laid ou r
treasu res down
And know “ ou r summer Spri ngs are d ry and al l ou r
fi e ld s are brown .
”
AN OCTOBER PICTURE .
HERE the pal e shadows are s t eal th i ly gropi ng
Over the l awn to the near wood land l ping,
Stand s a ta l l a s ter i n pu rp l e most roya l,
St i l l to th e l ate autumn sun sh i n e so l oyal .M any a dai n t i er flower has peri sh ed
,
Blos soms the d ew and the sun sh ine had cheri sh ed,
Whi l e s t i l l o ’e r th e as te r the bu t te rfl i e s hover,
From fores t and meadow comes each l i t t l e rover,
The dai n ty wh i te bu tte rfly,
The s i lve r-winged bu t te rfly,
And st i l l th rough the haz e
Of au tumn ’ s soft d ays,
Around th e tal l as te r th e bu tterfly p l ays .
Flower and fo l iage are fad i ng and dyi ng,
October b reez es are p lai nt ive ly s igh i ng,
Fi l l i ng the ai r w i th a requ i em tender,
Beari ng from wood land i t s t r ibu te of sp l endor,
Over and over repeat i ng th e story,
Summer i s pas sed wi th its beau ty and glo ry
AN OCTOBER PICTURE . 79
Yet s tau nch to the last,th e as te r look s ch eery
,
Whi l e t i ny,brave bu tte rfl i es n eve r grow weary .
The fra i l t i ny bu t te rfly,
The gay summer bu tterfly,
Through the gather i ng haze
Of late au tumn days
Around the tal l as te r s t i l l flutters and p lays .
These p i c tu re s so fa i r,are swee t to remember
When au tumn ’ s grey l ight grows dark wi th D e
cember,
When through the ch i l l a i r no bee shal l be humming
Nor s i lve ry wi ng to the as ter b e com ing
For stark on the lawn , bereft of i t s gl ory ,Its brown wi thered l eaf w i l l t e l l th e sad s t o ry
,
That the wi n ter of l i fe w i l l b e darksome and d reary
When fond wa i t i ng h earts grow wi stfu l and weary
Whi l e watch i ng for wh i t e wi ngs,
The van i sh i ng brigh t wi ngs,
And peer th rough th e haze
Of l i fe ’ s tangl ed maz e,
For a gl eam of the w i ngs now pas sed from the i r
gaz e .
WAITING .
HE leafle s s v i ne s c reak agai n s t th e pane,
Whi l e cl o s e and s tead i ly droppeth the rai n ,Back to my heart creep s th e o ld du l l pai n
As the n igh t fal l s d reari ly .
The wei rd w i nd moans ’rou nd the tu rre t wal l,
The branche s groan whi l e th e dead l eaves fa l l ,But Ihear my heart beat above i t a l l
As th e hou rs pas s h eavi ly .
On my lo ne ly hearth th e fi re bu rn s low,
The c lock t i ck s cease l ess ly to and fro,
Ican count each th rob of my heart as s low
VVanes th e n ight,and weari l y .
The lamp burns d im l y,the shadows grow
So we i rd and so huge i n the embers ’ glow,
Whi l e my heart grows ch i l l as th e wi n ter ’s s now“Wait i ng SO wear i ly .
82 DOWN TH E RIVER .
Through th e fore s t swe l l i ng
Where the wi ld b i rd s dri nk
Near th e woodman fe l l i ng
Tree s u pon i t s b ri nk .
Now i t b roaden s s l ow ly
Through the meadows wher e
L i l i e s nod so queen ly
In th e s cen ted a i r,
So s t i l l,we hear th e ru s t l e
Of l eaves when scarce ly s t i rred
Now in th e c i ty ’ s bu s t l e
Its dash is se l dom heard .
By the hu t so l owl y
On pampas lon e and wid eIt gathers wh i l e i t broad en s
To mee t the ocean ’ s t i d e .
‘
REMEMBERED,YET FORGOTTEN .
“The sensuous beau ty that enslaves .
HERE shal l we meet—and how !We who once loved so fond ly and so we l l
Nor d reamed of change— and now
Love ’ s requ i em pla i n t each th robbi ng heart may
te l l !
Thy path l i e s far away
Across the waters i n th e l and of song,Whi l e weaker grow each day
The t i es so cheri sh ed once,and deemed s trong .
I s tand upon the sand
Ga z mg upon the far, reced i ng wave ,Hasten i ng to k i s s th e l and
Whose beau ty b i nds thee—a too wi l l i ng S l ave
Over whose su n ny l ands
The sou th wi nd woos the amorou s grape,
Where gi rl s wi th wi n e -s ta i n ed hands
Afte r th e vi ntage to i l the i r v igi l s make .
