GIFT or 
 
SONGS OF THE SOUL 
 
MAE BALDWIN HARDEN 
 
MAE BALDWIN HARDEN 
 
 SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 
 
 CITIZEN PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
COPYRIGHT 
 
 1918 
 
 BY RAY W, HARDEN 
 
To MY FATHER 
 
 JARED BALDWIN 
 
 377439 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 BY RAY W. HARDEN 
 
 The collection of verse contained within these 
 covers was composed by the author, not for the purpose 
 of merely producing poetry, nor of publishing a book; 
 but through that mysterious force termed direct inspir 
 ation. 
 
 Mortal life is an experience of the soul wherein 
 earthly happiness and knowledge are earnestly sought. 
 During the struggle each must encounter more or less 
 of suspense, disappointment and sorrow. 
 
 Who would cheer the sufferer must share the suf 
 fering. Devoting thought to universal sympathy often 
 stirs the poetic instinct of a sensitive mind. Forms of 
 thought, quickening within the mental nebula, find in 
 rhythm of rhyme a material expression. Thus are emo 
 tions of Humanity translated. 
 
 In such inspirational manner the contents of this 
 volume came to be written. The work is typical of 
 life s vicissitudes, reflecting the varied impulses and 
 passions as earth people live them. 
 
 The rugged progress of the soul is traced as it 
 presses on toward the new dawn, in which extended 
 consciousness of life s purposes will comfort struggling 
 spirits. 
 
 So, approaching this still distant goal, these senti 
 ments come ; not with gay beguiling, but with proof 
 that the initiations of earth-life are held in sympathetic 
 comprehension by the author of these songs of the soul. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Future 1 
 
 Evening Thoughts 2 
 
 Tired 3 
 
 I Have a Friend 4 
 
 My Love of Long Ago 5 
 
 Life s Journey 6 
 
 Home Upon the Hill 7 
 
 Golden Hours 8 
 
 Days of Yore 9 
 
 "If" 10 
 
 Something 11 
 
 One By One 12 
 
 A Supplication 13 
 
 If We Only Knew 14 
 
 Sweet Sleep 15 
 
 "Judge Not" 16 
 
 Little Words 17 
 
 Fair Isle 18 
 
 Hope 19 
 
CONTENTS Continued 
 
 Page 
 That Time Has Passed 20 
 
 Waiting ; Yes Waiting 21 
 
 Come Summer Days 22 
 
 Is It Worth the Cost? 23 
 
 Tis Lone, So Lone 24 
 
 Long Ago at Home 25 
 
 Youth s Dream 26 
 
 Rest 27 
 
 What I Would Ask For Thee 28 
 
 Elysium 29 
 
 To a Departing Friend 30 
 
 What Does Life Give? 31 
 
 Why Should It Matter? 32 
 
 The Indian Warrior 33 
 
 Oh To Forget 34 
 
 Light Through Darkness 35 
 
 Retrospect 36 
 
 Then and Now 37 
 
 To a Son 38 
 
 The Gift of Youth 39 
 
 The Old Mill Stream 40 
 
 Fate s Triumph 41 
 
 Storm Tossed 42 
 
 Thy Will 43 
 
 A New Dawn . . 44 
 
FUTURE 
 
 Oh thou dark mysterious future, 
 
 Tell me what thou hast in store, 
 
 I would have the deeds unfolded, 
 That must be, forever more. 
 
 I would bid thee sit beside me, 
 
 Though thou art a thing to dread,. 
 
 Tell me all, for now in sorrow, 
 
 Every earthly hope seems dead*. 
 
 Oh thou cold, relentless future! 
 
 Thou will t answer not a word, 
 Still forever, moving onward, 
 
 Just as though thou hadst not hearcL 
 
 Yet perchance, thou art far kinder 
 To me now, than I may know,. 
 
 To withhold the pain, and anguish 
 That thy countless pages show> 
 
 Hope may often be deceiving, 
 Yet tis better than to learn 
 
 That our joy has fled forever, 
 And can never more return. 
 
 Leave me then, oh wild Impatience, 
 Let me in this bitter hour 
 
 Trust those things of future moment 
 To a wise all-seeing Power. 
 
. 
 
 EVENING THOUGHTS 
 
 When the dewy shadows fall, 
 
 And the night, her vigils keep; 
 When the darkness reigns o er all, 
 
 And the world seems wrapped in sleep, 
 Then come sad thoughts of the past, 
 
 Hopes, that once looked bright and fair, 
 Joys, that were too sweet to last, 
 
 All have gone, I know not where. 
 
 Pain and sorrow come to mind 
 
 When I think what might have been 
 
 Had Fate to me been more kind, 
 And the saddened heart, within, 
 
 Wonders will it ever be 
 In the future far away, 
 
 Will a blessing come to me? 
 
 Will the night e er turn to day? 
 
 Now alas! we cannot know 
 
 What the coming years will bring, 
 Whether happiness or woe ; 
 
 Mystery covers everything. 
 All that s left us is to hope, 
 
 For without hope, all is lost. 
 Cruel Fate, we can t revoke, 
 
 Though our .bark by storm is tossed. 
 
TIRED 
 
 I am tired; so tired of waiting 
 
 For that which will never be; 
 
 Tired, so tired of longing 
 
 For rest that is not for me. 
 
 Tired ; so tired of bearing, 
 
 The burdens of grief and pain. 
 Tired of wishing and hoping, 
 
 When hopes are all in vain. 
 
 Tired ; so tired, of trying 
 
 Life s weary work to do; 
 
 Tired of forever dreaming 
 
 Dreams that never are true. 
 
 Tired ; so tired of striving, 
 
 If nothing but sorrow will fall 
 
 To my lot while here I m living, 
 Yes, so tired of it alL 
 
I HAVE A FRIEND 
 
 I have a friend who s constant, kind and true, 
 
 My dearest friend ; 
 May all the joys that Heaven or earth imbue, 
 
 Thy Ufe attend. 
 
