I T^ 
 
 THE SUPERSCRIPTION 
 
 AND OTHER VERSE 
 
 BY 
 
 GEORGE ARNOLD HINES, S. B.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 The Superscription 11 
 
 The Potent Time 14 
 
 Alma Mater 15 
 
 By the Couriers of the Air 18 
 
 April 23 
 
 Love s Surprise 24 
 
 The Golden Age 26 
 
 Epitome 36 
 
 On the Hills 57 
 
 An Excursion 59 
 
 In Ways Divine 61 
 
 A Song of Spring 63 
 
 In This Manner 64 
 
 Singers of Old 66 
 
 On the Heart of the Infinite 68 
 
 Law and Love 69 
 
 O Ye of Little Faith 70 
 
 The Masterpiece 71 
 
 Consecrated 72 
 
 A Day in June 73 
 
 Morning 75 
 
 The Dignity of Labor 76 
 
 Why do I Love Thee? 79 
 
 To H 80 
 
 Midsummer 81 
 
 Mightiest 82 
 
 7
 
 My Gift 83 
 
 O Not How with Beloved to Part 84 
 
 Longing 86 
 
 Vain Regrets 87 
 
 The Passing Year 88 
 
 Perennial 91 
 
 Bucklin Hill 93 
 
 Reminiscence 96 
 
 Suggested 99 
 
 Vermont 101 
 
 Bennington 103 
 
 The Duty of the Hour 105 
 
 Requiem 106 
 
 Where the Wood and Waters Bide 108 
 
 Uther to Igraine Ill 
 
 A Soft Answer 112 
 
 Strength and Weakness 113 
 
 The Mystic Web 115 
 
 Credo 117 
 
 Sonnets : 
 
 To a Water Lily 121 
 
 To One we Loved 122 
 
 A Birthday 123 
 
 Flowers of Condolence ... 124 
 
 To William Cullen Bryant 125 
 
 To His Majesty R. A. B 126 
 
 Faint Heart 127 
 
 Italy 128 
 
 Vive la Republique 129 
 
 As it is in Nature 130 
 
 Lake Spofford 131 
 
 Twenty-one 132 
 
 8
 
 PAGE 
 
 To a Friend Afar 133 
 
 The Guest 134 
 
 Departed 135 
 
 In Retrospect 136 
 
 On Public Occasions: 
 
 At the Memorial Service, May 30, 1885 .... 139 
 
 Hymn, Rededication Universalist Church . . . . 142 
 
 At Funeral Service for General Grant 144 
 
 At the Dedication of the Soldiers Monument . . 147 
 
 Hymn, Dedication of the Soldiers Monument . . 153 
 
 Hymn, Dedication of the Brooks Library . . . 154 
 
 Columbus 156 
 
 A Pilgrimage 159 
 
 Evening Hymn 164
 
 I sing but in a minor strain 
 
 With longing far beyond my reach, 
 
 And yet I feel tis surely gain 
 
 When thought in measure strives to teach. 
 
 And if but circle small and near 
 Shall glean of truth in aught I bring, 
 Tis better thus, in narrow sphere, 
 Than with the longing ne er to sing.
 
 THE SUPERSCRIPTION. 
 
 When God His image touched with fire 
 To make His best creation strong, 
 One rarest gift from heaven s desire 
 Was soul endowed with love of song. 
 
 Man hath an ideal for his love, 
 Thus seeks by inspiration s light 
 For strains to lift the soul above, 
 Even almost scale celestial height. 
 
 O songs of the ages ! pure breath of all time, 
 Born of man s longing and with mission sublime, 
 To broaden and deepen the channels of life, 
 And sweeten what else had been bitterer strife. 
 
 Rapt song of the lover, what tenderness rare, 
 Love song of the mother, half playful, half prayer, 
 Great song of the nation triumphantly pealed, 
 O dirge when our dearest to earth we must yield. 
 
 Blest song of devotion and anthem of praise, 
 O sweet song of childhood ! life s halcyon days, 
 Quaint song of the aged with quaver of years, 
 Sad song of the weary full freighted with tears. 
 
 11
 
 Blythe song of the maiden, a waft from a shrine, 
 Strong voice of one gifted with song power divine, 
 O unwritten music in soul clear and true 
 Whose harmony, silent, refreshes like dew. 
 
 What charm in response to a masterful sweep 
 As the tense, vibrant strands melodious leap, 
 Or the pipe s pealing tones the silences fill 
 When the horn s mellow notes the far spaces thrill. 
 
 And what moving appeal, to heart and to mind, 
 When the favored of song in effort combined 
 Interpret with feeling each specialized part 
 An immortal theme by a master in art. 
 
 And thou, O great Nature ! with thy varying lays, 
 From the birds with their cheery harmonious phrase 
 To the chant of the torrent s tumultuous flow, 
 Or the voice of the brooklet in murmurings low. 
 
 From the rush of the tempest in awe stirring sweep 
 To the patter of drops when the gentler clouds weep, 
 Or from spring s tuneful note by the marge of the pool 
 To the tremulous chirp in the autumn nights cool. 
 
 From the plaint of the forest when stirred by the breeze 
 To the break on the shore of the weltering seas, 
 Or the chime of the rills when stern winter s array 
 Dissolves neath the glow of more genial sway. 
 
 12
 
 From the stir of the dawn to the voices of night, 
 Those mysterious breathings that thrill with delight, 
 Or the multiplied joy when all blending in one 
 Sweet, isolate tones have to harmony won. 
 
 From the drowse-lulling hums in summer s white heat 
 To the thunderous tones when the elements meet, 
 Or the sigh of the zephyr when the wild flowers nod 
 All tell of the love in the heart of our God. 
 
 13
 
 THE POTENT TIME. 
 
 We cite the great deeds of our heroes 
 
 Where duty in death s grasp was done; 
 
 We carve the grand records in marble, 
 With bronze tell of victories won : 
 
 They are writ too on hearts that are loyal 
 To those pleas for life s uplifting way 
 
 That were offered in blood and with treasure, 
 Making vital the best of today. 
 
 Tis well we give thus of our honor, 
 
 Else how prone would be life in its shame ; 
 
 What unfathomed deep of abjection ! 
 No crown for an immortal name 
 
 Yet peace hath its dutiful warfare, 
 
 Hath brave spoil from great victories won, 
 
 And promise of fairer tomorrow 
 If the work for today be well done. 
 
 T will be keynote for grandest achievement 
 In the field of this measureless time, 
 
 When men shall awake to discover 
 That now is eternity s prime. 
 
 O give heed to the call of the present ! 
 
 Stand for truth in the life of today ! 
 And above the past s glorified splendor 
 
 See a dawn of transcendent array. 
 
 14
 
 ALMA MATER. 
 
 Great Mother benign ! with most opulent share 
 
 In culture and training of man who is heir 
 
 To a universe filled with glorious light, 
 
 And who comes to his own through passing of night, 
 
 Each year from thy presence thy sons take their way, 
 In vigor of youth and equipped for the fray, 
 To win from the future a place and a name 
 In earth s field of action ay ! temple of fame. 
 
 O springtime of life ! when we build in the air 
 
 Our castles of fancy, surpassingly fair, 
 
 Though baseless beneath, merest figments of brain, 
 
 Not figured to bear stern realities strain. 
 
 We elders recall them bright garnished with hope, 
 And how to sustain them at first we did cope 
 With the grim, stubborn facts that thwarted the way, 
 And soon taught the lesson that life is not play. 
 
 Yet sometimes they have, like a towering spire, 
 An ideal high that can lift from the mire 
 Of earthy perverseness o er-confident youth, 
 And set its face sunward toward vision of truth. 
 
 15
 
 Tis story as old as historical man 
 
 How we make proposals and specially plan, 
 
 Yet the Great Disposer still shapes all the ends 
 
 Though on our rough hewing much surely depends. 
 
 For we are not creatures of blind circumstance, 
 Nor do we believe in the doctrine of chance, 
 For the reflex divine is ours to attain 
 If goal of high-calling we keep to the main. 
 
 To those on thy threshold who look with delight 
 On the promise so fair before their young sight, 
 We give a Godspeed, and a fraternal cheer 
 As into the future they boldly shall steer. 
 
 Their morn tints the heights of an ever fraught time, 
 Where treasure awaits those who patiently climb 
 Erect mid the throng whose buffeting strife 
 Makes disciplines needful to broaden out life. 
 
 Tis theirs to wrest secrets from sun-jewelled space, 
 To rear from the dust grand creations of grace, 
 And the great unseen with activities fill, 
 Earth s mightiest forces subdue to their will: 
 
 To explore newer realms in letters and art, 
 In cause of pure justice to take larger part, 
 Lift the sweet boon of healing to ideal height, 
 Help gifts of the spirit to seek whiter light. 
 
 16
 
 May purposeful industry give each a crown, 
 
 Grand purpose, with courage to front adverse frown, 
 
 For integrity s path is foe beset way 
 
 And the soul in its might must oft stand at bay. 
 
 Not all can attain unto supremest place 
 Or win grandest prize in the masterful race, 
 But if in his field each hath faithfully wrought 
 Thy smile with approval will surely be fraught. 
 
 As parting each turns to some dutiful round, 
 In earnest to face life s great problems profound, 
 May thought of the Mater e er lighten the way 
 As forward they strive to make brighter their day. 
 
 Great Mother benign ! O how blest is thy share 
 
 In culture and training of man who is heir 
 
 To a universe filled with glorious light, 
 
 And who comes to his own through passing of night. 
 
 17
 
 BY THE COURIERS OF THE AIR. 
 
 Can you tell me, winds of Winter, 
 Of the mighty host at rest? 
 
 Can you tell me, is it certain 
 That the past was for the best? 
 
 Can you tell me, winds of Springtime, 
 
 Of the present we are in? 
 Can you tell me, is it certain 
 
 Tis the best that e er has been? 
 
 Can you tell me, winds of Summer, 
 What the future hath in store ? 
 
 Can you tell me, is it certain 
 Twill be better than before? 
 
 Can you tell me, winds of Autumn, 
 If the Lord reigns over all? 
 
 In the vastness of creation 
 
 Doth he note both great and small? 
 
 As I hoping, listen, listen, 
 
 That the messengers of air 
 May bring words of peace and comfort, 
 
 Cheering words with promise fair, 
 
 18
 
 Lo! the winds of Winter answer, 
 Rushing o er earth s mantle white, 
 
 "Out through many tribulations 
 Man emerged into the light. 
 
 "Out from ignorance the densest 
 
 Slowly crept into the glow, 
 Often overwhelmed with darkness 
 
 Sinking back again most low; 
 
 "But the truth was e er before him 
 
 As a beacon night and day, 
 Till he through its constant guiding 
 
 Sought for life a better way. 
 
 "Strove the more to be uplifted, 
 
 Seemed more earnest for the right, 
 
 As he struggled mid time s surges 
 Toward the ever growing light 
 
 "And in answer to the question, 
 
 The result must be the test 
 Though the way was dark and blood stained 
 
 Yes, the past was for the best." 
 
 And the winds of Springtime answer, 
 Whirling fresh o er wood and field, 
 
 "Yes, the present is the better, 
 Truth hath now a greater yield. 
 
 19
 
 "Still the course of life is upward 
 
 And the lapses fewer are, 
 Greater wisdom, gentler manners 
 
 Are prevailing near and far. 
 
 "And humanity is quickened 
 
 As it ne er has been before, 
 Builds a refuge for misfortune, 
 
 To the needy opes the door. 
 
 "Eager seeks for larger knowledge, 
 Spreads love s message o er the earth, 
 
 Has for life more clear conception 
 Of its dignity and worth. 
 
 "And though far from what life may be 
 One can see the progress made, 
 
 As he scans the changeful record 
 With its page of light and shade." 
 
 And the winds of Summer answer 
 With the sweetness Summer lends, 
 
 "If the future shall be better 
 It on human lives depends. 
 
 "Whether they are pure and humble, 
 Whether they are strong and bright, 
 
 Filled with higher aspiration 
 
 For the truth and for the right: 
 
 20
 
 "Filled with charity that suffers, 
 Sweet with patience born of hope, 
 
 Giving aid to weaker brother 
 If he falters on life s slope. 
 
 "Putting forth their best endeavors 
 As they trace the onward way, 
 
 Looking toward a larger future 
 In the light of fairer day. 
 
 "This the watchword to be written 
 On each heart as graven gem, 
 
 As ye would that men should use you, 
 Do you even so to them. 
 
 And the winds of Autumn answer 
 
 In a solemn monotone, 
 "Yes, the Lord Jehovah reigneth 
 
 From His all embracing throne. 
 
 "One can see His mighty power 
 In the cycling systems vast, 
 
 In the painting of a flower, 
 And the river rushing fast; 
 
 "In the changing of the seasons, 
 
 And the tracing of a line, 
 In each atom of creation 
 
 See the touch of hand divine ; 
 
 21
 
 "In each mortal s best affections, 
 And in soul that s pure and clear, 
 
 In each attribute of wisdom 
 Yes, the heart of God is near: 
 
 "In the starlit dome of splendor, 
 In great nature s lightest call 
 
 Lo! the hand of God appeareth, 
 And He reigneth Lord in all."
 
 APRIL. 
 
 I hear the bluebird s merry trills, 
 
 The early robin s carol low, 
 And music of the swelling rills 
 
 As earth s brown spaces larger grow. 
 
 All heralds of the change at hand, 
 
 For winter s grasp is faint and weak 
 
 A milder sway now rules the land, 
 Bids hidden things the light to seek. 
 
 The sun gives forth more fervid ray, 
 
 Now vernal showers come plashing down, 
 
 With smiles and tears, her wonted way, 
 Doth nature move toward promised crown. 
 
 And in the favored, sun-kissed nook, 
 Upon the seeming sterile bough, 
 
 As a reward for eager look 
 
 The promise can be sighted now. 
 
 O many rounds since time began 
 
 Hath spring its cheering promise brought, 
 And many more will time yet span 
 
 When spring with promise will be fraught. 
 
 23
 
 LOVE S SURPRISE. 
 
 We walked with summer s joy akin, 
 And side by side, yet still apart, 
 
 For though my hope was high to win 
 As yet I had not seen her heart. 
 
 Her eyes soft-veiled my quest denied, 
 Her mood all happy, yet most coy, 
 
 Was proof gainst all the wiles I tried 
 To find for hope undoubting joy. 
 
 O sweet was she and dainty fair 
 I envied even the breeze that fanned 
 
 The truant tendrils of her hair 
 
 That oft with longing gaze I scanned. 
 
 All nature smiled neath kindly ray, 
 
 While life s bright morn its magic shed 
 
 On all our shining, flower decked way, 
 And fast the rosy moments sped. 
 
 The air was filled with fragrant charm 
 As slow we paced where fancy willed, 
 
 And all unbroken was the calm 
 Save as the songster gaily trilled. 
 
 24
 
 And oft, yet all in vain I strove 
 
 That she, unguarded, might betray 
 
 The secret of love s treasure trove 
 If chance it in her bosom lay. 
 
 We paused near wayside bloom to rest, 
 She plucked a flower that lightly swayed, 
 
 And to her lips she softly prest 
 The petaled captive of the glade. 
 
 Then quickly thrilled with hope-born thought 
 I seized the flower her hand enwreathed, 
 
 And with my lips I eager sought 
 
 The kiss she on its heart had breathed. 
 
 Her eyes met mine with lifted look, 
 
 Therein my fate I joyful read, 
 Their deep was clear as crystal brook 
 
 And all my doubt forever fled. 
 
 25
 
 THE GOLDEN AGE. 
 
 I. 
 
 To storied East life s far perspective runs, 
 Strange vista in a twilight of past suns, 
 Whose verging point is that once favored plain, 
 Conjectured lap where infant man was lain. 
 A field wide famed as cradle of our race, 
 Whose first beginning left not faintest trace, 
 And thus man s source is veiled within a night 
 That yet awaits a morn s revealing light. 
 
 Though myth to tell the secret well hath tried, 
 
 And keen-eyed science hath its might applied, 
 
 It still is shrouded in as dense a gloom 
 
 As that which fills the confines of the tomb. 
 
 Man is, and yet he knows not when or where 
 
 He first found sustenance and sheltering lair, 
 
 Upon the bosom of the Mother Earth 
 
 As in some fateful throe she gave him birth. 
 
 Knows not when first he moved erect in space, 
 Nor when his form took on those lines of grace 
 That marked him as apart from lowlier kind, 
 Undowered with the gift of nascent mind. 
 Knows not when first to consciousness he woke, 
 The birth of thought, when speech the silence broke, 
 The hour in which, full oft to know defeat, 
 He first set forth life s mysteries to greet. 
 
 26
 
 Nor when desire first to his being cried, 
 A simple want that would not be denied, 
 And all untaught on reason to rely 
 He blindly groped his craving to supply. 
 Nor when he first to nature turned in awe, 
 Observant of her fixed, recurrent law, 
 And felt upon his crude, receptive soul 
 The swelling tide of all her beauty roll. 
 
 Knows not when first unto his listening ear 
 Came vibrant tones in concord sweet and clear ; 
 Knows not the time when first he saw the sun 
 In radiant course across the concave run, 
 And, as the day declined into the West, 
 Felt night s soft hand upon his eyelids prest, 
 Nor, as he woke unto a day new born, 
 To untried sense came fragrance of the morn. 
 
 Knows not the time when first he felt the thrill 
 That came with sense of a controlling will, 
 And found that in a measure he could bend 
 An alien force unto a wished for end. 
 Knows not when first he looked upon his mate, 
 The fair companion of his lone estate, 
 And felt the quickening of love s germ within, 
 The birth of sweetest joy since time hath been. 
 
 27
 
 Nor when into his eyes his first born smiled, 
 
 And earth was richer for a little child, 
 
 Nativity of those parental joys 
 
 That give to life its compensating poise. 
 
 Nor when he first, with eyes uplift in fear, 
 
 Felt the potential Omnipresence near, 
 
 The unknown power, outside his mortal range, 
 
 That in his struggling mind wrought fancies strange. 
 
 Yet since he first to knowledge did aspire 
 
 He ever hath, persistent, had desire 
 
 To penetrate behind the pall and view 
 
 What life was like when stars to man were new. 
 
 Thus oft he strives along the backward trail, 
 
 At ease within historic beacon hail, 
 
 When just beyond, behold! a trackless plain, 
 
 Where seeling mists make all his efforts vain. 
 
 Though ever baffled in his eager quest 
 
 He yet returns with unabated zest, 
 
 Repaid if from some far, long buried age 
 
 He can reclaim the fragment of a page. 
 
 As when in delving neath earth s crust of clay, 
 
 Intent to trace an early builder s way, 
 
 He feels o er joyed when truth before unknown 
 
 Lies faint revealed upon the constant stone. 
 
 28
 
 Or haply seeking on an ancient shore 
 
 To join the present with the life of yore, 
 
 Elate he finds a rare, dismantled form 
 
 That hath survived both time s decay and storm. 
 
 Or striving with alembic and with flame, 
 
 To master nature s process his great aim, 
 
 Through elements whose atoms unoppose 
 
 He with delight oft secret can disclose. 
 
 Or in the silent watches of the night 
 Gazing upon the fretted splendor bright, 
 The patient searcher finds long waited due 
 In a new sun within his field of view. 
 While through his higher cunning, that excels, 
 He scans the rarer life that round him dwells, 
 Those myriad forms that to his native sight 
 Are as a look into the darkest night. 
 
 And ever seeking with unflagging zeal 
 
 A universal secret to reveal, 
 
 If but in part he wins unto success 
 
 Tis prick to spur him to yet greater stress 
 
 Thus step by step doth mind extend its sway, 
 
 If in fresh fields so on forgotten way, 
 
 Toward either pole of all embracing span 
 
 That with insistent voice calls unto man. 
 
 29
 
 By slow degrees doth he the substance grasp 
 Of things unseen in the Eternal clasp, 
 And if for substance oft its shadow takes 
 With clearing sight he from illusion wakes. 
 Even thus his bit of truth becomes secure, 
 And though to gain it he must oft endure 
 A rude awaking from a cherished dream, 
 Tis ever good, for truth is all supreme. 
 
 II. 
 
 And haply thus doth the Great Lord In All 
 Into full being His creations call, 
 Through subtile change in matter and in power 
 That in good time will bear perfected flower. 
 The flaming vortex cast from giant sun 
 Is the foundation of a world begun, 
 That moulded by the enginery of space 
 Gives promise fair for life s abiding place. 
 
 A beaming orb with an appointed course, 
 In full allegiance to its parent source 
 Whose system sweeps in graceful, trailless curves, 
 And from its bold, unhampered range ne er swerves. 
 The rigid contours of each massive range 
 Neath the slow processes of nature change, 
 While loosened atoms to the lowlands trend 
 As o er the upper wastes the rains descend. 
 
 30
 
 No rending shock now breaks th harmonious sway, 
 
 Night slow retires before the waking day, 
 
 Upon the breast of night day sinks to rest, 
 
 Sweet alternation at a high behest. 
 
 Now through the might of an ethereal ray 
 
 On film begot of atomic decay, 
 
 Transmuted by the mystic law of strife, 
 
 Comes forth the joy of an upspringing life. 
 
 The withered shard conceals a dormant heart 
 That in congenial soil to growth doth start, 
 And waxing upward, in profusion fair, 
 It sweetness gives to the responsive air. 
 A rarer germ takes on more complex form, 
 Developing mid stress of sun and storm, 
 And in the lapse of a?ons comes at length 
 To be a paragon of grace and strength. 
 
 Now through some wider portal to life s way 
 Comes sentient force with its illuming ray, 
 And worlds on worlds are opened unto sight 
 In the profundity of ancient night. 
 From out life s deep, conditions apt and tense, 
 Springs the expanding growth of moral sense, 
 Supreme resultant of those finer strains 
 To which life in its upward course attains. 
 
 31
 
 Earth s high estate ! A rare imperial gift ! 
 That life itself doth with its growth uplift 
 To fairest fields, with richest treasure sown, 
 Where each possessor must safeguard his own. 
 Yet not for sordid self-aggrandizement 
 Was this high function to life s progress lent, 
 But that the fragrance of each single flower 
 Might blend with all in one informing power. 
 
 No atom lost in the unceasing round, 
 No wasted force in all the change profound, 
 As slowly burgeoning to fairer states 
 Life on the purpose of its being waits. 
 Lo ! in eternity all things have place, 
 If incomplete, yet distribute in space, 
 Awaiting processes that bring and bind 
 The procreant atom to its favored kind. 
 
 And if they seeming fail, as by mischance, 
 
 They are not lost through untoward circumstance, 
 
 For into newer forms resolved, combined, 
 
 Their place in the economy they find. 
 
 While underneath, above, within, around, 
 
 The Silent, Unveiled Mystery Profound, 
 
 In omnipresent and omniscient sway, 
 
 Impels and guides on universal way. 
 
 32
 
 III. 
 
 In bygone age, far toward time s border line, 
 
 When thinking man had oft seen hope decline, 
 
 He placed his ideals in the faded past 
 
 And wrought beside a maze of systems vast ; 
 
 A resting place for hope, with pantheons grand, 
 
 Of his high fancy reared and overspanned, 
 
 Abode of spirits, potent, wise and just, 
 
 To whom earth s child could look with reverent trust. 
 
 Each racial group on its best thought made call, 
 And with a sequence common to them all, 
 To fill the primal void, for even then 
 Man s genesis was not of mortal ken. 
 Yet darker powers against him seemed arrayed, 
 And oft a fell malignity displayed, 
 Encompassed him about with specious toil 
 That he to them might be a hapless spoil. 
 
 They were to him the sponsors for all ill, 
 Compelling oft gainst his unstable will, 
 And from their place in dark and nether sphere 
 Upon him laid a weight of woe and fear 
 He backward looked toward his creations bright, 
 To fairest fields where once dwelt sons of light, 
 Some Golden Age far in the dawn of time 
 When earth and man were in their fullest prime. 
 
 33
 
 And high o er all, from their supernal realm 
 Benignant spirits swayed life s guiding helm, 
 While from the shades of evil s dread abode 
 Stretched ruthless hands its weaker side to goad 
 A teeming world, one just beyond the pale 
 That bounded vision in the mortal vale, 
 And yet across the barrier s seeming ban 
 Came good and ill to mould the life of man. 
 
 One high domain touched earthly garden fair, 
 
 With beings first in the potential care, 
 
 Progenitors of earth s aspiring race 
 
 That with time s lapse soon from the light turned face. 
 
 Twas germ of faith in one o erruling power, 
 
 Of all the early cults supremest flower, 
 
 Whose fragrance yet stirs all the soul of man 
 
 As he th eternal harmonies doth scan. 
 
 Yet even here seemed a divided reign, 
 For lustful sin wrought mete of horrid bane, 
 Not unalloyed the pathway to life s goal 
 For man o erweighted with sin burdened soul. 
 It is the flaw in time prevailing dream 
 That centers man in universal scheme, 
 The egoistic dream of hampered mind 
 That freedom from its confines fain would find. 
 
 34
 
 Yet man is Godlike with his gifts divine 
 When he to highest ideals doth incline, 
 And cultivates with zeal his nobler part, 
 The seeking mind and the far reaching heart. 
 His limitations are indeed a bar, 
 Yet mind can soar up toward the farthest star, 
 And the pure heart is from low bondage free, 
 For love is boundless as eternity. 
 
 And one, in birth, gave thought to nature s store, 
 Whose potent beings in their impress bore 
 A mingling of the earthly and divine 
 Begetters of earth s most illustrious line. 
 These beings bove life s turmoil held their sway, 
 To vigil keep o er man s imperfect way, 
 And with both love and hatred to bestow 
 Descended oft unseen to throng below. 
 
 If fortune favored, then these Gods were pleased, 
 Or if unkind their wrath must be appeased, 
 They were sole arbiters of life and fate, 
 The motive source for action small and great. 
 They were a marvel of creative mind, 
 In panoply of ideal human kind, 
 With occult powers, in varying degree, 
 Centered around one largest majesty. 
 
 35
 
 This passion of belief held active sway 
 Through long succeeding generations day, 
 And moulded life with an exceeding art 
 That missed perfection by its lack of heart. 
 Deep neath the ashes of its vanished fire 
 Yet smoulder sparks of its once large desire, 
 And o er lone byways, mountain, vale and hill, 
 The phantoms of its Gods are lingering still. 
 
 And one was wrought within a rougher mould, 
 Enwrapped in atmosphere both dark and cold, 
 Of sterner breed, yet equally sublime, 
 Whose offspring fared in less propitious clime. 
 In awesome realm its spirits had abode, 
 And from thence ruled with ever rigid code 
 O er all the land where dwelt its devotees, 
 In forests dark, by shores of rimy seas 
 
 Some were but phantasies of untaught mind, 
 Yet with the power a savage horde to bind, 
 Directing conduct on a lowly range 
 Crude discipline for time s advancing change. 
 And some were fragments of an earlier sway 
 That had survived the passing of its day, 
 Combined with gleanings from such newer thought 
 As unto man the later years had brought. 
 
 36
 
 And some are lost in the lapsed ages gloom, 
 
 Save merest hint in temple and in tomb, 
 
 Whose lifted forms, wrought from earth s lasting clay, 
 
 Defy th eroding touch of time s decay. 
 
 Refined or savage e er to nature near, 
 
 And ever tinged with elemental fear 
 
 They were as tribute to her mighty laws, 
 
 Though void of sense to underlying cause. 
 
 All fancy born, in varied time and place, 
 
 Of rudest cult, or touched with polished grace, 
 
 They marked attainment in man s upward bent 
 
 And to his life a broader outlook lent. 
 
 Each system served the purpose of its day, 
 
 And long since passed as active force away, 
 
 Save there were some that on both thought and speech 
 
 An influence left that moulds time s highest reach. 
 
 They quickened art s once feeble form to might, 
 And letters bore unto such lofty height 
 As made it fountain head for thought sublime, 
 Whose flowing stream hath served all later time. 
 And on the secret chambers of the soul 
 Where spirit holds its empire of control, 
 With inward look, despite what earth betides, 
 They left an impress that forever bides. 
 
 37
 
 The force subjective that in man inheres, 
 
 That buoys and guides him o er the lapsing years, 
 
 Had early sway, even with the birth of mind, 
 
 And tends in unity the race to bind. 
 
 And if diverse, through processes of thought, 
 
 A vision high, another lower wrought, 
 
 Their common birthplace is that inner realm, 
 
 And selfsame spirit sways their guiding helm. 
 
 For his beliefs hath man e er sacrificed, 
 
 And to defend hath willing fought and died, 
 
 For the acceded concepts of his clan 
 
 Are as an anchor to the soul of man. 
 
 Yet soon or late, down time s e er widening range, 
 
 The old gives place to an advancing change, 
 
 As seer and prophet, from exalted height, 
 
 Sees and proclaims in glow of stronger light. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Adown the ages to time s latest day, 
 Where man hath lingered in a primal way, 
 He hath had gift of his rude fancy born 
 To tell a story of the natal morn. 
 Great nature ever present to his mind, 
 Replete with mysteries of darksome kind, 
 Hath urged him with an all-persuasive plea 
 To weave a tale of how he came to be. 
 
 38
 
 To weave a tale, and if uncouth in art 
 Yet oft ingenious in essential part, 
 And striking in its play of fancy free, 
 Of origin and final destiny. 
 A wider view, through reason amplified, 
 Hath bade him put his childish dreams aside, 
 Wherein at will the undeveloped mind 
 Solution of life s mysteries can find. 
 
 And yet they are man s first appeals for light 
 Within the maze of vast creation s night, 
 That seeming holds him as with rigid hand, 
 Yet bids him forward move with high command. 
 An infant s cry unto the great unknown 
 In special plea that he be guidance shown, 
 A cry prolonged down time s unceasing course 
 With but faint answer from the central source. 
 
 And yet if answered but in slight degree 
 
 Man thus is led to seek his destiny, 
 
 Through innate force, as God ordained it best, 
 
 And left him to pursue the mighty quest. 
 
 A quest wherein he should make upward move, 
 
 Through disciplines that would his manhood prove, 
 
 Enlarge his vision to take wider view 
 
 And in this broadening scope find manhood s due. 
 
 39
 
 With eyes e er fixed upon hope s figure bright, 
 Or if obscured not wholly lost to sight, 
 Constrained to follow, as his only guide, 
 Man forward moves across time s reaches wide. 
 As sometimes o er the deep the master sails 
 With orders sealed until his port he hails, 
 So man, unknowing, voyages o er life s tide 
 Awaiting mandate on the further side. 
 
 And what of that life involved with a soul? 
 All vital part of mysterious whole; 
 Forceful and bold though elusive withal, 
 Sensitive, shrinking, yet heeding high call, 
 Eagerly seeking, e er striving to soar, 
 Wilt be dispersed, be an ego no more ? 
 Swept with the atoms of housing of clay, 
 Or jewel- wise glow with eternal ray? 
 
 V. 
 
 Man now looks forth to sight the Golden Age, 
 Nor backward turns as in a former stage, 
 Yet seeking mind may well explore the past 
 Even though the future be its goal at last ; 
 For knowledge is to man a realm divine, 
 And to extend, for him, its outer line 
 Is to be lifted to a higher plane, 
 And make what is for earth enduring gain : 
 
 40
 
 Each new-born thought, that truth s impress doth bear, 
 
 Is added gift to man s most precious share 
 
 In treasury of universal lore, 
 
 A provident and never failing store ; 
 
 Nor vainly sought as years succeeding show, 
 
 And if the sum be small it yet doth grow 
 
 Refreshing fount when worn with earthly care, 
 
 As he life s burden and its heat doth bear. 
 
 Tis freighted message from the prophet old 
 
 To understanding get and wisdom hold, 
 
 More forceful now from time s high vantage ground, 
 
 Where helpful light doth more and more abound. 
 
 Each generation adds unto the store 
 
 Of knowledge gained by those who walked before, 
 
 Slow rising structure, from whose topmost walls 
 
 The swelling voice of all the ages calls. 
 
 Unfinished yet, and when, none can foretell, 
 Nor even on that consummation dwell 
 When overarched, complete, and garnished fair 
 It shall the approval of the Master bear. 
 As in the realm of knowledge lies truth s store, 
 He who would find it must this realm explore, 
 Of his own will, through his own efforts gain 
 His priceless portion of truth s golden grain. 
 
 41
 
 VI. 
 
 There are great epochs in man s upward course, 
 Though far removed from his primeval source, 
 So fraught with meaning to his progress high 
 They should not in a cold oblivion lie ; 
 Nor buried be beneath the ages dust, 
 Or be o erlooked in rage of worldly lust, 
 But should be kept in memory s active sphere 
 And thus become to future ages dear. 
 
 Should be as marked in spirit and by deed 
 
 As those where now one can a message read, 
 
 Those honored shrines, where grateful hearts now bring 
 
 The tribute of memorial offering. 
 
 It quickens loyalty to higher aims, 
 
 And strengthens all the bond of human claims 
 
 To sometimes stand, where, in a former day, 
 
 Great deeds were wrought to influence for aye. 
 
 As where a daring few the unknown braved, 
 
 To find the peace their longing spirits craved, 
 
 And planted outpost, small, yet big with fate, 
 
 The herald bold of a puissant state. 
 
 And builded there far better than they knew, 
 
 For ev n in fancy they could not pursue 
 
 Those bold events that marked time s later flight, 
 
 And welded statehood in a nation s might. 
 
 42
 
 Both fame and honor is their guerdon free 
 Who toiled that others more of light might see, 
 Whose time was harbinger for fairer life 
 Even though it came through sacrifice and strife. 
 Thus recognition doth their efforts crown, 
 The weal that from them comes the ages down 
 Is like a river, broadening to the sea, 
 Outswelling to a vast immensity. 
 
 A pageant grand, that doth the sight enthrall, 
 Evolving from the pilgrim s effort small 
 Through varied scene, yet with enlarging hope, 
 Till now it dazzles in its mighty scope. 
 Yet man is but an infant groping still, 
 Seeking as ever the Eternal will, 
 With vision toward the future s pregnant glow 
 As sires looked back in the far long ago. 
 
 Or as where right gainst giant wrong hath stood, 
 
 A world s great hope in a strong brotherhood 
 
 That beat far back a foul, fast rising tide, 
 
 That fairest fields with noisomeness would hide. 
 
 A victory ! yet one most dearly bought, 
 
 Where death reaped harvest that appalls the thought, 
 
 And yet where hope no other way could see 
 
 To clear the path for onward destiny. 
 
 43
 
 War s wreck and ruin scars once fruitful land, 
 And want and sorrow wander hand in hand 
 Till brooding peace, on far outspreading wings, 
 With healing touch its blest assuaging brings. 
 A well marked stride in man s ordained advance, 
 Nor one that can be claimed for wayward chance, 
 For in the issue of the movement grand 
 May well be seen an overguiding hand. 
 
 Or where some gifted man, with proffered truth, 
 Met only wrath in place of grateful ruth, 
 Bore weight of scorn, or yielded life with hope 
 That later years would justify his scope. 
 And down the ever widening field of time, 
 With courage high and constancy sublime, 
 Have leaders risen to direct life s way 
 Despite of scorn, or threat of ending day. 
 
 Or where above debris of buried past, 
 
 Where earthly lot of myriads was cast, 
 
 Above the ashes of a buried host 
 
 Whose pomp and splendor were vain-glorious boast, 
 
 Now lies a country fair, where better days 
 
 Have wrought for fairer life, more hopeful ways, 
 
 As progress with its slow yet steady hand 
 
 Of once lone waste hath made a teeming land. 
 
 44
 
 Or on that hallowed ground where soul most rare 
 Was moved the burdens of his race to bear, 
 And who through precept sweet and life sublime 
 Became the ideal for all later time. 
 With love that compassed all of boundless space 
 He sternly challenged motives low and base, 
 And yet withal had charity that shames 
 The loud assurance of the bigot s claims. 
 
 Man s pure, high hope turns toward this figure bright, 
 Whose love made darkness yield to morning light, 
 The widening dayspring of each clime and age, 
 Name highest writ upon earth s fairest page. 
 A central sun, with fruitful blessing fraught, 
 In firmament of man s supremest thought, 
 Where other lights, each in its special course, 
 Pale in the glow from this resplendent source. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Man may be born to low or high estate, 
 
 And yet possessor be of powers that wait 
 
 But moving of a circumstantial train 
 
 To bear him far beyond the common gain. 
 
 Or high, or low, he may through wealth of gifts, 
 
 The forceful will, with virtue that uplifts, 
 
 So guide his bark o er life s tempestuous tide 
 
 As through the mists to highest honors ride. 
 
 45
 
 Or humble be in worldly estimate, 
 And yet in finer sense be truly great 
 Through qualities that reason must commend, 
 And that to earth a sweeter beauty lend. 
 And who should judge of failure and success, 
 Or censor be amid the earthly stress, 
 Save one whose charity is ever kind 
 And who with reason doth his judgments find? 
 
 Yea ! man is weak and needs on faith to lean, 
 Distraught with swaying doubt oft halts between 
 The impulse that impels to pathway down, 
 And nobler sense that would his being crown. 
 He feels the buffets of a scheming world, 
 And by its blinded passion oft is whirled 
 From off the foothold where he fain would stay, 
 The hapless sport of fate s remorseless play. 
 
 Or firm as is the rock imbedded fast, 
 The seething whirlwind rushes vainly past, 
 And leaves him scathless, towering in his might, 
 Unto his kind a steadfast beacon light : 
 To show the possibilities in man, 
 And emphasize the beauty of the plan 
 Wherein he, striving, may yet come to be 
 The confidant of the Eternity. 
 
 46
 
 Slow is man s progress on the upward trend, 
 Doubt and despair their presence ever lend 
 To hold in check, and long keep unfulfilled 
 Progressive law by the Creator willed ; 
 And selfishness begets a wilful brood, 
 Whose baser motives oft obscure the mood 
 Where better aspirations should prevail 
 To keep his feet upon the higher trail. 
 
 Great sorrow on the heart leaves furrowed trace, 
 A wound slow healed despite consoling grace, 
 The greater love, the deeper sorrow s thrust, 
 As when high hope is buried in earth s dust. 
 And other griefs, of great or lesser weight, 
 O er-cloud the lightsomeness of life s estate, 
 Wring from the heart a rain of bitter tears, 
 Cast lengthened shadows o er the coming years. 
 
 Yet man by nature is an heir to joy 
 
 As well as sorrow, thus should well employ 
 
 Those sweet activities that make for peace, 
 
 And to his fairer birthright give increase ; 
 
 Be rich possessor of that open mind 
 
 Where truth and beauty their abode e er find, 
 
 And radiate about, in circle wide, 
 
 Those higher joys that ever with them bide. 
 
 47
 
 IX. 
 
 A quiet worker in his lone retreat, 
 Striving an earth want to successful meet, 
 Toils long and late, with alternating hope, 
 That man may walk where yet he can but grope. 
 Haply with primal forces he doth deal, 
 Elusive, baffling all his earnest zeal, 
 Or with some rarer problem of the mind 
 He vainly strives its subtilties to bind. 
 
 At length across his vision falls a light 
 That dissipates the mist before his sight, 
 And to a needy world he gives a prize 
 And finds reward in its approving eyes. 
 An uncrowned hero in a peaceful field ! 
 Who to life s fruitage adds a richer yield, 
 Or who through might of an expanding truth 
 Implants in human hearts a larger ruth. 
 
 X. 
 
 Into a home where love and peace abide 
 Is borne a soul on an incoming tide, 
 And nurtured in the way of truth and right 
 Begins its ascent up toward manhood s height. 
 And early in his progress toward the goal, 
 Despite the surges that around him roll, 
 Such promise gives within a narrow field 
 As makes it prophecy for greater yield. 
 
 48
 
 Now as the years their widening vista ope 
 With larger duties doth this manhood cope, 
 And in affairs such virile force displays 
 As wins the merit of his fellows praise ; 
 E er mounting up at higher law s demands 
 This soul to greater usefulness expands, 
 And many reap, if to themselves unknown, 
 Of fruitful harvest that its life hath sown. 
 
 And though assailed through spite of petty minds, 
 
 Oft object of the jealousy that finds 
 
 In true nobility a shining mark, 
 
 And makes attack from unseen places dark, 
 
 Yet all unscathed he keeps unto the way, 
 
 With life as open as the sunlit day 
 
 He turns aside the point of jealous shaft, 
 
 And futile makes the toils of scheming craft. 
 
 A man full-statured in the larger sense, 
 Who finds within life s truest recompense, 
 With all the gifts that make its sweetest part 
 In union joined with a strong mind and heart 
 And if by chance, then chance is surely kind 
 To have thus highly wrought though seeming blind, 
 Or if through law, by higher power ordained, 
 Then who can say what yet may be attained? 
 
 49
 
 Belike of both, though all unequal yoked, 
 Law riding high o er what chance hath evoked, 
 Combined with faith to sight the higher goal 
 And hope bold leader for aspiring soul. 
 The height supreme as yet attained of earth ; 
 Rare sublimate from elemental birth; 
 A prophecy of larger life to be 
 Within the scope of this activity. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Yet man alone of life is but a part 
 That finds its complement in woman s heart, 
 A twain conjoined to make the life complete 
 As since the morn of time it hath been meet ; 
 Sweet sharer of his hope and all his joy, 
 His pain and sorrow, born of earth s alloy, 
 Soul intimates from a whole world beside 
 Who in Love s magic realm elect to bide. 
 
 O woman fair ! Thou choicest of earth s yield ! 
 
 Of gracious spirit, heart of love revealed, 
 
 Thy loyalty is an unfading bloom 
 
 Even at the cross or by the silent tomb ; 
 
 Thy tenderness exhales in constant charm, 
 
 Thy sweet voice soothes like hush of summer s calm, 
 
 O loveliest of all within time s span, 
 
 Thou brooding mother, and the mate of man. 
 
 50
 
 XII. 
 
 Around the hearth, where glows the sacred fire, 
 Fair children gather, fruit of love s desire; 
 The mother holds them as her heart s delight, 
 For them the father makes life s manful fight. 
 Here helpless infancy makes its great plea 
 For care and guidance in the days to be, 
 Repays in myriad fold with gaining grace, 
 And more and more fills an endeared place. 
 
 Here are those precepts learned that aye endure, 
 Are known the joys whose memory keeps life pure, 
 Here love s deft fingers mould the plastic mind 
 In labor sweet with fondest hopes entwined. 
 Herein are sown the seeds of righteousness, 
 Whose ripened harvest doth supremely bless, 
 In later eras of his mortal span 
 Makes strong and sweet the favored soul of man. 
 
 Here is the motive for all highest gain ; 
 Is light that makes the path of duty plain; 
 Here brooding peace, from store of happiness, 
 Pours out the measure of life s true success. 
 Home calls the wanderer back to the fold 
 Even though between the pathless seas have rolled ; 
 Home is the goal for him who daily toils, 
 Possession richer than all worldly spoils ; 
 
 51
 
 For here love crowns him as an honored king, 
 And all its sweetest ministries doth bring 
 To cheer his hope, and all his hurts assuage 
 That he hath suffered from life s battling rage. 
 Home is the unit of the mighty state ; 
 Home weaves a tie that outlives death and fate, 
 Yea ! incense from its altared hearth doth rise 
 Whose wafted fragrance mingles with the skies. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 If man be highest product of those laws 
 
 That work obedient to Eternal Cause, 
 
 Then in his being should reflected be 
 
 Some attribute of the Eternity. 
 
 The sentiency that puts him to the fore, 
 
 That gives him power beyond earth s dust to soar, 
 
 Seems a reflection from the All Wise Mind 
 
 That worlds and suns in harmony doth bind. 
 
 His ethic force, that makes for righteousness, 
 Seems emanation from divinest stress, 
 As if the breath of the All Potent Power 
 Had touched his spirit at its natal hour 
 Creative man is purposive in plan, 
 Inception and finality doth scan, 
 Then bends his force to work as he hath willed 
 And unto chance leaves naught to be fulfilled. 
 
 52
 
 Love is indwelling force, persistent aye, 
 Hope is the pioneer that clears the way, 
 Through eye of faith comes that refined light 
 That mirrors on the soul the out of sight. 
 These are supremest gifts on man bestowed, 
 His highest grasp on the eternal code, 
 That make him first in his restricted field, 
 The fairest fruit of earth s progressive yield. 
 
 Yet haply neath some far, far distant sun 
 
 Life may through striving grander heights have won, 
 
 Attained to gifts beyond this mortal scope 
 
 And yet akin to love, to faith and hope. 
 
 Unto intelligence and moral sway, 
 
 That rule the course of universal way, 
 
 In part imparted, part in reflex fair, 
 
 That all created forms as agents share. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 True happiness should be the earthly aim, 
 Widespread, diffused, a boon that all may claim, 
 The conservation of all choicest things 
 That unto man life s brief experience brings ; 
 Protracted haply into other spheres, 
 Perchance cut short with closing of his years, 
 Yet let the issue be whate er it may 
 True happiness should be the earthly way. 
 
 53
 
 XV. 
 
 Far distant lies the prime of golden age, 
 That ideal realm devoid of lustful rage, 
 To be attained through no inglorious ease, 
 Nor when achieved will man s great efforts cease ; 
 For he must strive to keep what he hath won 
 Along the tortuous path his feet have run, 
 And with endeavor to maintain his place 
 Unto his life add an increasing grace. 
 
 Each age is golden to the same degree 
 That sees man more and more inclined to be 
 The master of those primal instincts strong, 
 That in their license keep him to the wrong. 
 Each age is golden to the same degree 
 That sees the more of mind untrammeled, free, 
 And yet conserved by ideals pure and high 
 That reach as far as from the earth to sky. 
 
 That age will golden be when o er the earth 
 Mankind shall feel a larger sense of worth, 
 Feel more akin in dignity of soul 
 To those vast forces that around earth roll. 
 That age will golden be that sees the right 
 Replace the ancient, brutal reign of might, 
 Where love and truth, in all pervading sway, 
 With well poised reason shall direct the way ; 
 
 54
 
 The way where peace and honor both shall bide, 
 With lovely virtues that are gained beside 
 The quiet hearthstone, and in honest toil, 
 That seeks not to o erreach or to despoil ; 
 Where justice, clear eyed, shall be no man s thrall, 
 And larger knowledge shall give clarion call 
 For faith in Him who dwells within, around, 
 And holds all things in sweet communion bound. 
 
 Thus man should forward press forever more 
 Unto the good the future hath in store, 
 And leave behind, as onward he doth go, 
 Upon his path a cheerful afterglow. 
 His hope should reach unto a fairer day, 
 And foster faith in life s triumphant way 
 That in the scope of universal plan 
 In valued sphere will be the soul of man. 
 
 Whate er betides, whate er to man befalls 
 The Infinite unto him ever calls, 
 For he is part of the Eternal Good 
 By mortal mind but dimly understood. 
 His place and state no prophet can foretell, 
 He can but trust the issue will be well, 
 That his endowment with its heavy cost 
 In the Eternity will not be lost. 
 
 55
 
 EPITOME. 
 
 A bit of clay on shaping wheel, 
 A touch from nature s pliant hand, 
 A spark, as heaven s approved seal, 
 A breath of time by heart beat spanned, 
 
 Of such is man. 
 
 A fertile brain with purpose filled, 
 A mystic soul with hopes and fears, 
 An active force to plan and build, 
 An ecstasy of joy and tears, 
 
 Of such is man. 
 
 A drifting mote in sunlit space, 
 An atom from the ether reft, 
 A thing of beauty and of grace, 
 A memory to his fellows left, 
 
 Of such is man. 
 
 He cannot scale, behind, before, 
 The rigid walls that hem his lot, 
 And thus for mythic wings to soar 
 Hath he aspiring eager sought. 
 
 Tis thus with man. 
 
 Yet who can quench the living fire 
 That flames triumphant in his breast, 
 Or limit his sublime desire 
 That bit of heaven find heavenly rest, 
 
 Save Him who gave? 
 
 56
 
 ON THE HILLS. 
 
 When o er upland summits ranging, 
 Summer s glow on the slow changing 
 
 Vales and hills, 
 
 How the heart is stirred with pleasure 
 As uplifted thought doth measure 
 Joys not ills upon the hills. 
 
 Sunshine flooding from the Giver 
 Makes each spacious open quiver 
 
 Mid the hills ; 
 
 Bathing, laving all in gladness 
 Not a single note of sadness 
 Sends its thrills upon the hills. 
 
 List ecstatic chorus singing! 
 Songsters arrowy flights are winging 
 
 O er the hills ; 
 
 Seems not winged grace the fleeter, 
 And the liquid notes the sweeter, 
 Flights and trills upon the hills ? 
 
 Zephyrs through the forest sighing 
 Are with tuneful waters vying 
 
 Mid the hills; 
 
 Sighs that burdened heart can lighten 
 As their swell and cadence heighten 
 Songs of rills amid the hills. 
 
 57
 
 Subtile perfumes, softly stealing, 
 Are as promises of healing 
 
 From the hills; 
 
 Wealth ungarnered, yet not wasted 
 If but single soul hath tasted 
 Peace that fills upon the hills. 
 
 Vault of azure, type unfading 
 For the changeful tints pervading 
 
 Vales and hills ; 
 To the mind the blue is fairer, 
 And the flush of earth tints rarer, 
 As it wills upon the hills. 
 
 Choicest of harmonious blending 
 Is the tide of summer lending 
 
 To the hills ; 
 
 And great nature s calm is pressing 
 On responsive soul its blessing 
 As it stills upon the hills. 
 
 When at upland vantage sitting, 
 Cloudlet shadows swiftly flitting 
 
 O er the hills, 
 
 Life expands to larger measure, 
 And the quickened heart hath pleasure 
 Void of ills upon the hills. 
 
 58
 
 AN EXCURSION. 
 
 I linger in the field of books, 
 In part that childhood graces, 
 Wherein is charm of quaintest nooks 
 And sunny, smiling places. 
 
 What richness and what merry cheer 
 In all this choice creation, 
 Whose increase now in single year 
 Itself is revelation. 
 
 The insight clear, the happy word 
 To guide youth s wayward fancies, 
 The latent skill by wisdom stirred 
 To catch its restless glances, 
 
 What rarer gift can heaven bestow 
 From out its choicest treasure? 
 To plant the truth and see it grow 
 Is blessing without measure. 
 
 Strange contrast these with meager store 
 That caught our youthful vision, 
 The scattered gems that chanced before 
 This later growth elysian. 
 
 59
 
 And yet how dear the classic few 
 That fed our youthful longing 
 With old, old tales that once were new 
 Come happy memories thronging. 
 
 It hath been said that after four 
 The human mind needs driving, 
 Till at fifteen or little more 
 Itself betakes to striving. 
 
 Perchance the speaker did not dream 
 Of later tenser making, 
 When children at castalian stream 
 Would ever thirst be slaking. 
 
 And to subserve their youthful need, 
 On fresh, attractive pages 
 Is spread the bloom of thought and deed, 
 The flowering of the ages. 
 
 Tis ours to keep both watch and ward 
 O er all this broad dominion, 
 And strive with might, in firm accord, 
 To mould a high opinion. 
 
 To keep in sympathy with youth 
 And wholesome service render, 
 As when example holds the truth 
 Before the conscience tender. 
 
 60
 
 IN WAYS DIVINE. 
 
 O Thou who art of all supreme! 
 The fount of love s abiding stream, 
 Thy bounty with its fostering care 
 Invites the solace of a prayer. 
 
 And not alone on bended knee 
 Do our petitions rise to Thee, 
 Nor need we always seek the place 
 To bare our hearts before Thy face. 
 
 For prostrate form and studied phrase 
 Are not the only gates to praise 
 In varied paths Thy child to Thee 
 May come in closest harmony. 
 
 A trembling hope, a sigh, may rise 
 With message to the shining skies ; 
 A word from memory s broad array 
 Show wakened penitence the way. 
 
 A simple flower, dew scented, white, 
 May speed an errant thought aright, 
 And strain of music low and soft 
 Direct the troubled soul aloft. 
 
 61
 
 A filmy cloud in azure sea 
 
 Can turn indifference to Thee, 
 
 While sun and moon, even storm-wind rude, 
 
 Constrain to thy beatitude. 
 
 Sweet pity s tear and kindly deed 
 Lack not a swift responsive heed, 
 As to the giver s finer sense 
 Comes all the blessed recompense. 
 
 The reverent soul will fain look up 
 Whate er the potion in its cup, 
 And thankful heart aspire to praise 
 The fullness of its ordered days. 
 
 62
 
 A SONG OF SPRING. 
 
 Forceful yet mild is the breath of Spring, 
 Wooing the bluebird early to sing, 
 Moving the leaflet swift to unfold, 
 Coaxing the wild flower up from the mould. 
 
 Fragrant and pure is the vernal air 
 Filling all space with a freshness rare, 
 Bringing to pulses winter e er stills 
 Promise of joy that summer fulfills. 
 
 Charmingly sweet is the voice of Spring 
 Bidding young Love to the quickening 
 Songbird and leaflet, opening flower, 
 Are to fair Love Spring s welcoming dower. 
 
 Cheeringly bright is Spring s gracious smile 
 As with her charms she Love doth beguile 
 Tis fairest sight that nature doth bring, 
 Transfigured Love in the smile of Spring. 
 
 63
 
 IN THIS MANNER. 
 
 Thus in man s eventful course 
 From the deep of primal night, 
 
 From the realm of unknown source 
 Upward with increasing might ; 
 
 Through the sacrifice and pain 
 
 That attend the law divine, 
 As he strives for nobler gain 
 
 And to grander heights would climb; 
 
 Now and then to waiting sight 
 Looms a great heroic form, 
 
 Towering in the growing light 
 
 Bove the common stress and storm. 
 
 One who sees and grasps his chance 
 In life s grand unfolding scheme, 
 
 And o er-riding circumstance 
 Proves to all his gifts supreme. 
 
 Who by might of word or deed, 
 By some timely, fateful stroke, 
 
 Wakes a world to larger need 
 Fertile field before unbroke. 
 
 64
 
 And a world pays tribute fair, 
 Soon or late gives its acclaim, 
 
 To his name for effort rare 
 
 Grants the boon, undying fame. 
 
 One more step upon the way 
 In the progress of the race, 
 
 One more step toward fairer day, 
 Nearer universal grace, 
 
 Through the sacrifice and pain 
 That attend the law divine, 
 
 As man grasps the nobler gain 
 And to grander heights doth climb. 
 
 65
 
 SINGERS OF OLD. 
 
 I sometimes muse, in quiet hour, 
 
 Of singers in that ancient time 
 When song was in its early flower, 
 
 Far from its present affluent prime. 
 
 Now here, now there, a song was sung 
 To sound through all the ages change, 
 
 In swelling tones that e er have rung 
 Attuned to note of highest range. 
 
 Those singers plucked from virgin soil 
 
 Such flowers of thought to wreathe and twine, 
 
 As fragrant yet, with all our spoil, 
 Can stir the blood like ancient wine. 
 
 They freshly looked on nature s page, 
 And coined such phrase its charm to tell, 
 
 That much of later "noble rage" 
 
 To their grand strains is minor swell. 
 
 They sounded deep life s inner wells, 
 And swept the chords therein art strung 
 
 With touch whose music yet compels 
 Mid all that poets since have sung. 
 
 66
 
 No tome was theirs, or charted sheet, 
 To guide them in this pleasant way, 
 
 But they instinctively did greet 
 The call to sing in tuneful lay. 
 
 Twas their good fortune thus to be 
 The leaders in that art divine, 
 
 Where man can show the majesty 
 Of nobler thought in measured line. 
 
 And others yet life s deep will sound, 
 Will see the charm in nature s face, 
 
 For life and nature are profound 
 And gift to sing is inborn grace. 
 
 67
 
 ON THE HEART OF THE INFINITE. 
 
 As we drift alone and helpless from the deep, 
 While the bitter, wailing surges round us sweep, 
 Ev n when safe in earthly havens we recline 
 Dost Thou hold us to Thy bosom, Power Divine? 
 
 In the beauty and the vigor born of youth, 
 Though oft straying ever yearning for the truth, 
 Drinking deep from nature s chalice sweetest wine, 
 Dost Thou hold us to Thy bosom, Power Divine? 
 
 When the glowing sun of noontide blazons all, 
 And on clarion note is borne life s active call, 
 Calling all its subtile forces to combine, 
 Dost Thou hold us to Thy bosom, Power Divine? 
 
 Soon the glory of the noontide fades for aye, 
 And the shadows, softly falling, cross the way; 
 When our worn and drooping bodies know decline 
 Dost Thou hold us to Thy bosom, Power Divine? 
 
 As we drift alone and helpless through the gloom 
 When earth s weak and fainting portion seeks the tomb, 
 Where no rays into the shadowed valley shine, 
 Dost Thou hold us to Thy bosom, Power Divine? 
 
 Ever reaching toward the Infinite profound, 
 Seeing wondrous love and harmony abound, 
 We have faith that all our being is of Thine 
 And Thine arm is ever round us, Power Divine. 
 
 68
 
 LAW AND LOVE. 
 
 As I hark to the voice from the infinite deep 
 That cries unto man, "As ye sow so ye reap," 
 Then I know in my heart, full with questioning awe, 
 Tis the word and decree of unchanging law. 
 
 Yet I feel in my heart, despite question and awe, 
 Underlying fiat of unbending law 
 Is the heart of its maker, Creator of all, 
 And Love is the keynote in challenging call. 
 
 For a Universe Builder must needs have His ways 
 With the myriad forms His activity sways, 
 And harmonious law serves the purpose divine 
 Of All-biding Love with omniscient design.
 
 O YE OF LITTLE FAITH. 
 
 O ye of little faith ! who rail at fate, 
 
 And with a narrow vision only see 
 In ordered law a ruthless hand of hate, 
 
 Compelling to an untoward destiny. 
 
 O ye of little faith! who under-prize 
 The larger values in this mortal scope, 
 
 Nor soar above what on life s surface lies, 
 Nor with its deeper undercurrents cope. 
 
 O ye of little faith ! who love deride, 
 
 The love that is from primal passion free ; 
 
 Who know not joys that in the heart abide 
 Whose pulses throb with large humanity. 
 
 O ye who sadly lack both faith and love, 
 
 Deprived of charm their helpful presence brings, 
 
 Why stay below, why rise not high above 
 Into communion with life s sweeter things? 
 
 70
 
 THE MASTERPIECE. 
 
 O sweet are the lilies and fair, 
 
 And the perfume where roses grow wild, 
 
 Yet sweeter beyond their compare 
 
 Is the bloom on the heart of a child 
 
 The unfolding heart of a child. 
 
 How deep is the azure above, 
 And its purity how undefined, 
 Yet deeper and purer the love 
 In the heart of a sweet little child 
 The unfathomed heart of a child. 
 
 God fashioned the o er-arching skies, 
 The flowers that for ages have smiled, 
 Yet ever His crowning work lies 
 In the fresh, happy heart of a child 
 The heart of an innocent child. 
 
 O sweet is the story of old 
 That to hope oft hath soul reconciled, 
 Christ s likeness of God s precious fold 
 To the heart of a dear little child 
 The love-trusting heart of a child. 
 
 71
 
 CONSECRATED. 
 
 We ask, O Thou Divinest One! 
 These gifts for this beloved son, 
 That all his days may freighted be 
 With wisdom, strength, humility. 
 
 Endow him with subjective force 
 To teach Thee as the mighty source 
 Wherein can all be understood 
 Thou Infinite, the Highest Good : 
 
 Give him a calm and open mind 
 Where truth may ever welcome find, 
 And constant will that choosing right 
 Shall face, unswerving, to the light ; 
 
 Touch his young heart with heavenly fire, 
 That he may other lives inspire 
 To clearer faith and larger aims, 
 And all that charity proclaims. 
 
 May all the sweetness and the grace 
 Through which, alone, is seen Thy face, 
 From his pure life and precepts fall 
 As he shall serve each sacred call. 
 
 72
 
 A DAY IN JUNE. 
 
 Dear nature, in thy smiling face 
 We read today of hope and blessing, 
 Each lovely form, each tinted grace, 
 Is thy most happy mood confessing. 
 
 As subtile force in mystic ways 
 
 Hath wrought for thee this sweet adorning, 
 
 Ev n thus it moves the soul to praise 
 
 The joy of all this fairest morning. 
 
 In fresh array, with lavish hue, 
 
 Each tree and shrub its charm is lending, 
 
 And all the colors in the view 
 
 Of harmony are message sending. 
 
 The sun hath kissed each open cup 
 And drank its mete of night s distilling, 
 That each hath gladly yielded up, 
 Refreshed by law of love fulfilling. 
 
 The shining brook, in wayward mood, 
 Through woodland and through mead is flowing, 
 Where oft the trailing reeds are wooed 
 That by its fertile marge are growing. 
 
 And now its crystal waters leap 
 
 The frequent shallows roughened setting, 
 
 Now placid, in a broader sweep, 
 
 As if its restlessness forgetting. 
 
 73
 
 The vesture of each curving bank 
 Is rapture for the seeking vision, 
 And all the verdant fields are rank 
 With star-gems set with lax precision. 
 
 The air with purity is rife, 
 Its lightest touch is benediction; 
 The zephyrs vie in friendly strife 
 Caressing with their sweet connection. 
 
 And now tis filled with vibrant notes 
 
 By happy songsters, joyous singing; 
 
 Ethereal fragrance on it floats 
 
 From out each flowering heart upspringing. 
 
 Fair, tiny shapes on lightest wing 
 
 In seeming aimlessness are flitting, 
 
 Yet ever graceful action bring 
 
 Ev n thus their share of joy transmitting. 
 
 Before these gifts divinely fair 
 Kind nature in thy garden teeming, 
 We lose the burden of our care 
 For peace from every nook is beaming. 
 
 The soul hath chord in dull attune 
 That stirs not with unwonted feeling, 
 As o er it flows the breath of June 
 With all the sweetness of its healing. 
 
 74
 
 MORNING. 
 
 Lo ! the East is paling, heralding the dawn, 
 
 Soon will night s enshrouding be from earth withdrawn; 
 
 Then will it awaken, myriad eyes will ope, 
 
 Pulses stir and quicken strong with tasks to cope ; 
 
 Now tis brooding silence, all the earth is still, 
 
 And its dormant forces wait the morning s will. 
 
 Hark! from leafy covert comes a matin note, 
 
 Soon thanksgiving chorus will on ether float. 
 
 Now morn s hosts advancing press receding night 
 
 And her starry splendor pales fore coming light. 
 
 Cloudlets slowly drifting, tinged with rosy hue, 
 
 Are as avant banners telling morn is due. 
 
 Golden lights are spreading o er the Eastern sky 
 
 And earth s beacon summits signal "Morn is nigh." 
 
 Lo ! the East is glowing now the morn is here 
 
 And earth s waking millions feel its blessed cheer. 
 
 Feel its breath of sweetness filling all of space, 
 
 Yield with thrill responsive to its charmed embrace. 
 
 Blade and shrub are drinking dewy nectar rare, 
 
 Freshened blooms are shedding fragrance everywhere. 
 
 Mists that bove the river trace its winding flow 
 
 Stir and lightly vanish in the morn s full glow. 
 
 All of earth s creation, bathed in splendid light, 
 
 Feels the morn s renewing after restful night. 
 
 Miracle of morning! age on age hath man 
 
 Waked to see and ponder this divinest plan. 
 
 75
 
 THE DIGNITY OF LABOR. 
 
 In far off days, before man s prime, 
 When thought was narrow and obscure, 
 Sweet labor seemed the curse of time 
 And hapless man must needs endure. 
 
 Its fateful brand was in the sweat 
 That from the toiler s brow would roll, 
 As he in travail paid the debt 
 Imposed on each disfavored soul. 
 
 A story of most wondrous might, 
 With range as wide as all of earth, 
 Yet truth, today, is more in light 
 Than when this ancient tale had birth. 
 
 Tis like that the parental clan 
 Outspreading as th encircling wave, 
 Fair Eden s borders far o er-ran 
 And on less fertile spaces gave. 
 
 For effort then was greater need, 
 Each impulse of advancing thought 
 Made want to grow beyond the meed 
 Where nature unassisted wrought. 
 
 76
 
 Thus early did life s toil begin 
 
 When for earth s bounty man was tasked, 
 
 And from her bosom strove to win 
 
 The favor she once gave unasked. 
 
 And further on, in sterner years, 
 When smooth tradition s tale was told, 
 Some wearied soul, through mist of tears, 
 The new contrasted with the old. 
 
 From thence through ages dark with woe, 
 When most were subject to the few, 
 Fair labor in the dust was low 
 And naught but curses seemed its due. 
 
 In nobler view tis heaven s decree 
 That toil by rugged path shall rise, 
 And where conditions harder be 
 It there shall win its grandest prize. 
 
 Here farthest progress can be found, 
 And all man s best of heart and brain 
 Doth here in greatest share abound, 
 With promise for increasing gain. 
 
 Not ban, but blessing here hath part 
 The home wherein contentment sings, 
 The growing grace of mind and heart 
 And all the joy that comfort brings. 
 
 77
 
 Thus all the richest store of earth, 
 Though first for man profusely planned, 
 Comes through the patient toiler s worth, 
 Relies on toil s sustaining hand. 
 
 And in the years that lie beyond 
 Ev n to the future s latest call, 
 Will toiler be conserving bond, 
 And toil be corner stone of all. 
 
 78
 
 WHY DO I LOVE THEE? 
 
 Why do I love thee, sweet? How can I tell 
 Whence comes the breeze with its murmuring swell? 
 Or whence the charm in the breath of the fields 
 When summer her favor most lavishly yields ? 
 
 Or tell when the rays of life-giving light 
 
 Are flooding all space with their radiance bright, 
 
 How mightiest hand their potence distils, 
 
 Or what the alembic the purpose fulfills? 
 
 How can I tell whence the longing soul came, 
 
 Or measure the space from life s spark to its flame? 
 
 How trace to its source the masterful will 
 
 Or show ultimate place these functions will fill? 
 
 How can I tell what the ether waves are ? 
 Can I lay bare the secret of one fair star? 
 Can I but marvel at tint of the flower 
 And in reverence bow to manifold power? 
 
 I see that these are, haply aeons have been, 
 
 I feel that love is and to them is akin, 
 
 But purpose and source are veiled from my sight 
 
 As mists of the morning obscure mountain height. 
 
 Yet though I blindly attain toward life s goal, 
 Unable to fathom the deep of one soul, 
 This one thing I know, whatever may greet, 
 That I love thee, my own ; yes, love thee, my sweet. 
 
 79
 
 TO H. 
 
 Swift passing years above thy brow 
 
 Have placed the signet of life s prime ; 
 
 If I could roll them backward now 
 
 To happy days of Love s springtime, 
 
 I yet should pause twould make as naught, 
 
 Within sweet memory s treasured scroll, 
 
 The fragrance that our lives have caught 
 
 As we have journeyed soul with soul. 
 
 80
 
 MIDSUMMER. 
 
 Sunlight shimmering on the leaves, 
 Wild flowers nodding to the breeze, 
 Cloudlets drifting high above, 
 Songbirds trilling notes of love. 
 
 Streamlet murmuring on its way ; 
 Tiny wings in happy play, 
 Stately reeds with bended heads, 
 Touch of grace that summer sheds. 
 
 Forest aisles, roofs interlaced, 
 Burnished lake with islets spaced, 
 Grassy mead to billows stirred, 
 Upland slope with grazing herd. 
 
 Sky o erarching, azure hue, 
 Blends with all the charm of view, 
 Purple summit, verdant dale, 
 Over all is summer s trail. 
 
 Air inviting, fragrance filled 
 Hath the summer lavish willed, 
 Cooling zephyrs, fervid rays 
 Joyous are midsummer days. 
 
 81
 
 MIGHTIEST. 
 
 O fair and gracious Spirit ! 
 With naught of change or fear, 
 The charm of Thy sweet presence, 
 Like rare and subtile perfume, 
 Lingers forever near. 
 
 Along earth s wide expanses 
 No limits rise gainst Thee ; 
 Touching life s crowded centers, 
 Smiling from secret places 
 Thou quicken st land and sea. 
 
 Beyond this world Thou movest 
 With swift unmeasured pace, 
 Invading breathless silence, 
 Flooding with light celestial 
 The boundless deeps of space. 
 
 Not all the orbs unnumbered, 
 
 Or endlessness of time 
 
 Can dim Thy flame eternal 
 
 With sweetest notes Thou rt sounding 
 
 Ever a chord sublime. 
 
 Shall then ev n one heart falter 
 Or lonely feel, and small, 
 When Love, divinest essence 
 Of all-pervading ether, 
 Makes it akin to all? 
 
 82
 
 MY GIFT. 
 
 A little flower to me was given, 
 
 I placed it deep within my heart; 
 
 By its pure touch my soul was shriven 
 
 I cherished it with loving art. 
 
 It grew in strength, with graceful form, 
 Its clinging tendrils reaching wide 
 Naught presaged of a coming storm, 
 Sweet peace with me did yet abide. 
 
 The dewy freshness of its bloom 
 Gave fragrance to my life each day 
 I had no thought for earthly doom, 
 My treasure safely guarded lay. 
 
 Ah ! woful time, life waning fast 
 The floweret drooped its lovely head ; 
 O erwhelmed, benumbed, I woke at last 
 My gift and heart were with the dead. 
 
 83
 
 O NOT HOW WITH BELOVED 
 TO PART. 
 
 Once more the season s changeful round 
 Hath graved its record on my heart, 
 New lessons taught, with meaning sound, 
 But not how with beloved to part. 
 
 Thus there is ever pain and void 
 Though duty s call be heeded well, 
 Life s joy with sorrow is alloyed 
 As fancy weaves its darker spell. 
 
 And yet we trust that unseen hand 
 Directs the path grief s footsteps trace, 
 Guides soul bereft beside the strand, 
 Through pain of loss adds richer grace. 
 
 Does not that little spot of earth, 
 Of all kind mother s breast most dear, 
 To sweetest flowers give lavish birth 
 Though watered by the mourning tear? 
 
 Yea ! summer flowers above it bloom, 
 Yet wintry winds around it cope, 
 And now indeed it seems a tomb, 
 Now vantage ground for brightest hope. 
 
 84
 
 Alone, beneath the silent sky, 
 My soul oft strives to pierce the vail, 
 On loved one calls with longing cry 
 Naught but the silence greets my hail. 
 
 And yet I would have sweet accord 
 With Him who knows both mind and heart- 
 Thou hast not made it easy, Lord, 
 For us from well-beloved to part. 
 
 sr,
 
 LONGING. 
 
 If Thou could st grant, O Heart of Love ! 
 As boon what to my thought hath clung, 
 That dearest hands from heights above 
 Might touch the chords by memory strung ; 
 
 Might stir the music that had birth 
 When hope was highest, life most fair, 
 Familiar strains refined of earth 
 To tell us of the loved ones there. 
 
 What joy to feel an answering thrill 
 For hearts bowed low with grief and pain ; 
 To know they too remember still 
 If ours be loss and theirs be gain. 
 
 We touch the strings and silent weep, 
 With no response save whelming thought ; 
 If they the mystic strands could sweep 
 O God ! what miracle were wrought. 
 
 Forgive, dear Lord! Thou knowest best 
 What well befits this mortal sight, 
 And yet we have this strange unrest, 
 This longing for unclouded light. 
 
 86
 
 VAIN REGRETS. 
 
 If I might in her presence be once more, 
 
 To hear the music of her happy voice, 
 
 Feel her warm clasp as in the days of yore 
 
 O well beloved ! Star of my youthful choice 
 
 And see love s beacon shining in her eyes 
 
 As when some near one held their fond surprise, 
 
 Twould dearer be to me than aught below 
 
 For with my joy she my regrets could know. 
 
 87
 
 THE PASSING YEAR. 
 
 Behold the passing of the year ! 
 On swifter wing life s cycle flies, 
 While hope a lowering pinion tries 
 As chastened vision sees more clear. 
 
 Yet if hope speeds in onward course 
 With less of errancy in aim, 
 Life is, in essence, still the same 
 As when twas near unto its source. 
 
 The constant sun still flames the East, 
 Marks high the noon then sinks to rest 
 Into the bosom of the West, 
 As when life s tide was at its least. 
 
 Adown the rapid slope of time 
 Have myriad creatures wended way, 
 And perished with their little day 
 A morning, eve, and mid-day prime. 
 
 Tis man alone of all the host 
 Hath kept such record of the past 
 As makes him first who is the last, 
 Yet with long ages for his boast. 
 
 88
 
 And thus he gropes within his span 
 Less blindly than his early sires, 
 His wider vision breeds desires 
 The larger want the broader man. 
 
 Withal he can but dimly see 
 
 Into the seeming void before, 
 
 Gainst which his longing soul beats sore 
 
 With vainest strivings to be free. 
 
 And thus he leans in weakness sheer 
 On subtile force he hath named hope, 
 That can with darkest fancies cope, 
 Transforming doubt to faith and cheer. 
 
 It lifts him into purer space, 
 And though oft devious be the way 
 And oft his tired feet may stray, 
 He keeps with courage to the race. 
 
 And oft for him the wayside blooms 
 While sweetest fragrance fills the air, 
 Anon he plucks a blossom fair 
 And happiness around him looms. 
 
 He decks fair memory s halls with green, 
 And twines each wreath with happy thought, 
 With friendship and with love enwrought 
 Oft withered chaplet falls between. 
 
 89
 
 Ev n thus the fruitage to the sod, 
 Tis but transition s passing form 
 The forest wastes before the storm 
 But nothing can be lost to God. 
 
 Whence man hath come or whither goes 
 Is knowledge that he cannot share, 
 But he hath hope to front despair, 
 And faith that can surmount all woes. 
 
 And he hath love the way to cheer, 
 
 Hath ideals high for beacon lights 
 
 To guide him through those darksome nights 
 
 That ofttimes cloud the passing year. 
 
 90
 
 PERENNIAL. 
 
 Sweetheart! canst recall the day 
 When life s springtide pulses flow, 
 Quickened all our joyous way 
 In the happy long ago? 
 
 Dearest ! I recall the hours 
 In those fairest days of yore, 
 When our way was bright with flowers 
 Gathered from Love s vernal store. 
 
 Sweetheart ! can st remember well 
 How in heat of summer s noon 
 Striving, we did bravely dwell, 
 Cheered the while by richest boon? 
 
 Dearest! tis to me as clear 
 As Love s sweet tale newly told, 
 How we strove without a fear 
 While the noontide round us rolled. 
 
 Sweetheart! callest thou to mind 
 How with autumn s changing hue, 
 Love our hearts did closer bind 
 Seeing each the other s due? 
 
 91
 
 Dearest! tis my cherished thought 
 How in the declining years, 
 More and more each loving sought 
 That for other come no tears. 
 
 Sweetheart ! can the winter s snow 
 On our treasure cast its chill, 
 If within our hearts aglow 
 Love is truly vernal still? 
 
 Dearest! thou my choice of old! 
 Still my faith doth brightly shine 
 What to us is winter s cold? 
 Thou art mine and I am thine. 
 
 92
 
 BUCKLIN HILL. 
 
 Fair lies that rural town whose people once proclaimed 
 Its freedom, with a zeal in local annals famed; 
 And if a wiser thought its union did decree 
 So lightly rests the bond its people still are free.* 
 
 In days that now are old, and first in numbers few, 
 Here came strong, hopeful souls to country fresh and new, 
 To rear their modest hearths and light the sacred flame, 
 Live plain industrious lives, bequeath an honest name. 
 
 Within the winding vales, beside the river s flow, 
 Upon commanding slopes o erlooking far below, 
 They built their humble homes, and with severest toil 
 Enlarged the open glades and broke the virgin soil. 
 
 In blest though narrowed sphere the housewife plied with 
 
 skill, 
 
 To all her varied tasks brought most devoted will, 
 Prepared the simple food, the clothing each might need, 
 And to each childish voice gave ever tender heed. 
 
 *The town of Guilford, Vermont, unlike the other grants in the state, received 
 its charter direct from the king. During the stirring times of the Revolution, when 
 the people of Vermont were striving for its independence as a state, as well as aid 
 ing the older colonies, the citizens of Guilford proclaimed the town a republic; but 
 they soon saw the error of their way and joined heartily in the common cause. 
 
 93
 
 All diligent here wrought some goodly gain to show, 
 Beneath the summer s sun, in winter s frost and snow, 
 And though oft chastened sore by stern affliction s rod 
 They ever steadfast kept a faith sublime in God. 
 
 Upon yon summit s spur, below the crowning wood, 
 Erect in simplest form their holy temple stood ; 
 For this they sacrificed, and on each sacred day 
 They gathered near and far winding the upward way.* 
 
 And here the Elder came to greet his scattered flock, 
 In vision show the cleft in the Eternal Rock, 
 To lift their eyes above toward everlasting day, 
 And teach them how to keep their feet within the way. 
 
 A man of goodly mind, whose heart with love o erflowed, 
 Whose life showed broader faith than strict convention s 
 
 code; 
 
 He gave with open hand, no treasure hid on shelf, 
 In joy and grief alike he gave his best, himself. 
 
 Nor stayed his willing feet if message came of need, 
 Perchance some cheering word, or haply pious deed, 
 For long successive years, near to his latest breath, 
 He sought to cheer their lives, to smooth their way to 
 death. 
 
 *West Guilford was settled by Baptist emigrants from Rhode Island. They 
 erected their church, the second in the town, upon a spur from a range of hills. 
 Later it was taken down and rebuilt in a more accessible location. 
 
 For many years this people were ministered to by the Rev. John Bucklin, him 
 self a native of Rhode Island, and affectionately known to his people as "The 
 Elder." 
 
 94
 
 Their temple, stained and worn, for them was beacon 
 
 t light, 
 
 And tired eyes oft sought the sacred summit s height, 
 And oft to tempted soul it brought stern duty s call 
 Naught now of all remains save worn foundation wall. 
 
 Fair type of seeking souls who loved the lasting hills ! 
 Your joys of earth are o er, long past your mortal ills; 
 Within yon summit s ken your bodies peaceful rest, 
 But in far grander fane your souls have found their quest. 
 
 95
 
 REMINISCENCE. 
 
 As I look adown the vista 
 Toward fair boyhood s morning light, 
 One from many pleasing pictures 
 Oft doth claim my mental sight. 
 
 I can see the village schoolhouse 
 Where, a child, I first essayed 
 Footsteps in the rugged pathway 
 That no royal hand hath made. 
 
 Nestling close to foot of hillside, 
 Shadowed o er by stately trees, 
 Stood the simple shrine of learning 
 Marked by sunshine, storm and breeze. 
 
 Humble in its plain externals, 
 Dressed in coat of faded red, 
 With its blackened, frost-worn chimney, 
 And a low roofed open shed. 
 
 See the schoolroom, bare, yet cheerful 
 With associations dear, 
 Having high, unpainted wainscot 
 And low ceiling cracked and sere.
 
 Having small, uncurtained windows 
 Lighting faces young and bright, 
 Faces scattered past recalling 
 By the years resistless might. 
 
 And a floor all worn and hollowed 
 By the tread of children s feet 
 In what paths do they now travel? 
 Roughened way, or smoothly beat? 
 
 Crude its furniture and ugly, 
 Carved by many a stealthy knife, 
 Showing in its battered surface 
 Years of wear by restless life. 
 
 Wooden blackboard, seamed and faded, 
 Rusty stove, a well tried friend, 
 Teacher s desk with captured treasure, 
 All a charm to vision lend. 
 
 Ofttimes did those bare walls echo 
 Mimic words in tones most bold, 
 As on afternoon of Wednesdays 
 Many a hero s tale was told. 
 
 Tales of chieftains, speech of sages, 
 Thrilling scenes from fearful wars, 
 With perchance a moving story 
 Of our blessed freedom s cause. 
 
 97
 
 And the teacher, truly mentor 
 
 As she guided flock along 
 
 In the broadening way of knowledge, 
 
 With a sense of duty strong. 
 
 Oft the hum of restless motion 
 Would to sleep young eyelids send 
 Quick awaking, furtive glancing, 
 Closer o er the page to bend. 
 
 Then the recess, joyous frolic 
 With its loud, exultant din 
 "Snap the whip" and "stump red lion" 
 "Two old cat and my one in." 
 
 Ah ! how memory s vision moves me 
 As the best loved forms return ; 
 O the happy days of childhood 
 Ere time s call to lessons stern ! 
 
 Slowly fades the cherished picture, 
 Active duties intervene, 
 Yet recalling tends to soften 
 All the sterner time between.
 
 SUGGESTED. 
 
 If it be true the world s a stage 
 And men and women players merely, 
 Is t reason why life s mimic rage 
 Doth touch the multitude so nearly? 
 
 For if to complex mind of man 
 Self is of all its problems chiefest, 
 Why should he not seek where he can 
 A lesson get in time the briefest ? 
 
 Thus since the record was begun, 
 More now than ever tis the fashion 
 To laugh with zest at Thalia s fun, 
 Weep o er Melpomene s mock passion ; 
 
 As they with spirit never old, 
 
 E er "tutored by their own discretion," 
 
 "The mirror up to nature hold," 
 
 And if ofttimes with crude expression, 
 
 Still "suiting action to the word" 
 "The word as nearly to the action" 
 Show virtue s features undisturbed 
 And vice its image of distraction. 
 
 99
 
 As long as "time gets out of joint," 
 Hath "whips and scorns" "the law s delaying"- 
 "Th oppressor s wrong" pride s finger-point, 
 And all life s countless ills displaying, 
 
 Thus long will players "strut and fret," 
 Some human passion deftly rending, 
 And playwrights will their part beget, 
 The multitude approval lending. 
 
 100
 
 VERMONT. 
 
 How firm are thy hills, O beloved ! 
 Thy mountains lift proudly in air, 
 Great altars of freedom unsullied 
 Whose incense is spirit of prayer. 
 
 How fair are thy valleys, beloved ! 
 Thy lakes mirror smiles from above, 
 And the songs of thy brooks are freighted 
 With message of infinite love. 
 
 How true is thy heart, O beloved ! 
 Through an hundred cycles of change 
 The faith of thy youth never wavered, 
 Thy hope soared on loftiest range. 
 
 O ye, bravest sons of the mountains ! 
 Whose deeds have made history bright, 
 Lives clear as the flow of your fountains, 
 As kindred we claim ye by right; 
 
 By right of the dust long reposing 
 Where our youth turned war s fiery tide, 
 The dust later fields are enclosing 
 Where our men for truth freely died ; 
 
 101
 
 Of men who in peace were triumphant, 
 Fair women, whose lives, a pure flame, 
 Made blessing to be more abundant, 
 Gave honor more glorious fame. 
 
 Of sons who on alien fields sowing 
 Have gathered of laurel and bay ; 
 The light from whose character flowing 
 Shines bright in the life of today; 
 
 Of men and of women yet striving 
 With zeal for the truth and the right, 
 In valley, on hillside art thriving, 
 And strong in simplicity s might 
 
 O Ruler of men and of nations ! 
 Our hearts cry aloud unto Thee; 
 Not vain are time s stern revelations 
 For by truth alone are we free. 
 
 102
 
 BENNINGTON. 
 
 August 16, 1777 1891. 
 
 Our manhood cries Hail ! to those fields, near and distant, 
 
 Made sacred in annals of time and our land, 
 
 When spirit of freedom incarnate, resistant, 
 
 Its birthright of peace claimed at victory s hand. 
 
 In glory of summer, as now when earth renders 
 Her bountiful increase from tree, blade and flower, 
 Death here gathered harvest from foe and defenders, 
 In strife whose stern issue foretold a glad hour. 
 
 For tyranny s floodtide, till then unimpeded, 
 
 Here broke and was shattered gainst iron-rimmed shore, 
 
 Then baffled and sullen, a fragment, receded 
 
 To rally and ravage this border no more. 
 
 O rarest of mornings ! when peace all possessing, 
 The fresh virgin forest, hill, river and vale, 
 Burst war s scathing tempest, all order transgressing, 
 Smoke, lightnings and smitings from merciless hail. 
 
 Now furious onset, all direst confusion, 
 Victorious cheer ah ! the faint dying moan, 
 Men but now determined, a ghastly profusion, 
 Lie dead, but the cause of fair freedom hath grown. 
 
 103
 
 Again the dread carnage sweet Love, was it needful 
 That grace of today come through bitterest pain? 
 Again the dread carnage, but strong hands and deedful 
 The banner of right upbear o er the plain. 
 
 O never have conflict and sacrifice languished 
 
 As man hath from bondage of darkness emerged, 
 
 And but through travailings, with groans from the 
 
 anguished, 
 Are nations and states to their full greatness urged. 
 
 Gainst aught of neglect our loyalty wages, 
 Hath here builded temple to mark our desire, 
 A shrine that shall quicken the soul in new ages, 
 An altar aflame with the patriot s fire. 
 
 A tribute compelling to glances supernal, 
 An uplifted thought bove the dust mists of earth, 
 As firm as the mountains surrounding, eternal, 
 Clear voice for the epoch that gave freedom birth. 
 
 Great spirit triumphant ! with birthmark of heaven, 
 Depart not from this our beloved heritage, 
 But ruled by fair wisdom, as powerful leaven, 
 Possess us, renew us, our future engage. 
 
 104
 
 THE DUTY OF THE HOUR. 
 
 March 8, 1898. 
 
 Up to the height of our manhood, 
 Up toward our ideals high 
 We must rise in thought, and in action, 
 Now danger is pressing us nigh. 
 
 We in the race must be foremost 
 Chosen to lead in the van, 
 We bear the best hope of the ages 
 Aloft to the on-coming man. 
 
 Peace lovers, yet strong to maintain 
 The way if duty it be, 
 No stain must we let to the birthright 
 Our fathers brought over the sea. 
 
 Not to be slothful or headstrong, 
 Giving and asking just due, 
 Our eyes on the mark of high calling 
 With footsteps and heartbeats both true. 
 
 105
 
 REQUIEM. 
 
 1898. 
 
 In the great calm our heroes are resting, 
 From those we offered that men might be free; 
 Bravely they died, the call not protesting, 
 Far from their homes, and in isles of the sea. 
 
 Sons of a land where freedom is cherished, 
 Jewel by valor of forefathers won ; 
 Lo ! from our midst its light hath not perished, 
 Treasure transmitted from father to son. 
 
 Nurtured to dwell on liberty s story, 
 When the call came to give succor and save, 
 True to their birthright, and not for glory, 
 Themselves to the cause they manfully gave. 
 
 Firmly they stood where shot and shell crashing 
 Tore through the ranks of humanity s band, 
 There, in the shock of deadliest clashing, 
 Died for the faith in a far distant land. 
 
 O we must weep, our tears now are falling, 
 Though far from those forms held precious and dear- 
 How to our hearts their spirits are calling 
 God of the ages ! O be to us near. 
 
 106
 
 Culled from our fairest ; gifts to the altar 
 Of Country, with prayer that men might be free, 
 Though they be dead our faith must not falter, 
 Twould be disloyal to those o er the sea. 
 
 With the bright flush of strong manhood glowing, 
 Leaving fair promise of joys yet to be, 
 Bravely they fell, to all the world showing 
 How men can die that others be free. 
 
 Wreath for them laurel, bay intertwining, 
 Shrine them in hearts that are loyal and true ! 
 In the great future their fame ever shining 
 Will light this broad land as morning the dew.
 
 WHERE THE WOOD AND WATERS 
 BIDE. 
 
 Where the limpid water laves 
 
 Crystalled shore with rippling waves, 
 
 Bearing freshness on each crest 
 
 Stirred by breeze from out the West, 
 
 Breeze caressing leaf and blade 
 
 All in summer s joy arrayed, 
 
 Wafting spicy odors sweet 
 
 From the forest s dim retreat. 
 
 Forest with its carpet soft 
 
 And its tracery aloft, 
 
 Where the songster calls to mate 
 
 And the sun shafts penetrate, 
 
 Softly lighting cloist ral shade 
 
 Of the temple nature made, 
 
 Columned with both strength and grace, 
 
 Awesome in deep reaching space. 
 
 Here and there an open nook, 
 
 Dazzling after dimmer look, 
 
 Where the sun and breezes strive 
 
 Keeping all its heart alive, 
 
 Where the flowerets peeping out 
 
 Shedding sweetness all about, 
 
 Make a garden fair and bright, 
 
 Yea ! a vision of delight. 
 
 108
 
 Where the cloudlet shadows glide 
 
 O er the lake s inconstant tide, 
 
 And yet constant in its plea 
 
 That tis ever good to see, 
 
 Even if by storm o ercast 
 
 Holding to its beauty fast. 
 
 Placid now, a mirror fair, 
 
 Invert margin picture rare, 
 
 Shifting as in quick alarm 
 
 But to pose in newer charm, 
 
 As a lovely maiden coy 
 
 Doth her dainty arts employ. 
 
 Now of rudest winds the play 
 
 Its white-crested surges spray 
 
 Gainst its circling bond of stone 
 
 With a rhythmic monotone 
 
 Vivid tints its face o erspread 
 
 By the glow of sunset shed, 
 
 Changing, deep ning, till the sun 
 
 To its goal hath fully won. 
 
 Swiftly now its glory fades 
 
 Fore the night s oncoming shades 
 
 As they, soon to be its pall, 
 
 On its paling beauty fall 
 
 Save, as when o er Eastern height 
 
 Comes the moon, whose chastened light 
 
 Bathing all in silvered fire 
 
 Doth a mystic charm inspire 
 
 Here where joy and peace abide 
 
 109
 
 By the water s freshened tide, 
 Nestled mid encircling hills 
 Far from soul-disturbing ills ; 
 Where the wild flowers deck the glade 
 With their choicest hues displayed ; 
 Where the tiny wood folk thrive 
 And in sportive action strive ; 
 Where the zephyrs breathe their hymn 
 Through the aisles of forest dim, 
 Here doth nature lavish greet 
 Her fond lovers as they meet ; 
 Welcomes to her biding fair, 
 Haven from perplexing care. 
 
 110
 
 UTHER TO IGRAINE. 
 
 Igraine, them with red-gold tresses, 
 Silken fetters hearts to bind, 
 How the sunlight soft caresses 
 All their meshings deftly twined. 
 
 Crown of beauty, o er bright fancies 
 By thine eyes and lips conveyed 
 Knowest thou thy voice and glances 
 Have my heart a captive made ? 
 
 And that thy bewitching graces, 
 Lightsome as the zephyred air, 
 Sweet as summer s flowering faces, 
 Can my world make Eden fair? 
 
 Yea or nay, O list my pleading 
 As my heart I bare to thee, 
 Let thine own responsive heeding 
 Beat with mine in unity. 
 
 Ill
 
 A SOFT ANSWER. 
 
 As the pure, sweet balm of the silent dew 
 Makes the smile of the morning bright and fair; 
 As the breath of spring stirs the earth anew, 
 And brings to the light its treasures rare ; 
 
 As a simple flower in its fresh attire 
 
 Is a mute appeal for a larger love, 
 
 And as music sweet can the mind inspire 
 
 With a thought that can reach far up above, 
 
 So an answer soft to the vexed soul 
 
 May be healing balm, and a stirring force ; 
 
 Is a plea for love from a higher goal, 
 
 And a thoughtful gleam from a purer source. 
 
 112
 
 STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS. 
 
 Great God! Who to Thy creature man 
 Gave wisdom, love and truth, 
 That he might broader outlook scan 
 And bless with larger ruth ; 
 
 Who gave him an expanding mind 
 That he, at time s demand, 
 With his advancing thought might find 
 Where further Thou had st planned; 
 
 Who hath endowed him with a heart 
 That can a world embrace, 
 Yea ! touched by faith, ev n but in part, 
 Can compass boundless space ; 
 
 Who giving insight with his life, 
 And boon that makes life free, 
 Hath girded him for noblest strife 
 Subduing self to Thee ; 
 
 We thank Thee for th enlarging spheres 
 In his uplifted course, 
 Where progress measured by the years 
 Proclaims, Thou art the source. 
 
 113
 
 We thank Thee for life s sweetest ties, 
 For country fair and free, 
 And for the precious dust that lies 
 As bond for liberty ; 
 
 And yet as infants in Thy sight 
 Do we our favor ask 
 O give us courage and the light 
 For earth s appointed task. 
 
 114
 
 THE MYSTIC WEB. 
 
 It came at first as a casual thought 
 In calm of night when sleep was coy, 
 How like is this life to a fabric wrought 
 Commingled threads of pain and joy. 
 
 A mightiest web! oft with edges frayed, 
 Warp and woof of lives that have crossed 
 Since when man s prototype purposeless strayed, 
 And on the surge of chance was tossed. 
 
 Since that fateful morn in the hoary past 
 When conscious man with lifted head, 
 On the measureless shore of time was cast 
 No more to walk with aimless tread. 
 
 Not rarest product of the finest loom, 
 Marvelous work of fingers deft, 
 Can equal this web of blessing and doom 
 Wrought of the living warp and weft. 
 
 How it stretches back into formless mists, 
 Here broadening out as life ran high, 
 There drawing close with narrowing lists 
 O wondrous maze of laugh and sigh. 
 
 Forever changing in pattern and shade, 
 No threads alike in all the round, 
 Colors unblending and others that fade 
 Brightest tints with the dark abound. 
 
 115
 
 Here is a film of the daintiest sheen, 
 Beautiful ray of tender light, 
 And here another with sturdier mien 
 Strong and firm in its virile might. 
 
 Look well at this texture ! how smooth and fair ! 
 
 Behold that reef of tangled skeins ! 
 
 And oft doth appear, in unsightly share, 
 
 The marring shade of inwrought stains. 
 
 The dazzling course of some mightier strand 
 Now spans the magic breadth across, 
 With firm effect of a strengthening band 
 Or marked by shreds of waste and loss. 
 
 The busy shuttle is never at rest, 
 Back and forth with remorseless zeal, 
 Now bearing a soul on an errant quest, 
 Now at a higher goal s appeal. 
 
 Round after round as the cycles have spun 
 Have seen this matchless fabric grow, 
 In the dun of night, neath the shining sun, 
 With changeful hues of joy and woe. 
 
 Is it vain to hope that on fairer field, 
 In brighter light as ages wane, 
 The unceasing loom will give finer yield 
 With less of loss from break and stain? 
 
 116
 
 CREDO. 
 
 Teach me, Our Father ! Source of life ! 
 
 If more my duty be, 
 Than under burden of earth s strife 
 
 To rest my soul in Thee. 
 
 Thou art supreme, and madest man 
 
 In wisdom s might to grow, 
 And find within his broader span 
 
 More of Thyself to know. 
 
 He did not grasp in sudden gleam 
 
 All truth in ages gone, 
 It is for him a widening stream 
 
 Forever flowing on. 
 
 I see how unities of thought 
 
 Have wondrous courses run, 
 Since man by inspiration taught 
 
 The record first begun. 
 
 That deathless instinct of the soul 
 
 Which longs for clearer sight, 
 Hath made strange pathways toward a goal 
 
 Of everlasting light. 
 
 117
 
 Sincere did ancient prophet raise 
 
 The sacrificial knife, 
 In his rude thought twas highest praise 
 
 To give beloved s life. 
 
 But now, O deep in hearts enshrined 
 Is Love s consummate flower, 
 
 Who gave himself for sake of kind, 
 To man earth s richest dower. 
 
 And brightly glows through many a rift 
 
 On dark historic line, 
 This love that is from love the gift, 
 
 That makes man child divine. 
 
 Whichever way my footsteps keep 
 Beside earth s chance and change, 
 
 O er toil-won height, through misty deep, 
 Along life s smoother range, 
 
 I lift my thought to truth and love, 
 
 To them my hope can dare, 
 Where er they are, below, above, 
 
 I feel that Thou art there. 
 
 118
 
 SONNETS.
 
 TO A WATER LILY. 
 
 Whence is the birthright of thy mystic charm 
 Thou wondrous vision of perfected grace, 
 Whose fragrance from the unknown deeps of space 
 Suggests, in breath divine, a heaven of calm? 
 Hath some pure soul, avoiding earthly harm, 
 The blighting wrack from sin s destroying pace, 
 Leaving behind life s unregretted race, 
 Into thy bosom breathed its grateful psalm? 
 Rather from out sweet love s creative smile, 
 Beyond the marge that earth from heaven divides, 
 A spirit fair hath come, unknown of guile, 
 And deep within thy glowing heart abides 
 Across its path no mortal ill hath lain 
 And on its beauty is no trace of pain. 
 
 121
 
 TO ONE WE LOVED. 
 
 Thy rarest smile, that twas our joy to meet, 
 
 Our colder pulses stirred to quicker flow ; 
 
 Thy cordial clasp and kindly word did throw 
 
 Warm cheer around, as when the sun doth greet 
 
 The day new born. Thy ripening life was sweet 
 
 With grace. Twas strength for hope and faith to know 
 
 Thy native worth, with added force and glow 
 
 From cultured mind and heart a man complete. 
 
 Neath time s rough tide a swimmer strong goes down, 
 
 This loved one from our midst, who breasting well, 
 
 Yet sinks with prize the well beloved gains : 
 
 Ev n thus our voided hearts are as a crown 
 
 To his nobility : our griefs the swell, 
 
 In minor strain, to song where peace obtains. 
 
 122
 
 A BIRTHDAY. 
 
 From the maze of memory s crowded halls 
 A birthday comes, of the sweet long ago ; 
 When life was bright with love and hope aglow, 
 And had not felt the anguished stroke that palls 
 Its zest ; the summons from the deep that calls 
 Imperative, nor heeds the blinding woe 
 That rudely whelms the tranquil overflow 
 Which from the unscathed bosom lightly falls. 
 O freighted day! filled full with joyous life, 
 And softly thrilled by all love s tender fears ; 
 Undreamt of then the swiftly coming strife, 
 The somber cloud of darkened after years : 
 O day with fond remembrance ever rife 
 Sweet vision fading in a mist of tears. 
 
 123
 
 FLOWERS OF CONDOLENCE. 
 
 O fairest gift ! Not tribute to a king, 
 But love s sweet tender to a flitting soul, 
 Soaring beyond this mortal "bank and shoal" 
 Where naught of earth save love and hope can cling. 
 O fragrant gift ! It is to kindly bring 
 Some hint of hearts-ease, when across life s goal 
 The funeral bells a solemn passing toll, 
 For heaven s own smile hath touched each petaled ring- 
 Sore spirit wounded through thy dearest love, 
 O erwhelmed with grief that time alone can suage, 
 When shines for thee no guiding star above 
 May these fair gifts thy brooding thought engage 
 And thus we wreath o er earth s most precious clay 
 These sweet suggestions of a brighter day. 
 
 134
 
 TO WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. 
 
 O rare, kind poet of our woods and fields ! 
 Thy spirit breathes of fresh and purest things, 
 Of summer s growth, of happy life that sings, 
 And all that earth as loving tribute yields. 
 Yet in its graver mood thy music wields 
 A potent charm, as when it loudly rings 
 With freedom s cry ; or its stern challenge flings, 
 And all of lowly weakness bravely shields. 
 Thy muse toward shadowed vale did early trend, 
 To speak as from its depths some soothing word, 
 And show how nature doth harmonious blend 
 Successive ages that her heart hath stirred. 
 O er all thy work sustaining hope hath smiled, 
 And gracious peace hath shed a luster mild. 
 
 125
 
 TO HIS MAJESTY R. A. B. 
 
 But late from God, now on his mother s arm, 
 
 His little head soft pillowed gainst her breast, 
 
 His tender lips unto life s fountain prest 
 
 I gaze with awe on this divinest charm. 
 
 Sweet and ineffable the holy calm 
 
 That broods within the temple of his rest, 
 
 And reverent I pray that all life s best 
 
 May from his future keep the blight of harm. 
 
 O miracle of life ! O heart of God ! 
 
 That gave to hapless earth this precious love, 
 
 To cheer the narrow path by mortals trod, 
 
 And lift the longing soul to hope above 
 
 Soothed by the rhythm of the heart throbs deep 
 
 Nor doubt nor fear besets his peaceful sleep. 
 
 126
 
 FAINT HEART. 
 
 I seek, distraught with love, the favored home 
 
 Wherein she dwells, sweet spirit of the place, 
 
 Informing all by her transcendent grace. 
 
 If hence no more my laggard feet might roam 
 
 O dearest heart ! for me a sealed tome 
 
 If boldly I might stand before her face 
 
 And in its rare, delighting beauty trace 
 
 The love-lit flame, my hope would crown heaven s dome. 
 
 But ah ! "I dare not" waits as oft before, 
 
 And she the while moves with serenest air 
 
 Unconscious all of my most tender mood ; 
 
 Yet stay my heart ! she hath quick eye, and more 
 
 Hath wit and pity too Great Heaven ! how fair 
 
 Perchance all mine and waiting to be wooed. 
 
 127
 
 ITALY. 
 
 O sunny land ! beneath the bluest skies, 
 Where art and song perfection early found; 
 Whose ancient law for wisdom s way renowned 
 Hath led blind justice up the ages rise. 
 Thy legions bold, with half a world for prize, 
 Made all thy virile greatness far abound 
 Beyond thy guarding summits, ermine crowned, 
 That scan as erst where vine with olive vies. 
 Immortal land ! long prone in time s gray dust 
 Once more thou see st the nations face to face 
 One draught from liberty s renewing fount 
 Hath made thee young again; O be thou just, 
 That larger wisdom give thee added grace 
 As up new paths of progress thou shalt mount. 
 
 128
 
 VIVE LA REPUBLIQUE ! 
 
 Fair land of romance! of paladin bold, 
 All the mystic court in the great king s reign ; 
 O glorious land ! yet glory with stain, 
 Trailed in the dust since the days that are old. 
 Yea ! paled through oppression by pride and gold, 
 Through the voiceful blood of innocent slain, 
 Through murderous rage when thy repressed pain 
 Made thy burdened heart grow hard and cold 
 Lo ! on the upheaved ruin of past, 
 Evolved from the throes of hungering life 
 Thou, a new birth, to the nations art cast 
 Full grown and equipped for peace or for strife 
 When wisdom thy lilies with love shall twine 
 Thy glory, renewed, far brighter will shine. 
 
 129
 
 AS IT IS IN NATURE. 
 
 Loosed from fierce winter s grasp fair Earth lies dead, 
 
 And to the cold impassive form still clings 
 
 A wasting cerement : the wild wind sings 
 
 A mournful requiem, while overhead 
 
 The sad clouds droop, and on the mother shed 
 
 Soft tears : Ev n here the solemn presence brings 
 
 Its wonted gloom, and o er the body flings 
 
 The pall of brooding silence, Earth lies dead. 
 
 Behold the miracle ! To grander course 
 
 Inclined, the orb of light stirs pulses new 
 
 And vivifies afresh the dormant clod; 
 
 The mother smiles ; thrilled by the mighty force 
 
 Her quickened heart yields its transforming hue, 
 
 And all is joyous uplook unto God. 
 
 130
 
 LAKE SPOFFOKD. 
 
 Chesterfield, N. H. 
 
 Fair jewel mid bold setting of the hills! 
 
 A verdured bond that holds in close embrace 
 
 Thy lovely form. Within whose shaded space 
 
 Is reared the rustic cot, where far from ills 
 
 The nature lover finds the peace that fills 
 
 His soul. Whence he can view thy winning grace 
 
 In special charm, or concrete beauty trace 
 
 As he in all pervading gladness wills. 
 
 Now in thy placid bosom dipping oar, 
 
 Or bove wind-ruffled surface spreading sail, 
 
 He finds each day a joy unknown before 
 
 As nature gives her glorious All-hail ! 
 
 O jewel fair! thou yieldeth such delight 
 
 The happy hours pass in unnoted flight. 
 
 131
 
 TWENTY-ONE. 
 
 Upon the threshold of young manhood s door, 
 Gazing upon the promise richly hued, 
 O be thy mind with virtue well imbued 
 That bove the mean and sordid it may soar ; 
 And if thy lot be in the whirl and roar 
 Where interests clash and selfish aims intrude, 
 Where right by misty vision oft is viewed, 
 May truth into thy soul its radiance pour; 
 Or if thy way shall lowly be, obscure 
 As men do judge, but God alone doth know, 
 Obey thou duty s call, thy heart keep pure, 
 This is success that naught can overthrow. 
 Set high the ideal in thy morning s dream, 
 And breast with hope the current of life s stream. 
 
 132
 
 TO A FRIEND AFAR. 
 
 "Tis not alone the sympathetic bond, 
 
 Which to its fellows links the human heart, 
 
 That binds us unto thee. Tis broader tie, 
 
 For thou hast been both friend and teacher wise ; 
 
 And oft to us hath brought, with helpful cheer, 
 
 The living water of eternal truth. 
 
 That rarest veil, which from the common gaze 
 
 Shields inner temple of this mortal shrine, 
 
 We lifted high for thee, and face to face, 
 
 Thou looked upon our weakness and our strength. 
 
 Our sweetest joys stirred in thy kindly heart 
 
 An answering chord, and for our bitter griefs 
 
 The gentle stream of all thy pity flowed 
 
 O blest, indeed, has been this tie that binds ! 
 
 133
 
 THE GUEST. 
 
 Love, waited guest, tapped shyly at my door, 
 Bade enter, came with most bewitching smile, 
 With more of dainty grace and artless wile 
 Than I had dreamed of in the days before. 
 Dear Love, I said, thee have I needed sore, 
 But now thy charming presence wilt beguile 
 The passing hours, thy sweet voice reconcile 
 My heart s unrest it in thy absence bore. 
 I thank thee, Love, that thou bring st to my life, 
 In thine own self with ministries most sweet, 
 A joy that banishes all warring strife 
 And in my heart makes earth and heaven meet. 
 O yes, for me life s sun is shining clear 
 For Love, my guest, abideth ever near. 
 
 134
 
 DEPARTED. 
 
 How could st thou leave me, Love, to wing thy way 
 
 Across the silent deep to rarer spheres, 
 
 Leave me to face alone the coming years 
 
 Thy love-light changed for memory s dimmer ray ? 
 
 I miss thee, dear, where er I go or stay, 
 
 And when o ershadowed by reproachful fears 
 
 As loneliness with brooding visage nears, 
 
 I walk as in a chill, autumnal day. 
 
 And yet I know that thou would st fain have stayed, 
 
 Thy sweetness lent to cheer my further course, 
 
 Nor ta en the flight that low my joy hath laid 
 
 But for thy call from the eternal source. 
 
 Love most precious ! gone yet glorified, 
 
 1 dream of days when thou wert by my side. 
 
 135
 
 IN RETROSPECT. 
 
 I backward look along life s trodden way, 
 Aloof to scan the joys that once were mine, 
 And haply glean a sweet for memory s shrine 
 O erlooked in fullness of more perfect day. 
 And while my vantage ground is sere and gray, 
 The rearward path but mete of life s decline, 
 Those joys long past still grace the fading line, 
 Still hold my heart if with a changed sway. 
 Though time between hath wove a filmy vail 
 That dims the brightness of their pristine glow, 
 Yet forms of those twas joy of joys to know 
 Above them hover o er the misty trail 
 And lo ! remembrance gathers to its fold 
 Rare gifts unmarked in the rich days of old. 
 
 136
 
 ON PUBLIC OCCASIONS.
 
 AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE. 
 
 Brattleboro, Vermont, May 30, 1885. 
 
 In the ringing of time s changes 
 There are days that seem to give, 
 In their sad and sacred music 
 Harmonies that ever live. 
 
 Deep upon fame s glowing record 
 Many mighty names are graved, 
 Telling how for right or glory 
 Dangers ev n to death were braved. 
 
 Yet we search the scroll but vainly 
 For the thousands tried and true, 
 Who along the line of duty 
 Passed in unrecorded view 
 
 While to great and honored leaders 
 History accords just fame, 
 Let us chant a host unnumbered, 
 Lying with forgotten name : 
 
 Save perchance that in some fond heart 
 There is void that naught can fill, 
 And the face and form of loved one 
 Is a cherished memory still. 
 
 139
 
 Gathered here in mood of reverence 
 Toward our consecrated slain, 
 We believe these uncrowned heroes 
 Gave their lives, O not in vain. 
 
 Whether smote by fell diseases 
 Or in storm of fiery rain, 
 We now feel their sacrifices 
 Were for all the future s gain. 
 
 In the peace that now enfolds us, 
 With a reunited land, 
 Comes to us the strong conviction 
 That His was the ruling hand. 
 
 Is it not then meet and fitting 
 Grateful hearts should make some sign? 
 Tenderly speak of the fallen, 
 Recognize the hand divine? 
 
 May we ofttimes in the crowding 
 Of our busy work and care, 
 Stop and ponder their brave story, 
 And of thought give generous share. 
 
 May we oft in quiet moments 
 To the children by our side, 
 Tell in solemn, tender accents 
 Of the cause, and how they died. 
 
 140
 
 It will make our lives more worthy 
 The great gain that was their loss, 
 Make their love a flaming beacon 
 If on stormy seas we toss. 
 
 Let us on bright freedom s altar 
 Ever keep the living fire! 
 Keep the heritage unsullied, 
 To the noblest heights aspire ! 
 
 That our souls may catch the rhythm 
 Of life s grand heroic theme, 
 Feel the mighty inspiration 
 Of its ever widening stream, 
 
 That with strong resistless volume 
 Still is moving for the right, 
 Bearing on its mighty current 
 To the ages, strength and light. 
 
 As the swift recurring seasons 
 Shall renew this day s fair scene, 
 With kind words and loving tributes 
 Let us keep these memories green. 
 
 141
 
 HYMN. 
 
 At the Rededication of the First Universalist Church, 
 Brattleboro, Vermont, December 1, 1885. 
 
 Father in Heaven ! How swift the years 
 
 Since first this hallowed place, 
 
 Was sought by earnest, longing hearts 
 
 To hear Thy word of grace; 
 
 Since here they reared their humble fane 
 
 With consecrated zeal, 
 
 And tarried in the holy time 
 
 Thy quickening power to feel. 
 
 Accept, O Lord, these added gifts 
 Our willing hearts have brought, 
 This larger temple to Thy praise 
 Our eager hands have wrought; 
 Sweet mem ries of the faithful dead 
 Still linger round this shrine, 
 And joy and sorrow of the past 
 Now make it seem divine. 
 
 With love we consecrate anew 
 
 This altar we revere, 
 
 Our highest thought, and brightest hope 
 
 To Thee we offer here ; 
 
 And as in time to other hearts 
 
 This sacred trust shall tend, 
 
 Wilt Thou, O Father, as before 
 
 Thy gracious favor lend. 
 
 142
 
 We ask not name, or race, or creed, 
 
 But welcome all who stay 
 
 To hear the word, to learn of truth, 
 
 Who seek a better way; 
 
 Some seed may fall on fertile ground, 
 
 Some bruised heart be healed, 
 
 Thy name, O God! be glorified, 
 
 Thy love, O Christ ! revealed. 
 
 143
 
 AT THE FUNERAL SERVICE OF 
 GENERAL GRANT. 
 
 In the Town Hall at Brattleboro, Vermont, 
 August 8, 1885. 
 
 Alone and on an ebbing tide, 
 Beyond the closest mortal ken, 
 We say "our honored chief has died" 
 Tis God hath claimed His own again. 
 
 How brief the span of daily round 
 Since first this soul was launched below, 
 Since in its narrow frame twas bound 
 Earth s varied disciplines to know. 
 
 Its shelter in that early hour 
 Was love that seemed almost divine, 
 And as it grew in strength and power 
 How other loves did round it twine. 
 
 Its morn in innocence began, 
 And noon was flush with sternest strife, 
 At eve came memory s hosts to scan 
 The record of a closing life. 
 
 It shed like ray from clearest gem 
 The luster of a steady glow, 
 As when it bravely sought to stem 
 A turbid current s baneful flow. 
 
 144
 
 Twas manhood spun of golden thread, 
 With firmest fiber, warp and woof; 
 A leader with resounding tread 
 Who from vain-glory stood aloof. 
 
 Who scorned to grasp unholy power, 
 But, measuring to heroic mould, 
 Kept even tenor through each hour 
 As surging change around him rolled. 
 
 Yet like a shadow-darkened view 
 Did somber gloom his life enshroud, 
 A blight had touched its fairest hue 
 For him a people s heart was bowed. 
 
 Twas his to know both pain and doubt, 
 This manhood true, this soul most rare, 
 As earthly garment slow wore out 
 And when from height he touched despair. 
 
 Yet through this dark and saddened time 
 His lips no murmur e er essayed, 
 But patience that was all sublime 
 He with heroic calm displayed. 
 
 noble soul ! whose native worth 
 Did circumstance most aptly leaven, 
 That well ye proved your regal birth 
 Brave deeds proclaim to earth and heaven. 
 
 145
 
 O Mighty Nation s hope and pride ! 
 Great leader in a sacred cause! 
 Thy modesty and valor tried 
 Will claim the future s high applause. 
 
 Not all the pomp of haughty power, 
 Or favor from earth s highest goal, 
 Can equal this divinest dower, 
 A strong, unselfish, faithful soul. 
 
 The people mourn their hero s flight, 
 And comrades speak the tender word ; 
 His virtues shine in stronger light 
 As all the loyal heart is stirred. 
 
 Around the draped and sable bier 
 We stand, in thought, with drooping head, 
 And o er it shed the mourning tear 
 For him, our loved and cherished dead. 
 
 The wondrous frame lies calm and still, 
 Its cunning hands have ceased their play, 
 The subtile brain hath lost its will 
 And heart of flame glows far away. 
 
 Alone, no longer could he bide, 
 Not mortal skill nor power could save 
 We say "our well beloved hath died," 
 Tis soul returned to Him who gave. 
 
 146
 
 AT THE DEDICATION OF THE 
 SOLDIERS MONUMENT. 
 
 Brattleboro, Vermont, June 17, 1887. 
 
 I. 
 
 O rare and full-fraught days ! 
 That swift and with uplifted trend 
 Mark off the lapsing years: 
 Now brooding peace with urgent voice 
 Calls grateful hearts to praise. 
 
 Once sound of fiercest strife 
 Sore rent the quiet summer air, 
 And palling smoke obscured 
 Now fresh and pure its wooing touch 
 Charms nature s throbbing life. 
 
 The bright unchanging sun 
 O er unscathed homes shines free, 
 Homes rich with social joys; 
 Sweet ministries even to the time 
 Life s waning race be run. 
 
 147
 
 II. 
 
 On that famed Grecian plain 
 
 Where Thebes immortal band was crowned, 
 
 A marble lion stands ; 
 
 Though worn with age still keeps its watch 
 
 Above heroic slain. 
 
 And oft some builded form 
 
 Down time s e er broadening vista 
 
 Marks era in its course ; 
 
 Great thought or deed, whose temple grand 
 
 Survives decay and storm. 
 
 In dim relief they show, 
 
 Far in the realm of fading past, 
 
 The mind s emerging way ; 
 
 And many an age long drifting dust 
 
 Illume with mystic glow. 
 
 III. 
 
 O er this fair Northern land 
 New records of truth s might arise, 
 In grateful honor wrought ; 
 With sternest grace, in varied form 
 All eloquent they stand. 
 
 148
 
 They tell of faith in kind ; 
 Of love for country and for home 
 Deep wrought within the heart; 
 How peaceful men for nation s life 
 Their sweetest joys resigned; 
 
 They tell of bitter pain, 
 The weary march, the battle s reek, 
 Of wounds, of anguish death; 
 Of captive souls benumbed in woe 
 More dread than iron rain. 
 
 They tell of mothers tears ; 
 The father s fond, now buried hope, 
 The widowed, mourning heart ; 
 Of trembling age bereft of staff, 
 Of tender, orphaned years. 
 
 Of bonds now cast away; 
 Uplifted hearts, ennobled souls, 
 An enslaved race made free 
 Of millions on whose night of woe 
 Dawned ever-cheering day. 
 
 They cite heroic deeds, 
 
 And show the sacrificial flame 
 
 That lighted sacred cause 
 
 A pregnant cause for human weal 
 
 That glows as time recedes. 
 
 149
 
 They speak for faith in God 
 
 Who overrules earth s narrow way 
 
 With broad, eternal truth 
 
 Who meets the awful, grievous wrong 
 
 With scourging, chastening rod. 
 
 They ask for nobler aims, 
 
 And point the way to fairer fields 
 
 Of action and of thought ; 
 
 They ask for justice, mercy, love 
 
 The grace that Christ proclaims. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Here we have builded ours, 
 
 And on this brave, ancestral day 
 
 Have met to dedicate 
 
 To weave o er later hallowed dust 
 
 A wreath of memory s flowers. 
 
 O Thou who made these hills 
 In liberty our country bless ! 
 If wrong shall yet assail, 
 Inspire her children once again 
 To banish all her ills. 
 
 150
 
 This scarred and war-worn throng, 
 Whose rank fast thinning yet aligns, 
 For it we crave Thy boon ; 
 May duty s call still fire each heart, 
 Its flame each soul make strong. 
 
 V. 
 
 We dedicate it first 
 To Freedom, and the sacred rights 
 That God gave unto men ; 
 Inalien right to dwell in peace 
 By greedy might uncurst. 
 
 To undivided States ! 
 
 Rare jewels that shall brightly deck 
 
 This mighty nation s brow, 
 
 When time has changed some false beliefs 
 
 And buried ancient hates. 
 
 To brave, devoted men ! 
 
 Who from this honored town went forth 
 
 Rich offering to the right ; 
 
 The living, and the martyred throng 
 
 That came not back again. 
 
 151
 
 To wives and mothers dear ! 
 
 Who bade God-speed with tearful hearts 
 
 Their burden cast on hope ; 
 
 To all the holy memories 
 
 That sadden and yet cheer. 
 
 To aspirations bright ! 
 That crowning man with highest good 
 Would make a heaven of earth 
 A pathway light with fulgent rays 
 In dimmest future s night. 
 
 VI. 
 
 May all of truth most grand, 
 
 That clearly speaks from kindred forms, 
 
 Inspire our gift to us, 
 
 And for long ages may it tell 
 
 Of Freedom s greatest stand. 
 
 O let us oft draw near, 
 
 And in the shadow of this shrine 
 
 Plight holy vows anew, 
 
 To Liberty, to Truth, to God, 
 
 With souls confessed and clear. 
 
 152
 
 HYMN. 
 
 At the Dedication of the Soldiers Monument, 
 Brattleboro, Vermont, June 17, 1887. 
 
 TUNE: Consolation. H. M. Dow. 
 
 Low in green fields our fallen sons lie sleeping, 
 Sweet is the air with summer s fairest gifts, 
 Soothed is the pain, and dry the eyes once weeping 
 Time, great consoler, e er the burden lifts. 
 
 Peace fair and gentle ! purchased with our dearest, 
 Let their devotion e er engage thy sight 
 Long as the truth to all pure souls is nearest, 
 Till all of darkness shall be bathed in light. 
 
 Done is their duty, flame that ever brightens, 
 That fired their brave hearts unto noblest end; 
 To us their hope, their sacrifice now heightens, 
 Bear it aloft and forever defend ! 
 
 153
 
 HYMN. 
 
 At the Dedication of the Brooks Library, 
 Brattleboro, Vermont, January 25, 1887. 
 
 The donor of the building, Mr. Geo. J. Brooks, 
 died one month before the dedication. 
 
 Eternal One ! we gather here 
 
 Imperfect, weak yet Thine; 
 
 O touch us with Thy holy fire, 
 
 Our grosser cares refine. 
 
 That we be worthy in Thy sight 
 
 Incline our hearts to love, 
 
 And soothe our sorrow by the grace 
 
 Of comfort from above. 
 
 May he who wrought for us this gift 
 
 In grateful memory live; 
 
 In Thy great bosom find that peace 
 
 Earth ne er can wholly give 
 
 The impulse from his kindly thought 
 
 Hath crowned these graceful walls, 
 
 Where chastened light from purer hope 
 
 Now on our vision falls. 
 
 154
 
 O may this precept here be read, 
 And all who read believe, 
 Tis greater blessing far to give 
 Though precious to receive; 
 And as a flower in fairest mood 
 Exhales its fragrance rare, 
 May wisdom s flavor here bestowed 
 Sweeten life s bitter care. 
 
 Almighty Power ! may they who feed, 
 From out the great unseen, 
 The mighty flowing stream of thought 
 E er keep the fountains clean 
 A beacon set of lofty truth 
 O er time s vast field to shine, 
 Guiding Thy children unto paths 
 That Thou hast marked divine. 
 
 155
 
 COLUMBUS. 
 
 Read at the Columbian Celebration, Brattleboro, 
 Vermont, October 21, 1892. 
 
 By subtlety nor might can favor d man 
 
 Uplift its cryptic veil and boldly scan 
 
 The future s trend ; nor swift, as to the fray, 
 
 O er-leap its marge and bend unto his sway 
 
 The formless force that daily mouldeth time ; 
 
 No way beneath for him, no height to climb, 
 
 And if he calls as to the seeling night, 
 
 No voice responds, tis void of sound and light. 
 
 Yet having patience with a dauntless heart, 
 A mind unswerving from accepted part, 
 The path rough-shaped by wayward circumstance, 
 Can one if he beyond his pale will glance 
 To scan the store of wisdom s golden grain, 
 And with high purpose over-riding pain 
 Such progress make up toward the future s weal 
 That unborn ages will his potence feel. 
 
 156
 
 Thus brave Columbus from old Palos sailed 
 
 On mission world to world ; by naught unquailed ; 
 
 Not fortune s frowns or elemental strife 
 
 Turned purpose set that crowned a kingly life ; 
 
 Not base ingratitude unkindest cross 
 
 Nor birthright stol n for us the greater loss 
 
 Have dimmed his fame, that shining down the years 
 
 Four centuries today acclaim with cheers. 
 
 A continent to find, what treasure-trove ! 
 
 If now he o er its smiling face could rove 
 
 Through busy mart, on sea, by dotting home, 
 
 View complex art and learning s weighty tome, 
 
 Ev n on this day when earth with pean rings, 
 
 He would not reck those hurts from fortune s slings 
 
 That in a darker time of long ago 
 
 Broke mighty heart, and noble head laid low. 
 
 Fair field his genius to the ages gave, 
 
 Ours to enjoy and to the ages save 
 
 Unshamed ; yea, of that fair renown to add 
 
 That comes when peace life s varied paths makes glad ; 
 
 For this must all to earnest aim give heart, 
 
 Avoiding pretence and ignoble part, 
 
 Keep home the altar for love s sacred flame, 
 
 And bonded be in the Eternal Name. 
 
 157
 
 Give toil high honor, meeting just demand, 
 For most, ev n honor, comes by toiling hand ; 
 Shun wide luxurious sloth whose wasting breath 
 Hath nations sent to an untimely death ; 
 Put avid greed far from the daily life 
 That right may rule within the field of strife, 
 And noble deeds to living fire may fan 
 All that is best in mind and heart of man. 
 
 Plant those quick germs within young fertile hearts, 
 Beside the growth of learning s graceful parts 
 That soon for freedom and for country flower, 
 Sweet two-fold bloom to deck a future s dower : 
 Then will be seen forever waxing great 
 This marvel of a universal state, 
 Where countless peoples, as millenials wane, 
 Shall toward th Almighty purpose nearer gain. 
 
 Scorn not the vision of exalted soul, 
 Its ideal bound may be the common goal 
 Of later years ; but few can win the height 
 And from its lofty verge with quickened sight 
 Catch first the rosy beams of dawning truth : 
 O prescient soul ! that with large-hearted ruth, 
 Upon time s darkened and uncertain way 
 Set shining lamp to guide with cheering ray. 
 
 158
 
 A PILGRIMAGE. 
 
 Read at the reunion of the Legislature of 1894, held at 
 Montpelier, Vermont, October 3, 1895. 
 
 Today neath freedom s fairest dome 
 With kindling hearts we mingle, 
 No studied scheme or plan we bring 
 But only purpose single. 
 
 Each petty aim is set aside, 
 Engrossing care surrendered, 
 Our spirits feel the quickened thrill 
 By freer thought engendered. 
 
 And with uplifted sense withal 
 Is mixed in modest measure, 
 An honest pride in honored part, 
 Not least of all our pleasure. 
 
 Whence is this pilgrimage, and why, 
 That thus demands attention? 
 This great devotion to its claim 
 Our duties brief suspension. 
 
 Tis bond of goodly fellowship 
 
 Hath drawn us here together, 
 
 From North, from South, from far and near 
 
 Beyond each wonted tether. 
 
 159
 
 Man cannot live by bread alone, 
 The soul needs some fruition, 
 And to exalt its mortal throne 
 It must have recognition; 
 
 Those subtile graces of the mind 
 God gave His best creation, 
 Too oft are buried from the light 
 Neath worldly encrustation: 
 
 As from the dry and stony soil 
 Spring flowers of rarest beauty, 
 So life can have a fragrant bloom 
 Despite of rigid duty. 
 
 Man wins exalted manhood s crown 
 Through life s supremest forces, 
 That exercised to noblest end 
 Suggest divinest sources. 
 
 Thus we have met for mental cheer 
 And for the soul s uplifting, 
 To be refreshed, that we may check 
 Our proneness unto drifting 
 
 But lo ! our fold is incomplete, 
 
 The circle hath been broken, 
 
 For loved ones to the bourne have crossed 
 
 As God the word hath spoken: 
 
 160
 
 We cannot clearly see the way, 
 The stricken soul gropes blindly, 
 But yet we trust that He is good 
 And all His law is kindly. 
 
 A decade with its griefs and joys 
 Hath marked the years fast fleeting, 
 Since they who here had served the state 
 Here gave each other greeting : 
 
 Rehearsed the battles lost and won 
 On bloodless fields of striving, 
 Or listened to some silvered tongue 
 Sweet memories reviving : 
 
 Anon a seat at festive board 
 With bountiful surrounding, 
 For need of inner man supplied 
 The wit is more abounding. 
 
 O precious joys of brotherhood! 
 Sons of one common mother, 
 In peace to clasp fraternal hands, 
 Give cheer to one another: 
 
 O freighted time ! more blest than yore, 
 That myriad hearts are beating 
 With impulse toward the common good, 
 When each shall all give greeting. 
 
 161
 
 A custom our occasion makes, 
 And each decennial story 
 As time rolls on should more disclose 
 Our Stately Mother s glory. 
 
 Her soil is hallowed to each son; 
 Upon our hearts is graven 
 Her fame as an unsullied shrine 
 Fair Liberty s bold haven. 
 
 We love her green-clad towering steeps, 
 Her fruitful smiling valleys, 
 The mirroring lake, the river s sweep, 
 The mead where brooklet dallies. 
 
 Here lie the ashes of our sires, 
 Whose lives graced every station, 
 Those brave, heroic souls who helped 
 To make and save a nation. 
 
 And they who far on alien fields 
 Now peacefully lie sleeping, 
 Their duty done they trustful gave 
 Their hope into our keeping 
 
 We honor each included hearth, 
 Nor matters it how lowly, 
 Where love presides at sacred fire 
 And makes the presence holy. 
 
 162
 
 We honor each God-imaged soul, 
 Nor scan the social standing, 
 Where character hath upward trend, 
 The larger life commanding: 
 
 May our ideals be so high 
 
 That in life s evolution, 
 
 We shall be found in foremost front 
 
 Seeking its best solution: 
 
 That each by just desert may share, 
 No right be violated ; 
 That strength for weakness will have care, 
 By mercy consecrated. 
 
 That virile peace may glory urge 
 Whose light all others paling, 
 Will make our mountains for the world 
 A beacon never failing. 
 
 It is a vision, yet within 
 The scope of zeal untiring, 
 For law can be of love, not fear, 
 And truth is all inspiring. 
 
 163
 
 EVENING HYMN. 
 
 Father! comes the night apace, 
 And though darkness shrouds us here, 
 Children of the boundless space 
 We, akin, feel Thou art near. 
 
 Thus to night s embrace we yield 
 Trusting where we cannot see 
 Toward the future s unknown field 
 May we not as trustful be ? 
 
 When we meet the morrow s care 
 May we keep the Christly way, 
 And as Thou art everywhere 
 Know afar we cannot stray. 
 
 Thou art Mystery Divine! 
 And Thy face we may not see, 
 Yet we trust that we are Thine 
 Glimpsing of Thy majesty. 
 
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