diff options
Diffstat (limited to '24605.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 24605.txt | 4625 |
1 files changed, 4625 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/24605.txt b/24605.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f811e3d --- /dev/null +++ b/24605.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4625 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Gleams of Sunshine, by Joseph Horatio Chant + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Gleams of Sunshine + Optimistic Poems + + +Author: Joseph Horatio Chant + + + +Release Date: February 13, 2008 [eBook #24605] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GLEAMS OF SUNSHINE*** + + +E-text prepared by Mark C. Orton, Charles Bidwell, Beth Trapaga, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(http://www.pgdpcanada.net) + + + +GLEAMS OF SUNSHINE + +Optimistic Poems + +by + +JOSEPH HORATIO CHANT + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Rev. J. H. Chant] + + + +Printed for the Author by +William Briggs +Toronto +1915 + +Copyright, Canada, 1915 +by J. H. Chant. + + + + + + _TO + The memory of my beloved wife, + MARY MATILDA McKIM + Who, by her gentle disposition, + cheerful spirit, +sound judgment, and earnest Christian life, + not only proved herself my true + helpmate for over 46 years, + but, also, + made our home a place of constant + peace and abounding joy, + I dedicate this book._ + + J. H. C. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + +INVOCATION 7 + +FATHER OF UNIVERSAL MAN 9 + +GOD'S PLAN IS BEST 12 + +CANADA 14 + +LATE AUTUMN 18 + +FRIENDSHIP 19 + +LIFE 22 + +TO MR. RUDYARD KIPLING 23 + +MEN BELOW DECK 26 + +"OTHERS SAVE WITH FEAR" 28 + +TREAD SOFTLY 31 + +"IT WAS MY FAULT" 34 + +KEPT THE FLAG FLOATING 35 + +MARY 37 + +A WORLD REDEEMED 38 + +ALASKAN BOUNDARY SETTLEMENT 40 + +MY PRIMROSE 42 + +NIAGARA'S RAINBOW 44 + +MY SISTER NELL AND I 46 + +GATHER THE WAYSIDE FLOWERS 48 + +HIDE THEIR SCARS 50 + +"ASHAMED BUT NOT AFRAID" 52 + +DUNBAR 54 + +MARSTON MOOR 59 + +OIL THE CRICKET 62 + +THE REAL 63 + +VICTORY GAINED AND LIFE LOST 65 + +THE BAPTISM OF CLOVIS 66 + +THE WATER LILY 70 + +"HE SHALL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR" 72 + +THE TAJ OF AGRA 73 + +ENGLAND'S BRAVE SONS 78 + +QUEEN VICTORIA 80 + +SILVER TONES 83 + +GOD'S ORDER 86 + +INFLUENCE 88 + +UNDECAYING FRUIT 90 + +THE HEROES OF OUR DAY 92 + +THE BIG BEAR CREEK 94 + +THE FROST ON THE WINDOW 96 + +"WILT THOU HARASS A DRIVEN LEAF?" 98 + +A GEM 100 + +THE CLOUDS 101 + +THE MOSSES 103 + +THE GRANDEST THEME 105 + +SEPTEMBER 107 + +THE FLOWERS 111 + +THE BUD 113 + +BEAUTIFUL SKY 115 + +BUTTERCUPS AND DAISIES 116 + +THE MOSS ROSE 118 + +GOD'S CARE 120 + +MY LOT 121 + +GOD'S FOOT ON THE CRADLE 122 + +GOD'S GIFTS TO BE ENJOYED 124 + +THE HIGHEST GOAL 126 + +JOY IN THE MORNING 128 + +"HE SHALL DWELL ON HIGH" 129 + +BAG YOUR GAME 132 + +OTHERS' BURDENS 135 + +MEMORY 136 + +THE ROYAL WAY 138 + +'STABLISHED 140 + +A MEROGNOSTIC 141 + +"SALUT AUX BLESSIS" 144 + +SONNET 146 + +BROTHERHOOD 147 + +SHE DEARLY LOVED THE FLOWERS 149 + +MY PANSY PETS 151 + +LOVE BETTER THAN KNOWLEDGE 153 + +A SUFFERING GOD 155 + +THE COPY 157 + +PERFECT WORK 159 + +THE JOHNSTOWN DISASTER 160 + +EYE HATH NOT SEEN 169 + +WHAT LASTS? 171 + +IS THERE A BRIGHTER WORLD? 173 + +A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN 176 + +THE END WE SOUGHT 178 + +ASPIRATION 179 + +MY REST 180 + +"PAINT ME AS I AM, WARTS AND ALL" 182 + +"I WAS THERE" 183 + +TRUE LOVE 185 + +A TRUE MAN 186 + +MY OLD SWEETHEART 187 + + + + +Gleams of Sunshine + + + + +INVOCATION + + +_O Thou, who art the source of joy and light, + The great Revealer of the will Divine; +Thyself Divine, all nature owns Thy might, + And bows in homage at a beck of Thine, +Afford me light to guide my unskilled hand, +And by Thy Spirit all my thoughts command. + +To Thy great name I dedicate my powers, + Yielding to Thee what Thou with blood hast bought, +Resolved that Thou shalt have my days and hours, + And for Thy sake shall every work be wrought; +O deign to use me, if it be Thy will, +And my poor heart with love and gladness fill. + +If this strange impulse which I feel within + To write this book proceeds, O Lord, from Thee, +Let it not die, nor be defiled by sin, + But let the work from self and sin be free, +And prove a guide to home and bliss above, +And help to fill this warring world with love. + +The Master's touch I know it sadly lacks, + And may not please the nice artistic taste +Of some fine mind that naught but gold attracts; + Some may not count these iron-filings waste; +Like magnets, to which gold will not adhere, +May they find ore in this to bless and cheer. + +In this plain pitcher, Lord, Thy blessing pour, + That from it men their raging thirst may slake, +And when exhausted is the scanty store, + Then let the earthen vessel quickly break; +Its end is gained if Thou art glorified, +And men have learned to love the Christ who died. + +As flowers drink in the solar rays and dew, + And in return give bloom and odors sweet, +So would I to Thy Spirit's touch prove true, + And render that return which seemeth meet; +Come, dews of grace! Great Sun, illume my heart! +That I to some sad soul may joy impart._ + + + + + +FATHER OF UNIVERSAL MAN + + +Father of Universal Man, + Where'er in this wide world he roam, +Not known to thee by kith or clan, + Nor height, nor breadth of mental dome, +Nor babbling tongue, nor sounding creed, +But by his woe and common need. + +The pushing Anglo-Saxon race, + The Celts with wealth of heart and mind, +The Esquimaux of leaden face, + The Arabs whom no chain can bind, +With hardy Boers and all the rest, +Are with one common Father blest. + +And all are brothers, though at times + Our flashing swords obscure the sun. +We ring aloud our Christmas chimes, + But louder sounds the booming gun, +And brother is by brother slain, +And kindred ties are rent in twain. + +Yet Thou art true whate'er betide; + Thy heart o'er human woe doth melt; +For men of every race Christ died, + And, as a zone, Thy love would belt +All human kind from pole to pole +Into one grand, harmonious whole. + +Men war with men in every clime, + Commotions rock this earthly ball; +Our souls are covered o'er with grime-- + Sad fruits of our Adamic fall, +But grace shall triumph in the end, +And good the evil far transcend. + +Thy throne remains forever firm, + And here, amidst the strife of men, +We find with joy a heavenly germ + Which shall re-stock this world again +With fruitful plants of righteousness, +If Thou, O God, but deign to bless. + +Help us that we may not deny + Our brotherhood in hour of strife; +When swords shall from their scabbards fly, + And great the sacrifice of life, +May we in pity o'er them bend, +And help to wounded foe extend. + +If we are working out Thy plan, + Give our brave soldiers arms of steel, +And may each prove himself a man-- + To God and to his nation leal, +And never falter in the fight, +But die, if need be, for the right. + +May right prevail in this dread war, + Though we be humbled in the dust; +To fail our end is better far + Then gain it, if it be unjust, +But if our aims with Thine agree-- +We trust--and leave results with Thee. + +The world moves on; let none essay + To block it in its onward course, +Lest they like chaff be swept away + As by a supernatural force; +For laggards progress does not wait-- +Keep pace with time or bide your fate. + +May our brave foes rise in defeat + To higher form of liberty; +And Freedom's flag, as seemeth meet, + Wave over all from sea to sea; +Pushed on as by the hand of fate +To nationhood, both firm and great. + + + + +GOD'S PLAN IS BEST + + +Thy plan is best, though it may not agree + With my conceptions of my needs and rights, + And faith may fail to scale its azure heights; +Yet still I trust, and leave my cause with Thee. + +With single eye I sought to do Thy will. + I felt Thy smile and left results with Thee; + If they have failed, then that is naught to me-- +I did my part, and am Thy servant still. + +The hearts of men are in Thy mighty hand; + Naught is concealed from Thy all-searching sight; + Canst Thou not turn them to the left or right? +The raging ocean calms at Thy command. + +The aching clay may circumscribe my sphere; + Yet in confinement I may labor still + In work which harmonizes with Thy will, +And e'er rejoice to have my Master near. + +Thoughts of Thy love will yet remain with me, + And in my silent hours may shape assume, + And by their measures help to lift the gloom +Of this dark world, and bring men nearer Thee. + +Whate'er may come, I will not, Lord, complain; + My plan is Thine, I have no other choice. + In work or rest 'tis meet I should rejoice; +Contentment in my lot is blessed gain. + + + + +CANADA + + +Dear Canada, our native land, + Our love for thee grows day by day; +Our fathers left the olden strand, + O'er sea and rapids made their way, +And by their energy and skill + They laid thy firm foundation deep, +And sowed the seed o'er vale and hill + Which we, their sons, are called to reap. + +The wilderness blooms as the rose; + The old-time hardships are unknown; +And wealth in streams of commerce flows + From sea to sea--a nation grown-- +Still youthful, but with thews of steel + To throttle foes that may arise; +Yet loving touch sore hearts to heal, + And lift us nearer to the skies. + +We cannot boast as blue a sky + As smiles o'er many an Alpine plain, +Nor are our mountain peaks as high + As theirs, yet we have other gain; +Our hills are rich in yellow gold, + Our plains are broad and fertile too; +Our lakes and streams hold wealth untold, + And grander forests never grew. + +Our sky is bright to healthy eyes; + Pure ozone lades the air we breathe; +Our climate we have learned to prize; + Nor do we o'er our winters grieve; +For nature throws her ermine robe + O'er purple hills and vales as well; +No portion of this earthly globe + As gay as this, with sleigh and bell. + +But soon the winter wears away, + And plants long sheltered now are seen, +And April showers and smiling May + Soon clothe the earth in living green. +Monotony is thus unknown-- + Each season is a glad surprise, +In which God's truth and love are shown, + And hope within us never dies. + +Our sons, inured to noble toil, + Grow strong in arm and broad in mind; +Some stay at home to till the soil, + Others in various callings find +Their missions--but where'er their place + In the great drama of our day, +They, as a class, win in the race, + And the behests of Heaven obey. + +The gold of monarchy have we, + Without the useless silt and dross; +And like our cousins, all are free, + Yet we have no election boss. +No union here of Church and State, + Yet Church and State full well agree +That nations never can be great + If they refuse to bow the knee. + +We make the nation's weal or woe, + As one may shape his future life. +"God's mill," 'tis said, "grinds fine, tho' slow," + A fact lost sight of in the strife +For place and power in Church and State, + And think God cares not what we do; +But to our doubt he whispers "wait," + And time proves Him both just and true. + +From England and from sunny France + Our fathers came, long years ago; +On Abraham's plain with sword and lance + They fought as foes--gave blow for blow. +The victors and the conquered now + Recall that day with mutual pride; +To their grand destiny all bow, + And as true peers, stand side by side. + +So give me Canada before + The fairest land beneath the sky. +We stretch our arms from shore to shore + And all are free, both low and high; +An infant nation yet, 'tis true, + But strong in muscle and in nerve, +We hold our own, give all their due, + And God's great purpose humbly serve. + + + + +LATE AUTUMN + + +The fields lie bare before me now, + The fruit is gathered in, +Not even seen a grazing cow, + Nor heard the blackbird's din. +The heath is brown, and ivy pale, + The woodbine berries red, +And withered leaves borne on the gale + Sink down on peaty bed. + +At morn the fence was covered o'er + With a pale sheet of rime; +The earth was like a marble floor, + But now is turned to grime. +For Autumn rains are falling fast, + And swells the running brook; +The Indian Summer, too, is past; + For snowfall soon we look. + + + + +FRIENDSHIP + + +When presses hard my load of care, + And other friends from me depart, +I want a friend my grief to share, + With faithful speech and loving heart. + +I want a friend of noble mind, + Who loves me more than praise or pelf, +Reproves my faults with spirit kind, + And thinks of me as well as self-- + +A friend whose ear is ever closed + Against traducers' poison breath; +And, though in me be not disclosed + An equal love, yet loves till death-- + +A friend who knows my weakness well, + And ever seeks to calm my fears; +If words should fail the storm to quell, + Will soothe my fevered heart with tears-- + +A friend not moved by jealousy + Should I outrun him in life's race; +And though I doubt, still trusts in me + With loyal heart and cloudless face. + +True friendship knows both joy and grief, + The sweetest pleasure, keenest pain; +Its sharpest pangs are ever brief, + Mere flitting clouds before the rain. + +But soon the joy returns again + With bluer sky and brighter light; +The grief proves but a narrow glen + All full of flowers, though hid from sight. + +And e'en in darkness we inhale + The fragrant odors love emits; +Friendship like this can never fail-- + On love's strong throne its monarch sits. + +True friendship is of greater worth + Than words, though they were solid gold. +To all the glittering gems of earth + I it prefer, a thousandfold. + +One Friend I have who knows my heart, + And loves me with a changeless love; +I love Him, too--nor death can part + Us two, for we will love above. + +A woman's love to His is faint; + No brother cleaves as close as He; +No seraph words could ever paint + The love this Friend now bears to me. + + + + +LIFE + + +Our lives seem filled with things of little worth; + A thousand petty cares arise each day +Which bring our soaring thoughts from heaven to earth, + Reminding us that we have feet of clay; + Yet we will not from path of duty stray +If we amidst them all cleave to the right; +Nor great nor small are actions in His sight; + Through lowly vale He shows our feet the way. + +Our early dreams may not be realized; + The roseate sky now proves quite commonplace; +The constellations we so highly prized + Have vanished all--nor left the slightest trace + Of former glory in its azure face, +But high o'er all beams out the polar star +To guide us safe through rock and sandy bar; + Life is complete and its cap-stone is grace. + + + + +TO MR. RUDYARD KIPLING[1] + + +True laureate of the Anglo-Saxon race, + Whose words have won the hearts of young and old; +So free from cant, and yet replete with grace, + Or prose or verse it glows like burnished gold; +Thy muse is ever loyal to the truth, +And those who know thee best forget thy youth. + +Unbend thy bow and rest with us awhile; + Thy active mind requires a healthy brain; +Death's shadow has gone back upon the dial, + And thou art left a higher goal to gain; +The future will eclipse the brilliant past; +Fear not; thy ideal will be reached at last. + +To do the grandest work one must needs be + Endowed by Nature for the master task; +Yea more, he must possess the light to see + Those mysteries