Presii>ent White Library Cornell University. Cornell University Library 2434.M4802 Occasional poems 3 1924 022 430 288 p^ Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022430288 ■iCCISliilL Pill! '-«- MoRGES — Switzerland Lavanchy 1890 CONTENTS 1 . Mother - Love. 2. My Star. 3. S. M. Grimke. 4. Dreams. (To E. W. W.) 5. Delia. 6. Hymn. 7. Salutations. 8. Our Pilot. (Lincoln.) 9. The Lesson. 10. Riches and Power. 11. Magic. 12. Service. 13. New Year's Eve. 14. Psalm of War. 1:5. Peace. 1 6. Serenade. 17. The Singer. 1 8. Jenny. 19. A Benediction. 20. Espousals. 21. J. G. BiRNEY. 22. Pleasant Beach. 23. Funeral Hymn. 24. To Gerrit Smith. 25. Flowers in Winter. 26. To Mabel. 27. The German Prisoner. 28. The Key. 29. Geburtstag. 30. The Last Rose. 31. Portraits. 32. Ichabod Morton. 3i. Song of the Rose. 34- Golden Wedding. 35. One Friend. 36. The Archer. 37. < The Busy Bee. > 38. Indian Summer. 39. A Seventieth Birthday. 40. Meteors. 41. To LULIE. 42. Class '55. 43. « Thanksgiving. » 44. The Secret. 45. The Tie. 46. Our Prince. 47. Their Wedding-Day. 48. Song. 49. Nightfall. If aught herein be found of good and true, Dear sisters, let it stand inscribed to you. No muse is here invoked, but while I sing, Let me to you the homely tribute bring ; And if thereto your generous hearts incline, No gods need aid me, nor the fabled Nine. No fancied nymph of spring, or mount, or grove, Could inspiration bring me, like your Love ! As on Parnassus mount, 'mid Muses fair. No poisonous plant could breathe the heavenly air So no unworthy theme the harp may use. Of one who at your fireside seeks the muse ! MOTHER-LOVE The Mother-love is God's love! By day 'tis there — by night 'tis there The mother-love is God's love. 'Tis with me every where ! The mother-love is God's love ! It pardons allv in chastening all. And like that love from heaven above, 'Tis there whene'er I call. I see no more the patient smile, No more the face so dear — But the mother-love is God's love. And I know it must be near ! I hear no more the tender voice, - No more it calls my name — But the mother-love is God's love. And is with me all the same ! And the man-heart is the child-heart, To that love which beareth all ; Still it pardons — still it chastens — And is there whene'er I call ! And child and man are strengthened, Mid whate'er defeat or pain, When I feel once more the blessing Of the mother-love again ! O Mother's love — O God's love — Help me the Race to run. Till smile and voice shall greet me. And say — at last— « Well done ». Bend down, O Heavenly Presence ! And make me strong and true, - Till thro' the dust of battle I am borne, at last, to you! ^ MY STAR As oft a sun-lit cloud at even Slow vanishing from mortal eye, Melts slowly in the amber heaven To make a part of that sweet sky, So late a Heaven-lit soul I saw Upon life's evening sky more fair. As gently into Heaven withdraw To add unto the glory there ! As where that evening cloud has gone A new-born star leads out the day, So now in Heaven a star is born And thither lights my darkening way ! And thus while fades my evening light There beams a radiance sweeter far — The deeper grows my earthly Night The brighter gleams my Heavenly Star ! S. M. ORIM KE O Thou whose truth we dimly seek, And murmur while no voice we hear, And with thine ang'els fain would speak When to our blindness nought is clear, That murmuring blindness, Lord, forgive ! Behold in her Thy truth revealed. Thine angel lent with us to live While sightless we to heaven appealed ! Thy voice was hers, — her lips Thy truth, — Beneath whose earnest accents quailed. In saintly age, or burning youth. All shapes of Wrong which Right assailed ! Those accents cease — the angel flies ! A Heavenly silence round us falls ! But the bright vision never dies. And to each heart forever calls ! DREAMS (To,E,,W. Watson.) I dream a dream of gentleness, And wander far to fmd it real ; When lo! thou com'st, my heart to bless, And with thee bring'st the wished ideal I dream a dream of innocence And purity thro' stainless years. Thou wak'st me from the joy intense, And lo ! the vision thro' my tears ! Again I dream of tenderness, — Tlje manly strength, the woman's heart. And in my waking prayers confess How fairer than my dream thou art ! And then a dream of simple right, — Nor think to match my thought by day; Yet words and deeds of thine are light Which drown the lovely vision's ray ! Till last I dream of perfect Truth, And sigh to find it but a dream ; . , Again thou com'st, O Heart of Youth ! And all my dreams are what they seein \ DELIA Now comes the sunlight earlier every day, Hastening to shiiie W^Rere g-entl'e Delia lies, And faithful stars in sentry all their way Now lingering set, and earlier haste to rise. The far flown birds speed on theii" homeward flight, And to our darling sweetest requiems bring. While tenderest flowers .strive upward to the light To soothe her sleep, with earliest kiss of spring. But light of morn or eve', or constant star. Or song of birds, or flowers' purest prayer. All, all, O brother, but the symbols are Of thy fond love still ever watchful there ! Yet list ! what accents from this dust arise : , « Not here, — but risen ! > And lo ! an angel faip Doth ever follow thee with love-lit eyes. And make thine every hour her tender care ! For He who gave this lovely soul expression, Now clothes her on with loveliness more rare. — Nor plants thy heart with love and sweet confession. To leave thee in the mockery of despair. Ay ! flowers may fade, arid birds may come and go, And sun and staf shall pale and leave the sky; But hearts that truly love no danger know. For Love arid Truth have immdirtality ! HYMN (For a public charity.} O Thou, in whom, in joy or woe, Our hearts would fain a Father know. Teach us, while on that name we call. Thy children are our brothers all ! In helpless want a brother lies ; On yonder starving couch he dies ; In prison with broken heart he groans. On fever's bed he feebly moans. Oh ! list across the Eastern wave The voice of one who came to save : Who succors these, the least of Mine, To me hath done that deed divine ! That tender Voice our breasts shall thrill That great example urge us still, Till, humbly helping others' woe. Our own frail hearts shall piorer grow ! SALUTATIONS Parting, Her face she lifted, mine to greet, And o'er her lips I softly bent, Where kisses rose more soft and sweet Than breath from wildwood flowers sent ! In vain would jealous Land, or Sea, Or Time endeavour us to part ; The farther dwelt my Love from me The nearer lived she in my heart ! Return. I. I spoke but softly in the hall, Yet, torrent-like, her rushing feet Dashed, like a hurrying waterfall, Adown the stair my step to greet ! 2. I scarce could whisper in the hall. Nor end the words so oft begun, — For in that happy interval Her beating heart and mine were one ! OUR PILOT — Lincoln I. He steered the Ship thro' the breakers ! Rocks starboard and port, and breakers ahead. And an ugly shore under the lee — He steered the good ship thro' the breakers, Safe out to the open Sea ! With mutiny forward, and mutiny aft, A desperate task had he ! But when left alone on the laboring craft. He sought Help on his bended knee ! — And he steered the good ship thro' the breakers Well out to the open sea ! A mutinous crew would down with the flag, And cast the ship's papers away ! But he steadily held his quarter deck, And kept them all at bay ! Rocks starboard and port, and breakers ahead, And an ugly shore under the lee. He nailed the good ship's flag to the mast And stood for the open sea ! He steered the good ship thro' the breakers. Well out to the open sea ! — And the selfish lords of many a shore Looked on with hearts aglee ! < No more » they cried « we shall see no more That flag upon every sea. ! 3> 5- They looked to see that barque go down. So freighted with hopes for all ! And they saw the flag with an angry frown, Which menaced a selfish thrall ! « She is scuttled ^ they cried « she drives on the rocks ! < She will drift on that ugly shore ! « And the Flag which threatens our place and power < Shall be seen o'er the world no more ! » And like wreckers who batten on storms that lower, These cormorants flocked to the shore ! — But there stood by the helm of this gallant craft A Pilot, of « right Divine ! » And calmly he turned from the wreckers' raft And their menacing treacherous whine. From the treacherous menacing brine. And with mutiny forward, and mutiny aft, And an ugly shore under the lee, He steered the good Ship thro' the breakers, Safe out to the open Sea ! Then « he was not — for God took him ! » And our Pilot to Heaven recalled ! The One who never forsook him, His divinely-appointed recalled ! — And in truth he had seemed a messiah. To a Land and a Race disenthralled ! — O'er the page of his Life, o'er the scene of his death Are mingled a Nation's tears ! And upon his brow is the deathless wreath Of the laurel that Washington wears ! His name is deep written in granite — And in hearts all over the world ! And on every sea, in every clime. His flag is again unfurled. 