 I have a friend who s all in all to me, 
 
 A friend most dear, 
 Whose presence gives the greatest joy I see, 
 
 My life most cheer, 
 
 I have a friend. Oh may kind Heaven above, 
 
 All good things send 
 To bless the one whom evermore I love, 
 
 My more than friend 
 
 (4) 
 
MY LOVE OF LONG AGO 
 
 Oh ! long ago, in accents low. 
 
 Love whispered unto me 
 The sweetest words I e er have heard 
 
 "I love thee, only thee." 
 
 The moon shone bright, my heart was light. 
 
 No sorrow did I fear; 
 Bright was the beam of love s sweet dream 
 
 When love, my love, was near. 
 
 Oh happy hour ! Oh -wondrous power ! 
 
 That should such love bestow; 
 Ah! ever true I ll be to you, 
 
 My love of long ago. 
 
 And now at last, though years have passed 
 And hearts are filled with grief, 
 
 Sweet thoughts of thee will ever be 
 A solace and relief. 
 
 Though all the while we may not smile, 
 
 May not be glad and gay, 
 Thy presence dear, my life doth cheer, 
 
 And grief doth chase away. 
 
 Ah ! love so true may bless but few, 
 
 How great the joy to know 
 Thy love of yore lives evermore, 
 
 My love of long ago. 
 
"IF" 
 
 If, as youVe walked the path of life, 
 
 You never have sorrow known, 
 If you ve escaped all care and strife, 
 
 And have made no bitter moan, 
 You may be happy, glad and free 
 
 But you cannot understand 
 What a trial your neighbor s life must be, 
 
 Who with grief walks hand in hand. 
 
 If you have much of this world s wealth 
 
 But have never worked and toiled ; 
 If you are blessed with the joy of health, 
 
 And your hands have never soiled, 
 You may bow down in thanks to Heaven 
 
 For the gift of gold and land; 
 But want with which the poor have striven 
 
 You never can understand. 
 
 If you ve been always good and just, 
 
 And never a wrong have done, 
 If you ve been true to every trust 
 
 And kind toward every one, 
 If you ve been sinless from your youth, 
 
 No taunt nor jeering thrown, 
 If you affirm all this with truth, 
 
 Then "Cast thou first the stone." 
 
SOMETHING 
 
 We may dream of some happy moment 
 
 But when it comes and has passed 
 There was "something" to vex and torment. 
 
 So tis only a dream at last. 
 We think of some coming day of joy 
 
 And happiness, all our own ; 
 Yet there s always "something" to annoy 
 
 And such happiness ne er is known. 
 
 With eager thought we dream of the bliss 
 
 That shall come to us bye and bye, 
 Then "something" happens ; the joy we miss 
 
 But alas ! we cannot tell why. 
 There s always "something" our hopes to crush, 
 
 No matter how real they seem, 
 Yet the heart still beats to the magic rush 
 
 Of some distant murmuring stream. 
 
 O imagined stream that shall bear along 
 
 That something so eagerly sought 
 Yet faileth not to bring something wrong 
 
 Which maketh our pleasure naught. 
 Oh ! why should "something" bring care and strife 
 
 When we think in our joy to rest? 
 When there is something we miss in life 
 
 Why should it seem dearest and best? 
 
GOLDEN HOURS 
 
 The golden hours of the future, 
 
 Oh the happy joyous day, 
 When the hopes and plans we nurture, 
 
 In reality shall stay, 
 Thus we dream away the morning 
 
 And see not the joys that lie 
 Scattered round us at the dawning 
 
 We might find them if we d try. 
 
 The past we have left behind us, 
 
 It has gone beyond recall; 
 The future is far beyond us, 
 
 And may not be ours at all. 
 The present then is ours alone, 
 
 Strive to enjoy today; 
 For a cheerful smile and gentle tone 
 
 May drive much care away. 
 
 Each one in this world of sorrow 
 
 Must bear some burden of grief. 
 Think not of troubles tomorrow, 
 
 Tomorrow may bring relief. 
 Try to see the sunshine ever, 
 
 Though cold and dark the way, 
 For the future may give us never 
 
 The golden hours of today. 
 
DAYS OF YORE 
 
 The sun may shine as bright. 
 
 The birds sing just as sweet, 
 
 The moon and stars come forth to light 
 Our weary wand ring feet. 
 
 But happy days of yore, 
 
 When faith and hope were mine, 
 Will to my heart come never more, 
 
 Such peace around me twine. 
 
 Ah! then I thought the years 
 
 Would all be bright and fair~ 
 
 I had no thought, no haunting fears 
 That sorrow would be there. 
 
 I sang glad songs all day. 
 
 My heart was free from carey 
 
 I gathered flowers on my way, 
 The garlands bright to wear,. 
 
 But now that years have passed, 
 
 Have brought more pain than joy; 
 
 I know joy cannot always last 
 Or be without alloy. 
 
 Yet e en amidst the grief, 
 
 I know there s love that s true, 
 
 Though flowers will fade, must fall the leaf. 
 And often friends are few,, 
 
 I will not weep and moan, 
 
 But take the joy that s given* 
 
 I ll try to bear the pain alone, 
 And leave it all to Heaven, 
 
LIFE S JOURNEY 
 
 As through life you journey onward 
 
 Many a day you ll see that s fair. 
 Yet if darkness closes round you 
 
 Don t give up to wild despair: 
 Do not scorn to pluck the flowers, 
 
 Though by noisome weeds they grow, 
 Do not cast the sunshine from you, 
 
 For too soon alas, twill go. 
 
 You cannot have the sunshine, 
 
 Without the clouds and storm, 
 And you cannot have the roses, 
 
 Without the brier and thorn ; 
 Nor the gentle shade of evening, 
 
 Without the noontide heat, 
 For this world is full of brambles, 
 
 As well as flowers sweet. 
 
