LIBRARY 
 
 UNiVERsmr of 
 
 CALIFORNIA 
 SAN
 
 V
 
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 IF YOUR HEARTS HOLD BUT A SMALL SEED 
 OF TOLERANCE, MAY CHARITY 
 CAUSE YOU THEREIN SOME TRUTH TO SEE.
 
 BY 
 
 ANDREW J. ARTHUR.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year J 899, 
 
 by ANDREW J. ARTHUR, 
 in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
 
 r, 1hese lines | dedicate tc thee ; 
 a, thai if in them you eppor find, 
 our tjioeat charity will sause vjou to see 
 ^Therein a deep purpose to help the blind. 
 
 Andrew gj.
 
 I 
 
 The golden sun was just sinking behind the high 
 peaks 
 
 Of the mighty mountain range which so silently 
 speaks, 
 
 From the solemn stillness, of its long genera 
 tion ; 
 
 And how it was evolved from the dawn of 
 creation. 
 
 The earth seemed bathed in bright effulgent 
 
 streaming 
 From dying Aurora, whose heart with gladness 
 
 seeming
 
 2 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 To speak to man of eternal life laid up in 
 
 store, 
 When we shall sink behind the mount that shuts 
 
 out earth s shore. 
 
 A lesson we catch from the fast grandly sinking 
 
 sun, 
 Smiling sweetly, though seeming its course is 
 
 almost run ; 
 An example for man, as he passes out of 
 
 sight 
 Of mortal view, to leave behind an effulgence 
 
 bright ; 
 
 Which can be done by ever just and righteous 
 
 living, 
 And to saint and sinner your love to both be 
 
 giving; 
 For tis said by the Sage of old, which is true, we 
 
 trust, 
 That the sun shines on the wicked, as well as the 
 
 just.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 3 
 
 I your pardon would ask for this digression 
 
 making; 
 To help it I could not, my heart was gently 
 
 shaking, 
 While thinking how great the reward of a Christ - 
 
 like life 
 On the strand where heavenly love will banish 
 
 all strife. 
 
 Now back to my story, which I will so gladly 
 
 tell, 
 Which relates back to the time before light on man 
 
 fell; 
 Yes, in the age far away, when God atoms did 
 
 take 
 Man in perfect God -like nature to evolve and 
 
 make. 
 
 To catch the thread of my story, I will to you 
 
 say 
 That we had stopped to camp at the close of that 
 
 day,
 
 4 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 When a mild bright -looking youth rode up and 
 
 did alight, 
 While his gentle eyes glancing westward, drank 
 
 the grand sight. 
 
 Our horses were grazing on the golden grass so 
 
 sweet, 
 By the brook whose gentle murmuring our ears 
 
 did greet, 
 When the stranger, approaching us then with real 
 
 good cheer, 
 Did a night s rest and comfort humbly ask us 
 
 to share. 
 
 To dwell in the mountains more love in the heart 
 
 does plant, 
 So, without dull forms, we the young man s 
 
 request did grant. 
 He partook of our supper, looking heavenward 
 
 first, 
 While his tired steed from the brooklet quenched 
 
 its thirst.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 5 
 
 Our meal being over, now gathered the twilight 
 
 Rray, 
 A soft touch did then fall o er us like a minstrel s 
 
 lay; 
 Our strange guest raised his eyes, as if something 
 
 he d say, 
 While the light of ages o er his face seemed 
 
 to play. 
 
 In soft accents, which seemed all ages to 
 
 unite, 
 His words fell on the air of the fast gathering 
 
 night, 
 As he said: Grand, beautiful mountain, I 
 
 remember 
 When you were a barren waste without grass or 
 
 timber. 
 
 The stranger looking up quickl} 7 with sweet tendei 
 eyes, 
 
 He said, pardon me, I seemed to apostro 
 phise.
 
 6 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Though I did not, for you continue ever to 
 
 be, 
 A part of my thoughts, which when you know me 
 
 you will see. 
 
 I have also a romance of these mountains to 
 
 tell, 
 But first I will disclose who I arn and where I 
 
 dwell : 
 So that more plainly you will then understand 
 
 and know, 
 The full truth of the facts which through my 
 
 story I ll show. 
 
 First I will say, so that you will my ideas see 
 
 plain, 
 And I hope you will not take me in the least to 
 
 be vain, 
 That I existed before the world had shape or 
 
 form , 
 Far back past the time when these cliffs faced 
 
 their first storm.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 I was with the Father a spiritual being 
 
 then, 
 And so I through the slow revolving aeons had 
 
 been, 
 My purpose with God on other planets besides 
 
 this, 
 I ll not tell, for you d not understand, twould 
 
 be amiss. 
 
 I will come quickly, without much detail, to the 
 
 time 
 When the Father put in action his purpose 
 
 sublime", 
 To set laws moving all things animate to 
 
 evolve, 
 And, through triumph of His Spirit, man from sin 
 
 to absolve.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 II 
 
 Karth from gaseous vapor, condensed, first took 
 
 crude shape, 
 Then the great rocks in cooling in mist began 
 
 to drape, 
 Still it gathered faster, lowering more and 
 
 more, 
 Encircling the earth with clouds, such was not 
 
 known before. 
 
 During the forming of this mist damp silence 
 
 reigned, 
 It was in this age vegetation existence 
 
 gained. 
 And through the quaint little monad life still 
 
 higher ran, 
 And while aeons rolled, evolved the primitive 
 
 man.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 9 
 
 Primitive I say, for man was really rude 
 then ; 
 
 Though much past the rough condition in which 
 he had been. 
 
 Then heavier gathered the mist, darker grew the 
 cloud 
 
 Over earth, hanging like a gray, gloomy, cling 
 ing shroud. 
 
 Then deep awful detonations of the thunder 
 
 rolled , 
 Freely along the dark gray vault, dreadful, fierce 
 
 and bold. 
 The pent up fires of the slow revolving ages 
 
 past, 
 Played in lightning flash, both terrible and 
 
 fast. 
 
 To disabuse your mind of error 1 will here 
 
 say, 
 That there were no human beings on earth at 
 
 that day.
 
 10 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 When I spoke of evolution of primitive 
 
 men , 
 The same since that dreadful universal flood has 
 
 been . 
 
 Then the dull, ghostly, mist gave way to large 
 drops of rain, 
 
 And steadier, faster, grew the drops into pour 
 ing vein, 
 
 And still deeper darkness now gathered o er the 
 earth , 
 
 It seemed that silence to confusion now gave 
 birth. 
 
 Freely was the torrent drunk by the bleak azoic 
 
 rocks, 
 While the dark, gray, clouds then drifted swiftly 
 
 by in flocks. 
 Hissing sounds went up as dark caverns quenched 
 
 their thirst, 
 Of water to enter their cells that being the 
 
 first.
 
 Lringering Echoes. 11 
 
 Then terrible reverberations of the thunder 
 
 fell, 
 And bellowing louder still in cavern glade and 
 
 dell. 
 Such awful forces cause men to imagine a 
 
 hell 
 Ruled over by a prince, with power harsh and 
 
 fell. 
 
 But such is not the case in the economy of 
 
 things: 
 For as speaking of universal creation, all 
 
 brings 
 Good to man ; and all powers were created by 
 
 God; 
 As all men will know, when they cense in error 
 
 to plod. 
 
 For days the rocks and hills were raked by the 
 
 dark cloud, 
 Until deep seething currents over the earth 
 
 plowed.
 
 12 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Higher, and deeper, the surging, gurgling water 
 
 grew, 
 Till no part of the earth any freedom from its 
 
 grasp knew. 
 
 Then less dark and dense the drifting clouds 
 
 began to grow ; 
 And as if driven out of cavern by waters 
 
 flow, 
 The wind began to murmur; first so gently 
 
 and low, 
 Then, like a mighty giant slow to wrath, did 
 
 louder grow. 
 
 I ll say, as I have no ambition to play 
 
 on words, 
 Nor to fill my story with knotty bundles 
 
 of surds, 
 If I use some figures of speech with reason not 
 
 clear 
 Know that I mean from fallacy far away 
 
 to steer.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 13 
 
 To illustrate, I ll add that the wind was not 
 
 confined, 
 In the caverns, but the waves, one the other 
 
 behind, 
 Rushing in the silent recesses of the earth 
 
 did make, 
 Little disturbance of stillness, which began to 
 
 quake. 
 
 And as all things do come when stern necessity 
 
 calls, 
 And when so created in its proper sphere 
 
 then falls, 
 So the wind through these quivering chasms 
 
 power gained, 
 Until it blew fierce and wild, where silence had 
 
 reigned. 
 
 Terrible, weird and awful, was the wind s deep 
 
 moaning 
 L,ike legions of drowning demons, in the caves 
 
 groaning
 
 14 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 It was like a fierce battle of darkness against 
 
 light; 
 So dreadful was the contest and so fearful 
 
 the sight. 
 
 But, as I said once before, all things work for 
 
 the best, 
 From the fierce struggle the elements seemed 
 
 to rest. 
 The angry, dark clouds still higher and lighter 
 
 did grow, 
 And the weird howling wind more gentle and 
 
 calm did blow. 
 
 Then higher and still brighter drifted each 
 
 passing cloud, 
 As if because light was gaining the day it was 
 
 proud : 
 Then did the torrent from Heaven s window 
 
 cease to pour; 
 Such a down rushing of water will be known no 
 
 more.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 15 
 
 Then the great torrent changed into, light 
 
 drifting rain ; 
 And the sun burst through the thin, brightly 
 
 shining clouds plain. 
 It was then o er the wild, bleak, watery waste of 
 
 earth, 
 That the grand, iridescent rainbow was given 
 
 birth. 
 
 The bright shining arch, as if from beauty s 
 
 heart riven, 
 Is said to be a promise of hope to man 
 
 given : 
 And which can be counted as being correct and 
 
 true, 
 For such world -wide torrents could not come 
 
 from skies so blue. 
 
 Keeping of the covenant through nature can be 
 
 seen, 
 By looking at the grass and forests so rich and 
 
 green :
 
 16 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 For the earth to yield such great growth could 
 
 not molten be; 
 Such as it was when from its form gashes floated 
 
 free. 
 
 In those dull, dark days when mist gathered 
 
 slow and fine, 
 So world -wide was the fog that the sun did 
 
 dimly shine 
 On earth ; twas like the full moon behind clouds 
 
 fleecy white, 
 Shedding on the world her dim, gentle, silvery 
 
 light. 
 
 Peculiar atmospheric condition o er earth 
 
 then , 
 Around the entire globe, over valley hill and 
 
 glen : 
 No burning sands then, and wild raging blasts 
 
 did not blow : 
 But one general, mild, temperature the world did 
 
 know.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 17 
 
 The calm, the fierce howling blast, so common 
 
 in this time, 
 Was not needed then ; but they fill a purpose 
 
 sublime ; 
 For such powers in action makes man s mind 
 
 versatile 
 And gives it God -like tone, and does lift it 
 
 higher still.
 
 18 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Beautiful was the sight, picturesque, sublime 
 
 and grand, 
 Of Aurora s first awakening, o er the watery 
 
 land : 
 Timid, yet smiling, she did o er the horizon 
 
 peep, 
 As if she a stranger saw, on waking from her 
 
 sleep. 
 
 Then fully awake, and dressed in morning 
 
 splendor, 
 Her most bewitching smiles on earth she then 
 
 did render. 
 Little dancing, rainbow prisms then o er earth 
 
 were gleaming, 
 While beautiful beams of light from her eyes 
 
 were streaming.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 19 
 
 My story I am sure, would not be full and 
 
 complete 
 Till I tell of that first sunset, with beauty 
 
 replete, 
 So I will in language which is my habit to 
 
 say, 
 Speak now of the closing, of what I term, the 
 
 first day. 
 
 The bright sun, as if now loth to part with her 
 
 new friend, 
 Sank slowly down, as o er earth streaming light 
 
 she did send : 
 While fleecy clouds floated near her, while dim 
 
 light she shed, 
 As if to hide bright Aurora, while going .to 
 
 bed. 
 
 Great streams of shining gold shot high up in 
 
 the calm air, 
 Which, falling in prisms, made the picture still 
 
 yet more fair.
 
 20 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 The shining, iridescent, rainbows dancing in 
 
 glee, 
 Seemed each trying the last glimpse of the sun 
 
 to see. 
 
 Then the light, so resplendent before, now dim 
 
 did grow, 
 As timid Aurora, in her couch, laid her head 
 
 low ; 
 And so -the lowering darkness did gather at 
 
 last, 
 For the bright light of the first day was now 
 
 sinking fast. 
 
 Earth was dark now, as if ruled by Plutonian 
 
 hand, 
 It seemed the gloom of all the worlds was now 
 
 o er this land. 
 Such has a purpose, for darkness makes brighter 
 
 the light, 
 If it were not so you would lose many a grand 
 
 sight.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 21 
 
 When trials, like dark gloomy clouds, float over 
 
 human life, 
 Caused by sin, error, worldly contention and 
 
 strife, 
 There comes the hour of peace, which the heart 
 
 with joy does fill ; 
 Which seems because of the aching sorrow 
 
 brighter still. 
 
 I then turned me around, as a gentle wind 
 
 blew, 
 Looking straight Eastward, as the horizon 
 
 brighter grew, 
 
 
 
 And saw the full, round, moon shedding her 
 
 enchanting light 
 In silvery floods, freely, into the darkness of 
 
 night. 
 
 The floating, fleecy, clouds cast shadows like 
 
 phantom ships. 
 To describe that picture can t be done by mortal 
 
 lips :
 
 22 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 So silent, weird, swiftly-gliding and ghost-like 
 
 were they, 
 As these shadows chased each other now dark, 
 
 then gray. 
 