which nature seems to mask, +And this can gain but in the royal way-- +'Tis dread experience leads from gloom to-day. + +The Master saw a struggling youth, and smiled, + Pleased with his work in main; but, knowing too +His latent power, if it could be beguiled + From hiding-place, much greater work would do, +He took His servant's hand and led the way +Through vale of sorrow up to brighter day. + +By other path this height is ne'er attained, + Nor books nor schools its hidden wealth unveil. +Philosophy and art have treasures gained, + But in this quest they must forever fail-- +Experience only can the gift impart, +Bring needed light and regulate the heart. + +To solace those who grieve one must have felt + In his own heart the rending pangs of pain; +The heart that suffers not will never melt + At others' woes, though free from selfish stain; +What we have felt and seen we truly know, +And thus endowed, our tears for others flow. + +So leave thy much-loved lyre awhile unstrung + Till health again invigorate thy frame; +With brain renewed, with vigorous heart and lung + Take up thy work once more, and greater fame-- +A richer man by far than e'er before, +For thou hast treasure on the other shore. + +[Footnote 1: These lines were written directly after Mr. Kipling's +recovery from severe illness.] + + + + +MEN BELOW DECK + + +The battleship its anchor weighs, + And belches forth its thunder; +Its commodore all classes praise, + And at his victories wonder; +And well they may--for braver man + Ne'er wielded sword or sabre; +But tell me, brother, if you can, + Who did the lowly labor. + +Below the deck in engine-room, + As oilers and coal-heavers? +Amidst the smut and ghastly gloom, + Who worked the iron levers? +And thus it is in other lines; + Brave men are often hidden +"Below the deck," in shops and mines, + To higher plane unbidden. + +The men on deck the praise receive, + But meagre thanks the others; +As honest men they seldom grieve, + And envy not their brothers; +A common cause they gladly serve, + Though in a lowly station, +From path of duty never swerve-- + Loyal to God and nation. + +For when the smoke has cleared away, + And din of battle ended, +On upper deck, in bright array, + By angel bands attended, +The whole ship's crew will then appear, + From high and lowly station, +And each the words "well done" shall hear, + 'Midst shouts of acclamation. + + + + +"OTHERS SAVE WITH FEAR" + + +Some men there are who stand so straight, +So equipoised, that others' fate +Seems to depend on their behest; +And useless all our every quest +To gain perfection or renown, +Unless we touch the flowing gown +Of these high-priests, whose shadows fall +Within themselves, if fall at all. + +Others are not as straight as these, +But more like rough and gnarled trees; +But little beauty they display; +Shadows they cast across the way; +And from them men with scorning turn, +Or, if they speak, their accents burn +Like capsicum on chafed skin, +And leave a smarting wound within. + +Once noble men, when turned aside +By fleshly lust or sinful pride, +Each one becomes a broken bell +On which the angry fiends of hell +Ring out their discord, harsh and loud, +As if with demon powers endowed. +Colossal once through grace they were; +Colossal still, though cleft and bare. + +On northern rocks is often seen +The impress of some southern sheen, +The brightness of a warmer bloom, +Unknown to winter's frost and gloom. +The fossil flower of epoch fair +Has left its lasting impress there. +So in some men whose hearts are cold +You find a trace of days of old. + +While we deplore the Arctic chill, +The frigid heart, the ice-bound will, +We must admire the fossil trace, +Still seen, of early days of grace. +Hiding from sight as best we can +The traces of the fallen man, +We feast our eyes upon the fair, +Though fossil, lines that linger there. + +How to restore is our concern, +As we o'er their declensions mourn. +Can such dire ruin be repaired? +Only if God's strong arm be bared. +But we must do a brother's part, +And try to thaw the frozen heart; +Not by the fire of wrath above, +But by the melting coals of love. + +As bullets smooth are farther shot, +Because rough angles they have not, +So gentle ways and loving speech +Are sure the erring heart to reach, +While jagged deeds and words unkind, +Like pebbles rough, much friction find; +They fall before they reach the goal, +And seldom help the needy soul. + +To truth be loyal, but take a care +That with true zeal _tact_ have a share. +The lightning when it strikes the tree +Runs with the grain, as oft you see; +Those who at angling are adepts, +Choose well their bait and guard their steps; +So if you would the sinner gain, +Bait well your hook, or mark the grain. + + + + +TREAD SOFTLY + + +In the courts of truth tread softly, + Though your tread be firm and bold; +Your steps may awaken echoes, + Resounding through years untold. +The trend of the age is onward, + And you should not lag behind; +If men's minds are bound with fetters, + Perchance you may some unbind. + +Our creed, say you, needs revising, + In line with the growth of light; +Be sure you have made real progress + Before you assume the right, +By stroke of pen, to unsettle + The faith of the long ago; +For many who err in judgment + Stand fast to the truth they know. + +You bring from the mine rare jewels, + That you think the world should see; +But, perhaps, their estimation + With your own may not agree; +They may lack discrimination, + And their worth may not discern; +So polish them at your leisure, + And give the world time to learn. + +Before you dig up the old tree + That sheltered in ages past +The earth's noblest men and women + From the fury of the blast, +See that your sapling is rooted, + And no borer at its base, +And its boughs both strong and spreading, + To cover an erring race. + +Bear down on the lever gently, + Or the rock may be o'erturned! +Or, perchance, your lever shattered, + And little experience learned! +Take time to adjust your fulcrum, + Then thrust home your iron bar; +Bear down and the rock is lifted, + Is lifted without a jar. + +Your views are, perhaps, exotic-- + Young shoots from a tropic brain, +They need to be better rooted + To endure the wind and rain; +You may well admire the markings + On each graceful stem and leaf, +But if taken from the hot-house, + They will surely come to grief. + +Before they have wholly perished + They may please admiring eyes, +The old be thrown on the dunghill, + To receive your floral prize; +They adorn the porch and window, + And brighten the wayside bed, +But we waken some summer morning + To find our new treasures dead. + +'Tis better to make haste slowly, + Than to antedate your day; +The farmer waits for the sunshine, + To transmute the grass to hay. +When the fields are ripe for harvest + Fear neither the heat or rain, +But thrust in your sharpened sickle, + And gather the golden grain. + + + + +"IT WAS MY FAULT"[2] + + +Those men are deemed heroes who rush on the foe +Regardless of danger, and seek not to know + What others may do; +Stern duty demands it--why should they falter +If all they hold dear is laid on the altar, + And conscience be true? + +The greatest of all is the man who can say +When battle is over and foe gained the day, + "The fault was in me: +My plan miscarried through miscalculation; +On me rests the blame, and not on the nation: + My soldiers are free." + +In George Stewart White, and men of like mind, +Our nation can rest, for in them you will find + A true manliness; +Their failures acknowledged are failures no more; +Defeat to such men only opens the door + To future success. + +[Footnote 2: General White's words.] + + + + +KEPT THE FLAG FLOATING + + "Thank God, we have kept the flag floating."--_General White._ + + +Some men, like French, display much dash; + They boldly rush upon the foe, +Their sword-blades like the lightning flash, +As they on helm or hauberk clash; + Nor fear the foeman's blow. +We praise them for their gallant deeds; +They are the men the Empire needs. + +But true as they are those who stand + Within the fort beleaguered round; +Resources few at their command, +Their army but a feeble band, + Yet bravely hold their ground; +And o'er their blood-bespattered coats +The Union Jack in triumph floats. + +Reduced their strength through lack of food, + And fever germs on vitals preyed; +Yet they o'er trouble did not brood, +By night or day of cheerful mood; + This burden on them weighed-- +To keep the flag afloat--in brief, +Till Buller came to their relief. + +Brave White, accept our meed of praise! + We crown thee equal to the best +Of heroes of the olden days, +Whose deeds inspired the poets' lays! + We need no further quest; +But this with gratitude we note, +Thy valour kept the flag afloat! + +Valor like thine does not surprise + When we review thy noble past; +A hero is the one who tries, +Though he may not to ideal rise-- + His plan may fail at last-- +Yet is too brave to lay the blame +On others, but takes all the shame. + +"The fault was mine," thy language then, + Revealing the divinest grace +Possessed by truly noble men, +And, prophecy of triumph, when + With foe brought face to face, +The choice remains, defeat or death, +The flag will float till latest breath. + + + + +MARY + + +She brought her alabaster flask + Well-filled with precious nard; +Nor did she deem the act a task, + Nor look for great reward; +She only thought of His great love, + And felt her gift was small +For Him who left His home above + To suffer death for all. +But her blest Lord more highly prized + The loving heart that gave; +For loveless gifts are e'er despised, + Yet men oft seek to pave +The way that leads to glory land + With deeds devoid of grace; +But only those who love can stand + Approved before His face. + + + + +A WORLD REDEEMED + + +This world is but the shadow + Of the world that is to be, +A ripple on the surface + Of a deep, unfathomed sea. +God's plans are always perfect, + But long ages intervene +From the planning of the temple + To the glow upon its sheen; +But we can be co-workers + In accomplishing his plan; +For in God's purpose is a place + For every son of man. + +The germ may be developed + In a more salubrious clime, +All obstacles surmounted + In the onward march of time, +And nature's forces harnessed + Will their destiny fulfil, +And things now deemed supernal + Respond to human will; +For God has so adjusted + The laws of this earthly sphere, +That by man's help his plans unfold, + And order doth appear. + +The words of God's own prophets + Concerning these latter days +Of mighty transformations, + To our great Redeemer's praise; +When wastes shall glow in beauty, + And the savage beast be kind, +Though they have prior fulfilment + In the realm of soul and mind; +Will then be more than figure, + Though that we all count sublime; +The earth will wear its regal robes + In every land and clime. + +This life is but a sample + Of the life that is to be; +There we know the perfect lesson, + Here we learn the a--b--c; +And the life beyond is fashioned + By the thoughts and deeds of this; +Fitting it for realms of darkness, + Or for never-ending bliss; +For those alone will sorrow + Who receive His grace in vain, +But those who wrought with God will prove + That godliness is gain. + + + + +ALASKAN BOUNDARY SETTLEMENT + + +My neighbor's farm and mine lie side by side, +And nothing should our mutual trust divide; +But they who made th' original survey +Were guided by the stars, the records say, +So that the line that marks out our domain +Is indistinct, and puzzling doubts remain. + +Our farms are large, and portions near the line +With rocky soil and stunted spruce and pine, +With scarce a wigwam or a ranger's hearth, +We left untilled, and deemed of little worth; +The petals of this desert rose unfold, +When man discovers mines of yellow gold. + +"Where is the boundary line?" is now the cry. +Each stakes his claim and gives his reason why; +One sought an exit to the main highway, +The other closed the gates and gained the day +In custom duties on the shining ore, +And stores for man and beast that inland pour. + +Each claimed his own, whatever that may be, +Yet, neighbors true, we feared to disagree. +We studied maps and treaties old and new, +Yet each his own line-fence declared was true; +Then, to avoid unseemly strife, we chose +To settle our dispute as friends, not foes. + +My neighbor chose three men in his employ, +I three, at least, accepted them with joy; +Not chosen these to arbitrate our case, +But from material at command to trace, +In harmony with law, the primal line +For boundary fence, between his farm and mine. + +I _lost my case_--all but one narrow lane! +All other gates are closed, but why complain? +Diminished somewhat is my large estate, +But self-respect remains--nor place for hate; +O'er our line-fence we grasp each other's hand, +And for the right, united, ever stand. + + + + +MY PRIMROSE + + +My sweet primrose with thy open face, +And with fringe-like leaves, without a trace +Of coarseness, either in flower or stem, +Among all my plants thou art the gem. + +My lovely lilies soon disappear; +Thy bloom is constant through all the year; +In summer's heat and winter's cold, +Undimmed the light of thy floral gold. + +Or if thy color be pink, or blue, +Or white as snow, thou art ever true; +My room is bright with thy smiling eyes, +And thy fragrance rare I also prize. + +Thou hast done thy part, my little pet-- +Let me keep thy roots forever wet, +But guard with care all thy tender leaves +And growing crown, which the earth-crust heaves. + +Thou dost heaven-ward tend, aspiring high, +To kiss the stars in the vaulted sky, +And they look down from the azure blue, +My sweet primrose--they are smiling, too. + + + + +NIAGARA'S RAINBOW + + +Upon the "table-rock" I stand, + And gaze into the depths profound, +In ecstacy at sights so grand, + And deafened by the sound +Of rushing waters, as they leap +Like maddened steeds, down hillside steep. + +The falling spray my head bedews, + As gently as a vernal shower; +Or, as the Holy Ghost imbues + In consecrated hour, +The soul that inly yearns for love, +And seeks it from the throne above. + +But I see more than chasm deep, + Than falling spray and rushing tide. +Sublime, indeed, the awful leap; + The awe will long abide-- +God's _rainbow hangs in colors bright_, +A thing of beauty in my sight. + +Our cousins on the other side + And we too often disagree; +Puffed up, I fear, at times, with pride, + Each strong, and brave, and free; +But we forget the stormy past, +Our lands and hearts are linked at last. + +The "Union-Jack" hangs o'er my head, + The "Stars and Stripes" my cousin rears, +But old-time grievances are dead + For all the coming years; +As separate flags they still may wave, +But we are _one_ the world to save. + + + + +MY SISTER NELL AND I + + +We strolled down by the river side, + My sister Nell and I, +To watch the waters onward glide, + And vessels passing by. + +On Nature's floor of lovely green, + Bedecked with flowers of gold, +The purple sassafras as sheen, + Which trumpet vines enfold. + +We played our youthful games for hours, + And told our childish tales; +Adorned each brow with fragrant flowers, + And slept 'neath cooling gales. + +For I was then but nine years old, + And she was only seven; +Yet joys like ours can ne'er be told-- + They