 You must not expect your pathway 
 
 To be strewn with flowers fair, 
 For you ll surely find the thistles. 
 
 Yet "with diligence and care 
 You may gather up the flowers, 
 
 Fold them gently to your breast, 
 Where the brier or the bramble 
 
 May no more disturb their rest. 
 
 Do not let the night and darkness 
 
 Fill your soul with dread despair, 
 When the morn comes forth in brightness 
 
 May not joy await you there? 
 Bid "sweet Tiope, the bird so snowy, 
 
 Fold her white wings round thy heart" ; 
 Though sometimes you ll miss the sunshine, 
 
 Yet light will not all depart. 
 
 (10) 
 
HOME UPON THE HILL 
 
 On the hill-side, softly shaded, 
 
 A cottage nestled white; 
 The sweet flowers bloomed and faded,, 
 
 The sun shone clear and bright; 
 And the sounds of childish laughter 
 
 That rang the glad refrain, 
 Though tis many long years after,. 
 
 In mem ry stfll remain. 
 
 Home, where sisters love and brothers* 
 
 Were so dear to each one there 
 Where a kind and loving mother s 
 
 And a tender father s care 
 Made glad the little children s hearts 
 
 Who played upon the lawn-. 
 But alas! the day of youth departs. 
 
 And the children now are gone. 
 
 From their happy home of childhood, 
 
 All have wandered far away ; 
 Yet the birds, the flowers, the wildwoocf, 
 
 Are in my thoughts today; 
 And as memory the tide doth stem,. 
 
 Tears start against my will, 
 For I was one among them, 
 
 Who played upon the hilL 
 
 Ah ! youth cannot last forever, 
 
 Those happy days will go, 
 And our saddened hearts may never 
 
 More, the faith of childhood know. 
 Yet there s joy beyond all measure, 
 
 Though now tis lone and still, 
 In the thoughts that memory treasure 
 
 Of the home upon the hill. 
 
ONE BY ONE 
 
 One by one, the days go by, 
 Cloud then sunshine fills the sky; 
 When hearts are sad the hours seem long, 
 But short if spent in pleasure s throng. 
 
 One by one, the years roll on, 
 After darkness comes the dawn. 
 Though some may suffer deep distress, 
 Yet peace and comfort others bless. 
 
 One by one, the seeds we sow 
 Bring grief, or blessings, as they grow; 
 We reap the tares with tears and pain 
 Or gather golden sheaves of grain. 
 
 One by one, the burdens dark 
 Come with pain, our lives to mark, 
 Yet happy hours we all shall know, 
 Enjoy them gladly, e er they go. 
 
 One by one, some precious gift 
 Is sent the drooping soul to lift, 
 With grateful heart each one accept, 
 Resign them bravely when bereft. 
 
 One by one life s duties all 
 Must be accomplished, great and small, 
 If we ve done well we shall be blest, 
 As one by one we go to rest. 
 
 (12) 
 
A SUPPLICATION 
 
 When life is o er, and we are here no more 
 
 Will the sun s effulgent rays 
 
 Illuminate always 
 
 The path we tread on that ethereal shore ? 
 
 When we have passed the portals dark at last 
 
 If there a voice we hear, 
 
 Say "Fear not I am near," 
 
 Shall we in awe view all Thy splendors vast? 
 
 When friends we leave from death there s no reprieve, 
 
 If we by pure intent 
 
 Shall be at last content, 
 
 Oh may the loved ones left peace then retrieve. 
 
 Thy ways are wise, Thy mercy never dies, 
 
 But Oh ! our hearts are weak ; 
 
 From Thee more strength we seek 
 
 Oh send us now Thy blessing from the skies. 
 
 (13) 
 
IF WE ONLY KNEW 
 
 If we only knew the sorrow, 
 
 If we knew the care and pain, 
 That the coming years would bring us, 
 
 Would we wish to know again? 
 When our hopes have fled and left us, 
 
 Not a joy to heal the wound, 
 And the castles we ve erected 
 
 All have crumbled to the ground. 
 
 Then there s time enough for grieving, 
 
 For if we had known before, 
 Life would be devoid of sunshine, 
 
 Filled with darkness evermore. 
 Could we ve had the strength to battle, 
 
 With the fierce storms overhead, 
 Or gleaned one ray of brightness, 
 
 From the hopes, that now lie dead? 
 
 If we only knew the morrow 
 
 Would to us bring pain and woe, 
 All the bitter grief we d suffer, 
 
 None on earth could ever know^ 
 It is best we should not know it, 
 
 God is wiser far than we, 
 And hath bid us bear with patience, 
 
 Whatso er our lot may be. 
 
SWEET SLEEP 
 Oh ! tis sweet to rest in sleep, 
 
 When the day s dull cares are o er; 
 Where all trouble, slight or deep, 
 
 For a while we ll know no more. 
 When the light again appears 
 
 And another day s begun, 
 Lesser trouble disappears 
 
 Neath the radiance of the sun. 
 
 Oh ! tis sweet to rest in sleep, 
 
 When our cares seem to increase ; 
 When life s sorrows o er us sweep 
 
 And the heart-ache ne er doth cease, 
 For in sleep we rest secure 
 
 With our trials all forgot, 
 There is nothing to endure 
 
 When in dreams, we know them not. 
 
 Oh ! tis sweet to rest in sleep*; 
 
 There all vexing thoughts are gone, 
 Years of joy at once we keep 
 
 In our dreams, twixt eve and dawn ; 
 Where grim poverty and pride 
 
 Can no more our lives annoy, 
 In those castles we abide 
 
 Which our waking hours destroy. 
 
 Oh ! tis sweet to rest in sleep, 
 
 Tis a blessing sent from God; 
 There His children, though they weep. 
 