8 4REIl/IE IVIBERED
,YE T F ORGOTTEIV.
By some l one way -s id e Shri n e,
Graced by a sad Madonna,—mossed and grey
,
In that swee t vesper t im e
Where a ll is Ooa uty—even thou mus‘
t pray .
Thy l ongi ng heart i s fi l l ed
Wi th sen suou s beau ty of th e ri ch est hu e,
Whi l e l ove ’ s warm pu l s e i s ch i l l ed
That pu re r l ove thy bet te r natu re k new .
In hal l s where j eal ou s art
Hath s tored its t reasures—th ere you sit and dream,
Ti l l from tho se d reams you start,
As eyes wh ich te l l o f m i n e from some fai r p i ctu re
gl eam .
The pu l s e of l o fty aim,
Which th robbed wi th l i fe ’ s t ru e pu rpose fu l l and
s tro ng,
Now start s w i th fi tfu l pai n
And wakes—to s l eep agai n,—lu l l ed by the s i ren ’ s
song .
Where shal l we meet - and how !As fri ends or s trangers —S t range we are i n tru th
RE IVIE IIIBERE D,YE T F ORGOTTE /V. 8 5
oThy i n n er l i fe is now
NO more th e echo of my earnes t,t ru s t i ng youth
As the reced i ng wave
Retu rn s no more acro s s th e s torm - tos sed
S ince l ove has fou nd i ts grave,
Retu rn not tho u—we ca n ”of meet agai n .
TO A YOUNG FRIEND
W ho for several years sent the writer a lovely Chr istmas present .
HY Santa C lau s shou l d p i c tu red be
A home ly,wei rd - l i k e e l f
,
When each year h e appears to me
As love ly as you rs e l f,
No vi sage burly,bl u ff and ol d
,
Crowned wi th l ong lock s of snow,
But one wi th b ra ids of. brown and gol d,
Where roses come and go .
With eyes so b rown,so so ft
,so b right
,
We wel l m igh t say,
“ Take care,
D i d no t the i r rays o f pu res t l igh t
Revea l a sou l as fai r .
TO A FRIEND
ON HER WEDD ING DAY .
WEET moon of May,bri ng gen tl e ga l e s
To waft thee o ’e r a summer s ea,
On whi ch,wi th palp i tat i ng sai l s
,
The bark Of Love now wai t s for th e e .
With sweete s t flowers perfume th e ai r,
Fi l l i ng thos e sa i l s so pu re and wh i t e
O n H eavenly shores a home prepare,
When sai l s are fu rl ed and fal ls the’
n ight .
Fal l,pass i ng clouds
,i n happy tears
,
And gent ly weep yourse lve s away,
Nor Shadow o ’er wi th droop i ng fears
The rad i an t promi se of To -day .
TWILIGHT VOICES .
OW th e chorus o f twi l igh t our weary heartsgree t
,
l The cr i ck e t ch i rps low i n th e grass at ou rfeet
,
rob i n i s cal l i ng from shrub and from tree
garden breathes p erfume—come,walk th ere
w i th me .
A Spi ri t o f res t s eems to stea l o ’e r the land,
L i k e th e coo l,soo th ing touch of a dear mother ’ s
hand,
Whi l e welcome n igh t d roppeth her grey mant l e
down
On dry,d roop i ng fi e ld s and th e du s t -curta i n ed town .
The t i red ch i ld n es t l e s,and s i nk s to i t s s l eep
As the mother ’ s swee t lu l l aby swe l l s so ft and
Of twi l igh t ’ s sweet vo i ce s th e pure st i s h ers,
For emot ions so ho ly no oth er vo i ce s t i rs .
90TWILIGHT VOICES.
Now th e moon r i s es s l owly and sh i ne s on the tree
On l eaf and on flower,on you and on me .
Of whi ch wi l l you d ream ! ah I do not say so
We ’re t o talk bu t of natu re ’ s s t i l l beau t i e s,you know .
See ou r path has grown b righ ter,
’
tis moon l igh t ’ s
soft gl ow
Yes,my heart has grown l ighter ! dear fri end , you
must go .
Ju s t walk to th e Spot where th e moon fal l s SO brigh t,
And there we must part w i th—a care l es s good -n igh t .
THE CONFESSIONAL .
PEN,O heart I thy c l o ses t - chambered ce l l
,
Whose warm and crim soned draperi e s r i s e
and fa l l,
Swayed by the su rgi ng o f each th rob and swel l
Of p leasure or of pai n,—or swee t emot ion
,al l
The hopes that gi l d w i th prom i se you th ’ s b righ t
day,“
And al l th e fears,whose th robb ings warn u s of
decay
Open,and h ide wi th i n thy i nmost ce l l
Forb idden yearn i ngs and each fond des i re,
Each asp i rat i on afte r good,whi ch b l igh ted fel l
L ike summer bu ds,k i s sed by th e sun ’ s fi erce fi re
,
Each budd ing hope ch i l l ed by the i cy breath
Of an u nan sweri ng heart,or one grown col d i n
death .
