Kitabı oku: «Home Poems», sayfa 2

SEED THOUGHTS

 
The celebrated Author pens
His thorough thoughts from depths of mind,
And they are not in proper place
Until the depths of our’s they find.
 
 
The wisest reader may perceive,
In writings that shall ever live,
A reflex of his own wise thoughts
That to the world he did not give;
 
 
But to the mind of him who learns,
They are as seeds of knowledge brought
That soon take root and rarefy
Into a whole great field of thought.
 

SCHOOL

 
Life is a school for all mankind,
Where daily lessons are assigned
And each may do his best;
God is the Master who will teach
The truths that lie within our reach
And leave to us the rest.
 
 
Each has his proper place at start
And each can learn his little part
If earnestly he tries;
Altho’ his standard may be low,
He surely to the head will go
Who on himself relies.
 
 
Each has a chance among the rest
To do his worst or do his best
And his must be the choice,—
Either to break the golden rule
And cause confusion in life’s school,
Or heed the Master’s voice.
 
 
The discipline is not severe,
Altho’ the Master we should fear
To keep us from a wrong;
There is no need to sigh and fret,
Or to despair, with lashes wet,
Because our task seems long.
 
 
The lessons that so oft’ we spurn
We know that some time we must learn,
Then why should we delay?
He stays behind who is the dunce,
The wisest does his task at once
And goes upon his way.
 
 
The Master’s sympathy prevails
With him who tries altho’ he fails,
For He will help not chide;
When rest and honors have been won
He hears the Master say: “Well done,”
And he is satisfied.
 

THE GRACES

 
Faith, the angel of my prayer,
Hope, to lighten every care,
Love, to lift life’s heavy yoke,
These the graces I invoke;
But the greatest of the three
Is the last—sweet charity.
 

SUNSHINE

 
The sunshine makes the flowers grow,
They cannot thrive in shade;
If naught but darkness did they know
Their brightness soon would fade.
 
 
Our lives require the sunlight’s glow,
They cannot thrive in gloom;
If naught but darkness did thy know
Bright hopes would never bloom.
 
 
The sunny smiles that make life bright
And bless the passing hours,
Will do for souls that need the light
What sunshine does for flowers.
 

“WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT?”

 
Will it matter, by and by,
When he calls us each by name,
Whether you, or whether I,
Win earth’s honor and earth’s fame?
 
 
Onward, in the rush of life,
For the prizes of the race,
Shall we mingle in the strife
Crowding others out of place?
 
 
Shall we seek Ambition’s goal,
Where the earthly treasures stay,
Passing by some helpless soul
Who has lost the Heavenly way?
 
 
If no kindness we have shown,
Seeking to be first of all,
Shall we gain a “welcome home”
When we hear the Master’s call?
 
 
When life’s busy day is past,
Will He question you and me
Who was first, and who was last,
In the worldly victory?
 
 
If earth’s laurels we have won,
And Heaven’s glories are denied,
Shall we hear the words: “Well done,”
And our souls be satisfied?
 
 
Ere the prize we seek is gone,
And the triumph comes too late,
Love of fame shall urge us on
But the angels whisper:—“Wait.”
 

WHAT HE SAID

 
“Come and play with me,” he said;
And I saw his curly head
Peeping thro’ the fence below.
He was four and I was three
And he beckoned unto me
So I could not say him no.
 
 
“Come and live with me,” he said;
And I saw his manly head
Where the threads of silver grow.
He was passing forty-three
And he pleaded long with me
So I could not say him no.
 

HOME LIGHTS

 
When the work of day is over,
And the weary hours are past,
Home lights, gleaming in the distance,
Fill the soul with joy at last.
 
 
Tho’ the trials have been many,
And the world has proved unkind,
Lights of home make burdens lighter
And refresh the wearied mind.
 
 
Some one where the lights are shining,
Knows that you are very near;
Some one waits to bid you welcome,
And invites to rest and cheer.
 
 
Some one loves you; all life’s crosses,
Which have seemed so hard to bear,
Are forgiven and forgotten,
When you see the home lights fair.
 
 
Some one knows that you are weary,
Some one waits to clasp your hand;
Some one watches near the home lights,
Who will surely understand.
 
 
Footsteps falter now no longer
O’er the distant homeward way;
There’s a message in the home lights,
At the close of busy day.
 
 
When the work of life is over,
And the weary hours are past,
Home lights, in Eternal glory,
Satisfy the soul at last.
 
 
Tho’ earth’s trials have been many,
And the world unkind has been,
Lights of Home dispel life’s burdens,
Christ will bid you:—“Enter in.”
 
 
Some One, where the lights are shining,
Waits to give your soul release;
Some One waits to bid you welcome,
You shall find both rest and peace.
 
 
Some One loves you; all life’s crosses,
Which once seemed so hard to bear,
Are forgotten in the glory
Of the Christ, who greets you there.
 
 
Some One knows that you are weary,
Some One gently takes your hand;
Some One knows your every weakness,
He—the Christ—will understand.
 
 
Footsteps falter now no longer,
O’er the weary earthly way;
There’s a message in the Home lights,
At the close of life’s brief day.
 
 
Thus on earth, and thus in Heaven,
Gleam the distant home lights fair;
Some one waits and some one watches,—
Some one here and Some One there.
 
 
Blessed home lights! May they ever
Shine for you and shine for me,
In the shadows of earth’s journey
And through all Eternity.
 

CLOUDS AND COMFORT

 
Tho’ clouds arise, in fairest skies,
And sunlight glories steal away;
Tho’ snow-flakes fall, on roof and wall,
Till all the world is chill and gray;
Yet why complain? The earth shall gain
An added glory from on high,
For rain and snow that fall below
Will bring more sunshine by and by.
 
 
Tho’ doubts we find, within the mind,
And hope and pleasure steal away;
Tho’ trials fall, to one and all,
Till life itself looks cold and gray;
Yet why despair? God has a care,
And He will comfort while we sigh,
For griefs and tears, within the years,
Will bring more blessings by and by.
 

ACTION

 
Action is the golden key
That unlocks doors to set us free;
Thro’ which the trusting heart that sings
Shall find it’s way to better things.
 

“FOR YOU I AM PRAYING.”

 
When the hush of early morning
Ushers in the sunbeams fair,
And another day is dawning,
’Tis for you, I breathe a prayer.
 
 
Somewhere—all my love confessing
Ere the busy day is here—
You will need the morning blessing,
While the angels hover near.
 
 
Tho’ I hear not what you’re saying,
And I know not where you are,
Yet for you I shall be praying,
While the sunbeams fade the star.
 
 
When the moon-beams softly stealing
Thro’ my windows come to play,
And in robe of white I’m kneeling,
’Tis for you I fondly pray.
 
 
Somewhere—all my love confessing
Ere I close my eyes in sleep—
You will need the evening blessing,
While the angels guard and keep.
 
 
Tho’ I may not share your pleasure,
And I may not know your care,
Yet while God’s great love of treasure,
I shall breathe your name in prayer.
 

SINCERITY

 
To self and to God be loyal and true,
Fear not what others may say or may do,
But what at best you appear;
Gird on your armor and stand for the right,
Honest in purpose and earnest in might,
Then shall your soul be sincere.
 
 
Banish each doubt and deception and dream,
Be the real saint that to others you seem,
Dare to face tempters alone;
Lift up your banner and fear not the foe,
Valiant in service wherever you go,
Sincerity claimeth her own.
 

THE VEILED FUTURE

 
A baby played beside a covered well,
And peeping thro’ he saw the waters clear;
He clapped his hands, enchanted by the spell,
And knew not that the Reaper hovered near.
 
 
The sunlight flooded all the summer sky,
A little bird sang sweetly from her nest;
While troubled waters hushed his piteous cry
The baby soul had found it’s perfect rest.
 
 
A woman stood among the flowers fair
And ’neath her bridal veil she blushed unseen;
She said: “I will,” and breathed a silent prayer
And knew not that a shadow fell between.
 
 
An angel led her from the sacred place
And whispered of another’s priceless love;
While smiles yet lingered on her happy face
The bride’s pure soul had found it’s joy above.
 
 
A manly figure near an altar stood
To consecrate his life to God on high;
He thought the future promised every good
And knew not that his summons sounded nigh.
 
 
The Sabbath sunshine bathed his cheek and brow,
And Hope deferred, now triumphed from his eyes;
While thrilled his soul with an unspoken vow
’Twas called to nobler work in Paradise.
 
 
When skies are brightest threatening clouds appear,
Thro’ deepening shades the welcome sunlight steals;
When hearts are happiest sorrows hover near
’Tis well for us that God the future shields.
 

LABOR OF LOVE

 
He planted a tree, on the old home land,
Where the summer sunlight stayed,
Tho’ he knew full well he should never stand
’Neath it’s fruit and pleasing shade.
 
 
He penciled a book, in his life’s last year,
When the inspiration came,
Tho’ he knew his heart it could never cheer
With it’s gold and certain fame.
 
 
But the leaves of his tree grew, day by day,
While it’s fruit the hungry fed;
And the fruit of his book will ever stay
While it’s leaves are daily read.
 

DO YOUR BEST

 
Make the best of life to-day—
Take what God has given;
Do not falter on the way—
Each step leads to Heaven.
 
 
Tho’ the journey may be long,
And the way be weary,
Make it shorter with a song—
Days will seem less dreary.
 
 
Let the sunshine fill your heart—
All it’s shadows hiding;
Do your humble little part—
Leave to God the guiding.
 
 
Do not soar to highest things
’Till you have a reason;
He will give the soul it’s wings
In his own good season.
 
 
Little robins in the nest—
Ere their wings are stronger—
Learn too late that it is best
To keep patient longer.
 
 
If you cannot do to-day
What you hope and plan,
God will show a better way,—
Do the best you can.
 

IMMORTALITY

 
To live and learn, to die and to forget,
To be forgotten in the by and by;
If this is all, why need we linger yet
To do our little part, or even try?
 
 
But is this all? We learn and we forget,
And are forgotten, on this earth below;
We live, we die, then, freed from vain regret,
We live again, and greater wisdom know.
 

IN THE HALL

 
In the brilliant hall I waited,
’Mong the merry moving throng;
And I thought he was belated,
For it seemed I waited long.
 
 
Music mingled with the laughter,
Like a hush from Dreamland sent;
And the dancers followed after,
While the moments came and went.
 
 
Manly faces smiled a greeting,
Tender glances woke love’s song;
But my heart tho’ wildly beating,
To one only did belong.
 
 
Soon he touched me on the shoulder,
While his head to mine he bent;
And tho’ other looks grew colder,
Yet my soul was quite content.
 

AT NIGHT

 
At night when all the world is still,
And stars in glory shine,
There comes to earth a whisper sweet
Of peace and love divine.
 
 
And gazing upward to the sky,
Where million lights appear,
We seem to see the heaven beyond,
And feel that Christ is near.
 
 
The weary day is past and gone,
The angels sing again
Of glory to the God on high
And “Peace, good will toward men.”
 
 
We seem to hear beyond the night
The music soft and sweet;
And laying all our burdens down,
We rest at Jesus’ feet.
 
 
Our trusting hearts and hope of heaven
Have banished doubt and care,
And Christ is waiting to forgive,—
To answer every prayer.
 
 
This love immortal is our guide,
And shorter seems the way;
Beyond the stars and night of earth
Is home and endless day.
 

ONLY

By courtesy of Ladies’ World, New York City

 
It was only a gleam of sunshine
After a day of gloom,
Yet it brought it’s warmth and blessing
To a dreary, darkened room.
 
 
It was only a strain of music
Wafted upon the air,
Yet a heart caught up it’s meaning,
Till Peace was a sovereign there.
 
 
It was only a smile of welcome
And a loving clasp of the hand,
Yet it made the world an Eden
To one who could understand.
 
 
It was only a word, low spoken,
To a spirit burden cast,
Yet the angels sang: “Good tidings,”
For it saved a soul at last.