 May find respite from the rod. 
 Though we re oft severely tried, 
 
 Yet, when all life s work is done, 
 May the joy thaf s here denied 
 
 In that long last sleep be won. 
 
 (15) 
 
"JUDGE NOT." 
 
 When we see some one, a neighbor, 
 
 Doing wrong, as we may think ; 
 Though he shrink from honest labor 
 
 And seems on destruction s brink, 
 Do not say that he deserves to fall 
 
 Or make darker still his lot, 
 There s a wiser power above us all, 
 
 Tis for us to judge him not. 
 
 When we see some struggling one who tries 
 
 It might seem, in vain to live, 
 If we cannot help him to arise 
 
 Words to harm him do not give 
 Though we are great, his resource small, 
 
 And his life seems wrong and weak, 
 Remember, God shall judge us all, 
 
 Let us not our judgment speak. 
 
 We may not know the circumstance 
 
 All the grief through which they ve passed, 
 We cannot tell what earthly chance 
 
 May have caused their fall at last. 
 But He who knows our every thought, 
 
 Knows who s false, or who is true, 
 He shall judge aright, if sin they ve wrought, 
 
 He shall judge us, me and you. 
 
 (16) 
 
LITTLE WORDS 
 
 Oh ! how many times are harsh words spoken 
 
 Without a thought 
 Of the cruel sting, or heart half broken 
 
 Such words have wrought. 
 Ah ! if we knew what pain they leave, 
 With words no more our friends we d grieve ,- 
 Though we re forgiven and the past retrieve, 
 
 Tis dearly bought. 
 
 How like incense sweet, is a gentle word 
 
 To weary hearts ; 
 When bowed with grief, and a kind voice is heard 1 
 
 Much pain departs. 
 Then let us do what s in our power 
 To cheer the soul, make bright the hour, 
 It will on us far greater blessings shower 
 
 Than wealth imparts. 
 
 (17) 
 
FAIR ISLE 
 
 O er the deep blue sea. 
 How I long to glide, 
 From the world I d flee, 
 Leave its cares and pride. 
 On some fair sweet isle 
 Full of joy serene 
 I d the hours beguile 
 Amid nature s scene, 
 Where from waving trees 
 Comes the silvery note 
 Wafted on the breeze 
 From the songster s throat 
 While the brooklet s flow 
 Mingles with the sound 
 And sweet zephyrs blow, 
 Bringing rest profound. 
 Oh fair isle to thee 
 Would I haste away 
 O er the deep blue sea 
 In thy bowers to stray 
 By thy murm ring stream 
 Fragrant flowers grow 
 There to live and dream, 
 Oh I fain would go. 
 
 (18) 
 
HOPE 
 
 What would life be to us without hope ? 
 
 O thou radiant beacon of light ! 
 With life s myst ries we better may cope 
 
 When thy brightness illumines the night. 
 In all grief laden hearts hope doth dwell 
 
 Though it may often seem ta have fled! 
 Dark despair from the soul it dispels 
 
 And around us Joy s mantle doth spread! 
 
 Though our hearts may no more be as light 
 
 As in halcyon days of our youth, 
 Yet in day dreams there comes to our sight 
 
 Visions dearer than life s sternest truth. 
 Though we feel disappointment s keen stingv 
 
 Joy eludes us and pleasures flee fast, 
 Though friends fail us and fortune takes 
 wing 
 
 Yet hope ever remains till the East. 
 
 O thou priceless, thou eternal boon f 
 
 Life is naught with thy guiding star set ,- 
 All around us, thy low restful tune 
 
 Tells of light we the darkness forget. 
 Though tis hard to see clearly the way 
 
 When our hopes here so oft prove in vairr 
 Yet it cheers and makes brighter the day 
 
 When we hear thy endearing refrain*,. 
 
 (19) 
 
THAT TIME HAS PASSED 
 
 I can no more know grief so wild and weird 
 
 As once swept o er me, with its chilling blast, 
 
 No joy nor sorrow nor all things endeared 
 
 Can move me now as then ; that time has passed. 
 
 Yes it is o er, and with a life subdued 
 
 I view the wreck devoid of sail or mast ; 
 
 I rave no more, though with a strength renewed 
 
 The foaming billows dash; that time has passed. 
 
 Tossed by the waves, by angry breakers flung 
 Relentlessly, upon the rocks I m cast; 
 
 Though from the spirit every hope be wrung 
 
 Yet will I murmur not ; that time has passed. 
 
 I look toward the dark horizon s bar, 
 
 Yet see no gleam amid the darkness vast, 
 
 Calmly await the warnings from afar; 
 
 I neither hope nor fear; that time has passed. 
 
 (20) 
 
WAITING, YKS WAITING. 
 
 We re waiting, yes waiting, from morn until eve 
 While each dreary day the same burden doth leave, 
 Forever imploring some unforseen fate 
 To enable us calmly, with patience to wait. 
 
 Waiting, yes waiting; how patience is taxed 
 As we wearily struggle with smiles unrelaxed, 
 
 To hide from the world what we fain would have hidden 
 While time moveth slowly on wings that are leaden. 
 
 Waiting, yes waiting, for unfulfilled hope 
 
 To crown us with blessings. How wide is the scope 
 
 Of our ideal visions! yet oft they allure, 
 
 Then trials seem harder for us to endure. 
 
 Waiting, yes waiting, "The mills slowly grind," 
 He who steadfastly waiteth a treasure may find; 
 Yet many have waited to reap at the last, 
 The seeds of regret for the years that are past. 
 
 Waiting, yes waiting; how long must we wait? 
 Living lives of suspense, while we anticipate 
 Some circumstance better wherein we are blest; 
 Thereby ever striving to itill our unrest- 
 
 (21) 
 
COME SUMMER DAYS 
 
 Autumn s golden days have passed; 
 With us now is Winter s blast, 
 Frozen earth and frigid sky, 
 With the snow flakes whirling by. 
 Phantom scenes from Winter s gone 
 Round me seem to glide along, 
 How the ghostly spectral train 
 Fills my heart with silent pain. 
 