And oh I i f e’er by hu rtfu l pas sion s swayed
,
If to vai n d ream s We gave too fond a sigh,
92TH E CON FE SS/ONAL .
If lu red by s in i n sp ec iou s charms arrayed,
Oh,vei l th e s tai n from al l
,save H i s k i nd p i ty i ng
eye,
Who,from th e fou nt o f mercy ’ s bou nd l es s s tore
,
Sa id,
“ Nei ther do I condemn thee ! go and sin no
more I
94NAME PVRITTE /V IN WA TER .
Emb lem of tru th,pure and d ivi n e
,
For ages may thy waters sh i n e
In j oyou s du ty
Where weary men may freely‘drink
,
Paus i ng erewhi l e to gaz e,and th i nk
Of thy rare beau ty .
Far i n th e l ong ago,a woman fra i l
Came to a we l l—so reads the ta l e
For wate r on ly .
There,res t i ng by the mossy bri nk
,
Sat One , who said ,“Give M e to d ri nk
A trave l l e r lo ne ly .
Then to her wonderi ng,eager ear
H e to ld of “ l i vi ng waters c l ear,
Flow i ng fo rever
That thos e who drank shou ld ne ’er again
Know th i rs t,or weari ne
'
s s,or pai n
,
Never I oh,never I
May each and al l some tru th'
here find,
Whi l e hope and fai th i n humank i nd,
’Ti s ever s ay i ng
Its mus i c fa l l s o n gratefu l ears,
Its work th rough a l l the coming years
IS cease l e s s playing .
NAME WRITTEN IN WA TER .
9 5
And thus,i n water l e t h i s name
Spark l e wi th eve r-growing fame,
And te l l the s to ry,
How wel l h e loved h i s fe l l ow -man,
How beau ti fu l th e though t to p lan
Th i s th i ng of glo ry .
More e loquen t than marb l e co l d,
More rhythm i cal than words of go ld,
Its murmurs ever
In l i qu id mu s i c’s t i nk l i ng fa l l
,
Wi l l Speak to every heart,whi l e
Wi l l b l es s the giver .
A CLIMB
To THE SUMM IT O F M T . WACHU SETT .
OU wi l l su re ly remember that morn i ng so
bright,
When the mou ntai n b reez e woo ’d Us to/
c l imb to i t s h e igh t,
Where th e sky brooded o ’er i t a s warm and as b lu e
As th e eye we mos t l ove,ever tender and t rue
On ly c l imb to th e summ i t,thus p rom i sed our
gu id e,
The Vi ew i s en tranc i ng—so vari ed,so wide I
The morn i ng dew s t i l l s park l ed over th e l awn,
Whi l e the gu es t s at the “Moun tai n Hou se ” ta lk ed
pro and con .
Some feared the day prom i sed to be very hot,
Others thought i t m igh t rai n—some were su re i twou l d not .
One sugges ted warm wraps at “ th e top wou ld be
n eeded,
And couns e l l ed s tou t shoes—whi ch advi ce was we l lh eeded .
We sa t on a log deep ly bu ri ed in fe rns,
Whi le we talked o f Longfe l l ow and Bryan t and
Burn s .
Thu s sped the brigh t momen ts as upward we wen t,
Ti l l we reached th e s tone co ttage that crowns th e
as cen t .
There Monadnock con fron ts you,so d reamy and
b lu e,
H i s gian t dome add i ng a charm to th e V i ew,
Whose out l i n e o f beau ty shows wondrou s ly c l ear’Gai n s t th e b lu e arch of h eaven
,so far
,yet so n ear
,
Reflected from lake l e t s hal f h idden i n green,
With t i ny toy v i l l ages n es t l i ng be tween .
The “Whi te H i l l s are s een l ik e the dream of a
c l oud
We fear to d i spe l them by speak i ng aloud,
And tenderly name them,far Off i n th e haz e
,
AS we speak of som e dear on e j u s t pass ed from ou rgaze
,
Whi l e hushed i s ou r breath ing and d im grows th e
eye,
AS we tu rn from those peak s po i n t i ng s t i l l to the
sky .
A CLIMB .
99
There are moments i n l i fe where ou r though ts love
to res t,
As we res ted that day on that fa i r mounta i n ’ s cres t,
Where the out look of l i fe grows more bound les s and
free,
As that scene seemed to s t re tch even ou t to th e sea!A del ec tab l e moun t i t mu s t ever remai n
Though I never may see i ts green summi t aga i n .
