953 UC-NRLF 35 AGRICOLA An Idyl By MARCUS ELAKEY^ALLMOND A M.. LL.D. University of Virginia Author of "Eatelle" "Estelle and other Poems" "Fairfax My Lord" "Outline of Latin Syntax" JOHN P. MORTON CO. Louisville, Ky. 1885 Mien E. Allmond 1316 So. West lake Avo. Los Angolas 6, Calif. 75-3 An Easter-tide - T t\vas years ago, The sunlight shone upon the earth, The green grass took a greener hue, The young leaves gladdened at their birth, The bird sang on the bush and tree, The flowers timidly looked forth And smiled because she did not see The icy foot-prints o the North. The Easter bells, in low sweet tones, Rang out within the Village near, And fell a welcome message on Pull many an eager list ning ear. The Village folk in simple wise The old and young, the rich and poor With all the neighb ring farm folk came, Their risen Saviour to adore. For aged parents laid to r est For children who had shunned earth s strife Each stricken couple read, "I am The Resurrection and the Life," In faith believing, their response Was fresh and sweet, and pure and true In faith believing, man and wife A richer consolation knew. The widow, in her weeds of woe With features still with suffering rife, Bent low her brow, and read, "I am The Resurrection and the Life," The orphans and their father stood Bereft of mother and of wife, And each responding read, "I am The Resurrection and the Life." And one there was whose jewels shone Amid her silks and laces fine, Whose form v/as as a sylph s for grace, Whose features were almost divine; She bowed with all the country-folk But still the city s wonted air Disclosed itself in all she did, And told her rearing unaware . And there within a neighb ring pew A stalwart form and noble brow, An honest-hearted reverent man Met each response with humble bow, And thus in measure as complete As beats the drum unto the fife, From pews apart they read, "I am The Resurrection and the life." M250521 -i- A Her tones were sweet, her eyes looked up, And her fair beauty cast its spell: His heart began to whisper words His better judgment thought not well. For she was child of love and wealth, And he the son of honest toil, Whose legacy was but his health And some small gift of God s good soil. She rode the boulevards in silk, He walked the fields all ill hedight. She knew the slumb rous couch of ease, And he to labor morn and night, But days went by, and then they met. And, having met, would meet again, The ecstacy of his delight Foreran the ecstacy of pain. For ohl to meet and merely meet, And oh! to go and leave unsaid The one dear thing that you would say - This is a fate you well may dread. At length for old acquaintance sake They walked unto a neighb ring hill; The landscape lay a charming scene, So fresh, so beautiful, and still* She spoke of God s sweet realms of peace, And gladdened at the noble thought, "Rich is the heart that bows to Him, And learns the lessons He has taught." He stood amazed, this child of wealth, This fondling of the city s best, In all the ways of fashion dressed, What: she, as he, an humble man Who labored for his daily bread, Could feel the touch of God s sweet peace And bow to Him her jeweled head; It was a revelation grand; Here was a common ground where he Might meet her, and, in meeting, feel Himself the freest of the free; For ohl the country far and wide, The brook, the meadow, and the wood, Spoke volumes of the Master s love, That goes about still doing good. And as he told her what he saw In all those wondrous scenes that lay In skies above, or earth beneath, Her eyes would glow at what he d say, And then in turn she took the theme Of that late life that she had spent Amid the social circle s round, With its wild feverish discontent. -2- , Chi she had often sighed, she said| For one sweet breath of God ! s good truth, For one dear heart whose wealth was but Its trust in God and laughing youth; "Strength, manhood, faith, in God and man, Love leal and tender unto me, My woman ! s heart would not exchange For any other legacy. To work at good, and wait for time To bring the harvest v/hen he can - This is the calling and the mark Of what I deem a real man." The sunlight on her diamonds shone, The golden brooch gleamed on her breast; More rich than gold or diamonds then Her woman s soul stood there confessed. The beauty of the face is well, And glads the heart in wondrous wise, But beauty of the soul will make That beauty Love s far nobler prize. Anew his love glowed with delight; He saw that gulf that stood apart Begin to close the yawning depth That lay between his and her heart. ## -::-* **- -:H:- Again twas in the Easter tide, And bells within the village near Rang out a welcome message on Full many an eager llst ning ear.. The village folk, in simple wise, The old and young, the rich and poor, With all the neighb ring farm-folk, came Their risen Saviour to adore. For aged parents laid to rest, For children who had shunned earth s strife, Each stricken couple read, "I am The Resurrection and the Life." In faith believing, their response Was fresh