University of California Berkeley From the Bequest of GLADYS TILDEN VG EBmne. iTfi* /* THE PRAIRIE CASKET, JVIRS. SILLS, WIFE OF THE LATE REV. JOHN P. HILLS, Home Missionary in the West* CHICAGO AND NEW YORK: J. "W. O-OOIDSFBEID, 1875. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by MRS. J. P. HILLS, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. OTTAWAY & COLBERT, PRINTERS, 147 & 149 Fifth Ave., Chicago, 111. INTRODUCTORY. TI)OETRY is the great medium of communication by which the thoughts and imagination of the mind are conveyed to us in a pleasing and instructive manner. The Author, realizing this fact, and, also, that she is one in our Heavenly Father's great household, has molded her thoughts and woven her stanzas so as to enlist our sympathies in all that is pure and good. She leads us to the death-bed of youth and beauty of mature age and infancy to the silent city of the dead to the palace of the rich, and to the cot of the poor to the autumn flowers and the rolling prairie to the whispering breeze and the summer cloud ; and to " Gather up each foot-fall of the trodden way, All the tender lispings of the by-gone day." And while, in this volume of poems, she entertains us by pure sentiments, and by inborn sympathy urges our spirits upward and onward in the great conflict of life, she also helps us to feel that the tender sympathies of Heaven are enlisted in our behalf, and thus wins us to Him who stretches over us the pavilion of His great Universe, and gilds the dark and fretting tide of our earthly existence with heaven's dawn. T ABLE OF LONTENTS, Prairie, - - - .- - n Time, - ... 15 Cycles Round and Ages Fly, - 17 We Live in an Age of Wonder, - - - 18 The Broken Vow, 20 Life's Bark, - - - - - 25 Thoughts of a School Girl, on hearing Rev. Lyman Beecher for the first time, - - - 26 Sweeping Onward Forever, - - 29 On the Beach of Life, - - - - 31 Life's Web, - - 34 Ages, - - - - - 36 We Met at the Crossings, 42 Swift that Day is Coming, - - - - 44 What We Would Like, .... 45 Brain, a Workshop, - - - - 46 Gathering up each Footfall of the Trodden Way, - 48 Time Linking Eternity, - - - -5 I am Standing in the Shadow, - - - 52 A Ship Embedded in the Ice of the Frozen Ocean, - 54 Reminiscence, - - - - - 58 I am Binding Sheaves, - - - - 71 Where have ye Buried the Roses, - - - 72 The great Eclipse of 1869, ... 74 " Ship Ahoy!" - - - - - 76 The Last Rose of Autumn, ... 78 Clintings of Glory, - - - 80 Scandinavian Prince and his Captive Bride, - 82 vi CONTENTS. I did not Hear the Moment Speed, - - 85 Strange Tones Sweep O'er the Chords, - -87 Musings at Midnight, - - - - 88 Memoria, - 91 The Great Fire in Chicago, October, 1871, - . - 94 Fire-flies, - - - 96 Incident off the Coast of Scotland, - - - 98 Toward the Setting Sun, - - 100 Ebbing from Time, ... 102 She Measured Off Death's Silent Tread, - 1 03. Who is my Neighbor ? - 105 The Great Catastrophe at Dixon, Illinois, - - 107 To-day I am a Weeper Beneath the Sky, - - 114 Heavenly Love, - - - - 115 Hudson River, - - - - - JI 7 The Shores Beyond, - - - - 119. Is my Brother Sad and Needy? I - - - 12 r Wail of the Deep, - - 123 Trilling of the Past, - -125 Never Despair, - - - - 127 Retrospection, - - - 129- I love Autumn and its Weird-like Scenery, - 132 The Promise of God is the Christian's Covenant Bow, - 133, God All in All, 134 " Come unto Me," - - 136 Earth a Mite in God's great Universe-, - - 137 Earth's Brimming Tears, .... 138 Go, Work for God! - 140 Mississippi River, - - - - -141 The Hermit of Niagara, - -144 A Weary Pilgrim, ----- 146 Autumn Wanderings, - - - - 147 A Scene at Sea, - 149 Fleetness of Time, 154 There is a Higher Law than our Constitution, - - 156 The Scenes of Earth, - - 157 Flowers for a Biex, - - - 160 CONTENTS. vii Eighteen Years, - 162 Napoleon's Three Days or Epochs, - - - 164 Ye are not the Whole Creation, - - - 168 Years have Sped by, - - - 170 Spirit of the Past, - - 171 No Disappointment in Heaven, ... 173 No Safety this side of Heaven, - - 174 A Ride on the Car, - - - 175 We may not live Alway, - 176 Keep Watch and Ward to-day! ... 