LAST HOURS OF DAVID LIVINGSTONE .
JUNGLE wi l d on Afri c ’ s so i l,a braz en sky
o’
erhead,
A group of savage,dusky men around a
dy i ng bed,
Where l ay a gaun t and wast ed form upon a couch
so rude,
Ah ! death ne’e r fou nd so rich a pri z e i n that vas t
so l i tude .
I am dy i ng,fa t efu l r iver—th e d ews are gather i ng
fas t,
Oh,s i ren of my you th fu l d ream s
,I’
ve sough t th ee to
th e l as tYet
,far away e lud i ng s t i l l thy phantom fou n tai n s
l i e,
A mirage gl eam ing fitfu lly before my glaz i ng eye .
Oh Imyst i c , mock i ng s i ren , I have born e thy fe tt e rs
lo ng,
Huggi ng the chai n that bound me as I l i s t ened to
thy song,
102 LA S T HOURS OF DA VID LIVINGS TONE .
Alas Ib e fore,beh i nd me
,l i e cru el
,scorch i ng sands !
O h I fo r one moment i n thy wave to lave th ese
fevered hand s .
We read th e s tori ed tab l e t s where Karnak’
s t empl es
s tand,
We know why M emnon’
s musi c r i pp l es o ’er th esh i ft i ng sand
Rosetta ’ s s ton e h er secret s yi e l d of Egyp t ’ s wondrou s l o re
Thy secret,migh ty river
,s t i l l ‘
b a ffl es as of yore I
Oh I co ld and grey and far away , Iknow the gran i te
rock s
Are crad l ed where the h eath er d ip s i n cool,s eques
tered l o ck s .Would Icou l d c l imb once more those rock s
,and fee l
th e mountai n ai r
B low o ’e r my b row cares s i ngly,to l i ft my c lammy
hai r .
Those pu rpl e h i l l s o f Scot land are cool w i th fa l l i ng
m i st
Where,s t ro l l i ng th rough th e heath er b loom
,
' I kep t
a l over ’ s t rys t
'
LAS T HOURS OF DA VID LIVINGS TONE . 10 3
Orwhere , i n happy ch i ldhood , I c l imbed th e i r rug
ged S i d e ,Search i ng through fern and bracken
,where t im i d
rabb i t s h i d e .
I l oved the h i l l s,th e h eath er
,I l oved th e yel l ow
broom,
I l oved the mavi s ’ s i ngi ng above the heath er b loom
But sweeter was th e s i re n ’ s vo i ce,and fai r h er beck
on i ng hand,
That lu red me from my rugged home,my beau
teou s nat iv e l and .
!
I am dyi ng,fa te -fu l r iver—thou hast lu red me to
my doom,
Wei rd Spi ri t of th e desert,e ’ er wrapped in mi s t and
gloom .
Yet hark ! Ihear,Is ee agai n the r i pp l e o f thy sm i l e .
Farewel l,o l d Pharaoh ’ s wondrou s s tream
,oh ! mys
t i c,migh ty N i l e .
AMERICA TO PRUSSIA z—GREETING .
ON THE MARR IAG E OF PR INC E DE LYNAR TO’
M I SS MAY PARSONS .
P rince De L served’
as Colonel on the staff of the EmperorW i l li amduring the war be tween F rance and P russia . Soon after i ts term inat ionhe was married
,i n Co lumbus
,Oh io
,to the beau t i fu l M iss P arsons .
NOTHER tri umph—O Vi ctor i ou s rea lm I
Thy pri nces m igh ty are i n l ove and war
From grand o ld Kai s er Wi l l i am at th e he lm
h im who robs u s of ou r brighte s t s tar !
Room i n your pri ncely cou rt s I—she goes a qu eenFrom our b road realm bes i d e the west ern sea
,
A land where a l l ou r love l i e s t have ever been
Queen s o f ou r h earts and hom es—and e’e r wi l l b e
Once i n the long ago,from ou r fa i r l and
There wen t a pri nces s reared i n sy lvan glad e .
Old haugh ty England took her by th e hand,
Nor s co rn ed her s imp l e gu i s e—her du sky shade .
ONLY A WOMAN,WOMANLY .
HE was not very beau t i fu l,nor was sh e very
wi s e,
No bri l l i an t sarcasm curl ed th e l i p,or fl ash
ed from dar i ng eyes
Those earn e st,qu i e t eyes reveal ed a sp i ri t fi rm and
true,
A woman,very woman ly
,was al l sh e seemed to you .