1 1. And for all who were with him beneath that Flag, His eulogy ever shall be. That he steered the good Ship thro' the breakers. Safe out to the open sea ! Rocks starboard and port, and breakers ahead, And an ugly shore under the lee, — He steered the good ship thro' the breakers, Safe out to the open Sea! '90. THE LESSON Word is brought From heaven above That Love is Heaven, And Heaven is Love ! I. See that dark and frowning face — Powers of Darkness in each trace ! This, — in smiles of heavenly light, - Brightest angels there unite ! -- Where the heart expands with love, Light breaks in from Heaven above ! Once let in the fiend of wrath. Fiends unnumbered crowd his path ! Hear the lesson, From above : Love is heaven. And heaven is Love ! II. Mark the scene of household strife ! Love an exile — passion rife. Spirits dark rush in to reign, Bringing discord, clamor, pain ! All is heavy — all is dark — Hearts with hate are cold and stark! — Once let in the fiend of wrath, Fiends unnumbered crowd his path ! Once the tongue of hate unsheathe. Darkness mounts from depths beneath ! Heed the lesson Heed it well : Love is Heaven, And hate is Hell III. Now the scene of fireside Peace ! Heavenly joys its joys increase — Forms celestial hover there — Heavenly radiance fills the air! Where the heart expands with love Light breaks in firom Heaven above ! Let the soul Avith love expand Light breaks in on every hand ! Bless the lesson From above : Love is Heaven, And Heaven is Love ! IV. See these neighbouring nations — foes ! — - « Made of one blood » yet bitter woes Of war on war and strife on strife Have turned to hate each heart and life ! Vengeance here has had its fill, Vengeance there must work its will ! « Armed to the teeth *, stand face to face The strength and flower of each great race ! A million hearts' with hate are stirred, Curses, centuries deep, are heard! — Mothers come with first bom sons — Sisters, wives, with dearest ones! Children who their prayers rehearse. Learn the prayer, — and learn the curse ! Idle millions groan in arms — Millions groan to feed the swarms I Two great States are two great Camps 1 And all the air 'neath heaven's lamps Where hate with hate is thus withstood. Smacks of powder, — smacks of blood ! Rulers wlio with « God > would rule, Heed the lesson of His school ! — Statesmen who would Him revere — Ye who Him would serve and « fear », Heed the Lesson, Heed it well : Love is Heaven, — Hate is Hell ! i888. RICHES AND POWER The richest is he who has most hearts — A Croesus with none is the poorest of all ! His is true Power where Love imparts A power more potent than monarch's thrall ! What are lands in fee without hearts in fee ! Or bonds in a bank, without bonds in a heart ! What a Scepter menacing Land and Sea, And hate in the household, the street, the mart ! He has most Power who has most Love — A Caesar without it is weak on a Throne ! Service bought," or enforced, is naught — 'Tis the service of Love which is good alon^ ! Truth is Omnipotence : armed with this, Alone you may vanquish a world of lies ! But only with Love it omnipotent is — Never with hate does it speak from the Skies ! The Power of Love ^- the Riches of Love Are granted us freely from God above ! These forever, in fee, we hold, While the power of g'old is bought and sold ! Thus Humility rules. 'Tis a power behind power. For with scepter unseen, of Love, it sways. The haughty may stride through his noisy hour, But Humility reigns with the Ancient of Days ! And he has most love, who loves the most. Who in duty and deed his love doth prove ! Who is sparing of words, but whose acts are a host To vouch is unfailing truth and love ! 1889. M A O I G I, Kindness in look, and kindness in thought Tell of a heart where power is wrought. Kindness in word and kindness in deed Tellof a Power all powers must heed! The despot is brutal. And bluster is blindness ! Kindness will conquer — There's Magic in Kindness ! Kindness is wisdom, and wisdom is power t Tyranny, arrogance, rule but an hour. The high and the haughty may have their day. But Wisdom and Kindness will rule for aye ! For the tyrant is weak, And bluster is blindness. Kindness will conquer — There's magic in kindness ! 3, Rage is the beast, — and Kindness an angel. Wrathful speech is the tiger's growl ! Vengeance a fiend. — and Love the Evangel Calling from God to the god-like soul ! For the despot is brutal. And bluster is blindness ! Kindness will conquer — There's magic in kindness I 4- Master and Servant are names of two brothers. Harshness, arrogance, block their way. Only by kindness each heart is the others — All g-oes like Magic where Kindness has play ! But the despot is brutal. And bluster is blindness ! Kindness will conquer ! There's magic in Kindness ! 5- Husband and Wife are the names of two friends — Thus « joined together » for God's own ends ! Tyranny, selfishness, darken their day, All goes like Magic, if Love but sway ! For the despot is brutal. And bluster is blindness ! Kindness will conquer ! There's magic in Kindness ! L9ye and devotion ne'er come by direction — The bright light of smiles no command will obey, But love will draw love, and affection affection, As flowers will unfold 'neath the sun-light of May While the despot is brutal, And bluster is blindness ! Kindness will conquer! There's magic in Kindness ! 7- Faces may smile — but who knows all the while What sorrows, what wrongs, may be crushing the heart ! Kind thought, word, or deed, shall that sorrow beguile. And bind up the tears that are ready to start. While the despot is brutal, And bluster is blindness ! Kindness will conquer ! There's magic in Kindness! 8. Live to give pleasure. Spare giving pain ! Hard words and harsh, you may call back in vain ! God alone knows what each heart has to bear. Press not the burden that's already there! Live to give pleasure, And pain not in blindness! To make life a treasure There's magic in Kindness f 9- Live to give pleasure — kind without measure — Thought, word, and deed, with kindness fraught. So shall life here, be found a rich treasure. So for Hereafter still richer be wrought ! Live to give pleasure — Pain not in blindness — To make life a treasure There's magic in Kindness ! SERVICE (To-) The precious precept comes in Jesus' name : Your chiefest, let him serve ! To Serve, I came ! More precious yet he living, dying, gave : Live not for self, nor pelf, but live to serve and save ! And thou, unselfish — living but to serve, — Serene o'er all that thee therefrom might swerve — To us repeats thy noble life so brave : Live not for self, nor pelf, but live to serve and save I For with thy Service came the gift divine To save the suffering ! This too was thine. And countless blessings one sweet echo have : Live not for self, nor pelf, but live to serve and save ! Use — Service — Sacrifice — God gave to thee ! Thro' tears of pride this corcnal we see, — While thou, thro' toilsome years, but this would crave : Live not for self, nor pelf, but live to serve and save ! .vs^ NEW YEAR'S EVE (Sylvesterabend.) (Chimeif.) I. Now the swift revolving sphere Swings into a glad new year ! -Christmas prophecies its birth And its peaceful reign on earth ! Ushers in the happy day, — Showers blessings on its way ! Presents fly from hand to hand, Blessings flow from heart to heart ! Happy faces fill the land ! Happy voices joy impart! Man begins a fresher life ! Wears a smile of sunny youth ! Goodness in the air is rife — Like the sunshine flows the truth. — Gayer sound the childrens' voices, Merrier chime the merry bells! Fuller joy the heart rejoices, Higher praise to heaven swells ! — Brighter beams the sun now launches. Bluer skies his rays release, Brighter gleam the crystal branches Of the ice-encrusted trees. While the swift revolving sphere Swings into a glad new year ! II. Coming, coming, — going, going, — So the stream of Time sweeps on, — With its ceaseless, silent flowing Bearing us where all are gone ! On its bosom sailing, sailing. Scarce we note its silent way. Busied with the cares and labors Joys and sorrows of each day, — Till by night we pass the tower — Landmark of the fleeting year — Where Time's clock the solemn hour Knells upon the startled ear ! Now, O friends, the tower we're passing i List the year-clock's measured peal! Ah ! the thoughts that now are chasing Thro' each heart, — who shall reveal ? Who divine the lingering sorrow. Who the pangs of deep regret. Cruel error, wrongs, injustice. Coming till the cheek is wet ? Errors not cf selfish foes — Lig-htest among earthly woes — Errors of mistaken friends. Sharpest woe that heaven sends ! Happy, he, who looking backward Sees the pathway he has trod Blossoming with deeds of g-oodness, Leading' ever up to God ! And if any course may vary From intention at the start. Oh ! despair not ! Do not tarry ! But press on with braver heart. — For the stream is onward ! onward ! And unless we shape our way. We shall profitless be drifted To the larger, brighter Day ! III. While the winged weeks fty o'er us, Changes are as swiftly wrought ! Where are they, so late before us, And now with us but in thought! As the shell, from shore an exile, On the air no music flings. Yet to trustful ears will murmur All the song the ocean sings, — So, divine Imagination, — Glad we trust thy wondrous skill — Touch our eyes ! and in their vision All the Past is with us still ! Faces still of sister, brother. Smiling flit from room to room, — Voices still of father, mother. Touch the deepest chords of home; Still the voUied shouts of children Put to rout the ranks of gloom ! Ever Fancy's busy fingers Weave from out her magic loom All this scene of absent faces, All the priceless joys of home! See ! O see that lovely vision ! Is't a child, an angel child. Strayed away from fields Elysian To this wintry, wintry wild ? No ! our Mabel ! 'tis our Mabel, — There the curls, the laughing eye. There the coy, enticing beauty, — Jewel worth the earth and sky! IV. Thus the swift revolving sphere Swings into a glad new year ! Christmas prophecies its birth And its peaceful reign on earth I Ushers in the happy day, — Showers blessings on its way ! Offerings fly from hand to hand, Blessings flow from heart to heart ! Happy faces fill the land ! Happy voices joy impart ! Man begins a fresher life ! Wears a smile of sunny youth ! Goodness in the air is rife — Like the sunshine flows the truth ! Gayer sound the childrens' voices, Merrier chime the merry bells! Fuller joy the heart rejoices. Higher praise to heaven swells ! — Happy, he, who looking backward. Sees the pathway he has trod Blossoming with deeds of goodness, Leading ever up to God ! And if any course may vary From intention at the start, Oh ! despair not ! Do not tarry ! But press on with braver heart ;- — For the stream is onward ! onward ! And unless we shape our way, We shall profitless be drifted To the larger, brighter Day ! 1857- PSALM OF "WAR (1864) And Moses said, t Shall your brethren go to war and shall ye sit here ? > — iNumb. xxxii. 