Home Lyrics: A Book of Poems Part 6

Let all, then, bravely conquer self, And use the means which heaven Has placed within the reach of each, Life's sorriest state to leaven.

Industry, perseverance, thrift, Love, honesty and skill, Will aid the weakest in their work, Life's duties to fulfil.

All-conquering, grand, unselfish love!

Nought can withstand the power Of thy divine, o'ermastering force, To man heaven's richest dower.

All know who own thy sovereign sway, No wealth can equal thine, Inspiring and constraining each, To sacrifice sublime!

TO THE EMPRESS EUGENIE ON THE DEATH OF HER SON.

If sympathy can soften a mourner's poignant woe, And stay the bitter tear drops that from her sad eyes flow, Then take it, honoured Empress, from the land of thy retreat, Where hearts in bitter anguish with thine now sorrowing beat.

Alas, we cannot fathom the mysteries of doom, Which set its mark upon a life brilliant in youthful bloom, Full of undaunted ardour, and eager for that strife That robbed the sorrowing mother of his most precious life.

Ah, who can help recalling, and who the fervour tell, Of his bright words on parting in that sad but brave farewell, With bounding heart hope-laden and holy ardour fraught, Scorning all fear and danger, as by thy wisdom taught.

Think, mourner, of thy darling as safe within heaven's fold, Crowned with a victor's chaplet within the gates of gold, His young, bright, earnest spirit happy on yonder sh.o.r.e, Where you will be in G.o.d's own time united evermore.

A crown of earthly splendour might have enwreathed his brow, But could that weigh 'gainst glory with which 'tis radiant now?

Would'st thou exchange the latter for all earth's gaud and glare?

No, sad one, thou would'st rather in G.o.d's time join him there.

Far from all warring tumult, in peaceful joy above, Safe in the tender keeping of everlasting love; Think of him thus for ever in the dear Father's care, And say would'st thou recall him, earth's proudest throne to share?

Only a few swift time-strokes to make up life's brief day, Only some few more pulse-beats till we, too, pa.s.s away; There in the bright hereafter with great exceeding joy, There, never to be parted, thou wilt rejoin thy boy.

SCIENCE.

Science! thou mirror of celestial type Wherein e'en mortals may discerning see, If they with steady perseverance seek, The will and purpose of Deity.

By the effulgence of Thy affluent light Men learn the hidden mysteries of earth, Unlock the secrets of the starry heavens And solve the problem of each dewdrop's birth.

Thou art the magic key that opens wide Sources of knowledge, beauty, wealth and grace, Which teach man how to help his brother man, And benefit and elevate the race.

Beneath thy guidance men have found the stone Philosophers long sought but rarely found, Whose lesson is that the Great G.o.d helps those Who feel to help themselves and others bound.

What blest results are following in thy train, To physical as well as mental wealth, Through sanitation, in its myriad forms, By which it now promotes the nation's health.

Well regulated physical as mental work Opens rich sources of enjoyment sweet; And mind and body strengthened, thus delight New difficulties to withstand and greet.

Few know how strengthening is resisting power, In mind and body as in physics too, And what acc.u.mulating force it lends To man his life work daily to renew.

The richest happiness comes from within, From duties well accomplished blessings flow, And precious fruits of action, thought and deed That will not give rude switch gra.s.s place to grow.

Thou teachest that a form to be a square Must have its lines of length, breadth, depth, exact, Without the least divergence right or left, And with its due proportions clear, compact.

What helpful lessons might not this form teach, If testing thus the lines of motives, thought, Which make the sum of action square or false, Each would discern the application taught.

When truth as the soul's standard is set up, Making the inner life exact and square, With love to G.o.d producing love, to all, What will not man for man and duty dare?

True brotherhood consists in making each, As far as may be, just another self; The priceless sequence of such action would Exceed the greatest riches men call wealth.

Then might the blest commandment, do to all As to ourselves we would that they should do, Flow as a natural sequence, and such act Would bring its own reward and comfort, too.

For truest happiness is known to those Who learn to know themselves through struggles brave.

Such conquerors steer serenely o'er the calm, Clear sea of life, as o'er its troubled wave.

Knowing that the Great Father wills that man Should, through much strife and suffering win that prize, Whose precious fruits of knowledge wait for all Who use full well each moment as it flies.

Then let us strive to form each thought, word, deed, On the exact, undeviating square, Seeking to learn and discipline ourselves, And win rewards which all who will may share.

CHRISTMAS MORN.

Dear, happy Christmas! once again We joy to welcome thee, With all thy glad surroundings, grouped For world-wide jubilee.

We'll crown thy peace-illumined brow With holly burnished bright, Entwined with glowing crimson buds, And mystic berries white.

Then the sly bough of mistletoe We must not, cannot miss, For, privileged beneath its shade, We hope for many a kiss.

Kisses of joy from those we love, Kisses of pardon, too, That chase all anger from the heart, And feelings seared renew.

E'en as the song of peace on earth Flows lovingly from heaven, Should men forgive their foes, as they Expect to be forgiven--

Burying all painful bygones deep, Far out of thought and sight, Sweet peace possessing, reconciled, In new love-bonds unite.

And round the merry Christmas board Pledges of good-will give, That they can, once a year, at least, Old grudges quite forgive.