She d i d not daz z l e you wi th W it,nor s i l ence you
wi th words,
L i k e s i lver was h er gen t l e speech,i ts mus i c l i k e a
b i rd ’ s
And when she somet im es s i l en t sat,as was h er own
sweet wi l l,
That “go lden s i l ence more than word s you r wai t
i ng sou l cou ld fi l l .
She d id not s i ng l ik e N i l s son,—yet oft at even t id e
H er songs were s t i l l th e swee te s t charm arou nd the
fi res i de
ON L Y A WOIIIAN ,I/ VOM AN L Y.
For pure and tender was her vo i ce,i t s soft
siVe t oneCou ld lu re the err i ng wanderer to th i nk of fri end s
at home .
Only a woman,woman ly
,no ange l w i th bright
wi ngs,
To soar above u s i n ou r need,d i sdai n i ng earth l y
th i ngs
Ju s t w i s e enough fo r coun se l,gen t l e
,yet b rave to
Share
You r hopes,you r fears
,you r sorrows
,you r tr iumph
and your care .
THE TEMPTATION I
T al l comes back agai n IYouth wi th i t s rad iance and its
fl
dewylb loom ,
Its p l easu re, i t s sweet pa i n
Steal o ’er my sen ses l i ke a sweet perfume .
Once more I s it and d ream,
Whi l e w i s t fu l fan c i e s i n to bei ng s tart
And hopes are st i rred wh ich seem
Brigh t as once nes t l ed i n my youth fu l h eart
O nce more the ro sy flu sh
Man t l e s my cheek so long grown co l d and pal e,
Once more th rough twi l igh t ’ s hu sh
Unb idden though ts my wak i ng heart as sai l
O nce more the rad i an t l igh t,
The l ight that n ever was on sea or shore,
Retu rns to cheat my s igh t,
Whi l e reason wh i sp ers—never,n ever more
Reason,my fri end—Igreet
,
Le t thy coo l touch fal l o n m y th robb i ng brai n ,Scho o l i ng my heart to bea t
With s t ead i ed pu l s e ac ros s l i fe ’ s d us ty p la i n
LISTEN-I
A PLEA FOR THE ORPHAN’ S HOME .
HEN the to i l i ng day i s ove r,
Through the c lo s i ng shadows see
Many t i red foots t ep s pass i ng
Coming home ” to you or m e .
Warmer,brighte r grows th e fireligh t,
Eager l i t t l e faces wai t
By th e wi ndow th rough th e twi l igh t
Watch i ng fo r th e Open gate .
L i t t l e cheek s so soft and rosy
Nes t l e in a fond embrace,
Rest i ng by th e fi re s i de co sy
Ligh ter grows th e weary face .
Thank ou r God such homes are many,
Homes of love so pu re and sweet
E ’ en the ange l s bend i ng lowly,
Fee l the i r hearts wi th p l easu re beat .
Tu rn ing o ft w i th tende r p i ty
To th e many cheerl es s homes
Scatte red th rough ou r bu sy c i ty,
Where no lovi ng fath er comes,
LIS TEN ! III
.Where no wi s e and patien t moth e r
Wai t s to welcome ach i ng fee t,
Helpl es s s t i l l and wanderi ng ever
Up and down ou r no i sy s t ree t .
Lis ten to th e ange l ’ s s to ry,
As Iheard h im te l l th e tal e
Through the wakefu l n igh t so l on e ly ,Ti l l th e morn i ng s tar grew pal e
Soft.
and low as swee tes t mus i c,
Bend ing o ’er me lovi ngly,
Fathers,mothe rs
,l i s t e n k i n d ly
To th e tal e he to l d to me
Help l es s l i tt l e fe e t are s t ray i ng
Ever from th e Fath er ’ s fo l d .
Friendless little l i p s are pray i ng
She l te r u s from want and co ld .
Pl ead i ng eye s to you are tu rn i ng,
Ask i ng fo r you r he l p and care,
Starvi ng l i t t l e sou l s are yearn i ng
Woman ’ s t ender l ove to share .
I
Li tt l e hands that Shou ld be l earn i ng
Labor ’ s hon es t ga i n s to wi n
1 1 2 LISTEN /
So on the i r wages w i l l b e earn i ng
In the smoo ther walk s o f s i n
H e lpfu l hand s and h earts are n eed i ng
He lp l e s s hand s to gu ide and teach
Sore and tramp l ed hearts are b l eed i ng
Let the i r wrongs you r p i ty reach .
”
1 14“MISSION WORK .
”
And as Iwalk ed Iwondered
Why I t hat day shou ld mee t
So many ch i l d ren speed i ng
Along that homely s t ree t .Sai d I
,
“ My l i t t l e maiden,
What b ri ngs you al l th i s way,
So many hal f-c lad ch i l d ren
Th i s ch i l ly au tumn day !