6.) Thou givest us war, O Lord ! From Thee cometh war. Let its thunder and lightning break Ever nearer and clearer around us, Till it cleanse and purify us; Till its rain of fire and blood Shall cleanse our Land of sin; — ^ Shall make us clean forever. From devouring dangerous dire disease Maki; us sweet and pure forever. — Our measure of guilt is full ! And thou givest war, O Lord ! From Thee cometh war. 2. From Thee are our wounds, O Lord ! Thou givest us wounds Ay, prison, and hunger, and wounds! Take our limbs, and enlarge our souls, — Give us freer, braver souls — Till they burst the shell of a frivolous life, A selfish, aimless, wasted life. Take our limbs and make us larger men ! From Thee are our wounds, O Lord ! Thou givest our wounds. From Thee cometh Death, O God ! Our Life and Death ! Frorn our perishing lives uplift us. P'rom our shrivelling, low, self-seeking! From our lying cowardly living! Till for Land and Law and Liberty, And the rights of the wronged who are weaker than we Our lives shall be earnest pledges! From Thee is our death, O God I Our Life and Death. 4- What is Death, O Lord, — What is Death L Pity for him who fears it. Honor to him who ignores it. A Httle bodily hurt, — For a space a passing, pain, — And then thy fresher kingdoms, And all the loved departed Who watch, and await us ever ! Our brothers have made it easy ! Give us Death, O Lord, Give us Death ! 5- What is Life, O Lord, What is Life ! What is life, but noble action. O Brothers ! side by side, Let us haste where the country calls us ; Let us fly where tlie danger invites us ; Where the fight is closest and thickest. For there our country implores us To come with our hearts aad our bodie.s. Thither our dearest urge us. And there is the joy of the brave man. We must charge the mouths, of cannon ! We must sweep like a surge their bayonets ! What is life' but noble. ac);ion! Give us Life, O Lord, Give us Life ! 6. What is Love, O Lord, What is Love ! What is Love, but entire devotion ! O maid ! stay not thy lover, — O brother withhold not brother, — O Avife ! give the heart newly wedded, - O mother ! the first of thy bosom. Baptize them with tears, but take not away From their lips the cup God presses today, Of action and honor and glory. What is Love but entire devotion, — Give us Love, O Lord, Give us Love ! Give us Peace, O Lord, Give us Peace ! But peace that shall first be pure ! For evil no peace, O Lord. Give us friends, ere we deserve them. Wife and child, ere worthy of them, Love and Home ere we have earned them Give us heaven ere we have won it. But never till we are pure — From calamitous sin and shame all pure. Give us Peace, O Lord, Give us Peace !' PEACE < Let us have Peace >, our chieftain cries — And million hearts, a million eyes, A million tongues the prayer increase, And cry, O Father ! give us Peace ! From North to South, from East to West Let every race with peace be blest, TiU Union shall the watchword be Of one great People, strong and free ! Strong in the Right, then strong in might. Join kindred hands from shore to shore ! To right the wrong, to guard the right. Our bond of Union ever more ! The pure have peace. O purer State, Thy purer laws shall Peace attend ! A purer flag inviolate Thy peaceful power shall long defend ! Peace, whispers the Pacific Sea ! Peace, breathes the Atlantic's solemn psalm ! And Peace the eternal song shall be Of Lake and Grulf, of Pine and Palm ! SERENADE O Love, the flowers are blowing in park and field, With love their fragrant hearts are all revealed, So let thy heart to me its fragrance yield. O Love, the sun is sunk deep down the west. Where silent stars all sentinel his rest. So come in dreams, and guard my slumbering breast O Love, the moon ascends yon azure height. And trances sea and land with tranquil light. So in pure splendor, gild my peaceful night ! O Love, the sea returns to fill the shore. Till flooded beaches give their sighing o'er. So fill my heart, until I sigh no more ! THE SINGER (To A. H. P.) I loved hfer song, which seemed to be An echo from some heavenly shore ! Yet when she turned her eyes to me I could but love the singer more ! Those eyes the charm of music broke, With soulful radiance brimming o'er; Yet when with winning voice she spoke Again I loved the singer more ! Again I blest the gentle heart. The tender voice, the speaking eyes, That thus so purely could impart What leaves the heart so pure and wise 1 ^' JENNY (A Mother's Grief. I Press the sweet lips togethef — They've no word more to say ; Close the dear eyes together — They look no love to day; Fold the dear hands together — Sweet bonds that no longer enthral, Lay the dear feet together, — They run no more at my call! Put the soft curls together, To glisten no more in the sun — Put the bright curls together. And leave to me only one, — Only this, to kiss, and to kiss. When my heart is like to break — Put the soft curls together. To pillow no more my cheek. The robin this morning was here, And the sparrow once more I heard, Yet listened no longer the ear Which TXrielcofned the eafiiest bird. Ah ! how could the robin sing When no answering shout he found ! Or float on a joyous wing, And her little feet so bound ! Don't bury my child too deep, — Too far from the blossoming clover; She would smile, I ween, in her sleep, At my step in the grass above her. And throw in the flowers above — 'Twould grieve her to miss them, so They ever seemed glad of her love, And are doubly akin to her now. — O God ! with her earliest breath I gave her to Thee that morn When close by the gates of Death My child, my beloved, was born ; — And now to the same dark gate I come with more sorrow and pain. And here with my darling I wait, To give her to Thee again! A BENEDICTION (i5 April 1865.) « God bless Abraham Lincoln ! » A sorrowing People cry, — God bless Abraham Lincoln ! The sighing winds reply. The solemn benediction Is tolled from every spire, And God bless Abraham Lincoln Repeats a Nation's Lyre! At every fireside altar Is felt the stroke of Death ! And God bless Abraham Lincoln Goes up on childrens' breath ! - For well he loved the people, And the people loved him well ; And hearts grow sick and heavy As at a brother's knell ! 3- A million knees are bended On Southern plains today, A million lips are trembling With words they cannot say : A million broken voices Fill all the troubled air, And God bless Abraham Lincoln ! Is all their simple prayer. 5- Oh ! pity for the wretched hand That laid the good man low. But God forgive the guilty band Who gave the work to do! Perish ! forever perish. The hand that stabs the State! Nor think to turn God's lightnings In calling them man's hate ! Ah ! mourn him not, ye bondmen, Who died for you and me. For our great Liberator Is gone where all are free! Nay ! bless the kind death-angel That gave his soul release, And called the great Peace-maker To go where all is Peace ! Ay ! bless the kind evangel That still would stay his wing, Nor till the Stars on Sumpter rose, Would his gnjat summons bring ! But when that rose-wreathed banner Proclaimed that all was won. Then called him quickly home to hear Servant of God, well done ! — (5) And now the hillsides glow with flowers And birds in groves rejoice, While in glad benediction Ascends their mingled voice. The rivers bear it to the sea, The sea to every clime. Till God bless Abraham Lincoln, Is the universal chime ! For a voice goes up to bless him From every soldier's grave. While God bless Abraham Lincoln Cries the Land he died to save ! And Earth unites to bless him Through all her wide domains, As up to God he humbly bears A million broken chains ! ESPOUSALS (To F. B. S.) X O Summer day, send down your light, And flood the chancel where they wed ! Come, summer night, with moon and star. Your softer splendors softlier shed ! O singing surf of summer sea, Fill day and night with low replies ! Come, wandering winds, from wandering waves And breathe their sea-born melodies ! O summer dawn, all tenderly With amber fires break up the night ! Come, proudly come, O summer sun. To gild the day with promise bright ! O summer month, with fiercer heat Choke down the cannon's vengeful voice ! Bring murmuring maize, and whispering wheat. Let Peace, with Love, the heart rejoice ! O summer seasons long delayed, Nurse choicer fires in yonder blue ! Come fruitful years ! Hence, grief and tears ! God bless the beautiful and true ! J. G. BIRNEY c , ^ , , a death, like sleep; A gentle wafting to immortal life. » « His words were bonds; , , . , His love sincere; his thoughts immaculate. - When body from the dust was made, The soul descended from the skies; So when this mortal's lowly laid. The Immortal to its home doth rise ! — His was the mild and fearless eye Whence love and truth, and honor shone ! The brow of humble dignity, Where Justice sat, as on a throne ! — O brother ! though thine eye be dim. That light shall shine still on and on. To lead through darkness up to Him Who calls us aye where thou art gone ! And though the marble ne'er may give The noble forehead's simple grace. Still in our hearts it aye shall live. And in our lives its record trace. Oh ! be it ours like him to live, Like him to die, be all our praise. Whose tranquil death alone could give Fit cadence to harmonious days! PLEASANT BEACH (A Letter.; Should you ask me why this letter, Why this rythmic lyric letter, From the shades of leafy Cambridge, From the < classic shades > of Harvard, — Mingling with these student voices, With the merry festal cheering, With the 'rah 'rah 'rah of Harvard, — With the voice of Hiawatha And the much loved Bard of Cambridge, Loved in Hall, and loved in cottage, Read and loved the wide world over, — I should answer, I should tell you, Tell you with a voice contented. Answer you in accents happy. That I've just received a missive, Missive gentle and persuasive, — Tender, graceful and persuasive. Like the writer fair who sent it — From the hand of Cora Lovell; < Cora Lovell, Secretary, « Secretary Corresponding, « Pleasant Beach Association. J' Letter graceful and persuasive, Telling of a famous picnic. Of a joyous festive picnic On the shores of Peddock's Island, — 'Neath the verdurous bluffs of Peddock's. Island bosomed on the waters Of the beauteous Boston harbor ; Annual picnic celebrated By the Beach Association, « Pleasant Beach Association, » Gathering thus each year at Kimball's, On the cliffs of cool Cohasset, Where the Sea spreads far before you. Where it breaks upon the ledges, — Lashing, foaming on the ledges, Lapping, lapsing on the seashore ; — Meeting 'neath the tempered splendor Of the deep blue vault of summer On the breezy bluffs at Kimball's. There to wander by the seashore. There to rush to the enfolding Of the cool, all-covering surges ; There to gather shells and mosses, There to write upon the white sand, On the floor of