 I will no longer linger on this grand, sublime, 
 
 scene ; 
 But will say that the still night wore on calm 
 
 and serene, 
 Until in the east the soft, beautiful, twilight 
 
 gray, 
 Betokened the glorious dawn of the second 
 
 day.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 23 
 
 IV 
 
 Then rolled the world -wide ocean, in deep 
 
 currents strong, 
 Through the slowly passing aeons, solemn, 
 
 drear and long: 
 It seemed like endless, gliding cycles of 
 
 eternity, 
 As one "wide, watery, sheet it continued 
 
 to he. 
 
 But for it to remain so, would without purpose 
 
 be, 
 So, in time, many points of land I could plainly 
 
 see. 
 No sweet dove then, with white, fleecy wings 
 
 to gently fly, 
 The long imprisoned earth, uncovered, to 
 
 descry.
 
 24 Lingering Echoes, 
 
 Grand arc the pictures focused ou the mind of 
 
 man,, 
 Twas intended as a part of God s eternal 
 
 plan, 
 By scintillations of. the Father s Spirit 
 
 falling, 
 On man s mind, and faint ideas of God s work 
 
 forestalling. 
 
 The gentle dove sailing, o er the watery waste 
 
 wild, 
 Which was so sublimely pictured by human 
 
 child, . 
 
 Though beautiful and thrilling, is from the truth 
 
 far away : 
 For it was God s gentle Spirit which sailed that 
 
 day. 
 
 The dark sombre raven, with solemn croak said 
 
 to go, 
 Like an evil omen, o er the waters to and 
 
 fro,
 
 Lingering Echoes. 25 
 
 Is a real good image drawn, while the spirit 
 
 would tell 
 Man, of the powers of nature, which seemed 
 
 dark and fell. 
 
 The raven was to remain, the solemn stillness to 
 
 prod, 
 Which is a flickering image of how man must 
 
 plod 
 Through deep sorrow on earth ; which will be so 
 
 of each age, 
 Till by triumph of God s sweet spirit sin shall 
 
 assuage. 
 
 The black, croaking, messenger did not to Noah 
 
 return, 
 Which, mind painting, shows that evil God ever 
 
 will spurn, 
 While the dove returning, the olive branch down 
 
 to lay, 
 Is an image of all good coming to God, one 
 
 day.
 
 26 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Such is the fruit of what is as inspiration 
 
 known ; 
 Which is but divine scintillations on man s mind 
 
 sown : 
 The seeds are perfect when they leave the 
 
 eternal hand, 
 But falling on impure soil cause error in the 
 
 land. 
 
 But when the Christ -like spirit does humanity 
 
 leaven, 
 With purity of heart, and deep wisdom from 
 
 Heaven, 
 The mind of man will, when divine light does 
 
 o er it fall, 
 Better, and more perfect, pictures of God s work 
 
 forestall. 
 
 The new earth looked happy, when kissed by 
 
 the sun; 
 Such in all the dark ages passed had not been 
 
 done.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 27 
 
 Then the high points of land began to show 
 
 faster still, 
 As the deep, subterranean fisures drank their 
 
 fill. 
 
 And aeons upon aeons yet rolled slowly 
 
 away , 
 While the deep, gliding waters tossed both 
 
 night and day ; 
 It was then that the great fountains were hidden 
 
 in earth, 
 Which, at this day, causes these mountains to 
 
 spring to give birth. 
 
 The water then, not drunk by the thirsty rocks 
 
 and ground, 
 Deep channels now called oceans, seas and rivers 
 
 found ; 
 While vast bodies of land, seeming so glad to be 
 
 free, 
 Shot forth lovely vegetation, bewitching to 
 
 see.
 
 28 Lingering Echoes, 
 
 Silence crept back into dark caverns, tinder the 
 
 hill, 
 As if truly glad, once more to be quiet and 
 
 still. 
 The wind, as if ashamed of its pranks, murmured 
 
 low; 
 Now sweet, lovely, Eden, on the earth, began 
 
 to grow. 
 
 Began to grow I say, for long, drifting, ages 
 
 ran, 
 Before earth as a dwelling place, was fitted for 
 
 man. 
 How it was all brought about, to let you fully 
 
 know, 
 Some parts of, further, creation I will briefly 
 
 show.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 29 
 
 V 
 
 First from all the parts of the new and rich 
 
 plastic lands, 
 Where water was not, sprang plant life so lovely 
 
 and grand. 
 Then commenced the creation of animal 
 
 life, 
 Over which, through passing ages, there has 
 
 been much strife, 
 
 Understand now, that it all came from God s 
 
 powerful hand, 
 All creation that was, and does exist, in the 
 
 land. 
 Some will differ as to how it all was brought 
 
 about : 
 But then let all be magnanimous, and not fall 
 
 out.
 
 30 Liiftgering Echoes. 
 
 For the differing opinions, in the minds of 
 
 men, 
 The means of bringing great thought into the 
 
 world, has been ; 
 While to be tolerant toward the thoughts of 
 
 others 
 Will make men feel more like they are really 
 
 brothers. 
 
 First life in vegetable kingdom through laws 
 
 began, 
 Not by chance, but by union of elements, 
 
 that ran, 
 Guided, always, by Jehovah s omnipotent 
 
 hand, 
 Which caused bubbling life to spring up over the 
 
 land. 
 
 From lower to higher plant life steadily 
 
 moved, 
 Like a painting under a master, life 
 
 improved ;
 
 Lingering Echoes. 31 
 
 Always by affinity, between beings and 
 
 things, 
 Newer, grander, and better life to earth ever 
 
 brings. 
 
 So silently life evolved, that no one could 
 
 know 
 Just how beings from lower to higher life did 
 
 grow. 
 Myriads of bright angels each morning blithely 
 
 arose, 
 And, with finger touch, made things brighter, 
 
 ere the day s close. 
 
 The sweet zephyr touched angels cheeks with 
 kisses fond, 
 
 While from the rude fork they shaped the deli 
 cate frond : 
 
 Then as one fair builder from bower to bower 
 goes, 
 
 From her wings quivering light falling now tint 
 the rose.
 
 32 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Silently millions of tiny, noiseless, hammers 
 
 fell, 
 Their inaudible echoes through valley, glade and 
 
 dell 
 Mingling with the soughing wind, as they 
 
 moulded the rock, 
 From crude dull shape, to beautiful angle square 
 
 and block. 
 
 Untold numbers of bright little nymphs, so sweet 
 
 to see, 
 Tumbled gently over each other in noiseless 
 
 glee, 
 That beautiful picture ever in my mind will 
 
 be, 
 As from the small frondage plant they built the 
 
 lofty tree. 
 
 Then these blithe silent workers, always floating 
 
 around , 
 Doing something whenever to be done it was 
 
 found,
 
 Lingering Echoes. 33 
 
 Always working at the right thing, the time just 
 
 to suit, 
 Blowing their breath on the rough bud, gave 
 
 birth to sweet fruit. 
 
 These sweet, drifting spirits, guided by the 
 
 Father great, 
 Still toiled ever noiselessly, both early and 
 
 late, 
 Till through the slowly passing ages grand work 
 
 then stood, 
 Which by the Heavenly Father was called very 
 
 good. 
 
 Then slowly gliding cycles their quiet time did 
 
 unfold, 
 Such time has by computation never yet been 
 
 told: 
 The dancing shadows then played coquet with 
 
 the wind, 
 As o er the earth its melancholy song it did 
 
 send.
 
 34 lingering Echoes. 
 
 VI 
 
 The trees nodded to each other, and slightly did 
 
 quake, 
 As if from their branches the deep silence they 
 
 would shake. 
 In the dark hidden caves the wind did solemnly 
 
 moan , 
 As if from the heart of creation there came a 
 
 groan. 
 
 All nature seemed intent on one and the same 
 
 thing, 
 And that was on earth creation of new life to 
 
 bring ; 
 So the same power that brought plant life past 
 
 ages through, 
 Set great laws to moving, still grander work yet 
 
 to do.
 
 lingering Echoes. 35 
 
 You might catch from my version of creation as 
 
 told, 
 That animal life had not yet begun to 
 
 unfold ; 
 Not so, when the great ocean began to roll 
 
 sublime, 
 In the water, started life coeval with that 
 
 time. 
 
 Away back through silent ages, and through 
 
 cycles of time, 
 When the stars sang to each other, in such soft 
 
 sweet chime, 
 One little spirit, ever wishing wiser to 
 
 grow, 
 Moved at God s bidding, deep secrets of life to 
 
 know. 
 
 Over the boundless space of immensity then 
 
 went 
 The sweet, gentle messenger, with deep purpose 
 
 intent :
 
 36 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Sailing through the stellar regions, across the 
 
 milky -way; 
 Soaring around suns, brightly shining for their 
 
 first day. 
 
 The blithe little being then saw, at the Father s 
 
 call, 
 Suns to ashes on the threshold of trackless space, 
 
 fall. 
 Life when once created the substance never does 
 
 die; 
 To the scene of these dying suns the spirit did 
 
 fly. 
 
 From the fading light of these dying orbs there 
 
 did spring 
 Particles of great worth, which did joy to that 
 
 heart bring; 
 As a purpose could be seen on earth for them so 
 
 grand, 
 He plucked them from dying suns, with his 
 
 chubby hand.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 37 
 
 As this blithe good worker gathered these gems 
 
 so bright, 
 He brought them to the Father, in Heaven s 
 
 shining light; 
 Until there were enough, as the Father gently 
 
 said, 
 Then that quaint worker took them to ocean s 
 
 silent bed. 
 
 In the waters, his heart with profundity 
 
 stilled, 
 This worker began cell of animal life to 
 
 build. 
 The work being done so good the Father, being 
 
 glad, 
 Blew his breath o er the cell, which gave birth to 
 
 the monad.
 
 38 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 VII 
 
 Then hovered all the divine attributes of 
 
 God 
 O er that cell, in the ocean, where foot had 
 
 never trod. 
 Then lingered close the gentle, "holy, heavenly 
 
 Dove," 
 For the foundation of this work was eternal 
 
 love. 
 
 Love, (the stranger s head bent low, he did 
 
 apostrophise,) 
 May thy gentle power with man, yet still 
 
 sympathize : 
 Though great is the wrong done, by perversion, 
 
 in thy name, 
 Through selfish ignorance, and in hunting 
 
 worldly fame.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 39 
 
 I ll here digress, and if wrong I do thee I ll 
 
 remit, 
 For towering supremely o er all topics, there 
 
 does sit, 
 In my mind, the one of love, for in its holy 
 
 name, 
 The world will be brought to light, saved from 
 
 sin and shame. 
 
 Some say that love is folly, but do not think it 
 
 it so, 
 For to love what is noble gives joy where e er 
 
 you go. 
 It is said that love gives sorrow, and deep lasting 
 
 pain, 
 If so twill feed the soul, like earth refreshed by 
 
 rain. 
 
 When some true person gives freely love s throbs 
 
 of the heart, 
 The angels in Heaven in the great joy take a 
 
 part;
 
 40 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 For I truly say that sorrow is cured by 
 
 love; 
 Such is the inspiration I imbibe from 
 
 above. 
 
 There is a poetess of great renown, and world 
 wide fame, 
 
 Ella Wheeler Wilcox is the gifted lady s 
 name, 
 
 And many inspired thoughts she gleaned from 
 above, 
 
 But she made a. sad mistake in writing about 
 love. 
 
 She said true love at the time could only be for 
 
 one; 
 As if the bright golden thread had then its full 
 
 course run. 
 Had she thought deeper of the universal Christ - 
 
 like love. 
 She would have gathered sweeter thoughts from 
 
 God above.
 
 Hungering Echoes. 41 
 
 That lady claimed that man, on the earth, would 
 
 yet grow 
 Almost God -like perfection, in the spirit, to 
 
 know. 
 That is true, such conditions of life on earth will 
 
 be; 
 Then how can selfish love exist, can any one 
 
 see? 
 
 gentle muse, (the young man then spoke so 
 
 soft and low), 
 
 To that good woman take wings and flying, 
 
 \f 
 quickly go, 
 
 And when gently hovering o er her, speak in 
 
 words profound, 
 Saying, one can rightly love where e er good does 
 
 abound. 
 
 1 will add that my principal work on earth is 
 
 this, 
 
 Which to my soul gives sweet, everlasting, joy 
 and bliss,
 
 42 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 To send the spirit where I see error in the 
 
 heart, 
 That it may while hovering there the full truth 
 
 impart. 
 
 Sometimes it is heeded, but oftener it is 
 
 not; 
 For many get tangled in conservatism s great 
 
 plot: 
 And drift on with fixed forms, and fashions of 
 
 the world, 
 They don t see the glory of God s banner 
 
 unfurled. 
 
 But some few in every age there have been and 
 
 yet are, 
 To me ever brightly shining, like a twinkling 
 
 star, 
 Who awaken at the approach of the spirit s 
 
 light : 
 Through these the great epochs of history I 
 
 unite.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 43 
 
 To keep clear of the mistake Israel s leader 
 
 made, 
 When he smote the silent rock, in Mount Horeb s 
 
 deep shade, 
 I will say before I too far in such error 
 
 plod, 
 That I do all my works through the power of 
 
 God. 
 
 I have wandered a little, from my story 
 
 away ; 
 So I will now continue, without any great 
 
 delay. 
 But please pardon me now, I will humbly ask 
 
 and pray, 
 For I have still a few more words about love to 
 
 say. 
 
 One who could the love of which I speak in 
 
 heart receive, 
 Would not. any being on earth, in the least 
 
 deceive :
 
 44 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 There is where the limit should ever and always 
 
 be, 
 In the prescribed bounds of substantial 
 
 honesty. 
 
 The person to bring the heart at love s shrine to 
 
 lay, 
 Although many others they do, and can love they 
 
 say, 
 Is one whom to be like others might wish and 
 
 aspire ; 
 For such a soul is cleansed by promethean 
 
 fire. 
 
 Then the love that should fill every person s heart 
 
 and mind 
 Should be unselfish love, in a pure heart 
 
 enshrined : 
 And though the sweet, loving, object be far, far, 
 
 away, 
 L,et the rays from your heart shine out bright, 
 
 bright as day.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 45 
 
 And when you are living with husband or wife 
 
 so dear, 
 In that sweet sacred relation for year after 
 
 year, 
 In the trend of the bard, who has pushed from 
 
 earth s shore, 
 lyove not such close companion less, but others 
 
 the more. 
 
 To what I ve said in the last fifteen verses 
 
 harken, 
 For selfish love will always the soul surely 
 
 darken. 
 And now of blissful joy I have great 
 
 prelibation, 
 As my tale I now continue of animal 
 
 creation.
 
 46 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 VIII 
 
 Then from the snowy wing of the quaint builder 
 
 there fell 
 An atom from some star, where life no longer 
 
 does dwell, 
 Being treasured by the nymph, when soaring in 
 
 quest, 
 Of matter to begin life with, through which man 
 
 would be blest. 
 
 The gentle builder was quivering in deep, silent 
 
 glee, 
 The picture was exquisitely beautiful to 
 
 to see, 
 And as the sweet little being hung straight o er 
 
 the cell 
 In its inviting depths, the tiny atom then 
 
 fell.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 47 
 
 The sweet monad then with silent joy radiant 
 
 grew, 
 As it around the little atom its soft arms 
 
 threw : 
 Then in the deep, peaceful, shades of Heaven, 
 
 joy was rife, 
 For at that moment on earth was sown seeds of 
 
 new life, 
 
 If I should anywhere the idea seem to 
 
 advance 
 That creation was brought about by sporadic 
 
 chance, 
 Listen more closely I do thee, earnestly, 
 
 implore, 
 For creation came through laws, from Heaven s 
 
 very door.
 
 48 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 IX 
 
 With joy ineffable, from anticipation made 
 
 dumb, 
 I thus viewed the planning of new life yet to 
 
 come: 
 The rejoicing in Heaven which did then come to 
 
 me, 
 Will find echo in my soul, through all 
 
 eternity. 
 
 The panorama that then passed before my 
 
 sight, 
 Filled my whole being with peaceful joy and 
 
 delight : 
 I saw before me what I, generically, call 
 
 men, 
 To tell their number can not be done by tongue 
 
 or pen .
 
 Lingering Echoes. 49 
 
 In dissolving shadows, before me, they still did 
 pass ; 
 
 I saw them, ever, as if through bright, transpar 
 ent glass, 
 
 While aeons followed aeons along time s 
 pathway ; 
 
 It seemed to be one eternal revolving 
 day. 
 
 I saw a white figure, ever working here and 
 
 there ; 
 Twas ever climbing up, as if on a golden 
 
 stair ; 
 Always helping others, higher, grander, life to 
 
 see : 
 As cycling ages came near, I knew it Christ to 
 
 be. 
 
 You have, by your radiant countenance, fully 
 
 shown 
 That interesting has been this vision, which is 
 
 my own ;
 
 50 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 So I will, being by your gentle favor made 
 
 bold, 
 Now continue 1113^ story of creation to 
 
 unfold. 
 
 From that union many seeds of new life did 
 
 grow, 
 As the spirits in the waters, the surface 
 
 below, 
 Worked earnestly, as the silent ages 
 
 rolled, 
 And the scroll of creation did slowly 
 
 unfold. 
 
 These silent builders steadily moved life 
 
 higher, 
 By the ever gentle touch of promethean 
 
 fire; 
 At the very beginning of life on earth they 
 
 did 
 Ever beckon life upward, even the 
 
 annelid.
 
 lingering Echoes. 51 
 
 To give detail of all creation as it 
 
 passed 
 The story while slow ages rolled away would 
 
 last; 
 So I will only notice where a great epoch 
 
 starts, 
 Higher to build, and then just its most salient 
 
 parts . 
 
 The quiet workers toiled, noiselessly, day after 
 
 day ; 
 Their soft gentle voices, as to each other they 
 
 did say 
 Sweet words, gave birth to murmuring of the 
 
 waves so low, 
 When on the beach they did roll and break, 
 
 even and slow.
 
 52 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 X 
 
 Not a sound of disturbance, so well were they 
 
 drilled, 
 Was ever among them, but with hearts with joy 
 
 filled 
 They did meet each other s every sweet desire 
 
 and wish ; 
 So I will tell you how they moulded the nimble 
 
 fish. 
 
 This being the most minute expuisite work yet 
 
 done, 
 Each saw that its part was ready before twas 
 
 begun : 
 Some brought different parts of all symmetry yet 
 
 made, 
 In all the deep oceans, and throughout earth s 
 
 silent shade.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 53 
 
 Some brought tiny waves crystalized, to make 
 
 the fin ; 
 For tis meet in higher life new matter to bring 
 
 in. 
 Others gathered moonbeams as on the ocean the} 
 
 fell, 
 And hammered out the silvery scale, in earth s 
 
 mossy dell. 
 
 Others brought parts necessary, the tiny fish to 
 
 make, 
 To dart here and there the blue silent waters to 
 
 shake ; 
 And all being ready they commenced the 
 
 work, 
 Not a single little worker did quibble or 
 
 quirk. 
 
 Then steadily they worked, doing the Father s 
 
 will, 
 Ever and always, being more congenial 
 
 still,
 
 54 lingering Echoes. 
 
 Till through the bright waters fishes darted 
 
 blithe and gay : 
 Being the substance of creation up to that 
 
 day. 
 
 Fishes I say, for many at the same time were 
 
 made, 
 Though all of them essentially of the same kind 
 
 and grade; 
 But the little spirits certain conditions brought 
 
 around 
 Which caused the seas with many species to 
 
 abound.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 65 
 
 XI 
 
 Creation has one purpose, and also many 
 
 more, 
 Which is made plainly manifest each day o er 
 
 and o er: 
 That is to show to man God s great wisdom and 
 
 power, 
 Through stupenduous works, in ocean sea and 
 
 bower. 
 
 So the workers blithe as the ages moved 
 
 along, 
 Kver and anon sailing to Heaven, in sweet 
 
 song, 
 Of this fish material laid much aside in 
 
 store, 
 And through the slow revolving years piled up 
 
 still more.
 
 56 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Then the quaint beings came together one day, 
 
 in glee, 
 Just how much of fish material they had to 
 
 see: 
 And finding they had saved plenty, as the time 
 
 ran, 
 Set quietly, to work to make the huge 
 
 leviathan. 
 
 The building of that monster was a grand sight 
 
 to see ; 
 Through the ages he grew, as silently as the 
 
 tree, 
 Under the soft, powerful, touch of the spirits 
 
 hands, 
 As they flocked around, in sweet gentle 
 
 ba nds. 
 
 The work being done, then up came the quiver 
 ing wave, 
 
 As if the ocean s depths had begun to surge and 
 rave ;
 
 Lingering Echoes. 57 
 
 Then in the bright, sparkling, sunlight, which 
 
 was fading fast, 
 There came up to the surface points, like a 
 
 great ship -mast. 
 
 Then higher heaved the waters, as the ocean 
 
 gave, 
 The whale to the surface, in the golden waves to 
 
 lave ; 
 The whole being of that monster trembled with 
 
 delight, 
 As it drank the pure air, beautifully grand was 
 
 the sight. 
 
 Great waves of bright ripling sunbeams then 
 
 rolled away, 
 As they were gently kissed by the fast dying 
 
 day , 
 Chasing farther out, each other s track they 
 
 crossed, 
 While the great leviathan in the golden waves 
 
 tossed.
 
 58 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Then above his great head was a sight to see so 
 
 fair, 
 As water, rainbow fringed, shot high up in the 
 
 air; 
 Raising his mighty head, as if light and air he d 
 
 store, 
 Rolled in the waves, sank, and the waters closed 
 
 o er. .- 
 
 So in the waters whales of different kinds were 
 
 made, 
 To play from India s burnt sands, to Greenland s 
 
 verdant shade, 
 Showing the mighty works, coming from the 
 
 Father s hand, 
 As their bodies roll in the waters of every 
 
 land. 
 
 Teeming swarms of beings the little spirits did 
 
 make, 
 In the great ocean, sea, river and the placid 
 
 lake.
 
 lingering Echoes. 59 
 
 Of the great number and the kinds that I can not 
 
 tell, 
 For me to do such a thing, I would here ages 
 
 dwell.
 
 60 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 XII 
 
 As my mission here on earth is to aid all man 
 kind, 
 
 And men being as to God s real ways extreme 
 ly blind, 
 
 The manner of making one being I ll here 
 relate, 
 
 That you may catch a true glimpse of the misused 
 word, fate. 
 
 In nature s forces there is a chance of going 
 
 wrong, 
 But for the ever guarding hand of God great 
 
 and strong. 
 If twere not so it would surely take away the 
 
 praise 
 From the Deity, for bringing order out of 
 
 maze.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 61 
 
 Then as these forces rolled and broke, on the 
 
 tide line, 
 There drifted over, a substance both subtle and 
 
 fine : 
 To stay the main force and turn it in the way 
 
 of right 
 Is beyond mortal power, it takes the strength of 
 
 light. 
 
 As these evil forces drifted out from God s 
 
 control, 
 A power grew in the land to damn the human 
 
 soul : 
 This dark tendency for bad fell on the ocean s 
 
 shore, 
 Then grew the devil fish, hideous forever 
 
 more. 
 
 Its slim} tentacles, like no other substance 
 
 known, 
 Is the residue of creation, in darkness 
 
 thrown :
 
 62 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Evil seeds took root, and then the dreadful 
 
 demon grew, 
 While the dreary, howling, night -winds o er the 
 
 ocean blew. 
 
 Its grewsome tentacles, and body, are proof 
 
 gainst pain, 
 For no good being therein, but all from evil 
 
 vein, 
 Makes it invulnerable to the touch of 
 
 man, 
 However much he tries, or ingenious his 
 
 plan. 
 
 But while the loathsome being through the ages 
 
 did grow, 
 One day it raised its head, while the gentle 
 
 winds did blow, 
 At the same time a sunbeam full on its head then 
 
 fell, 
 Which made that part vulnerable, hence it you 
 
 can quell.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 63 
 
 One thing I wish now to show you, so pleasing 
 to know, 
 
 That is that evil beings never higher in life 
 grow : 
 
 But stop in arrested evolution, then do 
 stand 
 
 In their dwarfed life, on creation s dark border 
 land. 
 
 Which is proof substantial that good will 
 
 triumph at last ; 
 That the evil forces will in time decay and 
 
 blast. 
 Then on snowy wings of peace, victorious and 
 
 grand, 
 God s spirit will sail, supremely great, o er all 
 
 the land.
 
 64 Lingering Echoes, 
 
 XIII 
 
 During this time wonderful works were done on 
 
 the laud, 
 And proudly towering oaks in the forest did 
 
 stand ; 
 Their nodding branches tossed in the wind, both 
 
 day and night, 
 As if showing forth the Father s great power and 
 
 might. 
 
 The tall waving grass bowed before the gentle 
 
 breeze, 
 As though silently conversing with the tall huge 
 
 trees : 
 While the still sombre cliffs looked on the 
 
 pretty scene, 
 As if jealous of both, it was there standing 
 
 between.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 65 
 
 While the ocean s gentle waves kissed the sand} 
 
 shore, 
 And the tide water out it still continued to 
 
 pour. 
 Then the great tidal waves, rolling back, did 
 
 ever leave 
 Little tiny beings, which did to the pebles 
 
 cleave. 
 
 The water rolling back into the ocean s deep 
 
 bed, 
 Left these little waifs, the new found elements to 
 
 dread : 
 Then the sweet naiads, their great sympathy to 
 
 bestow, 
 Put water on them, and they did amphibious 
 
 grow. 
 
 This being kept up, through ages of sunshine 
 
 and fog, 
 Thus the ever working spirits did make the 
 
 nimble frog.
 
 66 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 So it was, as the rolling cycles passed 
 
 away, 
 They made many such beings, on ocean s shore 
 
 to play. 
 
 It was with great welcome that the silent trees 
 
 did greet 
 The songs of these animals, with new life 
 
 replete, 
 As the new music drifted on the night -wind so 
 
 weird, 
 In the heart of creation new emotions 
 
 stirred . 
 
 It was while the nymphs were handling, with 
 
 soft touch and feel, 
 These animals that they made the downy furred 
 
 seal ; 
 To glide in and out of the waters, on the calm 
 
 shore, 
 To be hunted by men, as you have been told 
 
 before.
 
 Lingering Echoes. Q7 
 
 The ocean s wave still murmured, so gently and 
 
 low, 
 As time in its silent, trackless, course ever did 
 
 go. 
 And creation slowly moved upward, still 
 
 higher, 
 Being thus ever refined, by promethean 
 
 fire.
 
 68 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 XIV 
 
 Aud while the purifying stream from Heaven 
 
 was pouring:, 
 There were other forces for bad o er the earth 
 
 soaring, 
 Laden with purgings from nature, adverse to 
 
 pure life, 
 With purpose dire and fell, to leaven mankind 
 
 with strife. 
 
 So I will now continue my story to 
 
 relate, 
 How evil entered man, the best that I can 
 
 state. 
 I ll keep the origin of evil before your 
 
 mind, 
 That you may a purpose, in creation, for it 
 
 find.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 69 
 
 Down under the gentle gliding waters one bright 
 
 day 
 Man} 7 little fishes were all enjoying a 
 
 play, 
 While a shining beam of sunlight among them 
 
 did fall, 
 After which they began to chase with glee one 
 
 and all. 
 
 At first the chasing seemed only sport for each 
 
 one, 
 But at last each swimmer began in earnest to 
 
 run , 
 Till their shining eyes in the beam a value did 
 
 see, 
 As the bright thing continued ever dancing in 
 
 glee; 
 
 The fast flying chase became frantic still more 
 
 and more, 
 As the pretty little beings tumbled each other 
 
 o er;
 
 70 lingering Echoes. 
 
 Until at last it was really a distressing 
 
 sight, 
 For the naughty fishes began each other to 
 
 fight. 
 
 The naiads came along and scattered them all 
 out, 
 
 But not till a dark seed in each heart began to 
 sprout : 
 
 Which in their tiny hearts darker and deeper it 
 grew ; 
 
 So it was through this black seed the world self 
 ishness knew. 
 
 Let men remember the story of these foolish 
 
 fishes, 
 When trying to gratify all the heart s vain 
 
 wishes; 
 And also know that on a thing more value you 
 
 set, 
 When the same thing others are closely striving 
 
 to get.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 71 
 
 The one thing to be sought after by all men on 
 
 . earth, 
 Is the sweet blissful joy given by the heart s new 
 
 birth, 
 Which when it once enriches a heart will freely 
 
 flow 
 Out to others, in all lands, wheresoever you 
 
 go, 
 
 I have wandered somewhat, following 
 
 meditation, 
 From the story I started to tell of 
 
 creation. 
 But if you will now on me your attention 
 
 bestow, 
 I ll freely more of the Father s great work to you 
 
 show.
 
 72 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 XV 
 
 Upward and still upward, creation ever did 
 
 build, 
 Until all the earth with living beings was 
 
 filled. 
 While the little spirits worked, with intention 
 
 very good, 
 There was always some dark hindrance which in 
 
 the way stood. 
 
 It was that substance which dashed the water 
 
 line o er, 
 As the forces of nature broke on creation s 
 
 shore. 
 To show you just how these dark tendencies 
 
 worked in, 
 I ll tell you of the road where animal life has 
 
 been.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 73 
 
 While the little builders were working, the shore 
 along, 
 
 They were making a being, and softly singing a 
 song ; 
 
 The creature they were building was of symme 
 try nice ; 
 
 And to make it perfect they worked over it 
 twice. 
 
 The name of this animal, of course, I will now 
 
 tell. 
 But know first that a great misfortune to it 
 
 befell, 
 For in the making it did in its nature 
 
 partake 
 Of the bad side of creation, for it was the 
 
 snake. 
 
 Mournful, weird, one night did the deep moan 
 ing wind blow, 
 
 While under the hands of the builder the snake 
 did grow :
 
 74 lingering Echoes. 
 
 It was on the bleak ocean s shore, where the 
 
 high waves did lash, 
 As through the dark hours, they did constantly 
 
 roll and crash. 
 
 By a smooth tiny pebble a little hammer 
 
 lay, 
 Where a bright, sweet little nymph had been 
 
 working all day. 
 She had been preparing material from which to 
 
 make 
 A dainty little tooth, for the pretty rattle 
 
 snake. 
 
 Being very tired the quaint worker fell 
 
 asleep 
 Then these bad tendencies, with evil purpose did 
 
 creep, 
 And slyly mingling with the dark waves, on the 
 
 bleak shore, 
 Soaked this tooth material with deadly poison 
 
 o er.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 75 
 
 When the sweet little worker in the morning 
 
 awoke, 
 The sun shone brightly, the waves on the shore 
 
 calmly broke ; 
 She smiled as she looked at her work left 
 
 undone, 
 Then soft echoes were heard, for" the work she 
 
 had begun. 
 
 This quaint being was ignorant of the evil 
 
 wrought ; 
 She rounded up the pretty tooth, as she sweetly 
 
 thought 
 Of the perfection of the work under her soft 
 
 hand , 
 As well as of all the glorious work in the 
 
 land. 
 
 The work being finished, as slow time passed 
 
 away , 
 The pretty snake came gliding slowly along one 
 
 da} 7 ,
 
 76 lingering Echoes. 
 
 When the blithe sweet nymph its bright beauti 
 ful form did spy, 
 
 She then with kind anticipation to catch it did 
 try. 
 
 But to her horror, for this creature she did 
 
 like, 
 As she fondled it o er, at her it made a fierce 
 
 strike ; 
 And in the ambient air near her, as the same she 
 
 drank, 
 She could smell poisonous fluid, both fearful and 
 
 rank. 
 
 When the little spirit found evil, in her work so 
 
 great, 
 She gathered the drifting twilight, of evening 
 
 late, 
 Where the rolling waves with the ocean s shore 
 
 does battle, 
 And to give warning to man hammered out the 
 
 rattle.
 
 Lingering Echoes 77 
 
 And while the silent ages rolled slowly 
 
 away, 
 The gentle little nymph watched closely, night 
 
 and day, 
 And whenever she found the snake asleep on its 
 
 trail, 
 She cautiously pinned a small button to its 
 
 tail. 
 
 So went the nimble snake creeping its serpentine 
 
 way 
 Through the floating shadows, of earth s forest 
 
 nighc and day. 
 The quintessence of deception was the gliding 
 
 snake, 
 Being so dangerous, yet seeming perfection in 
 
 make. 
 
 Twas a very good picture of painting on the 
 
 mind 
 Of man, when to God s real ways then ignorant 
 
 and blind,
 
 78 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 To write that while all things on earth in har 
 mony ran, 
 
 That through this deceptive being came the fall 
 of man, 
 
 1 give you this narration to more fully 
 
 show 
 How the dark evil works all through creation 
 
 did grow. 
 It would take too long to tell how other poisons 
 
 came, 
 So I ll not go into detail concerning the 
 
 same.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 79 
 
 XVI 
 
 One element in creation, all from nature s 
 
 store, 
 To bring things in order, I should have told this 
 
 before, 
 I do speak now of that part of animal life 
 
 fear, 
 How it came into the world, give heed now and 
 
 you ll hear. 
 
 Fear was of the first attributes of life 
 
 animate ; 
 Having entered the lower life, in early 
 
 date. 
 It being a misapprehension of nature s 
 
 motion. 
 Moving for good, but which caused a foolish 
 
 notion.
 
 80 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 It was a dull, damp, murky night, on a bleak, 
 
 wild shore, 
 When the waves surged and fought, with deep 
 
 terrible roar, 
 And the wailing winds sang, as if mourning for 
 
 worlds dead : 
 It seemed that dark confusion to chaos had 
 
 wed. 
 
 The high waves rolling out on this shore, so dark 
 
 and drear, 
 Left in the ebb a swarm of little creatures 
 
 near 
 The dark water s edge, but which were full out 
 
 on the land, 
 They all laid there the whole of the night, this 
 
 little band ; 
 
 These little beings, of the species 
 
 annelida, 
 Huddled together on that shore, until twilight 
 
 gray ;
 
 Lingering Echoes. 81 
 
 And through that night weird did the wind moan 
 
 and the waves break, 
 Which caused these little beings to quiver and 
 
 quake. 
 
 So twas that in animal life the element 
 
 fear 
 Entered twould have crushed these beings had 
 
 not near 
 Them hovered the little undine spirits, so 
 
 sweet, 
 To whisper to them, that the morning tide they d 
 
 soon meet. 
 
 So it was that twins were born that damp, dark, 
 
 dreadful night; 
 Though one was the emblem of day, the other 
 
 of night; 
 For fear is the dull fruit of evil s dark, blasting 
 
 plan ; 
 While hope is the brightly shining beacon light 
 
 of man.
 
 82 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 I would tell my story without digression 
 
 making, 
 For it is the thread so often abruptly 
 
 breaking, 
 But I see by your face that they do not displease 
 
 you, 
 So I may still continue the same, my story 
 
 through.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 83 
 
 XVII 
 I have now told you how life in the water 
 
 began, 
 As through the slowly passing ages it upward 
 
 ran ; 
 And how beings became amphibious on the 
 
 land, 
 Which so far has been close along the great 
 
 ocean s strand. 
 
 Necessity is a great factor in building 
 
 life, 
 In the animal kingdom, hence the ocean was 
 
 rife 
 With animate beings, as the ever rolling 
 
 wave, 
 On noiseless wheels, to helpless beings food 
 
 freely gave.
 
 82 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 I would tell my story without digression 
 
 making, 
 For it is the thread so often abruptly 
 
 breaking, 
 But I see by your face that they do not displease 
 
 you, 
 So I may still continue the same, my story 
 
 through.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 83 
 
 XVII 
 
 I have now told you how life in the water 
 
 began, 
 As through the slowly passing ages it upward 
 
 ran ; 
 And how beings became amphibious on the 
 
 land, 
 Which so far has been close along the great 
 
 ocean s strand. 
 
 Necessity is a great factor in building 
 
 life, 
 In the animal kingdom, hence the ocean was 
 
 rife 
 With animate beings, as the ever rolling 
 
 wave, 
 On noiseless wheels, to helpless beings food 
 
 freely gave.
 
 84 lingering Echoes. 
 
 So life could exist in the silent restless 
 
 ocean, 
 In beings without beak, claw, or any great 
 
 motion : 
 Such was the first life created, the waters to 
 
 fill, 
 During the slow gliding ages, so silent and 
 
 still. 
 
 in this new life, as it did amphibious 
 
 stand, 
 Began to grow beings to meet conditions on 
 
 land. 
 I will not give the order in which beings were 
 
 made, 
 But just mention a few of some special kind and 
 
 grade. 
 
 One bright sunny morning when all nature 
 
 seemed gay, 
 There were no months at that time, but now we 
 
 call it May,
 
 Lingering Echoes 85 
 
 The quaint workers came together, so gentle and 
 
 kind, 
 Wishing to build higher life, if a way they could 
 
 find. 
 
 After consulting together, each with smiling 
 
 face, 
 They clasped chubby hands in parting, with real 
 
 good grace, 
 Then the air was all in a flutter, with unseen 
 
 wings, 
 And with sweet singing seeming yet the echo 
 
 rings. 
 
 They had their hearts with sweet enthusiasm 
 
 stirred, 
 And so now they were aiming to make a pretty 
 
 bird. 
 To say to you here the plain truth, will not be 
 
 amiss, 
 That is, that birds, in crude form, existed before 
 
 this.
 
 86 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 All life grew through the slow unwinding laby 
 rinth of time, 
 
 By silent unfolding of God s laws, grandly 
 sublime. 
 
 The outline of each leaf was penciled in 
 Heaven, 
 
 A.nd there laws laid down its nature with life to 
 leaven. 
 
 But what makes it all so ravishing to mind of 
 
 man, 
 Is the gradual upbuilding through the evolving 
 
 plan : 
 O, infinite eternal mind, how thrilling the 
 
 thought, 
 Of building life in passing time, through decay 
 
 and rot. 
 
 O, beautiful angel sweet, with gentle smiling 
 
 face, 
 Who softly holds the gosamer veil, with such 
 
 modest grace,
 
 Lingering Echoes 87 
 
 That hides the hand wherein all this power does 
 
 abide, 
 When will you with your sweet breath, blow the 
 
 curtain aside? 
 
 You say sweet nymph, that would in you dere 
 liction make, 
 
 Then step aside, and let that zephyr the curtain 
 shake, 
 
 That I may see the omnipotent eternal 
 hand, 
 
 Which through the passing aeons wrought these 
 works ir. the land. 
 
 Then the stranger raised his eyes as he gently 
 
 said, 
 That nymph stands there, relieved by others in 
 
 her stead, 
 Through all the passing ages, in their proper 
 
 groove , 
 And, though by me so kindly urged, she will not 
 
 move.
 
 88 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Then a soft faint drifting flush the stranger s 
 
 face o er -spread ; 
 And then with deep earnest meaning he fervent - 
 
 said : 
 Father forgive me, why should I complain or 
 
 repine ; 
 As this angel does her duty, teach me to do 
 
 mine. 
 
 I will (the stranger said) to show the truth now 
 
 say, 
 That I do not know the Heavenly Father s true 
 
 way 
 Of building life; but just as tis revealed to 
 
 me 
 The Father s great wisdom in part I can dimly 
 
 see. 
 
 I can see that guard, as her curls in the zephyrs 
 
 fly, 
 Her blithe form dimly outlined I can easily 
 
 spy,
 
 Lingering Echoes. 89 
 
 As she holds the curtain gainst the zepyrs with 
 
 soft hand, 
 And though dim, shadowy and partial, tis surely 
 
 grand. 
 
 Just why that angel stands there, like an eternal 
 
 seal, 
 And with chubby hands holds down the veil that 
 
 does conceal 
 From mortal view the world from which no voice 
 
 does respond, 
 To earthly wails of grief, I know not, nor what s 
 
 beyond. 
 
 One thing I do know, whether we pass through 
 
 woe or weal, 
 That God is to mankind, himself trying to 
 
 reveal : 
 Then that is a clue to why he hides that sweet 
 
 bright land, 
 In this, the Father, mortals could not 
 
 understand.
 
 90 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 As to why there s no response to cry of earthly 
 
 grief, 
 I have my full opinion, and substantial 
 
 belief: 
 It is founded on a sweet song, caught from the 
 
 muse s lyre, 
 The substance is, God wants souls tried as if 
 
 by fire. 
 
 But now to listen to me yon have been very 
 
 kind, 
 Though I ve wandered somewhat, my thread I ll 
 
 try to find ; 
 And then continue my story from where I broke 
 
 away, 
 And try from the main subject not too far off to 
 
 stray. 
 
 Some of the workers went to the ocean s silent 
 
 depth, 
 Then there among its noiseless recesses calmly 
 
 crept,
 
 Lingering Echoes 91 
 
 And gathered the dim outline of all life yet 
 
 made, 
 Merging in the bird life, through slow step, of 
 
 each kind and grade. 
 
 What nature once creates, its form never is 
 
 lost, 
 But still remains, if but dim, by rolling time 
 
 tossed : 
 So it was that these shadowy outlines they did 
 
 bring, 
 These noiseless builders, freely as they did 
 
 sweetly sing. 
 
 This substance was to build the crude form of 
 
 the creature, 
 It consisted of bird life of each kind and 
 
 feature. 
 For new life picks up the masks, which have 
 
 been left behind, 
 By all beings made before, of every grade and 
 
 kind.
 
 92 hingefing Echoes. 
 
 The little monad puts them on, pins them 
 
 together, 
 Through cycling time, with touch as downy as a 
 
 feather; 
 Then when tis no longer necessary to 
 
 conceal, 
 The blithe monad tears off the mask, new life to 
 
 reveal. 
 
 Some of the workers went, just after rainy 
 
 weather, 
 To the fleecy clouds, for substance to make a 
 
 feather : 
 For just after rain the clouds are very pure and 
 
 light, 
 And in their soft fleecy folds they made the 
 
 feather white. 
 
 Others on quivering wings, as fast as they could 
 
 fly, 
 
 Sailed upward, to the bright cerulean 
 sky,
 
 Lingering Echoes. 93 
 
 And in that arched vault they worked, nor weary 
 
 grew. 
 With hammer and chisel, till they made the 
 
 feather blue. 
 
 Some went along the rugged ascent of 
 creation, 
 
 Where all was strife for life, and no self 
 abnegation, 
 
 There found some being s dying groans, quiver 
 ing in air, 
 
 Placing them in necessity s store, they crystalized 
 there. 
 
 When the nymphs had found all of these for the 
 work twould take, 
 
 Having gone back in the mountain for quietude s 
 sake, 
 
 With hammer strokes echoing back to murmur 
 ing rill, 
 
 There deftly and quietly made the hard claw and 
 bill.
 
 94 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Others hied to the storm-cloud, in the dark star 
 less night, 
 
 So dark the night it seemed there could be no 
 more light, 
 
 And following this sable cloud, on its rayless 
 track, 
 
 Chiseled out material to make the feather 
 black. 
 
 Other parts were gathered, all in the proper 
 
 way, 
 For these deft little workers toiled through every 
 
 day; 
 And all being ready the work was quietly 
 
 begun , 
 To build a pretty, nimble bird, through time s 
 
 silent run. 
 
 It is a very saucy bird, though pleasing to 
 
 see, 
 As it dances around among the branches of the 
 
 tree;
 
 Lingering Echoes. 95 
 
 How he came to be such a frantic and noisy 
 
 bird 
 I will tell you, your permission though first 
 
 preferred. 
 
 Well then, it was in a still beautiful shady 
 
 dell, 
 The workers had almost finished the bird when 
 
 night fell, 
 A less critical e} 7 e would have thought the work 
 
 all done, 
 And gone off and left it, a smooth course in life 
 
 to run. 
 
 Not so with these builders, in their work no flaw 
 
 is found ; 
 They laid their curly heads to sleep on the mossy 
 
 ground, 
 To wait the smiles of morning sun, on earth to 
 
 break, 
 So they could on this pretty bird the finishing 
 
 touch make.
 
 96 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 The bird being by the spirits soothed, fell 
 asleep, 
 
 While around the scene did the silvery moon 
 beams creep ; 
 
 Ere this he saw a morsel, which on the green 
 moss lay, 
 
 Which it thought in nestling down to eat -at twi 
 light gray. 
 
 The little nymphs in quietly tumbling down, one 
 
 and all, 
 Unwittingly, on the tempting morsel then did 
 
 fall; 
 The bird in the morning early, being first to 
 
 wake, 
 In the gray twilight dawn, his feathers did flaunt 
 
 and shake. 
 
 Then he bethought him of the tempting morsel 
 
 sweet, 
 Seeing that the sleeping nymphs had covered up 
 
 his treat,
 
 Lingering Echoes. 97 
 
 He set to work, at first so calm, gentle and 
 
 tranquil, 
 Still they slept: then he trembled with rage in 
 
 wing and bill. 
 
 The frantic efforts of the bird caused only sweet 
 dreams, 
 
 In the minds of the sleepers, of gentle rippling 
 streams, 
 
 In bright elysian fields, fanned by the zephyrs 
 o er, 
 
 On that golden strand, just beyond earth s bil 
 lowy shore. 
 
 But not so with the bird, as the morning 
 
 lighter broke, 
 He grew more frantic, and with rage he seemed 
 
 to choke : 
 Then quivering in every fiber, in morning 
 
 gray, 
 Centered all its efforts in the harsh cry 
 
 jay! jay!
 
 98 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 The innocent sleepers, smiling sweetly 
 
 awoke, 
 When the loud noise on the morning air so 
 
 harshly broke ; 
 Gently reproaching the bird, soft hands on it did 
 
 lay, 
 Smoothing its bright wings, called it the pretty 
 
 blue-jay. 
 
 The gentle builders tried, in passing around each 
 
 day, 
 While making more of such birds, their temper 
 
 to allay : 
 But with all these birds that noisy nature did 
 
 prevail, 
 By mingling with that first bird, as frantic he did 
 
 sail.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 99 
 
 XVIII 
 
 I have something here to say, which may please 
 
 you to know, 
 Your kind attention to what I say I feel you ll 
 
 show, 
 So I will now in words plain, and substantially 
 
 few, 
 Relate to you how the earth its first sympathy 
 
 knew. 
 
 A happy song bird singing sweetly, up in the 
 
 tree, 
 Trouble and sorrow in all its life it did not 
 
 see ; 
 In the fast gathering gloom for it was growing 
 
 late, 
 There came a wail for a cat-bird had just lost its 
 
 mate.
 
 100 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Many blithe little spirits, ever ready to 
 
 aid, 
 Came to the sorrowful bird, and hovering near 
 
 her stayed ; 
 Some smoothed her soft down, and dried her 
 
 gentle eye, 
 As about her, on quivering bright wings, they 
 
 did fly. 
 
 This longing desire to help is a part of 
 
 Heaven ; 
 But now God would creation with this feeling 
 
 leaven. 
 So notice closely now, how the next few verses 
 
 run, 
 And I will gladly relate to you how that was 
 
 done. 
 
 When these nymphs had the poor sorrowing bird 
 
 soothed to sleep, 
 At each other they with loving eyes did slyly 
 
 peep :
 
 lingering Echoes. 101 
 
 And with hearts still full of echoes from the cat 
 bird s wail, 
 
 They straight to where the sweetly singing bird 
 was did sail. 
 
 Still the melting liquid notes, as they fell from 
 ^ his throat, 
 
 p 
 
 On the air in the fast fading light did softly 
 
 float: 
 It seemed nothing with this joyous bird could go 
 
 wrong, 
 As he filled the sweet breeze with his ravishing 
 
 song, 
 
 The messengers hung on wing, full in the music s 
 
 flow, 
 Then turned all their harps to the mournful key 
 
 of woe ; 
 And when the bird its lungs with the sweet air 
 
 would regale 
 They all struck their harps, to the tune of the 
 
 cat -bird s wail.
 
 102 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 As the bird drank the notes of grief, its eyes 
 
 partook 
 Of the look of sorrowing love, its little frame 
 
 shook; 
 Its head sank lower down, and its sadness 
 
 increased, 
 Then its sweet song in the fast falling twilight 
 
 ceased. 
 
 When the morning in the east was showing its 
 
 dim light, 
 This sweet singing bird arose, after a sleepless 
 
 night, 
 And hearing a mournful wail not very far 
 
 away, 
 Sailed straight to the cat-bird, and lingered all 
 
 day. 
 
 Tis not necessary, when these facts before you I 
 
 lay, 
 For me to dwell much longer here in language to 
 
 say,
 
 Lingering Echoes 103 
 
 That as slowly drifting time all things after it 
 
 drew, 
 The world through gentle bird life its first sym - 
 
 pathy knew. 
 
 So it was as the river of time did gently 
 
 ^ flow, 
 These workers in the floating shadows of earth 
 
 did go, 
 With sweet bright anticipation, and to failure 
 
 blind, 
 Through laws of evolution, made birds of every 
 
 kind.
 
 104 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 God wishing to make bright and happy the soul 
 of man, 
 
 Laid a deep purpose in his great everlasting- 
 plan ; 
 
 Sweet harmony and soft music on the earth to 
 bring, 
 
 So he tought the bright beautiful birds to sweetly 
 sing. 
 
 You may have a desire in your mind to fully 
 
 know, 
 Just how God this happy boon did on earth 
 
 bestow ; 
 So I will briefly, trying redundancy to 
 
 shun, 
 Now in plain language relate to you how that 
 
 that was done.
 
 Lingering Echoes 105 
 
 As time moved on through gliding phantom like 
 
 ages, 
 To give detail would take countless millions of 
 
 pages. 
 Bird song grew upward, slowly improving all 
 
 along ; 
 And now I will tell you how God taught one bird 
 
 its song. 
 
 Some little workers- went along the mild rippling 
 
 streams. 
 Where waters were laughing, in the bright gentle 
 
 sunbeams, 
 And as aeons glided past each other so 
 
 ghost like, 
 To each sweet soft note from the waters their 
 
 harps did strike. 
 
 Others to the deep solitude of the mountain 
 
 went, 
 And as time in its trackless course moved, there 
 
 they spent
 
 106 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Their hours listening to the wind, soughing in 
 
 the trees, 
 And tuned their harps to each note, drifting on 
 
 the breeze. 
 
 Then some sailed to the great ocean s sandy 
 
 beach, 
 Where the rolling waves kissed the shore within 
 
 their reach. 
 And as the soft falling notes floated on the sweet 
 
 air, 
 Caught them on their harps, and safely stored 
 
 them all there. 
 
 While others calmly soared to the bright soft 
 
 blue sky, 
 To watch for the angelic messengers passing 
 
 by, 
 And as the white -robed hosts sailed gently 
 
 along, 
 Singing God s praise, these workers caught sweet 
 
 notes from their song.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 107 
 
 While some arose on soft white wings to the 
 border -land, 
 
 That shuts out mortal gaze from the happy gold 
 en strand, 
 
 And there, where ambient light gently flushes- 
 and fades, 
 
 Caught the softly falling echoes, from elysian 
 shades. 
 
 All these different parts of music s harmony 
 sweet , 
 
 Any one of which to the human ear is a 
 treat, 
 
 These quaint little workers in time s great store 
 house did pack, 
 
 As aeons passed each other, in their noiseless 
 track. 
 
 Twas a beautiful night, the moon was shining 
 
 bright, 
 Each little star was twinkling, in all its tiny 
 
 might;
 
 108 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 The shadows in the woodland were dancing in 
 
 the breeze, 
 As they played hide and seek, among the nodding 
 
 trees. 
 
 Soft beams of light were streaming down, 
 
 after sunset soon, 
 As if hosts of angels were chiseling from the 
 
 moon 
 Shining silver prisms, and throwing them at the 
 
 sun, 
 Trying to hide Aurora, and give the night its 
 
 run. 
 
 The echoes of the murmuring brook, o er dale 
 
 and hill, 
 Rang soft and sweet, as they answered the gentle 
 
 rill; 
 While the towering cliff, and the dark gray 
 
 granite wall, 
 Stood in the silent background, casting shadows 
 
 o er all.
 
 Lingering Echoes 109 
 
 In midst of all this, on a tree, sat a pretty 
 
 bird, 
 By the beautiful scene its heart was deeply 
 
 stirred. 
 The bi4 then moved, as if an unseen presence 
 
 hung 
 Around : to see what came near its eyes wide 
 
 open flung. 
 
 The presence sweet to see it could not, but it 
 was there ; 
 
 For the little workers were near, full in the moon 
 light s glare, 
 
 They had with them all the notes of soft harmony 
 sweet, 
 
 Stored while passing ages made their silent 
 retreat. 
 
 As the bird opened its mouth, the sweet air to 
 
 inhale, 
 While the deep silence hovered over valley, hill 
 
 and dale,
 
 110 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 The naiads struck their harps in harmony, soft 
 
 and low, 
 And the liquid notes down the bird s throat did 
 
 freely flow. 
 
 The sweet monad danced around, keeping per 
 fect time 
 
 With his little hands, his soft hair waving to the 
 chime, 
 
 While the bird, choking with gentle music 
 laden air, 
 
 Threw open wide its mouth, in the shining moon 
 light fair. 
 
 It grew enrapt, as more of the music it 
 
 partook, 
 Its whole being, filled with delight, trembling 
 
 shook: 
 And while silvery moonbeams were dancing in 
 
 the vale, 
 There came soft sweet notes from the throat of 
 
 the nightingale,
 
 Lingering Echoes, 111 
 
 So it is the nightingale her melody does 
 
 send 
 Ringing down through the ages, blending with 
 
 the night wind; 
 As it murmurs soft and low, among the bending 
 
 trees* 
 Whispering to man, of the sweet bird he seldom 
 
 sees. 
 
 Father, what must the soul thrilling notes in 
 
 Heaven be, 
 Which float on balmy air in elysian fields so 
 
 free, 
 When on this sinful earth, over valley hill and 
 
 glen, 
 The song of the nightingale you send to wicked 
 
 men .
 
 112 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 XX 
 
 Before I go further in my story I will 
 
 say, 
 And such plain substantial facts I will before 
 
 you lay, 
 So that you will then without doubt fully 
 
 understand, 
 How I know all these truths, of Cod s creation so 
 
 grand. 
 
 I have said in my story that my purpose on 
 
 earth 
 Was to unite great epochs, and to give truth its 
 
 birth, 
 Where I find error deep wrangling in the human 
 
 mind, 
 Concerning God s creation, which I do so often 
 
 find.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 113 
 
 So far as I have related my story to 
 
 you, 
 All the incidents I saw from a spiritual 
 
 view, 
 While soaring gladly among other worlds besides 
 
 this, 
 Doing the great Father s will with ever growing 
 
 bliss. 
 
 That is how I know the true facts concerning 
 
 the past, 
 For spiritual life can belt, on sweeping wings 
 
 fast, 
 The universe of God s creation, like lightning s 
 
 sweep, 
 And see labyrinths of worlds, made from God s 
 
 wisdom deep. 
 
 But the future is under infinite lock and 
 
 seal ; 
 Nor will it be opened, come what will woe or 
 
 weal.
 
 114 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 That is to be read, as the Galilean did 
 
 show, 
 By the Heavenly Father, and for Him only to 
 
 know. 
 
 It is to me like light its force on water 
 
 plying, 
 In whose clear shining depths I would see 
 
 objects lying; 
 But then ere I can a glimpse catch ice does o er 
 
 it close 
 And to bosom of winter tis gathered and 
 
 froze. 
 
 When I pass on this plastic earth, in the form of 
 
 man, 
 Which is according to God s great everlasting 
 
 plan, 
 I cease to exist elsewhere, in his great 
 
 creation ; 
 And like others grow in spirit, through self 
 
 abnegation.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 115 
 
 I pass beyond earth s dark shore, in the cold 
 
 arms of death, 
 Like all men, when the body bids adieu to the 
 
 breath ; 
 Though I pass back again, at the Father s call 
 
 to earth 
 And enter some human body, at natural 
 
 birth. 
 
 So you will now fully understand, and plainly 
 
 see. 
 Who I am, my mission here, and how I came to 
 
 be, 
 Then you ll understand, when I relate the best I 
 
 can, 
 How I know facts concerning the history of 
 
 man.
 
 116 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 XXI 
 
 Creation working through all these slow passing 
 
 ages, 
 Moving life always upward, leaving fixed 
 
 stages 
 Of creation, along the way, as by laws it 
 
 ran, 
 Toward the epitome of God s works on earth, 
 
 man. 
 
 vShould I attempt to show you the labyrinthine 
 
 way 
 Man traveled in the making, and time s great 
 
 delay, 
 To make perfect its work, though all my time I d 
 
 bestow, 
 I could only begin till Gabriel s trump would 
 
 blow 7 .
 
 Lingering Echoes. 117 
 
 These quaint workers came together, in a shady 
 
 dell, 
 Each face smiling, though solemn, held a secret 
 
 to tell, 
 Which seemed too sacred for language, so silence 
 
 j?an, 
 Until a deep sweet voice softl} 7 said, "let us make 
 
 man. " 
 
 Then their gentle faces were calm as the} 7 all did 
 
 listen, 
 While the man} 7 soft eyes did scintillate and 
 
 glisten, 
 As directions they heard, of development to 
 
 be, 
 From mouth of the eternal omnipotent 
 
 Deity. 
 
 Then quietude reigned, a short deep pause was 
 
 given, 
 So intense, as if from the heart of silence 
 
 riven.
 
 118 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Then the little spirits arose, and all calmly 
 
 flew, 
 Each buoyant heart aflame, desiring his work to 
 
 do. 
 
 Of these workers some went back along creation s 
 
 line, 
 Hunting traces of animal life, subtile and 
 
 fine : 
 For each being in making its full tether had 
 
 run, 
 And left a step to stand on, while higher work 
 
 was done. 
 
 As life thus moved upward, like phantoms 
 
 undressing, 
 Leaving behind old masks, to the future a 
 
 blessing, 
 Showing to the scientific world footprints of 
 
 God, 
 Wherever with its strong probe does the mind of 
 
 man prod .
 
 Lingering Echoes, 119 
 
 Twas tlius the foundation of the grea-t work was 
 
 laid, 
 And all animal life, in the great drama 
 
 played , 
 To build the superstructure of the physical 
 
 man, 
 Through the wonderful process of evolution s 
 
 plan. 
 
 Then there was another part of this dual being 
 
 on earth 
 Evolved, but from higher life was it given 
 
 birth. 
 On the stage while creation s great drama was 
 
 played, 
 Twinkled promethean fire, of which the soul 
 
 was made. 
 
 These brilliant shining sparks, like bright 
 
 resplendent sunbeams, 
 Ever flashing on life s great action, in subtile 
 
 streams,
 
 120 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Hovering, so gently, over the first germ of 
 
 life, 
 Evolved spiritual man during creation s 
 
 strife. 
 
 And so these little workers, during passing 
 
 ages 
 Stored these finished points of life s fixed 
 
 stages ; 
 And from all animal beings, in great teeming 
 
 throng, 
 They gathered completed life and brought it 
 
 along. 
 
 During this time, as the good spirits woiked and 
 
 sung, 
 The forces for bad were over the border-line 
 
 flung: 
 As the powerful elements of nature 
 
 surged, 
 The length of its tether; then was in God s will 
 
 merged.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 121 
 
 These evil powers, lashing o er, though subtle 
 
 and fine, 
 Trying all higher life to banish and 
 
 undermine, 
 Entered in creation, at every fixed 
 
 stage, 
 And was then brought along, and made a part of 
 
 life s page. -* 
 
 I will keep the function of evil before your 
 
 mind, 
 So that the secret of its existence yon may 
 
 find: 
 And fully know that God a purpose in all things 
 
 had, 
 In bringing joy on earth, by triumph of good o er 
 
 bad. 
 
 Then some of the workers went among the flying 
 
 worlds, 
 Where pleasing forms of symmetry to the sight 
 
 unfurls,
 
 122 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 And while the worlds, in their flight, to each 
 
 other did sing 
 They made form for human limb, which they to 
 
 earth did bring. 
 
 While others sailed to Heaven s deep blue 
 
 vaulted dome, 
 While there ages, the time to tell twould fill a 
 
 tome ; 
 Working, not being idle, nor doing things in 
 
 vain, 
 They made the model for the cupola of the 
 
 brain. 
 
 Some watched for the bright dew drops, spark 
 ling in the sun, 
 
 And while aeons passed o er brink of time, in 
 their run, 
 
 These tiny things in drying of their substance 
 did dole 
 
 Small crystals, out of which they made the 
 windows for the soul.
 
 hingering Echoes. 123 
 
 Others unraveled the gossamer of the 
 
 morning:, 
 Taking the fine thread of some leafy home s 
 
 adorning; 
 While others found sunbeams closely hidden in 
 
 the leaf, 
 
 And others took sunshine out of the corals on 
 . the reef. 
 
 And some sifted bright sunbeams out of 
 
 golden sunset cloud, 
 As through the evening sky majestically it 
 
 plowed ; 
 While some in the poppy bloom found sunshine 
 
 hidden there, 
 And on wings hanging, plucked it out with 
 
 fingers fair. 
 
 While some as ages passed, in silent hours 
 
 away , 
 On the closing of every bright passing summer 
 
 day,
 
 124 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Just before the gathering of evening s falling 
 
 gloom, 
 Pressed the coy hidden sun -light from the 
 
 saffron bloom. 
 
 So twas colors were stored, as time rolled 
 
 along, 
 By the quaint workers, while singing many a 
 
 sweet song, 
 Out of which to weave the web to drape the 
 
 windows round, 
 From which the bright soul peeps on objects of 
 
 beauty found. 
 
 So other material necessary to make 
 
 man, 
 According to the Heavenly Father s fixed 
 
 plan , 
 Was stored as passing moments glided down 
 
 life s stream, 
 Like many dim floating phantoms, in some 
 
 nightly dream.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 125 
 
 And when the proper fixed .time in its groove 
 
 had run, 
 By the earnest little builders, the work was 
 
 begun. 
 In the shifting shadows, close by the murmuring 
 
 rill, 
 And steadily pushed, while cycles their time did 
 
 fill. 
 
 Then quietly the noiseless soft hammer strokes 
 
 fell, 
 In the beautiful mossy glade, where spirits did 
 
 dwell. 
 While the little monad danced joyfully 
 
 around , 
 Always doing his work, when to be done it was 
 
 found.
 
 126 lingering Echoes. 
 
 XXII 
 
 Other forces a part in this work did stealthily 
 
 take, 
 All of man s evil tendencies to evolve and 
 
 make. 
 How that was done I will now fully explain co 
 
 you, 
 And how from past ages the evil tendencies 
 
 grew. 
 
 While the spirits stored good material, man to 
 
 build, 
 And their mission in the work substantially 
 
 filled, 
 These dark evil forces, all along creation s 
 
 line, 
 Gathered tendencies for bad, both snbtle and 
 
 fine.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 127 
 
 Some of these workers, on creation s dark 
 
 adverse side, 
 On the dreary howling night -wind through ages 
 
 did ride: 
 And drifting in the sneaking wolf s den did 
 
 then partake, 
 Of its creeping vicious nature, evil traits to 
 
 make. 
 
 While other powers which did drift o er the bor 
 der line 
 
 Of creation, and to bad work their powers 
 resign, 
 
 And then sail on the evening shades, dark, lone 
 some and drear, 
 
 Then to the loathsome den of the rattle -snake 
 did steer. 
 
 And there goaded the reptile till its rattles did 
 
 ring, 
 And then imbibed its nature to poison and 
 
 sting.
 
 128 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Then while aeons from their hands the fetters of 
 
 time shook, 
 This power to do evil was written in life s 
 
 book. 
 
 So all of man s nature for evil was brought 
 
 along ; 
 Which caused men to go astray and live sinful 
 
 and wrong. 
 Of some of these predilections for bad I will 
 
 speak 
 Again ; and of how their blasting effect ruin did 
 
 wreak. 
 
 Then the work of the good builders went stead 
 ily on ; 
 
 And new life on the earth began slowly to 
 dawn : 
 
 As material for each part was being worked 
 in, 
 
 And grafted on lower life, showing where man 
 had been.
 
 Lingering Echoes 129 
 
 It was a charming sight to see, through the ages 
 dim, 
 
 These builders from the chimpanzee arm make 
 human limb. 
 
 By working in lines of symmetry, which they 
 did save 
 
 Through time; thus the past to the future mater 
 ial gave. 
 
 But the most exquisitely beautiful sight to 
 
 see, 
 In the work of these builders, so full of joy and 
 
 glee, 
 Was while from the coarse bristles, these gentle 
 
 workers fair, 
 Fashioned the woman s long and flowing, silken 
 
 hair. 
 
 So it was the parts of the physical man was 
 
 made, 
 By evolving process, from lower to higher 
 
 grade ;
 
 130 lingering Echoes. 
 
 According to the all wise plan of a loving 
 
 God, 
 Man did in making through countless, passing 
 
 aeons plod. 
 
 And to tell how each part was made, too long it 
 would take, 
 
 So I will notice but a few, for brevity s 
 sake: 
 
 Just to show you the manner iti which man up 
 ward ran, 
 
 Through fixed laws, from where the first crea 
 tion began. 
 
 It would have pleased you to have seen these 
 
 builders coy, 
 Though with ever smiling faces brimming full 
 
 of joy, 
 While noisless centuries passed, though slowly 
 
 forsooth, 
 Round up and so neatly polish the white human 
 
 tooth.
 
 bingering Echoes. 131 
 
 I ll add that if one knew how long God was in 
 
 making 
 The tooth, more care of the same they d surely 
 
 be taking; 
 As it may please you to know how God teeth did 
 
 create, 
 I ll some of the salient facts of the work 
 
 relate. 
 
 On bright, gentle summer evenings when the sky 
 was clear, 
 
 And the hush of the fast closing day was draw 
 ing near, 
 
 And the waves beat calmly, as to the shore they 
 did roam, 
 
 These good builders saved bits of the whitest sea 
 foam . 
 
 And calmly sailing up in the bright ether so 
 
 fair, 
 They dried it on their beautiful wings, while 
 
 hovering there.
 
 132 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 And wheri they had enough of this material so 
 
 bright, 
 They made the tooth as passing time moved out 
 
 of sight. 
 
 I would not deceive you by any act or by 
 
 word , 
 In stating to you how creation of man 
 
 occurred. 
 All was by evolution, through laws which God 
 
 did frame, 
 So it was the building of teeth through animals 
 
 came. 
 
 As these little builders their soft tiny strokes 
 
 did ply, 
 The sweet, pretty, bright monad swiftly around 
 
 did fly; 
 And hanging on wings, but with purpose that 
 
 did not swerve, 
 He placed gently in the tooth the quivering 
 
 nerve.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 133 
 
 The bad side of creation, which from dark chaos 
 
 came, 
 Does a labyrinth of deep puzzles in man s mind 
 
 frame. 
 Therefore I will of the growth of evil state facts 
 
 plain, 
 And may what I here say be to humanity s 
 
 gain.
 
 134 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 It is meet now that I should let the true facts be 
 
 seen, 
 Of the growth of that being with eyes horrid and 
 
 green : 
 I speak of jealousy that much misunderstood 
 
 thing, 
 Which to the human family much sorrow does 
 
 bring. 
 
 That blasting element in man s nature had its 
 
 birth 
 Down under the ocean, as it rolled o er the 
 
 earth ; 
 Among the beautiful fishes, as they there did 
 
 swim, 
 Like gliding phantoms, darting swiftly, with 
 
 bodies trim.
 
 Lingering Echoes 135 
 
 One day when these gentle fishes were in happy 
 glee, 
 
 There was such peace among them it was pleas 
 ant to see, 
 
 When a long nimble snake came calmly floating 
 along; 
 
 Twas so graceful it seemed in new life to 
 belong. 
 
 Little did these kind, innocent fishes think or 
 
 know 
 That on this creature evil did its substance 
 
 bestow; 
 And though good it seemed, as in the play it 
 
 took part, 
 That it was very deceitful, and wicked in 
 
 heart. 
 
 The snake knew that by the fishes it was 
 
 revered, 
 And by actions the hearts of these fishes it 
 
 seared :
 
 136 lingering Echoes. 
 
 For twould glide along among them and much 
 
 favor show ; 
 Hence jealously in the hearts of these fishes did 
 
 grow. 
 
 Had they known the deceit in the pretty grace 
 ful thing, 
 
 It could not by its actions caused a pang or 
 sting, 
 
 To touch the heart of any of these gentle 
 fishes; 
 
 Nor made a ripple in any of their kind 
 wishes. 
 
 Then think, oh man, in what blasting error we 
 
 have trod 
 In imputing jealousy to an immaculate 
 
 God. 
 Let such error be dismissed from the human 
 
 mind, 
 So that men will grope no longer in ways that 
 
 are blind.
 
 Lingering Echoes 137 
 
 Men of old in forming conceptions of the 
 
 Deity 
 Thought the Heavenly Father like themselves 
 
 too much to be: 
 Not reckoning man as evolved through lower 
 
 life, 
 Thereby becoming tinged with jealousy and 
 
 strife. 
 
 And overlooking the plain fact that the God on 
 
 high, 
 As he dwells in Heaven s bright light while the 
 
 worlds roll by, 
 Is a God of love, and to himself no gain would 
 
 take; 
 And with pure unselfish purpose works for man - 
 
 kind s sake. 
 
 L,et all men know if a tinge of jealousy you 
 
 feel, 
 And a feeling of bitterness o er your heart does 
 
 steal ,
 
 138 lingering Echoes. 
 
 That the being on which you set so very much 
 
 store, 
 If true is all yours, if not there s nothing to 
 
 deplore. 
 
 If you with a heart in precincts of honesty 
 dwell, 
 
 That you own that loving heart you can truth 
 fully tell: 
 
 For if you sift its sentiments ages o er and 
 o er, 
 
 You can find of value in that pure heart nothing 
 more. 
 
 Each and every one of the countless millions of 
 
 men, 
 Who through the deep, cleansing stream of 
 
 repentance have been, 
 Come calmly dwell in the blessed Savior s great 
 
 heart, 
 Nor miss the great love its throbs to others 
 
 impart.
 
 Lringering Echoes. 139 
 
 Then why should men, when Christ is the goal 
 
 to which we run, 
 Our model which to build by, even God s holy 
 
 Son, 
 Demand more than pure honest love when in the 
 
 heart found? 
 Praise love more when in all hearts does its echo 
 
 rebound. 
 
 So that part of creation adverse to higher 
 life, 
 
 Worked all along the line of building, bringing 
 strife, 
 
 Wherever it touched the human side of man 
 kind, 
 
 And made all men to a sense of spirtual life 
 blind.
 
 140 Lingering Echoes 
 
 XXIV 
 
 These forces drifting o er the snake s den with 
 purpose dire, 
 
 Goading the serpent till twas filled with trem 
 bling ire, 
 
 And absorbing its venomous fluid on the air 
 cast, 
 
 Then bringing it along, harmony in man to 
 blast. 
 
 It was when these quaint good workers, near the 
 
 ocean s shore, 
 Ne er had they been filled with anticipation 
 
 more, 
 During the time thcj- d toiled doing the Father s 
 
 will, 
 Were working in great creation s slowly grinding 
 
 mill,
 
 Lingering Echoes. 141 
 
 That these evil forces brought this noisome filth 
 
 along, 
 Weird was the time and drear the deep moaning 
 
 night wind s song, 
 Nature s power for bad goaded to anger the 
 
 waves, 
 Till they lashed the beach, like a madman when 
 
 he raves. 
 
 The work these good builders were doing with 
 
 fingers apt 
 Was of such importance in the work they were 
 
 enrapt : 
 For twas the acme of creation s unfolding 
 
 plan ; 
 Sad to know, they were making woman, as slow 
 
 time ran. 
 
 These gentle workers with life-giving liquid and 
 
 brush, 
 As the evening shades were bringing in closing 
 
 day s hush,
 
 142 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Their tools to the side of a beautiful sea -shell 
 
 brung, 
 And stopped to rest that night from work on 
 
 woman s tongue. 
 
 Then these evil forces, mingling with the fitful 
 
 night-wind, 
 This noisome poisonous fluid did freely mix and 
 
 blend ; 
 And while the gentle workers slept, in soft 
 
 dreamy bliss, 
 
 This poisonous laden night -wind the woman s 
 tongue did kiss. 
 
 These evil forces are wise, and subtle In their 
 way : 
 
 To help mankind I ll something of their subter 
 fuges say. 
 
 If they can make an angel fall from perfection s 
 height, 
 
 They then lessen faith in God, by the withering 
 blight.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 143 
 
 So insidiously along creation s winding 
 
 line 
 These tendencies for bad, with calculations 
 
 drawn fine, 
 Tinged great creation s noblest work, with fixed 
 
 plan, 
 To widen the dark yawning chasm between God 
 
 and man. 
 
 Hence they leavened the tongue of the gentle 
 
 woman fair, 
 With the baleful liquid from the snake s dull 
 
 loathsome lair; 
 To sting and hurt humankind, in gossip s way 
 
 so dark, 
 And make rankling sorrow dwell in homes, dire, 
 
 cold and stark. 
 
 i 
 
 I will briefly add, by way of explanation 
 
 here, 
 And to banish from your mind all pessimistic 
 
 fear,
 
 144 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 That womankind has been much relieved from 
 
 that blight, 
 Through G.od s spirit, which in time is to make 
 
 all things right. 
 
 And the stinging biting nature to gossip 
 
 around 
 Only among a few of the fair sex can be 
 
 found. 
 And the time is coming, through Jesus of 
 
 Galilee, 
 When this baleful thing, in mankind, no longer 
 
 will be. 
 
 There is one thing to know, which brings much 
 
 comfort and cheer, 
 To the heart seeking sweet freedom, from burden 
 
 and fear, 
 That is to learn that the evil side of 
 
 .creation 
 Has no life behind it, but is a mere 
 
 negation.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 145 
 
 Being a negative force, it can t anything 
 
 create ; 
 But simply blast higher life, by the aid of harsh 
 
 fate. 
 Fate, thou misunderstood word, ever darkly 
 
 hanging 
 O er creation s border line, with bony hands 
 
 clanging. 
 
 Thou art only a scarecrow, a hobgoblin on 
 
 earth ; 
 And exist in laws, that man through trials may 
 
 have new birth ; 
 If man had no will, what place in creation s 
 
 domain 
 Would you fill, and what reason would your 
 
 actions sustain?
 
 146 lingering Echoes. 
 
 XXV 
 
 I will digress here, that I may a few plain words 
 
 speak , 
 For I see by your expression that you full truth 
 
 seek, 
 Of that function in man which divine purpose 
 
 does fill, 
 It is the God like image, I speak now of the 
 
 will. 
 
 The grandest of all divine great attributes of 
 
 man 
 Is the will, for determine to do good and you 
 
 can. 
 All great blessings coming in to fill up man s 
 
 desire 
 Comes from ever longing in building to step 
 
 higher.
 
 lingering Echoes. 147 
 
 The little monad stirred by the spirit s strong 
 
 hand, 
 In days when silent gloom dwelt in shadows o er 
 
 the land, 
 Moved in its tiny cell higher in life to 
 
 be, 
 And purpose laid for beings still more grandeur 
 
 to see. 
 
 The great forces of nature, when they meeting 
 
 man s view, 
 Were the means through which pictures of the 
 
 Father he drew. 
 The deep sounding thunder, wind and the high 
 
 rolling wave, 
 Helped to build because they to man s mind new 
 
 life gave. 
 
 A desire to know more of these forces in 
 
 motion, 
 Gave to man more grand ideas, and many a 
 
 notion,
 
 148 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 When forced to completion did then give joy 
 
 untold, 
 Tis so when through man s will the divine 
 
 scroll is unrolled. 
 
 When quietly gazing up at each bright twinkling- 
 star, 
 
 And seeing the snow white clouds drifting away 
 so far, 
 
 To build like this glorious, grand and beautiful 
 sight, 
 
 Give rise to Grecian architecture, in her great 
 might. 
 
 To use the will, to man, is the Father s greatest 
 
 Rift, 
 Through its rightful exercise men do their souls 
 
 uplift. 
 The more we give to others free use of will and 
 
 right, 
 Then do our souls the more with radiant glow 
 
 ignite.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 149 
 
 Which is proof that God s respect for individual 
 
 man 
 Is infinite, as laid in his great eternal 
 
 plan. 
 The grandest things lips can speak, when soaring 
 
 farther still, 
 Over bright elysian fields, is that I can and 
 
 will. 
 
 In that land so bright and fair, with laden 
 
 breezes sweet, 
 There will be no wrong use of will, for love 
 
 reigns complete. 
 Like the pure and blessed Lamb of lowly 
 
 Galilee, 
 Bathed in Heavenly love, more freedom then 
 
 we ll see. 
 
 As aeons papsed on behind the curtain of 
 
 time 
 These good builders through fixed laws, divinely 
 
 sublime,
 
 150 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Worked from lower to higher life, through God s 
 
 great plan 
 And as the sun was sinking westward finished 
 
 man.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 151 
 
 XXVI 
 
 The good builders finished man at even -tide 
 
 late: 
 And then to him in soft words, directions did 
 
 state. 
 How a kind little nymph would pass on errand 
 
 that way, 
 To guide him to safe lodging till the coming of 
 
 day. 
 
 Now this gentle messenger, who was doing God s 
 
 will, 
 Knew not of the purpose the builders would 
 
 have her fill, 
 In finding the earthly stranger comfort for the 
 
 night, 
 In a valley, where many nymphs dwelt in the 
 
 moonlight.
 
 152 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 So the workers before leaving the strange man 
 
 alone 
 ( For leave him they must, on stern duty, ere the 
 
 moon shone, 
 Whose gentle enchanting rays were to mingle 
 
 and mix 
 With the dancing shadows, at time we would 
 
 now call six) 
 
 Were particular to describe her bright gentle 
 
 face, 
 Her long flowing hair, and perfect symmetry and 
 
 grace ; 
 Even the shy little dimples in each rounded 
 
 cheek, 
 They spoke of, and told the stranger to hail her 
 
 and speak. 
 
 Now the evil forces, seeing a chance to do 
 
 harm, 
 To awaken all their energies, blew an 
 
 alarm,
 
 lingering Echoes. 153 
 
 And mingling with the howling night -wind, 
 
 bided the time, 
 To sow the seed of discontent, the parent of 
 
 crime. 
 
 The stranger stood watching, with anticipation 
 sweet, 
 
 The bright smiling face of the pretty naiad to 
 greet. 
 
 Her name he was told, by the little builders to 
 be 
 
 She s watched for in all ages oppor 
 tunity. 
 
 These dark evil forces knew her very, very, 
 
 well; 
 So they hovered near the lone stranger in the 
 
 dell, 
 And saw her coming along, with sweet, shy, 
 
 modest grace, 
 Then rushing in the wind, blew her soft hair o er 
 
 her face.
 
 154 lingering Echoes. 
 
 The stranger saw her passing form glide gently 
 
 along, 
 But recognized her riot, nor heard her happy 
 
 song. 
 So he passed a dreary night, fear his mind did 
 
 fill; 
 As the moon ran her nightly course, so silent 
 
 and still. 
 
 When she the stranger had passed these forces 
 
 in glee 
 Mingling with the raging wind, that blew so 
 
 fierce and free, 
 Put her in a storm-cloud, and hurried far out to 
 
 sea, 
 So tis, in all ages, she can ne er o ertaken 
 
 be.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 155 
 
 XXVII 
 
 So it was the earth with human beings was 
 
 filled, 
 As, the silent ages in time their passway 
 
 drilled ; 
 And primitive man stood midst nature s products 
 
 on earth, 
 Of which in all the beautiful land there was no 
 
 dearth. 
 
 All nature s efforts, as time s gliding cycles did 
 
 run, 
 In creation, which was through God s great 
 
 wisdom begun, 
 Were expended for man, with prelibation not 
 
 vain , 
 That he might everlasting life, through sacrifice, 
 
 gain.
 
 156 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 So man was welcomed on the earth just in time 
 
 to see 
 A bright land of great plenty, and with fruit - 
 
 laden tree ; 
 And to hear the pretty birds singing sweet gentle 
 
 songs ; 
 As in the shadow checked forest they dwelt in 
 
 throngs. 
 
 This was the peaceful legendary Eden of 
 
 old; 
 And so often o er and o er from the mouth of 
 
 man told. 
 Which while a beautiful effort in the human 
 
 mind, 
 To know the mist-hidden past, and the Deity 
 
 find, 
 
 Is but an inverted image, of the future 
 
 life, 
 When man well knowing the Father, shall live 
 
 without strife.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 157 
 
 Twas well said, "man in Eden good from evil 
 
 knew not," 
 But to say he then knew God does truth s page 
 
 darkly blot. 
 
 To know the great Father is good from evil to 
 
 know, 
 From that knowledge of God a co- relation does 
 
 flow; 
 Like the gentle welcome rain, which from the 
 
 cloud does fall, 
 Sustains the trees, which in turn brings rain as 
 
 they grow tall. 
 
 Man s mind in that dim age was bathed in drip 
 ping mist 
 
 Of ignorant superstition, still man did 
 persist, 
 
 In drawing a picture of God, through its shining 
 fringe ; 
 
 Hence the image did partake of the surrounding 
 tinge.
 
 158 lingering Echoes. 
 
 Man remained in this beautiful Eden so 
 
 fair, 
 With its soft murmuring brooks, and gentle 
 
 balmy air, 
 Until creation had fixed a step firm and 
 
 strong, 
 And filled the earth with humankind in teeming 
 
 throng. 
 
 What would be the gain to man should this con 
 dition last, 
 
 And no cloud of sorrow float man s vain wishes 
 to blast; 
 
 To cause him to know higher life, through trials 
 and grief, 
 
 When stranded on adversity s dark, dangerous 
 reef? 
 
 The Father looking down, the long perspective of 
 
 time, 
 Seeing the ocean of human life pass on 
 
 sublime,
 
 lingering Echoes. 159 
 
 In the panorama saw, like wave upon wave 
 
 roll, 
 O er brink of time, each generation pass to life s 
 
 goal. 
 
 To simply live and die would be a most futile 
 
 thing, 
 And could no worthy praise either to God or 
 
 man bring: 
 So the Heavenly Father, who never does things 
 
 vain, 
 Fixed laws which would bring to man spiritual 
 
 gain.
 
 160 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 XXVIII 
 
 God ever works through laws, to accomplish his 
 desire, 
 
 So the new earth when slowly cooling from 
 molten fire, 
 
 Within its hot burning depths, felt deep commo 
 tion grim, 
 
 Which caused it to heave and surge on its 
 crusted rim, 
 
 The effect of this subterranean force was 
 
 dire, 
 As the inner earth stored heat from long pent up 
 
 fire; 
 Like a huge dying monster, agonizing in 
 
 death, 
 The earth rolled and tossed, as if to get its 
 
 breath.
 
 Lringering Echoes. 161 
 
 This force within the earth was coeval with the 
 
 time 
 When all the earth was one mild temperate 
 
 clime, 
 Twas when primeval man in this earthly Kdei: 
 
 dwelt 
 That this dire dreadful shock, of the trembling 
 
 earth was felt. 
 
 Great consternation there was, deep confusion 
 
 reigned ; 
 It seemed that .evil supremacy had 
 
 gained : 
 Little did the terror-stricken people think or 
 
 know, 
 That this force would cause man in spiritual life 
 
 to grow. 
 
 Dark openings in outer earth, cavernous, yawn 
 ing, deep, 
 
 Let the long pent up heat escape, which did 
 upward creep :
 
 162 lingering Echoes. 
 
 Like fiery serpentine tongues it still upward 
 
 went, 
 Until the inward seething earth its dire force had 
 
 spent. 
 
 Then the much racked earth, like a fretful, tired 
 child, 
 
 Settled down from its great confusion, now grow 
 ing mild, 
 
 As it tossed in settling down it could plain be 
 seen, 
 
 That on its great axis, it. would surely slightly 
 creen. 
 
 So twas as the earth settled down, in its usual 
 
 run, 
 It rolled gently o er at an angle to the 
 
 sunT 
 Then chilly north winds blew, the earth with 
 
 frost to endow; 
 Still time glided on, but it was winter solstice 
 
 now.
 
 lingering Echoes. 163 
 
 Then frightfully howled the cold, hyperborean 
 
 blast, 
 Tossing flakes of snow, as they danced while 
 
 falling fast. 
 The ice then, with cold -firm fingers, the waters 
 
 did grasp, 
 As if twould hold the gentle rills in eternal 
 
 clasp. 
 
 So it was that man from fair Eden was driven 
 
 out, 
 Into a new world, with desolation all 
 
 about, 
 By the force of nature, through sorrow his way to 
 
 plow, 
 And his daily bread to earn, by honest sweat of 
 
 brow. 
 
 The kind mother who watches her child with 
 
 care so fond, 
 To years of adolescence, seems bound to it in 
 
 love s bond :
 
 164 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 But though she dearly loves it, she knows it 
 
 best to be, 
 That her darling child should from her loving 
 
 arms be free 
 
 So it was through infancy of the great human 
 
 race 
 The gentle plastic earth ever held a mother s 
 
 place. 
 But when for man s future she began to look 
 
 about, 
 Twas then from Eden nature turned her offspring 
 
 out. 
 
 Then man began to know trials, and tribulations 
 
 sore, 
 And the lasting mark of sorrow on his face he 
 
 bore; 
 As in drifting flocks troubles over the earth did 
 
 roam : 
 Which to-day in tramping bands they make a 
 
 dreary home.
 
 lingering Echoes. 165 
 
 Like a tiny cloud slowly floating the blue sky 
 o er, 
 
 Draws to its embrace another, then still more and 
 more, 
 
 Till the dark hanging clouds pour down in tor 
 rents raining, 
 
 Which cause the gentle rills much groaning and 
 complaining. 
 
 So tis with trouble coming slyly creeping 
 
 along. 
 Singly at first, but then soon followed by a 
 
 throng, 
 Till the earth is dark with sorrow, all things 
 
 seeming bad, 
 And the heart so pricked and goaded is weary, 
 
 sad. 
 
 The way to keep troubles from flocking around 
 
 your door, 
 Is to look back through the ages, to the days of 
 
 yore,
 
 166 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 And see that all things come from God, for the 
 
 good of man : 
 And know that good will triumph, through His 
 
 eternal plan. 
 
 Stop not at that, for your work then only half is 
 
 done, 
 L,ook ahead to ending of a work so well 
 
 begun. 
 To the gathering of the sheep in the peaceful 
 
 fold, 
 Through the shepherd of Galilee, as so often 
 
 told.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 167 
 
 XXIX 
 
 In connection with this new condition of the 
 
 earth, 
 Which did to stern demands on man s energy 
 
 give birth, 
 I will speak of a subject which has hung o er 
 
 truth s brink, 
 Through long dark winding ages, I mean the 
 
 missing link. 
 
 I ll add here so that the truth to better see you 
 
 can, 
 That just after the turning out from Eden of 
 
 man 
 I came on earth, in human form, deep trials then 
 
 to know, 
 Like men of that age, slow in spiritual life to 
 
 grow.
 
 168 liingering Echoes. 
 
 With beings who made the connecting link I did 
 
 walk, 
 And converse with them by dull signs, for they 
 
 could not talk ; 
 Be not deceived, then I could not fluently 
 
 speak, 
 But like all men caught words slowly in that age 
 
 so bleak. 
 
 I see on your face a look of confidence 
 
 shaken, 
 As if you were afraid I d from the truth leave 
 
 taken, 
 In regard to living in the spirit land, so 
 
 bright, 
 Then coming down to the earth to walk in its 
 
 dim light. 
 
 But your confidence pick up, and then think of 
 
 the time 
 When the echoes rang out, on night air, grandly 
 
 sublime,
 
 Lingering Echoes. 169 
 
 O er Jndean hill such on earth before had not 
 
 been 
 Bringing tidings, that God had come to dwell 
 
 among men. 
 
 So understand in any age, when on earth I 
 
 dwelt, 
 I was like men of that age, but its highest life 
 
 felt ; 
 Doing many things, through education s dark 
 
 error, 
 Which to do in after time would bring to me 
 
 terror. 
 
 What I did wrong in each age do not impute to 
 God; 
 
 Twas because I sought earthly things, and in 
 darkness plod ; 
 
 For they who know the Father, and all his pre 
 cepts keep, 
 
 Will not err while here on earth, nor tears of 
 sorrow weep.
 
 170 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 So now back to the subject from where I broke 
 
 away , 
 I will gladly go and a few brief plain words 
 
 say: 
 Hoping you ll excuse me for making each sudden 
 
 break, 
 And curb your just impatience if only for my 
 
 sake. 
 
 These beings whose remains were so wisely put 
 
 away, 
 Deep under the earth and ocean in that ancient 
 
 day, 
 Were much like man in body, but unlike in the 
 
 main 
 In that cavity fixed for storage of the 
 
 brain. 
 
 They walked on limbs upright with carriage coy 
 
 and shy, 
 And a dim flickering play of light came from each 
 
 eye,
 
 Lingering Echoes. 171 
 
 As if in their being lingered a slight 
 
 desire 
 To be bathed more deeply in promethean 
 
 fire. 
 
 This feeling was not in their nature a fixed 
 
 thing, 
 Had it been they would have lived higher life to 
 
 bring. 
 For when the flame of eternal life does dimly 
 
 burn 
 In the heart, God will not that heart from its 
 
 purpose turn. 
 
 O, Father, how wise and beneficent twas in 
 thee 
 
 To take from off the earth these beings who could 
 not see 
 
 Thy face, through eternal life, on the bright gold 
 en strand ; 
 
 Their race on the earth, through life, would be a 
 dreary band.
 
 172 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 How pleasing and grandly sublime our thought 8 
 
 when we think 
 Of how silently the unseen hand removed the 
 
 link, 
 That joined the animal kingdom to human 
 
 life; 
 Leaving only a deep worn mark, where it held 
 
 through strife. 
 
 Then through God s great wise laws, when time 
 
 in its proper swell 
 Reached the appointed mark, that glittering link 
 
 fell 
 From its fastenings, and while countless ages 
 
 rolled 
 The nymphs buried it while its knell the aeons 
 
 tolled. 
 
 I will now relate what I should have told before 
 
 this, 
 But to tell it now will not be very much 
 
 amiss,
 
 Lingering Echoes. 173 
 
 That is, how these beings who made the connect 
 ing link 
 
 Passed into the dark hidden abyss, o er time s 
 brink. 
 
 Animal life is evolved by laws, through 
 
 ages, 
 Of the progress of the fittest; thus while strife 
 
 rages 
 The weaker fall ; so in that age these beings with 
 
 less brain 
 Than man, fell back before him in life s hard 
 
 push and strain. 
 
 Being above animals they could not live like 
 
 them, 
 And could not stand before the new elements so 
 
 grim, 
 So they disputed man s right to subsist on earth s 
 
 store 
 Of nature s products, hence the race existed no 
 
 more.
 
 174 lingering Echoes. 
 
 You say why should this great subject be by me 
 
 tabored ; 
 Because I saw that conflict: life s ship seemed 
 
 moored 
 On the dark dull strand of time, chaos seeming to 
 
 gain 
 Supremacy hear my friend in progress there is 
 
 pain. 
 
 But then the bright light from the Galilean s face 
 
 does shine 
 In on our souls, and all dark foreboding 
 
 undermine; 
 Showing that in death the spirit does higher life 
 
 greet, 
 And all that is mortal does sweet oblivion 
 
 meet. 
 
 So when the earth strata each deep hidden fossi.l 
 
 yields, 
 And secrets are known of paleontological 
 
 fields,
 
 Ltirtgerir>g Echoes. 175 
 
 Down under the ocean, as aeons drop o er time s 
 brink, 
 
 Then man through science will find the long hid 
 den missing link.
 
 176 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 XXX 
 
 See, the young man said, pointing to the silvery 
 
 moon, 
 The morning sun rising will be laughing at us 
 
 soon, 
 As o er that lofty towering mountain it will 
 
 peep, 
 For not taking from the night s store our much 
 
 needed sleep. 
 
 The romance of these mountains I would so 
 
 gladly tell, 
 I must leave untold for the time here I can not 
 
 dwell ; 
 But must be far away from here ere another 
 
 night 
 Rolls around, to let the gentle moonbeams shine 
 
 so bright.
 
 Lingering Echoes. 177 
 
 I ll come again this way if stern duty will 
 
 allow, 
 And that romance I will surely tell, that I do 
 
 vow. 
 I ll close my story now, of man in the ages 
 
 bleak, 
 Where he embraced hope, of which I ll a few 
 
 words speak. 
 
 Hope, that gentle hovering, yet evanescent 
 
 thing, 
 Which flickering ever o er the mind of man does 
 
 bring, 
 To him, gentle whispers of eternal life 
 
 beyond, 
 Where he can dwell in freedom under God s care 
 
 so fond. 
 
 The moonbeams fell in streaming floods over 
 
 glade and dell, 
 As the strange young man s head gently on his 
 
 bosom fell,
 
 178 Lingering Echoes. 
 
 Then his breathing fell softly on the enchanting 
 
 night, 
 While he slept so quietly mid this glorious 
 
 sight.
 
 Ltingering Echoes. 179 
 
 XXXI 
 
 And now harp of the ages farewell, 
 How sweet in thy presence tis to dwell: 
 Thy soft strain in my heart still yet rings ; 
 Each lingering echo new life brings. 
 
 Enchantress how sweet thy music falls 
 On my ear but now stern duty calls 
 In passing years my love for thee grew ; 
 Again to thee I must bid adieu. 
 
 But hark, hear that sweet ravishing strain ! 
 Seems liquid notes from Heaven now rain : 
 As whispers from the future I hear, 
 But farewell though it my heart does sear.
 
 CO.
 
 A 000 847 097 3