Oh ! don ’ t you k now,dear lady
,
The l i t t l e mai den sa id
(The ch i l d so l i k e a p i ctu re,
With th e k erch i ef on h er h ead,
Whi l e th e happy,care l e s s women
Wen t ro l l i ng soft ly by,Fee l i ng no ch i l l i ng breez e s
,
Heedi ng no wintry sky)
There ’ s a room so warm and cheerfu l
Where th e pret ty l ad i e s meet
To work fo r we poor ch i l d ren
Who wander ’ round the s tree t !They give u s n i ce warm cloth i ng
Whi ch th ey teach u s how to make ,They l ove th e poor and fri end l es s ,Love them for J e su s ’ sak e .
‘MISSION WORK .
”
1 1 5
He loved th e l i t t l e ch i l d ren
Thes e dear,good lad i es say,
They often te l l u s of H im,
And teach u s how to pray
I’
m su re H e loves our teachers,
Who are so k i nd and good,
So pat ie nt w i th poor ch i l d ren
Who oft are rough and rude .
But do you th i nk,dear lady ,
That Santa C lau s wi l l k now
Of al l thes e fri end ly lad i es
O f me and Su s i e Snow !I th i nk he knew one Chri s tmas
,
One col d and snowy day,
Before my own dear mother d i ed
Or father wen t away .
But I qu i te forgot to te l l you
Of th e very n i ces t th i ng
How we feel so very happy
When we stand up to s i ng,
Whi l e th e mus i c p lays so sweet ly,
Whi l e th e room looks warm and brigh t
We qu i t e forget the wi n ter,
And ou r cheerl es s homes at n igh t .
“ MISSION WORK .
”
We s ing of ‘prec iou s j ewe l s,
’
Brigh t gems fo r J e su s ’ crown,
’
For even fr i end l es s ch i l d ren
The Saviou r cal l s H i s own
Ju s t now we al l are l earn i ng
A love ly Chri s tmas hymn,
But here we are,dear l a-dy,
Wi l l you come and hear u s s i ng !
1 1 8 7 EN N IE’
S TROUSSEA U.
And am id al l th i s beau ti fu l dow er
Has crep t i n my offeri ng—a book
It wi l l,l ik e the modest Spri ng flower
,
Be gratefu l fo r on ly a—l ook .
So wi th “ sweet s to th e sweet,deares t J enn i e
,
Wi th love to ou r l ovel i e s t on e,
We must shed one fond tear as we watch you
Outward -bound toward l i fe ’ s sett i ng sun .
A RECIPE .
W ri tten in Wash ington for The S unday M orning H erald .
AKE a handfu l of wri te rs—a soup con of
th i nk ers
Who,of waters P i er i an wou ld fai n seem
deep dri nk e rs,
A profe s so r o r two of the corp s sc i en t ifi c,
Who talk of Mars ’ moons wi th a j oy b ea tific
Sure no o ther savan t can s tea l ou r Hal l ’ s thunder ,And know that “ ou r l e n s is th e worl d ’ s l ates t
wo nder
A co l l ector or so who has been qu i te a rover,
(To find a rare bug one wi l l s earch the worl d over),Or
,i f Shel l s be the hobby
,wi l l ta l k you to S l umber
Of Un ivalves,b iva lves
,or valves wi thou t num ber !
Some wri ters o f vers e s who m igh t th i nk i t t reason
Shou ld one prai s e th e rhyme no r fathom the reason,
Wi tho u t “ rhyme or reason ” smooth verses give
p l easu re,
When read by sweet l i p s wh i l e res t i ng at l e i su re
On sat i n fau teu i l s i n sal ons l i t erary,
Where cu l tu re and tas te meet,to cry adm irari
1 20 A RECIPE .
A fai r dame or two wi th whom art i s a pass i o n
One or more o f th e ton to make i t th e fash ion,
With a few extra wi s e ones who sneer at l igh t
dances,
Yet s i t th ro ’ th e sma ’ hours conn i ng romances
And some,too
,alas Iwho was te m idn ight tapers
Whi l e wri t i ng soc i ety gos s i p ” fo r papers,
How bon ny M i s s Gwendo l in e dres s ed at “ th e ger
man,
Or how some superb Madame wore queen ly er
m i n e
A trave l l e r somet imes i s rece ived as a godsend,
With i tem s qu i te fre sh from the far-away world ’ s
e nd,
Thus fu rn i sh i ng top i cs for sprigh t ly d i scu ss i o n
O f Greek or of Tu rk,or the too haugh ty Russ i an .
S i nce a l l th i ngs come up that are on th e worl d ’
s
tap i s
Art,s c i ence
,or pot tery
,each make them happy
These wi s e on es i n conc lave,who se meet i ngs are
week ly,
My rec ipe s ee—wh ich I offe r qu i te meek ly .
The i ngred i en t s are found—wh i l e m ix ing be wary,
If you ’d have i n perfect i o n—A C lub Li te rary .
TO “THE STAR -SPANGLED BANNER .
W ri tten on the first “ Fourth o f July I’ follow ing the passage by Congress of “The F i fteenth Amendment .
LOAT proud ly,O beaut i fu l ban ner
,to -day I
Let each glori ou s s tar flash with tru thfs
b rightest ray .
You are t ru e to you rse l f,to you r home to th e world
,
Whi le a l l are now free where you r s tri pe s are u n
furl ed
For the ‘s tar- Spangl ed ban ner ’ i n t r iumph doth
wave
O ’er th e land of the free and th e home of the b rave .
Your fo ld s have been c l ean sed bo th by blood and
by fi re
You have draped fo r the grave,son
,brother
,and
s i reThe i r l ives they gave free ly to save you from Sh am e
Float proud ly,O banner
,they d i ed not i n vai n
For “ the star-spangl ed banner can now i ndeed wave
O ’er th e land of the free and the home of the b rave .
1 24 TO THE STAR—SPANGLED BANNER .
”
Near th e wal l s of proud Sumter you once were
hu rl ed down
And trampl ed i n dus t wi th a j eer and a frown,
A once nob l e name was thu s ta in ted wi th shame,
Whi l e pu re and un su l l i ed ou r flag floats agai n
Oh I l ong may the star-Spangl ed banner thu s wave,
Where none dare be a tyrant,none need be a S l ave .
D roop a momen t i n sadnes s o ’er Hampton ’ s c l ear
wave,
Where th e Cnnz éor/ono’ sank wi th the nobl e and
brave,
Whi l e l ong o ’e r the wreck waved you r co l o rs so t ru e
E re th ey wen t to the i r res t i n the waters so b lu e .
Float proud ly,O banner I o ’e r land and o ’e r s ea
,
For th e home of the brave i s the home of thefree .
And over th e val l eys where th ick ly are sp read
The green -curta i ned ten t s wh i ch sh e l t er ou r dead ,They s l eep from th e homes of the i r k indred afar ,They d i ed
,that you r beau ty shou ld not lo s e a s tar,
That th roughout every land,over mountai n and sea
,
You shou ld ever -b e hai l ed as the flag of the free .
And far i n th e Wes t d roop low o ’er th e grave
Where re s t s the best fr i end Of th e mas te r and S l ave
A NATION ’S BIRTHDAY .
AIR S tar-Spangled Banner.
LL hai l to th e day when our flag was u n
fu rl ed
And th e s to ry was to l d of the b i rth of a
nat i on
When our glor iou s stars fi rs t shone on the world,
As th e morn i ng s tars shon e at the dawn of
creat i on,
When fi rs t to th e l igh t,over val l ey and height
,
In i t s b eau ty and grace waved ou r bann er so b righ t
And we ’ l l ha l l ow fo rever as sacred the morn
When th e s to ry was to l d that a nat i on was born .
No hand waved i n tri umph,no Shout s ren t the a i r
,
Though grand was th e scen e when th e pu rpos e
was u ttered
The deed so momen tou s was hal l owed by prayer,
Whi l e afar o ’er th e waters war ’ s thunderi ngs mut
tered .
A NA TION’
S BIR THDA Y.
But fi rmer th ey grew -fo r daun t l e s s and tru e
Were th e m en wh o fi rs t p l edged to th e Red,White
and Blue
And freemen wi l l ha l low forever the morn
When th e s to ry w a s to ld that a nat i on was born .
N O cheek b lan ched wi th fear,for to do or to die
Was each s tern reso lve at th e Nat i on ’ s bapt i sm
Whi le fi rm was th e hand and undaunted each eye,
As th ey pou red o ’e r th e i r honor tru th ’ s ho l i es t
chri sm,
For earnes t and b rave were the men who thu s gave
Al l th e hope s th at were deares t man ’s b i rth righ t to
save !And freemen s h ou ld hal low as sacred th e mom
When the sto ry was to l d that a nat i on was born .
Long,l o n g wa s th e confl i c t and sharp was th e pain
,
Whi l e th e i r t ru s t was i n God through th e sores taffl i c t i o n
And s t i l l as fo rever i t p roved not i n vai n,
For pea ce cam e at las t w i th i ts sweet bened ict i on .