Neptune's chamber, — 3 — Name of maid and name of lover; Till the absent sea returning, Ever ebbing, aye returning, Slowly, surely, aye returning, Every line and trace effaces. Every footstep e'en effaces. As the tide of Time incoming, Slowly, surely, aye advancing. Every trace and step effaces Of the happy life around us, — All deep burying, brightest, fairest, — Covering 'neath its silent waters Loving faces, loving voices. And the eyes so bright with loving. There to spread the summer banquet, Spoil of sea and spoil of garden, — Corn all sweet with dews and sunshine. Suns of June and dews of August ; Fish from coolest ocean cavern. Fish that roam in scaly armor, — Vertebrate of scaly cuirass, — Heavy plated clawed crustacean, Clawed articulate, many jointed, — Preying, warring, in those caverns In the struggle for existence. Till the fittest by survival. In that subterraqueous warfare. Come to grace our summer banquet — 4 — From those cool cerulean caverns. But to that persuasive missive From the hands of gentle Cora, Secretary Corresponding, With her light touch still upon it, Where her winning eyes have rested, Which her gentle hands have folded, I must send a soft denial; Soft, and suited to the summons Which her wish to me has wafted. Fain, ah ! fain would I accept it; But there comes the voice of Duty, And I still must list her accents Tho' they drown the voice of Beauty ! So I thank thee for thy message. Winsome Cora, Secretary, Secretary Corresponding, Pleasant Beach Association. But be sure another summer, When has flown our stormy winter On the rapid wings of Boreas To the far Antarctic Circle And the pole all wrapt in darkness; When the snow drops and the violets Have led in and out the Springtime ; When in Plymouth-woods the Mayflowers Have revived the sods of April ; When the cardinal and orchis — s — Paint the silent brooks they gaze in ; When the azalea and the wild rose Sweetly scent the silent wood paths, And the eyes of slumbering lilies Ope at dawning's purer kisses ; When from deep unseen recesses Comes the flute-song of the wood-thrush, And the tanager in scarlet Through the vistas of the greenwood Flames and flashes in the sunlight ; When the shores of placid wood lakes Mildly gleam with pale sabbatia ; When the apple trees and pear trees Once have blushed and paled with blossoms, And the oriole in their branches Hath their beauty set to music; When the waving scented corn-fields Toss their plumes and rustling banners, And the rosy maids at Kimball's Haste the silken ears to gather ; — When the « Sea Bird > spreads her pinions At the call of gentle Cora, Upon summer gales to waft her To Cohasset's pleasant beaches, — Then I'll leave these Halls and Chambers, Learned books and learned lectures. Leave these silent, friendly alcoves — Silent still, tho' many-voiced With the eloquence of ages, — — 6 — Friendly with their hoarded treasures Of the labors of all laborers, — Leave the precious ponderous volumes — Vellum, parchment, and black letter. Doomsday Book, and Corpus Juris, Institutes, and learned Littleton, Grotius, Puffendorf, and Blackstone ; — Grotius poet and jurisconsult, Poet, historian, jurisconsult, Founder of the Law of Nations, Great in Letters, — Jurisprudence. Doubly crowned while yet imprisoned, — Crowned in Law, and crowned in Letters ! Leave these walks 'neath elm and linden Where the whispering leaves and breezes Hint of secrets and of wisdom Not yet found in silent alcoves, — Leave these ancient dusty alcoves And away to cool Cohasset, To Cohasset's surfy beaches. To the far-resounding beaches Of the long Atlantic coastline, Where the Sea spreads out before you. Where the wide, world-covering waters Stretch beyond our near horizon. Far beyond our narrow vista. From horizon to horizon. To all shores around the planet. On to Spain, to Scandinavia Past the Isles of Celt and Druid, — Chanting, Sacrificing Druids, Singing hymns to gods and heroes. Chanting great exploits of heroes. In their forests as in temples ; — In the dim mysterious forest Where the priests 'mong ancient oak trees Sought the mistletoe so sacred; — Sacrificing human victims On prodigious rude stone altars To appease the angry deities Sending terrible misfortunes. Past the shores of Celt and Saxon To the land of Thor, and Wodan, — Gods to whom the Days were sacred — Gods of Thursday, gods of Wednesday. Wodan of all Good the Maker, Wodan of all Good the Giver; Laws and tribunals ordaining, Law and Justice aye protecting ; Of the shining heavens the Ruler, Ruler of the earth beneath them. Building bridge from Earth to Heaven, Stairway luminous, three colored, — Making safe and sure the passage. Under guard of flaming falchion, — Blazing sword of sleepless Hiemdal. — 8 — Sleepless, hearing seeing- all things. Guarding 'gainst the sons of Ymer, — (The colossal giant Ymer, Ymer of all Good the hater) — Race of evil, vowed to evil, Foes of gods and foes of heaven. - — To the lands of Thor and Odin Where the surf resounding coast lines Chant the burden of the Sagas, — Song of Edda, song of saga, — Deeds divine and deeds heroic — By the Scald inspired delivered, And from Bard to Bard repeated. On to Rome, and Greece, and Egypt, To Phoenicia, to Judaea, — Where on every shore the waters Sing the glories, sing the dirges. Of the Life and Death of Nations ; Sing of Power, and of Grandeur, — Sing the eternal song of Beauty — Sing of Life, and all its mystery. — Sing of Death, and deeper mystery. — ■ Ever awful, baffling mystery. Ever asking, never answering ! And of mystery yet profounder. Of a grandeur yet sublimer. Of vast Hopes and Expectations To be measured but by Spirit, — In the life of man as spirit, ' — Infinite, undying spirit, — One with spirit universal, — One with all its Love and Wisdom ! One with all its power and grandeur. So resigning books and chambers I will seek these echoing beaches Where far-wandering winds may bring me From these far far-wandering waters What we may not find in alcoves. Echoes from the shores of Ages, From these far far-lapsing waters. On these ever journeying breezes, — Echoes from all shores historic, From remotest times and peoples, — Nations vanished, thought surviving. Men appearing, disappearing, While their thought goes on forever; Nought but shreds and wrecks behind them While their thought lives on eternal ! Tomb and temple tumbling earthward. As of dust with dust commingled. While their thought soars up for ever To the purer Empyrean, Incorruptible, immortal. As of Thought with Thought commingling. As of Thought to Thought aspiring — ■ Peer of Time, and peer of Spirit ! — lO So I'll seek these echCfin^ D^a6Kef^,- Quitting hall, and book, and chattib'er. Leave these friendly, dusty alcoves', — Precious tomes and ponderous volumes, — Folio, quarto, and t)la6k ktter. Code Justinian, Pandects, Digests, Institutes, and Corpus Juris, Doomsday Book, and Tenures feudal, — Littleton, and Colce on Littleton, And Reports of Coke the learned; — Institutes of Coke the Master, Of our ancient Law the teacher, Of our Jurisprudence founder. Of our liberties defender. Coke courageous, dread of tyrants, Rights and liberties defending, — Rights of Parliament, and of people, — 'Gainst the license of the Tyrant. Coke the patriot. Jurisconsult. Doubly crowned, while yet imprisoned. Crowned as patriot, jurisconsult. — Leave moot-Courts, and friendly lectures. Endless dull elaborate argument — Much imparting learned lecturers. — Serious Parker, smiling Parsons, And laborious earnest Washburn. Parker dry, laconic, knotty. Parsons genial, anecdotic, Kindly, case accuiivulatiijig, Patient, much compiling Parsons, — And laborious learned Washburn. Leave the text books, and Reporters, Curious conflicting cases — Leave estates of evej"y nature, — Simple fee or life-remainder, — Life estate, or lease and covenant, — Copyholds and Fines, Recoveries, — Dubious dull remainders over, — Trusts created, Trusts resulting, Uses vested. Uses springing, Labyrinthine dry distinctions, — Pleasure to the learned doctors, Welcome drill to earnest student. Leaving lecturers and alcoves I will seek these voiceful beaches Of the long Atlantic coast line ; There to list the deep sea voices Which the waves and winds shall bring us From these far far-lapsing waters. There to walk alone in silence, — There to walk and talk with comrade. There to gather shells and pebbles, — Jewels which the sea hath brought us, Jewels from the car of Neptune, From the azure robe of Neptune, 12 From the trumpets of the Tritons, And the hair of Amphitrite. — There to gather graceful mosses, Graceful slender lovely sea-plants Growing fair in Ocean's chambers, — Maidens'-hair of Nereus' chambers, Cast ashore from locks of Nereids, From the fair and bright young Nereids Of those deep-sea azure chambers ; — From Calypso, Arethusa, Thetis, Clytie, Galataea, Lovely lightsome laughing Nereids Of those deep-sea azure chambers. There to walk and talk with comrade. There to walk alone, in silence, — There to write upon {he white sand Name of friend or line or legend, — ' Names of those once here to join us But who walk with us no longer — Till the absent sea returning, Ever ebbing, aye returning. Slowly, surely, aye returning. Every line and trace effaces. Every footstep e'en effaces. As the Tide of time incoming. Slowly, surely, aye advancing, Every trace. and step effaces Of the happy life around us — — 13 — All deep-burying, fairest, brig-htest, — Covering 'neath its silent waters Loving faces, loving voices, And the eyes so bright with loving! Yet again we seek these beaches When returns the happy summer, — When has flown our frigid winter To the far Antarctic Circle And the pole all wrapped in darkness. Here to walk once more with comrade, Here to list the far-brought voices Of the far far-lapsing waters And again on shores celestial, — When has vanished Death's brief winter And we leave it far behind us For the happy climes Celestial, — There again on shores celestial We may walk and talk with comrade. Where we hear diviner voices ! There again rejoin our fairest Whom the tide of Time would bury, Fairest brightest, fairer brighter. In the Light of climes celestial; — Loving faces, loving voices, And the eyes so bright with loving, — Ever brighter, ever loving. In the light of Life Celestial! FUNERAL HYMN (S. M. S.) O faithful Hearts who steadfast keep Self-consecrate to Truth and Right, Tis yours with noble grief to weep A comrade falling in the fight ! Ah ! kindly flashed those kindling eyes When victory for the right was won ! Reproving tears their quick replies When poor or weak were trampled on ! 