savored much of heaven. + +Close by the bank, in shady nooks, + The waxen lilies grew; +We called them fish, and with our hooks + To shore full many drew. + +With these I made a wreath for Nell. + She was so good and pure, +They seemed to suit her brow so well, + Yet could not long endure + +The heated brow and dewless air-- + The river suits them best; +But graced awhile her golden hair, + As dove would silken nest. + +Frail like the lilies, too, was Nell. + The fever's scorching blast +Swept by, and my fair flowerette fell, + And to the dust was cast. + +But now she blooms in glory land, + Close by the tree of Life; +Better to bloom at God's right hand + Than in this world of strife. + +I hope some day to meet her there, + And as in days of yore +We plucked the lilies, pure and fair, + Up there we'll gather more. + + + + +GATHER THE WAYSIDE FLOWERS + + +'Tis well to have a goal in mind, + A life-aim, high and true; +Clear as the day, and well defined, + And ever kept in view. +But God has strewn along the way + Bright flowers of every hue. +Gather the brightest while you may, + For they were meant for you. + +Heaven's joy transcends the joys of earth, + But if earth's joys be pure +They must have had a heavenly birth, + And bless while they endure; +So pluck the flower before it fades-- + Drink from the purling stream; +Nor look for sorrow's darkening shades, + But for the morning gleam. + +Life's burdens lose full half their weight + If gay our spirits be; +The rest beyond we antedate, + And serve, though ever free. +Our lamentations all will end, + Exchanged for smile and song, +And men will mark our upward trend + By joy-points all along. + +The poet wrote, "no room for mirth;" + Much less for sigh and frown. +"A vale of tears" may be this earth-- + 'Tis so to every clown. +The desert blossoms as the rose, + And joy flows everywhere; +The star of hope in brightness glows, + No room for dark despair. + +Before we reach God's heaven above, + Enjoy His heaven below; +And by the ministries of love + A Christlike nature show; +For he who lives a selfish life + Must lose the joy of this; +For highest good, vain is our strife, + If man share not our bliss. + + + + +HIDE THEIR SCARS! + + +A painter, high in worldy fame, + Was sought to reproduce by art +A likeness of the man whose name + Sent darts of anguish through the heart +Of mighty monarchs in his day; + For he by arms subdued the world. +Kingdoms and empires owned his sway + And bowed beneath his flag unfurled. + +But Alexander bore a scar, + Deep marked upon his royal brow; +To paint him thus would greatly mar + The monarch's beauty; as a slough +Would mar the beauty of a lawn, + Where queenly feet are wont to tread; +Or like the cloud at early dawn, + Which hides some glory 'neath its spread. + +To leave it out would not be true, + For Alexander bore the scar; +The painter this resolved to do, + Which would be true, yet would not mar: +To paint the monarch's head reclined, + With his fore-finger on his brow; +And thus much grace with art combined, + Like ornament on vessel's prow. + +The finger rested on the scar, + As if mere chance had placed it there; +And hid from sight this fruit of war, + And left a likeness true and fair. +So let us try, as best we can, + To cover o'er each ugly scar +Upon the brow of mortal man, + So none may see it, near nor far. + + + + +"ASHAMED, BUT NOT AFRAID" + + +O God, I am ashamed to die, + But not the least afraid; +Tho' death's dark shadow draweth nigh, + Atonement has been made + +For every member of our race, + And I on it rely, +And hope immortal blooms thro' grace; + I'm not afraid to die. + +But Thou hast done great things for me, + And I have nothing done. +To set my sin-bound spirit free, + Was sacrificed Thy Son; + +And every day by Thy kind hand + Rich blessings are bestowed; +Oh, how can I before Thee stand, + Or rest in Thine abode + +With self-respect, or feel at home + With no returns to show, +My whole life like the worthless foam + On time's incessant flow. + +Oh, that in life's great harvest field, + I may some reaping do; +Early and late the sickle wield, + And prove a reaper true. + +And when the summons comes from Thee, + While I on Christ rely, +Thou wilt not be ashamed of me, + Nor I ashamed to die. + + + + +DUNBAR + + +Up to Dunbar our Cromwell went, +Not to invade was his intent; +But they who first King Charles sold +Now turn their backs on friends of old, +And principles they then held dear +Were sacrificed for self, I fear. +Another Stuart they receive, +Who knew too well how to deceive; +The most perfidious of his race, +Corrupt in life, and void of grace, +The menial of the Papacy; +And yet content by oath to free +Himself from Holy See's control, +And covenant to save his soul +By the Scotch Presbyterian mode, +As to the crown this paved the road. +But Cromwell brooked not this control; +He wished man free to save his soul +As conscience may to him dictate, +Without subservience to the State. +He saw also thro' the disguise +Of one well versed in fraud and lies, +And saw how England's liberties +Were threatened by this scheme of his. +So up to Dunbar Cromwell went; +To break this compact his intent, +Conserve the rights of Britons true +To worship God in desk and pew +As conscience may to them dictate, +Without control of king, or state, +Or Papal "bull," or legate's rod-- +Only accountable to God. +On Sunday night he reached Dunbar. +From darkened sky gleamed not a star; +The way he travelled o'er was drear, +Made doubly so by Scotchmen's fear. +At his approach like sheep they fled, +Made frantic by an awful dread +Of red-hot irons, spear, and sword, +Of breasts thrust thro', and bodies gored, +Which they were told would be their lot +When Cromwell came. So from each cot +They bore away what pleased them best, +And to the flames consigned the rest. +But now Dunbar is reached; yet he +Finds himself in extremity; +Midst swamps and bogs unfit to tent, +By Lammermoor from hillside rent, +Leslie in front defiant stands +A noble army he commands +Of thousands two score seven, or more, +Ready on Cromwell shot to pour. +Behind the sea cut off retreat; +With such great odds can he compete? +The mountain sheep may safely tread +The Lammermoor, but men may dread +To cross this heath at any time; +Much more now, midst the rain and slime, +Will Cromwell with the smaller score +Dare to cross o'er to Dunbar shore? +Tho' shipped were half his guns and men +The foe falls ere he turn again. +With foresight keen, like one inspired, +He saw the end ere Leslie fired. +"THE LORD," said he, as rapt he stands, +"HATH GIVEN THEM INTO OUR HANDS!" +'Tis the ninth month and second day, +A wild, wet night, historians say. +Quit you like men, and bravely stand; +Death's wrestle now is close at hand; +Heed not the hoarse sea's doleful moan, +As on the cliffs its waves are thrown. +Think not of life nor kindred dear-- +Who goes to war should nothing fear +But God, whose eye-lids never sleep-- +His Israel He will safely keep. +Oh, pray! but keep your powder dry-- +Your part do, then on God rely. +Stand to your arms the whole night thro' +Or lie awake with arms in view. +And you, ye Scots, your lights blow out, +But stay not in your strong redoubt. +'Midst shocks of corn your shelter seek, +And rest in sleep; your foe is weak, +Yet ere another night comes 'round +In deeper slumber shall be found +Full many of your stalwart host, +And stilled for aye their every boast. +In Cromwell's camp all night was heard +The voice of prayer in tones which stirred +The tender hearts of "Ironside" men, +As never can be told by pen. +Ere shone the first faint streak of morn, +The Scots beneath the shocks of corn, +Stretched out full length in quiet sleep, +Hear a loud blast, and upward leap +To seize their arms and face the foe. +Too late the warning! or, too slow +Their movements when the trump was heard, +Yet rang along the lines the word +Of battle-cry by Leslie sent, +"_The Covenant! The Covenant!_" +While high and strong was Cromwell's boast, +"_The Lord of Hosts! The Lord of Hosts!_" +With master skill he struck the blow, +And when shone out the crimson glow +Of morning sun upon the sea, +Brave Leslie's men began to flee. +"_They run! Oh, I protest they run! +Let God arise! Let God arise! +And scattered be His enemies!_" +Loud Cromwell cried. _The work was done._ +Then rose from England's host a cry +Which rent the very heavens on high. +Now halt they on the battle field +And to the Lord their homage yield-- +And sing this song with hearts devout: +"_O praise the Lord, ye nations all! +Laud Him all peoples on this ball! +His mercy toward us e'er is great; +His truth and grace for sinners wait, + Let all the people shout!_" + + + + +MARSTON MOOR + + +The armies met on Marston Moor, +'Midst lightning's flash and thunder's roar; +As murky clouds sweep o'er the sky, +God's cannonade with man's will vie. +The Royalists in phalanx strong, +By fiery Rupert led along, +From Bolton's cruel massacre +Towards York, in hope to keep it free +From the Roundheads at any cost. +"If York be lost, my crown is lost"-- +Wrote Charles to this trusted chief, +And he must bring it prompt relief. +The foe's true strength he did not know, +But dazzled much by victory's glow +He hoped with ease to overthrow + The untrained volunteers; +Nor did he for brave Cromwell care, +Tho' he had asked "is Cromwell there?" + Would not his grenadiers +Scatter those yeomen to their fields, +To hold their ploughs instead of shields? +Thus confident of great success +He asked his chaplain now to bless +From God's own word their going out, +And seemed to hear the victor's shout, +While from the ranks of Roundheads rose +Triumphant hymns, ere came the blows. +Now Rupert madly dashes out, +"_God and the King!_" his battle shout; +Charges the parliamentary ranks +In centre, heedless of the flanks, +Defeats Lord Fairfax and Leven, +Scatters like leaves their untrained men. +Remorselessly he hewed them down, +And chased their leaders far from town. +But Cromwell kept his men restrained +Till Rupert thought the victory gained. +His eye was all ablaze with fire, +And burned his soul with righteous ire; +Then sharp and passionate came the cry, +"_Charge, in the name of the Most High!_" +His features now most clearly show +A strange, enthusiastic glow. +With zeal he wraps himself about, +And fires men's hearts with glance and shout. +"For God and king," is Rupert's cry. +"_For truth and peace we dare to die!_" +Shouts Cromwell, all the lines along, +Which holds as with a mighty thong +Th' immortal hosts of Puritans, +While on them fall the Royal bans. +As Roundheads, Rupert them derides; +Not Roundheads now, but _Ironsides_. +The heavens were black, the storm still raged, +As tho' with earth a war it waged, +But raged a fiercer war just then, +Not forces blind, but men with men; +For two score thousand men were there; +And booming cannon rent the air. + + +The Cavaliers were scattered wide, +Brought to the dust their haughty pride; +Across the beanfield Rupert fled, +His standard gone, his garments red; +His men by many hundreds turned +To ask for mercy, nor were spurned; +While he left all and to York sped, +Heedless of stores, or Royal dead. +To Cromwell's swords as stubble they, +And _Truth and Peace_ had gained the day. + + + + +OIL THE CRICKET + + +"Mamma, what noises do I hear? + They keep me wide awake." +"The chirping crickets, little dear; + What funny noise they make!" + +"Yes, ma, but touch their tongues with oil, + To take the squeak away; +For soon it will their voices spoil, + To squeak thus night and day." + +Well done, my little girl of three; + 'Twould tune our speaking gear +To utter sweeter melody + For your attentive ear, + +If it were oiled a little, too, + For harsh too oft its tones; +Though formed to thrill with pleasure true, + It gives forth shrieks and groans, + +Which fall discordant on the ear, + And budding pleasures spoil, +And speaking gear, likewise I fear; + So bring along the oil. + + + + +THE REAL + + +The leaf is faded, and decayed the flower, +The birds have ceased to sing in wayside bower, +The babbling brook is silenced by the cold, +And hill and vale the frost and snow enfold. +The life we see seems hasting to the tomb +Nor sun, nor star, relieves the dismal gloom; +The good man suffers with the base and vile, +And honesty and truth give place to guile. + + +Things are not always as they seem to be; +The outer surface only man may see. +The summer sleeps beneath the quilt of snow, +Behind the clouds is hid the solar glow, +The babbling brook will burst its icy bands, +And birds will sing, and trees will clap their hands. +The fallen leaf has left a bud behind, +And flowers will bloom of brightest hue and kind; +For when we look beneath the outward crust +With vision clear, and free from worldly lust, +We will behold a brighter world than this, +With less of curse and much of noble bliss; +For God's kind hand in all our conflicts here +Is clearly seen and doubts must disappear; +The end He has in view is most benign; +The fire will dross consume and gold refine. + + + + +VICTORY GAINED AND LIFE LOST + + +As fought the Paladins of old, +With gleaming swords and spirit bold, +To thwart the schemes of base Lothar, +Give France to Karl in holy war, + So would we battle for the right, + Tho' we may perish in the fight. + +Our trusty blade, not made of steel, +While wounding deep, doth also heal; +With this, and clad in Christian mail, +The hosts of sin we would assail, + To gain the world for Christ, tho' we + Should fall while shouting victory! + + + + +THE BAPTISM OF CLOVIS + + +Five hundred years have nearly passed away + Since that glad morn, when o'er fair Bethl'hem's plain +A light resplendent as the glow of day, + Shone down from heaven, and holy angels deign +To sing the sweetest song e'er heard by mortal ear, +Which fills sad hearts with joy and drives away their fear. + +Clovis, of the brave Franks, the king, and sheen, + Heard from Aurelian of a maid to wed, +Matchless in feature, and of graceful mein-- + "Zenobia, of the Alps," Aurelian said, +"The daughter of Chilperic, the Burgundian king, +Clotilda is her name; fair maids her praises sing. + +"She dwells among the Alps, in forest glade, + And by the shore of its most famous lake; +But fairer than that land is this fair maid; + And brighter than its peaks at morn's awake; +A Christian girl is she, whose heart God has renewed, +And her fine, comely mind with grace and truth embued." + +Then Clovis, by Aurelian, sent a ring + To this fair damsel, whom he hoped to wed; +She took the ring; and soon fair songsters sing + The marriage hymn, as he to altar led +This lovely Christian maid. They plight their nuptial vows; +And the old priest invoked a blessing on their brows. + +Then on her head a coronet was placed, + And she sat down by Clovis on his throne; +And never was a throne so highly graced, + Nor ever monarch felt less sad and lone; +He found in her a bride, and counsellor, as well, +And happy are the men who in her palace dwell. + +In tones of eloquence and words of power, + The wond'rous story of the cross she told; +Christ's lowly birth, pure life, and of the hour + When He, to bring us to the heavenly fold, +Bore on the cross our sins, and opened mercy's door, +Then from the dead arose to reign for evermore. + +Soon on Tolbiac's bloody field the king + Led on his troops against a mighty foe; +A foe