COMFORT ye my people,”
The words come clarion clear
Adown the darkened ages,
“There is no need to fear.”
The weary Hosts now passing,
The shining Hosts above.
Repeat the old, old story:
Tell them that God is Love. [page 11]
WHY CHRIST CAME
HE came to pour His spirit
Of love within each breast;
He came to help the needy,
To give the weary rest;
He came to give the victory
To mortals, over sin;
He came to lift the curtain,
And let the sunshine in.
He came that those who wander
In paths of darkest doubt,
Whilst listening to His teaching
Might find the right way out;
He came to show that warfare
Was not the way to win.
He taught that love was ever
The antidote for sin.
He came to teach that mortals,
While on this earthly plane,
Could help to open portals
Through Love—when all seemed vain.
He came to lift us upward
In thought, in word, in deed;
He taught that love to others
Was mankind’s greatest need. [page 12]
THE TRINITY
FATHER, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Three in one, and all in me,
Wondrous Truth that held the light
Till my inner eyes could see.
Now in joy, and peace and rest,
No more doubting, no more dread,
Where was mystery and night,
Now to God the Truth has led.
Shines the light so clear within.
That I know no Soul that He
Has created in His Love,
Separate from Him can be.
No more groping in the dark;
Sing again Angelic host.
Truth to me this joy has brought
In Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
POWER OF PRAYER
HARK; ‘tis the voice of battle,
Ah; how they strive and slay;
Thousands of strong men fighting
And only a few who pray.
Yet prayer is the strongest armour
That wraps the warrior round
And Prayer is his strongest solace
When defeat and death abound. [page 13]
See how the sunbeams slanting
Shine on those fields of blood;
Rattle of shell around you,
O men, if you only could
Pray to the God of your fathers,
Pray mid the awful din:
Then forward with greater courage
Strengthened to die—or win.
Men, as you lie in the trenches
Waiting the sharp attack,
Seek for the faith of David
To drive your “Goliath” back.
For you may be as sure as he was,
And God has power to-day:
Gird on your amour for victory,
As to David’s God you pray.
Still use the human methods,
Forgetting not Divine.
Make prayer your strongest weapon
When you’re falling into line.
Then, sure that right will conquer,
As men put forth your best:
No cowards are British soldiers,
When by strongest foes opprest.
So watch the sunset slanting,
On fields with crimson stained.
It may be that the sunrise
Will see your victory gained.
But be sure to use your rifle,
As David used his sling;
Trusting in God for victory
Will dauntless courage bring. [page 14]
POWER
LORD, give thy people power
Their higher selves to be.
Lift up their weary eyelids
That they may clearer see
The winding path above them
That leads to Heaven and Thee.
Lord, give thy people wisdom
More perfectly to know
That what they hold the closest
Is oft but vainest show.
The path where wisdom leads us
There trees of knowledge grow.
Lord, give thy people courage
To look beyond, not back
Where tears and withered flowers
So thickly strew the track.
The path that leads above us
Could never be so black.
Lord, pour upon thy people
The power to lose their hold
Of everything that hinders
Or makes their love grow cold.
For paths where Love doth lead us
Are never gray—but Gold. [page 15]
A STILL SMALL VOICE
IT came to me in the twilight,
Of a long and weary day
As my tired hands were folded
And there seemed no strength to pray.
Sown through the silent twilight,
A whisper seemed to creep,
It spoke to my listening spirit
And lulled me into sleep.
‘Twas then that the quiet spirit
Released from earthly care,
Could hear the heavenly message,
Regain the power of prayer.
The day seemed but a moment,
Filled though it was with pain.
That small voice gently whispered,
This trial was all thy gain.
So rest thee in the twilight
Of earth’s most trying day;
Know that a power will lift thee
And bear thy soul away
To regions where thy spirit,
No longer held by pain,
Will understand with gladness
The day was not in vain. [page 16]
A PRAYER
O LORD of Life and Light and Space
Speak to my struggling soul
Calm word to hold it in the place,
Where thou dost reign alone.
O Lord of Love and Truth and Peace
Look on my soul this hour,
A look to calm the useless strife
And fill my life with power.
O Lord of Everlasting Life,
That life my soul would seek,
And clasped within that power divine
My lips thy Love would speak.
O Lord of Life beyond this sphere,
Fill me with love divine;
No place for hate within the heart
Where Love alone doth shine.
THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM
AN everlasting kingdom
Prepared for thee, O Man,
A wondrous revelation
Of God’s most perfect plan.
The things of life are passing
Regardless of thy care:
And restless is thy spirit
In strife to gain thy share. [page 17]
An everlasting Kingdom;
Responsive, lift thy soul:
The quickly passing moments
But speed thee to thy goal:
Go tell the glorious message
To others while you may:
Go help to lift the burden
And show the light of day.
To other weary travellers
Along this earthly road,
Go give the glorious message,
Help lift the heavy load.
An everlasting kingdom
Within thy heart will be;
The love thou givest freely
Will set thy spirit free.
LAY HOLD ON LIFE
LAY hold on life; nor seek to mould
Within the limits of thy narrow sphere
The lesson thy Creator fain would teach
The soul imprisoned here.
Lay hold on life, Thou too may rise,
Throw off the bondage of thy narrow creed.
The moments of this life are fleeting fast;
Of love the world has need. [page 18]
Lay hold on life; Thy God has sought
To lift the soul from out its house of clay
And let the light of Love thy spirit fill.
Go: Work while it is day
Lay hold on life; t’is is not thy gold
That lifts the burden from the weary heart.
Thyself, in Love must strive to find the way.
Thou from myself must part.
“HIS WILL”
I WOULD not seek to change “HIS WILL,”
Whate’er my earthly lot—
For this I know that “God is love”
And “HIS LOVE” changes not.
I would not ask for brighter days,
However dark my skies;
For just behind the clouds, I know—
A glorious radiance lies.
I would not wish to change in ought,
One hour of all the past—
Though fraught with pain, and care, and loss—
To heaven they lead at last.
Oh no, I would not seek to change
In anything “His Will”,
For peace, and rest have wrapped me round—
As I learned to be “STILL”. [page 19]
I know not where the future leads,
But only hold “HIS HAND”,
Then sure am I that I shall reach
The fair and promised land.
THE MASTER’S HAND
THE Master lifts his hand
To touch my eyes long blind,
A light reveals the way,
And Heaven’s gate I find.
The Master lifts his hand
To touch my lips long dumb,
A song of praise I sing,
The song by Angels sung.
The Master lifts his hand
To touch my heart of stone,
Then love flows full and free,
And Heaven at last is won.
The Master guards my life,
Which in his own is laid,
The Angels whisper low—
“Behold a soul that prayed”. [page 20]
PATIENCE
WE sat on the shore in the twilight,
As the tide was coming in,
Wave after wave broke over the rocks,
With a smothered roar and din,
And the great gray rocks received them,
Unmoved in their majesty.
They seemed to be left un-injured,
By the angry waves of the sea.
But we knew that every wavelet,
As it washed that strong grey stone,
Was slowly, surely working,
Though we heard no sigh or moan,
Its way through that grey old boulder
With its soft incessant splash,
Till at last it is gone forever,
Through the waves untiring lash.
From this then, I learned the lesson,
The Infinite tries to teach
Each one, as we tread the path-way,
In hurried endeavour to reach,
By quick and easy stages
The place where our souls would be.
We must wait here and learn our lesson,
Wait long and patiently. [page 21]
Till at last by sorrow softened,
And wave on wave received,
In patient, trusting calmness
Of Self we’ll be relieved,
Then spend our lives for others, till
Self, like the rock will be
Slowly dissolved forever,
In the Great Eternity.
BACK TO GALILEE
THE Easter Morn is Dawning.
See, close bes’de the Tomb
The Faithful Mary weeping
Because the Lord is gone.
Lo! Who is this appearing?
The Master’s Voice she hears.
“Why weepest Thou, dear Mary?
There is no need for tears.
“Thy Lord is close beside thee,
His face thou still may’st see.
Go bid my sad disciples
Meet me at Galilee,
“The place where first they found me,
Where oft I loved to be,
Where first they gained the power
Life’s deep truths to see.” [page 22]
She ran to do His bidding.
The Master met them there.
With joy they knew He’d risen
His life with them to share.
Oh Soul, and weary follower
Of Christ along the way
From Galilee thou’st wandered,
Nor found thee time to pray.
Amidst the careful toiling
For wealth, and pomp and show
Thou’st lost the power to see Him,
To Galilee must go.
In childlike faith first hasten
To where thou first did’st see
And serve Thy Blessed Master
In humble Galilee.
He’ll meet thee there, Disciple,
Thy hand He’ll clasp again,
His smile will surely greet thee.
Thou wilt not seek in vain. [page 23]
THE SILENCE
I AM sitting alone in the silence
Where my Father speaks to me,
And a peace that passeth knowledge
Around me seems to be.
For only angels’ voices
My spirit ear doth hear.
Then all that’s earthly passes,
And joys of heaven appear.
I am sitting alone in the silence
Where my spirit sits at rest,
All thought of care and turmoil
By thoughts of Love most blessed.
And I soar with the angels
In space, by earth unknown—
There all that seems to burden
In that glorious space, has flown.
I am sitting alone in the silence
And the blue sky, bluer glows,
For my heart is singing, singing,
And the song my spirit knows,
Is praise to God, my Father,
For life, and peace, and love,
Yes, all that He hath given
In earth and heaven above.
I am sitting alone in the silence,
And my mind is led to know
Where my Father wants my service,
Just where He would have me go. [page 24]
Yes, oft my weary brother
Has been made to smile and live,
Because from out His wisdom,
God has taught me how to give.
I am sitting alone in the silence,
Where the things that used to be
So needful for my happiness
Just drop away from me.
As I sit here in communion
With my Saviour, Lord and King,
The whole of life is blessed,
And my heart its praises sing. [page 25]
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PART II
[page 27]
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KARMA
OH yes t’will all come right,
Heed not the bitter pain,
Thy soul within thee knows full well,
That life is not in vain.
Somewhere a task undone,
Sometime a thought unblest,
Was carried on the wings of time,
And left a sad unrest.
Which now thy soul doth fill,
With much that brings to thee,
Shadows, where brightness might have been,
Still through the gloom thou’ll see.
A gleam from out the dark,
Seeking to pierce the soul,
At last will shed a perfect light,
To lead thee to thy goal.
So do not shrink the task,
Nor heed the pruning knife,
Be strong, and then thy soul shall learn,
The reason for thy life. [page 29]
EVOLUTION
UP from the reek and murk of sin,
Into a conscious heaven within;
Up from the bond of self alone,
Into the freedom of love, I come.
Up from belief in a world of pain,
A knowledge of joy in Christ I gain;
Up from the world and its madd’ning chase,
Into the peace of God’s embrace;
Up from the error thought of death,
Into the Everlasting Breath.
COUNTLESS STORE
I TRY to count my blessings:
But always find one more:
For as I count they seem to grow,
From my Father’s boundless store.
Within myself and Home-place
A wondrous lot I see
Of the most unlooked-for blessings
That, in love He sends to me.
And if I step beyond my door
I hear a blue-bird sing.
While at my feet the radiant flowers
Their sweet fragrance bring. [page 30]
Then up above them all I get
A glimpse of clear blue sky;
And twixt the trees the river runs
In silent beauty by.
So I lift up my voice to God:
My Father and my King.
Though I cannot count my blessings
I can praise and serve and sing.
THE IDEAL CHURCH
WITH the wide blue sky above me,
And the soft green grass at my feet,
Mid’st the singing of birds in the bushes,
There my Soul and its God doth meet.
Then the wide blue sky is Heaven,
And the moss tells a wondrous tale,
As I sing with the birds in the bushes,
To a Love that can never fail.
From the wide blue sky come voices,
That speak to my Soul of God’s Love,
And the touch of the moss in my fingers,
Is proof of my Father above.
The harmony blends with my Spirit,
And causes a rapture divine,
As I look in the face of my Father,
And know that He looks into mine. [page 31]
As oft as I take this communion,
A power envelopes my Soul,
That purges away much of sorrow,
And makes of loose fragments a whole.
This church where my Father meets me,
With its soft green moss for a floor,
Is a place where the Angels gather,
And help me, my God to adore.
THE WISER VIEW
OH Sister hush this turmoil,
This useless strife and din,
T’is not through deeds of horror
We would our victories win.
For only in the silence
Of sweet and “Thoughtful” mood,
The strength to us is given
To move the world for good.
‘Tis while we rock the cradle,
Or hear the lisping prayer,
We make the nation’s future
Send strongest agents there,
To hasten on the victory
Of goodness over sin.
Then let us train the children,
Give them a chance to win. [page 32]
The things we long to witness
That great and glorious day,
When the right shall reign securely,
And justice have her way.
Yes, give to us the children
That through them we may build,
A future worth our efforts,
When strife through Love is stilled.
And as we rock the cradle
Let helpful “Thoughts” go out —
More power have they as workers
Than noise of angry shout.
So Sister, hush this tumult,
And rest you one and all,
“The mills of God grind slowly,
But they grind exceeding small.”
SUNRISE
WHEN you pitch your tent, O Pilgrim,
In the shade of coming night,
When your feet are tired with travel
And there’s not a gleam of light,
Let your thought turn to the morning
When the sun will surely rise
And a glory past description
Greet you waking from the skies.
Pitch your tent then weary pilgrim [page 33]
So the dawn may greet your sight.
As you lift up eyes expectant,
It will bring you strength to fight;
For the day is long, O Pilgrim,
And the sun will hotter grow,
But the beauty of the sunrise
Strength within your heart will sow;
And that strength the task will lighten,
Golden gleams thy spirit cheer;
All thy day will be a Service:
Dawn has cast out all thy fear.
WEEP NOT FOR ME
DEAR Mother why are you weeping
Consumed with fear and dread,
Weighed down with bitter sorrow,
For him you think is dead?
He who is now so happy,
So strong, and pure, and free,
With all earth’s fetters broken,
Oh, would that you could see!
For beyond this veil of mystery
Which is hung t’wixt you and he,
He now is being gladly—
Just what he longed to be,
The work he loved, now doing,
And not misunderstood.
He glories in his freedom
Nor would change it if he could. [page 34]
Dear Mother, wait the message
That God will send to you
From out that world of mystery
Where all are pure and true.
You’ll hear your dear one whisper,
Mother weep not for me,
For now, at last, I am being
What I so longed to be.
A QUESTION
WHAT are you striving for, Soul of mine?
Baubles and toys and play?
To go through Life rejoicing
Dancing thy days away?
But what of the night, O Soul of mine?
When the sun has gone to rest
Would toys and dancing help Thee
To make of Life the best?
What are you living for, Soul of mine?
Around is sorrow and sin,
Would’st help to lift the burdens
And let the sunlight in?
Then away with toys, O Soul of mine,
Let Self in thee be slain,
Help others whose paths are weary,
Whose lives are full of pain. [page 35]
And into thy life, O Soul of mine,
A wondrous pearl will creep,
The love thou’st shed around thee,
Will a bountiful harvest reap.
AT EVENTIDE IT SHALL BE LIGHT
AT eventide it shall be light,”
List to the promise blest,
Although the day be filled with toil,
The evening bringeth rest.
“At eventide it shall be light,”
Although the day be drear,
The sunset may be clear and bright,
As evening draweth near.
“At eventide it shall be light,”
Oh weary soul cast down
With much of sin and bitter pain
And fear of earth’s dark frown.
“At eventide it shall be light.”
Look up and fear no foe;
At evening shall you see the light
And know the way to go.
“At eventide it shall be light.”
Just trust the unseen guide;
And when the storm is very black,
Be sure He’s at your side. [page 36]
THE HEART’S CHOICE
WITHIN the heart is all of life,
Of joy and peace and rest;
Within the heart is loss and pain,
According to its quest.
We enter a life with empty hearts,
A page all pure and white:
As years go by we fain would fill
Its depths with mem’ries bright.
Oh passing, swiftly passing years
How have you filled my heart?
What is there written in its depths,
Have Love and Truth a part,
Or have you let in strife and pain
Your quests through life to be?
With all the precious passing days
But blighted prospects see?
Then, when the night has come at last,
Your Self and you alone
Will cross the unknown borderland
To reap what you have sown.
Or will you take that life and fill
It full with quests divine,
Bid Truth and Love and Service free
Within its portals shine?
Oh then the heart will sing for joy,
Your spirit pure and bright;
With Love as guest, your heart will find
A path of wondrous light. [page 37]
SACRIFICE
I CLOSE my eyes dear heart and think of thee
And of the perfect bliss that once was ours.
My lonely heart is longing just to be
With thee, amongst the flowers.
Do’st thou remember all the days, dear heart,
The happy summer days that flew so fast
We knew the time would come when we must part,
Yet tried to make the fleeting hours last.
The sweetest music that the songbirds brought
To ears attuned by perfect love to hear,
As in the depths of thy dear eyes I caught
A glimpse of heaven near.
Yet if we could through all the coming years
Just walk in bliss along the flowering lane,
Unmindful of another’s sighs and tears
‘T’would be Eternal loss instead of gain.
A love like ours was never meant, dear heart,
To be of earth alone and lose its power
To live forever, nevermore to part.
Ah no! we cannot live just for this hour.
For sacrifice and earthly loss is gain
In love, as well as life along the way.
Though parting is for us such bitter pain
Still shall we hear the voice of Duty say [page 38]
“ ‘Tis well.” Do turn Dear Heart from resting here
And think instead when time shall be no more,
When love from out thine eyes shall shine more clear
Upon some distant shore.
THANKSGIVING
I THANK Thee Lord that all along the way
When I had gone astray,
Thy Wisdom found a safe retreat
For weary feet,
And entering in I know
That Life is Sweet.
I thank Thee Lord, that I have learned the way
And now just pray,
That Love as well as Wisdom will
Be with me still,
As holding fast Thy hand
I do Thy Will.
I thank Thee Lord that now I always may
Take with me on the way
Such wondrous friends as these,
Such inward Joy,
Then sweet content and peace
My Soul employ.
And so I praise Thee Lord, the live-long day
For such a perfect Way,
The radiance of it sheds abroad
A shining Light,
And many who were blind erstwhile
Receive their Sight. [page 39]
THE CALL OF LOVE DIVINE
A VOICE like the music of Angels,
Is filling my Soul with its thrill,
I open the long closed windows
And let it my being fill.
The bird as it sings in the tree-tops
Brings wondrous music to me;
And the winds, too, softly whisper
Their message o’er the land and sea.
But forever to me the sweetest,
Is the mystical voice of Love,
Filling my Soul with its rapture
Calling to me from above.
AS A TALE THAT IS TOLD
WE spend our years as a tale that is told,
They swiftly pass and we cannot hold
Old Father Time, as he slips away.
Then, we know too late it is close of day.
We spend our years as a tale that is told,
They oft are passed in search for gold,
Obtained, it leaves but an empty heart;
There was nothing gained! we must from it part.
We spend our years as a tale that is told,
Our duty shirk, and our hands we fold;
As slowly, surely, time steals away
We seldom find even time to pray. [page 40]
We spend our years as a tale that is told.
Then let us strive, ere our hearts grow cold,
To serve and strengthen our fellow man,
There is naught but love in God’s perfect plan. [page 41]
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PART III
(Miscellaneous)
[page 43]
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ONLY A DOG
THEY say it is only a dog which has died,
And many think it is weak to have cried,
But those who know the heart of a dog
Have caught just a glimpse of the love of God.
For there never has been a friend more true
Than the dog which has passed away from you,
And never more will you find a friend
More faithful to you till your life shall end.
There are many people who just pass by—
Never lift an eyelid or heave a sigh
At sight of the wrongs, and cruel pain
Inflicted on those who call in vain.
Yet these are the people who often pray
To a God whom they think they serve each day,
But would never lend a hand or pause
To see justice done to the good dog’s cause.
Then they sit by the hour and watch a show
Of animals trained by whip and blow,
Then kept in misery day by day
That you may be pleased by their brilliant play.
Oh, you men and women who love to pray
To a God whom you think you serve each day,
Just lend your help as you’re passing by
To lessen the pain and weary sigh. [page 45]
Then the prayer that you often need to pray
Will be answered by God, as day by day
You seek to help, and never in vain,
When you heed the call of a dog in pain.
A PLEA FOR A HORSE
IT has carried the weary burden,
Throughout the long, long day,
It has known naught of kindness
And often no fair play.
But the weariness and patience
Of the horse you call your own
Will sometime in the future
Most surely be made known.
We have made the burden greater
Through selfish want of thought,
For want of thought is selfish
And evil great has wrought,
Like the cruel useless check-rein
And the useful tail cut short.
Ah me! alas! for Humans
Who call such torture sport.
But the future will enlighten
And teach men how to use
The patient horse who helps him
And man does still abuse;
For ignorance is oft the cause
Of the greatest loss and pain.
Through knowledge in the future
The patient beast will gain. [page 46]
THE COMING DAY
OH, there is a good time coming,
Ring out the Joy Bells clear,
When all the persecuted
Will nevermore know fear,
For man will have awakened
To learn, at last, that he
Is given the great privilege
God’s Husband-man to be.
Then will man roam the forest
Without the trap or gun;
And all the wildest creatures
Will know there has begun
Within the heart of mankind
A strange and tender care;
And this will be the answer
To their unconscious prayer.
Lion, and Lamb alike, then,
Shall eat from out man’s hands;
Love and Peace alone will reign
In all God’s happy land.
When man shall rule the creatures
With gentleness, and care,
Then all the very fiercest
That gentleness will share.
Now let us prove this promise:
Away with trap and gun;
Seek to teach this simple Truth
That all in God are one. [page 47]
‘Tis just that some are weaker,
And the weak to us must be
A solemn charge to those of us
Who’ve gained man’s liberty.
ANTI-VIVISECTION
WE boast of the courage of warriors,
We sing of the honour of men,
We’re proud of the strength of a Nation,
Who work with both muscle and pen
To build up a system of justice;
The stronger the weak to uphold,
For justice is ever the key-note
Which honour and courage enfold.
What courage—I ask, can you tell us,
Is proved by this action of man
Who tries on the weakest of creatures
To work his unholy plan
Of torturing those who are helpless
To seek for more strength for the strong.
Oh, why are your eyes so long holden,
Why cannot ye wake to the wrong?
You say it is great and courageous
To work on a creature so weak,
Unspeakable anguish and horror
A possible knowledge to seek, [page 48]
Long, long, have you worked, Oh, ye valiant,
For knowledge which comes not that way.
‘Tis time you acknowledged your failure,
Stop forcing the weaker to pay!
The time is at hand for reviewing
The failure of tests in the past.
You cannot bring good out of evil,
But justice and mercy will last.
INFLUENCE OF LOVE
AWAKE oh my brother who lieth
In slumber so dark and so deep,
While around thee in agony dieth
The weak, who the stronger should keep—
Yes, dying in horrible anguish
The creature whom God made like you
Having right to its life and its pleasures,
As the grass has a right to the dew.
But men in their eager endeavour
To have what they think good in life
Are willing to kill and forever
Cause infinite sorrow and strife.
O man, hast thou so far forgotten
The lesson the Master has taught,
How the stronger must help bear the weaker
That into their lives may be brought [page 49]
A measure of peace and of comfort
That will help on the oft weary way?
But instead we are making it harder
By forcing the weak ones to pay
With lives which are cruelly taken
To give what, by men is called good.
My brother, when wilt thou awaken
To know the true meaning of good?
A BUNCH OF VIOLETS
THE sweet smelling bunch of violets,
That I opened my eyes on to-day,
Was surely a Thought from an Angel,
For it helped so to brighten my way.
And I’m sure that the sunny-haired lassie,
Who gathered the violets so blue,—
Up with the birds in the morning,
Must just be an “Angel Thought” too,
Sent here to bless all around her,
With violets and smiles, often seen
On the face of the gift from the “Somewhere”
Our dear little sunbeam “Jean”.
THE GIFT OF THE GODS
THERE are Babes who come, and Babes who go,
They are ever passing to and fro,
And some we love, and some pass by,
And some we see, then deeply sigh,
Some are exotic—Some just clay,
And some for their life seem to dearly pay. [page 50]
There’s a Babe who is ever in my mind.
She’s one of the rare, exotic kind.
The sweetest ever was sent to smile
And joy to bring to this earth awhile.
Her eyes are blue and her hair is gold.
The Hearts are legion this Babe doth hold.
With just a smile she can break a chain,
When another Babe would smile in vain.
The child of clay will need to beg
For favours that simply come to “Meg”.
Favoured of Fortune, Gift of the Gods,
Oh! what a mystery; You and the Clods!
So, though Babes will come and Babes will go,
Just why they differ we’ll never know.
But always keep this thought in mind
That a God of Love is ever kind
And the Child of Clay will someday be
A “Gift of God” through Eternity.
A POEM TO BABY
A LOVELY babe has come to bless
Our home this joyful hour,
A babe from out the great unknown,
Rich blessing here to shower.
O Mother, fold it to your breast,
And lift your thoughts above
The small and useless things of earth,
And rest your soul in Love. [page 51]
For Love alone has given to you
This soul in charge to keep,
A love which seeks your Soul to lift,
And greater harvests reap.
So lift your heart and consecrate
This babe from heaven sent,
The world has need of noble souls
To work where sin has lent
It’s dark’ning shadows o’er the lives,
Of those whose lot is cast
Where evil holds its cruel sway,
But “Love” must win at last.
THE PASSING OF THE BABE
OUR Babe is passing from our sight,
And in her place there stands
A fairy princess, tall and slim,
Who from us all demands
A full surrender to her rule,
Her wishes we fulfil,
For we are only here you know
To carry out her will!
Imperial Sovereign, strong to move
The hearts that beat so true,
With pure desire to serve their Queen
Their best to give to you,
And lead your budding thoughts to dwell
On things that make life great, [page 52]
For now’s the time to plant the seed
Within that curly pate.
Ah, Empress with the deep blue eyes
Your future’s hid from view,
But may your lowly subjects know
The trust they hold for you,
Must at some higher court be met
When years have passed away,
And they, perchance, have left you here,
Your sceptre still to sway.
THE PRIDE OF LIFE
HEATHER BELL, hang your dainty head
As the Buttercup bows to you.
You know your colour is passing fair
And rivals the sky in blue.
So hang your head to hide your pride
In your beauty so passing fair
And nestle down in your cosy bed
With never a thought or care.
Bye and Bye, when the sun is up,
It will whiten your dainty head.
Then glad will you be to hide from view
N’eath a kindly, grassy bed.
Heatherbell blue, and human heart
Just the same in its youthful pride,
The years will bring to the heart its pain.
Then it too will seek to hide. [page 53]
But the hearts live on in spite of years
Or of skies either dark or blue,
But unlike the Heatherbell so fair
The shading is left to you.
Colour your sky with rainbow hue
And never a droop to your head.
When life is over you’ll still look up
Though grass may cover your bed.
INQUIRY
OH Bird with the brilliant Red breast,
And Bird with the feathers Blue,
As you fly so gay from tree to tree,
Do thoughts ever trouble you?
Do you wonder why the sky’s blue
And why the grass is green?
Do you trouble about the White sails,
Which so far away are seen?
Do you ever talk to Red Breast
You little bird in Blue?
Do you look at us so far below
And ponder the How and Who?
Or are you just gay and happy
With never a thought to spare?
Do you look at Sky, and Grass and Us
Just knowing that God is there? [page 54]
AN ODE TO “WEE MEG”
A CROWN of softly curling gold
Offset by eyes of blue,
O Darling little “Meg”—my pearl,
Grandma’s in love with you.
Your aunts who number five, my dear,
And uncles—just a few,
Two Grandpapas and Grandma B—,
Are all in love with you.
O sweetest, laughing, blue-eyed elf,
The years will seem but few
Till at your dainty feet will kneel
Your “Knight”—in love with you.
And, as the years go by, I pray
That you’ll grow good and true,
So when the gold has turned to grey
He’ll still be in love with you.
A LESSON FROM THE BEE
A BUSY bee one summer morn
A lesson taught to me,
And while I’d fain remember it
I’ll try to tell it thee.
T’was this, the while it flew about
And tasted every flower
It always seemed to mind its own
Within its leafy bower. [page 55]
HARMONY
A MOUNTAIN peak, a sky above,
A bird in the tree a’whispering love
To its mate who is singing a happy song;
T’is a perfect harmony all day long.
A golden stream, a little boat,
A man and a maid just idly float,
But no tale of love, and ne’er a song;
That is out of harmony, all day long.
The mountain peak, the sky above,
The bird in the tree a’whispering love,
Tell of a peace and harmony
Without which love could never be.
A VISION AT NORTH HATLEY
IT was a summer evening,
The daily tasks were done.
I sat upon the hillside
To watch the setting sun;
In the hushed and perfect silence
That wrapped me all around,
It seemed as if my spirit
A heavenly peace had found.
It seemed to give new vision,
As fainter grew the light,
The red sun dropped in splendour,
And vanished from my sight; [page 56]
Then it seemed as if forever
That peace within my soul
Would grow through all ages,
Till it formed a perfect whole,
And blend into the beauty
Of all my eyes did see
Then I too should be perfect,
My spirit glad and free.
When the glorious glow had faded,
I walked back o’er the hill,
And knew that God had spoken,
And His promise would fulfil.
OUR BOY
WONDERFUL gift from heaven
Filling our hearts with thrill,
You are worshipped by all and sundry
Our beautiful, laughing Bill.
We never have called you Baby,
And no one ever will.
You seemed to come to us half grown up,
So we’ve always called you Bill.
I can see you, oh so plainly,
Our Big-boy, smiling still,
At school and work surrounded by
The “Chums,” who all love Bill. [page 57]
LOVE’S KISS
YOU kissed me. One moment our lips had embraced
And in that brief moment was anguish effaced.
From the depths of my soul rose a vision divine
As the love in your eyes caught the answer in mine.
You kissed me; O moment of exquisite bliss!
My soul, will you tell me what wonder is this.
That the past with its bitter, unbearable pain
Should depart at a touch, leaving joy in its train?
You kissed me, and peace had my spirit controlled,
The love in your eyes seemed my soul to enfold
And the white winged angels who hover above
Whisper softly “Deep waters shall never quench love.”
LOVE’S TEST
MY heart set out to seek for Love
One golden summer day.
That heart was young, and all around
Its path a sunbeam lay.
My heart found Love that summer day
And life in beauty grew,
As, hand in hand, my love and I—
No thought of shadow knew.
The moments passed; the sunbeams grew
More chill; the day less bright;
My Love and I walked hand in hand
With naught but joy in sight. [page 58]
Yet still more dark the shadows fell,
My heart yet knew no fear.
The sunbeams on the pathway gone
But Love seemed ever near.
My heart held in Love—though light grew dim,
As hand in hand we still
Walked on the path, though darker grew
The shadows o’er the hill.
And, then, at last, the darkness fell;
Around meclosed the night,
I sought in vain to find my Love,
Then prayed for gleam of light—
To show me where my Love had gone
When darkness hemmed us round.
Then, as I prayed, a moonbeam shone
And by its light I found
My love (though changed since morning sun
Had thrown its light, so clear)
Was STILL my Love; and though ‘twas night
My heart had naught to fear.
LIFE’S BEGINNINGS
LITTLE bird, awake with the rising sun,
Nor think your life has just begun,
Because you’ve forgotten yesterday,
When you called to your mate and flew away. [page 59]
Blushing maid, awake with the sun’s first ray
Nor think your life begins today,
Because the love of your heart drew near,
Though to you he is all that makes life dear.
O Soul, lift thyself to the rising sun,
You know your life has just begun,
When into your darkness shone the Light
Then sorrow and fear fore’er took flight.
Little Bird, Blushing Maid, Lightened Soul,
Know that life is a perfect whole,
That sorrow but purges sin away
So at last we learn what is Dawn of Day.
GOOD-BYE TO MAINE
GOOD-BYE, Good-bye, O spot so passing fair,
Through all the summer hours thou gavest me delight
My Soul with peace and rest was filled while I was there,
Through contemplation of the beauteous sight.
For beauty such as thine uplifts our soul,
And helps us through the darker days to live,
As hour by hour we strive to reach the goal,
Some glimpse of beauty to another give.
So loath I am to leave thee, dear old Maine,
And all the happy hours to leave behind,
But know that oft in spirit here again,
I’ll wander, still, more peace and rest to find. [page 60]
Then sometime in the coming years again,
I’ll come to thy dear shore and sit and sing,
Another song of love and joy’s refrain
While every moment peace and rest will bring.
DAWN
(On seeing a picture)
THE dawn was slowly breaking
In beauty o’er the land
As at her window seated,
By gentle breezes fanned,
The favourite of fortune
Decked in jewels rich and rare.
But for all the pomp and splendour
She had not a thought to spare.
The light of something greater
Was breaking from within.
To her the Dawn was speaking
Seeking her soul to win;
From the pleasures vain and fleeting
Where she long had tried to still
The voice that fain would call to life
Those things her soul to fill.
The Dance, the Play, the Jewels
Had failed to fill her soul,
Which long had struggled vainly
To reach its rightful goal; [page 61]
And now the breaking dawn crept in
With its touch of light divine
Seeking to bring her perfect peace
Which from within must shine.
The Dawn in slowly breaking
Its mission is fulfilled
As daylight breaks in beauty
One Soul with rapture’s filled;
Goes forth to teach that life was love
Not useless dance and play,
That using love to cast out fear,
We at last reach perfect day.
OPINIONS DIFFER
I HITCH my chariot to a star,
But, lo, I find my actions mar
My high ideals, and I drop,
Yet still resolved I’ll never stop.
Most people say “Do stop your talk
You only make us want to baulk”
But nothing great was ever done,
Except by battles fought and won.
Some folks today are called a “Crank”
By those who think they ought to rank
As critics, yet as time advances
The “Cranks” are those who take the chances, [page 62]
And do for weal as well as woe,
Stick to their guns, where’er they go,
It is not always pleasant sailing,
To have so many round us railing.
If we believe a thing is right,
The strength will come to hold on tight,
And if some tiny seed we sow,
In time a flower from it may grow.
IMPRESSIONS AT SUNSET ON LAKE TREMBLANT
A SUNSET resplendent in crimson and gold,
The soft flying clouds lying fold upon fold,
A Sky stretched above me—the clearest of blue—
In a setting of varied and glorious hue.
The Moon in it’s glory peeps over the hill,
The Mountains stand grandly majestic and still,
And speak in their strength of beauty and love,
Which an Infinite Power has striven to prove.
When later, the Sun drops away from our view,
When soft lights and shadows the gleaming lake strew,
When gold melts to amber, and softest of gray,
I hear a bird call to it’s mate, “Come away”. [page 63]