177 I have Lived to see This day, - - - 178 Reply to the Following, etc., - - - 179 Passing Away, - - - - 181 Drifting no Longer, - - - - 183 A Wreath, - ... 185 A Lost Moment, - - - - - 186 God Gilds the Fretting Tide, - - 188 Wake, Brother, Wake ! - - -189 Judgments of God, .... 190 " Tarry not in all the Plain," - - - - 192 The Song Unsung, - 193 Neither Toiling, neither Spinning, ... 195 Life Scenes are Checkered, - - 196 On the Burning of the Steamboat Lexington, - - 197 God will Provide, ... 200 Rainbow in the Evening, - - - 201 Memory of the Past, - - 202 Who can find out God ? - - - 203 Saturday Night, - 204 Gems over which Earth Wails, ... 206 " I know that my Redeemer Lives," - - 207 " The Angel of the Lord descended," etc.," - 208 Lady, Pause, - 209 Speak Gently, - - 210 Thy Father knows Best, - 212 Ancient City of Petra, - - - 213 "Jesus Wept," - - - 217 viii CONTENTS. Father, Guide us, - - - - -219 " Lay up for yourselves Treasures," etc., - 220 Pause, ChiViitian, - - - 221 Too Soon, - - 222 Aim High, - - 223 A Lone On^'s Soliloquy, - - 224 Distrust not - 226 Oh ! linger n^t, Passing Breeze, - 227 Imperfection mars all our Christian Efforts, - - 229 Oh ! is it not in Heaven, - - - 23 1 A Light Shines Ever, - 232 All things are moving Onward, - 233 Near, yet Far, - 235 No Age exempt from Death, ... 237 Phantom Ship, * - 240 The Lone Tree of the Prairie, - 244 Saviour, near me be, - - 247 A. Maiden, on seeing a Snowflake for the first time, - 248 Scene of the Transfiguration, - 251 Death of Rev. A. Judson, - - 253 Why Stand ye here Idle, - 255 River of Death, - - - 256 She Gathered the Seeds of Summer, - - "257 The last Plague of Egypt, 260 God Speed the Right, - 263 Lines Suggested by hearing a friend remark, "I so much miss my little Cripple Boy, ... 264 Sowing the Seeds of Good or Evil, - 266 The Two Webs, - - - - - 267 Infant, ..... 269 Lady's Delight, - - - - 270 Constantine, - - - - - 272 Drummer Boy, .... - 275 Procrastination the Thief of Time, 276 She Sweepeth the Ocean Floor, - - 277 Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, - 278 Sacred to the Memory of Dr, York, Paris, Illinois, - 280 CONTENTS. Not as I would, .... 2 g 2 Death of President Taylor, .... 2 g 4 Star of Bethlehem, ... 2 8c Death of Mrs. Rev. Holden, ... 287 If it is Thy Will, Oh Lord! - - - 289 Gold Panic, - ... 290 The City Bell, - - - 292 God is Here, ... 294 On the Death by Cholera, etc., ... 295 The Wisdom and Love of God, - - -'296 "" My Spirit shall not always strive with man," - 298 Of Rest, - - - 299 Last of the Naticks, - . 300 The Dead Sea, - - . . 303 For me, Christ Groaned, and Wept, and Died, - 304 Night, - - - - . .305 The Glory of the Heavens, - - - 307 Our Friends Depart and are Not, - - 309 Life's Path, - - . - 311 To a Lady, . . -312 Death of Moses, - - - 314 France, - - . . 3I 6 Lord ! Teach us how to Pray, - - 317 There are no Tombs in Heaven, - - - 318 A Mercy Seat, - - . 3^ There is Rest for the Weary, - - - - 320 Death is Culling, - - - 321 What is Life? . - - - . -322 What is Death? - - . - 323 What is Heaven ? - - . . 325 Our Example, . 326 Death of President Wm. H. Harrison, - 327 Call Her Not Back, - 328 Not Dead, but Sleeping, - . 330 Sacred to the Memory of Aura, - - 33 2 We Laid Her to Sleep, . . .333 Cortez, 334 CONTENTS. Death of Jacob, - - 339 Nineveh, - 341 Perfect Rest of Heaven, - 343 When Darkness Deepens on Life's Way, - 344 To the Mission Band, - 34<> Death is not Feared by the Good, 347 Our Departed, - - 349 The Egyptian Captive, - 35 r Illiria's Cave, - 353 Cholera, 35 6 Shadow on the Wall, - 357 On the Death of Elvira Ames, Hancock, N. H., 361 Mrs. A. Ellison, Manchester, Ohio, - 362 A Dirge, 3^4 Too Frail for Earth, - 3 6 5 Written while sitting by the sick bed of A , 366 Gone, - - 368 She Came to Me, - 3 6 9 The Little One's Last Sleep, - - - 37 1 Dedicated to the Parents, - 37 2 Willie, - - 373 On the Death of an Infant, 374 The Voice, - 375 Two Missives, 37 6 To a Friend, - 37& The Burial of DeSoto, - 3&> Ponce De Leon, seeking the Fountain of Youth, - - 382 Indian Orator's Plea, - 3 8 4 Alone beneath the Southern Sky, - 3 8 5 Christian Philanthropy, - 3 8 7 Whippowil, - 39 Myrtle Blossom, 39 l Thunder Shower, - - 393 To the Flower Spirit, - - 395 Violet, - . . - 396 Child and Dew-drop, - 39 8 Pond Lilly, - - - - -4 CONTENTS. xi Queen Rose, - - 402 Breeze, - - .405 The Fan Palm, . 407 The Frost King, - _ 409 Flowers, - - 4 IO Beauty, - _ 4II The Summer Cloud, - _ 413 The Dove, - - - _ 4I5 Maude's Valentine, - - 416 A Second, - - 417 Spring of 1871, 4 ! 9 Summer of 1871, - - 421 Autumn, . . 423 Winter, - . 425 Farewell to the Departing Year, - 426 Dying Year, _ _ 42 & New Coming Year, - . 429 The Purchase and Unpaid Debt, - _ 430 The Outcast, - - . 432 A Passing Thought, - . 434 War, - 43 6 Our Patriot Band, - - _ 437 Our Slain, - 439 On the Death of my dear pupil, A. L. Clement, - - 441 Charlie, - _ . 443 To a Mother, _ . - 451 He was Laid to Rest in a Soldier's Home, - - 453 January ist, 1863, Emancipation, - - 454 Lincoln, - . 45 5 The Old Flag, . . 457 United We Stand, - - _ - 45& Address to a Foreigner, who said : " The Great Republic of America was lost," . 459 Passage of the Right's Bill, - . 4 6o Bring Flowers, _ 462 The Two Sleepers, . . - 463 " It Might have been," - ... 465 xii CONTENTS The Lark, A L-*nd-bird at Sea, - 468 Lines, 47<> Rank and File, - 472 44 And they were Judged," 474 POEMS FOR CHILDREN. Spring, the Return of the Swallows, - - 477 The little Lady-bird, - 47 8 The Bee, - 479 The Ground Sparrow, - 4^o The Garden Canary, - 4&i The Caged Oriole's Lament and Death, 482 Thrush's Death, - - 484 George Washington and his Hatchet, 486 " Papa ! How can they get it out," - 488 Did you Do it ? 489 For a Little Child, - - 49 The Little Girl's Lament, 49 1 Christ Knows All Things, - 49 2 The Falling Leaf, Butterfly, ' 494 The Snow, God's Hand is in the Wintry Storm, - - THE PRAIRIE CASKET. n Prairie. A FEARFUL thought comes o'er me, as I gaze On thy far-stretching depths, O Flow'ry maze! And trace the sluggish streams that interlave Thy gorgeous beauty with each crystal wave ; Then backward glance across the flood of years, When earth first took her place among the spheres A fearful thought enmolded on my soul, As mapp'd, thou liest before me, Prairie Scroll. A spirit's shuttle weaves with tender care, Into an em'rald chain, its shadings rare, Now dotting, here and there, the mystic web With golden tintings from the upper glebe ; The upper glebe of glory, where the cloud Lifts up its festoon'd arm and draws its shroud From off the golden hues of the bright sun, Scatt'ring them broad-cast o'er thy misty zone ; And sifting from that reservoir of light, The softer mouldings of the upper height. Till to the eye, thou earth-nook of God's love, Weav'st in the tintings of the world above : Leaving no color on earth's rolling breast, That is not found within thy waving crest. 12 THE PRAIRIE CASKET. Our thought beholds thee in the far-gone Past, As when a serpent, on some bright scene cast, Beholds his shadow on the brilliant sheen, And back recoils ; then, from the peaceful scene, Drags his huge, massive, torpid length along, Weary and slow, now weak, now growing strong, Till inch by inch, he gains the damp, dark shade, Where pois'nous vapors creep from off the glade, Leaving the scene, by contrast, far more fair Than if no reptile had been shadow'd there. So we behold thee, through the moving vail Of earth's lunations. Slowly, offward trail The heaving billows, turbulent and slow, Offward, still offward in their ever flow, Till inch by inch appears, and rood by rood, Thy cold, damp headland merging from the flood; Then time's deft fingers folded back and bound The crystal curtains, age had wrapp'd thee round ; Folded them softly back. So stilly slow, So serpent-like thy sluggish waters flow, That ages scarcely saw, or felt, where change Began, and carried out its mystic range; Till from thy turf, the creeping tide crept down And life sprang free, to wear the bridal crown. Backward we turn us, with a timid look, But the hand of ages had lock'd the book, And laid the key in eternity's urn, To be given up when earth's on a burn : Think we may deeply, and speculate long, Time winks at our folly and speeds along. THE PRAIRIE CASKET. 13 Flake of eternity, molded for man, Entyp'd on the face of a moments span, Stretching far back, to the ages agone, And stretching far on, to the judgment dawn ; We gaze on thy splendor, drink thy perfume, Thou beautiful niche in our Father's home. Unlike to all else, on sea, or on land, Thy steppings are stately, thy measures grand, Thy beauty unique, in storm or repose, Mantled in colors, or draped in thy snows. Seated where ages had blotted the spot, Thine is a record of things that are not ; Conjecture runs wild while reck'ning thy birth, Thou beautiful feature of heav'n and earth. But this is present ! on the far-gone past, Time's iron fingers pinn'd the curtains fast, Shutting all human tracery from the page Which mortals gaze on, in the present age. But ages that swept, one by one, along, The cycles that crept through thy mystic throng, Pass'd off with the tide of the restless host, Whose lot had been cast on our sinful coast ; Like to the vapor that passes away, Like to the flowers that bloom to decay, Like to the colors entranc'd in the bow, Like to all bright things that fade here below ; They pass'd from our earth, on their silent way, Pass'd with the bright things, that pass to decay. i 4 THE PRAIRIE CASKET. Thou hast graves unmark'd 'neath thy flow'ry bloom Where sleep the idols of many a home ; There have many tear-drops been garnered up, With the gathering dew in thy flower-cup ; And many a sigh been nestled away, In a dreamy nook, where a loved one lay. But none can measure the anguish of heart, That wails through the earth, when her children part : But they passed away in the long ago, Those tear-drops of grief, those accents of woe, And now, o'er thy sod, bloom, once and again, The Hues of all bright things too bright to remain THE PRAIRIE CASKLT. 35 Time. A GAINST the abutments of eternity, XlTime wheels his massive car, silent but firm Cog after cog, upon the eternal pier, Rolls tensely up with its strange load aboard. Heaven-poised, and girded for the mighty race, O'er land and water through the vap'ry air, Unheard, unfelt, unknown his stately march, Save by the headlights, swung from Heaven's dome To tell us mortals, time was on his way With his lull-freighted car. And as he dropped the moments in life's cup, We've listened for his footfall, or some sound, To speak his presence ; but 'twas all in vain ! For swift as lightning, noiseless as the dead, Steward of God's perfect gifts, he passed by none ; But scattered, as he wheeled his circling car, The impress of his name on every brow, And left it uneffaced and all undimmed . While on each heart, he sealed a mystic spell For after years to solve. 16 THE PRAIRIE CASKET. Time, restless time, slow-paced and yet how fleet ! Measuring the moments off with clock-work tread, Keeping their secrets for the judgment day, And fleetly bearing on the jeweled thoughts To the grand gath'ring of eternity. Thought, deathless thought ! outliving time and space, Wayward and flitting as a breath of air- Transient and silent like a spirit's sigh, We simply know 'twas here, then passed along, Leaving its impress on the checkered scenes Of mortal weal and woe yet checked by Time, To every man's account, for realms unseen. Time, fleeting time ! We would not have thee pause Not yet not yet, Oh, Time. Press on ! still on ! And through the crowding years of weal and woe, Place every moment in its little niche Not missing one not one for who could bear To make that fatal leap to nothingness, Though that blank void a tiny moment be. THE PRAIRIE CASKET. 17 Cycles Round and Ages Fly. T1LEETING, Fleeting, sadly fleeting, JL Oh, ye moments, move more slow ; Bear not off the tender greeting, Stamp its impress here below. Swiftly, swiftly, oh, too swiftly ! Days and months and years speed by ; Speak we loud or breathe we softly, Cycles round, and ages fly. Darkly, darkly, oh, how darkly ! Shadows gather round our home ; Watch we late or wake we early, Nations fill the silent tomb. Weeping, weeping, wherefore weeping? Chastened soul, kneel down and pray, Loving ones in Jesus sleeping, Soon will wake to endless day. Upward, Christian, climb thee, upward ! Guardian angels hover nigh ; Never ceasing, press thee onward, Toward our father's house on high. Waiting, waiting, gently waiting, Mercy points to heaven's gate ; Falter not, the day is waning, Enter ere it be too late. THE PRAIRIE CASKET. We Live in an Age of Wonder fE live in an age of wonder, And Time's cycles hurry by ; We are gathering drifts of grandeur, From the siftings of the sky. We are girding earth with lightning, And clasping it, to a thought; And up where the clouds are fighting, Our ships on the air-tide float. We act the thinkings of ages, And mine for the hidden key ; To unlock the secret pages, Of the cycles yet to be. Our sun is tugging and toiling, To divest himself of years ; And his flaming breath is coiling Round the tressings of the spheres There 're signs in the heavens above us, And marvels in earth below; Time's fugitive moment rushes, And his cycles come and go. THE PRAIRIE CASKET. 19 Each crash in the flight of ages, Each creak in the trembling car ; But echo the warning of sages, " The great judgment day is near." Great God of the by-gone ages, Of the ages yet to be ; So teach us to read the pages, That tell of eternity ; So teach us to heed their warning, So teach us to watch and pray ; That heaven may be ours, that morning When our earth-homes melt away. 20 THE PRAIRIE CASKET. The Broken Vow. A BOOK was open, and a daisy lay, In its sweet, modest garb, withered and dead, Upon time's rusty page of other years ; Yet speaking still of beauty, modest, sweet, Of eyes once full of joy and quiet rest, Now folded softly up, in those dark lids, To look their love no more on earthly things ; Yet leaving impress, on this lowly bloom, Of life and death, of love and trusting faith ; Even when the tomb had folded in the form, Leaving the soul uncaged to waft on high, And range the streets of New Jerusalem. Days, weeks and months have pass'd, and years, Joyous and sad, now sleep among the gone, With their full tide of thoughts, known save to Him, Who holds thought's fiat in His mighty hand, Unbolts, or bolts, her flood-gates at His will. With pencil skilled to trace the pictured scene, The bright and joyous sweep wings mounting high Over the turbid tide of cloud and storm, Where earth's dark tumult reached no list'ner's ear, Where fancy wrote no ill on all life's page, THE PRAIRIE CASKET. 21 But bathed each pois'nous dart with pity's tear, And waved the hateful out with buoyant wing, Too feathery light for hope and hope's blest dream So stood the past, before my 'wildered gaze. The page that lay between the two great points, I could not read 'Twas writ with mystic pen, And bleared and blurred, erased and writ again ; Then dimmed beneath the heavy tread of time, As on, forever, rushed his scoring years, In quick succession, back, no more to come. A silken knot its color long had gone Had bound that daisy to the dimming page, Hiding these words, " Tis said ! The deed is done !" And then I knew there had been words, and deeds Too sad for earth too tearful for the sky ; And so were hid from pleading eyes of time, And hushed forever to dull pity's ear. Yes, there had words been said, and deeds been done : But who had done it all, and, Why ? O, Why ? Those words were there, the knot the auburn tress, And they had been the casket. There, concealed Had slept, for years, the wail of dying hopes, Wrung from a young and tender, trusting heart. Unsought, it sprung to light uncalled, it spoke The tale, to me unknown till then, unheard Of broken vows, laid up for judgment day; Of him, a sordid, scheming faithless soul, Wed to the world and self. 22 THE PRAIRIE CASKET. From a bronzed frame, two lustrous eyes looked down, So proudly grave, and yet so sweet and kind, I questioned their deep depths-whence came the spell, Which o'er my being crept, and said to me, " Thou'st read a secret, sacred to the dead." Though word came not, nor sound, yet there I stood, Desirous to retreat, yet hasting not ; Feeling myself defeated, put to flight, And yet, so loth to yield. In those dark eyes, I read a trusting faith, A quiet joy that seldom falls to man In this cold, changeful world of sin and woe A calm, sweet peace, that leaned upon her faith In one strong arm to her, one perfect soul And she, so young, so full of hope's bright dreams Of earthly love, and earthly paradise. Beside it, grave, attenuated, sad, With hectic cheek, and eyes too full of light, Hung yet another portrait, still so young! That hectic cheek, those eyes too sad for tears, Read me the tale I had not dared to ask. Long years had pass'd, familiar forms had gone ; And eyes, that once wept on, had ceased to weep ; And hearts, that beat in unison with hearts, Had beat their last. The circling tide press'd back On the cold heart, to rest forever more, While busy hands had long lain cold and still. THE PRAIRIE CASKET. 23 Not so the spirit in her onward flight Her wing had soared beyond our mortal ken, And we, short-sighted we, must halt this side ; And gather only the poor, weeping part Of man's dramatic life-work here below How poor how sad and weeping, none may know; For the dark, sweeping tempest of the years Oft sweeps each vestige from the scanning eye Of wondering, watchful, sympathizing man. 'Tis only now and then, we catch such glimpse Of dark hypocrisy, of hate and scorn : Scorn for the hypocrite, whose words were one And works another thing ; and so it grew, Corroding every thought, and all the thought ; A mystery ever murmuring on, To be unriddled never, this side heaven, But ever wid'ning, ever deepening still, Till life-blood went and came, and came and went, And left its hectic flush upon the cheek ; And o'er the eye a brilliant luster shed, That spoke the conflict slowly ebbing out. Not conflict now, 'tween love and hate Oh no ! The one had died, and in its stead was hate ; But sad and slow, that hate was going out, In the sweet peace and love of Him, who said, ' Vengeance belongs to me." She clasped her hands " As God forgives," fell on the loos'ning cord It broke and angels from the courts above Caught the immortal life, and bore it home. 24 THE PRAIRIE CASKET. And he yes, he across his after-life, Forever draw the vail. 'Twere best it die That sad example better, far, it die, And be forgotten, till the judgment morn Unclasps the folded page, and to the world And angels, reads "As done to one of these, Ye did to me." His selfish schemes and fame availed him naught, He'd cast aside a treasure sowed the wind The whirlwind reaped, and all the laws of Him, Who said," Be just, Oh man, with God," were scorned And cast aside, and thus, though lauded, praised, And courted his end was sad and fearful. Farther, venture not. And these were they, whose lives ran parallel, And yet so near, as they had been but one, Till with rude hand, he snapped the binding cord ; And let the soul drift out on earth's dark tide, Nor cared he where Christ took the broken cord, And with it, bound the spirit to His breast. And then, I read from God's eternal word : Such " shall be mine, when I make up my jewels." THE PRAIRIE CASKET. 25 Life's Bark. T1LOATING along o'er the ocean of ages, JL Fearless and swift, glides my own trembling bark. A Power unseen, all its pathway gauges, Guiding its course through the sunshine and dark Onward it bounds, where the mad billow surges, Gath'ring new strength as it speeds on its way: Tempests and calms it defies, while it urges Onward its race to the great reck'ning day. Steady and firm ! through the dark night of sorrow Though many a bark may speed from my gaze ; Yet in the future, there lingers a morrow, Guarded and kept by the Ancient of Days. Onward, frail bark, to the great tidal gath'ring ! Through portals of grace press up the bright maze ! Anchor thy trust, in the great judgment morning, Close to the throne of the Ancient of Days. 26 THE PRAIRIE CASKET. Thoughts of a School Girl, ON HEARING REV. LYMAN BEECHER FOR THE FIRST TIME. E sometimes see the monarch oak, With its majestic, lofty form, Shattered beneath the lightning-stroke, Or rifted by the howling storm ; Its acorns scattered far and near, Springing to life beside a dyke, Creeping to peerage, year by year, Though not alike, and yet, so like. So, tower minds of giant mold, Gifted by the Almighty God : So, stand, like bulwarks strong and bold, The host that tread as Jesus trod : Till death with lightning stroke sweeps down And lays the tall head in the dust, Robs the rude monarch of its crown, Leaving its giant form to rust. Yet scatt'ring from that tow'r of strength, Embryo germs of coming mind; Whose stalwart imagery, at length, Shall prove them of a kindred kind, Unlike, and yet like Him laid low, They seek His place, draw for His lot : And hurl defiance at the foe From sanctified and holy thought. * THE PRAIRIE CASKET. 27 Far back on eve that comes no more, We watch'd the gathering of a crowd, For there had pass'd from door to door, The name, of which we all were proud : We saw our pastor thread the aisle, Mount the tall steps and take his seat, And whispered to ourselves, the while ; " This disappointment will be great." One came in plain simplicity, A whisper through our great choir rang, " 'Tis Beecher !" but indignantly, I answered back "'tis not the man'.' Had I not read his lofty words ? Learn'd of his giant strength of mind ? Was he not one of earth's tall lords, Noble, majestic, bland, refined? It mounts the steps that nervous tread, Breathless I gaze What could it mean ? Beside my pastor, head by head, The stranger seats himself serene : At length, a hush is on the throng, The tread of busy feet is still, Ended the Sabbath's opening song, And softly dies the organ's peal. It came at last, that massive probe, From a great heart by heaven taught ; Each word, wing'd with a giant throb, Held spell-bound every wayward thought. 28 THE PRAIRIE CASKET. I'd learn'd by then, this was the man, Whose thunder shook New England's shore; And roll'd along the vale and glen, Through every mountain, pass and pore. I learn'd a lesson then, and there, That greatness lay in heart, not form ; That men of might are men of prayer, Walking with God in calm and storm ; That like the oak, that stalwart mind Had towered toward the upper height, Its highest aspirations twined Among the meshwork of heaven's light. Till from Christ's many-mansioned home, A voice said, softly, " Spirit, come /" One step, the swelling tide was crost His mantle fell ! Oh, was it lost ? THE PRAIRIE CASKET. 29 Sweeping Onward Forever. OVER the earthly forevermore, Sweep we along to another shore; Swifter the cartel shorter the day, That bears us on to the Far-away ; Bears us along in its upward flight, Up, from our dark days, up from our night, Bears us along, so silent and true, To gather flowers, where skies are new. Over the world, where the lightning's stroke Rifts the huge mountain, shatters the oak, Over its mildew, over its blight, Sweep we along, by day and by night, Viewless the steeds by which we are drawn, Viewless the Hand that guideth them on ; But stayless ever, by night and by day, Sweep we along to the Far-away. Over the world, where our loved ones lay, Mold'ring to dust, we're sweeping away ; Borne o'er the pavement of starry-hight, Pois'd on the wing of a world at flight ; Onward right on we're sweeping o'er all, Her bridal robe her funeral pall ; 3 o THE PRAIRIE CASKET. Her towering spires, and castle-domes, We're sweeping o'er them, to other homes. Over the world in our darkest life, Sweep we onward, from turmoil and strife, Nor do we ask when the end will be, Since Jesus measures our destiny ; Though long or short our journey may be, Its path is straight to eternity ; And all we do, while passing away, Is being done for the judgment day. THE PRAIRTE CASKET. 31 On the Beach of Life. OTANDING on the beach of life, k) 'Midst the billow's howling strife; With that deep and muffled tone, Whisp'ring of the ages gone, Waited I, upon the shore, For a bark to take me o'er. While I stood in musing thought, Weeping o'er my hapless lot, Many barks swept gaily past, In the tight'ning, rough'ning blast And I saw with sad dismay, Twilight turned to iron gray. Wreck'd upon time's dismal shore , Why? and,. Wherefore ? evermore Stole into my weary brain, To die out, then come again ; While the night, its darkened fold Plaited round a sleeping world. Silent moments swept along, O'er earth's hushed and sleeping throng; But to me, my fancy said : " I can hear time's silent tread, And can feel his chilly breath, As he meets an