too strong; for soon, though no weakling, + Clovis retreats--his men returned no blow; +But fled as timid sheep before a beast of prey; +The conquering Alemanni will surely win the day. + +"O king! cry on Clotilda's Christ for aid!" + Shouted Aurelian, as the monarch fled; +Then, on his helmet, Clovis his hand laid, + And lifting it, these words the monarch said: +"My gods have failed to help: O Christ, Clotilda's God, +Grant me Thy mighty aid, and I will kiss Thy rod." + +On the French pennons triumph perches now; + The foe is routed by Clotilda's God; +And Clovis wished to have upon his brow + The symbol of her faith; for 'neath the rod +Of the eternal King he bows his regal will, +And waits, with heart devout, Christ's purpose to fulfil. + +On Rheims now dawns a cloudless Christmas morn; + And flags of silk and satin grace each tower; +This is the day Clotilda's Christ was born, + And to His cause a great triumphal hour, +For see, on carpet stretched from church to palace door, +A grand procession march, of two-score priests or more! + +Remigius had led the way, and then, + Assisted by his priests, on monarch's brow, +And on the brows of full six thousand men, + As they before the holy altar bow; +The water from the font he sprinkled down like rain, +Thankful that his blest Lord so many hearts should gain. + + + + +THE WATER LILY + + +This lovely lily, so pure and white, +Seems covered o'er with celestial light; +As if it grew on the "Tree of Life," +And not down here, in this world of strife; +Too pure for earth it now seems to be; +My queenly wife, it was meant for thee. + +Its wax-like petals with graceful bend, +Drink in the sunbeams as they descend; +And lade with fragrance the heated air +As it floats around us everywhere; +And the world grows better by its advent, +This lovely lily, so kindly sent. + +It rested once on its crystal bed; +Neither wind, nor wave, occasioned dread; +Admired by all as they passed it by, +Though the contrast oft produced a sigh; +In purer soil than affords this earth +This lovely lily must have had its birth. + +Dive down in search, where the root is found; +In vain you look for the purer ground; +The root is fixed in the foulest mud; +And from it grows this pure lily bud; +While speckled frogs, and the slimy eels, +Around its roots find their daily meals. + +As lilies fair from the foul mud grow, +So oft it is with good men below; +In daily life they absorb the pure, +And the adverse elements endure; +And rise, through grace, to a higher sphere, +Their hearts in heaven, and their root down here. + +Though foul the world where they have their growth, +Unfit the soil, and the climate both, +The blood of Christ does their stains remove; +His power to keep they all daily prove; +As lilies pure are these plants of grace, +Though growing now in so foul a place. + + + + +"HE SHALL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR" + + +Every tear that dims the eye, + Or bedews the careworn cheek, +Will our God, who reigns on high, + With a hand so kind and meek, +Wipe away, nor leave a trace +Of its stain on eye or face. + +He alone life's ills can right. + Each His tender pity needs; +None are hidden from His sight; + "_Every tear_," the promise reads-- +Every tear shall cease to flow, +Cease, likewise, the cause of woe. + +O may I in Him confide + While I tread this vale of tears! +Walking closely by His side + He will dissipate my fears, +And when ends the weary strife, +May I share the tearless life! + + + + +THE TAJ OF AGRA + + +The Shah Jehan sat with his much-loved wife, + The Empress Mahal, one hot summer day, +In a cool arbor far from courtly strife, + Close by the Jumna, winding on its way. + +In silence played they long their game of chess, + But Jehan's eyes rose oft to Mahal's brow, +His ardent love he could not well repress, + Nor tried--she was his own rich jewel now. + +He stayed the game to breathe some words of love + And press her lips with lips that knew no guile, +And felt the thrill, and peace like white-winged dove + Flew down, and she repaid with loving smile. + +Then said, "What would you do if I should die?" + He paused a moment, some bright thought to woo, +And then, in solemn tone, made this reply: + "This thing, by Allah's help, I'll surely do: + +"I'll build upon the spot where we now sit + The grandest tomb a woman ever had; +All sombre tints I deem would be unfit; + For never have such tints thy bosom clad. + +"Of pure white marble shall its walls be built, + Adorned with gold, and earth's most costly gems; +Each minaret shall glow like jewelled hilt, + Sarcophagus surpass kings' diadems. + +"Then to the world it shall the truth proclaim + That Moomtaza surpassed all woman kind, +And I esteemed her more than gold or fame: + Thus cycles vast will find our names combined." + +The summer breeze now sighed among the flowers + As they play on with solemn thoughts; and sweet +As running brook passed by the pleasant hours, + And likewise passed the burning summer heat. + +And like the fading day, the Empress, too, + For scarce a year had passed ere set her sun, +But Shah Jehan, to promise ever true, + Thought of the tomb his loving wife had won. + +No common architect would he engage; + From far and near he sought with eager heart. +At last there came one Issa, gifted sage, + Whose plan pleased the great shah in whole and part. + +On the same spot where they that day had played + The game of chess, and he the promise gave, +The massive stone foundation strong was laid, + On which would rest a palace o'er her grave. + +Then Issa disappeared, but where, none knew; + Cast in the Jumna stream, by foes, some thought. +They dragged the stream, nor came the slightest clue, + And on his fate the oracles were dumb. + +The years rolled by, yet Jehan rested not, + Tho' hope, so long delayed, engendered gloom, +Content to live himself in any cot; + But no inferior hand must touch her tomb. + +Seven years had gone, when Issa came again, + And offered this excuse for his delay, +"The soil is spongy all along this glen-- + To have it settle I have stayed away. + +"I now can build on base that will not sink, + Though pierced the clouds which bend so kindly down, +'Twere fit this long delay, dost thou not think? + So chide me not nor on thy servant frown." + +Then on this base as firm as granite rock, + He built its walls as fair as falling snow, +And built them well, nor storm, nor earthquake shock + Has moved, tho' built two hundred years ago. + +For ten long years wrought twenty thousand men, + While many thousand carts the marble drew; +And proud Jehan told o'er his love again; + To love so Jacob-like the years seemed few. + +From every part of his domain they brought + Rare gems and precious stones of every hue; +Skilled hands, in form of birds and flowers inwrought + In snow-white walls, these gems the building through, + +The name of God, one hundred times save one, + On the sarcophagus, by cunning hand, +Then lined with gold ere they pronounced it done; + But then the grandest tomb in any land. + +By Titans built, it seems, as mountain high + Of pure white marble, based on pink sandstone; +In length it is a thousand feet well nigh, + Its width three hundred feet by measure shown. + +It seems a temple of the living _One_, + Though tomb to hide the dust of Jehan's queen. +It serves each purpose well--her course was run, + Returned to God, love must the dust ensheen. + +To many hearts it speaks of God and rest, + And lifts our thoughts above the things of earth; +It teaches us that love will give its best, + And then regard its gifts of little worth. + + + + +ENGLAND'S BRAVE SONS + + +The yeoman lays aside his soil-stained smock, + And from his herd selects a trusty steed, + And sallies forth to help in hour of need; + Nor dreads the battle's shock. + +The artisan from mine, or shop, or store, + Responds at duty's call without delay, + Nor stops to ask, "What will my nation pay?" + It calls--what needs he more? + +The man of law--the herald of the cross-- + The painter, skilled--he of the healing art-- + The man of trade--come each with loyal heart, + Nor calculates his loss. + +But brave as these are those of noble birth; + Genteel in manner, but with athlete frames, + They do full honor to their ancient names, + And prove by deeds their worth. + +Palatial homes have they and wealth untold; + Nor need to labor, and no cause for fret, + But deeds of noble sires they ne'er forget; + Deem honor more than gold. + +Brave lads are these on whom we may rely. + They go uncalled, content the gaps to fill, + And in their places fall, if God so will, + For they fear not to die. + +The whole Empire is loyal to the core. + From far-off East, brave Indians seek the fray, + And on French soil have clearly shown that they + Were true to flag they bore. + +Their old-time leader greets his men once more, + Bestows his parting blessing ere his death, + And praised their valor with his final breath, + Then crossed to _other_ shore. + +Our own brave youth by thousands answer call, + And in our common cause enroll their names; + With cultured minds and well-developed frames + They stand like granite wall. + +For _truth_ and _brotherhood_ all face the foe; + Themselves they cannot save, but others may. + But, live or die, they hope to win the day. + To sacrifice they go! + + + + +QUEEN VICTORIA + +A Prize Birthday Poem, 1885. + + +We do not sing of vast domain-- + Empires as vast as ours are seen, +And o'er their millions despots reign; + We sing the virtues of our Queen. + +We think of her when but a maid + The message came, "_the King is dead!_" +And at her feet a crown was laid; + In deep distress of mind, she said: + +"_In my behalf I ask your prayers._" + Then falling on her knees to pray, +She told the Lord her fears and cares, + And sought from Him strength for her day. + +He seemed to say, "_Child, do not fear; + I will uphold thee with my hand, +And I will make thy pathway clear, + Thy throne establish in the land._" + +'Twas thus began Victoria's reign, + And God has made her throne secure; +Her enemies will plot in vain, + For it is destined to endure. + +But while she sits on regal throne, + And acts full well a regal part, +She reigns not on the throne alone, + She reigns to-day in England's heart. + +Her queenly heart with pity throbs + For every suffering subject's woes; +In lowly cot, 'midst groans and sobs, + She like a ray of sunshine goes. + +As sweet perfume by outward gale + Is carried far o'er sea and land, +So queenly virtues never fail + To touch true hearts on every strand. + +In every land, her name is blest; + She is beloved by old and young; +From pole to pole, from east to west, + The song, "God save the Queen," is sung. + +Through sorrows deep her path has led, + And tender ties have sundered been; +Bright hopes were buried with her dead, + And love has kept their memory green. + +By grief secluded from the world, + Her path through lonely years she trod, +And oft her life has been imperilled; + But she has leaned upon her God. + +And as she wept a nation's tears + In heartfelt sympathy were shed; +Forgetting their own griefs and biers, + They wept beside the royal dead. + +With grateful hearts her natal day + We loyal Britons hail again, +And join with millions as they pray + "_God bless our Queen! Long may she reign!_" + +And when at last life's glories fade, + And robes of state are laid aside, +When nature's debt to dust is paid + And charms no more earth's pomp and pride, + +May angel bands her spirit bear + Up to the palace of her King, +Where she a fadeless crown shall wear, + And the new song with rapture sing. + + + + +SILVER TONES + + +A stately church by pious hands erected long ago, +Was found to lack a vesper bell, by which the poor might know +The hour of prayer, the hour of mass, and who had lately died, +The hour when gent and bonny lass, so timid at his side, +Would stand before the surpliced priest, and twain would pledge + their troth, +The hour in which the priest would vent on heretic his wrath. +The faithful then were called upon to bring from home and mine +The metal for the holy bell, which must be strong and fine. +In smelting pot of massive size they placed the needed ore; +A molten mass it soon became, but ere in mould they pour, +And thus provide a bell for God to grace His temple fair, +In crowds the people came, to see the metal glowing there. +Then as they passed, with hearts devout, each took a silver coin +And dropped it in the glowing mass--no priest did this enjoin. +They wished to show their grateful love to Him who bore their sin; +A simple form which love took on, not done God's grace to win. +Nor did they hope to win applause from priest and saintly friar; +If God were pleased they asked no more, nor more did they desire; +Nor did they deem their silver lost, though little dreamed they then +The grand result of their small gifts, which now is known to men. +Their coins were for a moment seen, like flakes of snow on sward, +And then they melted out of sight, yet, seen by their blest Lord, +They mingled with the glowing mass, and when in high church tower +The bell was hung and daily rung, all people felt its power. +Its booming tones were soft and sweet, and echoed o'er their hills +In a grand symphony of praise, subduing all their wills, +And calling forth from old and young a burst of rapturous praise. +Their gifts, though small, were not despised; God turned them into lays. +This world is one great smelting pot in which life's ore is cast, +And from it God will some day bring a bell, destined to last +And ring aloud in thunder tones wherever man is found. +Oh, may we, by kind words and deeds, give it a silver sound! +Each word though short, each deed though small, if for the Master's sake +Are said and done, like silver coin, our blessed Lord will take, +And skillfully will blend them with the coarser ore of earth, +And grander music none have heard e'er since time had its birth. +Then from this bell of silver tone will sound o'er hill and vale: +"The work men do in Jesus' name is never known to fail." + + + + +GOD'S ORDER + + +Every flower that decks the way, +Whether it be dun or gay, +Fills a place in God's great plan, +Serving Him, while pleasing man. +Every star that gilds the night +With its beams of silver light +Has its mission to fulfil, +As assigned it by God's will. + +Feathered songsters all declare +As they cleave the ambient air, +"He who made us made our lays, +Giving each a note of praise; +Each one's note, unique and sweet, +Helps to make the song complete; +Various tones, yet all agree, +Forming one grand symphony." + +So, also, does God's own hand +Fix in place each grain of sand, +Tiny though that grain may be +Hangs on it the destiny +Of a world, yea, systems whole, +As they in their orbits roll; +Should it from its globe remove, +Worlds would clash and chaos prove. + +When we reach the world of mind +Law and order still we find; +In God's purpose is a plan +For the life of every man. +Free, he may his own course choose, +Help divine through pride refuse, +But disorder will ensue-- +Life a wreck! Yet God is true. + + + + +INFLUENCE + + +In gentle showers the rain descends, + And softly falls the dew. +The dewdrop with the raindrop blends; +The tiny stream they form then wends + Its way the grasses through. + +And kindred streams with it combine + And form a rivulet; +Then on it runs like trailing vine, +Lays bare