'Neath burning sun, through longest day, His toilsome path the reaper cleaves, — At eve' he takes his homeward way And brings with joy his bursting sheaves ! These tireless hands that rest to-day Yet richer sheaves to Heaven bear ! Oh ! hymn with joy the victor's way And join the Song which greets her there ! TO GERRIT SMITH (') (Birthday lines.) Serus in ccelum redeas Bend, winter skies, more gently bend To arch this day of hope and joy ! Blow, winter wind, more softly blow And add thy music's sweet alloy ! Roll, swinging earth, more slowly roll This happy day's recurring round ! Shine, torch of heaven, more brightly shine To gild the day from bound to bound ! Hail, sweetly hail, O gentle wife, The chosen day that dawned to be The herald of a noble life, — And noblest then, when worthiest thee ! Shout, gladly shout, O captive race, ,And clank to heaven a myriad hands, To greet the day whose radiant face Brings promise unto darkening lands ! - O hopeful month, the hint of spring, — Of life renewed, — of waving fields, — Uncounted thanks that thou did'st bring That life which richer promise yields ! If days by deeds were numbered best, Strong Friend of Man! thou'rt full of years! But Heaven, in thee so richly blest, Long spares her son, nor wakes our fears ! i»5c -•--jacf FLOWERS IN WINTER (To A. C. S. ) The earth is cold and bleak and bare. The leaves are fallen to graves of snow. And leafless trees in the chilly air Give sighs to all the winds that blow. The brook runs on thro' the whitened mead Seeking in vain the grass and flowers, Murmuring soft on its wandering tread, A song of the vanished summer hours. The golden-robin's empty nest Swings sadly in the shivering tree ; The sparrow and the dear red-breast Are fled, and sing no more for thee. The hills on snowy crowns receive The crimson light of East and West ; — And in their prayers at morn and eve' Transfigured stand, by heaven blest. 11. Yet tho' the earth be cold and bare, And tho' the streamlet's voice is sad, And tho' no bird-songs thrill the air, And hill and vale with snow are clad, But look, dear friend, upon these flowers Which still for thee will strive to bloom, And they shall tell cf sunnier hours, And bring their light to winter's gloom. Their fragrance, language void of art. Is the pure love they bring to thee ! Oh ! take them — take them to thy heart, And let that love my service be ! III. Today a People's thanks arise, And hearts are votive offerings ! A nation's anthem greets the skies With praises to the King of kings! Thanks, Father! thanks, for happy years; For this rich life Thy goodness sends; For wisest care mid all our fears. And thanks, o'er all, for love and friends ! And not the less that boundless love Shall find acknowledgement from me, That thro' these flowers I may approve The blessing which they bring to thee! O gentle Heart ! and willing hand ! And soul that burdens both with love, While loyal hearts around thee stand And ever their allegiance prove, I, among those who < stand and wait; > May only lift my thought to Heaven, And all my prayers with wishes freight That God's best gifts to thee be given I Thanksgiving Day, 1855- TO MABEL, The Heavens with wondrous beauty starred JBy bookish men are sadly scarred, With harsh names given. The constellations sweet, Tripping with jeweled feet Across the heaven, Must lead, forsooth, a surly bear — Or scourge a scorpion thro' the air ! For me, I read them all the same. Some way, for me , they spell your name. Or go they fast, or go they slow, Or interchanging to and fro. In heaven high or heaven low, Tis that bright name they love to trace, — And spell it o'er and o'er. And write it ever more. Where no rude hand can reach it to efface 11. 'Mid purest light of earliest morn, In heavenly beauty dressed, All tenderly the blushing Dawn Looks forth from East to West. Looks forth to breathe her parting kiss Unto the dropping moon. Nor dreams that jealous Lucifer Above is ever watching her And envies deep that wafted bliss. And sighs for such a boon. But ah ! thy softly kindling fhish, O Mabel dear. With beauty wed Would make, I swear. The envious Dawn to blush- A deeper red ! And could that morning star From his blue height afar Bend from his silver car To thy soft kiss, He'd linger in the sky, Nor heed Apollo nigh, But gods and men defy, — To share that bliss ! '58. THE GERMAN PRISONER. (3) As thro' a mother's tears a mother's eyes Gaze fondly on the child she fears to lose, So angels, from their seats in paradise With anxious faces bend o'er human woes. The strife for life is o'er, — where thro' the night The Court House gleams, or now is lost in gloom As thro' the driving clouds the half-moon's light Shines fitfully, and hints uncertain doom ! Calm Justice there now silent vigil keeps, Nor heat nor hate nor wrong her cheek can pale. No passionate voice now tempts her marble lips, Nor vibrant air disturbs her even scale. Her chosen twelve, where glances yonder light. Are met to break the seals of Life and Death ! While Discord elsewhere still breaks up the night, And vengeful wagers rise on drunken breath. Into the grated cell the moonlight flies, As fain to visit, where none else will come. Is it God's blessing breathed from out the skies, — Or angel guardian, sent from heavenly home ? It lights the gloom as with an angel's smile — Trances the air as with a kiss of Peace. — - < My heart is breaking, wronged, and free from guile, — « Say, heavenly herald, bring'st thou not release ? Thus the lone prisoner, suppliant, feebly cries. And breaks his solitude with trembling prayer. The silence startled with his mournful sighs. Re-echoes accents yet ne'er uttered there. — A heart nigh breaking, long oppressed with grief. Falls on a Father's heart — the heart of God! Its seals are loosed, ,and there it finds relief — As fountains break spontaneous from the sod. < O God ! no home, — no friends, — 'neath alien skies,- - « A prisoner here, — and thoughts imprisoned in me, « Be Thou my Country, — Home, — and Guardian wise. — « Thus doubly dungeoned, let me fly to Thee ! « Since truth alone 'gainst vengeance powerless falls, « And fearful snares of chance my. feet restrain, « Oh! would some heavenly power might shake these walls « Some angel-messenger might loose my chain ! » As one who striving long 'twixt hopes and fears, At last o'erworn, sinks helplessly away, So Willie yields to long resisted tears. And falls upon his couch to wait the day. Fair Slumber pillows him upon her breast. And wafts him to the mystic realm of dreams ! Thro' Memory's halls she takes her silent quest, Till now in home, and Father-land he seems ! II « O Heaven ! what vision greets my eye ! « Is this my native shore? « The angry strife I left behind — « Was that the ocean's roar ? « Is this the Rhine-stream flowing down ? « And home do I regain ? — « And see ! are those the glittering spires « Of Frankfort on the Mayne ? » « Dear Frankfort, where my wondering eyes « First opened to the Hght, « And boyhood's fleeting holiday « Passed like a vision bright — « From all my weary wandering, « And years of toil, and pain, « My heart more fondly turns to thee, « O Frankfort on the Mayne ! > « Thy towers against the evening sky « In ruddy splendor rise, But in my heart they pencilled are With more than sunset dyes ! « And as the varying needle strives « Its wonted point to gain, « So turns my heart, where'er I roam, « To Frankfort on the Mayne ! » « Yonder where St. Bartholomew « Lifts up its crucic hands, « And o'er the busy swarm of life « In benediction stands, < My father's humble cottage lay, — « And tho' so poor and plain, « 'Twas far the dearest spot to me « In Frankfort on the Mayne ! » « And where St. Katherine's ample dome « Reflects the rosy sky, « And points to a celestial home « With wondrous majesty — « There Mary's gentle lot was cast, — « The hope of many a swain, — « And dearer far than all, to me, « In Frankfort on the Mayne ! » Together 'neath its chimes we sat, As evening wore away, « Until its hymeneal bells « Rung in our marriage day ! « O happy chimes ! O magic bells ! — « My tears fall like the rain, « When I recall those evening hours « In Frankfort on the Mayne ! * « Beneath its golden crucifix « We plighted life for life, « And at its marble altar I « Received my wedded wife ! « And then the old cathedral shook « With the organ's swelling strain, « And far the happiest man was I, « In Frankfort on the Mayne ! » a. O blessed be this river — « And those sacred turrets high — « And every star that o'er them bends « In favoring" prophecy ! « By all my dearest memories, « And love that ne'er shall wane, « I ne'er will quit thy blessed gates, « O Frankfort on the Mayne ! » III Hark, that ringing ! Upward springing, Willie lists with quickening breath ! Ah! that calling — Heart appalling ! Is it life, — or is it death ? « Beauteous vision — « Dream Elysean — « Art thou thus forever fled ? « Minster towers — « Native bowers — < Are ye but enchantment sped? « No ! this bolting — « Harsh, revolting! — This, is but a dream of night ; « This long waiting « Within grating — Off ! — away ! — ■ and quit my sight ! » Hark ! that tolling, — Echoing, — rolling, P'ar into the midnight sky ! Solemn calling — Dread, — appalling! Summons it to live, — or die ? IV Now cheerily glances the gladdening light. And blithe are the voices of morning ! And many a heart with expectancy bright Is blessing the day that is dawning ! But gladlier rises the morning sun, And sweeter the voices of Day, And brighter the promise of hope to one Who has wasted in prison away ! — For Willie is free ! And Mary and he Are langhing, and weeping, in joy and glee ! Like g-ay-feathered birds in the fleecy sky Their froHcsome flight awinging, The sleighs o'er the gUstening snow flash by, With their musical bells aringing. — But merrier far there is one whom I know, For all that these hours restore him, And whiter than even the g-listening snow, Is the page of his life before him ! — For Willie is free ! And Mary and he Are langhing and weeping, in joy and glee ! With a white-sailed regatta the heavens are flecked Putting forth from the harbor of Dawning, For the silver-sparred bark of the Pleiades, wrecked In the orient ^vaves of morning. — But a richer and costlier argosy bright Puts forth on its quest today. For visions and hopes which in misery's night. Have wandered in darkness away ! — For Willie is free ! And Mary and he Are langhing and weeping, in joy and glee ! Oh ! bright are the tears which are streaming today, For they are not tears of sorrow ; For joy, when his deepest debt he will pay. From the fountain of Tears must borrow ! And the radiant gems that sparkle so bright, With a richer than diamond splendor. Shall encircle the brow with a crown of light, Of him who arose in his strength and might. And became to the weak a defender. — For Willie is free ! And Mary and he Are laughing and weeping in joy and glee ! 