 Come O Spring ! with balmy breath, 
 Chase away this chill of death ! 
 Come, O come ! with crystal showers, 
 Buds and blossoms, birds and flowers. 
 Could I hear thy murm ring trees, 
 Catch the sweetly scented breeze, 
 I might then forget the pain, 
 Find in mem ry a sweeter strain. 
 
 Come O fairest Summer days! 
 With thy hours of dreamy maze, 
 Round me then from mem ry s hall 
 Sweeter echoes lightly fall; 
 From the flower decked earth arise 
 Songs aeolian to the skies ; 
 Brighter shine hope s glim ring rays 
 In the fair sweet Summer days. 
 
 (22) 
 
IS IT WORTH THE COST? 
 
 What have we attained, 
 
 Toiling all the day? 
 Have we hope sustained 
 
 On life s weary way? 
 Some loved boon to gain 
 
 We ve o er torrents tossed 
 If won, through years of pain 
 
 Is it worth the cost? 
 
 Something to achieve 
 
 Martyrdom we bear; 
 Then reap at last dead leaves 
 
 And withered blossoms wear. 
 Oft for love alone 
 
 All beside is lost, 
 When indifferent grown* 
 
 Is it worth the cost? 
 
 Toiling wearily on 
 
 Dreaming of a time 
 Of rest, when years have gone 
 
 In some more genial clime; 
 Longing for a gleam, 
 
 To fall our path acrost 
 If fulfilled the dream* 
 
 Is it worth the cost? 
 
 Lofty heights we climb 
 
 With lacerated hand 
 Shall we hear joy s chime 
 
 If at the top we stand? 
 Would the voice of fame 
 
 Pay for all we ve lost? 
 Would we prize a name 
 
 Is it worth the cost? 
 
 (23) 
 
TIS LONE, SO LONE. 
 
 Tis lone, so lone, from morn till eventide ; 
 Contentment, O why wilt thee not abide? 
 With fleeting step why leave the ingleside ? 
 O mortal soulf art thou ne er satisfied? 
 
 Tis lone, so lone, from eve till break of day ; 
 O mystic realm ! where is thy power to stay 
 The restless spirit: night stealeth away; 
 Dreamland s bright vision! why doth thou delay? 
 
 Tis lone, so lone, since faintly was descried 
 The first bright gleam on which the soul relied ; 
 Inspiring thoughts the soul to heart confides 
 For one brief moment ! e er the light has died. 
 
 Tis lone, so lone, O arid years that roll 
 Mournfully on ; for buried hopes ye toll ; 
 With what regret ye fill the fainting soul 
 As with a weary step we near our goal. 
 
 (24) 
 
LONG AGO AT HOME 
 
 O do you remember those days still? 
 
 Long ago at home ; 
 When we climbed the steep and mossy hill? 
 
 Long ago at home ; 
 There upon the lilac scented breeze 
 Came the hum of honey laden bees, 
 While birds warbled sweetly from the trees,. 
 
 Long ago at home. 
 
 Can you see the vine-clad cottage, where 
 
 Long ago at home , 
 Happily we dwelt without a carer" 
 
 Long ago at home ; 
 Gaily rambling over hill and dale, 
 Plucking wild flowers in the shady vale 
 We were sheltered from the storm and gale,, 
 
 Long ago at home. 
 
 Smoothly gliding o er the silver stream, 
 
 Long ago at home; 
 Youth has softly dreamed a fair bright dream, 
 
 Long ago at home ; 
 
 Though the dreams like summer birds have flown, 
 Memory s echoes fainter now have grown, 
 Ne er forgotten, is the joy we ve known 
 
 Long ago at home. 
 
 (25) 
 
YOUTH S DREAM 
 
 When youthful minds, like buds unfold, 
 
 A blissful dream is theirs untold; 
 
 A paradise by love enhanced 
 
 They see ; and gaze the while entranced 
 
 Nor see the darksome cloud arise, 
 
 That soon may spread o er fair blue skies. 
 
 They draw an easy breath, and smile ; 
 Nor pause to wonder, yet awhile 
 Why we are here to live and die, 
 Why tears so often dim the eye ; 
 Just their fair world with naught between 
 Is all they see of life s great scene. 
 
 Ah youth, twere well ye saw it not ! 
 
 That naught should mar thy blissful lot, 
 
 As on a light and airy wing 
 
 Ye soar in sweet imagining; 
 
 For soon the lowering hueless gray 
 
 May chase the azure tints away. 
 
 When whirling winds with sobbing sound 
 Vie with the storms, that drench and drown 
 That purer sense of sweet content 
 Which in thy placid smile finds vent ; 
 Then ye shall know a sterner fate, 
 For mortals here predominate. 
 
 Though calm may come from out the whirl 
 And threatening clouds their mists unfurl, 
 Yet when ye fain would mend the skein 
 Of circumstance, t were all in vain; 
 The blissful dream is gone and all 
 That thou shalt hear, is duty s call. 
 
 (26) 
 
REST 
 
 : 
 
 Rest, O rest! 
 
 Come to me for I am tired ; 
 That which once I most desired 
 Liveth in the long ago ; 
 Twilight nears, I weary grow: 
 
 Come, O rest! 
 
 Peace, sweet peace! 
 Let thy soothing power pervade 
 Through the darkling evening shade; 
 Make thy presence felt and known 
 In the heart that s tired grown, 
 
 Seeking peace. 
 
 Vanished dreams! 
 Of the past thy memory thrills, 
 Voiceless echoes naught e er stills, 
 Thy illusive spell hath wrought 
 In the heart a deeper thought 
 
 Dear lost dreams! 
 
 Oh content 
 
 Let not elating dreams arise 
 Which here I ne er shall realize; 
 But may I find a rest profound 
 Living a life wherein is found 
 E en content. 
 