the roots of oak and pine, + And other brooks are met. + +The swelling stream meanders on, + Gives power to busy mills, +And bears huge ships its breast upon, +Gives drink to kine and lovely fawn, + And drinks up other rills. + +A lady's foot had changed its course, + And drank it dry a lamb, +Had they but sought it at its source; +But now it rushes on with force + And leaps the mighty dam. + +Thus is it with our influence here; + Each look, each word, each deed, +Is like the rain, or dewdrop clear-- +Though tiny things they now appear, + They to the ocean lead. + +As grains of sand make up the hill + Which towers above the plain, +And drops combine to swell the rill +Which helps the mighty sea to fill, + So does our influence gain. + + + + +UNDECAYING FRUIT + + +Doomed to decay are all things here; + Whate'er their form or worth, +Color and beauty disappear, + Or turn to mother earth. + +The luscious fruits which please the taste + And please the eye as well, +Sometimes reduced to rot and waste, + Ere from the tree they fell-- + +Some gathered with a gentle hand, + And stored away with care, +To serve a place in banquet grand, + Some favorite peach or pear, + +Is found diseased in skin and core, + And loathsome to the sight, +When 'tis too late to gather more, + And comes the festal night. + +So is it with all earthly joy-- + It pleases for a time, +As toy may please a growing boy, + Though costing but a dime; + +But soon he tires and asks for more, + Appropriate to his age; +So, though a man may higher soar + And greater aims engage + +His active mind, he, like the child, + Soon looks for something new. +Too oft are men by this beguiled + And fail to find the true. + +But he who goes to Christ for rest, + Finds fruit that ne'er decays. +He sups with Christ as welcome guest, + And glory crowns his days. + + + + +THE HEROES OF OUR DAY + + +Heroic deeds in every age + Command the world's esteem; +Each finds a place in history's page, + 'Midst gloom a glory beam. + +And we full oft revert to this, + To show man's true descent +From Him who is the source of bliss, + Tho' now by passions rent. + +But we need not consult the past; + The present bears this fruit: +The hero race will ever last; + The tree is sound at root. + +And never has the world excelled + The present in this line; +Our loving Lord has not withheld + From us this trait divine. + +And we should not from them withhold + The praise we feel is due +For deeds of love, and actions bold, + For spirit kind and true. + +Their worth we now should recognize, + Not chant it o'er their graves; +The hero of the past we prize, + No less the man who braves + +The dangers of the present hour, + The sneers which now are rife, +Not for the sake of earthly power, + Nor yet to save his life. + +But for the good of fellow man, + And for his Master's sake, +He shuns no cross, and fears no ban; + 'Tis these a hero make. + + + + +THE BIG BEAR CREEK + + +The waters of the Big Bear creek + Glide slowly on their way; +The western lakes they surely seek, + Which they will reach some day; + +But sluggishly they seek their end-- + They scarcely seem to move; +Yet through the fields and round each bend + Their progress daily prove. + +By debris borne upon their breast, + And strewn along each shore, +They slowly move, but never rest, + Yet turbid evermore. + +But when they reach the Johnson bend + And the Sni Chartna meet, +The turbid and the sky-blue blend-- + The union is complete. + +And soon is lost all trace of mud; + Of azure tint the whole; +With heaven's own hue the rolling flood + Has gained the long-sought goal. + +So is it with the soul renewed + While on its heaven-bound way, +With grace divine it is embued, + Yet shows the trace of clay. + +And though to rest it never halts, + Its progress is so slow; +Alas, it has too many faults, + Nor much of heavenly glow. + +But when God's sanctifying grace + Shall meet it from above, +You seek in vain for sinful trace-- + It now is full of love. + +A new impulse it then receives + Which speeds it on its way; +To it no stain of sin now cleaves-- + It seeks its perfect day. + +And as the azure stream has found + Its home in brimming lake, +So shall the soul thus heavenward bound + Of God's own joy partake. + + + + +THE FROST ON THE WINDOW + + +Feathery frost on the window-pane, +Who placed you there? "I cannot explain," +Each little feather at once replied; +"But this I know, I'm the children's pride, +As they think I fell from an angel's wing, +And coming to earth must rich blessings bring. + +"I once formed part of a lovely bay; +The sun shone out, and I turned to spray, +And rose aloft on the ambient air, +To the regions high where all is rare; +Then I mingled with my old friends again, +Who were my neighbors in the haunts of men. + +"On the blustering wind, I rode along, +Sometimes hard tossed by the tempest strong, +And then at rest, as when in the bay, +Though much enlarged, the wise savants say; +Though I cannot tell you how long my sleep, +With a chill I woke and began to weep. + +"And my ample form much smaller grew, +By the cold compressed to a drop of dew; +Then down I fell, swift as bounding deer, +And knew no more till I fell right here; +But how I became so like a feather +Is problem I can unravel never. + +"But, oh, how the sun begins to burn! +I think I must to the clouds return. +Farewell, my boy! but you must not fret; +We meet again, as we now have met, +If not as a feather, perhaps a tree, +Or whatever the Wise One may make of me." + + + + +"WILT THOU HARASS A DRIVEN LEAF?" + + +O harass not a driven leaf, + Nor stubble dry in wrath pursue; +A life so brief load not with grief, + Nor with thine arrow pierce me through. + +The fragile leaf, by tempest tost, + Is scarcely worth a passing thought; +The brook is crossed, and then is lost; + There let it lie, a thing of naught. + +The stubble dry ne'er grows again; + To golden grain it gave its sap. +It died, and then 'twas left by men + To rot betimes, or some mishap. + +Am I not like the stubble dry + And fragile leaf by tempest strewed? +Must I not die, then tell me why + A thing so frail is thus pursued? + +A voice replies: "Thy life is frail, + Much like the leaf and stubble dry; +Thy strength must fail, and as the gale + Bears them away, so must thou die; + +"But live again, in bliss, or pain; + For death to man does not end all; +Life is not vain, if thou but gain + A _home in heaven_, when I shall call! + +"To fit thy soul for endless rest, + I harass now the driven leaf, +But though sore pressed and grief distressed, + The life of sorrow will be brief. + +"And when released from suffering clay, + Thy blood-bought spirit shall arise +To endless day. Then thou shalt say, + _The ways of God are good and wise._" + + + + +A GEM + + +The gem is not this ode itself; +Hardly can it aspire so high. +Earth has its gems; but all its wealth, + +Increased by thousands, cannot buy +Man's _soul_, the gem of priceless worth, +Made in God's image at its birth; +Ordained to live for evermore; +Redeemed by blood from sin and hell; +Transformed by grace, God's love to tell; +And at His feet its homage pour. +Lordly are its endowments, too; + +Superb its destiny, if true; +Only below, said one who knew, +Unfallen angels round God's throne. +Lord, may this gem be Thine alone. + + + + +THE CLOUDS + + +A grand stairway do these clouds appear +As they heavenward rise, tier upon tier, +With clearly-marked space of blue between, +Compared with which human art looks mean. + +Do the angels tread this grand staircase, +When they come to earth to bless our race, +And lend their aid to each struggling soul +As he ascends toward the heavenly goal? + +Was this the ladder by Jacob seen, +That reached from heaven to the mattress green +On which he lay all the lonely night +Till God afforded the blessed sight, + +And made him feel, tho' an exile here, +His father's God would be ever near-- +The servant's cry would to heaven arise, +And blessings fall from the bending skies? + +But no staircase do the angels need; +They come to earth at a greater speed, +Not step by step, nor on eagle's wing, +Nor beams of light do their message bring. + +Though heaven be far beyond mortal ken, +Assisted by all the arts of men, +A moment's time and the space is passed, +And heaven's best gifts at our feet are cast. + +Not a cloud stairway, nor ladder long, +Connects this earth with the land of song; +The Saviour bends from the opening skies-- +He smiles in love, and our souls arise. + +As flakes of steel to the magnet fly, +And mists ascend to the sun on high, +So we are drawn by the cords of love +From the earth below to thrones above. + +O lift me up from my bed of clay, +To dwell with Thee in the realms of day. +If 'tis Thy will I should tarry still, +Prepare me, Lord, for Thy Holy Hill. + + + + +THE MOSSES + + +Exquisite mosses, so lovely and green, +Covering the rocks with emerald sheen; +Hiding the scars which convulsions have made; +Blessing the mound where our angel was laid; +Forming a carpet on which we may tread; +Clothing with beauty the rotten and dead; +Sheathing from storm-blasts the young forest tree-- +Beautiful mosses, examples for me. + +Trod under foot by all kinds of men; +Gracing the mountain or hid in the fen; +Never adorning the brow of the fair; +Seldom deemed worthy some corner to share +In the bouquets that are cast in the way +Princely feet tread on reception's proud day; +The glory of roses do not attain; +Beautiful mosses, ye grow not in vain. + +Answer the end by your Maker designed. +Humble your bloom, but your mission is kind. +Those will most prize you who knew you the best. +Cover me o'er when I lie down to rest; +Cover, likewise, in the marble my name, +Hiding forever that index of shame; +But tell to the world, "as life he passed through, +He covered some scars and aimed to be true." + + + + +THE GRANDEST THEME + + +The grandest theme for tongue, or pen, + Is not the heavens supernal; +Nor mighty deeds of God-like men, + Though they may be eternal; + +Nor Alpine heights, nor lovely vale, + With brooks and grazing cattle; +Nor awful roar of rushing gale, + Beyond the noise of battle; + +Nor clashing arms, nor trembling earth; + Nor heaving waves of ocean; +Nor record of a nation's birth; + Nor heaven's cloud-cars in motion. + +The grandest theme, for tongue, or pen, + Above all else in glory; +Which suits alike, all sinful men, + Is the sweet Gospel story, + +Which tells me of my Saviour's love + And infinite compassion, +Which brought Him from His throne above + To Calvary's cross and passion. + +And now the holy angels sing, + With blood-washed souls in glory, +A song which makes heaven's arches ring + About this Gospel story. + + + + +SEPTEMBER + + +The hills are clad in purple and in gold, + The ripened maize is gathered in the shock, +The frost has kissed the nuts, their shells unfold, + And fallen leaves are floating on the lock. + +The flowers their many-colored petals drop; + But seed-pods full and ripe they leave behind, +A prophecy of more abundant crop, + And proof that nature in decay is kind. + +But still the dahlia blooms, and pansies, too; + The golden-rod still rears its yellow crest. +The sumach bobs are now of crimson hue, + The luscious grape has donned its purple vest. + +The forest trees, so long arrayed in green, + Wear now a robe like Joseph's coat of old, +Brighter than that on eastern satrap seen, + Tho' clad was he in purple and fine gold. + +The woodbine twined about the giant oak + Blends with its purple-red a brighter shade. +Co-mingled thus our praises they evoke, + Tho' we know well this glory soon must fade. + +The fields are green with grass and new-sown wheat, + Tho' here and there a brown stalk may appear, +A dying rag-weed, ripened by the heat, + To reproduce an hundred-fold next year. + +The melon yellows in the kindly sun, + The peach puts on its blush like virtuous maid, +The gourd its snow-white band like brow of nun, + While flower and gum the air with fragrance lade. + +The swallows gather on the fence and wire, + Chatter a loud farewell to barn and nest, +And then on wings which never seem to tire + They fly away in southern bowers to rest. + +The thrush no longer sings its tender song + In osage thicket, or in locust hedge, +But pipes its notes the negro boys among, + On cotton plant, or Alabama sedge. + +The blackbird lingers by the flowing brook, + Or perches proudly on the shock of corn; +The lark still hovers round its meadow nook, + And soars and sings as on a vernal morn. + +The robin, too, is loth to quit the lawn + And visits yet his nest beneath the eaves; +I hear his cheering notes at early dawn-- + To part with these old friends my spirit grieves. + +But soon these feathered songsters must away, + Ere winter's frosts shall chill them thro' and thro'; +In other lands they find the summer day, + The opening flower, and the refreshing dew. + +The air, tho' chill, is not surcharged with death, + But health-inspiring germs it bears along. +We drink in vigor with our every breath, + And life appears like spring, each day a song. + +God spreads a carpet for our weary feet, + Richer than those which grace the palace floor; +The rainbow hues are in it all complete, + And tints, I think, of full a thousand more. + +God with His hands of wind for woof collects + The forest leaves, and weaves them with the grass, +With nap of richest hues the fabric decks, + And spreads it out for feet of every class. + +A haze at times may veil the smiling sky, + The sun his golden locks exchange for gray; +But soon a western blast comes sweeping by-- + The mists depart, and glory crowns the day. + +The lowing cattle roam from field to field; + No more content in narrow bounds to stay; +The ozone in the autumn air has healed + Their every ill, and lo, the dull beasts play. + +This season has its lesson each should learn-- + The fading leaf reminds us of our doom; +But whether like the stately tree, or fern, + In hope we travel onward to the tomb. + +We look not for the Winter, but the Spring, + When we shall glow in beauty from the skies; +Each now his tribute sheaf of praise should bring, + Then hear his Lord's "Well done!" O glorious prize. + + + + +THE FLOWERS + + +Some flowers are brighter far in hue + Than others by their side, +But God baptizes all with dew, + And spreads His mantle wide +To cover all for half the day, + From rays of scorching sun, +Though some may shine in colors gay, + And some in sober dun. + +And I account each one my friend, + The stately and the plain. +Diverse their hue, but not their end; + For me none bloom in vain; +For all proclaim their Maker's skill, + And point to bloom above; +In God's great plan their part fulfil, + And whisper "God is _love_." + +The fragrance lades the summer air + With health-inspiring germs, +Ascend on high as nature's prayer, + Suggesting well the terms +Of God-accepted prayer from man, + Odors of grateful praise; +For though in penitence began, + It ends in joyful lays. + + + + +THE BUD + + +The winter through I lay asleep, + Unconscious and unseen; +The howling winds disturbed me not, + Nor felt the frost tho' keen. +Thick blankets covered me about, + And kept me dry and warm, +And weeks and months passed quickly by + And I received no harm. +At last I felt uneasy in + My cosy little cot, +Tho' it was lined with softest down. + The cause I knew not what. +I struggled hard to free myself, + But struggled