m UC-NRLF ^4? 1 1 iillii D39 M ^B ET Ibl 1916 ■ MAIN B^H ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^1 ^ .^ xsassa^BBBsai GIFT OF ((/j,^tJ^fograpKj> by Taylor's Printerj^ WARREN T. POTTER PUBLISHER AND BOOKMAKER 511-12 Baker-Det^iler Bldg. LOS ANGELES. CAUFORNL\ Copyright, 1916, by WARREN T. POTTER All Rigkts Reserve<^Ot r^ '■■■ :. .:^W HAlt4 o " So let our lcr?e As endless prove And pure as gold as e^er/* 360644 .'~d / THE DAY BEFORE MARRIAGE ;■-^>^ THE SALUTATION OF THE DAWN Listen to tKe Salutation of tKe Dav?n ! Look to 4iis Da5^ ! For it is Life, the -Oery Life of Life. In its trief course lie all tKe Varieties and Realities of Your existence; Tlie bliss of GrowtK Tlie glor? of Action TTie splendor of Beaut? For yesterda^ is but a dream And tomorrow only a Vision. But toda>^ well lived n\akes Ever? yesterday) a Dream of Happiness And every tomorrov? a Vision of Hope. Look well therefore to 4iis Day ; SucK is tKe Salutation of tKe Dawn. — From the Sanskrit. THE BRIDE: CLOTHED IN WHITE, MYSTICAL. WONDERFUL. To me Bride Dame Nature called a meeting of tKe Flowers and told tKem that a Ckild of Man was to be married that daj^. What message Had tkey to send? The Lily said, " I ha^e a Bag of Memories to decorate her heart." "And 2?ou, Dais}^?** "Oh, I have something to put into Her laughter to make it merry and true for all time." "And 2?ou, Red Geranium, what have you to offer?" "My faithfulness and loyalt?. Wifl\ these I shall guard her garden heart." "And you, Rose La France?" "AYE, EVERT INCH A QUEEN." "I sKall write Her a sonnet on Lo^e and Romance. Maj) tkey aoiae *v?itK Her forever.'* niie Violet stepped forward and witk proudlj? lifted Kead said, " I will sing to Her every day my little song, 'Look up! Look up. Heaven is alxj^e you.* " "And you, Malmaison, -v^Kat will you do?" " Let my fragrance ^Kisper tKat sKe make Ker Life as fragrant. ^The perfume of the soul is God's own sweet scent." "Have you anything to say. Orange Blossom?" With tke air of a philosopher she answered demurely), "I ^ill ask Her to foot Life firmlj?; 4ien will she never fall or be bruised." "I ppy that she keep me ever in her WHAT IS HAPPINESS? LOVE REALIZED. tKougKts," said tKe Purple Pans^?. Its Keart of gold ^as clearly seen. "I sKall kiss Her," exclaimed tke Tulip tri- umphantly. "A Bride is always Ijeautiful." And ftien Yellow Poppj? came forward and ^itk incomparable grace and ^insomeness of manner spoke modestly, " I shall give Her myself dressed in gold, for mj) heart b Hers and Hers is mine. I lo^e Her.'* Dame Nature's content was of such happiness that a Sunbeam caught it and carried it to Heaven. Her message was : "Li^e pure — speak true — right ^rong — follow the King.'* NATURE IS THE ART OF GOD." J — V- n\ FOREWORD Dear Lacl>) of Dreanis : Ncrp? tKat your dream, tKe most beautiful of all life — tKe dream of true matesKip — is about to be realized, I trust it will not be out of place to add something to your measure of content, diat v?ill perKaps lend a grace all its own. Ckance it ^as tKat one daj? gave to me a very old book, printed and published more d\an seventj fi^e years ago. In browsing mrougk its pages I came across man^J perfections of thought. One there was 4iat fulfilled for me ^e magnetism of 4ie word "charm", as v?ell as ano4ier spelled "eternal." Together 4iey have for their -Oalue ftie permanency? of truth and beau^. It was called "Hlie Da>) Before Marriage." "GOD GIVES US LOVE. SOMETHING TO LOVE HE LENDS US." WKen I Kad jinished reading it tears were in mj) eyes, tKougk a smile was on my lips. Its kuman appealing strength was so manifest ; and in consequence, my desire was for others to learn of its fineness and vJorth, which pleads the excuse for 4iis slender volume. Long after I closed flae IdooIc I sat and thought of 4ie things I had read. Contemplations took fhe form of a vista of an old fashioned garden where bloomed June scents, fragrant and alluring. As sentinels to guard them, splendid trees of cen- turies gro\\^fl\ mello>??ed h;) dignified romanticism gave just the touch of sincere atmosphere which breathes 4ie mystical content of all kindred 4iings. And there arose a Vision of the "Head Gardener." "O TELL HER BRIEF IS UFE, BUT LOVE IS LONG." He was Ijenign and courtlj). His days Kad been spent in growing flowers of tKougKt. TKese vJere planted in cKaracter gardens of Worth whicK gleamed in tKe sunligKt of truth \?ith a splendor all their oWn. And 4ie material for this had been found tending roses and what not of like qualit?, in 4iat acreage of possibilities ; for while it is a common thing to raise flowers, it is God who gives their fragrance. Under ft\e shade of the magnificent oak I saW him sitting talking to Her, his pride and glory. She v?as so soon to leave d\is seasoned, age- mellowed home garden of loneliness for another, her own, which She called, no doubt, ** the gar- den of exquisite lo^e and dreams.** "THE STORY ALWAYS OLD, AND AL- WAYS NEW." And as he spoke to Her on this day, "HTie Day Before Marriage," I felt that the import, &ie beaut? and simphcit? of his language x^ere in accord with those other strange conceits around him : 4\e simple, old fashioned flowers of worth and cunning, which he himself had planted — from sheer lo^e of them — year in and year out, in d\at garden of delights. Such are not uncommon to you. Fair Lad^. Many times have you plucked their kind. Among them are numbered the modest Violet that "unawares whispers by its fragrance that it is there.** Here is the tender, delicate Mignonette bloomful of scent. Tliere is perhaps 4ie sturdy Daffodil, called the "Woods Herald of Spring.'* " IT IS NOT GOOD THAT THE MAN SHOULD BE ALONE." Again it may be tKe pink clambering Rose uniting with a Kost of otkers in compliment : all of these ma^ be edged with the bitter fragrance and strength giving " Box of Memories.** I could hear his tender tones that were soft as 4ie south "Wind tempering that June day. He first discoursed on life and his lo^e of her — the Gentle Lady — her mother, who with her life and lo^e enwoven with his had brought forth from their garden hearts, She, who no^ sat with them, an expectant bride. I saw, too, from the manner of his speech, how the twain had nurtured and strengthened Her from a babe to Womanhood, to meet the storms of Life and its adversitp, which all of us suffer ; what paths to folW that lead to "THE BOOK OF LIFE BEGAM WITH A MAN AND A WOMAN IN A GARDEN/' kappiness and contentment; and wKick to avoid to escape miser? and disaster; and too, "wi^i these sublimities, tne cultivation of frie blessed sense of Kumor without which Life in general has less smiles than it should haVe, and Marriage in par- ticular. And as I looked upon Her, no\>? grown to ■woman's estate, matchless in beaut? and character, ■vJidi that winsome personality which is 4ie result of exquisite refinement of environment born of right thinking, and an humble attitude to God, I said: **I do not \\?onder He likens Her to nature's woman among her flov?ers, {he red rose, that grows from its heart "vJi^iin and spreads its fra- grance and influence as {he leaves of it unfold. She is comely? enough." "O LYRIC LOVE, HALF ANGEL AND HALF BIRD, AND ALL A WONDER AND A WILD DESIRE." I glanced from Her to Him. I could well see Ko^;? in &ie growing of Kis garden rosary, Ke Kad tKougKt of Her, the one rose of tKeir garden hearts and had striven to make Her akin to me ones he pruned and deeded daily, and ^hich he carefuUj? kept from all forms of disease; until tfaey blossomed into flowers of worth and character, in- fluential h^ 4ieir fltness and royal -Virtues. And I imagined in all this step t>y step lator, there was a hidden purpose •vjhich was to be revealed when 4ie time came for Her to lea^e this home patch of loveliness and be transplanted to another. Tliere with her chosen, royal gardener of Lo^e, she would make their Garden of Life and v9ould "MARRIAGE IS A SERIOUS THING.' give tKat same qualit? of tenderness and common sense training to tKe jlovJers of Ker own growing tKat sKe Kad received. Tlins sKe ^ould fulfill tke W, foreordained h;p Him, tKe Creator, tKat "all marriages made in Heaven sKould Kave Heaven in tKe marriage." niiis is, Dear Ladj?, die summit of all eartKly Kappiness, and to be understood, must Ka^e fliis factor in tKe Kearts of parent and cKild tKat tKe same maj) be kept unclouded for "etemitj." TTie beau^ of tKis wisdom Keld me strangely?. I looked around tKat garden of deligKts. I now understood wKat Kad been tKe life work of tKe "Head Gardener and Kis Gentle Lady." "I DREAM OF UNIONS THAT ABIDE ALWAY." Dear Lad^ of Dreams : my vista is dispelled. I lea-Oe you to peruse the old fasKioned tKougKts I kave gathered; thoughts -wherein you will find that of ^hich I ha^e spoken. Hlxeir priceless truths make for {he richness of Love and the full- ness of Life. May they be ^pour portion. M. D. IT WAS ROSES. ROSES ALL THE WAY." THE DAY BEFORE MARRIAGE CONSIDER THE YELLOW POPPY. Hrie Daj) Before Marriage " ^iKe onlj? true happiness for a woman in tKis "World is a nappy marriage.** Come hidxer, m^? daughter : your marriage day is at hand : you "will not be much longer the light of 6rds old house and garden. Sit h;) me and I will once more tell you a story, as I used to do when you were a little girl, and looked up in bright-eyed wonder at m^^ tale. I doubt not Billj) has told you often enough that you are all in all to him ; 4iat no human being e-Oer was to another, what ;pou are to him; ^at he feels for you a deeper, tenderer, purer, more disinterested demotion than ever man felt for ^oman. Don't ;9ou be!ie^?e him. Naj), do not start and turn pale ; the 2?oung rascal be- lieves what he says to be true, and that ought "LOVE IS I KNOW NOT WHAT, WHICH COMES FROM I KNOW NOT WHERE, AND WHICH FINISHES I KNOW NOT HOW." to be enougK for you. WKat I mean is, tKat I Ka^e in my day said and felt as much for the Gentle Lady the other side of you. But I mean something more than that; you ha^e yourself been the object of a deeper, ten- derer, purer, more disinterested devoted attach- ment than his. No^ don't be angr?, though it becomes j)ou to, and bespeaks the sincere confiding spirit of the bride. He too, "v^ould shov? a righteous indignation if he heard me, and yet neither of you have cause. You do not under- stand me; nor can you until you become a mo4ier. There! &\e riddle is out. I mean that you •Were a person of much more consequence in the eyes of two others, eh. Wife? "WOMEN ARE THE FLOWERS OF LIFE AS CHILDREN ARE ITS FRUITS." TTiat you were tKe object of a more profound lo^e than you e-Oer can be again, long before you knev? Kow deligntful a thing it is to repaj) love \vi4i love. You have been admired, and have been told that 2?ou were admired; and though I, your father say it, v?ho ought not to s&^ it, you are v?or4iy to be admired. And you have been flattered, flattered by admiration; never deny it girl; it is human nature, and sits prettily upon a young ^oman. But you were ^??elcomed home and admired, wifh far more solicitude before you were twelve months old than ^ou ever will be again. Strange it is, but it seems to be &\e unwavering rule of Providence, that the "v^armest affection should "LOVE IS THE HISTORY OF WOMAN'S LIFE." ever be squandered upon tKose ^Ko are unavJare of the wealtK wKicK is Keaped upon tkem. It v?as a proud and Kappj? day, tKat of your birtk. ni\e -vJays were muddj/ and keen Kail sKo'wers alternating witK sleet, were borne on {he wind, that howled and thumped around the house as if seeking to force its way in. And &\e bodilj) sufferir.g of 2?our mother scarcely? exceeded the anxiet? of {lie rest of {he household. It was a heavenly summer time when it ^as all over ; &ie v?ind and weather, what did v^e heed them, when she looked up at me, as I looked at ^ou lying in her arms. After all, anj^ disinterested person must ha^e thought you a strange looking creature. You had not learned to make use of ^^our eyes: "TO SUFFER WHEM ONE LOVES IS SWEET AND GOOD FOR IT IS THE HAPPINESS OF MARTYRDOM." one v?as turned up to 3?our eyebrows, and the otKer down to your moutk. "Father!" "Fact! Fact! Ask the Gentle Lady there, if ;pou don't believe me.** But 2?ou v?ere beautiful in our eyes and those of your grandmother. She had been passing back and forth between your mother's apartment and 4ie parlor, thinking to keep up our spirits, but sinking them rather bj) her agitated looks. But when she came to tell me all was well, she could not find her ^oice, and she did not need to find it, for her face T?as radiant. You were a lamp set do^n among us to enlighten our faces. We had lived together and thought we lo^ed "LIVE HAPPILY.' each other; but when you v?ere added to the family it was like a ne^ revelation; and it seemed as if ^e had been living coldly and heart- lessly ^ith each other. A cord was around us, drawing us into closer relationship, and 2?ou, little unconscious elf, were the talisman that worked all these wonders. I could write a big book about the first year of your life and yet not contrive to say all I ha^e to sa^, to show how much more important a baby is 4ian any grown or growing person possibly can be. You will scarcely recollect fl\e day of your Christening. Tliat too, v?as a memorable day. Mooter, nurse and grandmother, I cannot say which of them looked &\e most consequential; "SAY NOTHING OF HIS FAULTS AND HE WILL SAT NOTHING OF YOURS." •wKile you, 4ie real Heroine of ^e occasion, took it with unparalleled sang-froid. You did not e^en seem to mind 4ie beautiful, ricK lace cap of v?hicK there is family tradition that your mother was Christened in it too. You positively slept flirough ^e ceremony), to 4ie great consternation of &\e nurse, who held it a bad omen that 2?ou did not squall. But if 3)ou thought little I thought die more ; for when I turned from 4ie marble font to the altar \5indow v^lxere v?as painted the do-Oe hover- ing over the cloud choirs it was commissioned to impregnate with light and IcrOe, I felt awed, and subdued, and anxious for my baby, and yet con- soled. I felt it was your inauguration into {he sorrovJs of life. "SORROW IS A FRUIT: GOD DOES MOT MAKE IT GROW ON UMBS TOO WEAK TO BEAR IT." niie m^Jstic rite was 4ie Kerald of tKe sufferings to v?hich humanitj is heir, but it was at ^e same time, me pledge tkat "God would temper the wind to &ie shorn lamb." I ^ill not tell you Uo^^ we felt, for the Gentle Lad}?, your mother, vJent foot for foot in feeling all my jojJs, cares, hopes and sorrows, as well as fears about you ; as indeed she has been the mir- ror of my life for I will not sa>) how many years, bearing half m]? cares and redoubling all my joys. I would not ha^e said so much for fear of making her ^ain. Ne-Oer praise people to their faces. Daughter; it spoils them, but you see she is asleep. What makes the Gentle Lady's head keep nudging at that rate behind her handker- chief? Has she been listening all this time? "MOTHER! A MAIDEN IS A TENDER THING AND BEST BY HER THAT BORE HER UNDERSTOOD." I v?ill say nothing of our care for you e^en in trifles; of 4ie long kapp2? ^alks we had some days going from bazaar to bazaar to choose pla^?- things for so young a baby ; of 4ie utter forgetful- ness of my personal dignibj with which I used to bring sweetmeats to ^e baby from town in my great coat pocket. Tou v?ould think I xCas wishing to bribe >)ou bj) these recollections not to forget the old folks v?hen 3)ou lea^e them. It would be unkind to do so ; it would look as if you could forget them. You grev? up among us like an opening flower. Ever^pday we saw something ne\0 to lo^e and praise in ;9ou. To hear 2?ou talk one ^>?ould have thought there never had been such a baby. A strange thing it is, a child. Tnere is a delicate beaub? about its soft eyes and rosy cheeks and HAPPINESS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER." tiny mouth. It "vJas so pretty to see fl\e little tking examine our hands one after 4\e other, to see if they held something to eat. And it was so engaging ^hen it held its little mouth to he kissed. And it ^as sparkling when it dived down into its mother's arms and hid its face in her bosom when playfully minded. But strangest, loveliest of all vy?hen it seemed to l>e tr3)ing to think, when consciousness of reason and etemit? seemed to be dawning upon God's own image, shrinking abashed from 4ie glories of its own nature. And yet mj) daughter, and such moments come to all, there was something terrible in your childish glee. When I reflected how trifling the cause of your delight, the transitory nature of the delight itself, I was tempted all human happiness "WOMANLINESS MEANS ONLY MO- THERHOOD, ALL LOVE BEGINS AND ENDS THERE." was alike unreasonable and unnatural. Life seemed to be a succession of brief bursts of ecstasy at long internals, grovJing duller and duller till it ended in inane apath}^. I will not dwell on the tKougkt. It is one that mocks in our happiest hour and \s?hich not reason, but faith alone can dispel. But more dangerous and desolate emotions were a^^akened when illness came upon 3)ou. Tl\ere is nothing so pitiful, as to witness the sufferings of a little child. We cannot tell alwa>)s their cause or nature, and it cannot tell. TTie impotency of human desire to give relief, is never so painfully felt. Tl\e innocence and weakness too of the suf- ferer conjures up rebellious thoughts. My God ! I know that my own sufferings are 4ie consequen- ces of my ov^n sins, but v^hat has this innocent "THERE ARE BUT TWO BOONS TO MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING: THE LOVE OF ART AND ART OF LOVING." done? It is onl]? ^vphen tKe little creature vJrithes in torture tkat xOe feel these misgivings; its un- complaining languor goes witk more dead certaint? to 4ie heart. Oh, v?hat a relief it has been after such a visitation to see my child's eye brighten again and hear its blessed, clear voice breathing happiness. It Were hard to sa^ whether your sufferings or your enjoj^ments have endeared you most to us. You ha^e been a dear, good daughter to >)our father and mother, and you understand thb play- ful exaggeration of this nurserj legend. And 2?et it is not all exaggeration. Daughter. But go — rcyp tears are under my eyelids, and I shall make a fool of myself if I go on much longer. You v?ill realize it all better when you repeat to a little child of ;9our oWn the tale j^our fiather told you, "TTie Da>) Before Marriage." THE GRACE OF CULTURE IS. IM ITS WAY, A FINE THING, BUT THE BEST THAT ART CAN DO — THE POU5H OF A GENTLEWOMAN— IS HARDLY EQUAL TO THE BEST THAT NATURE CAN DO IN HER HIGHER MOODS. LOOK YOU KEEP LOVE ALWAYS. Personal Greetings UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY, BERKELEY THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW Books not returned on time are subject to a fine of 50c per volume after the third day overdue, increasing to $1.00 per volume after the sixth day. Books not in demand may be renewed if application is made before expiration of loan period. 1 SEP 10 1 ?26 ^'- ?-8 '^26 5Jan'58aCX REC'D LD DEC 18 1957 ' 2r>m-7,'2|H YC 16050 CDSSllE^bs UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY . .3';;;':riw^*vHi{3'; <