 Only rest ! 
 
 I ask for thee, and thee alone; 
 Knowing the dim uncertain tone 
 Of seeming joys, which soon disclose 
 A discontent: in deep repose 
 
 I would rest. 
 
 (27) 
 
WHAT I WOULD ASK FOR THEE 
 
 Prom all the gifts of life no jeweled crown 
 I d choose for thee ; nor yet the world s renown ; 
 For those things rarely give what most we prize 
 But oft deceive us by their fair disguise ; 
 The gift I d ask for thee would ever bless. 
 Tis may life always bring thee happiness, 
 
 Life s happiness cannot be bought with gold 
 E en when attained tis difficult to hold, 
 For certain penalties we all must pay 
 Who know its joys,. For all things fade away. 
 Then would I ask for thee a true content 
 Life s happiness without its punishment. 
 
 It is a gift that is possessed by few, 
 
 The rarest gift of earth I ask for you. 
 
 And having gained it what could one gain more, 
 
 Though fame were his, or wealth in bounteous store? 
 
 In asking this I ask all life can give 
 
 Or Heaven bestow on mortals while we live. 
 
 (28) 
 
ELYSIUM 
 
 If there another s love was like our own; 
 
 Changeless while life should last, 
 
 Or time be known ; 
 
 Where kindest thoughts in constant interchange 
 
 Dwelt in the hearts that nothing could estrange- 
 
 And we could live in pure felicity 
 
 The humblest cot a paradise would be. 
 
 (29) 
 
TO A DEPARTING FRIEND 
 Dearest friend, thy steps are turning 
 
 Far away, I must remain; 
 I am for thy presence yearning, 
 
 With a grief naught can restrain. 
 Yet thy deeds of constant kindness, 
 
 Ever shall my thoughts pervade; 
 Tears will dim mine eyes to blindness 
 
 When from sight thy form shall fade. 
 Friends are few, and often fleeting; 
 
 But to me, thou st ever been 
 All sufficient each thought meeting 
 
 A response, my soul within. 
 
 Selfish thoughts O let me banish, 
 
 For there are none in thy heart, 
 From thy soul they ever vanish, 
 
 In thy life they hold no part. 
 Why am I from sorrow shrinking 
 
 Who have long its pathway trod? 
 Not alone the dregs I m drinking, 
 
 Thou hast too passed neath the rod. 
 When the weeks to months are creeping, 
 
 And through silent hours I dream 
 Dreams that come not while I m sleeping 
 
 But like mindful spirits seem, 
 
 I shall know of what thou rt thinking, 
 
 Though wide lands between us roll ; 
 Sympathy is ever linking 
 
 Thy dear thoughts, within my soul. 
 Wheresoe er thy steps are wending, 
 
 May a blessing follow fast ; 
 May Fate with thy life be blending 
 
 Sweetest harmonies, at last. 
 Not until again I meet thee 
 
 Somewhere in this world so wide, 
 Not until thy voice shall greet me, 
 
 Will my heart be satisfied. 
 
WHAT DOES LIFE GIVE 
 
 What does life give that can atone for all the dreary years 
 Borne forbearingly in silence while the heart were full of tears ; 
 Whence comes a hope sustaining that doth live to recompense 
 For all that s lost and buried in the shadows dark and dense 
 When memory has numbered every pleasure o er again, 
 What is it all, and where a joy the heart can e er retain. 
 
 The world may smile enticingly, fling gifts with lavish hands, 
 
 Yet if they are accepted, an exacting price demands ; 
 
 A price not paid with gold nor gems their wealth will not 
 
 suffice, 
 
 For Fate is inexorable, and heart the sacrifice. 
 Yet oft tis valued carelessly, sometimes scorned bitterly ; 
 Those who grasp the greatest pleasures suffer pain as penalty. 
 
 Life gives the heart a wish for love, desire for sympathy, 
 
 Yet many souls awaketh late, arise from lethargy 
 
 To meet a bliss that s brief, and scon wrapped in appalling 
 
 gloom 
 
 They bear a grief that time can only hush within the tomb. 
 Fate, thou art strong, weak mortals here no triumphs o er thee 
 
 gain, 
 For though they cling to duty, thou hast power to give them 
 
 pain. 
 
 The human mind, aspiring, oft may gain immortal fame. 
 
 Yet however great or noble, time leaveth but a name. 
 
 A little joy life giveth with a vast amount of grief 
 
 From which though great the struggle, one gaineth small relief. 
 
 Life s but a breath, a vapor, like a bubble quickly goes; 
 
 And all know disappointment from its morning till its close. 
 
 (31) 
 
WHY SHOULD IT MATTER? 
 
 Why should it matter how much hath been lost? 
 
 The story is ended, and bitter the cost : 
 
 Only the ashes of colorless gray 
 
 Tell how consuming, the fire that held sway. 
 
 Close the book softly and lay it aside ; 
 
 How hast thou fallen, O once regal pride! 
 
 Bear it all silently, e en though the heart 
 Throbbing with torture, asunder should part ; 
 Useless is pleading, twere vain to implore 
 For that which naught e er again will restore ; 
 Light giveth way to the darkness o er head, 
 Yet why should it matter, when hope lieth dead? 
 
 Cast a dark pall o er the pitiless past, 
 Where is there aught with endurance to last? 
 Bury it all in the deep darksome earth, 
 Back to the dust that hath given it birth ; 
 Once more resuming the same weary strain, 
 What s more enduring than sorrow and pain? 
 
 Crush back the yearning that filleth the soul ; 
 When hath a mortal yet reached his fair goal ? 
 Even though happiness seem within grasp, 
 Still it forever evadeth the clasp ; 
 Hope s joyful greetings now cometh no more; 
 Yet why should it matter, twill all soon be o er. 
 