all in vain; +My blankets felt the strain, 'tis true, + And opened to the rain, +But just enough for me to see + The frowning sky o'erhead; +I closed my eyes, in sad affright, + And wished that I was dead. + +But soon a change came o'er my frame, + Much like electric shock; +Oh, how I longed for some rare key + With which I might unlock +My prison door, for I now felt + The breath of coming Spring, +And heard, likewise, her merry laugh, + Like silver bells its ring. +My lips were close to blanket rent, + I ceased my useless strife, +And she bent over me in love, + And kissed me into life. + + + + +BEAUTIFUL SKY + + +O beautiful sky of every hue; +Golden and purple, crimson and blue, +With some sombre lines thrown in between, +And some bright spots of emerald green. + The earth is wed to the sun it seems, +And to grace the robe of his royal bride +No pains are spared, nor a tint untried, + And thus complete it with glory gleams. + +He wields his brush as an artist now; +Lo beauty glows on the earth's fair brow! +And the lovely flowers at once arise +To match the glow of the radiant skies, + The sparkling dewdrops at morn are seen, +Close nestling among the petals rare, +Like crystal studs in a maiden's hair, + Brighter then gems which adorn a queen. + + + + +BUTTERCUPS AND DAISIES + + +Buttercups and daisies growing everywhere, +In the field of clover, on the hillside fair, +And in lovely valley, tilled with greatest care. + +Naught but weeds and rubbish, in the farmer's eyes, +Drawing off the nurture from the grain they prize, +And their great luxuriance sore their patience tries. + +But the dews of heaven give them richest bloom, +And their smiling beauty drives away our gloom; +For such little beauties surely there is room. + +In this world of sorrow flowers ne'er bloom in vain, +Though they in their blooming sap the golden grain, +And drink in the moisture of the latter rain; + +For our Heavenly Father deemed it wise and good +To diffuse this beauty with the grain for food. +And this wise arrangement He has never rued. + +Teaching us this lesson we are slow to learn; +Man lives not for eating, nor for duties stern, +But to serve God's pleasure, then to Him return. + +Room for joy is given and for purest bliss, +And we may all find them in a world like this, +If our aims are sordid all this gold we miss; + +But if we are faithful and to God inclined, +Seeing Him in nature, and of heavenly mind, +Aiming to be like Him, and by grace refined, + +We shall live forever where there is no gloom; +Though the path to glory leadeth through the tomb; +But a moment's darkness--flowers that ever bloom. + + + + +THE MOSS ROSE + + +'Tis said, long since an angel came to earth, + Sent by his Lord, to help with loving hand +A suffering one, afflicted from his birth. + The limb was healed as by divine command, +But He felt weak, for strength from Him had gone, + A sacrifice which love could not withhold; +So he sought shelter till the morning dawn, + But none received--they prized not love, but gold. + +Then 'neath a rose bush did the angel lie, + And rested well until the break of day, +When much refreshed he sought his home on high, + But ere he started on his upward way, +He said to sheltering rose, in loving voice, + "What man refused thou hast afforded me. +What is thy wish? Make known to me thy choice; + The God of love and power will grant it thee!" + +"I ask no brighter hue," the rose replied, + "Both old and young smile on me as they pass, +My buds adorn the bosom of the bride, + And hide among the locks of lovely lass; +With fragrance, too, I own myself content, + For naught on earth surpasses me in this; +But if, indeed, my Maker thee has sent + I ask but this, to consummate my bliss: + +"I feel the cold, both in my bark and bud, + When Autumn winds sweep o'er the western hill, +And frozen dewdrops oft my branches stud, + Which mar my beauty and my juices chill. +Give me an extra garb, 'tis all I lack." + "Thou hast thy wish, I shelter found in thee, +I take delight in kind to pay thee back. + Let softest moss thy extra garment be." + +Then touched the angel bark, and bud, and leaf, + And soft green moss suffused it o'er and o'er. +He lingered near it for a moment brief, + Plucked off a bud, which he to heaven bore; +And now the rose smiles at the raging storm, + Defies the wind and nipping frost as well; +Its fragrance still retains, and lovely form, + While nestling budlets this old story tell. + + + + +GOD'S CARE + + +I fear not, my Father, the tempest's loud roar, +Nor dread the huge breakers on the rock-girded shore; +Thy presence is with me, my refuge is near, +With help all-sufficient; oh, why should I fear? +Tho' billows of sorrow should roll o'er my head, +My sun sink in darkness, and joys be all dead, +Thy presence will cheer me, and spectres will flee, +For who can molest me while trusting in thee? + + + + +MY LOT + + +My lot on earth is not all mirth, + Nor is it constant gloom; +Some joys decay and fall away, + But leave much lasting bloom. +My wishes are not always met, + And cares press hard at times; +Yet joyous strains ne'er sink to fret, + Tho' dollars shrink to dimes. + +My earthly lot boasts not a cot, + No foot of land I own, +No bank account nor phosphate mount, + Nor credit for a loan; +But I can read my title clear + To mansion, robe, and crown; +I couple these with lot down here, + And sing, tho' foes may frown. + + + + +GOD'S FOOT ON THE CRADLE + + +The air is chill with the frost of doubt, + And men's hearts are sadly failing; +They do not hear the great Victor's shout; + But indulge in bitter wailing. +"The old gives place to the new," they say, + "And fond hopes are daily buried; +Our cherished views are oft borne away, + As if by the tempest hurried. + +"The world is stirred to its very heart, + And the Church shares the commotion; +With systems old, we are loathe to part, + To sail on an unknown ocean. +The world now heaves like the great sea's breast, + And rocks like an infant's cradle; +And looking up, by sore grief oppressed, + We find the sky draped in sable." + +I will not fear, though the earth should rock, + If God's foot be on the cradle; +But rest in peace midst the tempest's shock, + Rejoicing that God is able +To still the world with His mighty hand, + If His timid child should waken; +Or, if it rock, He will by me stand; + And my heart shall not be shaken. + + + + +GOD'S GIFTS TO BE ENJOYED + + +From God's all bounteous hand descend + Rare gifts in rich effusion, +And with those gifts no poisons blend, + Nor is their end delusion; +So do not spurn if He bestow + Those forms arrayed in beauty; +If thus His gifts with radiance glow, + Enjoyment is a duty. + +Come, deck your brows with leaves and flowers, + Ye fair ones, nothing fearing; +Adorn your homes and train your bowers + Nor deem this sin's appearing; +We do not fit ourselves for bliss + By scorning all adorning; +We may enjoy the good of this + And share heaven's brighter morning. + +A garment plain may have its stain, + And saintly brows lack sweetness; +But he who would heaven's glory gain + Must here acquire a meetness; +So eat and drink, rejoice and sing, + But don't forget the ending; +The bells of earth more sweetly ring + If we are heavenward tending. + +The world we use, but not abuse, + If we enjoy its beauty; +And they who all its joys refuse + Miss privilege and duty. +Then prize earth's joys, but prize much more + The bloom beyond the river; +God's gifts enjoy, but e'er adore + The ever blessed Giver. + + + + +THE HIGHEST GOAL + + +The highest goal is not success, + If that be made the aim; +But faithfulness, tho' counted less, +Is what God promises to bless: + These goals are not the same. + +And if I am to do my best + In every line of life, +My effort will be surely blest, +And I will find in toil sweet rest, + Tho' in a world of strife. + +And when before the throne I stand + To answer for the use +Of gifts received from God's own hand, +He will not then, in wrath, demand + From me some strong excuse, + +To show why I had not attained + The goal of grand success, +Such as some noted men have gained, +For if my work is not sin-stained + God will my failures bless. + +And I will hear Him say, "My son, + A throne thou hast attained; +Without applause thy race was run, +'Midst failures oft thy work was done, + _Life's highest goal is gained_." + + + + +JOY IN THE MORNING + + +The night of affliction, with its long hours of sadness, + Will soon pass away to be remembered no more; +And the weeping will end in a morning of gladness; + For no sorrow is known on the evergreen shore. + +In this world we shall have tribulation and sorrow; + 'Tis enough for the subject to be as his king; +But if we are faithful, joy will come with the morrow, + And with the blood-washed a new song shall we sing. + + + + +"HE SHALL DWELL ON HIGH" + +(Isaiah 33:16) + + +Tossed about in strange commotion +Like the surface of the ocean +When the wind, its waters lashing, +Sends great billows, roaring, dashing +O'er the breakers, which for ages +Have withstood the storms it wages, +See those clouds, so like this ocean, +How they whirl in strange commotion. + +Dust and vapor now are meeting, +Each the other wildly greeting; +As one hand another grasping, +So are these each other clasping; +Now they whirl in form fantastic +And great trees with boughs elastic +With loud moans are lowly bending, +Leaves and fruit to earth descending. + +Eyes 'most blinded, nerves all shaken, +By this fearful storm o'ertaken, +As it swept on toward the sunrise; +Yet, I chanced to lift my dim eyes +Upward, when, O sight entrancing, +I beheld, to west advancing, +Other clouds, in higher current, +Unlike earth's, so wild and errant. + +Far above the wild commotion, +Like great ships on peaceful ocean, +Floating westward, grand and steady, +Were those clouds, as if made ready, +As great cars, with grand pavilions, +To convey the ransomed millions +From this earth where storms are raging +To that land of charms engaging. + +Life on earth is a probation; +Storms fit well in this relation; +Yet, above, are peaceful regions, +Where ne'er come hell's dreaded legions. +Looking toward the things eternal, +We may rise to realms supernal, +Where earth's dust will not defile us +Nor the cunning foe beguile us. + +To this higher plain, O lift me, +Gracious Lord! ere Satan sift me, +Far above this noisy Babel; +Far above earth's clouds, all sable; +Up so far no darts can reach me, +Where the Holy Ghost will teach me; +And, in perfect peace abiding, +I will sing while heavenward riding! + + + + +BAG YOUR GAME + + +Two men, well versed in use of arms, + Set out, 'tis said, in search of game. +Each felt that hunting had its charms, + Yet widely differed they in aim. +Both felt their need of wholesome food + For present use and winter's store; +But one was of a careless mood-- + Than the day's sport he asked no more. + +No game he bagged from morn till night, + Content to show his master skill +In hitting every bird at sight, + And shooting down the deer at will. +Grand sport he deemed it, day by day, + As in the tangled forest brake +He brought the bounding stag to bay, + Or shot the wood-duck in the lake. + +As he each night to home returned + He sang the pleasure of the chase; +But had not yet the lesson learned + That he was loser in the race. +Yet, when sat in the winter's cold + And game had fled to warmer clime, +He had no stock to sell for gold, + Nor food: and past his harvest time. + +The chase the other prized as well; + But bagged his game as best he could, +And thus had lots of pelts to sell-- + For self and wife the choicest food. +In the pursuit of game a thrill + Of keenest joy shot through his heart; +But joy complete he knew not till + He went his way joy to impart. + +While he with wife and children shared + The roasted duck and venison, +He felt he as a king had fared; + And though of earth a denizen, +Such food would give both strength and cheer + To meet lifes daily toil aright, +And winter months he did not fear, + His larder filled, and prospect bright. + +The search for Truth with pleasure thrills; + To find it, we our end attain-- +Possessed, new joy the spirit fills, + And to retain is highest gain. +The pleasure of pursuit is lost + If truth itself is not secured. +O buy the truth at any cost, + And from your aim be not allured! + + + + +OTHERS' BURDENS + + +My greatest grief is not my own; + That often proves a blessing, +For in my grief God's care is shown, +And as I am not left alone, + It never proves distressing; + +But when my brother's grief I bear + The weight then seems excessive; +His heavy load I inly share, +And loaded down by double care, + My burden feels oppressive. + +Yet I remember Him who bore + The world's great load of sorrow, +And know that He on me will pour +The needed grace to bear the more, + To-day and on the morrow. + + + + +MEMORY + + +Remembrance of the past will joy impart + If in that past the conscience was supreme; +But if the soul be made an auction mart, + And thoughts and deeds be sold for what you deem +The price of virtue, then the called-up past +Will be like hooks of steel to hold thee fast. + +Or like the stings those nettles left behind + Which I so fondly handled in my play; +I deemed the friend who warned me true and kind, + And in great haste I threw the weeds away, +But soon the burning flesh reminded me +'Twere safer far from all such weeds to flee. + +The cloud that flitted o'er the saintly brow + Which now a crown of life so well adorns, +When you by ways and means you know not now, + Did what your soul with holy horror scorns, +Will stay with you long as you live on earth, +And be like gall to spoil your cup of mirth. + +The smiles of those we bless are lasting, too; + We feel their cheering glow each cloudy day. +As falls on wilted flower the healing dew, + So they refresh, and chase our gloom away; +We feel though weak we have not lived in vain, +And know God smiles tho' we cannot explain. + +The footprints on the rock time wears away; + The rock itself soon crumbles into dust; +But memories of the past have come to stay, + Nor flood, nor fire, nor the consuming rust, +Can ever from the soul the past erase. +Guard thou thy life, O man, with heavenly grace. + + + + +THE ROYAL WAY + + +Perfection ever is the price of toil. + Of marchings long, and hardships by the way, + Of burdens borne, oft in the heat of day, +'Tis then as right the victor claims the spoil. + +The world admires the wreath upon his brow, + But he alone can tell how much it cost, + And how to gain it he had all things lost. +Results men see, but not the _when_, or _how_. + +The stately elm which rears its head so high, + And spreads abroad so gracefully its boughs, + Beneath which may repose a herd of cows, +Grows under ground as well as toward the sky. + +The bridge which spans the swiftly-flowing stream + O'er which the iron horse, by night and day, + With heavy tread speeds on its busy way, +Rests not on sand, nor slender post and beam. + +Below the shifting sand, on solid rock, + The mason safely laid the buttress stone, + And labored long before his work was shown; +But he built well--his work endures each shock. + +This work takes time; we chafe at the delay + And try to gain the summit at a bound, + But find full soon our hopes dashed to the ground; +Yet there remains for all the _royal way_. + +And he who would true eminence attain + Must heed the word of Him who came to serve, + Nor from this path a single moment swerve, +If he the great reward would surely gain. + +This is the royal way--_to serve in love_-- + Servant to servants ever aim to be + Like Him who gave His life to ransom thee; +Then shalt thou sit with Him on throne above. + + + + +'STABLISHED + + +The well-built house with walls of brick, or stone, +May tremble some if struck by the cyclone; +The most established saint may trials feel, +As flint may turn the edge of finest steel. +Satanic hosts may rush in like a flood, +Allied with foes of our own flesh and blood, +The elements of earth and hell combine, +Yet tho' he trembles, stands in strength divine; +He rests secure on the unyielding rock. +The top may sway, but base feels not the shock; +His heart is fixed, nor earth nor hell can move; +They wrench not loose, but his allegiance prove. +Christ wept with Mary at her brother's grave; +Laid down His life a rebel world to save; +Tried, like ourselves, and like us too, infirm, +Yet knew no sin in either root or germ; +Let us be like Him while we sojourn here, +Then storms and earthquakes we need never fear. + + + + +A MEROGNOSTIC + + +I know in part, but know not all, + The part I know is known; +What know I not I hope with Paul + To know before the throne. +Till then where knowledge fails I trust + The truth God has revealed, +As known by me, forever must + Be like the truth concealed. + +I know God _is_, tho' hid from sight, + And know He cares for me; +In blessing me He takes delight, + And I by faith can see +His skilful hand and loving heart, + In all my life's affairs, +And feel content to know but part + If He knows all my cares. + +I know God gave His Son to die + A sacrifice for man, +And live all who on Him rely, + And meet His claims I can, +Yet I know not how in Him meet + The human and divine; +But God He is, and at His feet + I fall, and feel Him mine. + +Nor do I understand the change + The spirit wrought in me; +A work so great exceeds my range, + But I can feel and see +The inward peace, and outward trend, + And hear likewise His voice, +The outward with the inward blend, + And answer to my choice. + +I know not how mind touches mind + And thoughts spring into life; +Nor know the mystic bands which bind, + Like husband to the wife, +My loving Lord and my poor soul, + But this I know full well, +If I submit to His control + I cannot sink to hell. + +I know the world shakes to its base, + And man still wars with man, +The bane of sin rests on our race, + And Satan leads the van; +But hope exults within my breast + Tho 'darkness shrouds the sky; +God is the friend of the oppressed, + The good will never die. + +I know not why my plans should fail + When I have plan'd for God, +And on this ground my foes assail, + But I still kiss the rod, +For tho' I cannot tell the why + My heart is filled with peace; +I can on my dear Lord rely, + And wait for my release. + +I know He is both true and kind, + And has my good at heart. +His discipline will only bind + With cords which naught can part, +My heart's affections to His throne, + And fit me for my rest, +Nor do I tread life's path alone; + _He knows_, and I am blest. + + + + +"SALUT AUX BLESSIS" + + +A group of mounted officers + Ride up and fall in line; +Their gleaming swords hang at their sides, + Chevrons their arms entwine; +They bare their heads as pass along + A train of wounded men, +Their shattered comrades from the field + They ne'er may meet again. + +"_Salut aux Blessis!_" loud they cry. + The wounded soldiers hear, +And for a time forget their pain, + And swell the lusty cheer. +Thus should it be in other lines; + The men who lead the van +Should e'er accord a brother's cheer + To every wounded man. + +The "rank and file" the wounds receive; + Sometimes the leader, too; +But honest wounds none should despise; + The bearer may be true. +He stood his ground 'gainst mighty odds, + And dared the shot and shell; +So bare your heads, ye scarless ones, + And say, "_Thou hast done well!_" + + + + +SONNET + + +Each human life with mysteries is replete; + They press upon us in its early dawn, + And multiply apace as years roll on, +And at each turn we must their problems meet. +Reason is blind, and fails their end to see, + Misjudges God and gathers only woe, + And from this spring much turbid waters flow. +Only the pure in heart from doubt are free; +They read aright the writing on the wall + Which solves the problems of our earthly lot; + To them God draws aside the veil, and shows + The golden threads with which the garment glows, + And why one dwells in palace, one in cot, +And how His love is working good to all. + + + + +BROTHERHOOD + + +Is brotherhood to flesh confined? + Is there no kinship of the soul? +To have it thus, I am resigned, + If 'tis my God-appointed goal; +For there are those whom I hold dear, + Who claim with me a common sire, +That we, with one accord, revere, + And love holds out midst flood and fire. + +But is the family so small + Of which I fondly claim a part? +Is there no other I may call + A brother, and within my heart +Cherish for him, whate'er his name, + Or rank, or color, or his creed, +A love of pure and changeless flame, + And feel I render but his meed? + +Thank God for brotherhood so broad + That all the human race may share +A kinship, never yet outlawed, + Tho' types of it have been too rare. +But bigotry is doomed to die, + And hate, a relic of the past; +The golden age is drawing nigh, + And all one family at last! + + + + +SHE DEARLY LOVED THE FLOWERS + + +I saw her first when she was old, + Her form devoid of grace; +Her locks that once were yellow gold + Were white, and on her face +Were furrows deep, which told of pain, + And toil, and worldly fret, +Which all, alas, had been in vain, + But nature claimed the debt. + +Her eyes were gray and lacked in glow, + Her voice some thought was gruff, +And when excited was not slow + To use a sharp rebuff; +For she in speech was free from art; + Men feared her verbal stroke, +And yet they said, "She has a heart; + She never wears a cloak." + +Her creed, perhaps, was heterodox, + If creed she ever had. +She knew far more of pans and crocks, + But this was not her fad; +Her light, I fear, did not shine out + In pious talk and airs, +In fact I entertain a doubt + If she oft said her prayers. + +Her light, if dim, was never hid, + Yet looked not for applause; +For kindly deeds she often did, + In line with highest laws. +She lacked it may be that rare grace + Which some I know endowers, +Yet good in her I gladly trace-- + _She dearly loved the flowers._ + + + + +MY PANSY PETS + + +My pansy pets are sleeping well + Beneath their quilt of snow; +How they can breathe I cannot tell, + Nor how their rootlets grow; +But soon the snow will melt away + And April showers descend; +Then shall appear in colors gay + Each little pansy friend. + +Of pride it may not show a trace; + Of lowly mind, alway; +But will not blush to show its face + All through the lifelong day: +Its fragrance other flowers surpass, + In form more stately, too. +But when you see my pets in mass, + Thank God they ever grew. + +For though the human face may frown, + Or show a heart of guile, +My pansy pets as you look down + Will look at you and smile; +Nor will they murmur if you should + Pluck off their brightest bloom; +Their mission is to do us good, + And smile away our gloom. + + + + +LOVE BETTER THAN KNOWLEDGE + + +O Thou Eternal One, look down + Upon an erring child of earth; +Thy handiwork with knowledge crown, + Or life will seem of little worth; +By Thine own light illume my way, +And turn this darkness into day. + +I hear a whisper in my heart-- + "Than knowledge, better far is love; +Thy knowledge here is but in part, + The perfect waits for Thee above: +Walk now by faith, and leave to me +The things now wrap'd in mystery." + +Weighed down with mysteries profound + I lean upon Thy loving breast; +The great unknown still girts me round, + But Thou art mine, and here I rest; +Unsolved the mysteries remain; +But they no longer give me pain. + +My finite mind may never grasp + The thought of Thy immensity; +But I Thy hand more firmly clasp-- + To feel Thee near suffices me; +For Thou art knowledge, power, and love, +The same in earth and heaven above. + + + + +A SUFFERING GOD + + +Man is like God in miniature, + When he is at his best; +His motives and impulses pure, + His heart and will at rest; +No conflict in himself is felt, + His light no earthly beam, +While love encircles like a belt, + And conscience is supreme. + +As thus endowed a creature may + The keenest sufferings feel; +Not such as rack the frame of clay, + Which art of man may heal; +But pain untold at others' woes, + And deadly blight of sin, +Which right and virtue overthrows, + And blackens all within. + +And may not God have suffered much + Ere reached the gory cross? +Did not our woe the God-heart touch? + Did He not feel our loss? +The "Man of Sorrows" we adore, + And own His sufferings real; +But suffered He as God before; + For God can sorrow feel. + + + + +THE COPY + + +Looking o'er this written page, + Many blurs and blots are seen; +Crooked strokes, at every stage-- + Oh, that it again were clean, +As at first I found it, when +I defiled it with my pen! + +Gladly would I all erase; + But along the lines of blue +You could still the failure trace + In the paper's darkened hue; +Though the words could not be seen, +You could trace where they had been. + +I will try to do my best, + Though my ideal be not gained; +On the Master's scrip shall rest + Eager eyes, till is attained +Some resemblance to His hand; +If no more I can command. + +Like my life, this written sheet, + So unlike the pattern given; +Crooked strokes, I oft repeat; + Oh, that from it could be riven +All the blurs and blots of sin; +All the self that's found within. + +_I_ can not the past erase. + _Christ_ shall blot the crooked out, +Leaving not the slightest trace + Of my sin, the lines about; +And will give me grace to write +Pages pleasing in His sight. + +I will try to do my best, + As He gives me strength and light, +Leaving with Him all the rest; + He will keep life's pages white; +And the copy shall be shown +Perfected, before His throne. + + + + +PERFECT WORK + + +An artist skilled beyond the sons of men + With pleasure scanned the pictures on the wall, +Rare works of art, each one pronounced a gem, + The product of his hand, both great and small; +Each filled its place in the designer's plan; +Conceived in full before the work began. + +Pleased was the artist with results as shown; + But his ideal was not as yet attained; +It needed this, as palace needs a throne, + But _throne_ a _king_--then is perfection gained, +When his great masterpiece hangs in its place, +And the great artist looks in his own face. + + + + +THE JOHNSTOWN DISASTER, 1889 + + +Look down, ye Alleghenies, into the Conemaugh vale, +And see the rising waters, and hear the bitter wail; +The swollen streams now empty their contents in the lake, +The waters rise to kiss the skies and walls of granite shake. + +Oh, hear that awful booming; the dam has given way! +An avalanche of water God's hand alone can stay! +Oh, leap, ye hills, before it and keep this torrent back, +Or devastated towns and homes will mark its onward track! + +Look down, ye Alleghenies, upon this vale of woe; +Ten thousand corpses at your base their soulless faces show; +Some hid beneath the debris, some covered o'er with slime, +Their spirits fled to meet their God, beyond the shores of time. +The aged sire and lassie; the careworn mother, too, +With her strong son, whom she had hoped would guard life's journey thro', +Are lying there together, the old and young alike; +Their plans and purposes cut off, no power to love or strike. + +Bow down, ye Alleghenies, and weep o'er thousands slain, +Who yesterday were all intent this present world to gain. +Their active brain is sleeping, their busy hands are still, +Bright hopes are blasted in an hour, ambitions cease to thrill; +Their mansions, with their bodies, the flood has borne away-- +The rich and poor together rest till resurrection day. + +Now leap for joy, ye mountains, for all is not in vain! +For as it was in Noah's flood, it ever will remain! +God cares for those who love Him; He holds them in His hand, +And wind and wave obey His will, and rest at His command; +Some sank beneath the freshet, and now with others lie, +But God prepared another ark to bear their souls on high. + +See, floating with the wreckage, borne onward by the tide, +A loving mother with her babe close sheltered at her side; +One hand has grasped a rafter, the other guards her child; +Oh, how she pleads with God and man in accents loud and wild! +Men hear but give no answer, no human hand can save; +Her voice, alas, is hushed in death by the relentless wave; + +But God has heard her pleading, and now His angel bears +Their deathless souls to dwell with Him, where free from toils and cares, +Her voice rings out in gladness the notes of that blest psalm +The prophet heard the elders sing, of "Moses and the Lamb." + +And see this lovely maiden, a mother's hope and pride, +The sunbeam of a Christian home, and the affianced bride +Of one who loved her dearly, and loved her not in vain, +For he had won a loyal heart, and hand without a stain; +But he lies 'neath the billows, and she will join him soon. +Hark! hark! she sings in accents sweet, to old familiar tune! + "_Jesus, lover of my soul, + Let me to Thy bosom fly_," etc. + +Her prayer, also, is answered, for see, the roof is bare! +The current swept the slippery raft, the maiden is not there! +An angel band descended, her lover led the way, +And now she joins her loved and lost in realms of endless day! + +Look down, ye Alleghenies, from your colossal heights, +And witness an heroic deed, bright gleam 'midst horrid sights. +See, _Periton_ has mounted his famous large bay steed, +And flies, not to the mountains, but at his greatest speed +He gallops down the valley, to warn of pending fate, +And cries aloud, "Flee for your lives! flee, ere it be too late! +The Conemaugh dam is broken, destruction comes apace! +Leave all and to the mountains flee; leave all and win the race!" + +Each creek becomes a river, each pool a little sea, +The tidal wave comes rushing on, men know not where to flee, +But on he rides, still shouting, as angels did of old, +"Flee! Flee ye to the mountain! Flee! forsake your homes and gold!" + +His horse now shares his spirit, and leaps each swollen stream. +With panting flanks and nostrils wide, and breath like scalding steam, +He dashes down the roadway, and fairly seems to fly, +Obedient to his rider's rein, resolved to do or die. + +Some heed our hero's warning. See, toward the hills they fly! +Will _Periton_ now turn aside, or like a hero die? +Straight on he goes, brave fellow; to turn aside he scorned, +His life he deems of little worth if other men be warned. + +We honor those brave soldiers, who scaled the rampart height, +To plant the standard of their queen in the defence of right, +The fire was hot before them, and bursting shells o'erhead, +Yet on they pressed, till bullet-pierced they fell--our honored dead; +But he, I hold, was braver, who ran his race alone, +No comrade's cheer to urge him on, no bugle blast was blown, +Nor grand review to follow if he should win the day; +But thoughts of self were all too weak his onward course to stay. + +Spur up your steed, brave fellow--the flood is at his heels! +Too late! the waves now gird him round; the gallant rider reels; +Entombed beneath the debris his warning voice is stilled, +But he, I trust, ran not in vain; his mission is fulfilled. + +Like Jesus, he saved others, yet _would_ not save himself; +The plaudits of the world sought not, but scorned its praise and pelf. +He still sat in the saddle, and held the guiding rein, +Yet wind and wave awoke him not, and thunders roared in vain. +His spirit had ascended, death set the hero free, +And God shall say in His great day, "_Thou didst it unto Me!