Wave p roud ly,ye stars Ibright and glori ou s s tars I
We ’ l l we l c ome th e day wi th a thou sand huzzas
For freemen forever shou l d hal low th e mornWhen th e s tory was to l d that a nat i on was born .
AN ODE .
FOR DECORAT ION DAY .
Sung at Green Lawn Cemete ry,Columbus
,O . ,
May 3 0, 1 8 7 1 .
TUNE S coz z‘S win! lz ae
,etc .
S to this spot our steps we turn,
W i th love each patrio t heart Should burn,
While nameless grave and blazoned urn
We deck w i th tender care .
The past no nobler cause c an show
For truth and righ t they dealt each blow,
And died whi le Struggl ing w i th the foe,
To leave their fame our care .
Bring flowers of rarest form and hue,
Of purest white—of tenderest blue
The sod that wraps the brave and true
Must be fa ir woman’ s care .
For that grand cause how woman prayed,
What sacrifices nobly made,
Trusting—though trembl ing and afraid
In God ’ s great love and care .
BRING FLOWERS .
Yes,Honor decks the turf that wraps thei r clay .
ROM spring to spring the long grass waves,
It—s tender green is seen by few,
The bending Sky smi les brightly down
W i th none to mark how soft i ts blue !
The robin plume s his crimson breast
H is vesper song rings swee t and clear,
Through the long day the brown thrush sings
With none to lend a l isten ing ear
Yet th is lone spot o f nameless graves
Is guarded by a na t ion ’s care,
By grateful hands its sod was la id ,And consecrated by a prayer
Formen rest here —men brave and true,
M en evermore their country’
s pride,
They gave tha t country a ll they bad
When for her trn z‘fi they fought and di ed
BRING FLOWERS . 1 3 1
And once each year a na t ion comes
To thi s lone spot of billowy green
While in fa ir woman ’ s graceful hands
A weal th. of rares t flowers i s seen .
W i th saddened eye and tender touch
They deck those graves with gentle care,While music lends her thri l l ing tone
And countless voices fi l l the air
In lofty verse theysing their pra i seAbove those heroes ’ lowly bed
,
And then to si lence and reposeThey leave aga in our honored dead .
ONE FLOWER FOR OU R SOLDIERS ’
GRAVES.
”
How sleep the brave who s ink to restW i th all thei r country ’s w ishes blest .
sweet May is here,w i th its long twi l igh t
hours
Its glad laugh ing sun sh ine, its soft weepingshowers
,
Awak ing the bu tterfly—waking the flowersTo strew o
’
er the brave .
Ah ! l ife i s so full e’en inan imate th ings
S eem to pul sate and move w i th invi s ible w ings,While the butterfly flutters, the wood-robin sings
O’
er the hush of the grave .
Oh I cover them tenderly flowers so fa ir
P our ou t yourfragrance as incense mos t rare
Stir very gen t ly,O sweet summer air
,
The grass o ’er their grave .
ON THE BALL GIVEN AT THE WHITE
HOU SE ,
”
FEB. 5 , 1 8 6 2 .
To everyth ing there i s a season,a t ime to mourn
,and a t ime to
dance . ”
ROM afar comes the sound o f a revel to-nIght,And many proud names fi l l a nation ’ s w ide
hall s,
Whi l e fair forms of beauty look radiant and bright
In the weal th of l ight shed from the mirror-decked
wal ls .
A gush of rare music i s fi ll ing the room ,
And merry fee t bound to its w i l d , W i tch ing flow,
While the soft air seems freigh ted wi th summer ’s
fume
As the flower-wrea thed wal tzers s ti l l gl ide to and
P roud mo ther, gayma iden
,oh I pause in your mirth
Is this a fi t t ime for your revel and Show,
Whi le the blood of our fa thers S t i l l mo i s te ns the earth,
And our brothers l ie st iff in the sl ee t'
and the snow !
BALL A T THE“ WHITE H OUSE .
”
3 5
Oh I come look w i th me in that cabin’s low room
,
No b'
righ t flowers”
gladden the sufferer’
s eye,
No shaded l ight steal s thro’ the chi l l and the gloom
To the pallet of straw where our sick sold iers l ie .
No woman ’ s soft hand w ipes the death-damp away
Of the dying man dreaming perchance of his home,
While the music ” he hears i s the clash o f the fray,
Or the funeral march of the low muffled drum .
The heart of the nation l ies stricken and sore,
For treason has darkened her promise so bright,And true hearts are tremb l ing on many a shore
,
Lest the star of man ’s hope should be shrouded
n ight.
Oh ! mothers and ma idens, there’ s work for us al l
Leave the feast and the dance for a happier day,S ince our country ’ s brave sons have gone forth at her
ca l l,
For their wants we should Work,for their cause we
should Pray.