and sweet, and pure and true. In faith believing, man and wife A richer consolation knew. The widow, in her weeds of woe, Bent low her brow, and read, "I Am The Resurrection and the Life." The orphans and their father stood, Bereft of mother and of wife, And each responding read, "I Am The Resurrection and the Life" -3- And two in measure as complete As beats the drum unto the fife, From out the same pew read, "I Am The Resurrection and the Life," The easter day was passing out, The Easter sun was sinking low; They moved in quiet converse on, A measured step and wondrous slow, We know not how It came about, But on that afternoon he told A story that is ever new, And yet a story ever old, She did not say him yes or nay, But still he knew her meaning true; Her hand - it lingered just a bit That evening when she bade adieu. When next they met, the city s glare Shone round them in a golden sheen; She moved amid the regal halls The very image of a queen. He found her quite as welcoming As she was ever want to be - But that was all, the rest, he found Were not so glad by half as she, Her father had a stately step, A hand that was so icy cold, His every action seemed to say - "Ive locked and sealed my chest of gold." "I care, .not," thought Agricola, "For hands and brains can work their way And laughing love that s leal and true Will win the battle any day." He told her when twas opportune, He was, he hoped, a real man - Would "Work at good, and wait for Time To bring the harvest v/hen he can," She begged him not be rash to ask A hand that could not bring a dower - "Who misses all the golden fruit What cares he for the orange flower?" He told he had arms of strength, A heart all full of love and youth - A field well tilled and filled with seed Of God s own tender, loving truth, She reached her little hand to his, Looked up into his eyes and said, "Strength, manhood, faith in God and man, Love leal and tender - these I ll wed." They wedded, and the country round Knew not a sweeter gift than this, The royal life that God had made The flowing fountain of his bliss. His arms with newer strength now wrought His brain a quicker impulse found; The fruit-trees bent beneath their load, The grain-yield cumbered all the ground. It was not Wealth, but Plenty stood And smiled a welcome at the door; Love laughs at deprivation oft, And sweet content is never poor, When two young souls blend into one, If prayer and patience with them dwell Then will success crown what s begun His work was hard; his rest was sweet; The farm-house knew a single heart, She willed, he wished; she said, he did; This was her portion and his part, For strength, that is heroic strength, Bows gently to the loving hand That blesses earth while yet it points The way unto the better land. And she led onward and he bowed Himself unto her gentle sway; "Tv/as Love that ushered in the morn And Love that ushered out the day. A las I A lack I an hour there came She sank to slumber on his breast; His arms he folded round her form; He laid her v/ith her God at rest. xx xx xx xx- Once more the glad world welcomes in, Easter-tide, thy holy hour, And April renders sweet thy path With song of bird and bloom of flower. The aged heart renews its faith The youthful heart is glad with glee, And memory counts the things that were While Hope dreams of the things to be. The Village folk, in simple wise The old and young, the rich and poor, V/ith all the neighboring farm-folk, come Their risen Saviour to adore. For aged parents laid to rest, For children who have shunned earth s strife, Each stricken couple reads, "I am The Resurrection and the Life." -5- V The widow in her weeds of woe, With features still with suff ring rife Bends low her brow, and reads, "I am The Resurrection and the Life," The orphans and their father stand, Bereft of mother and of v/ife, And each responding reads, "I am The Resurrection and the Life." In faith believing, their response Is fresh and sweet, and pure and leal, In faith believing, each and all A richer consolation feel. And one there is who stands within And dreams of her he called his wife, In faith believing, reads,"! am The Resurrection and the Life," And as he stands and makes response And rests his head upon his hand, He catches through the shadows round Fair glimpses of the better land, And sees a face as fair and sweet As ever angel faces are; And in her hand a palm branch is, And on her brow a risen star. And then from out that holy realm He hears the sweet voice of his wife Unite with his, and read, "I am The Resurrection and the Life," And then his rapt soul seems at length To be within that endless day Where hearts that love and hands that join Are One forever and for aye. Copyright 1885 Marcus Blakey Allmond P.S. - This is a copy from the original (first edition) in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Galleries, Pasadena, Calif -6- Manufactured ku 6AYLORD BROS. Inc. Syracuse, N. Y. Stockton, Calif. [JLllmond, MBL ;i ri cols fci i dyX 953 A439 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY