Oklahoma Sunshine Part 31

Whatever fortune crowns imperfect deed, Let us keep Hope our comrade evermore, Nor fear to follow where her banners lead On sea and sh.o.r.e; For despite the tears of men, Love shall sing her songs again, And beyond the wintry snows Blooms the redness of her rose.

IV.

With Truth about us and with Duty near, With Hope beside and Love along the way, Life climbs the hills and all the darkness here Grows bright with day; For each fond beat.i.tude Crowns the dreams of greater good, And the stars of living light Lead the footsteps through the night!

Finally.

Finally, brethren, finally, We are marching to the sky, And all this earthly music Tunes us up for bye and bye!

If We Were Wise.

"If we were wise," said the social philosopher, "civilization would be of a different metal. But we are not all of us wise, and therefore we build court-houses and churches and sanitariums, and lawyers, doctors and preachers become necessary, all being the inventions of our lack of wisdom." And the man knew, for he had just been through the alimony court, turned out of church, and was on his way to a winter resort for the tinkering of his health.

Life.

A little day through which we play In spite of wish and warning; A little love along the way, And then good-night,--till morning!

Pluck thou now the Good Resolution from the topmost bough of the sublime tree of righteous will; and preserve it as the apple of gold in the silver pictures of the life that has no ending.

Sighs and Songs.

Don't begin your sighing When you see the snows; Yonder blooms the lily; Yonder burns the rose!

What's the use to shiver When the blizzards blow?

Yonder blazes August Hotter than you know!

Hope is ever ringing All the bells she brings; Keep a life of laughter And a heart that sings.

Good-bye to the trouble!

Farewell to the wrong!

Man forgets the sorrow When he sings a song!

Caught on the Fly.

The cart of imperfect deeds travels with more speed than the palace car of good intentions.

If the pew would practice only one day in the week what the pulpit preaches on Sunday, the Devil would put out all the fires in his settlement and join the angels before Sat.u.r.day night.

The Third House.

Yes, they say the Legislature Soon will come along and sit, And for sixty days of wonder We'll behold the likes of it; But with all the mighty glory That around it waves its wings, Don't forget who does the voting Nor the chaps who pull the strings!

There's the grave and mighty Senate Full of statesmen wise and great, With profound deliberations Ere they choose to legislate: But with all their stores of wisdom They are slow at doing things, For they only do the voting While the Third House pulls the strings.

There's the House, a wondrous body, Full of patriotic souls, Each with ideas that would hurry Up the world as on it rolls; But before they get in action Sober wisdom caution brings, And they only do the voting While the Third House pulls the strings!

O, my dear, deluded people!

When the statesmen cure your ills, Look around before you honor Those who pa.s.s the proper bills!

To the fellows you elected There is little glory clings, For they only do the voting While the Third House pulls the strings!

To the Third House bring your laurels!

There you'll find the wisdom rare, Free to tell the verdant statesmen How to legislate with care; There you'll find the brain and virtue That afar the evil flings: While the others do the voting These delight to pull the strings!

Play Ball.

In the great orchestra of life, if you can't play the first violin, beat the drum; if you can't beat the drum, pound the triangle; and if you can't contribute anything at all to the music, get in step with it and do the best job of marching in the army of the hopeful-hearted.

Sing a Little.

When the times are sad with sorrow, Sing a little; Things will brighten up tomorrow, Sing a little; And when all the world is gloomy and the storms around you roar, Then stuff your heart with gladness and just sing a little more!

When you meet the bleak Decembers, Sing a little; There's a June each heart remembers, Sing a little; And if winter comes and lingers as he never did before, Think of all the summer blossoms and then sing a little more!