 (32) 
 
THE INDIAN WARRIOR 
 
 With piercing eye upon the rocky peak 
 
 He gazes o er the mountain stream and plain, 
 His soul aflame his nature never meek, 
 
 Forbids that he should savage ire restrain. 
 This land so fair, was once his Fatherland, 
 
 The home that God had given his ancient race. 
 But man hath driven him far from ocean s strand,. 
 
 To seek anew a transient hiding place. 
 
 There is within his wild, untutored mind, 
 
 Desire for vengeance on his ruthless foes.. 
 His hand is raised alike gainst all mankind"; 
 
 He seeks the pale face wheresoe er he goes. 
 Though crushed and driven back, he ne er will be 
 
 Subdued nor conquered, nor shall peace be found 
 For his ungoverned spirit until he 
 
 Finds rest within the happy hunting grouncL 
 
 (33) 
 
OH TO FORGET! 
 
 Oh to forget ; when will it cease, 
 All this discord that hath no harmony ; 
 Wild is the tune, discordant the key, 
 Will the notes e er sound a sweet song of 
 peace? 
 
 Oh to forget; O to be free 
 From the confusion that reigneth supreme; 
 Free from the dark turbulent stream 
 That beareth the soul to a fathomless sea. 
 
 Oh to forget those lucid dreams 
 That mem ry exhumes and discloses to view ; 
 Those mystical hopes time doth undo, 
 And promises fair that life never redeems. 
 
 Oh to forget ; O to live true- 
 True unto conscience, and true to the heart; 
 Daring to bid deception depart, 
 Nor fearing when truth is given in lieu. 
 
 Oh to forget thoughts that impart 
 Unceasing pain to the sensitive mind, 
 That hath not been permitted to find 
 Existence, where duty accords with the 
 heart 
 
 (34) 
 
LIGHT THROUGH DARKNESS 
 
 The heavens look dark ; the storm is wildly beating; 
 
 Against the panes ; the winds with wailing cry 
 Shriek round the gables; yet night s surely creeping: 
 Toward the morn, the darkness soon must die. 
 
 Though tempests roar, and vivid lightning flashing 
 Leaves deeper darkness when the brief light dies r 
 
 It will not last ; the rain in torrents dashing, 
 Shall be succeeded by fair azure skies. 
 
 So may it be, that all the bitter weeping 
 
 Shall sometime cease, as cease tempestuous gales, 
 
 And latent joy, that now is only sleeping, 
 
 Shall wake the chords where harmony prevails. 
 
 Then, weary soul, look for a beacon s gleaming, 
 
 When life s frail craft is tossed by foam lashed waves, 
 
 Some guiding light at last may cast its beaming 
 O er the sad heart, and grant the rest it craves. 
 
 Though long hath been the watching, and the waiting, 
 Through years whose days have worn the gloom of 
 night, 
 
 The fury of the storm is now abating, 
 
 Perchance there may at last shine forth a light. 
 
 Hope on, hope on; e en now the gloom is fading, 
 A faintly glimmering light may be discerned ; 
 
 Oh may its brightness, future years pervading 
 
 Yield jay, that hath been through endurance earned. 
 
 (35) 
 
JRETROSPECT 
 
 Would I wish again to be a child? Ah no! 
 For then I needs must live them o er again 
 Those years which have been fraught with so much 
 
 pain; 
 
 Must once more climb the hill, in swift pursuit 
 Of pleasure, whose voice is silent now and mute. 
 But hope is high in youth Ah me ! how could I know. 
 
 If we could tread life s path again and know 
 
 Just where it lead could see the strife, turmoil 
 
 And misery twould make the bravest heart recoil; 
 
 Could see our shattered idols, as they are, 
 
 Just made of common clay like to ourselves, twould 
 
 mar 
 All earthly pleasures, which at best are few. 
 
 (36) 
 
THEN AND NOW. 
 
 Yes we v/ere happy then when youth was with us 
 
 Nor did we pause to ponder blessings o er, 
 We dreamed our dreams, believing life would give us 
 
 Abundant harvests from the world s vast store ; 
 We dreamed of love and joy with naught to grieve us 
 
 With nothing lost, where all to us was gain. 
 Alas ! that dreams so fair should fail and leave us 
 
 To mortal agony and bitter pain. 
 
 We could not see beyond the present s brightness 
 
 The gloom that filled the future s vast expanse; 
 Our hearts were full of innocence and lightness, 
 
 We thought each day would but our joy enhance ; 
 Our eyes saw not the thorny path we d follow, 
 
 Nor did we dream of bitter tears we d shed. 
 Life then to us was not so false and hollow 
 
 That lips should smile to cover pain and dread. 
 
 But now alas we ve learned the bitter lesson, 
 
 Now youth s departed and our hopes have flown. 
 How memory haunts us as we strive to press on 
 
 Toward the goal with weary step alone. 
 The evening finds us strangely worn and shaken, 
 
 The voices we have loved have silent grown, 
 Sad thoughts come first to greet us when we waken 
 
 And all remind us that our summer s flown. 
 
 Then we with bounding pulses, hearts of gladness, 
 
 Saw only brightness for the coming years. 
 Now we know all that intervened of sadness 
 
 And bowed us low with grief and falling tears, 
 Then we desired to mold our fate, and rather 
 
 Guide our own footsteps than be led by Thee. 
 Now we would only ask that Thou, O Father, 
 
 Wouldst lead us onward o er life s troubled sea. 
 
 (37) 
 
TO A SON 
 
 A mother s pride is in her son, 
 And if high honor he should win 
 And fame and fortune smile on him, 
 
 Her heart s desire is won. 
 Yet should the world see naught to praise 
 Nor find a merit to proclaim, 
 Though fortune frown, through all his days, 
 
 Her love remains the same. 
 
 (38) 
 
THE GIFT OF YOUTH. 
 
 A charm is thine, a gift of priceless worth, 
 
 I too possessed it once, yet deemed it naught 
 
 But wished the years to pass, that o er the earth 
 I might pursue the happiness I sought. 
 
 Enjoy thy childhood ; ere the fleeting hour 
 Shall bear the charm away in very truth 
 
 Where nothing e er again shall have the power 
 To give it thee that priceless gift of youth. 
 
 (39) 
 
THE OLD MILL STREAM 
 
 Through all the miles that intervene 
 
 O er mountains clad with snow, 
 I trace the years that lie between 
 
 Me and the long ago. 
 As memory leads me o er the strand, 
 
 I catch the water s gleam 
 Again upon the bank I stand 
 
 Beside the old mill stream. 
 
 Once more I walk the village street, 
 
 I climb the steep hillside; 
 With joy I seek my old retreat, 
 
 Within the shadows wide. 
 Thought builds anew the castles fair, 
 
 Oh bright illusive dream 
 Of youth ! devoid of every care, 
 
 Beside the old mill stream. 
 
 Those years have passed and on my day 
 
 The twilight shadows fall: 
 Yet o er the hard and toilsome way 
 
 Thy mercy covers all. 
 Though far away we all now roam, 
 
 Yet often, as I dream, 
 I meet the ones I loved at home, 
 
 Beside the old mill stream. 
 
 (40) 
 
FATE S TRIUMPH 
 
 Deep from the heart, the same rebellious cry 
 Hath issued forth, from dreary year to year ; 
 
 With bitter murmurings that will never die.* 
 Against a fate that s but a living lie ; 
 
 Yet now, as from the first, triumphantly 
 
 That fate remains; nor heedeth time nor tear. 
 
 Those inner thoughts within the troubled mind 
 Repeatedly the ways and means rehearse ; 
 
 Yet in decrees of fate no solace find, 
 
 Whcse edict is most cruelly unkind, 
 
 And whose dark fetters often strongly bind 
 A life unto a life, though tis a curse. 
 
 What human power can set the fates aside? 
 
 Why hearken to an oft conflicting thought 
 That only raiseth hope, to soon deride 
 
 As too unrealistic to abide ,* 
 O heart canst thou not learn, be satisfied, 
 
 That tis beyond the reach what ye have sought? 
 
 O tired feet, now rest ye in despair, 
 
 For ye have trod life s dreary path in vain ; 
 
 O weary hands that signs of labor wear, 
 How gladly would ye toil, if only there 
 
 With thee were love the woe and weal to share,. 
 And yet it is a boon thou canst not gain. 
 
 Turn, weary soul, to the declining sun, 
 
 *Tis sinking heath the far horizon s crest; 
 
 So also is thy course now nearly run ; 
 
 Through all the years of pain, what hath been won? 
 Tis not to be, close now sad eyes, and rest. 
 
 (41) 
 
STORM TOSSED 
 
 When the clouds have gathered o er us, 
 
 And we miss the light of day ; 
 When their shadows lie before us, 
 
 Making difficult the way 
 When we are by darkness hovered 
 
 Let us not forget tis true, 
 Silver Linings oft are covered 
 
 By the clouds of blackest hue. 
 
 When our pathway seems to lengthen 
 
 Far beyond the fading light, 
 If we persevere, twill strengthen, 
 
 There can be no endless night. 
 Through experience all are learning, 
 
 Keep the light of hope ahead; 
 For the lane that has no turning 
 
 Is a long one it is said. 
 
 When the burdens that we carry 
 
 Seem beyond our strength to bear, 
 Yet we may not rest nor tarry 
 
 In the darkness any where; 
 ^When we think the light will never 
 
 Shine again that hope is gone. 
 Then remember, that tis ever 
 
 Darkest, just before the dawn. 
 
 (42) 
 
THY 
 
 I ve lived my life, the clouds have drifted by 
 That in my youthful hours had seemed so 
 
 fair 
 And those whose darkness covered all the 
 
 sky, 
 
 Have also vanished in the ether air; 
 And yet to tread the ordinary way 
 
 Is harder far, though wind and gale lies 
 
 low, 
 
 For bliss and sentiment has had its day, 
 Yet since it is Thy will then be it so, 
 
 Now memory leads me back to other years, 
 
 Oh happy years ! The shadows lightly fall, 
 Storms are unheeded, and there are no fears 
 
 Within my heart, for love is all in all 
 And walks beside me. There s another clasp.. 
 
 A childish hand, my baby boy s When Ic ! 
 The dream has faded from my eager grasp 
 
 Yet since it is Thy will then be it so. 
 
 The sun has sunk to rest, the twilight cold 
 
 Casts but a fitful gleam across my way. 
 The light is fading I am growing old ; 
 
 Lead me my Father, unto Thee I pray; 
 The unknown path why should I fear it 
 now, 
 
 Thy way is best, at last I ve learned to 
 
 know. 
 In resignation unto Thee I bow, 
 
 For since it is Thy will then be it so. 
 
 (43) 
 
A NEW DAWN 
 
 : , : 
 
 Happier days surround us, 
 Those of the past have gone. 
 Loftier thoughts around us 
 
 Tell of a soft new dawn ; 
 Memories of grief and passion 
 
 Sink neath the ocean vast, 
 While peace in her own calm fashion 
 
 Surges the soul at last. 
 
 Out in the vast forever 
 Whither we all are bound, 
 Lingers the good, that never 
 
 Lacking in love is found. 
 Looking with clearer vision 
 
 Into the past, we find 
 T was but a needed mission 
 
 To strengthen and build the mind. 
 
 While in the living presence 
 Of those who are unseen, 
 We drink the purer essence, 
 
 And on greater wisdom lean ; 
 Soon with the veil uplifted 
 
 We ll wider knowledge gain 
 When the clouds have all been rifted, 
 
 -Life s mysteries will be plain. 
 
 (44) 
 
Renewed book. *> 
 
 
 
 lOAw 
 
YB I225o 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY