B
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 ECHOES 
 
 Mrs. M. A.. 
 
 HARTFORD : 
 PRESS OF CASE, LOCKWOOD & CO. 
 
 1867.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1867, 
 
 BY MRS. M. A. ARCHER, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut.
 
 f>S 
 '03? 
 
 v.l 
 
 . If. $.. Bi 
 
 Talisman, a Coat of .A-rms, an Open Sesame 
 to tlie conficlenoe of the \visely good, 
 
 permit me to set your dear 
 
 name as a seal to my labors, nay 
 
 kindest and. best friend, 
 
 623;
 
 "Be sure no earnest work 
 Of any honest creature, howbeit weak, 
 Imperfect, ill-adapted, fails so much, 
 It is not gathered as a grain of sand 
 To enlarge the sum of human action, used 
 
 For carrying out God's end." 
 
 BROWNING. 
 
 Not as an umpire, deciding what should be ; but as a faithful scribe 
 giving expression to what is. 
 
 The agitating of thought, the conflicting of opinions, evoke the 
 bracing breezes that purify and invigorate the atmosphere of the mind.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE history of this little work, and its introduc 
 tion to the public by subscription, is in itself a poem 
 grandly beautiful. Traced in glowing lines of ten- 
 derest sympathies, Christ-like charities and spiritual 
 appreciation. A child of sorrow,* suffering in body, 
 despondent in mind, sadly deficient in self-reliant 
 courage, yet not disobedient to Heavenly visions, and 
 eagerly earnest to lead other grievers to a newly- 
 discovered , fountain of consolation and delight, 
 reaches trustingly upward to the hand of a Higher 
 Guide, and commits herself to the tender mercies of 
 strangers. 
 
 Wonderful surprise ! The way grows bright with 
 the blooms of kindly deeds ; redolent with generous 
 trust ; and smooth with philanthropic aid. Far too 
 numerous. the benefactions to admit of mention, yet 
 I cannot forbear honoring these humble pages by 
 these few names, as "bright particular stars" in the 
 galaxy of kindness. The Hon's Ashley Stone, Par 
 ley Starr, Pet. Holbrook, Dr. E. B. Holden, Mrs.
 
 .fi 
 
 Nellie Temple Brigham, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Wills, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hirain Stebbins, and last, but not 
 least, Dr. J. G. Holland, for his kindly introduction 
 to the public. 
 
 If the work- has any merit, it consists in its strict 
 adherence to real life, each waif having a private 
 history founded upon fact. And while the artistic 
 critic will find much to condemn, the common heart 
 of sorrowing humanity may find many an answering 
 tone that will soothe, comfort and sustain. Ye shin 
 ing friends, who have so faithfully fulfilled your 
 promises to me^ alike redeem this one pledge more, 
 to repay a hundred fold the least and last who have 
 bid me God-speed in my labors. 
 
 "While passing through unexpected delays in the 
 issue of this little work, the author finds an accu 
 mulation of manuscript sufficient to complete another 
 volume ; and those dear friends who will look with 
 disappointment for the fulfillment of a desire in this, 
 will find it hereafter, with the added vigor and more 
 elaborate skill that health and experience gives. For 
 the truth of the little histories told Dy the plates, 
 refer to John Robinson, Lynn, Mass., I. M. French, 
 Willimantic, Conn., and Capt. Marcy, Meriden, Conn. 
 A second volume will have a fuller collection of such 
 portraits. 
 
 M. A. A.
 
 CONTENTS: 
 
 Echoes, .*. 11 
 
 What the Birds said, 14 
 
 Tantalus, 17 
 
 Kindness, 19 
 
 United, 21 
 
 One we Know, 22 
 
 Rosa Mclntire, 23 
 
 Lamoille, 26 
 
 Dedication, 28 
 
 My Spirit calls to thine, 29 
 
 Beautiful Maude, 30 
 
 Babie Talk, 32 
 
 " S. S. S.," 34 
 
 Love, 36 
 
 Capital Punishment, 41 
 
 I Love Thee, 44 
 
 Our Harry, 45 
 
 Isabelle, 47 
 
 Think of Me^ 48 
 
 Truth, 49 
 
 Broken-hearted, 52 
 
 Let Me Think, 53 
 
 Thy dark Eyes haunt me, 55 
 
 Fickle Man, 57 
 
 Child of Sorrow, 61 
 
 Speaking Pieces, , 62
 
 8 
 
 Button me up in thy Vest, Brother, 64 
 
 Fountains by the Wayside, 65 
 
 There is no Death, 69 
 
 Pass By, 75 
 
 Come Home, 77 
 
 Buxton . Brothers, 78 
 
 J.P.Bryant, 79 
 
 Anna, 80 
 
 For Marion's Mother, 80 
 
 Among the Blossoms, 81 
 
 Fannie, 81 
 
 Little Lulie, 82 
 
 "Birdie," .*. 83 
 
 Allie, 85 
 
 Antha, 86 
 
 Little Willie, 87 
 
 Ebbie and Angie, 88 
 
 Mrs. Grovcr, 89 
 
 George F. Blanchard, 91 
 
 Freddie Knox, 95 
 
 Let me Go, 97 
 
 Caught in the Picker, 100 
 
 Jennie, 102 
 
 Clara, 103 
 
 Julie, 104 
 
 Abbie, 104 
 
 Minnie, 105 
 
 The Lame Girl, 106 
 
 Only One, 107 
 
 How I Long for Thee, 109 
 
 He never saw his Father, .+ Ill 
 
 Little Warrie, 113 
 
 Three on Earth, and Three in Heaven, 114 
 
 They .will not Listen, 115 
 
 Waiting, 121 
 
 Listen to the Voices, 124 
 
 Ninevah, 126 
 
 Bessie, , . . . . 128
 
 9 
 
 Sister Agnes, .". . . 130 
 
 Hygiene, 137 
 
 Valedictory, 139 
 
 How far from Home ? 140 
 
 We've been Roaming, 142 
 
 For Mrs. Dickerman, .*. 145 
 
 Here am I, 149 
 
 Bid them God-speed, 152 
 
 Hattie Marcy,. 154 
 
 Be True, 156 
 
 Healing Institute, 160 
 
 "'And a little Child shall Lead them," 165 
 
 Going, Going, 181 
 
 Little Sister, 183 
 
 Weary, 185 
 
 Sunshine and Shadow, 188 
 
 O, what will People say, 190 
 
 Neither Awake nor Asleep, 194 
 
 Supplication, 195 
 
 Rosana, 198 
 
 The Rejected, 200 
 
 Finale... ..203
 
 ECHOES. 
 
 ! DO you not love the dear Echoes 
 
 That play hide and seek in the glen ? 
 Where the flossy, gray mosses are streaming, 
 
 And the fount leapeth out from the fen ? 
 The Echoes, that catch all the music 
 
 And toss it from rock to ravine, 
 Betrolling the trillings, .and quavers, 
 
 Far up in the shimmering sheen. 
 
 ! do you not love the dear Echoes? 
 
 How they mellow each sound they have 
 
 heard, 
 Re-ringing the rich undulations 
 
 Till the deeps of the spirit are stirred, 
 The Echoes that fold to their bosoms 
 
 Each wandering harmonic waif, 
 Borne tlirough their euphonious dominions, 
 
 In billowy melody safe.
 
 12 
 
 ! do you not love the dear Echoes 
 
 That glance through the grottoes of mind ? 
 Returning the quaint thoughts of Childhood, 
 
 With Hope's gorgeous visions entwined ; 
 The Echoe3 of fancies, and feelings, 
 
 That sang in Youth's rose-tinted morn, 
 Ere the minor-key added a cadence, 
 
 Of sad-eyed Experience born. 
 
 ! do you not love the dear Echoes 
 
 Reproducing each heart-spoken tone, 
 Of grieving, believing, or gladness, 
 
 Each hoping, or doubting, or moan ? 
 The Echoes of Joy's thrilling sweetness, 
 
 The Echoes of wailing despair, 
 The Echoes of Faith's grand revealings, 
 
 Of the deep welling fountain of prayer ; 
 The Echoes of Love's purest phases, 
 
 Of all of Life's varied delights ; 
 The Echoes of fervid aspiring, 
 
 Of the Martyrs' firm fight for the right. 
 
 And if you do love the dear Echoes, 
 Here they troll in these pages of mine, 
 
 These tonings wrung out by affliction, * 
 Consecrate to Humanity's shrine,
 
 13 
 
 That sing of the Love of the Father, 
 Of the bliss of the Blessed Beyond, 
 
 And to each gurgling fount of true feeling, 
 From the deeps of the spirit respond.
 
 WHAT THE BIRDS SAID. 
 
 
 
 "A NEW bird in the wood ! " U A new bird ! " 
 
 "Anew bird!" 
 
 "A new bird in the wood! " "A new bird! " 
 "Why, the wild- wood blossoms with birds in 
 
 throngs, 
 And the field and the meadow resound with 
 
 songs ; 
 
 Pray, how can you hope to be heard?" 
 "May-chance I'll discover some cheerless lane, 
 Too sad to be reached by the gayer strain ; 
 0, there I may hope to be heard, Old 
 
 Bird! 
 0, there I may hope to be heard ! " 
 
 "Only think of the Lark, new bird, new bird! 
 
 Only think of the Lark, new bird ! 
 That soareth so high, in his joy to vie 
 
 With the harps that hang in the gorgeous 
 
 sky; 
 Pray, how can you hope to be heard ? " 
 
 * 14
 
 "May-chance the weak, or the weary ear, 
 Will- fail such far-away strains to hear ; 
 0, then I may hope to be heard, Old Bird! 
 0, then I may hope to be heard ! " 
 
 Remember the Bob o'link, bird, new bird ! 
 
 Remember the Bob o'link, bird ! . 
 How he pashes, and dashes, and dives in bliss, 
 As the melodies leap from their -deep abyss ; 
 
 Pray, how can you hope to be heard ? " 
 "May-chance he will halt, in the heat of the 
 
 day, 
 Or the gloom of the twilight may fright him 
 
 away ; 
 
 0, thus I may hope to be heard, Old Bird! 
 0, thus I may hope to be heard ! 
 
 "But then, the nightingale, bird, new bird! 
 
 But then, the nightingale, bird! 
 How he sits in the hush, of the holy even, 
 And wafts the soul with his songs to heaven ; 
 
 Pray, how can you hope to be heard ? " 
 "May-chance in the chill of the autumn time, 
 He will hie him away to a sunny clime ; 
 0, then I may hope to be heard, Old Bird ! 
 0, then I may hope to be heard !
 
 16 . 
 
 "Then again, there's the bird in the cage of 
 
 gold, 
 Whose brilliant plumage may be bought 
 
 and sold, 
 In summer s heat or in winter's cold ; 
 
 Pray, how can you hope to be heard?" 
 "Ah, well, he may carol for those who delight 
 
 In gilded bondage and fettered flight ; 
 My wing shall be cageless, my music free, 
 And the loving, and lowly, will listen to me ; 
 And thus, even thus, I'll be heard, Old 
 
 Bird! 
 And thus, even thus I'll be heard !
 
 TANTALUS. 
 
 
 
 TANTALUS, Tantalus, it is terrible ! 
 Lifted to look at bliss 
 Lightly debarred. 
 
 Bowing adoringly down to the beautiful, 
 Knowing 'twill naught with thee 
 Worshipped afar. 
 
 Proffering rapturously Love's richest offering, 
 Flouted like Cain of old, 
 Frenzied with -loss. 
 
 Tantalus, Tantalus, it is terrible ! 
 Drawn to the door of Bliss, 
 Deftly debarred. 
 
 Trav'ling with poesy, pleading imploringly, 
 Power for delivering 
 The soul's lava-tide. 
 
 17
 
 18 
 
 Baffled and impotent, still-born, anomalous, 
 Petrified mockery 
 Gained by the pain. 
 
 
 
 Tantalus, Tantalus, it is terrible! 
 Fast by the beat of Bliss, 
 Fatally barred. 
 
 Tantalus, Tantalus, God has no TANTALUS 
 Over the cycles His 
 Fingers have formed. 
 
 Travel no "might have beens," all is complet- 
 
 edness 
 When the grand ultimates 
 
 Stand forth unveiled. 
 
 
 
 In His Eternity, truly there's time enough, 
 Though stern Experience 
 Chasten thee long. 
 
 
 
 Faithfulest schoolmaster, gratefulest reverence, 
 Backward thou'lt smile at him 
 Crowned at the goal.
 
 KINDNESS. 
 
 TRUE kindness is a flowret rare, 
 
 Perchance escaped from Eden, 
 You'll know it by the ambient air, 
 
 With richest perfume laden ; 
 It delighteth to steal across the way 
 
 Unhoped for, and unbidden ; 
 And in the path where wanderers stray, 
 
 Is often happily hidden. 
 
 How gratefully it bloomed for me 
 
 In the walks of toil and sorrow, 
 When shadows gathered gloomily, 
 
 And dreary looked the morrow ; 
 And thine the hand that placed it there, 
 
 By thy own kind heart bidden, 
 May Heaven return the favor care 
 
 With happiness like Eden. 
 
 19
 
 20 
 
 With deeds as kind to cheer thy way 
 
 Through all the coming morrow, 
 'Till thou shalt gain the glorious day 
 
 That never knoweth sorrow. 
 My grateful love shall turn to thee 
 
 With reverent caressings, 
 Imploring that thy path may be 
 
 'Mid the Father's richest blessings. 
 
 That light, and love, and rarest worth, 
 
 Enhales thee with brightness, 
 Till thou shalt shine to bless the earth, 
 
 A star of purest whiteness. 
 And when shall reach the inner ear, 
 
 The dash of yonder "River," 
 In pealing anthems may you hear 
 
 Hosannas high forever.
 
 UNITED. 
 
 As the mountain torrents, 
 
 Gathering into one 
 Broader, deeper, grander, 
 
 Hasten proudly on, 
 Thus the firm and faithful, 
 
 With their unseen bands, 
 Mingling souls and voices, 
 
 Joining hearts a,nd hands, 
 Form a mighty magnet, 
 
 Drawing from the sea, 
 Where the elemental 
 
 Truths of ages be. 
 Ho! ye friends of Progress, 
 
 Loving God indeed, 
 Join your eager forces 
 
 For the coming need.
 
 ONE WE KNOW. 
 
 A SPIRIT proud and high ; 
 That can not brook the bonds of stern restraint, 
 That rises fierce and wild as storm-rent sky, 
 At chilling, chiding, querulous complaint ; 
 Pliant, as willowy wand, at sorrow's sigh, 
 As wax impressive, moulded by the will, 
 Made known in tender tone and wistful eye, 
 And the seductive charm of Beauty's smile, 
 Spurning like mettled steed with rider thrown, 
 The curb compulsive, and the forced control, 
 Yet meekest subject of the sceptred throne 
 To which he lifts the idol of his soul ; 
 Thus fine-toned harp, with myriad dainty 
 
 strings, 
 
 At a rude grasp discordant clamor swells ; 
 But when a gentle touch its love-sweep brings 
 With richest music the wide ether thrills ; 
 ! ye whose fingers strike the master-keys 
 Of social life, of human weal or woe, 
 Learn to awake the might be harmonies, 
 
 And drive compulsion to the deeps below. 
 
 22
 
 ROSA McINTIRE. 
 
 ONCE there was a fine old Scotchman, 
 Lord of houses, herds and acres, 
 Also sixteen sons and daughters, 
 Yet one only little grandling 
 
 Cheered the dotage of the sire, 
 
 Rosy, Rosa Mclntire. 
 
 Blithe was she, an4 pert, and winning, 
 Fearless, active, self-reliant, 
 Clutching with her dimpled fingers, 
 Fast upon the old man's heart-strings, 
 
 Till in death he named his heir, 
 
 "Rosy, Rosa Mclntire." 
 
 Filled with dash of wild adventure 
 As the years in benediction 
 Threw her life, and power, and beauty, 
 Hopeful crossed the bounding billows, 
 To the land of love and freedom. 
 
 Many gathered to admire 
 
 Rosy, Rosa Mclntire. 
 
 23
 
 24 
 
 Came there one with arts bewitching, 
 With a wily facination ; 
 Form of lithe and fair proportions, 
 Face of beauty, words of smoothness. 
 
 Whispering voices said u Beware, 
 
 Rosy, Rosa Mclntire." 
 
 He's a wild and reckless sailor, 
 Seeking but thy grand' therms treasure ;. 
 Trust him. not, his words, so guileful, 
 Will bewilder and deceive thee ; 
 
 0, avoid the subtle snare ! 
 
 Rosy, Rosa Mcjntire. 
 
 And she plainly heard the voices, 
 Yowed to heed them, but alas ! she 
 Loved the words of witching sweetness, 
 Loved the dashing, manly beauty, 
 
 And was snared, while dallying there, 
 
 Rosy, Rosa Mclntire. 
 
 Then ne led her to the altar, 
 
 And with words of fond endearing 
 
 Gained into his faithless keeping,
 
 All the gold, and tokened treasures, 
 And the legal bonds and tenures 
 
 Of the Scotchman's chosen heir, 
 
 Rosy, Rosa Mclntire. 
 
 Then proposed a trip of pleasure, 
 Wedding tour to distant city, 
 Seated her with gentle fondness, 
 Begged to be excused a moment ; 
 
 But she rode alone, afar, 
 
 Rosy, Rosa Mclntire. 
 
 Gone was he, the reckless sailor, 
 With her gold, and with her papers, 
 With her heart, and meansless, friendless, 
 Came she to that distant city, 
 
 Victim of remorseful fire, 
 
 Ah ! poor Rosa Mclntire. 
 
 Learn ye from this true, true story, 
 Every youth and every maiden, 
 Heed the voices, whispering voices 
 Of the blessed intuitions, 
 Dally not with shrewd temptations, 
 0, too trustful, fond and guileless, 
 
 By this name avoid the snare, 
 
 Rosy, &osa Mclntire. 
 
 2
 
 LAMOILLE. 
 
 MERRILY meek, meandering 
 
 Among the hills and dells ; 
 Daintily, deftly, wandering 
 
 Where the fairies weave their spells ; 
 To the dancing shadowlets telling love 
 
 As smoothly soft as oil ; 
 Oh ! blest once more by thy brink to rove, 
 
 My mellow, mild Lamoille. * 
 
 Brilliant eyes, as black as night, 
 
 Have lightened by thy side, 
 Eyes as blue as Heaven's own light, 
 
 Out-gleamed thy glowing tide ; 
 Melting lips and manly hearts 
 
 Have followed every coil, 
 Each sweet, capricious turn and start, 
 
 My mellow, mild Lamoille.
 
 27 
 
 Dreamers wildest dreams have dreamed, 
 
 Beguiled by thee along, 
 Airiest castles real seemed 
 
 While listening to thy song. 
 The dreamers find their visions flown, 
 
 The Fates the builders foil, 
 Yet gleefully thou glidest on, 
 
 My mellow, mild Lamoille. 
 
 One light goes out, another sheens, 
 
 Thou heedest not the change; 
 Old Time has shifted many scenes, 
 
 And some seemed passing strange, 
 Since by thy banks fond words of love 
 
 Filled my soul with sweet turmoil ; 
 Oh ! blest once more by thy brink to rove, 
 
 My mellow, mild Lamoille,
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 BE Truth the household god 
 
 That reigneth here, 
 And Faith the white-robed priest 
 
 With incense rare, 
 While Love, the prophetess, 
 
 Sweet anthems sings ; 
 And Peace, and Hope, and Joy, 
 
 Fold their glad wings, 
 That lab'rers worn with toil 
 
 May seek repose 
 In this serene retreat, 
 
 And lose their woes ; 
 That spirits strengthened be 
 
 For higher flight, 
 More firm to bear each cross, 
 
 And teach the Right, 
 A court of Heaven a sacred shrine, 
 Bright with the light of Love Divine. 
 
 28
 
 MY SPIRIT CALLS TO THINE. 
 
 MY spirit calls to thine, love, 
 
 Heart-gushes flash to thee 
 Through the deep hush, divine, love, 
 
 Through the vast electric sea : 
 The sky is wondrous bright, love 
 
 The earth is brightly fair ; 
 Give life to my delight, love, 
 
 This dreamy sweetness share ; 
 My very joy is dumb, love, 
 
 My very bliss is pain. 
 Till thy quick responses come love 
 
 To wake my own again, 
 I know by the holy calm, love, 
 
 That drapes Love's sacred shrine, 
 By my soul's triumphant psalm, love, 
 
 Thy inmost answers mine, 
 That each to each will call, love, 
 
 Forever, o'er and o'er ; 
 And sweet replies enthrall, love, 
 
 Complete forevermore. 
 
 29
 
 BEAUTIFUL MAUDE. 
 
 WE have a treasure-gem, we have a prize, 
 Glad'ning the spirit, delighting the eyes, 
 Opening Joy's inexhaustible store, 
 Unfolding new loveliness every hour, 
 Lighting the earth-home with glory untold, 
 Paling the grandeur engendered by gold ; 
 One rare exotic from the garden of God, 
 Beautiful Maude ! 
 
 Sculptor, come hither ! a model for thee, 
 Faultlessly fashioned ! gracefully free ! 
 Mark every motion ! no chisel the charm 
 Can convey to cold marble ! such changes of 
 
 form. 
 
 Painter, behold her, and droop in despair, 
 Blend jet, rose, and lily ! 'twill faintly compare 
 With our rare exotic from the garden of God, 
 Beautiful Maude ! 
 
 30
 
 31 
 
 Poet, assay it, and weep in dismay ! 
 Words are so powerless charms to convey, 
 That shift with each thought, each surpassing 
 
 the last, 
 
 Evoking new images ever surpassed 
 By the sweetness, the brightness, the richness 
 
 of love, 
 That floated to us from the heaven cultured 
 
 grove 
 
 With our rare exotic from the garden of God, 
 Beautiful Maude! 
 
 Yet sometimes we shake, lest the winds roughly 
 blow, 
 
 Lest the frosts be too chilling, too heavy the 
 snow, 
 
 Or quake with dumb fear, lest her presence we 
 miss 
 
 From the home-nest she brought such a well- 
 spring of bliss. 
 
 blind! the blessed guardians of Heaven's 
 own bowers 
 
 Will cherish and shelter this sweetest of flowers, 
 
 Our own rare exotic from the garden of God, 
 Beautiful Maude !
 
 BABIE TALK. 
 
 "RiDiE, ridie, ride away," 
 
 Says Nellie Belle so chattie, 
 " Papa, mama, Nell and Mae, 
 Down to see poor Na-ee. 
 
 Na-ee is so sick and sad, 
 Na-ee loves us dearly, 
 Na-ee '11 be so glad, so glad, 
 To hear our prattle cheerly." 
 
 Folded closely in her arms, 
 
 Bright, beautiful, and happy, 
 Feasting on the baby charms. 
 Happy is poor "Na-ee." 
 
 "Na-ee is so sick and sad, 
 
 Na-ee loves us dearly, 
 Na-ee is so glad, so glad, 
 To hear our prattle cheerly." 
 
 32
 
 Comes a thought full fraught with pain, 
 
 E'en while chirk and chattie, 
 The darlings soon must ride again 
 Far away from " Na-ee. 11 
 
 "Na-ee is so sick and sad, 
 
 Na-ee loves us dearly, 
 Na-ee '11 feel so bad so bad, 
 To lose our prattle cheerly." 
 
 Gone, the little ones so sweet, 
 Gone from "Auntie Mattie," 
 Pleasant hours are ever fleet, 
 Lone is now poor "Na-ee." 
 " Na-ee is so sick and sad, 
 
 Na-ee loves us dearly, 
 Na-ee feels so bad, so bad, 
 To lose our prattle cheerly." 
 
 But though now so far away 
 
 In your home so pretty, 
 Nellie Belle, and Minnie Mae, 
 Don't forget poor "Na-ee." 
 "Na-ee is so sick and sad. 
 
 Na-ee loves us dearly, 
 Na-ee feels so bad, so bad, 
 
 To lose our prattle cheerly." 
 2*
 
 s. s. s. 
 
 S. S. S. was a beauty, the belle of our town, 
 One to craze with a smile, or to kill with a 
 
 frown, 
 Her eyes were so speaking, and sparkling, and 
 
 bright, 
 Yet melting, and mellow, and mild in their 
 
 light, 
 Her lips, and her cheeks, sure you never Would 
 
 think 
 How dimpled, and plump, and how prettily 
 
 pink; 
 
 The handsomest hand, and the fairiest foot, 
 Ever pressed and caressed, ever placed in a 
 
 boot, 
 And the sunbeams of Heaven seemed prisoned 
 
 with care 
 
 In the wavy bright wealth of her beautiful hair. 
 Well, among her admirers Ned Nolan knelt low, 
 To be blest with a "yes," or undone with a 
 
 "no!' 
 
 34
 
 35 
 
 And pleading, protested with groan and gri 
 mace, 
 
 He'd not slept for a month, for her beautiful 
 face. 
 
 She paused, and she pondered, considered and 
 sighed, 
 
 Of the length of his purse, thought with pleas 
 ure and pride, 
 
 Then his bow was bewitching, and brilliant his 
 ring, 
 
 And the chain o'er his vest was a very choice 
 thing, 
 
 Then his dress was so dainty, his teeth were so 
 white, 
 
 And his very moustache a bewildering sight. 
 
 A soft flutter of pleasure just stirred her repose, 
 
 As she thought him at least the most gallant of 
 beaux : 
 
 But oho ! and aha ! soon a rival appears, 
 
 Disputing Ned's claim to this dearest of dears, 
 
 But his nose was so long, and his mouth was 
 not small ; 
 
 And then he was certainly awkwardly tall, 
 
 His hand hard and brown with the impress of 
 toil, 
 
 And oft his apparel told tales of the soil.
 
 Ned viewed the contour with a glance of con 
 
 tempt ; 
 
 And fancied from fears he was safely exempt ; 
 But his breath was so free from the fumes of 
 
 the weed, 
 And no imps of the cup baleful passion-fires 
 
 feed; 
 Then intellect spake from the kingly broad 
 
 brow, 
 And the heart was so large, and so faithfully 
 
 true. 
 
 So Neddie, be wary, be thoughtful and wise, 
 Or this same ugly gallant may bear off the 
 
 prize. 
 
 But on with the tale ! S. S. heard with delight, 
 The eloquence high of her ill-favored knight, 
 His treasured intelligence learned with surprise, 
 And wondered with awe that one could be so 
 
 wise, 
 Read the depths of true worth in his nature 
 
 enshrined, 
 
 Integrity firm, and philanthropy kind ; 
 Learned the glorious .power of l}is grand self- 
 control, 
 Saw the features transfigured by gleamings of 
 
 soul,
 
 Till she wondered anew, with a chiding of pain, 
 That ever she could have considered him plain ; 
 And at length when he whispered her tender 
 
 and low, 
 She could not, she would not, she did not say 
 
 no! 1 
 
 ! could you have seen the astonished chagrin 
 With which dainty Ned the sad truth gath 
 ered in ! 
 
 How he said hasty words ! impolite I'm afraid, 
 And scarce for that exquisite leave-taking 
 
 stayed ; 
 Then he solaced himself, " He was glad he was 
 
 free," 
 
 And said something more 'bout "the fish in 
 the sea." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Neglect not the mind, for the form or the face, 
 Neglect not the mind for fashion or grace, 
 For wisdom is happiness, knowledge is power, 
 And true worth the richest, the holiest dower ; 
 Not the pearls of the ocean, or the gems of 
 
 the sea, 
 
 Or the mines of the mountains, can recom 
 pense be,
 
 38 
 
 For the charms of the spirit, the wealth of the 
 
 soul, 
 Gained by culture, and kindness, and stern 
 
 self-control ; 
 
 And they are the beautiful, they the refined, 
 Who develop the highest emotions of mind.
 
 LOVE. 
 
 BLAME you for loving ? Just as soon 
 
 I'd blame the blooming flower 
 For glad'ning in the sunshine, 
 
 For brightening in the shower. 
 
 Blame you for loving ? Just as soon 
 
 I'd blame the forest trees 
 For lifting up their stately heads, 
 
 And waving in the breeze. 
 
 Blame you for loving ? T Just as soon 
 
 I'd blame the panting deer 
 For slaking all his burning thirst 
 
 In the streamlet cool and clear. 
 
 Blame you for loving ? Nay ! ' as soon 
 
 I'd blame my very soul 
 For gushing out in loving praise 
 
 For all things beautiful. 
 
 39
 
 40 
 
 Blame you for loving ? Nay ! the power 
 That placed that love within, 
 
 And that alone, must be to blame, 
 If loving be a sin. 
 
 But wo ! to him who desecrates 
 This highest gift of Heaven ; 
 
 And wrongs the trusting love he wins, 
 Sin ne'er to be forgiven.
 
 CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. 
 
 'TWAS a mighty nation's triumph hour ! 
 
 Crushed were her foes, at end her wars ; 
 The eagle soared in pride and power, 
 
 Triumphant waved the stripes and stars. 
 From south to north, from east to west, 
 
 A gush of joy like incense rose ; 
 A vast Republic's giant breast, 
 
 Exultant heaved with thrilling throes. 
 What noble act ? what deed sublime ? 
 
 Shall the grandeur of this epoch speak 
 Through the corridors of coming time ? 
 
 A woman hanging by the neck f 
 And is it thus, men of fame ! 
 
 Ye celebrate your victories ? 
 Like savage orgies round the flame, 
 
 Wherein a cowering captive dies ! 
 ! that ye could have God-like soared 
 
 Above revenge, from passion free! 
 Proud pattern for a grov'ling world ! 
 
 Majestic magnanimity ! 
 
 41
 
 42 
 
 ! that ye could have traced on high, 
 
 " Come all the world, a lesson learn, 
 Of the glorious home of Liberty ! 
 
 A blessing for each ivrong return. 
 'Twas dastardly, a devilish deed! 
 
 The smiting of that good old man, 
 Well might a nation's great heart bleed, 
 
 For him who nobly led the van. 
 So mildly just ! so bravely kind ! 
 
 Through seas of blood, through wails of wo, 
 The harshest judgment he could find, 
 
 *' Forgive ! they know not what they do ! " 
 But did it heal the grievous wound ? 
 
 Or bring your idol back to life ? 
 To duplicate the fiendish round, 
 
 By hanging up a poor weak wife ? 
 ! who can tell what goaded her ? 
 
 What torturing wrongs had made her mad? 
 What force, resistless, swept her far 
 
 Beyond life's purer, holier tide ? 
 Treason lay trampled in the dust ! 
 
 Foul Slavery's bands were rent in two. 
 And Liberty resumed her trust, 
 
 By Justice stern, baptized anew. 
 ! in the rapture of success, 
 
 Well might ye God-like mercy show
 
 43 
 
 Winning a penitent caress, 
 
 Where now ye've made a lurking foe. 
 Thus on, and on, perpetuate 
 
 The sons of strife, each ill deplored ! 
 While love and ruth are hushed in hate, 
 
 They take, and perish by the sword. 
 But the day will dawn, rejoice, Earth ; 
 
 When higher views prevail of Life; 
 The demon Blame shall be cast forth, 
 
 That foul engenderer of strife : 
 And man shall in each brother man 
 
 A kindred spark divine discern, 
 With calmly unimpassioned scan, 
 
 The causes of each erring learn : 
 And the stronger shield the weaker on 
 
 With loving trust with tender ruth, 
 Their censure aim at the source of wrongs, 
 
 But win the offender back to truth.
 
 I LOVE THEE. 
 
 I LOVE thee for thy gentleness, 
 
 Thy ever pleasant smile, 
 Thy sunny brow, thy ready zeal, 
 
 In each recurring toil ; 
 
 And as I list thy kindly tone, 
 
 My spirit swells in prayer, 
 That unseen hands may guide thee safe 
 
 From every subtle snare. 
 
 I can not hope, I would not wish, 
 
 Thy lips all smiles to be, 
 For trials, dear, make strong the soul, 
 
 Make the spirit brave and free. 
 
 But this I ask with deep desire, 
 That Wisdom, Strength, and Love, 
 
 Thy refuge, solace, and content, 
 Through coming years may prove. 
 
 44
 
 "OUR HARRY.'* 
 
 Do you see the cherub, but three years old, 
 With brown ringed curls just touched with gold, 
 Bright head thrown back in his childish zeal. 
 Each generous impulse so quick to feel, 
 Eyes in their earnestness twinkling starry ; 
 Thai is Harry. 
 
 Wide, wide brow, with polished swells, 
 That tales of artistic touches tells, 
 Playfulest dimples in chin and cheek, 
 Red lips that lisping fondness speak, 
 Something of Cupid, and something a fairy ; 
 That is Harry. 
 
 Sweet mouth apouting for frequent kisses, 
 Gentle good-byes that gush with blisses, 
 Shimmering changes of pure emotion, 
 Tossing the spray from the soulful ocean, 
 Whose freighted barges our high hopes carry ; 
 
 That is Harry. 
 
 45
 
 46 
 
 Do you see the man with massive brain, 
 Who over himself will rule and reign ? 
 Who lifteth his voice for the weak oppressed, 
 While the Christ-love "swelleth his heaving 
 
 breast ? 
 
 Of freest philanthropy never charry, 
 And is that Harry ? 
 
 Who reareth the standard of goodness high, 
 Yet heareth the frailest when they cry, 
 Who layeth the axe at the root of the tree, 
 And bareth the causes of the ills that be, 
 Yet would from the victim the fierce blows 
 parry; 
 
 And is that Harry ? 
 
 Who followeth the Right through storms of 
 
 hate, 
 
 And loveth the Good, though in low estate, 
 Yet readeth so deeply the Truths of God, 
 That he everywhere findeth the Right and 
 
 Good, 
 
 Anointed priest, Fact and Faith to marry ; 
 And is that Harry f
 
 ISA-BELLE. 
 
 PLUMP and dimpled, sweet and fair, 
 With bright blue eyes and golden hair, 
 Seeing the Angels in her dreams, 
 All too good for this world she seems, 
 
 Isa-belle, 
 
 Full of caresses and loving words, 
 Joyous and merry a summer birds, 
 Formed for the sunshine, pure and free, 
 Ah ! the world is too cold for thee, 
 
 Isa-belle. 
 
 Yet as the moonbeam's mellow light, 
 Chase all the gloom from the dreary night, 
 So may thy sweetness charm away 
 Every ill from thy sunny May, 
 
 Isa-belle, 
 
 Guarded by goodness, and strong in love, 
 Blessing and blest may thy earth-life prove, 
 Then like the glorious star of even, 
 Ascend in thy beauty to gladden Heaven, 
 
 Isa-belle. 
 
 4T
 
 THINK OF ME. 
 
 THINK of me, stranger-friend, 
 I know the aspirations; hopes and fears, 
 The toils and trials of thy climbing years, 
 With my long discipline too well affine, 
 And thus thy inmost soul I well divine, 
 Predict thee progress, honor and success ; 
 Life's holiest recompensing power to bless, 
 
 Think of me stranger-friend. 
 
 Think of me, stranger-friend, 
 Perchance we'll yet rejoice that we have met, 
 This hour a golden one in mem'ry set ; 
 Perchance together smile in coming years, 
 Upon these struggles, sighs, impatient tears, 
 And by some well-earned goal stand side by side, 
 Smiling serene upon the conquered tide, 
 
 Think of me, stranger-friend. 
 
 48
 
 TRUTH. 
 
 MID the fanciful fancies of youth, dreamy youth, 
 Freely weaveth the golden-hued meshes of 
 
 Truth, 
 Windeth inward, and outward, through nature's 
 
 domain, 
 Only follow its guidings, Life's lesson groweth 
 
 plain. 
 
 Truth, Truth, sweet, sweet Truth, 
 Be it ever so simple, there's nothing like Truth. 
 
 It glistens in the dew-drop, exhaleth from the 
 
 rose, 
 Enhances every pleasure, plucks the sting from 
 
 the woes, 
 High soareth with the eagle, soft droopeth with 
 
 the dove, 
 Guideth on to perfection, through wisdom, faith 
 
 and love. 
 
 Truth, Truth, sweet, sweet Truth, 
 Be it ever so simple, there's nothing like Truth. 
 3 49
 
 50 
 
 It glows in intuition, hides deep in every sonl, 
 
 Scorns fetterings, and fearings, spurns intoler 
 ant control, 
 
 It teacheth by experience, it warneth by dis 
 tress, 
 
 And sendeth Heaven's messenger to elevate 
 
 arid bless. 
 Truth, Truth, sweet, sweet Truth, 
 
 Be it ever so simple, there's nothing like Truth. 
 
 morning star of beauty ! guide onward 
 
 through the gloom, 
 And gild with Heaven's radiance the portals 
 
 of the tomb, 
 Unveil the mystic loveliness of the wonderful 
 
 "First Cause," 
 And fill us with the harmony of comprehended 
 
 laws. 
 
 Truth, Truth, sweet, sweet Truth, 
 Be it ever so simple, there's nothing like Truth. 
 
 O, dignity of Human-hood enshrining the Di 
 vine ! 
 
 Put all thy glorious garments on, with celestial 
 life affine !
 
 51 
 
 Fraternally and holily, thy pilgrimage pursue, 
 And the Heavens opening wide to thee, trium 
 phant thou shalt view 
 Truth, Truth, sweet, sweet Truth, 
 Be it ever so simple, there's nothing like Truth.
 
 "BROKEN-HEARTED." 
 
 "BROKEN-HEARTED?" nay! in heart be strong ! 
 "Crushed in spirit?" nay! right conquers 
 
 wrong ! 
 
 " Blighted in prospect ?" nay! the future teerns 
 With promise fairer than thy fondest dreams, 
 And they who tipped with calumny the dart, 
 That rankles deeply in thy quivering heart, 
 Shall haste to bring the balm, the laurel crown, 
 And myriad smiles repay each chilling frown. 
 Gird on the armor ! shrink not from the fight ! 
 Wave the glad banner, "Justice, Truth and 
 
 Right," 
 And strong, true arms, shall reach from heights 
 
 of bliss, 
 Lifting thee from thy woes to happiness. 
 
 52
 
 "LET ME THINK." 
 
 "LET me think! " mused little Leeta, 
 
 By the sparkling brooklet's brink, 
 Wondering why it hurried onward. 
 
 " Let me think ! let me think ! 
 'Tis to greet the golden sunshine, 
 
 'Tis to bless the drooping flowers, 
 'Tis to sing its joy and gladness 
 
 To the white-winged, fleeting hours." 
 
 Noble lesson, sweetest Leeta, 
 
 By Life's rolling river brink, 
 Let us turn within and murmur, 
 
 " Let me think ! let me think! 
 Whence it cometh, where it goeth, 
 
 What its duties and its lore, 
 What its glad, delightful mission, 
 
 What the uses of its store." 
 
 53
 
 54 
 
 Each true life thus hurries oiiward, 
 
 Fraught with kindness, peace and love 
 Wide diffusing glowing gladness, 
 
 Like the radiant ones above ; 
 Singing of the Father's goodness 
 
 To the years whirled swiftly by, 
 Charming with its gurgling music, 
 
 Error's croaking, frighted cry. 
 
 Noble lesson, dearest reader, 
 
 In thy mental may it sink ; 
 Ere thou judgest, or condemnest, 
 
 Ponder gravely "Let me think! " 
 If the waters run not clearly 
 
 They have been unfitly used. 
 Free the channels clear the sluices, 
 
 Pure the deeps if unabused. 
 
 Think with candor, calm, unbiased, 
 
 Think with firm, reliant trust, 
 In the noble powers Ged-given 
 
 For conclusions bravely just. 
 Each by his own spiral stairway, 
 
 Each in his own orbit whirled, 
 Gains at last the heights resplendent, 
 
 With Truth's banner wide unfurled.
 
 THY DARK EYES HAUNT ME. 
 
 THY dark eyes haunt me ! from their dees 
 
 Looks forth a lofty soul, 
 Attuned to sweetest harmony 
 
 That thrilling thoughts control, 
 E'er lifting upward from the earth 
 
 To a purer, brighter goal. 
 
 A gentle touch e'er sweeps the chords 
 
 With melody divine, 
 And fills thee with wild dreams of bliss, 
 
 Of thoughts that echo thine, 
 Unfolding glimpses to the wise 
 
 Of affection's hidden mine. 
 
 Thou livest in a little world, 
 
 Unseen by other eyes, 
 And peopled by thy dreamy mind, 
 
 In fancy's gorgeous dyes, 
 With beings all too bright for earth, 
 
 Too pure for mortal guise. 
 
 55
 
 A gentle sadness softly rests 
 
 Upon the polished brow, 
 That tells that earth can never fill 
 
 The void that mocks thee now ; 
 Yet seeks in kindly deeds of love, 
 
 The hidden wealth to show. 
 
 ! cheer thee in thine earthly walks, 
 Hope's smiles deceive thee not ; 
 
 And every trial shall return 
 
 With richest fragrance fraught ; 
 
 Not yet, perchance, but sure as Heaven 
 Is the prize that's spirit-sought. 
 
 For God mocks not with vain desires, 
 Though he often waiteth long, 
 
 To purify from earthly dross 
 And make the spirit strong, 
 
 E'er he sends the glad fruition 
 That fills the soul with song.
 
 FICKLE MAN. 
 
 As breezes blow from north or south, 
 
 One never knows where to look for them, 
 As light words flow from mouth to mouth, 
 
 And never mean what you took for them 
 As the butterfly, now here, now there, 
 
 One never knows where to think she is, 
 As the foolish eye, that roving far, 
 Now winks at that, now blinks at this. 
 So flirting and changing, 
 So fleeting and ranging, 
 So false, so unstable, 
 To be true so unable, 
 Is man, fickle man. 
 
 Like the chameleon's varied hue, 
 That changes in the sun and shade, 
 
 Now black, now white, now green, now blue, 
 Just as convenience suits the blade ; 
 
 Like the faithless snake that now appears 
 With one coat on, then quick another, 
 
 3* 57
 
 58 
 
 Now the light dress the false one wears 
 Is one side out, then quick another. 
 Now kindly respectful 
 Now coldly neglectful, 
 Now loving, now wronging, 
 Now fawning, now scorning, 
 Is man, fickle man. 
 
 Trust to the calm of an April sky, 
 And think the sunshine lasting, 
 Trust that the dew will never fly, 
 
 When the sun bright beams is casting. 
 Trust to the strength of the gossamer net 
 
 The insects weave for the bushes, 
 Trust that the color is firmly set 
 The bursting bubble flushes. 
 But trust not the smiling, 
 The winning, beguiling, 
 The truth, recollection, 
 The faith, or affection, 
 Of man, fickle man. 
 
 By thine own mouth thou standest condemned, 
 Fierce flouter of the wrongs of men ; 
 
 Hast thou each tide of feeling stemmed, 
 Such sweeping bolts to hurl at them?
 
 59 
 
 Bitter experience must teach 
 
 A deeper knowledge, clearer view, 
 And Charity's soft fingers reach 
 
 And touch thee from her font, anew. 
 If man is by nature 
 So faithless a creature, 
 'Tis a pitiful omen 
 His mother's a woman, 
 
 And the mother makes the man. 
 
 Come up from this befogging slough, 
 
 Be generous, and be bravely just. 
 Come, elevate the standard, thou, 
 
 Be saintly in unselfish trust. 
 Weaker than miser with his pelf 
 
 Are they who'd bind th' aspiring soul 
 Subservient alone to self, 
 
 Forgetful of the inwoven whole. 
 For loving is living, 
 Increasing with giving, 
 The freer, the surer, 
 The broader, the purer, 
 
 And the mother makes the man. 
 
 Was the great Architect so wrong, 
 
 Who fixed each nature's hidden springs?
 
 60 
 
 Or are the discords of the* song 
 
 But a false striking of the strings ? 
 Come, bravely face the ungarnished truth, 
 
 Below the surface seek the laws ; 
 Each wayward streamlet has, in sooth, 
 Some channeled hindrance for a cause. 
 Some repulsive relation, 
 Some defective equation, 
 Some captive unwilling. 
 The true nature chilling, 
 
 And the mother makes the man. 
 
 So long as glides these surface lives,. 
 
 O'er-ruled by passion, pride and caste, 
 And rough-shod o'er crushed natures drives 
 
 The self-love fiats of the past, 
 So long as candor veils her face, 
 
 And nature blushes for her own, 
 And dwarfed opinion leaves no place 
 To right the wrongs in blindness done, 
 So long vague desirings, 
 And unmet requirings, 
 Will crop out in creatures 
 With abnormal natures, 
 
 For the mother makes the man.
 
 CHILD OF SORROW. 
 
 CHILD of sorrow, dry thy tears, 
 
 Unseen friends are near thee! 
 For these weary, wasted years, 
 
 Purest love will cheer thee ; 
 Thou art not despised, forgot, 
 
 Thou art not forsaken ! 
 'Tis each mortal's earthly lot 
 
 Oft to be mistaken ; 
 But the Father ruleth still, 
 
 Guideth all in kindness, 
 Bringing brightness out of ill, 
 
 Happiness from blindness. 
 Then look up ! be glad ! rejoice ! 
 
 Lo ! the bright to-morrow 
 Shall to gladness tune thy voice, 
 
 Hushing all the sorrow. 
 Kindred souls shall blend with thine, 
 
 Loving hands shall guide thee, 
 Fond affections round thee twine, 
 
 Dear ones glide beside thee ; 
 Then look up and dry thy tears 
 For the bliss of coming years. 
 
 61
 
 SPEAKING PIECES. 
 
 FOR MASTER A. R. BROWN. 
 
 " BLESSED are the ^zece-makers," 
 And they who speak the pieces ; 
 They're the lever-movers of the world, 
 That gain the golden fleeces; 
 And if you would be thought a trump, 
 A trumpery speech will do it, 
 If only with a graceful power 
 You gallantly go through it. 
 It makes but very little odds, 
 What odds and ends are in it, 
 If in approved theatric style 
 You end it, and begin it. 
 But if timidly you take the floor, 
 You're floored sir, that is certain, 
 However fine your chosen theme, 
 You'd better drop the curtain, 
 Just keep to windward of the tide, 
 The tied will blow you finely. 
 But your bread will fall on th' buttered side, 
 
 62 

 
 63 
 
 If you speak the truth too plainly, 
 
 For manner is the thing, my lads, 
 
 In man or woman either ; 
 
 And now's the time to put it on, 
 
 And familiarize together. 
 
 Then you can speak true matter, too, 
 
 No matter who you're hitting, 
 
 The jewel will be recognized 
 
 If you polish well the setting.
 
 BUTTON ME UP IN THY VEST, BROTHER. 
 
 BUTTON me up in thy vest, brother, 
 
 Button me up in thy vest ! 
 It giveth me needed rest, brother, 
 
 Needed warmth and rest. 
 I've stood so long apart, brother, 
 
 Shut out in the cold, apart, 
 Fold me close to thy heart, brother, 
 
 Close to thy kind, good heart. 
 I ask not for a place, brother, 
 
 A selfish place, or part, 
 That would light another face, brother, 
 
 Or cheer another heart. 
 Only a little niche, brother, 
 
 Where I may draw from thee 
 The strength and peace so famished for, 
 
 0, brother, lend it me. 
 Then button me up in thy vest, brother, 
 
 Close to thy faithful heart, 
 I faint for the warmth and rest, brother, 
 
 And thou and I must part. 
 
 64
 
 FOUNTAINS BY THE WAYSIDE. 
 
 YES, earth hath its sunny places, 
 Life its scenes of happiness, 
 
 Time its dear remembered spaces, 
 Hearts their little cups of bliss. 
 
 Clustering fruits, and sparkling fountains 
 By the wayside, gleam for all, 
 
 Towering heights, serenest mountains, 
 Songs of triumph, swell and fall. 
 
 Let us glory in the gladness ! 
 
 Let us bathe in the delight ! 
 There's a wrong for every sadness, 
 
 Let us conquer it with right. 
 
 Conquer all that grieves another, 
 
 Conquer all that giveth pain, 
 For the cup we pass a brother 
 
 Will be measured back again. 
 
 65
 
 CYPRESS 
 
 67
 
 ANGEL GRACIE.
 
 THERE IS NO DEATH. 
 
 IT is a fearful, fearful thing, Death ! 
 To love as ever love the great of heart, 
 Aught that must wither 'iieath thy chilling 
 
 breath, 
 
 And at the bidding of thy icy touch depart 
 Ay ! it is fearful ! lo, the little child, 
 By bird, or blossom, or the tinted cloud, 
 The bubble, or the butterfly beguiled, 
 Mourns, comfortless, with noisy wailing wild, 
 As each is hidden 'neath thy murky shroud ; 
 And glowing youth, with wider range of 
 
 thought, 
 
 As airy castles crumble to decay, 
 Hopes fail, ambitious visions come to naught, 
 Fair friendships fade, and true love's vainly 
 
 sought, 
 
 And noblest aims in mockery flee away, 
 Weeps anguished at thy potent breath, 
 Deeming the very fount of feeling dead, 
 That seeming life is but a living death, 
 And at thy shadow shivers in vague dread. 
 
 69
 
 70 
 
 Then in maturer years a deeper pain 
 
 Wrings the stout heart-strings as the loved ones 
 
 leave, 
 
 As speeds thy arrow home, again, again, 
 Of its choicest gems the sad soul to bereave, 
 In helpless, hopeless agony of pain, 
 Leaving them lone and desolate to grieve. 
 But when the eye awakes to light divine 
 The soul drinks in the balm of Truth's glad 
 
 lore, 
 
 The spirit bows as at some favored shrine, 
 Hailing in triumph what appalled before ; 
 Fearing no more the chill of covering sod, 
 Exultant sings, " There is no Death, thank 
 
 God!" 
 
 There is no Death 'tis but a shifting Life ; 
 Gathering new beauties, and a freer scope, 
 Thou'lt meet again with glorious welcome rife, 
 Each parted treasure, and each fleeting hope ; 
 The airy fabric thou shalt rear anew, 
 With a true basis, ever firmly strong ; 
 The faded vision yet shall hail thee true, 
 Griefs lost in bliss, sighs, soaring high in song, 
 The broken chalice of Life's sweetest dew 
 Return brimmed o'er to slake thy thirsting long. 
 Safe in the kaleidoscope of Time,
 
 71 
 
 With brightening brightness, ever shifting 
 
 scenes, 
 
 Harmonious changing to a tuneful chime 
 With all the added wealth that wisdom gleans, 
 All, all of Life but varies and returns ; 
 Be comforted, every heart that mourns ! 
 Fling out thy armed Divinity abroad, 
 There is no Death, no Death, thank God ! thank 
 
 God! 
 
 There is no Death ! the glad'ning orient beams 
 Of a new dawning light the weary soul ; 
 The future with a fairer promise teems, 
 And holier faith extends its blest control. 
 No more shall this dread, haunting, spectre 
 
 ghoul, 
 Of *' partings endless," "death that never 
 
 dies," 
 
 With torture wring the timid, fearful soul ; 
 The Psalm of Life shall fill the echoing skies, 
 And seraph voices swell the glad'ning strains, 
 E'en by the open grave, the covering sod. 
 Weep not, weepers ! by the cold remains 
 Of cruder Life 'tis but the end of pains, 
 The birth of soul to realms by Angels trod ; 
 There is no Death, no Death, thank God ! thank 
 
 God!
 
 72 
 
 My boy, my boy ! asleep with that rapt smile 
 
 Like sunshine flashed upon thy cherub face 
 
 By Angels won. 
 
 beauteous casket ! with adoring gaze, 
 
 Calmly serene, my hungry eyes devour 
 
 Its wondrous charms. 
 
 Yet deep, deep, deep the heavy, dull despair 
 
 Down crusheth all the hope and joy of life, 
 
 My light gone out. 
 
 How like a surging tide the thrilling tale 
 
 Of thy brief life, with hallowed memories 
 
 sweeps 
 
 Adown the past. 
 
 Cradled in blisses 'neath my throbbing heart, 
 The gurglings of maternal tenderness 
 Rippling in every pulsing gush of life, 
 Sang lullaby. 
 
 Each interest, care, emotion, thought, and deed, 
 Held consecrate, subservient all to thee, 
 That thou like some perfected work of art 
 Might'st bless the earth. 
 And when the fierce pangs came, how grandly 
 
 soared 
 
 The mother-love in triumph o'er the pain, 
 That spake fruition, glad, of welcome cares 
 And promised joy.
 
 73 
 
 Delicious moment ! when the velvet cheek 
 
 First softly pressed its glowing couch of rest, 
 
 The fluttering lips with eager instinct sought 
 
 Their cup of life. 
 
 What waves of tenderness swept o'er my soul, 
 
 As fondly in my arms I pressed 
 
 The tiny hand, the lip, and cheek, and brow, 
 
 And listened for the breath that scarcely stirred 
 
 Thy pliant form. 
 
 And on, and on, through all the love-lit hours, 
 
 How did I revel in thy guileless love ! 
 
 I low bathe me in the honey-dews of joy 
 
 Exhaled by thy rich promise of great worth 
 
 And kingly power. 
 
 And I, with threads of silver on my brow, 
 
 Leaned upon thee of three sweet summers' 
 
 growth, 
 
 And learned high lessons of the rarest lore, 
 All loth to wait till noble manhood's seal 
 Should make thee known. 
 And hath grim Death defrauded earth and me? 
 Down plucked a jewel from the brow of life, 
 Drowning it deep in dark oblivion's wave ? 
 Ah ! no, no, no ! in a brighter, higher school, 
 That priceless germ shall gloriously unfold, 
 its wealth of wisdom and delight
 
 74 
 
 In waves of calmest, sweetest, tend'rest joy, 
 Back to the yearning souls whose mighty need 
 Of Heaven's high lore, impelling truth and 
 
 love, 
 Forever lift them upward to the spheres 
 
 above.
 
 PASS BY. 
 
 ANGEL of Death, pass by ! pass by ! 
 
 1 shiver with fear as thou drawest nigh : 
 Art thou not sated with mothers' tears, 
 That flow in rivers adown the years? 
 My dove-eyed, downy, birdling sweet 
 Is not for thy chilling embraces meet ; 
 Oh ! listen for once to Love's wild cry 
 Dread Angel of Death, pass by ! pass by ! 
 
 Thy rustling wings my heart appal ! 
 
 She's the life of my life, my only, all : 
 
 Some new germ of promise each morning 
 
 springs, 
 
 And even a sweeter endearment brings ; 
 A healing balm from her dewy lips, 
 For the crushed soul's thirsting, grieving, drips, 
 The fainting spirit her soft clasp stays 
 With soothing, gladdening, winsome ways ; 
 0, listen for once to Love's wild cry- 
 Dread Angel of Death, pass by ! pass by !
 
 76 
 
 The last bright beam in a darkened day, 
 The last sweet bloom in a desert way, 
 The last blest drop in a cup brimmed o'er 
 With grievous grief in saddest store ; 
 Would'st thou wring it out and leave me there 
 This rayless wo, this deep despair ? 
 Nay ! listen for once to Love's wild cry 
 Dread Angel of Death, pass by ! pass by ! 
 
 He heard, and softly revealed to sight, 
 Stood a being of peace, and love, and light ; 
 He bore my blossom with tenderest care 
 Where the bowers are blest and the-breezes fair, 
 Removing the mantle of earthly woes, 
 Enrobing in blisses and rapt repose ; 
 And the bloom of her beauty, the balm of her 
 
 bliss, 
 
 Beguileth my soul with a waved caress 
 When he calleth again I will sing for joy, 
 " Krhd Angel of Death, pass me NOT by.'
 
 "COME HOME." 
 
 u COME home to thy kindred, come home ! come 
 home! 
 
 To the hearts of the loving that long for thee, 
 come! 
 
 Away with the glooming, the shadows of earth! 
 
 There's a light in the window, a glow on the 
 hearth, 
 
 A rapturous welcome, a couch of repose, 
 
 Sweet rivers of healing for the lightest of woes ; 
 
 There's a tone incomplete while the best- 
 beloved roam 
 
 Come home to thy kindred, come home ! come 
 home ! " 
 
 77
 
 BUXTON BROTHERS. 
 
 CHARLES, ALBERf, HORACE SOLDIERS. 
 
 "DEATH loves a shining mark!" Was't not 
 
 enough, 
 
 Thy three-fold aim be greatly, grandly bright ! 
 Must each who grieves the blow be victim 
 
 choice ? 
 The Honored Sire, with Heaven's fair light 
 
 gone out 
 
 The kindly eyes that speak a generous soul , 
 The reverenced mother, many lips called 
 
 blessed ; 
 
 The fond, fair widows twain, so apt to grace 
 The titles, means, and homage of success ; 
 Each should have moved e'en thy stem hand 
 
 to ruth ! 
 
 0, deadly foul must be the stain that calls 
 Such sacrificial blood to wipe it out 
 And yet, stricken ! mark the triumphant song 
 A Mary heard e'er her fierce anguish came ! 
 How slight Death's gain! He came in risen 
 
 robes. 
 Thus Heaven blesses those who freely lay 
 
 Their choicest gifts on th' altar of to-day. 
 
 78
 
 J. P. BRYANT. 
 
 I DID not fear to die ah, no ! 
 
 For I knew I had a friend 
 In the great, kind Father of us all, 
 
 Who would his Angels send 
 To bear me from the deadly strife 
 
 Where freely I had thrown 
 My earnest, brave, frail earthly life. 
 
 For the love of Right alone. 
 But I thought of thee, my fond and true 
 
 Of the darlings, mine and thine, 
 And my soul. went forth in love and prayer 
 
 To a high and holy shrine. 
 
 / 
 
 Went forth to seek its own again 
 
 Went forth to them and thee ; 
 Turn not in tears to a Southern grave, 
 
 Death parts not thee and me ! 
 A husband's love, a father's care, 
 
 Ye have not lacked, or lost ; 
 0, calmly rest in these true, strong arms. 
 
 My own, my tempest-tost I 
 
 79
 
 ANNA. 
 
 GENTLE Anna, loving Anna, 
 
 Gone to sleep amid the flowers ; 
 Sweet her memory, little charmer, 
 Naught of earth can ever harm her 
 
 Lost to sight, yet ever ours, 
 Glorious in her angel beauty 
 Where delight and love are duty, 
 In the radiant, heavenly bowers. 
 
 FOR MARIAN'S MOTHER. 
 
 TRUST in God ! He knoweth best 
 What dear soul hath need of rest ; 
 Knoweth who hath nerve to bear 
 Life's sad weight of gnef and care ; 
 Wafts the weary from their woes, 
 Grudge them not their blest repose. 
 
 80
 
 FANNY. 
 
 DEAREST and sweetest of girlie pets, 
 Eye-beams of azure, and curly jets 
 Golden as sunshine, sheening about 
 Like rays from thy love-nature gleaming out; 
 Singing of Angels, and dreaming of heaven ; 
 Blessed the boon the good Father has given, 
 Safety from sorrow, and every snare, 
 Bathed in the bliss of the bright " Over There." 
 Lost to us ? nay ! thou art still our own, 
 Sweeter and purer, more beautiful grown. 
 
 AMONG THE BLOSSOMS. 
 
 SLEEPS the earth-form 'mong the blossoms, 
 
 Darling Nellie, gleam of light, 
 While unfolds in Angel bosoms 
 
 Charms too fair for earthly blight. 
 
 4* 81
 
 LITTLE LULIE. 
 
 GERM of beauty, too refined 
 
 In the earth sphere to unfold; 
 Loving spirits, fondly kind, 
 
 Won thee from its chilling cold. 
 But the tendrils of our love, 
 
 Oft shall draw thee to our side, 
 From the bowers where Angels rove, 
 
 Still our treasure, blessing, pride, 
 Teaching us the placid lore, 
 
 Gladdening yon celestial shore. 
 
 82
 
 "BIRDIE." 
 
 MINE is a beautiful home, mama ! 
 
 Your "Birdie" beloved is so blest, 
 'Neath the sheltering wings of the love divine, 
 
 In the glorious heavenly nest, 
 
 mine are" the happiest songs, mama, 
 
 That ever a " Birdie " sang ! 
 In the arbored branches that never fade, 
 
 Where the dew-drops of happiness hang ! 
 
 And mine is the lovingest heart, mama, 
 That e'er throbbed in a "Birdie's" breast; 
 
 'Twill swell with a thrill of rapturous joy 
 When I welcome you home to the nest ! 
 
 But I would not come for you now, mama, 
 He needeth the light of your love, 
 
 My father, who mourns for his "Birdie" flown, 
 Far more than I need it "above. 
 
 83
 
 84 ' 
 
 But often I'll come with my songs, mama, 
 Let the spirit ear list for the tone, 
 
 In the home-nest of earth, with its tenderest 
 
 hearts, 
 Your " Birdie " ne'er leaves you alone.
 
 "ALLIE." 
 
 SOFTLY, softly deep as death, 
 Still the sigh and hush the breath, 
 Softly saddest sorrow weeps 
 Allie sleeps ! 
 
 Gently, gently Angels glide 
 Round the casket, side by side, 
 Gently smile while sorrow weeps 
 Allie sleeps! 
 
 Sweetly, sweetly songs arise 
 To the plains of Paradise, 
 Sweetly still, sad sorrow weeps 
 Allie sleeps ! 
 
 Brightly, brightly gleams a star 
 In the blue of Heaven afar, 
 Brightly sorrow dries her eyes 
 Allie wakes in Paradise ! 
 
 85
 
 ANTHA. 
 
 IN all thy weary way, tireless Death, 
 
 Could'st thou not find for thee a fitter prey? 
 Some time-worn mourner, hungering for thy 
 breath ? 
 
 By want, and wo, and terror, held at bay ? 
 Our pride, our glory, our sweet singing bird, 
 
 In all the prime of Youth, and Hope, and 
 
 Love 
 
 Life fraught with joy till all its deeps were 
 stirred 
 
 How could' st thou smite within her nest, the 
 
 Dove? 
 Yet not to thee, Death ! we look beyond ! 
 
 Thou'rt but the agent of a mightier hand, 
 That waves all wisely the love-guided wand, 
 
 That bids thee lead to yon Elysian land. 
 ! safer there from Life's too chilling blasts 
 
 Is our beloved, and we her bliss may share, 
 For love like hers and ours forever lasts ; 
 
 We thank thee, Father, for thy tender care. 
 
 86
 
 LITTLE WILLIE 
 
 WILLIE, sweet, Willie, sweet, 
 Put off the shoes from the dimpled feet ! 
 Smooth the soft hair, the pil!6w place, 
 Fold snowy drapery over the face, 
 Beautiful hands on the icy breast ; 
 Willie, wee darling, is with the blest. 
 
 Willie, sweet, Willie, sweet, 
 Soon on the sorrowless shore we'll meet, 
 Safe to the glow of the saintly bliss, 
 Welcomed by him we weep to miss ; 
 Glorious Faith! bereft of fear- 
 Willie, wee darling, is still so near. 
 
 87
 
 EBBIE AND ANGIE. 
 
 MY little ones! my jewels! 
 
 my dovelets, all too fair! 
 Was't for this we loved, and welcomed 
 
 All the pain, and toil, and care ? 
 Was't that Death might taste your sweetness ? 
 
 Was't to feed the insatiate grave, 
 That the deeps of Love parental 
 
 Joyfully its treasures gave ? 
 No ! ah, no ! God hath not mocked us ! 
 
 Radiant on a brighter shore 
 They are waiting in their beauty, 
 
 They are ours forever more. 
 
 88
 
 MRS. GROVER. 
 
 AH ! yes, it is cozily pleasant ! 
 
 White cottage, just mellowed with green, 
 With its comforts, and cheery adornings, 
 
 With quietude smiling serene. 
 But sometimes the hush groweth painful, 
 
 And anon it is peopled throughout ; 
 Then fadeth away like a vision, 
 
 While the past glideth swiftly about: 
 Look yonder ! just over the hill-tops ; 
 
 Catch a glimpse of the orchard, and grove, 
 And the roof that looms up in the distance ; 
 
 0, there was my hey-day of love. 
 There I walked by his side in Life's labors, 
 
 How easy the burden ! how blest ! 
 Though eleven were the sons and the daughters, 
 
 Evoking Love's highest behest. 
 Eleven, as the years hurried onward, 
 
 Sweet forms nestled close to my heart ; 
 Grew up, strewing love's purest jewels, 
 
 Ere the Death- Angel tore us apart.
 
 90 
 
 Then Edward, my pride and my darling, 
 
 Just looking so manly and brave, 
 With sixteen glad years of acquiring, 
 
 We mournfully laid in the grave. 
 0, methought 'twas a terrrible sorrow ! 
 
 But the next o'ershadowed it quite, 
 When they laid the good father beside him, 
 
 And hid his loved form from my sight; 
 Then faster, and faster, and faster, 
 
 Came the summons from over the tide ; 
 Ann, Marcia, sweet Ella, and Ellen, 
 
 Then Mason afar from me died. 
 The others, with sons and with daughters, 
 
 Give life to a home of their own, 
 And I sit me down 'mong the shadows, 
 
 Recalling the past, all alone. 
 All alone ? nay, the dear ones are with me, 
 
 I feel the rich glow of their love, 
 And they whisper me through the hushed 
 moments, 
 
 "Hasten home! we await thee above. 
 We await thee with timbrels and dances, 
 
 With the fruit of the field and the grove, 
 With the wine of the vine and the fountain 
 
 Hasten home to our Eden of Love !
 
 SERG. GEORGE P. BLANCHARD. 
 
 KILLED WHILE DEPENDING A BATTERY AT CEDAR CREEK, 
 OCT. 19TH, 1864. 
 
 'TWAS midnight. Deepest silence reigned ; 
 
 The stalwart soldier prone, asleep, 
 Revelled in dreams of battles gained, 
 
 Exulting climbed Fame's magic steep ; 
 Again his own green mountain pressed, 
 
 Engirt with honor, crowned with bay, 
 While fair-browed peace his country blessed, 
 
 And ushered in Love's gala day. 
 Then by his very rapture roused, 
 
 With noiseless step and gentle hand, 
 While all the vast encampment drowsed, 
 
 High thoughts to household idols penned. 
 "We're safe intrenched, we're bold and strong! 
 
 We falter not, or fear ! 
 Each heart throbs patriotic song, 
 
 And Victory hov'reth near. 
 And when this madness is wiped out, 
 
 Triumphant we shall come, 
 
 91
 
 92 
 
 With bounding pulse, with glad'ning shout, 
 
 To the treasured ones at home." 
 But morning dawned ! 'mid fog and gloom. 
 
 The wily foe, with subtle skill, 
 Like a sudden thunderbolt of doom, 
 
 On the unsuspecting heroes fell. 
 0, how they mow them ! shell and shot 
 
 Make direst havoc ! lo, they break ! 
 Disorderly fly the fatal spot, 
 
 Captives and cannon in their wake ! 
 But, like an adamantine rock, 
 
 Still spouting doom and fiery death, 
 One battery withstands the shock, 
 
 One martyr faithful unto death 
 Holds firm till rings the clarion tone 
 
 Of Sheridan's fierce rallying cry, 
 And the day so nearly lost is won 
 
 He standeth firm, alas ! to DIE ! 
 " 0, sad the news my pen must tell ! " 
 
 Thus wrote a comrade kind, 
 " Your husband, father, brother, fell, 
 
 But he hath left behind 
 A record traced in fairest lines, 
 
 Of bravest loyal zeal, 
 And reverent Love her laurel twines, 
 
 Grief's poignant pangs to heal."
 
 ' 93 
 
 0, aching hearts ! 0, stricken band ! 
 
 0, daughter, swooning like the dead ! 
 0, moaning, grieving, bleeding land ! 
 
 0, frantic War, so bloody red ! 
 Where bides the pen bedipped in flame, 
 
 Such woful records apt to trace ? 
 What might hast thou, high-sounding Fame, 
 
 Such fearful etchings to efface ? 
 And yet, look up ! tempest-tost ! 
 
 Look up ! soul with anguish riven ! 
 No hope, or joy, or love, is lost; 
 
 They're garnered safe in yon bright haven, 
 Embalmed for thee by care Divine, 
 
 Safe in the boundless heart of Love! 
 This incense to thy spirit's shrine, 
 
 Floats from Elysian bowers above. 
 " loving friends ! tender hearts ! 
 
 Be comforted, be strong ; 
 Each joy, or grief, some tone imparts 
 
 To the grand triumphal song ; 
 Some needed tone to swell complete 
 
 The anthem grand and high, 
 Whose harmonies with blisses fleet 
 
 Through all Eternity ; 
 What 'vantage then, if soon, or late, 
 
 We drop the grosser dress
 
 94* 
 
 That veils the rapturous estate 
 
 Of the spirit's happiness? 
 Ay ! only veils, not separates, 
 
 My Charlie ! watchful eyes 
 Smile upon worth from Heaven's gates, 
 
 From the heights of Paradise."
 
 FREDDIE KNOX, 
 
 AGED THREE. 
 
 Just at the last, with a halo of brightness irradia 
 ting his sweet features, he waved his hand exultingly 
 and said, " See the babies, mama, see the babies." 
 
 A BEAUTIFUL bud, so purely sweet, 
 
 So bright with the light of love, 
 Sprang up in the heat of Earth's weary street, 
 That lest it be trampled by careless feet 
 
 The Angels watched above. 
 And the cherubs that love 'neath the Tree of 
 Life, 
 
 By the brink of the River of God, 
 Were commisioned to gather from earthly strife, 
 And bear to their bowers, with beauty rife, 
 
 This bud from its lower abode. 
 He saw their fleecy white garments wave, 
 
 Saw their radiant features fair, . 
 And his eyes grew bright with the light they 
 
 lave, 
 And his dimpled hand a welcome gave 
 
 " See the babies, the babies there ! " 
 
 95
 
 96 
 
 They gathered him up, that beautiful band, 
 
 The sweetest babe of them all, 
 To walk with them on the golden strand. 
 Still gleams the wave of that dimpled hand 
 
 u Corne higher! " the babies call. 
 "Why weepest thou, mother, with gushing 
 grief, 
 
 Come higher and taste our joy, 
 AY hen bravely borne Life's burden brief, 
 We will bring thee a rapturous, blest relief, 
 
 And thy tenderly cherished boy."
 
 F.DDIK FRENCH
 
 "LET ME GO." 
 
 "LET me go, the Angels call me 
 
 Mother, darling, let me go. 
 See, they're waiting all around me, 
 
 And the fever hurts me so 
 I will come again with grandma, 
 
 Mother, can't you let me go ? " 
 
 u My God, he is dying my child, my child ; 
 Out from my Life-dream the day-star is hurled. 
 Must he fade like a dream, and no semblance 
 
 remain 
 
 Of the beautiful Angel I've given to Heaven ? 
 Alas! the rare picture I hold in my heart 
 No pencil hath painted to gladden my eyes ; 
 0, soul of my soul ! I will fold thee so fast 
 The dread Angel of Death can not tear us 
 apart." 
 
 "Let me go, the Angels call me 
 Mother, darling, let me go.. 
 
 Grandma says 'tis so much better,' 
 
 5 97
 
 98 
 
 And the fever hurts me so 
 You shall have my spirit picture 
 If you'll only let me go." 
 
 u Do I dream that I love him, yet hold him in 
 
 pain 
 From the bright ones who seek him to share 
 
 their delight ? 
 
 0, cruel affection! 0, blinded self-love 
 Nay! go, O, my darling, and bless me from 
 
 Heaven." 
 
 By her hearthstone, sad and dreary, 
 
 Many, many miles away, 
 Sat a widow, near Life's sunset, 
 
 Holding sternest want at bay. 
 "One crust more alas! 'tis mouldy; 
 
 Father, has it come to this ? " 
 Straight there shone a golden glory 
 
 Straight there fell a shower of bliss ; 
 Two bright forms appeared beside her, 
 
 One of age, and one a child. 
 " Sketch my darling," said the elder, 
 
 "And your empty board is filled." 
 Then a strange skill seized her fingers, 
 
 And the sweet face of the boy,
 
 99 
 
 Perfect in its manly beauty, 
 
 Radiant in its Heaven-born joy, 
 
 Cheered the heart of the lone mother, 
 Touched her soul with generous love. 
 
 Smiled the widow in her plenty, 
 And the Angels smiled above.
 
 CAUGHT IN THE PICKER. 
 
 " Now, Michee, my laddie, be careful ; 
 
 Those flying teeth, don't get too near 
 It frets me to think you're in danger, 
 
 My heart freezeth fast with its fear. 
 My brave one, so pleasant and willing, 
 
 Ever ready of hand and of heart ; 
 In the strife for dear life that is needful, 
 
 So manlike in doing your part. 
 'Tis true, we've nine others beside you, 
 
 But never a one could we spare, 
 And you, 0, my heart would be broken ! 
 
 So, Michee, beloved, have a care." 
 
 " 0, never you fret for me, mother, 
 . For I'm just the lad you will prove 
 To bear you safe over Life's breakers, 
 To a palace of plenty love." 
 
 "My God! what is this they are telling? 
 "My God! whaCs the sight that I see? 
 
 1QO
 
 101 
 
 My Michee, all wounded and bleeding, 
 
 With his death-hurt, they're bringing to me." 
 
 " Now, never you fret for me, mother, 
 
 I've just 'cut across' to my home, 
 And I'll live for you still, bless and love you, 
 
 And care for you all till you come. 
 0, fondest and faithfulest mother ! 
 
 'Twere sad if with ten by your side, 
 You'd never an angel in Glory 
 
 To welcome you over the tide. 
 Until then I am watchfully near you, 
 
 Bringing comfort and strength from above, 
 I'm the better to guide o'er the breakers 
 
 To God's blessed sunshine and love."
 
 JENNIE. 
 
 0, HOW we miss thee ! beauteous, suff 'ring one ! 
 
 Bound faster to our hearts by every pain ; 
 Wide, pleading eyes, with lustre all their own, 
 
 How will they thrill us when we meet again ! 
 0, help us thank thee ! kindest Father, God, 
 
 For the blest privilege to present to Thee 
 So sweet an off'ring for the blest abode, 
 
 Where, with our treasures, soon we'll gar 
 nered be. 
 
 102
 
 CLARA. 
 
 ME THOUGHT those pattering, fairy feet, 
 
 Would supply my faltering need, 
 That amid all the bitterness, so much of sweet 
 
 Would ever be mine indeed. 
 And a beautiful fabric, of light and love, 
 
 Hope wove with tenderest care ; 
 And the warp and the woof was my idol, my 
 dove, 
 
 And, lo ! she is sleeping there. 
 O, to lay her away in the dreary mold, 
 
 My beautiful, winsome one, 
 My spirit moaned, and my heart grew cold, 
 
 While I murmured, " Thy will be done." 
 " Sing glory, papa, sing glory," she said, 
 
 And her feeble voice joined in the strain ; 
 Then, " dear mama, Jennie, so dear," and laid 
 
 Her head on my heart again. 
 " Blessed the little ones, trust in God," 
 
 I will, my soul, I will, 
 And when the lowly vale I have trod, 
 
 We will meet on the heavenly hill. 
 
 103
 
 JULIA. 
 
 GONE, gone from the bosom, 
 
 Pet lamb of the fold ; 
 Thy jetty curls drooping, 
 
 Thy loving heart cold. 
 We shall miss thee, and mourn thee, 
 
 Our idolized one, 
 But 'tis well with thee, darling, 
 
 Let God's will be done. 
 
 ABBIE. 
 
 ABBY, sister, Julia calls, 
 
 Bliss is lone without thee ; 
 Fondest mother, do not mourn, 
 
 We are still about thee , 
 Radiant, glorious arms entwined, 
 
 Singing songs of Gladness, 
 Think of this, ye loved ones kind, 
 
 Grieve us not with sadness. 
 
 104
 
 MINNIE. 
 
 WINSOME Minnie, blithesome Minnie, 
 Glowing sunbeam, ray of light ! 
 
 How we wept when kindred Angels 
 Bore our darling from our sight. 
 
 Yet, oft as the morning breaketh, 
 While we greet the golden dawn, 
 
 Nestling to our hearts, she cometh 
 With soft whispers, petted fawn. 
 
 And as twilight flings its shadows 
 
 O'er our little clust'ring band, 
 Then again we hear her music ; 
 
 Clasp the little dimpled hand. 
 
 Arid we're waiting, trustful waiting, 
 For the hour so fraught with bliss, 
 When her radiant spirit beauty 
 
 Greets us in its loveliness. 
 
 5* 105
 
 THE LAME GIRL. 
 
 I'M not a " lame girl," now, mother, 
 
 My feet are well and strong 
 To follow where the Angels lead 
 
 As I learn the glad, new song ; 
 A song so full of love divine, 
 
 Of deep, delicious bliss ; 
 Methinks you, too, must thrill with joy, 
 
 Must share the happiness. 
 
 You loved to hear me sing, mother, 
 
 I think you loved me more, 
 For the weight of helpless suffering 
 
 Your poor lame daughter bore ; 
 ! how your kind heart must rejoice 
 
 To think relief has come ; 
 That she roams serene in the healing shade 
 
 By the river banks of home. 
 
 106
 
 ONLY ONE. 
 
 " ONLY one our noble hearted, 
 
 Only one our pride and strength, 
 Only one and he departed, 
 Only one alone, at length. 
 Just as promise touched fruition, 
 
 Just as manhood's glory broke 
 0, the sad, heart-rent rendition ! 
 
 0, the fearful, death-dealt stroke ! 
 Childless through the lengthening shad 
 ows, 
 
 Childless down the dreary slope, 
 Childless 0, the void it telleth, ' 
 
 Childless knell of highest hope." 
 Nay ! 0, nay ! a bright form glideth, 
 
 Ever radiant, by your side : 
 Nay ! 0, nay ! the life abideth, 
 
 Springing from love's living tide ; 
 Only gone to nobler teachers, 
 
 Only gone to a fitter clime ; 
 
 107
 
 108 
 
 Waiting to rehearse their glories 
 When the true life bursts sublime 
 
 Blessing all the lengthening shadows, 
 Gilding the love-hallowed slope, 
 
 Crowning, in the gorgeous dawning, 
 Higher than the highest hope.
 
 HOW I LONGED FOR THEE. 
 
 WHEN the fever pangs were raging, 
 
 How I longed for thee ! 
 When with Death fierce contest waging, 
 
 How I longed for thee ! 
 Longed for one more kindly token, 
 One more pledge of ties unbroken, 
 Words of love by thy lips spoken 
 
 One more glimpse of thee. 
 
 Roaming, now, in realms supernal, 
 
 Still I turn to thee ! 
 Revelling in joys eternal, 
 
 Still I turn to thee ! 
 Long to clasp thee, and caress thee, 1 
 Soothe thee, cheer thee, guard and bless thee, 
 With my presence to impress thee 
 
 Turning e'er to thee. 
 
 109
 
 110 
 
 Should the way seein dark before thee, 
 
 Darling, turn to me ! 
 Should a shadow gather o'er thee, 
 
 Darling, turn to me ! 
 I will cherish, shelter, guide thee, 
 That no ill may e'er betide thee, 
 Roaming evermore beside thee 
 
 Darling, trust in me. 
 
 Soon thine earthly lessons ended, 
 
 Thou wilt haste to me ! 
 Soon in endless blisses blended, 
 
 We will wander free ! 
 Where the air is brightest, purest, 
 Happiness completest, surest, 
 Bound by ties for aye securest 
 
 Evermore with me.
 
 "HE NEVER SAW HIS FATHER." 
 
 HE never saw his father, 
 
 My beautiful ! my boy ! 
 Those glorious eyes to an orphanhood 
 
 Awoke in their baby joy ! 
 
 He never saw his father ! 
 
 Poor darling wo is me ! 
 ! that the foe that dealt his death 
 
 Could but have looked at thee ! 
 
 He never saw his father! 
 
 ! with what manly pride 
 He would have held thee to his breast, 
 
 While gushed the deep love-tide ! 
 
 He never saw his father ! 
 
 The dream of Eden bliss 
 That thrilled our souls with wild delight, 
 
 How could it end in this ? 
 
 Ill
 
 112 
 
 He never saw his father ! 
 
 My heart, my heart will break ! 
 0, who will guide thy tender steps, 
 
 And struggle for thy sake ? 
 
 For thine and mine, my beautiful ! 
 
 Since in a southern grave 
 Lies buried deep the brave, true heart 
 
 We would have died to save. 
 
 The light has gone from out thy life, 
 And 'mine is deepest gloom; 
 
 ! that we were with him asleep 
 Within that southern tomb. 
 
 "Not so, beloved, ah, no ! not so 
 
 For ye I'm living yet ; 
 That blissful dream will never fade, 
 
 Love's sun will never set." , 
 
 " Live on, to give and take delight ! 
 
 Live on, in placid faith ! 
 The love that shelters thee and thine 
 
 Is mightier far than death."
 
 "LITTLE WARRIE." 
 
 ARE you grieving, Ma, my darling, 
 
 For your little Warrie still, 
 While the sad sighs heave your bosom, 
 
 And the tears your sweet eyes fill ? 
 
 > 
 
 Please remember, Ma, my darling, 
 The brave words your Warrie said 
 
 Ere the Angels bore him upward, 
 
 "Why should any mourn the dead?" 
 
 Sweetest, brightest, Ma, my darling, 
 To your heart your Warrie seemed, 
 
 But of this, the A'ngel beauty, 
 
 You the half have never dreamed. 
 
 0, be joyful ! Ma, my darling, 
 
 This is now your Warrie's prayer, 
 
 For no shade can mar the brightness 
 If you'll but my blisses share. 
 
 113
 
 THREE ON EARTH AND THREE IN HEAVEN. 
 
 THREE sweet girls Three darling boys, 
 Priceless jewels, crowning joys, 
 Life and love to me have given, 
 Three on earth and three in Heaven. 
 
 Three to brighten toil and care 
 Three to catch each whispered prayer, 
 Three to cheer me while I wait 
 Three to meet me at the gate. 
 
 Three the earthly home to grace 
 Three to consecrate a place 
 To receive me when in death 
 Droops the mortal, sleeps the breath. 
 
 Glorious Life, and glorious Love ! 
 Blessed here, and blest above : 
 Praises for the Angels given 
 Three on earth and three in Heaven. 
 
 114
 
 THEY WILL NOT LISTEN. 
 
 WHY clingest thou to shroud and pall, 
 
 O, Earth ! with floods of weeping ? 
 Why yieldest thou a passive thrall ? 
 
 Dread Death thy dungeon keeping. 
 With thoughts aglow with living fire, 
 
 Words with joy-dews aglisten, 
 We come, your loved ones, nigher, nigher 
 
 0, if ye will but listen ! 
 
 "My brother, from the cradle on 
 
 By blest affection hallowed, 
 Who feeling half thy sunlight gone, 
 
 My cold form moaning followed. 
 I stretch my hands to touch thine eyes, 
 
 My own with love aglisten, 
 And murmur truths to hush thy sighs 
 
 Ah, me ! he will not listen. 
 
 115
 
 116 
 
 Sweet sister of my fluctuous years 
 
 The loveliest part, and brightest, 
 I'd fain transmute to bliss thy tears 
 
 When death and the grave affrightest. 
 I yearn to meet thee, soul to soul, 
 
 With Heaven's delights aglisten, 
 Proving the glories of Life's goal 
 
 But, ! she will not listen. 
 
 " Father revered I would repay 
 
 The debt of love I owe thee; 
 Rend from thine eyes the veil away, 
 
 Thy buried treasures show thee. 
 To thee with glory -beams of light, 
 
 With eagerness aglisten, 
 I hasten with all loving might " 
 
 Alas ! he will not listen. 
 
 " Best, fondest mother surely thou 
 
 Wilt catch each whispered token; 
 By thy pure, tender spirit, who 
 
 E'er found hope's promise broken ? 
 A child of thine ne'er called in vain, 
 
 0, welcome me, aglisten 
 With the old-time love I crave again " 
 
 My God ! she will not listen. 

 
 117 
 
 "My mightier self my soul's high lord 
 
 Great heart my own enshrining, 
 Despite the murky, veiling sward, 
 
 In thy folded arms reclining, 
 I'll tell thee of Elysianjoys, 
 
 "With Eden's bliss aglisten, 
 Unmixed with Earth's too apt alloys " 
 
 Heaven help ! he will not listen. 
 
 "My girl my boy fair idols twain, 
 
 Holiest and richest treasures, 
 My kingdom, sceptre, and my crown, 
 
 Concent'ring all life's pleasures ; 
 Poor, loveful hearts, aweeping blood ! 
 
 Sweet eyes with tears aglisten, 
 Ye are not motherless ! " 0, God ! 
 
 'Tis vain, they will not listen. 
 
 0, Earth, Earth, Earth ! how long, how long 
 
 Wilt thou hug the bonds that thrall thee ? 
 And vainly to the victor's song 
 
 Thy re-born children call thee? 
 With faith and joy, with light and love, 
 
 Celestial comers glisten ; 
 Deep gloom of darkness, swift remove 
 
 Our loved ones soon shall listen.
 
 118 
 
 Then life will lose its bitterness. 
 
 And Earth forget her sorrow, 
 While the weary-hearted catch the gleam 
 
 Of the glad, immortal morrow. 
 And over all, resplendently, 
 
 Truth's bow of promise glisten, 
 When to God's messengers of love 
 
 All shall delighted listen.
 
 the 
 
 119
 
 WAITING. 
 
 WAITING, waiting, half impatient, 
 
 For the influx of the tide 
 From Truth's swelling, boundless Ocean, 
 
 Waiting by the water's side. 
 Waiting, waiting roll ye billows, 
 
 Meet this eager, wild desire, 
 Praying, hoping, half despairing, 
 
 Reft of power save to aspire. 
 Waiting, waiting filled with echoes 
 
 Of the ocean's grand old voice ; 
 Longing to peal forth an anthem, 
 
 Bidding all the world rejoice. 
 Waiting, waiting all my being 
 
 Pouring one beseeching strain, 
 "Bear me bravely on thy bosom, 
 
 0, thou glorious, heaving main ! " 
 Waiting, waiting rapt with worship 
 
 By Truth's gurgling water side ; 
 Waiting, yearning in my weakness, 
 
 For the influx of the tide. 
 
 121
 
 122 
 
 Waiting, waiting 0, ye blest ones, 
 
 Radiant on the other shore ; 
 For your guidance, your assistance, 
 
 To re-echo ocean's roar. 
 Waiting, waiting 0, ye billows, 
 
 Onward, outward, bear my bark ; 
 High uprearing progress' beacon, 
 
 Glad'ning souls with error dark. 
 Waiting, waiting is it vainly 
 
 That I wait, and plead, and pray ? 
 All this struggling, deep desiring, 
 
 Must it fruitless be for aye ? 
 Nay ! God will not mock his children, 
 
 Will not, when they cry for bread, 
 Mock their craving with a pebble 
 
 Hungry soul, thou shalt be fed ! 
 Fed with richest, full fruition. 
 
 Stay thou by Truth's ocean side, 
 Lo ! the Angels move the waters, 
 
 Lo ! the influx of the tide ! 
 Waiting, waiting 0, be patient ! 
 
 Waiting God's own will and way. 
 Gird thee for the coming conflict, 
 
 There's a needs be for tin stay. 
 Waiting till the voice Yv'iuiin thee 
 
 Gain the fullness of its power,
 
 123 
 
 Waiting till thine armor fit thee, 
 
 Waiting till the fitting hour. 
 Waiting, yet be striving, doing 
 
 Filled with Faith and Hope and Love, 
 Waiting, catching all the teachings 
 
 Floating from the spheres above. 
 Waiting till Love's holy calling 
 
 Thou canst honor and adorn, 
 Till thy faltering, mortal weakness, 
 
 Be by strength divine upborn. 
 Waiting till Truth's grand old ocean, 
 
 Swelling, bear thee from its side, 
 Out upon the clear, blue waters, 
 
 By the influx of the tide. 
 Thou shalt reap the blest fruition 
 
 Of thy waiting by Truth's sea ; 
 Lo I a tranced baptismal blessing, 
 
 As a mantle, foldeth thee. 
 Thorny crowns shall gleam in glories, 
 
 Desert paths as Eden bloom, 
 Golden sheaves in grand Aurora's 
 
 From the gloaming fan the gloom. 
 
 .
 
 LISTEN TO THE VOICES! 
 
 ! LISTEN to the voices that whisper thee, whis 
 per thee 
 
 Angel voices. 
 
 Sweet are the tidings they bring to thee, bring 
 to thee 
 
 Heaven rejoices ! 
 
 Come out into the sunlight, cloud-covered soul ! 
 Lave in the love-light, drink from the bowl 
 Dipt in the wave where the Life-waters roll 
 
 Sweet are the songs of the voices. 
 
 Eager, loving spirits are beck'ning thee, beck'- 
 
 ning thee 
 "Come up hither! 
 The beautiful blossoms we bring to thee, bring 
 
 to thee 
 Never wither. 
 
 We'll enwreathe thee with garlands, will bless 
 thee with love, 
 
 124
 
 125 
 
 We'll lift thee in triumph life's trials above, 
 By the power of inspiration thy ready lips we'll 
 1 move 
 0, hasten thee, hasten thee hither ! " 
 
 I 
 ! listen to the voices that plead with thee, 
 
 plead with thee 
 " Kindred spirit. 
 Glorious our labor! we have need of thee, 
 
 need of thee 
 Come share its merit ! 
 
 As legions of glad Angels engirt the Nazarene, 
 As Moses and Elias on the sacred mount were 
 
 seen, 
 
 Thus cheering and sustaining thee in blessed 
 ness serene 
 We'll labor together, sweet spirit."
 
 <"}}{ rigmnht ni 
 r dt noivt- | 
 
 1 
 NINEVAH, 
 
 9 
 
 NOT with a Jonah's anathema, 
 
 f*F*^~J I VII TT i."-*^- 4 w* *^^^^^^^^HP' - 
 
 Ninevah ! 0, Ninevah ! 
 Come the legions of light to thce to-day, 
 
 Ninevah! 0, Ninevah! 
 But to rear the banner of 'self-reliance, 
 Serene in the strength of truth's defiance ; 
 Gird on the armor of Spirit lore, 
 List to the friends who have gone before, 
 And glory shall crown thee from the other shore, 
 
 Ninevah! 0, Ninevah! 
 
 
 The tallest of oaks from acorns prow, 
 
 Ninevah ! 0, Ninevah ! 
 Thy sowers may seem to thee weak and low, 
 
 Ninevah ! 0, Ninevah ! 
 But only be strong in the cause of right, 
 Labor unwearied with fervid might, 
 And a glorious harvest of light and power 
 Shall reward the toil of each weary hour, 
 Till thou art no more a Babel-tower, 
 
 Ninevah ! 0, Ninevah ! 
 
 126
 
 127 
 
 True, thou art shadowed with many a shade, 
 
 Ninevah! 0, Ninevah! 
 But our unseen forces are round thee laid, 
 
 Ninevah! 0, Ninevah! 
 Only unite and persevere, 
 Reach trustingly forth to a brighter sphere ; 
 Strong in the faith of a higher life, 
 Strive with an eager, aspiring strife 
 Lo ! the Future with harmony shall be rife, 
 
 Ninevah! 0, Ninevah! 
 
 Write thee a name ! write thee a name ! 
 
 Ninevah ! 0, Ninevah ! 
 That shall shine afar, like sheeted flame, 
 
 Ninevah! 0, Ninevah! 
 An unwritten page, a field is thine ! 
 Plant thee a vineyard, prune the vine ! 
 Build thee a tower to reach the skies ; 
 We await but thy calling, "Arise ! arise ! " 
 To fill thee with wonder and glad surprise, 
 
 Ninevah! 0, Ninevah!
 
 BESSIE. 
 
 OPENING up to thy favored youth, 
 
 Gleaming in radiant brightness, 
 Life's pictured glory with promise ruth, 
 
 Filleth thy soul with lightness. 
 We'll tell thee how to fasten the glow 
 
 Of Hope, and Joy, and Beauty ; 
 Be this the motto, whatever you do, 
 
 "Truth, and Trust, and Duty!" 
 
 There's nothing to fright thee, nothing to fear! 
 
 Goodness divine is guiding 
 Over the trials, the toil, the care, 
 
 To happiness abiding. 
 Only heed the light divine, 
 
 Guiding thee onward in beauty, 
 And bear this banner to every shrine, 
 
 " Faith, and Love, and Duty ! " 
 
 128
 
 129 
 
 Worship in deeds of charity ! 
 
 Pray by acts of kindness! 
 No penance we'll require of thee 
 
 But growing out of blindness! 
 Live for the right, and purely win 
 
 A wreath of inner beauty ; 
 Bearing this standard amid Earth's din, 
 
 "Harmony and Duty." 
 
 Angel hands shall lead thee on, 
 
 Mother-love surround thee, 
 Till thine earthly task is done 
 
 The fetters loosed that bound thee. 
 Then thou'lt find whate'er of bloom, 
 
 Whate'er of bliss and beauty, 
 Earned by effort hither come, 
 
 Crowning well- wrought Duty. 
 
 6
 
 "SISTER AGNEZ." 
 
 MORTALS called me Sister Agnez, 
 
 When I worshipped in the form ; 
 In my youth life's tidal current 
 
 Gushed delighted, glad and warm. 
 Purest azure, dewy, dreamy, 
 
 Deep and tender, soulful eyes, 
 Wavy wealth of radiant tresses, 
 
 Golden-tinged as sunset skies. 
 Pure, broad brow, with dainty veining, 
 
 Pearly tints, and oval lines, 
 Thought lit smile of Angel sweetness, 
 
 Scarce the fair contour defines. 
 And my heart with every beauty, 
 
 Every sweet, caressing word, 
 Revelled in bliss-haunted visions, 
 
 Quavered like the humming bird. 
 0! the rapturous joy of living! 
 
 High ambitions ! holy aims ! 
 Gorgeous-hued anticipations! 
 
 Brilliant, rainbow-tinted dreams. 
 
 130
 
 181 
 
 But, as to my widened vision 
 
 Came earth's sterner cares and fears, 
 And the smiles so glad and glowing 
 
 Oft-times were bedewed with tears- 
 Shrinking like the sweet mimosa, 
 
 From the chill of mortal strife ; 
 Wrongs, and errings, grievings, blightings- 
 
 How I craved a higher life ; 
 Longed to rise o'er the imperfect, 
 
 Leaving all the dross behind, 
 And life's purest, richest treasures, 
 
 Holiest founts of feeling find. 
 Dazzled by the outward seeming, 
 
 By the sacred semblance given, 
 Took the vestal veil, believing 
 
 Thus to be the bride of Heaven ; 
 Thus to shut out all the jarring, 
 
 And in ecstacy divine, 
 In seraphic, rapt communion, 
 
 Slake the soul-thirst as with wine. 
 ! the fearful, dread awaking 
 
 From that thrilling dream of bliss ; 
 ! the shud'ring that o'ertakes me 
 
 To recall the dread abyss 
 Of remorse, and vain regretting, 
 
 At the crucifixion, base,
 
 Of the beauteous self-hood given 
 
 Me to cherish, culture, grace ! 
 Prostrate on the cold, damp flagstone 
 
 Of my dreary, dismal cell, 
 Counting beads, long prayers reciting, 
 
 From my eyes the scales soon fell. 
 But too late I learned the lesson, 
 
 And the weary, snail-paced years 
 Came and went with troops of phantoms 
 
 Buried joys, and fruitless tears ; 
 Came and went with added terrors, 
 
 Till my spirit frantic grew 
 With its weight of wo unspoken, 
 
 With its yearnings for the true. 
 Reaching forth its gaunt, weird fingers, 
 
 Drew a gibbering demon near, 
 Almost clutching my poor heart-strings, 
 
 Almost grasping 'twas Despair. 
 Fainting at the fearful spectre, 
 
 Piercingly I cried to Heaven! 
 When, 0, joy ! a beatific 
 
 Vision to my sight was given. 
 With a presence soul entrancing, 
 
 With a soothing ne'er expressed 
 By your feeble, earth-life language, 
 
 Came to me a spirit blest :
 
 133 
 
 Murmured words of fond endearing, 
 
 Laid a gentle hand in mine, 
 Said, " Dear sister, tried and faithful, 
 
 Never, never more repine. 
 Thou no more alone shalt languish, 
 
 We will all thy burdens share 
 Long we've sought to prove our presence, 
 
 That we might relieve thy care." 
 ! the blessedness they brought me ! 
 
 0, the treasures of their love! 
 Till the earth ties gently sundered, 
 
 And I soared with them above. 
 Then I prayed them, " 0, beloved ones, 
 
 All my soul's with pity thrilled 
 For the pure, aspiring fair ones, 
 
 Blind as I, with error filled. 
 Send, 0, send me to enlighten ! 
 
 Let me save them from the fate 
 / have suffered, for none taught we, 
 
 And I learned the truth too late. 
 Not alone in cell, and cloister, 
 
 Folded closely to the breast, 
 Is this monster, viper, error, 
 
 Rend'ring earth-life so unblest. 
 But by many a cherished hearth-stone, 
 
 O'er the blossoms of the heart,
 
 134 
 
 Traileth its dank, deadly virus, 
 
 Bidding cheerfulness depart. 
 Bid me tell them, 0, beloved ones, 
 
 That the Father smileth not 
 On vain penance, soul-afflicting 
 
 Sacrifice with sorrow fraught ; 
 But the blessed consecration 
 
 He requires is simply, this : 
 To improve with love most holy 
 
 Every source of happiness ; 
 Not in idle, selfish pleasure, 
 
 Seeking their own good alone, 
 But with noble, grand endeavor, 
 
 Life's true glory making known." 
 Then they gathered all their forces, 
 
 And their batteries gently threw 
 O'er this feeble, humble mortal, 
 
 And, dear friends, I come to you 
 Come with deepest, pure emotion, 
 
 With a love no words can tell, 
 Bidding you e'er trust His goodness, 
 
 Who doeth wisely, all things well. 
 Bidding you fee temples, holy, 
 
 Consecrated to the right ; 
 Not in sadness, but delighting 
 
 In his blessings, bounteous, bright-,
 
 135 
 
 For He who with such wond'rous beauty 
 
 Decked the mountain, dell and plain, 
 Tinged the clouds that bathe in ether, 
 
 Tuned old Ocean's heaving main, 
 Filled the form that clothes the spirit 
 
 With such varied founts of bliss, 
 Frowns upon the vain presumption 
 
 That forbiddeth happiness. 
 Nay ! delight is but a duty, 
 
 Speaking gratitude and love, 
 And the worship that He loveth 
 
 Is the joy that lifts above 
 Gloomy doubting, dark foreboding, 
 
 Fearing, and repining sad, 
 Leaving naught but faith sublimest, 
 
 Loving trust that maketh glad. 
 Then be happy, ever happy ! 
 
 Freely give as ye receive, 
 Blessings, favors, kindest tokens ; 
 
 Blooming garlands thus ye'll weave, 
 That shall blossom on forever, 
 
 Speaking with aroma sweet, 
 Of the goodness of the giver, 
 
 Strewing mercies for your feet. 
 Ay ! be happy ! mold in beauty 
 
 The true self-hood God has given ;
 
 136 
 
 Thus the spirit highest soareth, 
 
 Thus ye'll be the brides of Heaven. 
 
 Sometimes think of Sister Agnez, 
 Of her tortured, wasted years, 
 
 And, ! join her in her labors 
 To dispel false faith and fears."
 
 HYGIENE. 
 
 [INVOCATION.] 
 
 HYGIENIA! Hygiene! 
 Of fairest nymphs the peerless queen, 
 Ne'er was love so eager sought 
 As I woo thee fly me not! 
 Hours of languor weary days 
 Slowly pass their dreary ways, 
 While for thee I sighing pine 
 Hygienia, 0, be mine. 
 
 Glowing with celestial red 
 Come with thy elastic tread ; 
 Nimble-footed, brave and strong, 
 All my soul would gush in song, 
 Could I fold thee to my breast, 
 Shutting out this vague unrest 
 I implore thee, pleading prone, 
 Hygienia, be mine own ! 
 
 137
 
 138 
 
 Strong in fhee, life's burden, great, 
 Loses its o'ercrushing weight ; 
 Blest with thee, life's darksome night 
 Glows at eventide with light. 
 Without thee I falter, faint 
 Hear me, heed me, favor grant ! 
 The aspiring soul to conquest lead 
 Hygiene, be mine indeed ! 
 
 Health of body, spirit, soul, 
 Holding wise and pure control, 
 Giving color, strength and tone 
 To the strivings through them shown, 
 Yielding valor, zeal, and zest, 
 To the toil that bringeth rest, 
 Harmonizing will and power 
 Hygiene, forevermore. 
 

 
 VA-LEDICTORY. 
 
 [E. B. Holden's, North Clarendon, Feb., 1866.] 
 
 HERE fold thy wings, 0, sweet-toned harmony! 
 Here stand on guard with tireless vigilance ; 
 Hush thou each lightest word that bears a sting, 
 And crush th' ungenerous thought ere it spring 
 
 forth. 
 
 Sing of the daily, hourly, glorious power 
 Self-conquest brings, for show'ring blessedness 
 Till every weary pilgrim leaves this shrine, 
 E'en as do I, with music in the soul, 
 Of grateful happiness and reverent joy. 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 t ; 
 
 
 139
 
 "HOW FAR FROM HOME?" 
 
 " How far from home ? " I asked, as on 
 
 I sadly toiled. The watchman spake, 
 " The long, dark night is almost gone, 
 
 The morning soon will break; 
 Then weep no more, but speed thy flight, 
 
 With Hope's bright star thy guiding ray 
 Bright glimpses of the realms of light 
 
 Bespeak the dawning day." 
 
 Yon blissful land of beings bright, 
 
 Who passed before o'er Death's dark tide, 
 Is drawing near to the raptured sight 
 
 The portals open wide. 
 No more we weep beside the tomb, 
 
 With breaking heart and rayless wo ; 
 They come and chase away the gloom, 
 
 And Heaven begins below.
 
 141 
 
 They tell us of a Father's care, 
 
 Safe guiding o'er the weary way, 
 Of all the blessedness we'll share 
 
 When night is lost in day ; 
 Of sighs to songs of gladness turned, 
 
 Of happiness without alloy, 
 Of all that we have missed and mourned 
 
 Returned to crown our joy 
 
 They beckon us to a higher plane 
 
 Where Truth's bright fountains gurgle free, 
 They pledge our efforts to sustain, 
 
 Our weary hearts to stay. 
 At every conquest we achieve 
 
 O'er Error's rule, o'er doubt and fear, 
 Bright chaplets of delight they weave, 
 
 And crown the victor here. 
 
 They touch the soul with a love divine, 
 
 Whose radiance gildeth all of earth, 
 Evoking worship at the shrine 
 
 Of human weal and worth. 
 And when the spirit robes anew, 
 
 And flings the mortal part away, 
 Their timbrels echo ether through, 
 
 "This is Ascension Day."
 
 - 
 
 . 
 
 WE'VE BEEN ROAMING. 
 
 WE'VE been roaming, we've been roaming 
 
 Where Elysiau breezes blow, 
 And we're coming, 0, we're coming, 
 
 Dear Earth-friends, to blend with you. 
 We are coming, 0, we're coming, 
 
 In our robes of pearly white, 
 Crowned with gems of haloed brightness, 
 
 All too gorgeous for your sight. 
 
 We are coming, 0, we're coming, 
 
 Bringing, chalices of bliss; 
 Ye who grope amid the gloaming, 
 
 Quaff, and thrill with happiness. 
 We are coming, 0, we're coming 
 
 Shut us not without the gate ! 
 Hidden through the weary ages 
 
 Evermore 0, must we wait ? 
 
 142
 
 We are coming, 0, we're coming ; 
 
 Mother, clasp your petted child, 
 Father, fold your death-hid darling 
 
 In embraces undefiled. 
 Child, receive your Angel mother, 
 
 Blessing with her boundless love ; 
 Reverent greet the sainted father, 
 
 All his wealth parental prove. 
 
 We are coming, 0, we're coming ; 
 
 Glad rejoice, poor widowed heart 
 This great love shall still sustain you ; 
 
 Death can never bid us part. 
 We are coming, 0, we're coming ; 
 
 Husbands, open wide your arms 
 To the forms that still would nestle 
 
 Closely with their spirit charms. 
 
 We are coming, 0, we're coming 
 
 From the bloody battle field- 
 Welcome us with grateful greeting, 
 
 Though from earth-sight long concealed. 
 We are coming, 0, we're coming , 
 
 Brothers, sisters, dearest friends 
 Agents peace, and joy, and gladness, 
 
 To your hearts the Father sends.
 
 144 
 
 We are coming, 0, we're coming, 
 
 Flooding all the place with light 
 Ye who droop amid the gloaming, 
 
 Could ye catch the gorgeous sight, 
 Ye would thrill with bliss ecstatic, 
 
 Thrill with faith, and hope, and love ! 
 Thrill to the entrancing musin 
 
 Floating from the spheres above.
 
 FOR MRS. DICKERMAN. 
 
 A QUIET plant called heartsease, 
 
 Sprang from a rocky bed ; 
 Nettles, and thorns, and thriving weeds, 
 
 By the same nurture fed. 
 Decked with no gaudy tinting, 
 
 Seeking no loud applause, 
 The superficial and the vain 
 
 Made there no fawning pause. 
 But the rich of thought, the soul-ful 
 
 Oft gathered of its balm, 
 For sweetly to the troubled breast 
 
 It brought a holy calm. 
 Still yearning for the sunlight, 
 
 It struggled with the gloom, 
 Wounded, and crushed, and shadowed o'er, 
 
 Bathed in its own perfume. 
 Yet deep the roots were striking, 
 
 And wide the branches spread, 
 Till one by one each noxious plant 
 
 Withdrew its frowning head. 
 
 7 145
 
 146 
 
 Till one by one life's trials, 
 
 Its heartaches, and its woes, 
 Transmuted into good became, 
 
 And patience won repose. 
 Then crowned with well earned glory, 
 
 Its worth grew manifest, 
 And with the glowing beams of light 
 
 So famished for, 'twas blest. 
 For thus true worth e'er triumphs, 
 
 Though often long obscured, 
 And oft through tribulation brought 
 
 In silence meek, endured. 
 Brighter, and brighter growing, 
 
 More blessing and more graced 
 Till meet for higher fields than these 
 
 In Angel garlands placed : 
 Yet left behind a fragrance 
 
 So true, and wide, and dear, 
 That poets sing, and sages praise, 
 
 And noble souls revere. 
 0, say not this is overwrought ! 
 
 For earth is not so fully blest 
 With tender spirits, true and kind, 
 
 That too great praise can be expressed. 
 O, could you know how sweet to me 
 
 Has been your sympathy and aid !
 
 147 
 
 How hungered and how thirsted for, 
 
 You'd feel the half has not been said. 
 I've something seen, and felt, and known, 
 
 Of human nature of the world, 
 And Oh ! how rare is generous trust 
 
 Bestowed upon the wronged, and hurled 
 Down from the height by effort gained 
 
 The sinned against must bear the ban, 
 The sinner pass along unscathed; 
 
 Such is the way with erring man. 
 But you, unselfish, never pause 
 
 To ask, "What will the people say?" 
 Or, "What advantage shall I gain 
 
 By the seeming kindness of to-day." 
 But do the good for its own sake, 
 
 And love the right, however crushed ; 
 Then let me speak ! my grateful heart 
 
 Would swell to bursting, were it hushed. 
 Like the joyous gleams of a pleasant dream, 
 
 Kind friend, dear friend of youth's bright 
 est hours, 
 The scenes of our earthly mingling seem, 
 
 As I wander away in the spirit bowers ; 
 And the same old ties that bound us then, 
 
 Oft gently draw me to thy side, 
 E'en in the busy haunts of men ; 
 
 And when thy lonely moments glide,
 
 148 
 
 I mark thy sadness, count thy sighs, 
 
 And whisper thoughts of promise rare, 
 Gaze tenderly into thine eyes, 
 
 And strive to share each crushing care. 
 I count thy treasures o'er and o'er, 
 
 Of kindest feelings inly stored 
 Their wasted sweetness still deplore, 
 
 And counsel thee, dispense the hoard ; 
 Fling out thy sympathies, and share 
 
 Thy thoughts, emotions, joy and grief, 
 And thus dispel corroding care, 
 
 And from each sorrow find relief. 
 Like a crown of light like a sunny ray, 
 
 Thou art encircled round and round 
 By the love of those who've passed away, 
 
 Who a resting place in thy warm heart 
 
 found : 
 But not fully, yet, can spirit leal 
 
 Supply thy nature's just demands 
 The mortal for the mortal feel, 
 
 And earthly hands seek earthly hands. 
 Then be thyself! be gently true 
 
 To thy own sense of rightful need, 
 Till Happiness like pearly dew 
 
 Refresh thee with her sweetest meed.
 
 "HERE AM I." 
 
 [CONSECRATION.] 
 
 LOVED spirits gone before, 
 
 Waiting our souls to bless, 
 Striving to lift the door 
 
 To light and happiness ; 
 With gratitude I thrill 
 
 For all ye've done for me, 
 And to your holy will 
 I would an offering be. 
 
 My self-hood I present 
 
 Unto your free control ; 
 Make it an instrument 
 
 To bless each weary soul 
 I've heard with bounding heart 
 
 The Macedonian cry, 
 And my whole being leaps response, 
 Blest spirits, "Here am I." 
 
 I've drank the bitterest dregs 
 
 Of Life's too bitter cup 
 I've tasted dumb despair, 
 
 I've yielded all of hope,
 
 loO 
 
 I've suffered, suffered till 
 
 When sorrowing mortals sigh, 
 A sympathetic thrill 
 Fills me with agony. 
 
 And Oh! I long for power 
 To wipe away each tear, 
 To fill the darkened mind 
 
 With thoughts of hope and cheer ; 
 0, essence all Divine, 
 
 Pervade me from on high, 
 A passive temple I would be, 
 Pure spirits, "Here am I." 
 
 Teach me how to believe 
 
 With all my wayward heart, 
 Teach me how to receive, 
 
 Teach me how to impart ; 
 Teach me just how to be 
 Your fittest, ablest aid; 
 Teach Truth's bright lore to me, 
 Without one erring shade. 
 Teach me to waft away 
 
 The darkness from the earth, 
 To give each glorious thought 
 A still more glorious birth ;
 
 151 
 
 Oh ! teach me all God's will, 
 
 An eager pupil I ; 
 My empty cup ye're pledged to fill, 
 
 Sweet spirits, " Here am I." 
 
 What though I bear the cross ? 
 
 What though the thorns I wear? 
 What though to bleeding feet 
 
 The way be rough and bare ? 
 What though I feel the scorn 
 
 Of a misjudging world ? 
 Though from each place of trust 
 I am in anger hurled ? 
 
 Oh ! I accept the boon 
 
 With sweetest, purest bliss 
 Accept it as the pledge 
 
 Of future happiness 
 Accept it all elate 
 
 With grateful, holy joy, 
 May I Truth's herald only be, 
 Bright spirits, " Here am I."
 
 BID THEM GOD SPEED. 
 
 STRONG of purpose, high in aiming, 
 
 Firm in deeds of noble daring, 
 In the cause of every human 
 
 Sacrificing and forbearing. 
 Fanned by soul-inspiring breezes, 
 
 Cheered by gushing rills and fountains, 
 Taught by nature's thrilling voices 
 
 'Mong the Heavenward towering mountains, 
 Wounded in the thorny byeways, 
 
 Find we many a child of sorrow ; 
 Still imploring strength to labor 
 
 For Truth's glorious, hast'ning morrow; 
 Crying, "Angels, blessed Angels ! 
 
 Lift me higher ! Lift me higher ! 
 Count me meet to wake the music 
 
 Of the wondrous Human Lyre ! 
 Till a glad'ning oratorio 
 
 Rings through all the sad abidings 
 Of the souls not yet enlightened 
 
 By your gospel of Glad Tidings."
 
 153 
 
 Then we lead them, meekly trustful, 
 
 Out where untuned hearts await them, 
 Bid them "God Speed" on their mission: 
 
 As our agents, kindly greet them. 
 Meet them with a generous trusting, 
 
 With a balm for every sorrow, 
 With a whispered word of promise, 
 
 Telling of a glad to-morrow ; 
 And we will return the favor 
 
 With a rich baptismal blessing, 
 Wafted from our plane of brightness, 
 
 Elevating and impressing, 
 Whatsoe'er of ruth ye mete them, 
 
 Whatsoe'er of loving aid, 
 We will be your able debtors 
 
 Till the utmost be repaid. 
 We a Hopper, Fry, or Howard ; 
 
 We the lovers of all mortals, 
 Bringing wealth beyond computing, 
 
 Richest treasures from Heaven's portals ; 
 Zealous to be counteracting 
 
 Every deadly stain of error 
 Shadowing erst the bowers of earth-life 
 
 With Distrusting's gloomy terror.
 
 HATTIE MARCY. 
 
 MERIDEN, CONN. 
 
 FAST by her beautiful child, 
 
 Panting its sweet life away, 
 A mother, with agony wild, 
 Sat the long terrible day, 
 Shivering at every pang, 
 
 Tortured by every moan, 
 While a wo-laden cry to the all- Father sprang, 
 "Swift! send us some child of your own, 
 
 To soften this terrible pain, 
 
 To bring to my darling relief- 
 Swift ! or she ne'er breathe again 
 
 Swift! or I perish with grief." 
 Soft on the door fell a hand, 
 
 Meekly a stranger drew near 
 "Who's ill ? I am sent by my guardian band 
 With healing I think it is here." 
 
 154
 
 HATTIE MAPCY
 
 155 
 
 "Pardon my looks" with a smile^ 
 "I came in such haste at your call, 
 Doubting the summons the while, 
 
 Doubting if welcome at all." 
 " Welcome ? I prayed for you so ! 
 Welcome ? my Angel is saved ! 
 At your touch the hoarse breathing grows gen 
 tle and low ; 
 By your hand, lo! the heaving relieved." 
 
 Heaven be my witness ! henceforth 
 My love shall enhalo your life, 
 
 My lips shall speak loud of your worth, 
 My strength shall be yours in the strife." 
 
 Doubting ones, withered by scorn, 
 
 Gain strength by this fact as ye read ; 
 Such is the life-plane to which ye are born 
 
 Thank Heaven for the glorious meed.
 
 BE 'TRUE. 
 
 BE true to thyself! to the spirit within thee, 
 
 That -speaks of Humanity, Mercy, and Love, 
 Let the teachings of Reason and Equity win 
 
 thee; 
 
 Society's idols soar proudly above. 
 Be true to thyself! never yield to another 
 The birthright thy God hath bestowed upon 
 
 thee; 
 For thyself thou must answer, and not for thy 
 
 brother ; 
 Turn within for a guide, then be faithful 
 
 and free. 
 
 Be true to thyself ! never fear the ordeal ! 
 Like gold well refined thou shalt come from 
 
 the fire ; 
 Bear firmly the standard ! the soul's bright 
 
 ideal 
 
 Shall rise as thou " soarest, still higher and 
 hiher.
 
 157 
 
 Be true to thyself! never yield to a master 
 The thought or the faith which thy spirit 
 
 approves ; 
 The wheels of true progress roll faster and 
 
 faster, 
 And thou must pass onward to aid as it 
 
 moves. 
 
 Be true to thyself ! never shrinking affrighted, 
 Though slander assail thee and ignorance 
 
 frown ; 
 
 Trim freshly thy light, and at length the be 
 nighted 
 Shall rejoice in the brightness so faithfully 
 
 shown. 
 
 Be true to thyself! and the firmer and bolder 
 Thou battiest for freedom, the greater thy 
 
 sway; 
 
 Thou'lt compel the esteem of the cringing be 
 holder, 
 
 Though he hate thee for bringing his dark 
 ness to day. 
 
 Be true to thyself! e'en though all should for 
 sake thee, 
 
 Triumphant at last thou'lt the victory gain ; 
 And, won by thy zeal, many strive to o'ertake 
 
 thee, 
 Who now to their erring thou lea vest with pain,
 
 158 
 
 Be true to thyself! boundless seas spread be 
 fore thee, 
 Of thought, and of knowledge, untraversed 
 
 by man ; 
 Give thy sails to the breeze, waiting spirits 
 
 implore thee, 
 That new realms of beauty thy vision may 
 
 scan. 
 
 Be true to thyself! when the high ones im 
 press thee, 
 
 And bright gems of thought shall thy recom 
 pense be ; 
 The present may martyr, the future will bless 
 
 thee 
 And crown thee a saviour, the brave and the 
 
 free. 
 
 Be true to thyself! thy reward shall be cer 
 tain, 
 Though doubting and fearing discourage 
 
 thee now; 
 When from thy grand future is rolled the dark 
 
 curtain, 
 Thou'lt bless the firm purpose that guided 
 
 thee through. 
 
 Be true to thyself ! lo ! the golden aurora 
 Of millenial dawning enhaloes thy soul ;
 
 159 
 
 Let the mantle of martyrs and heroes enfold 
 
 thee, * 
 
 They are smiling the welcome to a glorious 
 
 goal. 
 
 Be true to thyself! from the bliss of Elysian 
 iDescendeth entrancing baptisms for thee ; 
 The songs of the blesse'd shall thrill thy earth 
 
 prison, 
 
 And glimpses of Eden thy recompense be. 
 Be true to thyself ! and when fully victorious 
 The voice of the indwelling Judge shall be 
 
 heard : 
 "Well done, good and faithful, thy labors are 
 
 glorious ; 
 
 Come higher, up higher, and claim thy re 
 ward. 
 
 Come higher, up higher, not vain one endeavor, 
 Each trial a blessing- shall prove unto thee ; 
 Come higher, up higher, forever and ever, 
 Thy existence a gush of thanksgiving shall 
 be."
 
 HEALING INSTITUTE. 
 
 
 
 I SEE a sylvan glade of greenest green, 
 Diversified by glim'ring glade and sheen ; 
 The glorious, grand, green mountain's rugged 
 
 arms 
 
 Enfolding fondly its choice, cherished charms. 
 Frost fretted fountains, deep in dazzling dish, 
 Bedew with diamond drops betinted fish ; 
 The brightness broken lest too bright to last, 
 As shrub and shade tree shim'ring shadows 
 
 cast. 
 Bright beauteous blossoms, crowning cultured 
 
 care, 
 
 Delicious fruitage, luscious, rich and rare ; 
 Brisk, blithesome bees, with drowsy humming 
 
 roam, 
 
 Collecting courtly comfits for the comb. 
 Serenely smiling, on a sunny side 
 Gleam glad'ning glimpses of a garden wide, 
 Where ever-varying viands thriving wait 
 
 The most fastidious tastes to suit and sate ; 
 
 160
 
 llll 
 
 Make-merry fowls, multiform and multihued, 
 Their dainties add, with multikeyed interlude ; 
 Full flashing farther o'er the pleasant plain, 
 The wavy wealth of glistening, golden grain ; 
 Behind, beyond, bedecking dale and dell, 
 Majestic maples tales of sweetness tell, 
 In stately calmness, waiting to outpour 
 Their rich-juiced life blood for the common 
 
 store. 
 
 Below, all blandly bask the lowing kine, 
 Sedately toiling till the day decline, 
 For the foaming pail, the crisp and cooling 
 
 cream, 
 
 The fine, firm butter, and the mellow cheese ; 
 Completing thus an epicurean dream, 
 To feast the fancy and the palate please. 
 Deep-eyed Divine, o'erguarding, deign disclose 
 O'er whom this Eden its enchantment throws ; 
 The vision brightens ! In that fairy nest 
 The rare proportions of a mansion rest- 
 A palace planned with Love's consummate skill, 
 A sheltering haven for the homeless ill, 
 Where all that yields relief the suff'rer finds 
 Through the munificence of noble minds; 
 The invigorating bath, the easy chair, 
 The fresh, elastic couch, the balmy air
 
 162 
 
 Gauged through the summer heat and wintry 
 
 cold, 
 
 By ice, and furnace, faithfully controlled. 
 Painting and sculpture, music and the muse, 
 Hist'ry and science, lustre interfuse ; 
 And lo ! without, the swing and saddled steed, 
 Athletic games, too oft unheeded need. 
 Couch-cushioned coaches weave a dreamy spell, 
 So, too, the lake-let's undulating swell. 
 O'erlooking all with Love divinest care, 
 Bright angel forms their batteries prepare ; 
 Directing those they in their wisdom choose, 
 Health, strength of form and mind best to 
 
 diffuse 
 
 Puissant agents of their healing powers 
 0, noble band ! a holy calling yours ! 
 This is the Christ-boon ; to remove disease 
 And bid gaunt- suff 'ring yield to blissful ease ; 
 This is religion, pure and undefiled, 
 To crown with blessings every sad earth-child. 
 Thus, and thus only, can sins be forgiven, 
 Supplanting painful hell by peaceful heaven ; 
 Brightening yet more ! 0, what a view appears, 
 What motley groups, repairing wrongs of years. 
 The lame, the blind, infirm, and sick of heart, 
 The widow, orphan, foundling, form a part
 
 163 
 
 Nay, scarce an ill of body, or of mind, 
 But in this home, "sweet home," a solace find, 
 And all unite in earnest, grand endeavor, 
 To enrich the fane, in blessing blest forever 
 0, tell me, pure one, with the radiant hair, 
 What shadows forth this vision wondrous fair ? 
 She speaks, and, 0, the melody of words ! 
 Liquid as notes of those embowered birds ! 
 u These are the treasures, safe laid up in Heaven 
 By those to whom true faith and love are given, 
 This the religion, worship, prayers and creeds, 
 Of those believing not in forms, but deeds. 
 Love wrought cathedral ! anthems hence arise, 
 Grander than organ-tones to the smiling skies; 
 Thanksgiving songs for happiness returned 
 To those who weary years have hopeless 
 
 mourned, 
 
 Glad, grateful gushes, echoing o'er the plains, 
 Harmonious blending with angelic strains. 
 On this great monument, defying time, 
 Come, write your name ! 'twill ever tower sub 
 lime, 
 
 Telling for ages, o'er and o'er again: 
 ' Here labored those who loved their fellow men, 
 Who soared above life's feebler, grosser aims, 
 And lo ! what lustre crowns their hallowed 
 names.'
 
 104 
 
 "Wouldst plant a milestone on this favored day, 
 To prove your progress in the upward way? 
 A milestone wreathed in laurels sacred shrine, 
 Where the worn spirit may in peace recline ? 
 With this sweet solace soothing every pain, 
 Frail child of earth, thou hast not lived in vain ? 
 Rouse to the work ! celestials the ideal 
 Present that you may make the vision real- 
 Rouse to the work ! your labors shall be glo 
 rious, 
 
 And o'er opposing forces e'er victorious ! 
 Rouse to th work! 0, never be it spoken, 
 That blessed of Angels, ye have reared no 
 
 token 
 To prove to a creed-cursed world the heavenly 
 
 favor * 
 
 Rouse to the work ! and live in fame forever !
 
 "A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM." 
 
 COME, children, sit with me awhile, 
 
 We'll shut out worldly care ; 
 And try to learn of Wisdom's ways, 
 
 And lift the heart in prayer. 
 Lilly, sweet, come here to me, 
 
 I fear you were at play ; 
 I'm grieved to see your mirthfulness ! 
 
 'Tis the holy Sabbath day. 
 What if the Lord should strike you dead ! 
 
 You know He gave commands 
 To have the man who gathered sticks 
 
 Stoned by the people's hands. 
 
 Lillie : 
 
 ' ! that was dreadful ! dreadful ! ma, 
 
 Perhaps it was so cold 
 His babies cried for food and fire ! " 
 
 (How dare you be so bold!) 
 'Well, I can't see what harm it was ; 
 The Lord works just the same. 
 
 165
 
 166 
 
 The breezes, birds, and bees, sing on, 
 And showers this morning came." 
 
 0, put away those wicked thoughts ! 
 
 Be quiet, and be grave ; 
 I want to talk to you of God, 
 
 And Him who died to save 
 Your precious soul from burning flames 
 
 And take it home to Heaven, 
 Where golden harps, and glittering crowns, 
 
 To all the good are given. 
 
 Lillie : 
 
 "And am I not some good, ma'ma ? 
 
 I love you love you so ? 
 And wish so much you would be pleased 
 
 With all I say and do?" 
 
 Alas ! my child, your heart is filled 
 
 With enmity to God ! 
 Unless in Jesus you believe 
 
 You'll fall beneath the rod. 
 
 Lillie : 
 
 "What? hate our Heavenly Father, ma, 
 
 Who made this world so bright ? 
 And Jesus, who loved little ones ? 
 I'm sure you can't be right."
 
 167 
 
 The heart is so deceitful, love, 
 
 By nature all depraved, 
 We must the earth-love sacrifice, 
 
 Or we can not be saved. 
 
 Jennie : 
 
 " It seems so very strange to me ! 
 
 God made us all, you say, 
 And everything so beautiful, 
 
 His glory to display ; 
 And when He'd made things as He pleased, 
 
 What glory there could be 
 In burning all the beauties up, 
 
 Is more than I can see. 
 Why, I should think 'twould honor Him, 
 
 His splendid gifts to love, 
 And to be happy as we could 
 
 Our gratitude would prove." 
 
 But He's a jealous God, you know, 
 
 And wanteth all the heart; 
 And if you love the world too well, 
 
 Will speak that dread " depart." 
 ! how I agonize in prayer, 
 
 That I may faithful prove 
 In teaching you God's will and way, 
 
 That we may meet above.
 
 168 
 
 Wallie: 
 
 " But the children who have got no ma 
 
 To pray for them, and tell 
 Of the Bible, and of Jesus Christ, 
 
 Must they go right to Hell ? " 
 
 How can they be from sin set free ? 
 
 For how can they believe 
 On Him of whom they never heard, . 
 
 Forgiveness to receive ? 
 
 Wallie : 
 "But if I did not mind you, ma, 
 
 Because I did not know, 
 You would not be so hard with me, 
 But 7ms, and let me go." 
 
 Lillie : 
 
 "And if the others should be good, 
 
 And I a naughty one, 
 Could they be happy up in Heaven, 
 While I must burn and moan ? 
 
 Jennie : 
 
 No, never, mother Golden crowns, 
 
 Or pearls, or precious stones, 
 Could never hide that haunting sight, 
 No songs shut out the groans.
 
 169 
 
 No Heaven could have a charm for me 
 That shut one sad one out, 
 
 And God's love must be greater far, 
 And fold us all about." 
 
 My children, these rebellious thoughts 
 
 Come from the evil one ; 
 You must be reconciled to God, 
 
 And say, " Thy will be done ! " 
 E'en though he slay, and cast to hell, 
 
 Yourself, and all you love, 
 Or you will never be prepared 
 
 To see his face above. 
 So fearfully his anger burns 
 
 'Gainst Eve and all her suite, 
 For listening to the devil and 
 
 Eating forbidden fruit. 
 
 Wallie : 
 "Who made the devil? did not God? 
 
 / would not let him run 
 Round loose, a making such a muss, 
 
 And spoiling all the fun ! " 
 
 0, darling, don't ! 'tis blasphemy ; 
 ho 
 
 .a 
 
 Such thoughts forever hush.
 
 170 
 
 " Shall the thing formed, its maker ask, 
 Why hast thou made me thus ? " 
 
 ! think of his surpassing love, 
 To send his only son 
 
 To save us, and undo the work 
 
 The devil had begun. 
 
 Jennie : 
 
 "And should you call it love, ma'ma, 
 
 If father made at will 
 Some horrid engine, knowing it 
 
 Would half my sisters kill ? 
 And then our little brother send 
 
 In obstructing it to die, 
 Because she was not wise enough 
 
 Unharmed to pass it by ? " 
 
 How can you doubt God's holy word? 
 
 O, sinful, sinful child ! 
 So young, and such depravity ! 
 
 You'll drive your mother wild. 
 'Twill never do to reason on 
 
 The Truths God has revealed; 
 'Tis only by unquestioning faith 
 
 The righteous will be sealed.
 
 171 
 
 Jennie : 
 
 " But why did God our reason give, 
 
 If thinking is a sin ? 
 / did not put these skeptic thoughts 
 
 My troubled brain within ; 
 And I can find no righteous ones 
 
 I've weighed them far and wide, 
 And find more pharisees than saints, 
 
 Less charity than pride." 
 
 
 ! 'tis the same old serpent, still 
 
 Bewildering with guile ; 
 Pray earnestly that God may help 
 You overcome the wile. 
 
 Jennie : 
 
 " But when I pray how can I tell 
 
 Which answers, God or devil, 
 Since reasoning is forbidden me, 
 And ihinking is an evil? " 
 
 God's holy word will tell you, child, 
 
 His wisdom will direct, 
 And if you perish in His wrath, 
 
 'Tis through your own neglect.
 
 172 
 
 Jennie : 
 
 "And did not all those men, mama, 
 
 Take the Bible for their guide, 
 Who got so angry o'er their creeds, 
 
 And said each other lied. 
 Now if it is so very plain, 
 
 And his spirit guideth all, 
 How can they differ so in mind, 
 
 The great as well as small ; 
 And if those men so learned and wise, 
 
 Those saints of many prayers, 
 Get so deceived, (all can't be right,) 
 
 With those long heads of theirs, 
 How can I hope to learn the truth, 
 
 And strike the narrow way 
 That leads to life ? since one mistep 
 
 Will lead me quite astray. 
 I wish the Lord would talk to me, 
 
 Or send the Angels down, 
 As oft he did in olden time, 
 
 To make his pleasure known." 
 
 ! you forget, my wayward child, 
 The words that Jesus said, 
 
 "If Moses and the prophets fail, 
 'Twere vain to raise the dead.
 
 173 
 
 The book is closed, the words are sealed, 
 
 Who taketh from or adds 
 Will from the book of life be torn, 
 
 While God mocks and derides. 
 
 Jennie : 
 
 " And are the Heavens more distant, ma, 
 
 The Angels grown less kind ? 
 And God forgetful of his works, 
 
 To leave us all so blind ? 
 Because we've had a feast to-day, 
 
 Shall we never need again 
 Fresh food and drink to satisfy 
 
 New needs that come to men?" 
 
 Such cavillings are wicked, child, 
 
 And prove the Bible true ; 
 The natural heart is enmity, 
 
 And must be born anew. 
 
 Jennie : 
 
 " I've often heard you pray to God 
 
 To give me a new heart, 
 And since you say he answers prayer, 
 
 Why don't the old one start? 
 But science demonstrates to us 
 
 That the form, and size of brain,
 
 174 
 
 Makes people what they are must that 
 
 Likewise be born again? 
 If it is not, a new made heart 
 
 Would make me none the better ; 
 And if it is, 'tis some one else; 
 
 Another person set there. 
 I think I'd choose to be myself, 
 
 And do the best I can, 
 And neither give up head, or heart, 
 
 At the call of priestly man." 
 
 My children all ! in love with sin ! 
 
 With mocking feelings filled, 
 Do you forget the forty bears 
 
 That wicked children killed? 
 
 Lillie : 
 
 " What do we do so very bad? 
 
 We're fond, and kind, and true, 
 I'm sure we try to please you all 
 The very best we know." 
 
 Good works will never save you, child, 
 
 'Tis faith in Jesus' blood, 
 And with the heart, might, mind and strength 
 
 To love and worship God.
 
 Lillie : 
 
 " And should I be unkind to you, 
 
 Or strike my little brother, 
 Would Jesus' blood save him the pain, 
 
 And save me all the bother? 
 Or should I steal from Nellie Gray 
 
 The toys she loves so well, 
 And then to hide the cruel deed 
 
 A naughty story tell 
 Would Jesus' blood return them, ma, 
 
 And prove the falsehood true ? 
 Undo the wrong, and make all right, 
 
 No matter what I do ? " 
 
 But if you love the Lord, my dear, 
 You will not, can not sin ; 
 
 The unclean spirit roeth out, 
 Religion enters in. 
 
 " And so we do love everything 
 That's beautiful and good ; 
 
 But such a God as that, mama, 
 I'm sure / never could 
 
 A being great and wise enough 
 To fill us all with bliss,
 
 176 
 
 Yet sending us, for ignorance, 
 
 To Hadez dread abyss. 
 Not for reform, or any good 
 
 To God, or man, or devil, 
 But to show his power, and feast revenge 
 
 Upon the fiendish revel. 
 Mother, forgive these bold, bold words, 
 
 I know not whence they come ; 
 They seem to gush with golden glow 
 
 From some illumined dome. 
 A dome so bright that, dearest ma, 
 
 Your faith grows dark as night, 
 And Angel hands are leading on 
 
 To that entrancing light. 
 They gaze with grieving tenderness 
 
 Upon your dark, sad heart, 
 And long the bliss of brighter faith 
 
 Should healing balm impart. 
 You grieve lest those who've gone before 
 
 Have failed to enter heaven 
 You shiver with continual fear 
 
 Lest no white robes be given 
 To those so precious to your sight, 
 
 And thus in keenest pain 
 You travel o'er the thorny ways 
 
 Of Error's dark domain. 

 
 177 
 
 O, mother! darling, turn within, 
 
 And from the holy deeps 
 Of matchless tenderness you feel, 
 
 Judge of the power that keeps 
 The boundless, bounteous, beautiful 
 
 Creation all attuned 
 To waves of sweetest harmony, 
 When once the key-note's learned. 
 And all that grieves and tortures here, 
 
 But leads to purer bliss, 
 Lifting us higher, higher still, 
 
 To perfect happiness. 
 0, mother ! could you only hear 
 
 The melody divine 
 That's floating from yon love-lit sphere, 
 
 No more would you repine ; 
 But op'ning all your raptured soul 
 
 To every sad earth-child, 
 And culturing all the beauties there 
 
 With heaven-born kindness filled 
 No more the artless innocence 
 
 Of youth would seem a sin ; 
 The demon, Error, would depart, 
 
 And Truth abide within." 
 
 Go, darlings, leave me now, awhile, 
 We'll talk another day. 
 8*
 
 178 
 
 ! can it be a blind, dark faith 
 
 Has led me thus astray ? 
 Their artless queries baffle me, 
 
 Their sweet words thrill me through ; 
 May it not be their guileless souls 
 
 Come nearest to the true ? 
 Whence comes this untaught eloquence? 
 Is it because they stand 
 Nearer the glorious Infinite ? 
 
 Nearer the Angel band? 
 O, weary years of dread and fear! 
 
 Of sacrifice and pain! 
 I fling your fetters to the winds, 
 
 I will not doubt again ! 
 A dark, dark veil seems rent in twain, 
 
 And joy -beams from above 
 Come flooding restful radiance 
 
 From the great fount of love. 
 ! childhood bringeth straight from' God 
 
 Rare diadems of Truth! 
 And wiser than the oldest schools 
 
 Is the inwrought trust of youth.
 
 BENEDICTION. 
 
 WHILE ye mingle together here, 
 
 Waiting the birth of beauty, 
 Strive each the other to bless and cheer, 
 
 'Tis but a sacred duty. 
 Link heart and spirit with firmest grasp, 
 
 'Twill lighten every burden, 
 And culminate in a sweeter clasp 
 
 When ye meet beyond life's guerdon. 
 Pluck out the least root of bitterness, 
 
 The last wounding hatchet cover, 
 Mingle and blend in sympathies, 
 
 Loving and loved forever, 
 Forgive and forget ! forgive and forget ! 
 
 All but each winning merit ; 
 And should defects arouse regret, 
 
 Smother it, crush it, bear it. 
 Ye'll need no keys St. Peter bears 
 
 To unlock the gates of Heaven, 
 For lo ! 'tis yours all unawares, 
 
 When this sweet spirit's given. 
 
 179
 
 180 
 
 0, friends of earth ! were all the blest 
 
 To join in a benediction, 
 Still, e'er were this the brightest, best, 
 
 " Let love be the source of action ! 
 Revealing itself in kindly deeds, 
 
 In gentle words, forbearing, 
 In cheering smiles, supplying needs, 
 
 In scattering joys unsparing ; 
 Loving the right, and truth, and worth, 
 
 The lofty and the lowly- 
 Ay! every denizen of earth 
 
 With tenderness most holy, 
 'Till Goodness, in its triumph hour, 
 
 On heights sublime enthrone you, 
 And Love Divine, with its fullest power, 
 
 Unite, ennoble, crown you.
 
 "GOING, GOING." 
 
 GOING, going away from your kindness, 
 
 Away from this favored retreat, 
 Where the days have so happily glided 
 
 In a mingling of sympathies sweet ; 
 Where I've fathomed the depths of true feeling, 
 
 And joyed in congenial regard, 
 Where has gurgled the heart's hidden fountains 
 
 That for long weary years were unstirred. 
 I've rejoiced in the gleaming of morning, 
 
 I've welcomed the footfall of eve, 
 I have hailed with delight every coming, 
 
 I have grieved when too soon I must leave ; 
 I have cherished each word that was spoken, 
 
 I have thrilled with the glance and the tone, 
 And ! must I pass like a shadow, 
 
 Unmissed, unregretted, when gone? 
 Nay ! think when ye're glowing with gladness, 
 
 How my heart in your joy would delight, 
 And when ye are burdened with sadness, 
 
 How eager I'd strive with my might
 
 182 
 
 To chase from each spirit its shadow, 
 
 And woo the sweet sunshine again. 
 Ah ! yes, hold me fast in affection, 
 
 And I will be strong in my pain ; 
 Ay ! strong 'mid the heart crushing sorrow 
 
 Of mem'ries too bitter for words 
 Of the dark years of fruitless despairing, 
 
 Of the wrongs that no respite affords. 
 Ay ! strong to go forth to my labors, 
 
 O'erfraught with their burden of care, 
 And strong in the hope of reunion, 
 
 With our barks safely moored "over there." 
 " Oyer there," where hope's smilings deceive 
 not, 
 
 Where the hungering spirit is fed, 
 And more than our fancy-taught vision, 
 
 Shall bless us as upward we're led.
 
 LITTLE SISTER. 
 
 WE will sing thee a song, little sister, 
 
 Of the cherubs that oft with us roam ; 
 Of the bright little band of dear Angels 
 
 That gladden our beautiful home 
 That win from us smiles of admiring, 
 
 That weave for us garlands of bliss; 
 We will tell thee what renders them lovely, 
 
 We will teach thee the ch'arm, it is this 
 'Their souls are brim-full of affection, 
 
 Their faces bedimpled with smiles, 
 Their lips murmur fond words of kindness, 
 
 Their eyes speak the joy that beguiles. 
 And this is the study and labor 
 
 That renders them ever so fair, 
 To make every spirit more happy, 
 
 Every blessing with others to share. 
 We bring them to thee, little sister, 
 
 Never drive them away with a frown ; 
 
 188
 
 184 
 
 Be gentle, be kind, true and loving, 
 
 And we'll weave thee a beautiful crown 
 
 Like theirs, gemmed with fondest affection, 
 Like theirs, glowing happily bright; 
 
 And we 1 !! lead thee safe over life's trials, 
 To a home in our mansion of light.
 
 WEARY. 
 
 ANGELS ! I am weary, 
 
 Fold me in your arms, 
 Save me from Life's sorrows, 
 
 Shield me from Earth's harms. 
 Earth seems shorn of beauty, 
 
 Life hath lost its- zest, 
 Those I loved have left me 
 
 How I long for rest! 
 
 Angels, I am weary ! 
 
 I have labored long, 
 Wrought with earnest workers, 
 
 Striven with the strong, 
 Buffeted the billows, 
 
 Want and care oppressed, 
 Mocked by keen-eyed malice 
 
 How I long for rest ! 
 
 185
 
 186 
 
 Angels, I am weary ! 
 
 Of this wearing load ; 
 Must I fall exhausted 
 
 By the rugged road ? 
 Wounded by the archers, 
 
 On ethereal breast, 
 In a dreamless slumber 
 
 How I long for rest ! 
 
 "Rouse thee! mortal, rouse thee! 
 
 Earth hath sorest need 
 Of each earnest worker ! 
 
 There are hearts that bleed, 
 Souls afaint with hunger, 
 
 Spirits parched with thirst 
 Deadly Error's lurking 
 
 Fetters to be burst." 
 
 " Rouse thee ! mortal, rouse thee ! 
 
 Lo, the summer sun 
 Never faints or falters ! 
 
 His work is never done ; 
 Flooding forth his brightness 
 
 Far above the storm, 
 Dauntless, though the cloud-heap 
 
 Hide his glorious form."
 
 187 
 
 " Eouse thee ! mortal, rouse thee ! 
 
 Mark his patient trust, 
 While his warmth is scoffed at 
 
 By the wintry Frost ; 
 Knowing Spring's sweet verdure, 
 
 Summer's bud and bloom, 
 Autumn's golden fruitage, 
 
 At his bidding come." 
 
 
 
 "Rouse thee ! mortal, rouse thee! 
 
 Be thou like the sun! 
 Soaring o'er the shadows, 
 
 Love-toil never done ; 
 Strong arms shall up-bear thee ! 
 
 Be in blessing, blest 
 Fervid, noble effort, 
 
 Is the grandest rest." 
 
 "Rouse thee! mortal, rouse thee! 
 
 Lo ! the harvest field is white ! 
 Thrusting in the sickle, 
 
 Garner with thy might ; 
 This the glad fruition 
 
 Of thy wearing toil ; 
 Thou hast sown in sorrow, 
 
 Gather in the spoil."
 
 SUNSHINE AND SHADOW. 
 
 
 SHEEN and shadow, sheen and shadow, 
 
 Joy, and care, and hope, and fear, 
 Mark the varied scenes of earth-life, 
 
 Mark the flitting of the year. 
 Smile and tear, and grief and gladness, 
 
 Swiftly give each other place, 
 Yet impressing each a lesson, 
 
 Needed discipline of grace ; 
 And if known the hidden meaning, 
 
 Sternest trials oft are best 
 To unfold the wealth of feeling 
 
 Sleeping in the tranquil breast. 
 Then be strong, whatever burden 
 
 It may be thy lot to bear, 
 For life's purest, richest sweetness, 
 
 Falleth freely to thy share. 
 Only, like the brave apostle, 
 
 Rest serene in love divine, 
 
 188
 
 189 
 
 Murm'ring, "None of these things move me," 
 
 Should a trial hour be thine. 
 Should a cloud o'er thy horizon 
 
 Chance to throw a dimming veil, 
 Lo ! the sunshine gleams beyond it 
 
 Faith, Hope, Love, shall never fail.
 
 0! WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY? 
 
 IN olden times they worshipped gods 
 
 Of iron, wood, and clay, 
 But now the god that's worshipped most 
 
 Is "what will people say?" 
 From those rude forms the mind was raised 
 
 To the orbs that deck the sky, 
 Then higher still, to a mammoth man, 
 . On a golden throne so high. 
 They spilled the blood, and burned the flesh, 
 
 Of heifer, lamb, and dove, 
 To appease his wrath, and win his smile, 
 
 And gain his special love. 
 Then, throwing off these cruel rites, 
 
 As the mind still higher soared, 
 A fearless martyr for the Truth 
 
 Was next as god adored. 
 Baptized like him beneath the wave, 
 
 To feel their sins forgiven, 
 They ate his flesh and drank his blood 
 
 That they might enter Heaven. 
 Then finding that likewise in vain, 
 
 They put the form away, 
 
 190
 
 191 
 
 But yet, alas ! rose not above 
 
 The " what will people say ? " 
 The parson, conning creeds and prayers, 
 
 Finds many a doubtful clause 
 At war with Reason, Science, Love, 
 
 And Nature's perfect laws ; 
 And longs to leave the beaten track 
 
 He finds so dull and bare, 
 And speak the thoughts that swell within, 
 
 And alUtheir beauties share 
 With those who look to him for light, 
 
 Yet leads them still astray, 
 For should he doubt the "Father's" faith, 
 
 " ! what would people say ? 
 The layman listens to his words, 
 
 And feels their lack of power ; 
 Sees in the distance gleams of light, 
 
 Beyond the clouds that lower ; 
 And longs to hasten where it glows, 
 
 And tear himself away 
 From empty teachings, void of truth, 
 
 But "what would people say? " 
 The doctor turns from dusty tomes, 
 
 To study earth and air, 
 To trace the ills of mortal life 
 
 To the causes that impair ;
 
 192 
 
 The beauty, strength, and harmony, 
 
 Of the human form, divine, 
 And strikes upon some new idea 
 
 A hidden, golden mine 
 Of thought that he would glad reveal, 
 
 And fling his drugs away, 
 Commence anew on nature's track, 
 
 But "what would people say?" 
 The man, benevolent and kind, 
 
 Beholds the suffering poor, 
 
 Would gladly lend them needed aid 
 
 From his more bounteous store; 
 Curtailing his expenses, e'en, 
 
 And making less display, 
 To benefit humanity, 
 
 But "what would people say?" 
 The lady sees the widow's tears, 
 
 Oppressed with want and wo, 
 And thinks how many things she buys 
 
 That she could well forego ; 
 Her last year's hat is just as good, 
 
 She'd wear it still and pay 
 The money to the widow, but 
 
 " 0, what would people say?" 
 She wears her long inflated skirts 
 
 With weariness and care,
 
 193 
 
 .nd pays the longer bills they make 
 
 With a sigh, perhaps a tear, 
 And meekly from the side-walk sweeps 
 
 The dampened dust away ; 
 A shorter dress she knows were best, 
 
 But "what would people say?" 
 A wronged and broken hearted one, 
 
 Of noble soul and mind, 
 Incurs the ban of social life, 
 
 And ne'er a friend can find ; 
 While seeking courage, counsel, aid, 
 
 To yet regain her way, 
 They'd lend a hand, with all the heart, 
 
 But "what would people say?" 
 0, potent power ! with iron rod 
 
 O'erruling all the land, 
 How humbly bows the knee to theo, 
 
 How feeble is the hand 
 That would uplift its puny strength, 
 
 Thy mandates to resist ! 
 The highest, haughtiest ones of earth, 
 
 Thy garment's hem have kissed, 
 And since thou art so powerful, 
 
 O, monarch of to-day ! 
 We too will ask in all we do, 
 
 " ! what will people say?" 
 
 9
 
 "NEITHER AWAKE NOR ASLEEP." 
 
 " WHAT is he doing the mystical man, 
 
 Neither awake nor asleep ? 
 And this strange agitation pray, what does it 
 mean, 
 
 Impelling to laugh, or to weep ? 
 Ne'er since we lowered our Gracie away 
 
 Were I so mightily moved ! 
 0, were the "great secret" about to be shown, 
 
 And blest immortality proved ! 
 See his eyelids are closed, and how pale, 0, 
 how pale 
 
 Do, " Father," step softly and peep ; 
 He will not heed it the mystical man 
 
 Neither awake nor asleep." 
 
 " 0, mother ! 'tis GRACIE'S dear semblance com 
 plete, 
 
 For which you incessantly weep, 
 Saved to our hearts by this mystical man, 
 Thanks to the Powers who have guided his pen, 
 Neither awake nor asleep," 
 
 194
 
 GRACIE ROBINSON.
 
 SUPPLICATION. 
 
 BRING these mortals, God of love, 
 
 From their darkness to thy light ; 
 To each blinded vision prove 
 
 All thy wisdom, mercy, might. 
 Teach them thou a Father art ! 
 
 And a Mother's tenderness 
 Gushes from thy boundless' heart, 
 
 All mankind to cheer and bless. 
 Teach them thou dost cherish all, 
 
 Wilt perfect them in thy love, 
 Howe'er weak, or low, or small, 
 
 Guarded by the hosts above. 
 Make them strong to conquer self, 
 
 Free from superstition's chain, 
 Free from love of hoarded pelf, 
 
 Free to roam Truth's broad domain ; 
 Free from grudging, envy, hate, 
 
 Free from harsh, accusing strain, 
 
 195
 
 196 
 
 Free from Terror's dark estate, 
 
 From the dreary skeptic pain. 
 Teach them e'er to look within 
 
 For the Heaven thy love ordains, 
 And its blessedness they'll win 
 
 When soul harmony obtains 
 Full possession perfect rest- 
 Equalizing every power, 
 Grasping all love's grand behest, 
 
 Glorious in its triumph hour. 
 And charity, the Christ- taught boon, 
 
 The truthful soul's beatitude ; 
 Judging and condemning none, 
 
 Delighting in the pure and good. 
 ! from form's and custom's rule, 
 
 From the fear of fellow men, 
 Free them through experience school, 
 
 Though each step be marked with pain ; 
 Show them thou art guiding still 
 
 In the paths that Angels went, 
 Through the lowly, darksome vale, 
 
 Up the difficult ascent, 
 To the sacred mountain's height, 
 
 Where abides the brave and true, 
 Where in brightness dwelleth light, 
 
 Glorifying all below.
 
 197 
 
 Where each grief is lost in bliss, 
 
 Where all tears to nectar turn 
 All thy goodness pledgeth this, 
 
 Blest, thrice blessed, they that mourn. 
 Burst, 0, burst the bigot's bands, 
 
 Strengthen all who eager wait, 
 To those pure Elysian lands, 
 
 Soaring minds to guide elate.
 
 ROSANA. 
 
 LIKE a timid, startled fawn, 
 
 Rosy Anna, Rosy Anna, 
 Trembles when our power is shown, 
 
 Rosy Anna. 
 
 Would she love her mother less, 
 For a richer, brighter dress ? 
 Would she turn with terror cold, 
 If a new replace the old ? 
 
 Rosy Anna? 
 
 There's naught to fright thee, naught to fear 
 
 Rosy Anna, Rosy Anna, 
 Only kindest friends are near, 
 
 Rosy Anna. 
 
 Friends with love as true and warm 
 As when they wore the dull earth-form, 
 Friends who seek thy happiness, 
 Long to cheer, and guide, and bless, 
 
 Rosy Anna. 
 
 
 
 198
 
 199 
 
 i 
 
 'Mid the trial-scenes of life, 
 Rosy Anna, Rosy Anna, 
 
 'Mid the darkness and the strife, 
 Rosy Anna, 
 
 Will it not a solace prove 
 
 To feel our presence and our love ? 
 
 0, receive us when we come ! 
 
 And we'll safely bear thee home, 
 Rosy Anna.
 
 -THE REJECTED. 
 
 FROM a Time-crowned, murky mountain, 
 
 Echoing creed and faction's din, 
 Sprang full many p, tiny fountain, 
 
 Urged by restive springs within ; 
 Hearing with a vague commotion, 
 
 With a struggling, sweet unrest, 
 Thrilling thunder-tones of Ocean, 
 
 Calling onward to her breast. 
 " Scatter wide your pearly treasures ! 
 
 Bless the earth then welcome home ! " 
 Still in grand, commanding measures, 
 
 Sang the voices, "Children, come!" 
 Strengthened by the summer showers, 
 
 Dripping from glad Angel-wings, 
 Let us join our feeble powers, 
 
 And be mighty ! " said the springs, 
 " Blending as a band of brothers, 
 
 Let us hasten through the plain, 
 Ever gaining, drawing others, 
 
 On, majestic to the main. 
 
 200
 
 201 
 
 Sails of Commerce, white with duty, 
 
 Grateful hearts and eager hands, 
 Fertile vales, in Eden beauty, 
 
 Wake our progress to the strands." 
 Thus, aspiring, joyous dreamers ! 
 
 Lo ! a rainbow-tinted spray 
 Flung aloft its hope-lit streamers, 
 
 Pencilled by the dawning day. 
 But, e'en to the font baptismal, 
 
 Came a spirit of the night 
 Out from some dark cavern dismal, 
 
 Stalking deftly from the light ; 
 Whispering still some thought suspicious, 
 
 Passing judgment without proof, 
 Telling, with a leer malicious, 
 
 " Work not with us ! stand aloof! 
 We have sprung from some crowned-boulder 
 
 Higher up the mount than you ; 
 We are holier and older, 
 
 Ye shall have no work to do ! " 
 Then the gurgling, erst so joyous, 
 
 Sank into a tearful wail, 
 And the hope-hued bow of promise 
 
 Faded, faded, wan and pale ; 
 But again the showers of summer, 
 
 From the Angels, cheered the rills, 
 
 9*
 
 202 
 
 And each love-ful strengthening comer 
 
 Murmured, " Yonder, o'er the hills, 
 Many pathways to the Ocean, 
 
 Many fields a blessing wait. 
 Peace, be still grief-thrilled commotion, 
 
 Justice never comes too late. 
 Go your ways a stern old teacher 
 
 E'en Experience will prove 
 More than any subtle preacher; 
 
 Who hath wisdom, who hath love 
 And the Future, with precision, 
 
 Holds the balance just and true ; 
 She will give the grand decision, 
 
 That ye had a work to do. 
 Shrink not, faint not, if rejected, 
 
 So was once, by builders blind, 
 The chief corner-stone neglected, 
 
 Since the glory of mankind."
 
 FINALE. 
 
 FAIRY fingers fairy fingers 
 
 Deftly weave a garland fair ; 
 Twine it richly twine it rarely 
 
 Twine it with a tender care ; 
 Brightly glowing softly gleaming, 
 
 Coruscating in and out- 
 Grateful love, and prayful blessings, 
 
 Wreathing haloes all about. 
 
 Shrine it where the heart bows lowest, 
 
 Where devotion lingers long ; 
 Sacred proof of inwrought goodness, 
 
 Shrine it with triumphal song. 
 In this garland, fondly woven, 
 
 Set each name vouchsafed to me 
 For the wafting of these "Echoes" 
 
 O'er Earth's heaving, human sea. 
 
 203
 
 204 
 
 Fashion richly fashion rarely 
 
 Rarest coronet of gems, 
 Flashing gleams of purest lustre, 
 
 Dearest of all diadems ; 
 Every generous deed of kindness, 
 
 Every cheering look and tone, 
 Every whispered word of sweetness, 
 
 Murmuring, "Godspeed! wanderer, lone." 
 
 Set them all, 0, skilful fingers ! 
 
 Holily and highly there; 
 And that diadem, forever, 
 
 Gratitude shall proudly bear ; 
 Glorious proof that goodness reigneth 
 
 Yet within us, pure and free, 
 And of Eden much remaineth 
 
 In Earth's heaving, human sea. 
 
 Not one smile shall be forgotten, 
 
 Not one word of kindness lost ! 
 No sweet deed pass unrewarded 
 
 To the mystic Lethean coast. 
 Blessings on ye, generous hearted ! 
 
 Blessings, blessings, one and all! 
 God, exhale my life in blessings, 
 
 O'er broad Earth like rain to fall !
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
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