_" + +Look down, ye Alleghenies, with ever-darkening frown, +Upon the selfishness which caused the ruin of Johnstown. +A reservoir was fashioned, of full three miles in length, +An inland lake, kept back by dam of insufficient strength; +No mills were driven by it; no water-works supplied; +A few rich men, for selfish sport, claimed all these waters wide. + +They rode upon its surface in skiff, and bark canoe, +Shot grouse and duck, caught fish and eel, and held their title true; +For other people's safety took not a single thought-- +Ten thousand lives were less to them than fish thus daily caught. +The dam revealed its weakness by frequent leaks, but they +Turned not aside to strengthen it till came the fateful day; +But God, who rules the nations, to whom all bow the knee, +Will say to them on judgment day, "_Ye did it not to Me._" + + + + +EYE HATH NOT SEEN + + +Somewhere in the realms supernal + Is a home prepared for me, +Where my joys shall be eternal, + And my spirit ever free; + Mortal vision helps not here, +God conceals it from my sight, +By effulgent beams of light; + Oh that He would bring it near! + +But I hear a voice say, softly, + "Be content to leave it so, +For God's thoughts are far too lofty + For a man like thee to know; + Human spirits must be free +From their tenements of clay, +Ere they bear that full-orbed day, + Bide thy time and thou shalt see." + +I cannot draw back the curtain + That conceals the glory land, +Yet my hope is sure and certain, + For the tracings of God's hand + On the outside do appear, +Like the cherubim of old, +Wrought in needle-work and gold, + Bringing all the glory near. + +He who made the lovely flowers + Which adorn both shrub and tree, +Climbing vine, and shady bowers, + In this beauty speaks to me: + 'Tis the curtain of His tent, +Hiding much, yet much reveals, +Type of the Elysian fields; + Glory streams thro' woof and rent. + + + + +WHAT LASTS? + + +The words we speak on the empty air, +Are never lost, but recorded there; +The process we may not comprehend, +Nor how the words with the air may blend, +But science shows what results may be; +Accept the fact, is enough for me. + +The waves of sound may have died away +As ripples faint on a sheltered bay; +But though now faint will be heard again, +By God, ourselves, and the sons of men. +As sound e'en now may be multiplied; +The faintest moan like the roaring tide; +The housefly's tread with its tiny feet +Like tramp of horse on the stone-paved street. + +So, though now faint, will those voices be, +When Christ shall come in His majesty; +Our quicken'd sense will the echo hear, +Like blast of horn to the timid deer. + +In pleasant tones will the echoes be, +Of words of love and of happy glee, +Which we address to the friends we love, +Or offer up to our Lord above. + +But, unlike those, all the echoes heard, +Of angry tones, and each sword-like word; +As we here mete to our fellow men, +The Judge shall mete in full measure then. + +The thoughts we think may be lasting, too, +Though not inscribed on the azure blue; +On the tissued walls of the soul's great dome, +May be found those thoughts ne'er more to roam. +And like our thoughts, may we not become +The thought we think, be ourselves the sum? +May thoughts of God on my heart be graved, +And I be known as a _sinner saved_. + + + + +IS THERE A BRIGHTER WORLD? + + +Beneath the surface of a shallow lake, + Where grasses rank and mammoth rushes grow, +And playful fish their bright fins nimbly shake, + Or madly chase each other to and fro, +The larva of the dragon-fly submerged, + In family large, had taken their abode, +And tho' the waves around them daily surged, + Upon the bending grass they safely rode. + +Content were they with life as there enjoyed; + To brighter world they never had aspired, +Had they not felt unfilled an aching void, + And heard a whisper of a life attired +In sapphire robes, 'midst gleams of golden light, + Above their present world, so dank and chill, +Where all day long they wing their happy flight + From roses sweet to lovely daffodil. + +But some essayed to doubt if it were so. + Who ever had returned to make it known? +One volunteered that he would upward go, + To bring report; but he was not full grown, +And fainted when he reached the surface air, + And falling, round a reed his form he curled, +Then cried, "Delusion! I have been up there. + And could not find a trace of brighter world." + +Yet others could not still the voice within, + Nor disregard tradition's hopeful tale. +They called a council; but it caused some din, + And all their efforts seemed at first to fail, +Till one wise head suggested this compact, + Expressed, no doubt, in dragon larva lore; +That if that brighter life were actual fact, + And all who rose in golden sunshine soar, + +Each must return to tell the joyful tale, + And o'er the waters shake his sapphire wings, +So all may see, and their bright comrade hail, + And talk about the tidings which he brings. +Now each returns, clad in his bright array; + Skims o'er the grassy lake with gauze-like wings, +Attracts their notice by his plumage gay, + And they collect to hear the news he brings. + +Then, holding fast, he buzzes out his song, + And seeks to woo them to a brighter world. +And he succeeds; for see, the larva strong + Climb up the grass, and soon in light enfurled, +They wait the growth of wings, then burst their shells, + Shake loose the gauzy folds, and soar away; +But soon come back again their joy to tell, + And help their brothers to a brighter day. + +Perhaps our loved ones do not always stay + In far-off heaven, and leave their comrades lone; +Tho' yet unseen, may hover round our way, + And see our toil, and hear our daily moan; +And tho' we cannot see their lovely forms, + Nor hear full well the whispers of their voice, +May shield us oft in life's tempestuous storms, + And when we victories gain, with us rejoice. + +They whisper _thoughts_, perhaps, if not word sounds, + And help to waken longings for our rest; +And thus allure our hearts beyond earth's bounds + To joy and home, upon our Saviour's breast. + +O may I heed the whispers which they bring, + And seek the grace which will my heart prepare +To climb from earth and take on angel wing, + Then soar aloft, to find my home up _there_! + + + + +A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN + + +As the caged eagle neared the mountain range, + O'er which he oft had soared on pinions strong, +He clapped his wings, moved by some impulse strange, + And then fell dead his prison floor along. + +So Moses stood on Pisgah's heights alone, + With sight undimmed, and unabated strength; +He gazed with rapture on the vision shown, + Of the fair land in all its breadth and length; + +He saw the vale of Eschol clad with vine, + Mount Libbanus adorned with lordly trees, +Gilead and Achor, with their lowing kine, + And verdant Sharon swept by the sea breeze; + +He saw the spot where Jacob's ladder stood, + The oaks at Mamre where their father prayed, +Saw Bashan with its pastures and its wood, + And the rude cave where Abram Sarah laid. + +Saw the whole land--its hills and vales and streams, + Its lakes and pools, its vineyards and its groves, +A wealth and glory far beyond his dreams; + Better, it seemed, than all earth's treasure troves. + +God then revealed a glimpse of His own face, + Which Moses once desired, but God withheld, +But finished now the God-ordained race, + The battle fought, and every passion quelled. + +As he beholds the glory of his Lord, + And looks within the pearly gates ajar, +Snaps, in an instant, life's frail brittle cord, + And he is where the holy angels are. + +So is it, likewise, with most dying saints; + They see e'en here the beatific sight; +The spirit then breaks thro' this world's restraints, + And enters into heaven's effulgent light. + +Not sorrow snaps the silver cord, but joy; + Not woe, but bliss, expands the golden bowl. +The pitcher breaks when free from earth's alloy, + And fails the wheel when heaven has filled the soul. + + + + +THE END WE SOUGHT + + +The end we sought is not attained, + But wisdom has been won, +And thus a higher goal is gained. +_That_ like the moon has sadly waned, + While _this_ shines as the sun. + +A shorter route to India's strand + Columbus failed to find. +That was an object truly grand, +But in the wealth of this fair land + Grandeur and good combine. + + + + +ASPIRATION + + +I stand to-day on higher ground + Than ever reached before, +Yet from this summit I have found, + Outlined full many more, +Which seem to pierce the vaulted sky, + And prove my effort vain +But God will set my feet on high, + Thro' grace I shall attain. + +Yet higher still my ideal stands, + Its peak but dimly seen, +But hope impels, and love commands, + And faith discerns its sheen; +And when I reach its shining height + Heaven's gate will open wide; +I'll see the beatific sight, + And rest at Jesus' side. + + + + +MY REST + + +I would not cherish a wish or thought + Displeasing, Lord, to Thee; +Thy will is good, and with wisdom fraught, + And that suffices me. +I cannot alter a plan of Thine, + And would not if I could; +I acquiesce in the will divine, + And find my highest good. + +At times my vessel drifts near the shore, + And the beacon lights expire, +The surf-capped waves swell more and more, + And threaten with ruin dire; +But only the surface sea is rough; + The ocean's depths are calm, +And a star affords me light enough, + The Star of Bethlehem. + +And by its light I discern the sand + And rocks along the coast, +And turn away toward a fairer land, + And standing at my post, +I guide my bark thro' the tempest wild, + Borne on by wind and tide, +Till God receives His weak, erring child, + And shelters near His side. + +"Lo, I come, O Lord, to do Thy will!" + Shines from my star divine, +And my heart cries out, "In me fulfill + Also, Thy wise design." +I would not alter a plan of thine + If I the power possessed; +My will is lost in the will divine, + 'Tis here I find my rest. + + + + +"PAINT ME AS I AM, WARTS AND ALL"--_Cromwell_. + + +Brave soul, 'twere well if all the same would say, +And artists aim their patron's wish t'obey. +What signifies a wart, or e'en a scar? +Leave both, skilled hand, and paint us as we are. +The crowfeet paint, the wrinkles on the brow, +The hollow cheek, the form inclined to bow, +The tear-dim'd eye, the hair well streaked with gray, +The hardened hand, begrim'd with soot and clay, +And if you use the seer's revealing glass, +Remember this, "_All flesh is as the grass._" + + + + +"I WAS THERE" + + +When the French soldier from the field returned, + Begrimed with smoke and blood, he felt content, +As from Napoleon he this fact had learned, + That thro' his marshall, medals would be sent, +The name of battlefield each one would bear, +And, also, in large letters, "_I was there._" + +In others' triumphs we may well rejoice, + If in their triumphs good to us redounds; +But in the glory we can have no choice, + And our rejoicings are but empty sounds. +If you would in the victor's glory share, +Be then prepared to add this, "_I was there!_" + +The victor's joy belongs to him alone; + He stood his ground 'midst storms of shot and shell; +Thro' his brave stand the foe has been o'erthrown, + And he alone the victor's tale can tell. +He now lies down to die 'neath glory's glare, +For he can say to others, "_I was there!_" + +Not in some neutral nook must we remain; + The battle rages, we must share the strife; +The world, once lost, we must for Christ regain, + And each lay hold upon eternal life. +Who share His conflicts will His glory share; +Then looking down to earth say, "_I was there!_" + +Those who before the throne are robed in white, + Passed thro' the conflict and the foe o'ercame; +Boldly they stood as champions for the right, + And thus have won thro' grace enduring fame, +And when the roll is called, each will declare, +"_Here am I, Lord, I fought for Thee down there!_" + + + + +TRUE LOVE + + +He loves not much who loves not honor more; + If men lack this then love must lack as well; + If this possessed no tongue love's depths can tell; +The heart an ocean filled from shore to shore. + +Seeing in him the possibility + Of likeness to the great and Blessed One; + It may be even now in him begun. +I love him much for what I hope to be, + +And show my love by yielding him his due; + For sentimental love is ever vain, + It cannot peace, much less heaven's favor gain; +But those who love in deed are blessed and true. + + + + +A TRUE MAN + + +With purpose strong to do or die, + The race of life he ran, +With love supreme to God on high, + And equal love to man. + +Some flaws the earthen vessel marred, + Which all could clearly see; +Within was found the precious nard; + From guile his heart was free. + +In motive e'er is found the sin; + Let that to God be true, +And he the Judge's smile will win, + And man's approval too. + + + + +MY OLD SWEETHEART + + +My old sweetheart is away to-day; + I feel as I did of old, +In my courting days, when far away + I yearned for her more than gold. + +I thought of her handsome, smiling face, + Her noble and cultured brow, +Of her gentle ways, and charming grace; + I missed her less then than now. + +Through the long years of our wedded life, + Now nearly a full two score, +She has proved herself a loving wife, + And a sweetheart evermore. + +Our love has grown with the flight of time, + As the mountain stream may grow; +Or as a tree in a genial clime + When free from the frost and snow. + +The tempest may madly rage without, + We have lasting peace within; +And confidence ne'er gives place to doubt, + Nor concord to noisy din. + +She will soon return again to me, + From her visit in the West, +And the dear face that I long to see + Will be nestling on my breast. + +And I will feel as in olden time, + With a love not dreamed of then; +No happier man in any clime + Is known to the sons of men. + +And when we part at the silent tomb, + 'Twill be but a passing day +Before we meet where there is no gloom, + And sweethearts forever stay. + + +Full forty-six years of wedded life, + Enjoyed with my sweetheart here; +They were happy years, devoid of strife, + And full of Christian cheer; +Then her Master called her spirit home, +And I am left to walk alone. + +Ere long my journey, too, will end, + And my spirit to God arise; +Perhaps he may my sweetheart send + To escort me to the skies; +And there with our Saviour we shall be, +Yet sweethearts still through eternity. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GLEAMS OF SUNSHINE*** + + +******* This file should be named 24605.txt or 24605.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/0/24605 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |