LIBRARY] UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNJA SAN DIEGO J SONGS OF A CRIPPLE Dear friond: Even as the Li le crippled "boy,- by winning suc?i rich treasures from a life he might have le. t narrow arid "barren,- built a rnou nt a in o " h is mo 1 eh il 1 ; is it not our best aim when we strive to make a mountain of our molehill? A moun tain from whose crest our view of life grows more and more; wide, as we see our opportunity, and, Bating, render aid to those in need. Thus to earn the most sacred feeling of worth, the purest happiness, the human heart may conceive: and to draw the rarest treasures Prom our environment . THE LITTLE BOY TALKING WITH THE VISITOR SONGS OF A CRIPPLE BY MAURICE JOHNSON THE GRAFTON PRESS PUBLISHERS NEW YQRK Copyright, BY MAURICE JOHNSON TO MY FATHER 1 wish here to remember the kind help of: Mrs. and Mr. Louis St. Gaudens ; Mrs. and Mr. A. Carter; Mr. J. I. Porter, and Professor M. G. Frampton, in arranging these verses. INTRODUCTION npHESE are stories the little Cripple Boy told a visitor to his family, as they two sat in the shifting light of a wood fire. The swift moods of feeling that played in his face were brother to the dancing Spirit of the Flame : his voice rang with the pure delight of living ; or, as he spoke of his Father, Mother, and loving Jen, it grew earnest with affection, then trembled with reverence and awe as he told of the Woods and the Church. Unconsciously brave, contented and joyful, his condition crowned him with an irresistible charm. MAURICE JOHNSON. Claremont, California. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION vii LITTLE BOY VERSES TH JOURNEY 3 GOIN AWAY 7 GRAN PAW S HOUSE 10 TORE CRIS MUS 14 MY BIAS PANTS 16 IF TWOULD 18 ONE AFTERNOON 21 JEN 24 MY WAGON 27 TH BROOK 30 BUGS AN SPIDERS 33 IN TH DARK 37 MY PAPA 39 fix] 1 AGE A BEIN BAD 43 ME AN CARRIE 47 TH CHURCH 51 SONGS OF OVERCOMING THE FIELD 59 MOTHER 61 THE REAPING CRIPPLE 63 THE ARTIST 64 VICTORY 65 THAT HOLY MORN . 66 THE VINE IN WOOD . . 67 DEAF 68 LINCOLN S MOTHER . . 69 IN THE SUNSHINE 71 DAWN 72 A RIDE 73 MY LITTLE COT . . 74 NIGHT S VISION 75 THY RETURN 77 THE ELECTION BET 78 PAGE SYLVIA AT THE PIANO 79 HOPE 80 ONE CRIPPLE S JOY 82 THE CROWN OF PAIN 83 LA GARDE MALADE 84 MORS 85 REQUIEM 86 HER PIANO 87 ODE TO MAY 88 WINTER S DELIGHT 89 A VIOLIN S GLEE 90 A FOOL S MATE 91 His FLUTE , . . 92 THE ANGELUS 94 A CHRISTIAN 95 MY OLE VIOLIN 97 PAIN . . 99 MONOTONY . 100 THE "CASPAR Di SALO " . 102 [xi] LITTLE BOY VERSES LITTLE BOY VERSES TH JOURNEY YES, sometimes I fall Right over out my chair. D Don t allus hurt a tall, Jes kind o makes me scare. Y know, th other day I had th bestest fun ; They all jes went away, Yes, Jen an every one. I got t fig tin roun Firs thing I ever know d I z layin on th groun , Right where th tatoes grow d. [3] Th things at was s small, Jes when I set up right, They seem d s awful tall An went mos out o sight. I trim d th weeds all fine An made em look like trees. I foun a branch o pine Had twigs fer legs, an knees. I tell y it did look Jes like a man an gun Like pic ures in my book, Y know, th Hist ry one. I joy d it awful well T make him walk, an run, An fight an shoot, an sell His life s dear twas fun. Y know I m pretty strong Jes when I want something; N I dragg d m self along Right down t our ole spring. [4] You ve seed th wagons at Th Forty-Niners had, Jes look like some ole bat, Their ribs show d out s bad. Y see, I play d I z one, A goin long s slow, An every patch o sun Was plains where Buff-a-lo An Indians allus was A-peakin roun s sly. I felt some scart, jes cause Well, can t jes tell y why. An en I got a drink, It felt s awful good Fer me t know V think I z all alone an could. I heer d my mama call, An laid jes awful still An never answer d tall, En she come down th hill. [5] She kiss d my face an hair ; I seed she s cryin some ; Said she did n know jes where Her little boy ad come. [6] GOIN AWAY IV /TY mama went away, Yes, on th train s far. Taint safe fer her t stay Right here, where winters are. I hate t see her things A-layin roun , jes stack d On chairs, an tied wiv strings, Right when they r bein pack d. An when she s goin t start, An papa s hurrin roun , My throat jes gin t smart N I could n make a soun . An when she got clear gone, Twas drefful. lonely n still, Th clock jes kep right on A-sayin : " Mama," till [7] Jes everything was sad, An was a-callin her : Th dress she allus had Jes hung, an" could n t stir. Th lumps o cry jes maul d Aroun inside me so It seem d jes zif they haul d My feelin s out ; an O ! I didn t want t eat, Ferever, any more Not even somethun sweet Jes laid there on th floor. C ud n see s awful well M face jes sting d n ? got S big, an* gin t swell Up, sploshey-lilce n hot. An firs I know d, y, Jen Was sittin there by me, Rais d up my head n en Jes laid it on her knee. [8] She wash d my face n hair; It feel d s cool n good ; Fz tir d n did n care T cry no more f I could. [9] GRAN PAW S HOUSE T D like t have y guess Where twas I went t day, A drivin our ole Bess Mos every bit th way. It made me proud t know I z takin em a ride ; An gittin th horse t go, I feel d s good inside. An when we got clear there, En papa took me in, Y Gran paw brought my chair An ast me how I d been. O, Gran paw s house did smell S smokey-like n good : I joy d th fire s well, They burn sech great big wood. [ 10] Th ceilin s snug and low, Jes makes me feel s nice An cosy, seein snow Out doors, an freezin* ice. Th apple-basket s there, Right on th winda -shelf ; An no one seems t care How much y help yerself. In Gran maw s room they s one Big picshur rug, has men Wiv guns, an dogs at run An try jes hard z ey ken T kech th poorest deer, At s scar d s awful bad T know they air s near; Gits me t feelin sad. Jen went an foun th drawer At has th dom-e-noes. She powr d em on th floor N en set em up in rows : I tuch d one on th end, N ey run a clickin down ; Jes like th wheels at send Th chen ry goin roun . Th time went flyin past An firs I knowed twas gone ; En papa hurri d s fast T git my things all on. Th moon come long wiv us, A dodgin hind th trees, Kep up wivout no fuss, Jes easy ez y please. It made my head jes swim T look down by th wheel ; An see th road jes skim Along ! z if twas n t real. I shut my eyes, an en Felt like we s goin roun ; N I open d em up aga n, An we s all safe n soun . [12] Our house is sort o high, An clumzy-like, an fine. No ; taint s cozy, nigh, As Gran paw s wish t twas mine. The " Lower Barn " on the Lane. [13] FORE CRIS MUS time does drag s ; slow Jes fore it s C ris mus day ; I d like t sleep, y know, It goes s quick that way. Jes wisht I on y could, But my ! it s awful hard T git t sleep fer good, Fer then y ain t s t r d. Y shut yer eyes s tight An try ez hard z y ken ; But does n help a mite, They pop right up ag in. Y git a-most all gone An think yer sure asleep, Y hear a walkin on Th floor, an have t keep [14] A-peakin out. Y know Y mus ent, yer eyes jes pop A-roun an have t go Can t ever make em stop. Yer stomach feels s tight, Jes sort o chuck d wiv fun An they s a teeny light An en y see someone. Y git s fraid, O my ! An duck down in th bed An make th covers fly All up aroun yer head. An it s s dark n still, Firs thing y ever know Y don t know nothin till Th mornin s come, an O ! Th time gits gone s fas , A-playin wiv yer toys Jes goes shootin pas , A rompin wiv th boys. [ 5] MY BIAS PANTS mama read, th other day, At loose di-ag-nol cloth knee pants Er latest style fer boys, they say, In that big town o fashion France. An mama said, must surely be What cuttin on th bias meant ; She s make a pair o pants fer me Jes zactly like th fashion went. She got my papa s breeches down, They s ole an striped white n black. My stars ! she had t rigger roun T fin a piece fer mine in back. An Jen she come n help d me stand T see f th pants w d fit all right ; An mama she jes yell d : " My Land ! Y air a drefful-lookin sight." [16] "Yer all bow-legged in b hind, An awful knock-kneed in b fore. I don t see how th French folks bind The seams wivout some kind o gore." Jen said th stripes show d out s strong, A-slopin 1 crost, they cheat yer eyes An kind o git em seein wrong, Bout like they was a-tellin lies : Ez if they made my legs jes crook Way out, er cave all in, right when They don t. It tells in that big book Jes how tis, an / been astin Jen. My papa he jes laft s hard He had t set a-smackin down. He said : Y Jack, my HT Pard, We ll have t git some clothes in town." [17] IF TWOULD VI7HAT if th World jes might Turn roun th other way, An en we d have a night Where now they is a day. We d go a-clippin back T when my mama was A girl, an Uncle Jack An her jes made things buzz. My legs a-bein queer, They never let me walk ; She d keep th chil ren near So / c d help em talk. I d find that pretty ring She lost, an felt s bad. I d drink right out th spring At gran paw allus had. [18] An when th fros w u d come T shuck th nuts all down. Tell you! we d hus le some An get what s on th groun Fore someone else w u d cheat Us out o every thing ; But ive d jes allus beat An be s proud n sing : " A barrel, full z a tick ; A box, twont hold no more ; A kag, wiv z many z 11 stick ; An nuts pil d on th floor." I d see th oven where Th fire was built in-side : Not like our stove out there Put it right in, f u tried. Twas made o mortar n brick, An holded heaps o cakes, An bread, an pies. We d mix Some dough fer cookey snakes. [19] I d see th Circus Show Th horse at climb d th tent : They s tryin t make im go, N he leap d an off he went. I d see th Clown jump roun An hear th fun he d say : If this great World wa n t boun T go th same ole way! [20] ,6^- -^ : -t^p /L? / j;-. JaV-;- ; ^. -^&| ) fipl < w O VV-vfe^-5 < ^A v ^^ ^ -\ ^ -^ ONE AFTERNOON VT ES, bein a cripple is fun ; Jes cause I see a lot Th other fellers run Right past, jes like s not. An when I call em back, They come an stan an stare; An say, " By Hokey ! Jack, We never seen that there ! " I foun th nicest stick At look d jes like a gun, Th barr l long V slick, A-shinin in th sun. An en th boys took me A-ridin in my cart, T our ole apple-tree, At s splittin all apart. [21] It s way off yonder in Th tiel o tallest grass ; An when they blows a win Th waves go runnin pas . An O, it seem s free, All wide n big n gran ! We tended twas th sea, S far out from th Ian . I z Cap-tun ; en th tree Was our big Pi-rut Ship, I had th gun, y see, An made th boys jes skip An climb th mas , s high, T see f they s boats t steal ; Er i lan s comin* nigh At might jes kech our keel. Cu d n allus keep th gun : Th boys w d git s mad An leave me there; an run Away, an ack s bad. [22] So part th time Fz cook. They brung me dan-da-lines An en I had em look Fer berries on th vines. Th firs I ever know d Twas bout a-gittin night ; An things they wa n t jes show d Right out, like when it s light. Fz glad when papa come, An took V carried me; He said they d worri d some T know jes where Fd be. JEN SAY, d j ever see My biggest sister, Jen ? She allus carries me Most well ez, papa ken. I z layin on th floor T day, a-tryin t sing, An Jen come in th door An did n say a thing, Jes pick me up, th way She does, s easy like, I know d we s goin t play Out on th river dike. She laid me on th san T make a little road : I z smoothin wiv m han Jes foun a teeny toad. [24] She got my nicest boat An made th toad git on ; He did n like t float, Jes jump d n he was gone. My boat did look s fine A-sailin , way out there, A-makin waves b hin Ez hard ez she c d tear. An seem d jes z if they was Th nicest little men T mind th sails n buzz Aroun , like sailors ken. I z lookin hard t see Th flags a-stan in out, An Jen she says t me, " What air y thinkin bout ? " I ast her for t tell Me how y ever think; She set for quite a spell An did n much ez wink. [25] An en she laugh d V said : " It s awful hard t splain, It s tallcin in yer head At you ken hear s plain : c< What it s a-sayin t you Aint no one else ken know, But, if y want em to, Y, you ken tell em, though." Y know, jes when at night Th lamp s blow d out, them things At float n dance s bright, Right in th dark, them rings O green n blazin red All roun sech be ut ful spots O yellow n pink, y Jen she said She s sure they s run way thoughts. [26] MY WAGON Black-smith s awful good; He made my wagon bed, An stoutest wheels he could, An paint d em blue n red. Y ought t see him saw, Jes rips er right along. He bends th irons like straw, He is s drefful strong ! I ast him what jes made Him tremble when he pick Me up : he said, he z fraid I d fall an make me sick. An my ! how he does pound, Jes when th iron s red-hot, Th sparks a-flyin round An poppin z if they s shot. yes, I z goin t tell Y bout my wagon : see 1 can t jes ride s well N ess things V fit t me. He s careful fur t make It so s it won t up-tip Me out, an maybe break Th bones V in my hip. Y know, my Uncle Ben Was ridin on th hay An fell right off, an en Jes broke his hip that way. He has t hop on sticks, At go up hind his arms. He says he s in a fix Bout runnin o his farms. Don t worry him a bit T whiddle out them things At s hard t make t fit, Em blocks inside o rings. [28] My brother Dan s my horse, Jes backs, an kicks, an rares Aroun ; he aint, o course, But then, he ten s he scares. He z careful s ever was Fer fear he 11 hurt me though An when he runs he does Jes turn th corners slow. I m proud t hoi im tight, Wiv our stout lines o rope ; An when th road s all right Y he can really lope. O my, how good it feels T kind o sway n glide Along, jes z if th wheels Was glad fer me t ride ! Here comes my sister Jen, It s time fer bed, y know; I d like t talk, but then I guess I d better go. [29] TH BROOK CAY ! don t f like th brook ? Y hear s far, don t seem Ez if twas real ; things look Jes like they s in a dream. I m full o ticklin fun Ez ever I ken stick, T see th water run Along s smooth n slick. An Dan, he wants t pull My wagon in th pool At s allus clear chuck full, S deep n nice n cool It comes up roun th wheels I ken jes reach my han Right in. How soft it feels A-runnin on th san ! [30] It s spookey feelin cause Y don t jes know what s there, *Th craw-dads, wiv their claws, A-swimin every where. An cutest little fish A-dartin all aroun , S quiet like, y wish They d make some kin o soun . Th hills r awful steep, A-runnin up s high ; Y on y git one peep O day-light in th sky. I feel d like Church, s good I didn t want no fun, Jes set ez still z I could An look d up by th sun. An say, jw ever see Th mist at comes at night ? It s scarey like, t me, Jes cause they ain t much light. [31] Th boys was gone somewhere, An every things s big I didn t much ez dare T build a dike, r dig. My papa come along Wiv our new wagon : Stars ! It s awful fine V strong, All red wiv yellow bars. He put my cart right in, O my ! twas nice t be S close t him, I d been A-feelin fraid, y see. [32] BUGS AN SPIDERS TpH other day I z sick An every one jes flew T help me, awful quick, Ez soon z I ast em to. I laid in bed all day ; It seem d s drefful long ; Jes cu d n hardly play Cause things kep goin wronj An Jen come slippin in, Wivout a speck o soun ; She s fraid I might jes been Asleep, not lookin roun . My stars ! y ought t see Th ter ble-lookin thing She cau t, right on a tree, An tied fas wiv a string. [33] twas th biggest bug, All gray an speckl d black ! His eyes was hollow, n dug Away down in his back. Jen put him upside down, An look d s kind o sly; 1 heer d a snappin soun An he did hop s high ! Jes sort o made me scare T see how far he fly d ; Lit smack ! on mama s chair, Right on his leggy side. An Jen, she went an got Th shears n paper n glue Yes, paints at papa bought N I z happy clean plumb through. She draw d n cut n made Th cutest li P cart : Hitch d up th bug, he laid Right still n wu d n start. [34] An en she made a show : My stars ! they s Deers, an Bears, Yes, Ele fants, white z snow, An Clowns roun everywheres. When I m alone I play Wiv ants at come nigh me : Th teeny ones at stay S long where I can see. But Daddy-long-legs air S straddly-like n bow d Wiv hinges everywhere, Jes z if they s made, not grow d ; Like some nice toy-man Ad built em out o springs An wire, y know they can Jes make seen lookin things. If spiders come aroun I can t get way s well, Jes shake n scrooch all down, Get awful fraid, an yell. [35] But papa aint I seen Him pick th poorest moff Right out a web, an clean Its wings n legs all off. Twas tangl d up s bad It c u d n t walk, y know ; Made papa feel s sad He help d it for t go. [36] IN TH DARK T WAKED up this mornin when 1 c u d n t see th ceilin 1 plain. Th flowers on th paper then Did look jes like a big ink-stain. An there I saw a little ship, At was a-sittin on th stand, Jes sailin hard ez she c d clip My stars ! she was s fine n grand, Th teeny flags a-flyin out Jes z if the wind was blowin hard. I heard th sailors sing an shout, An seen em bracin roun th yard, An clear th deck t fight, an bob Aroun t sight n fire a gun. It made my stomach kind o throb An feel jes sort o tight wiv fun. [37] I want d s drefful bad t call My papa up an have him see N reach th ship yes, guns n all Jes careful like, right there t me. But stars ! I got s scart, jes laid An c u d n t yell ; such hor ble things Was huntin after me : I z fraid O straddly legs, an claws, an stings ; An O, th wall was far away ; Th dark jes close aroun m head ; N I heard a soun jes whisper n say, " We ll grab im noiv, right in this bed. 5 N I duck d down in th quilts s fast, Jes bent th slats an made em sag ; An when th light all come at last, That ship was nothin but a [38] MY PAPA t_J E is s big V stout An I m s little n small, He lifts me up wivout A-hurtin me a tall. I m awful happy then, A-ridin up s high. Las Sunday mornin when Twas warm an nice an dry, Y, papa got my cap An said, z if he c u d n t see- " Now f I can find that chap I ll take im long wiv me." They aint jes anywhere I feel s dreamy n good s I do away down there Wiv papa in th woods. [39] He allus sees V fin s Th place at s jest th best, Right where they s trees V vines, An there we set an rest. O my, how well he knows Where all th winter-green An nuts an berries grows Th bes y ever seen. An papa show d me where Th flowers jes hide way down Right in th leaves, at air S soggy like n brown. He says it keeps em warm When winter s here, an snow An win jes roar an storm Aroun an freeze n blow. We foun a teeny bird, All dead ; made papa sad. He pick d it up; n I heard His voice jes tremblin bad [40] IN THE WOODS Z he said : " This liT thing s Bright, happy flyin s done. It s still. It s droopin wings No more can feel th sun." An all t once I feel d Th woods was big n still, An some-thun awful steal d Aroun th trees n hill An come right down on me : I z fraid, an guess I cried j But papa s there, y see, I z close right by his side. He give his arm a flip An said fer me t look, An made a stone jes skip Along on top th brook. An en he let me lay Right on th leaves n groun - He s awful s priz d th way I got t rollin roun . [41] Twas mostest fun t hide An see him look n stare, Jes open his eyes s wide, Can t fin me anywhere! I laugh t right out s loud Jes kin o scar d him some; An en he acts s proud T see how far I d come. I feel all safe n soun When papa s carryin me ; "Cause nothin can come roun N grab me then, y see. [42] A BEIN BAD X7"U know at when I z good Fer lots o days, an not A-acktin up f I could Cause comp-ney s here I got S tir d o bein nice ! Fer things jes went th same All time, ez slick ez ice, Jes drefful quiet an tame. Th folks wa n t specktin me T cut up jinks. They set An look t, an I lauft ; y u see N ey thought I z worser yet. They s s priz d I d be s bad : " Same z all th boys" they say. But I m jes awful glad I m like em any way. [43] My papa s fraid I might Git kill d er hurt, y u know; But when he s out o sight I make Dan help me go An twist up in th swing, N en whirl aroun n roun . Th world an everything Jes seems like goin down ! An Jen she said twas bout Like steppin one more stair Jes when y u don t fin out They aint another there. Yer feelin s sort o cheat Y u, makin what aint real Jes z if it was ; n en treat Y u like y u could n t feel. I pull d my mama s dress Yes, yanked it, like I ken, Jes kind o hard. I guess It ripped er tore ; fer then [44] She would n t lauf er smile T me, kep lookin sad. I tried, fer quite a while, T make er blieve I z glad ; But when I stopped t think How mean I z rarin roun , My stomach gin t sink, An draw, an scrunch way down ; An somethun seem d t yell Th sassy things I d said : Did n t feel s very well, Jes got roun hind th bed. My papa s gone, an I d been A-lis nin ; when at last He come a-walkin in An look t all roun an ast : " Where s Jack ? Poor boy, y u scold Him lots too much t -day. I heer d y u when y u told Him he was in th way." [45] Jes sort o seem d t stir My feelin s up s high, I got s sorry fer M self, jes had t cry. [46] ME AN CARRIE S~\ I CARRIE S house aint far Away; th path jes goes Where trees an orchards are, An nuts, an apples grows. I joy s well t see Her comin over here. She waves her han t me B fore she gits s near I know jes what she calls, Er how t guess bout where She s hidin toys, er dolls, Er candy, she can spare. We play we z Indians, right Down in the trumpet vines ; An tend t have a fight, An scalp th Dan-da-lines. [47] N en Carrie goes t th spring An* gits me drinks at s cold. It s fun t see her bring Em up th path, an hold Th cup s tight, an step S slow, don t darst t run Fer fear t ill spill. An Shep, He is careful o his fun. He must o heer d her talk Bout fraid she d spoil er dress. I like t see her walk : Jes cause I cant I guess. We made a teeny road, Right where they s lots o dust ; Th liT tracks jes show d Out plain, es if they must Ha been a reelly man, Jes awful cute V small, At had some loads o san Er may be wood t haul. [48] I wish t I z littler yet Er else s big t would be Jes easy fer t set An reach es far z I see ; O ! wo d n it be jes fine T pick th apples way Up in th Brandy- Wine Tree, where th limbs jes sway S bad at Dan can t climb, Fer fear they ll break right down ! I d beat him every time An get what s ripe an soun . An Carrie said th Sun An Win s s glad she got S happy jes had t run An skip an sing a lot. We was s full o fun It burst an popped right out : Did n know, a nary one, Jes what we z laf in bout. [49] But when she had t go, I z all alone an seen Th shade o trees jes grow Away out long an lean. Seem d awful bad th day Was all a-gittin gone : No one c d keep away Th dark t was comin on. [50] TH CHURCH went t Church las night ; An fore we got nigh there Th winda s show d s bright Zif they s alone out where Th dark come roun s near. Th steeple, an sides, an all Was gone : an O, t hear Th bell jes ast an call Fer us t come, made me Jes feel s spookey well, No deeper n that ! Y u see It s awful hard t tell Th way it soun s, right when It s dark ; for every thing s All big an strange, an then How slow an loud it rings ! But inside twa n t th same, Th Church was big an high ; I felt s small n lame, Jes almos had t cry, Like when th settin sun Is hidin hind th hill, An playin time is done, N I lay s tired n still. Th organ gin t play, An O, them voices call Me long wiv em, t sway An quiver, an raise n fall ! My papa bow d his head, An twas s quiet there Zif everyone was dead, Jes while they s sayin prayer. Twas like I z way off in Th woods, an all alone ; An they s a great big win A-blowin like a groan. [52] But when th meetin s done Twas hard t hear, jes cuz Th talk o everyone Was mixt in sissin buzz. An then th preacher come, Jes kind o touched my head, An stood an waited some Afore he coughed an said : " I m glad t see y u here In church, my little man. Life s hard for you, I fear, Jes bear it bes y u can ; " Fer by n by we ll go T that bright smilin shore Where pain won t bother so, An sorrow ain t no more." I guess he d never b lieve I joy t laf an play ; N I can t jes ever leave My mama anyway ! r 53] An when twas time t go They all jes tried t start ; My papa carried me slow An pushed th folks apart. Twas hot V fusin till We z through th door outside ; An then twas cold V still An drefful dark an wide. Sometimes it seems jes zough Th preacher s tryin t swear O course he ain t, I know, But then, it makes me scare; Fer papa does n t say Them names, he wants t keep Em clean an put away Down in, all safe an deep. They make th feelin s come Jes tremblin roun in me. I m fraid t think, but some Way seems jes like I d be [54] S glad t know how He Must do, an look, an ack An Jen she said t me At when, sometimes, my back Jes aches ez hard zit ken, An things they gin t swim, An he jes comes, w y then, My papa is like Him, [551 SONGS OF OVERCOMING SONGS OF OVERCOMING THE FIELD TNTO the field a cripple went Where murmuring grasses grew, Into the field he slowly went The sighing bushes through Into the field a cripple went From grasping men apart, Into the field in tears he went To learn of Nature s heart. From out the field a cripple came Where merry grasses grew, From out the field he bravely came The singing bushes through ! [59] From out the field a cripple came, His soul with peace was filled ; From out the field in joy he came, All man-born passion stilled. [60] MOTHER A LL wreathed in Sorrow s censer smoke, A picture of my memory glows ; With light not born of brush s stroke Its solemn beauty ever grows. I see myself a boy once more ; My useless limbs all quiet lie ; With bleak despair my heart made sore By Freedom s grim and mocking cry. Beneath this cross I falt ring reel And wish my earthly journey done ; When in the calm of trust doth kneel My Mother there, in sand and sun. She pointeth toward the written dust, Where clear doth lie the winding path My form hath made, as, thrust by thrust, I dragged me on in pain and wrath. [61] Her voice hath called along the years And, lifting woe, set Courage free : " I know my son will not in tears Sink down, but shall my hero be. " In this great world you make your mark, Tho stern and long the gallant fight ; More grand the vict ry for hard and dark The way that leads unto the light." With fierce resolve I grasp the hope That thrills her brave, undoubting breast. It bids the Man within me cope With Fate, and win forth all that s best. [62] THE REAPING CRIPPLE TJESIDE a wall of bending wheat "^ He sang with gladness as he knelt, And minded not the pain and heat For only the joy of work he felt. Among the graceful leaning stems All drooping stood a knarled one, Yet held its pure and priceless gems With sturdy strength up toward the sun. The reaper clasped it to his breast : " Thy deadly hurt did Nature heal ; Her gentle touch thy form hath blest That ye the joy of worth might feel. " I know my Father hears me now, In His great love to grant my prayer, Though Fate has caused this frame to bow, Still treasured grain my soul may bear." [63] THE ARTIST "ITfTTTH peaceful light of evening-time, From sombre East the night mist came To fill her room with a sublime Reflected glow of Sun s last flame. She stood beneath the tranquil light, And sang as sing the larks that fly Above in air, all gently bright With fading glory of the sky. From out the clay, so dark and cold, Her skilful hand with love hath wrought That saintly face whose charm doth hold The noble beauty of her thought. Without a care to make it grand, Twas long she strove to keep its lowliness ; And now before us fair doth stand Her own pure soul, in all its holiness. [64] VICTORY TN hollow space of night, Like molten links of chain, There came with crushing might The fiendish clutch of Pain. In gray of silent morn, As crept thin mists of light, Within my breast was born A hope to win the fight. In day s bright glorious tide, Neath golden sunlight broad, Away all pain doth glide From this sweet smile of God. [65] THAT HOLY MORN I A HE slender trees were voices lifting To flow in song so faintly drifting O er breeze of quiet night, And all the stars their brilliance sending With silvery glow in glory blending The earth s pale mist to light, Where weary sheep in peace were sleeping A humble father watch was keeping In gray of early morn, As Love and Pain came swiftly winging, A holy joy to Mary bringing When Christ her Babe was born. [66] THE VINE IN WOOD 11JIS tools, now coated o er with dust, Recall bright days from distant past, Their joy made clear by Grief s keen thrust. O slender blades, he touch d ye last, As from the oak of forests gray, With earnest thought and master s skill, He carved his spirit s simple lay That brings a pure, uplifting thrill. Twas Death who came, in night s deep gloom, To bid him walk with her awhile. Her peace soft fill d his lonely room ; And with the clay he left a smile. For still the oak doth, reverent, hold Within this vine, yet free, unseal d, Aglow through leaf and lovely fold, His soul s most perfect charm reveal d. [67] DEAF TF touch of Fate hath closed to thee Low waking song of morning birds, The whispered hymns of forest tree, Or mellow voice of distant herds ; All hush d to thee man s strife and greed, Whose rasping clang the earth doth fill ; More swift to thee man s love doth speed And o er thy heart in gladness thrill. In solemn awe thy soul doth feel, From evening fields so calm and broad, A peaceful joy around thee steal, Tis justice of our loving God. [68] LINCOLN S MOTHER "1 T 7HERE Nature s peace each hill and vale was branding, Among the trees tall beech and hickory-nut, Beneath their mighty arms in quiet standing, There was a rudely built and lowly hut. The dying light of day so soft was drifting, In veils of mist, out through the unchink d wall, As high, then low, in swift uncertain shifting The fire s wild glory o er the logs did fall. The evening breeze in chink-breaths round her fly ing, A gentle mother sat and whispering sang To soothe the babe that on her breast was lying ; When, clear before her eyes, a vision sprang Whose awe and wonder set her pulses leaping, As Future s dusky curtain rolled apart ; She saw her son, o er Nation s struggles weeping, And felt the boundless love of his great heart. [70] IN THE SUNSHINE f~\ STAND thee neath that veil so fair, The flowing brightness of thy hair ! With softest touches, through it run The golden fingers of the Sun And weave with mild and gentle grace An amber halo round thy face. From out thy clear and radiant eyes In purest splendor love doth rise And bid rare flowers of joy to bloom Within my heart s most sacred room. [71] DAWN AS in the silent mystery of the night Whose shadows set a measure to our sight And bid each mind go dreaming, When, faint and far, the laughing waters play Their clear and rippling flutes of silvery spray, Where moon s pale light is streaming, Thus deep within my heart, where sorrow s shade Its dim and shifting mist hath darkly laid Along the years slow flowing, A gladly singing harp thy kindness wakes ; Its music through the dusk all joyous breaks, Where love s mild light is glowing. [72] A RIDE HPWAS on a sunny summer day She cried with bright and merry glee : " O, lay that poor old book away, And come to ride a race with me ! " Soon far ahead her cycle ran, I, in the rear, did grinning grind, As wildly stared each maid and man To see my girl leave me behind. O, let them look ! I ll catch her yet ; I ll try the power of pencil s art, On paper fine a verse I ll set : My wheel is slow more swift my heart. [73] MY LITTLE COT TAEAR little cot among the vines , How sweet yet sad the charm that binds My lonely heart to thee. Here neath thy roof-tree, broad and low, Do memory s cherished pictures glow, And bring their joy to me. Again thy rafters ring with song ; From out the silence, clear and strong, Such happy voices rise ; I seem to feel the rhythmic beat Of lightly gay and buoyant feet, And see those radiant eyes. O, far you roam, my friends so true, Where Fortune s finger guideth you, Where strife and peace are blent ! But still your souls around me stray, To share my cot at close of day, And feel its deep content. [74] NIGHT S VISION TTS7ITHIN the moon s mysterious beams I sit alone ; yes, alone : With only a drifting sea of dreams To call my own ; all my own. From out the vastness of the night, Like some pure dove holy dove Doth come, on wings of trembling light, Thy tender love ; sacred love. Profoundest feeling of my soul Doth upward rise soar and rise In glorious strength to onward roll And mount the skies; wide, dim skies. To know thy life finds need of me, Doth o er me sweep surge and sweep A thrill of Worth, so strong and free, Tis like the Deep ; sounding Deep, [75] From out the shadow d silence springs Thy gentle voice restful voice The tranquil peace its music brings Bids me rejoice calm rejoice. I m just a lowly cripple boy, Whom Fate hath bent strangely bent But now my heart is fill d with joy And sweet content ; glad content. [76] THY RETURN TT7HEN thou didst clasp my rough-hewn hand, As bright and fair I saw thee stand Where evening shadows fell, Thy voice soft touched each glorious chord Of Love s pure harp whose music soared Like tones of vesper bell. Thy path-way led where life is gay, And learned minds in brilliance play To cast their charm o er all ; Yet deep and true thy spirit held My humble love, whose song hath swelled To fill my life s dim hall. As laughing waters joyous sweep In trembling glee to flash and leap, O, thus my soul doth thrill To feel thy love is with me yet To know thy heart does not forget, And bears my homage still. [77] THE ELECTION BET sat within the lamp s soft golden glow; I heard her voice s rippling music flow In tones to me so sweet ; 11 From parties whirling talk and foaming speech Which one, you think, the goal will surely reach, Which man must see defeat ? " " O ! come and we will bet," she gaily cried, And laid her wager down upon my side Of this, the great election. I took her challenge up ; my word I set ; For him whose cause I knew was lost I bet But not in deep dejection. [78] SYLVIA AT THE PIANO T7ROM early dusk of Summer s night, Where peace doth lie in mystic balm, As dim and soft the fading light Slow brought the awe of Nature s calm, With gentle grace she came to wake The sleeping spirit of the keys, And bid its tender praises break In drifting song upon the breeze. As moon s pale light doth shift and glow Among the dark and restless leaves, Tis thus her love s pure song doth flow And through the music s tide it weaves. Then hush d and low the whispering strings, Ecstatic, bade my soul to rise And soar aloft, on glorious wings, To sweep in joy the wide dark skies. [79] HOPE T DARE not kiss thy face, To me so rare ! Nor bid bright rings embrace Thy fingers fair To bind thy noble heart With vows to mine, And feel its love impart A joy Divine. For tis thy liberty I d seek to snare Should / but ask of thee My Cross to share. But, as I sit alone This silent night, A glow from Memory s throne, With gentle light, [80] Doth gild thy life s fair scroll All free, unsealed Where strong and pure thy soul Stands forth revealed. Its charm shall guide my way ; I ll live for thee. In Future s land there may Be need of me. f8i] ONE CRIPPLE S JOY came at quiet evening-time And gave me gentle greeting That bade my heart to sturdy climb Where life s fierce storms were beating. This ugly form, all strange and bent, Her eyes were never heeding : One tender word so low she sent To still my whispered pleading. O, care is done ! The world s deep scorn My soul is never fearing. By this pure light, her love hath borne, My life s fair ship is steering. [82] THE CROWN OF PAIN OINCE Pain hath pressed thy brow And placed his thorns above, O maid, more dear art thou, More deep and pure thy love. [83] LA GARDE MALADE \X7HERE Fever s lurid phantoms rise To greet some weary pilgrim s eyes, Who shrinks to weep, Tis thou, with restful word and deed, Doth gently soothe each pain and need, In peace to sleep. No thought of self within thy heart, Whose noble love doth free impart Its holy balm : No crown of gold bids all to bow As that rare halo o er thy brow, So pure and calm. When slow the hours of night do creep, Thy tender care its watch doth keep Mid grief and dread : A sacred glory lights thy face, For up the path thy footsteps trace Hath Jesus led. [84] MORS A S low the lamp was glowing, Its golden light mild flowing O er all her quiet room ; Then, dim his form revealing, Twas solemn Death came stealing From night s deep silent gloom. Upon her brow soft falling, His touch her soul was calling Its home of clay to cease ; We bow in sorrow weeping, While calm in rest she s sleeping Neath God s pure love and peace. [85] REQUIEM FAR in the wide and peaceful field would so calm and quiet lie, Where all life s haunting pain doth yield Beneath the broad and tranquil sky ; Where noble thoughts like flute-notes And Greed doth slink from the glorious sweep Of Nature s joy, whose charm doth bring A sacred rest, that bids me sleep. [86] HER PIANO "\T7HEN slow did fade the light of day, Along the West in glory lay One slender line of flame ; The gloom of night in sombre shade My lonely room its birth-place made And close around me came. These rough-hewn hands all trembling stray d To touch the keys, whose voices play d A low lamenting psalm ; That woke her soul from death s long sleep To soothe my grief with love so deep It brought a holy calm. [87] ODE TO MAY S~\ V A I REST May, thou bringest back my child hood ! Tis in thy breezes soft and drifting stream I feel again the charm of tranquil wild-wood, Majestic bowers where Spring doth lie and dream. O far and wide the birds are blithely singing ! O er field and vale in thrilling joy they fly, As swift and free through balmy air they re winging Beneath the boundless glory of the sky. O lovely May, thy pure and tender kindness Doth wake from Winter s sleep each modest flower, And call this weary heart from out its blindness To feel the pulse of youth s undaunted power. O bright and calm thy mellow sunlight straying To lift the weight of care and joy release, Thy restful winds, whose tide in languid swaying Doth bear my soul to Nature s holy peace. [88] IN THE SUNSHINE WINTER DELIGHT /~\ SOFT doth rise the snow s pale light To spread its peace o er all the night And steal where shadows lie. All far and wide each silent field A veil of splendor mild doth yield In glory toward the sky. O ! keen the air doth press my face And bid each pulse ecstatic race To fill my heart with song. A bounding joy doth thrill my frame, Like gentle heat of ruddy flame, As swift I rush along. A VIOLIN S GLEE r lPHY song of glee, all swirling, lithe, Doth pulse with life, and swiftly rise To wake in hearts a spirit blithe With joy that shines from radiant eyes. Tis then thy measured, ringing voice Doth lead those light and merry feet, Until the oaken floors rejoice With rhythmic music of their beat. Thy gladness thrills o er all the air, And times, with grace, the swinging dance. It forms, then drifts in figures fair, And weaves a deep, ecstatic trance. [90] A FOOL S MATE ~T*HE gallant Chess-men stood in solid rank, Each one, with sturdy form and presence frank, Did vow to crush his foe. The strong yet humble Pawn did slow advance And freed the wily Bishop s slanting lance, To honest Rook s deep woe. The fiery Knight then charged the lily Queen, Whose darts her King in vain did screen For him she gave her life. Then proud the sable Queen swift sweeping came, O er pale yet haughty King her power to claim, And thus to end the strife. [91] HIS FLUTE T-JE lay beneath the distant sky of night, And, far and wide, dim fields around him spread A hollow gloom that came with silent might To fill his sad and lonely heart with dread. With quivering fingers from his breast he drew The only treasure left by Fate s stern will ; And through the slender tube he softly blew, Till low its whispers set the night a-thrill. In mellow brightness on the mist was drawn The swiftly shifting pictures of the past, When, filled with youthful gladness of life s dawn, His merry songs upon the winds were cast. To notes from this frail pipe, his father s pride, He saw himself, a child, so wildly dance ; Or kneel in awe before their wonder wide That held his soul in deep and mystic trance. [92] The wistful pleading of his flute had won A gentle maiden s love and holy vow. As fair in joyous tide her life did run Twas Death s most solemn touch that pressed her brow. From out his flute her soul s lament doth flow, And in his grief s dark shadow gently rears The purest glory of her love, to glow Through all the veil of sorrow s falling tears. [93] THE ANGELUS T^ROM out the East drift shadows of the night That spread their veil of rest o er all the land, And close the gates of day in mellow light. A mild and wondrous glow, in splendor grand, Doth fill the Western sky s wide reaching band To touch with tender kiss the lowly mold, And bid it bless the toil of each tired hand Whose long and patient strife, through heat and cold, Hath slowly won the treasures Earth s broad breast doth hold. Beneath the solemn glory of the sky These children of the soil do bow to pray, As far o er silent fields doth soaring fly, So faint, the distant bell s low soothing lay. Its music calls their weary minds away ; It bids each bending frame from labor cease ; And through their breasts its tranquil voice doth stray To lift the weight of care, and joy release, As near they feel their God s great love, His holy- Peace. [94] A CHRISTIAN ^"OBODY knows, Nobody cares What sort o clothes Ole Tommy wears. Sometimes he drinks, Alltimes he swears ; Nobody winks, Nobody stares. An all o us Tell him our woes ; Don t make no fuss, But la ! he knows, His heart s big, His voice s kind ! He has t dig His livin t find. [95] Gives all he s got T them as need : He d ruther be shot Than tell o his deed. He s ready t fight Fer all o his friends: Ain t alers right, No odds how t ends. Don t ever pray, Er never sings ; That ain t his way O doin things. Don t speak s grand As preachers do Jes takes yer hand En talks t you ! MY OLE VIOLIN CHE talks s tender like, An when er voice is thin It does yer feelin s strike My dear ole violin. An when I tech er right, I m in th pastur place Ken see it still n bright, As cloud-shades on it race. En she s a meachin whine, (Soun s like th voice o Sin) Says, " Life ain t all s fine " My honest violin ! An en we go a ramblin Fur in th misty Past Th joy o them days scramblin Roun us s thick an fast. [97] An as fur all th preachin , Tain t worth a blasted pin Longside yer sweet beseechin - My lovin violin. That power wa n t all mine : No, somethun else it s been T* softly sing, de-vine, An sink its feelin in. My poor ole soul was strayin All roun , an out, an in ; But now with you it s stayin , My kind ole violin ! [98] PAIN HPWAS Pain who touch d pure Mary s heart There in the gloom of early morn, As star-lit mist did peace impart When gentle Christ our Lord was born. Twas Pain our lowly Master taught The healing touch so free He spent, And told the joy to man it brought As o er life s rugged path He went. Tis Pain of His stern cross that weaves Those holy bands, whose strength doth bind His love to each sad heart that grieves, And lifts the woe of all mankind. [99] MONOTONY "pHOU art the Mother of Evil and Sin ; Unmeasured, thy power holds sway o er the earth : Thou turnest life s gold to foulest of tin, Whose tarnish doth glimmer where Ennui hath birth. Thou stiflest our joy in skill of our hands, And crushest ambition in maniac s pain ; Thou takest the charm from the sun s bright strands, And sullenly deep nest the gloom of the rain. Thou with rest the beautiful flower of love Till, sorrowful, drooping, it fadeth away ; Thou forcest our curses on roof-tree above, And shatt rest our lives as aimless we stray. [ 100] Thou too art Mother of Sleep and of Death ; Unheeded, thou less nest our fear of life s end : Thou teachest to herald the ceasing of breath As closing a scroll whose chapters all blend. Thou hast nest our longing, in heat of the noon, For dusk of the evening and balm of the dew ; Yet spurrest to rise when, contented too soon, We loiter and strive not to conquer the new. Thou calmest our pain, all loving and kind, When far we are spent with pangs of our grief; Thou leadest to welcome, full and resigned, The rest of the grave as a tranquil relief. [101] THE "CASPAR DI SALO " (Old Violin) A FAR in sunlit, foreign land Was wrought thy frail and vibrant scroll ; Where, ages past, a master hand Within thy breast hath closed a soul All sinless, pure, and filled with love ; Whose reverent voice doth whisp ring sing Those holy words that soar above All earthly song, and trembling bring Each heart our Master s joy to feel, As there, on Nain s burning plain, He broke the power of death s grim seal To ease a stricken mother s pain. [And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain ; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, [ 102 ] and she was a widow : and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier : and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.] Luke vii, 11-15. IS University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. rar MAR 2 9 1993 2 V.tr UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY A 000 752 008 3 Uni