1856. THE KEY You think she is strange — but you have'nt the key ; There are secrets of Nature beyond your poor art! Because you are stupid, — because you don't see, Will you throw to the winds a priceless heart ? The first word and last word of Love, is Trust. To true hearts the very last word is fear ! 'Tis with Courage and Trust and Love you must Find the key to a rnystery evermore dear ! For the womanly heart hath deep beneath deep, — As the womanly soul has sky above sky. But with plummet of Love you may soundings keep, And on wings of Trust you may mount thus high ! '89. GEBURTSTAG To E. R, (Jurist — Artist — Soldier.) Near where the Aar brings down his Alpine tide To wed the Rhine and seek the ocean wide, There nature cradled erst a much-loved child, And his bright youth with brightest dreams, beguiled First to his cradle clear-eyed Justice came, And in his features read her own fair name. These lips, she said, my judgment shall declare - These stainless hands my stainless scepter bear! Next heaven-born Art, with face of heavenly light Bends o'er his slumbers in a vision bright, In beauteous dreams he walks in Beauty's train. And Beauty's world he takes for his domain ; — Till Liberty, with nobler mien severe Claims him her child, and cries with accents clear : To thee my sword — my mandate this, to thee, « Guard well the Land I've chosen for the free !> (6) And thus these Three, none more divinely fair. Made their young hero all their jealous care. And round his deepening brow, to manhood grown Each bent her wreath and claimed him for her own ; Till wiser Nature now with accents mild Rebuked their strife, and thus reclaimed her child : Nor Art, nor War, nor Law, completes my plan — Behold my noblest Work — A Noble Man ! fe>^ THE LAST ROSE The rose awaits your coming', And late it blooms for you, The bee around it humming Ne'er dares to taste its dew, But sighing sings : This precious wine Blushes for other lips than mine. Unto its fragrant bower The parting sunlight steals, And in that tranquil hour Its tender love reveals. « O loving light of day's decline I bloom for other eyes than thine ! > Thither with soft caressing The shadowy moonlight flies, Thither with purest blessing The trembling starlight hies. « O purest rays in heaven that shine I bloom for other eyes than thine ! » O lips of purest sweetness, And eyes of purest light, — O soul whose rare completeness Is radiance in my sight, — This flower which shrinks from light divine Is yet scarce worthy eyes of thine ! Yet on thy heart but wear it — 'Twill gather fragrance there -^— And with thy face compare it Till it learn to bloom more fair ! To me no fairest angel shrine Could fairer, worthier be than thine. 57- ^* ^ PORTRAITS (M. B. M.) A cherub sweet, with tranquil eyes, Viewing the world with mild surprise, Turning ever toward the Light, Of household fire, or sunshine bright. - A Girlhood fresh as May or June. A voice with Spring-time birds in tune. A smile where Light from unseen skies With heavenly radiance fills her eyes. — A Maidenhood where all things seem The current of some mystic dream : A stream which left some heaven behind And still winds on some heaven to find. - In Womanhood serene and fair See childhood, girlhood, maiden rare ! A beauteous Life, — o'erarched with Hope Beyond all mortal ken the scope ! Still turning ever toward the Light — Still 'neath that Light of unseen Skies Which guides her wandering steps aright To fairer Realms of sweet surprise ! ICHABOD MORTON {Funeral Hymn.) He dreamed that Heaven should come to earth * And ceaseless toiled the day to view. O'er-borne he sank before its birth — And lo ! to him the dream is true ! O weary heart ! O weary hand ! No more the anxious strife renew — A Power above the vision, planned, And Heaven indeed has come to you ! Sweet May returns — with leaf and flower The garden of his love expands ! Rewarding autumn brings her dower But gives the fruit to other hands ! So blest is he, and ever blest, Who patient sows where others reap. And ever-ripening fields shall best His ever-growing memory keep ! (*) " We can have Heaven here, if we but live rightly. „ I. M. SONG OF THE ROSE (To an invalid j I watch, with thee, the silent summer nig'ht, AVith thee I follow e\-ery friendly star, And waning" moon late risen to our sole sight, Till, from their patient quest, All, all, are sunk to rest. Deep in the slumbrous we^t, And lady, thou and I still sleepless are. O wear)' heart, deem not thy watch untalest Though thou alone dost mark the lagging hours While many voic-ed Day is hushed to rest, And stillness even sleeps Weary the watch it keeps. Tranced in midsummer deeps. And wandering zephyrs pause on beds of flowers. E'en while with night you cool a throbbing brow And to that distant heaven so fondly gaze, God's blessing hand is on his child e'en now ! And all that pathway white In yonder azure height Is but, I ween, the flight Of angels, bringing peace for all thy days. 4- The perfume which I bear is but the kiss They breathed upon me in their bending flight. A token sweet they left for you, it is ! And see, — this crystal dew. The tears they wept for you, Which,, falling as they flew, I garner in my bosom all the night. The morning breaks, — and nature is at prayer. And with the earliest Ught, and hush of dawn, Soothed with the song of birds, and freshening air With suffering long oppressed At last thou findest rest, By gentle sleep caressed, — Sleep standing by, each ruder breath to warn ! 6. Oh ! sleep, fair lady, sleep ! < )h ! sleep nor dream All peacefully, as sihks the summer day, All tranquilly, as glides yon rippling stream. Sleep, sleep, Oh ! sleep and rest. — vSleep, sleep, O weary breast — Sleep, sleep, O dearest, best. — Too happy, I, to guard thy rest alway! 1857- GOLDEN WEDDING (L. S. — S. M. S.) (Song.) O Love ! the sun is shining in the east, Nor tires to shine, while ages have increased. So shines our love, and fills my tranquil breast. O Love ! on yonder shore the ocean sings, As when it bore the Mayflower's drooping wings So in my heart our early love-song rings. O Love ! with Spring the wild flower still appears. Fresh as the Pilgrims saw it thro' their tears. So blooms our love, thro' all the changing years ! O Love ! the moon and stars descend the west To make in fresher skies their happier quest. So, love, once more we'll wed, among the blest ! i860 ONE FRIEND One true friend — one friend really true, — This is enough, believe me, for you. One dear friend, — one friend truly dear, — Here is enough thy heart to cheer ! In a whole life-time find but this one. Heaven for you on earth is begun ! When among thousands this one you find, God is there manifest — His is that mind Blow, storms of Evil ! — this one is true ! Here a sheet-anchor holds fast for you. Heart-weary, soul-weary, stemming the flood Rest in this Heart of the Infinite God ! THE ARCHER With all my strength I bent my bow, And aimed the shaft with anxious eye A sudden breath from Heaven, and lo ! The arrow from its course did fly. With pain I sought — with joy I found The brighter mark to which it flew ! A Hand unseen the trial crowned, And aimed it better than I knew. * THE BUSY BEE (E. S. M.) {Paterfamilias loquitur.) This day 'tis thirty years ago — Yes, dearie, thirty five ! — (My ! how time flies ! 'Tis much to do To count the years we Uve ! ) Why Lizzie, yes ! 'twill be, — dear me ! — Septembers thirty five. Since you, a < little busy bee, > Came buzzing to our hive! And when I heard the breezy hum, I kissed the good Queen Bee ! We scarcely guessed what prize had come, Yet smiled and wept with glee ! E'en then I saw your wings unfold And waft you here and there To gather sweets, or dust of gold. From gardens rich and fair. Was it a father's tender love That you so lovely seemed? Or was't that on thee from above Some angel's smile had gleamed ! For sure the rose fresh color earned Anear that tender cheek, And like a torch in midday, burned The lily on thy neck ? Your voice has filled the hive with cheer Oh ! many a long, long day, — 'Twas music, dearie, to my ear, 'Twas sunshine on the wav ! Yes, filled the hive with joy and cheen. The sweetest, dearest lay That ever sent a careworn year With music on its way ! To count the honey you have stored And gathered in the hive, And fields of labor you've explored For years full thirty five. 'Twere all in vain : no precious hoard Can vie with that of Lizzie. For industry, find some new word. The bee's not half so « busy. > The bee forsooth, the winter near. Sleeps in his waxen dome. While Lizzie dear, from year to year. Illumes a happy home. And when I see thy watchful care Of one both mine and thine ; A matchless love which seems to share Of human and divine ; Oh God ! I cry, if love there shines More pure than all, all other — 'Tis that which binds, and ever binds The daughter dear, and mother! Yes, many a year has come and gone ■ Septembers thirty five, — Since your sweet life began to dawn. Dear Lizzie, in our hive. And tho' we cannot count the stores Our « busy bee 3> has earned, Be sure there's One has kept the scores, .They'll be ten times returned! 1857- INDIAN SUMMKR (To E. S. M. Soft Indian Summer, come once more, Still kindly brings thy natal day ; And musing long by wood or shore My heart still sings one simple lay. Oh ! sweetest Spring of Life was thine. Aye breathing airs of May and June ; An atmosphere of love divine To which thy heart kept perfect tune ! Thy Summer crowned with fruit and flower, — A heaven-sent wealth of beauty rare — Brought warmth, and light, and love in dower To all who loved thee, grown so fair! And thus while Autumn binds thy brow With matron's, more than conqueror's wreath. May we our loyal homage vow With hearts grown pure, thy smile beneath ! A SEVENTIKTH BIRTH DAY (To B. H. M.) To those who cUmb these Alps sublime A calmer purer sky is given. And thus these bolder heights of Time But lift us to the calm of Heaven ! 2. From these clear heights we still behold The clouds which veiled our lives below ; But now beneath they softly fold, In noonday light or evening glow ! 3- No more they hide the sun and stars, No more the tender blue above, — The Eternal Day his Hand unbars Who guides us while we Heavenward move ! METEORS When Sylvia raised to heaven her eyes Where sliding stars so softly trailed, Methought new splendor touched the skies And other fires as sudden paled. And when from her I looked above, — Or when we both the meteors sought, My blinded eyes wtih darkness strove, Or lights were drowned in light she brought Ah ! heed not stars which blaze and burst While loving planets constant burn. Nor while for thee one flame is nursed May'st thou to fitful splendors turn. ^ TO LULIE I saw a rosebud on its bush Unconscious of its opening flush, Yet reigning in its perfumed bower The pet of wind and sun and shower. Again a blowing rose I saw Whose beauty every eye did draw, Yet shunned, or half allowed the gaze Of hommage or of honest praise. You guess my moral Lulie. The opening bud was thine - But tell, oh tell me truly, Shall not the rose be mine ? ^ CLASS '55 (Sophomore song.) Ah ! cheerily, joyfully, bounds every heart In the jovial festival throng. When around the bright board loving classmates are met, (') And each voice mingles glad in the song ! Each heart seeks to seal the warm vows of each heart, Every eye flashes greeting sincere! While the notes of the song as its tide rolls along Fill the bosom with liveliest cheer ! Alma Plater, two winters have peacefully decked Thy head with a crown white and hoar. Two summers with beauty have arched their green shade O'er thy paths, since we first songht thy lore. And soon, ay ! too soon, will the bright days of June Twine our wreath round the old parting tree. And the evening breeze to the whispering trees Reecho the parting glee ! As the moon gilds her track from the clouds that would dim And ascends all so queenly the skies, May each victory won in our path ever on Gi\'e us strength e\er higher to rise ! As the parting sun greeting new climes with his light Leaves the tenderest light behind, So, Har\'ard, when life calls us far from thy scenes May we leave with thee memories kind! Now with hand clasping hand, form one unbroken band! vSeal the bonds of our friendship around ! And above the bright chain swell aloft the glad strain, Till each link is with harmony bound ! Now a health to Fair Harvard! Fill high! boys, fill high! For what name to our hearts is more dear ! And a double health now to the « Class fifty five » ! And may God bless its onward career ! 1853. THANKSGIVING »(*) (Postprandium.) Under the * scramble once more, Now while the winter winds whistle and roar ! Hear her quick < Cluck ! cluck ! > calling you home ! Run ! e^'ery chick of ye- ! « Come >, she cries, « Come ! > « Don't gfo so far, for the dinners you're scratching ! Don't stay so long, while I'm waiting and watching! Are there no pickings a tTiought nearer home That afar and astray you must wander and roam ? In the darkest long night, thro' the longest bright day I've spread my wings o'er you, at work or at play. Running in, running out, with laugh, tears, or shout. You've nestled beneath me — I've closed you about. Thro' days, weeks, and years, since you first pecked the [shell, I've gathered you under me, loved you full well 1 In health or in sickness, in life — ay! in death, I've sheltered ye all, since the first tender breath ! And for all these long years that I've watched so above [ye, * « The Homestead. » Is it strange, truant chicks, that so fondly I love ye? So come back to the « Old Hen », wanderers, come! And learn the old adage, There's no place like home ! But bless me ! what's this ! not a bird of my feather, Coming bound to my boy by some mystical tether ! No nestling of my flock has such gentle mien, — No sweetness and grace like to this have I seen ! Ah ! my truant has strayed to the land of the fays, And there, with their beauty and grace all amaze. Has brought back, in a dream, to my plain homely brood The gentlest and best of the true and the good ! Ah ! sonny! this comes of not asking your mother Before going out, like your dutiful brother ! You would always be going to those dreadful wars ! And now, (always daring), you've climbed to the stars — And seeking the fairest and brightest and best. You've brought it (just like you) right home to my nest! Well, there's one thing, — my chicks know what's good [when they see it, — Sure sign that when evil comes near, they will flee it ! And this fairer child I will count in with mine; Till they catch from her presence, a charm so divine ! Welcome and cherish, and make her mine own,- Till my boy's spell is sundered, and homeward she's [flown ! Or, if Love and Devotion may aid the soft charm, He shall keep her forever, and safe from all harm ! So come back to the « Old Hen >, wanderers, come ! And learn the old adage. There's no place like home ! Isfestle beneath me, dear children, once more, And let the world's winter blast whistle and roar. Gather together close under my wing ! And rest from all care, in the love that I bring ! > Homestead, 1871. THE SECRET Guard no ill feeling toward any — Keep only love for all. And the joyous hours shall be many, And Heaven within thy call ! 2. The sunlight is brighter the day When you've thrown to the winds your hate. For the soul with love is elate ! Still fairer the day, — thy work but play. And at every turn of the gladsome way Glad angels upon thee wait ! ^ THE TIE A silken lasso round my neck My cousin throws, and so I'm caught. Nor may I ever wish to break The bonds her loving hands have wrought. Oh ! than the finest silk more fine, Yet stronger than the bolts of Jove, The subtile mesh they easy twine Which knits me to the hearts I love. The bond which gods nor men can part, Nor Time, nor change, nor mortal strife. Is wrought from out a noble heart. And strengthened by a noble life ! ^ OUR PRINCE (TO <'55->) When there by the Charles, in our little world, Our banner of '55 was unfurled. In the jealous republic we then proclaimed, No rank, and no privelege, e'er could be named. And yet we'd a prince, who was prince from the start. Right noble by nature, — right noble of heart ! ^ And a « prince of good fellows, > our prince was he ! And the kind hearty voice, so ringing and free. Came straight from a heart so manly and true. That it thrilled your own heart, thro' and thro' ! And that nature so sunny, that soul so bright. Like the sun, brought us every where warmth and hght f Right chivalrous too was the prince of our band So ready with heart, or head, or hand ! Wherever the hour showed a noble need He was quick to the front with word or deed ! Ah ! lament not the Age of a Chivalry gone, When in hearts such as his, 'tis forever reborn ! With his country in danger he needed no call. But quitting the work that he loved before all, Hastened home to her succor, o'er land and sea. For the student a patriot-knight is he ! And once the terrible conflict o'er. The foes of his flag were his friends once more ! And arms once more to the gown giving way, When our soldier was sought for the civic fray. To partisan struggle, like justice blind. He ne'er « gave to party that meant for mankind. > And in this noisy field, made the same gallant fight. He would right the old wrong — and he stood for the Right ! And thou, Alma Mater, when thy voice is heard. Among all thy true hearts, whose more quickly is stirred ! To thy Heaven-eyed savant what love did he bring, — And walked by his side, as a prince with a king. And while memory lingers of noble deeds done Shall thy blessing aye rest on thy dutiful son ! And classmates, for us, as our prince we recall, We are sure of a place in his heart for us all ! And a place in all ours he surely shall have While hearts can remember the true and the brave ! And wherever we meet, and whenever we part, A Health ! to our Prince of the Noble Heart ! 'Tis the combat of Life the true hero reveals — This Trial by Battle which nothing conceals ! And borne from the struggle on many a field, Our comrade the prince, has the hero revealed ! And weary, and wasted, and wounded full sore. He yet is more princely than ever before ! From a much beloved classmate the word comes to me That « his kind thought for others is touching to see. > And our comrade's own words which are wafted me here Show no thought for himself, but for all to him dear ! So wherever we meet, and whenever we part, A Health ! to our Prince of the Noble Heart ! Switzerland. I. I. '90. THEIR ^VEDDING DAY To /With the Bel urn of the Mayflower J Ay! pilgrims twain on a new shore today, See all unmoved, their Mayflower speed away; To leave them in a Land they ne'er would leave, "Where every zephyr nought but love doth breathe. As fades the sail athwart the fading" past. The present hour is all they wish may last. In this new Land they consecrate new lives ! A Heart to keep, the world of their emprise ! No nobler task the noblest soul employs. No holier duties bring diviner joys ; For he who wins and keeps one noble heart Full well may act, in heaven or earth, his part. O true hearts pledged, in this new life today, < God guide ye, and God guard ye on your way ! > — O loved and lost ! bend from your crystal spheres ! Your blessings blend with ours, your prayers, your tears ! SONO In dreams I seemed of good to men, In church or state, by speech or pen. And woke, to find my dream of power A vision of the passing hour. Then bent my Guardian to mine ear. In wisest counsel ever clear : < To others greater deeds belong, — Try thou, to cheer their work with Song. With joy I take the humbler part. And sing my song with cheerful heart. Unseen, we list the unseen bird. Somewhere, perhaps, my song is heard Not heard indeed because I sing. But for the good I fain would bring. Unconscious, like the bird so dear, Yet glad, like him, if I but cheer. NIQHTFAJLL The world rolls away from the Light And God draws the curtain of Day. In the darkness and silence and calm of night, I think of my daily way. Before Thee O God ! as Thy world speeds on, — Thou guiding by day, protecting till dawn, — I turn my heart to the day now gone, And think of my daily way. 2. Have I heeded Thy laws this day — For Thou and Thy laws are one. Have I made Thy laws my laws this day -^ With Thee has all been done ? For in these Thou art near, ever near, O Lord, — Immutable — Infinite — One ! In obeying Thy laws Thou art best adored 1 In obeying Thy laws. Thou dost help afford ! With this worship, thisloye, has my heart been stored With Thee has all been done ? Have I faithfully toiled this day — Have I earned this day my bread — Have I kept Thy just and primal Law That each shall earn his bread. Have I shunned the degrading and shameful sin On another's toil to be fed. Oh ! let me not idle, the earth despoil, While another for me must doubly toil, — Another must doubly cleave the soil To spread my board and bed ! 4-' Have I been just this day — Have I heeded the rights of others. In this duty of striving for self and mine Have I kept the immutable law divine. To be just to my striving brothers ! Ah ! meanest of all, if while toiling for self I degrade this duty to greed for pelf — If I make it a scramble for power and pelf To the wrong of my toiling brothers ! 5- Was I thoughtful of father and mother — Was I loving with wife and child — Was I helpful .to sister and brother — Have I served this sacred guild. Ah ! help me, O God, more faithful to be. In Duty and Love, until I may see In the loye of these hearts the best blessing from Thee ! Till I win the true love of this guild ! 6. Was I just to the toiling poor — Have I heeded their rights, and dues, — The friend who sweeps my floor — The brother who cleans my shoes. The widow who washes; and they who prepare My food and my bed with constant care. Ah ! smite me, O God ! if I prove unfair To the toiling, humble poor! Have I heeded the feelings of others, — In wish, thought, creed, or plan; In the rights which first of all others Are the sacredest rights of man ! God forbid I should be, of all tyrants the worst, That despot of thought, — whose opinion comes first Who rides rough-shod, in conceit accurst, O'er the thoughts and the feelings of others ! Have I done a kind act this day — Have I cheered with love some heart ; — For in all our varied earthly way, 'Tis the act of love which day by day Will the highest life impart ! In the battle of life comes the zest to succeed, — In work and achievement is highest meed, — But life is yet sweetest when word and deed Have gladdened with love some heart ! Thus while God draws the curtain of day, And the world rolls away from the sun As I think of my earthly way And review the day that is done, Let me feel in my heart that sweetest joy, Let me taste that pleasure without alloy, That some kind act did my time employ, — As I think of the day that is done. (I ) A life-long friend of the slave, — a sincere and unselfish lover of his country. — A heart always in sympathy with his fellow men, - their rights, and wrongs, — and a noble nature, where a great heart and a great head were constant rivals. — The idol of a family and social circle, because a husband, a father, a friend, beyond all praise. — A courteous gentleman, of whom king or courtier might learn dignity and courtesy; and of whom a distinguished lady once said, « God made Gerrit Smith, and then broke the mould ! » h Since these « lines », Heaven as recalled him, - already long ago: and now, so far from his grave among the hills we both loved, — and here in a land whose earliest and most sacred traditions as well as later life and history are all bound up with Freedom and equal rights, — I am permitted to add this Iresher and brighter leaf to my poor and fading laurel of 1859. That will fade, and perish; and this also. But the life of a good man is imperishable. It will ^ blosscyn in the dust ». E. M. Merges, Switzerland, '89. (3) (From The Monthly Religious Magazine, of April 1857.) < Some of the readers of these pages may remember having seen the fact, out of which these verses grew, mentioned in the public papers. An interesting young German, a stranger in this country, was lately thrown into prison, in a county in the State of New-York, on a charge of having murdered a farmer who was found dead in his barn. Circumstances which, from his ignorance of our language and other causes, he was unable to explain, combined to fasten about him a singular and perilous net- work of suspicion. Indeed, there seemed no chance for his life ; — when he was found one day in his cell by the distin- guished philanthropist and able counseller, Gerrit Smith. This quick-sighted gentleman was soon convinced of his innocence and undertook his defence. After the most indefatigable pains, in spite of the most complicated difficulties, having travelled the whole country-side in his own carriage to gather testimony, and having labored literally day and night in gratuitous exer- tions for the unfortunate fellow's cause, he at last happily, and providentially as he himself believes, struck upon a train of evidence which, after two sharply contested trials, in the hands of this skilful advocate, obtained a clear acquittal. The excite- ment of the protracted case, heightened by the sorrowful situation of the tender young wife of the accused, wrought upon the sympathies of the neighborhood to a degree remind- ing one of the trial of Effle Deans. The whole history of the transaction would discover incidents fraught with a romantic and thrilbng attraction. The same beneficence that toiled so unweariedly for the poor foreigner's acquittal, afterwards pro- vided for him the means of a livelihood. The author of the poem was personally conversant with the events as they occurred. » Ed. [Bishop Huntington.] (4) — A New England festival, first established by the « Pilgrim Fathers > at Plymouth, and which finally became an occasion of family reunion in the Colony, somewhat akin to that of Christmas in England; which our earnest and serious ancestors had allowed to fall into desuetude, in the sad and threatening days of the erring and wayward Stuarts, for reasons then sufficient. In our own day Christmas has gradually come again to the front, more or less; while our good old « Thanksgiving y> , ha,ppi\Y, still holds its own. And as long as seed time and harvest » continue, it must continue to do so ; having its natural and reasonable foundation in the senti- ment of thankfulness to the Almighty for the fruits and harvests of the year, together with the grateful recognition of His unceasing care and guidance ! We are assured that « seedtime and harvest , , , shall not cease. » (Gen. viii 22.) Let us hope that the same will hold true of our « Thanksgiving » ! The subject is deserving a much better poem : and the verses to which these lines are appended are of so slight a texture (written many years ago, for the fireside audience only) that I may be pardoned the impulse to profit by the occasion of explanation in a foreign land, thus to supplement them in this note. (5) _ When the flag of the United States was raised once more over Fort Sumpter, it bore upon its folds a wreath of roses. President Lincoln assisted at the ceremony, and hoisted the flag to its place again with his own hands ! (f"' To colonel R., (divisionnaire) acting, with others, under appointment from the federal Government, is in no small measure due the present excellent military orga- nization which so well protects and defends the integrity (and neutrality) of the Swiss Confederation. And that it may be thus long protected and defended, whether from danger from within or from without, must be the sincere and earnest desire of every friend of good government, throughout the world. For, while cherishing the best wishes for the prosper- ity and happiness of every people, no one certainly can remain long in this delightful country, a witness of the beneficent working of its just, equitable, and enlightened civil polity, without being especially penetrated with the conviction that it is for the interest not merely of Switzerland alone, but, directly or indirectly, of all other nationalities, and of all lovers of human welfare and pro- gress every where, that this excellent and beneficent « government of the people by the people and for the people, should not perish from the earth. » But rather that it should have everlasting life. Or at least stand as long as the world stands. And as the principles upon which the Swiss polity is founded are not only becoming more and more firmly and solidly established within her own borders, but also constantly gaining ground in Europe, as they have been for the last century, — (especially in regard to the idea that the national sovereignty is more justly logically sa- fely and wisely lodged with the whole people rather than with any one family thereof,) — no reason can be — 2 — now foreseen why the wish above expressed should not be realized. And this conviction also becomes the more lively, and the reflection the more pertinent, at a time when one is forced to hear much idle and impertinent gossip about the final partition of Switzerland, (!) and its eventual absorption by its ever litigious and ambitious neighbors in their rivalry for power and precedence! And especially in the event of an imminent and ever-impending war between them; the first step of which would, it is said, be, necessarily, an invasion of, (and consequently war with,) the Confede- ration! And proceeding thence, the modus operandi is kindly explained to us. This, of course is pure nonsense; having its origin for ■ the most part in the hallucinations of some heated and anonymous journalist, or in the profound political vaticina- tion of the cabaret. No one regards it. The time has gone by, (now already a century and more) for the « absorption » of a country, and an enlight- ened nationality, by any power, or any alliance of powers. It would seem on the contrary, that reasonable men look forward, and may reasonably look forward, to the absorption of the rest of Europe, — ■ not by Switzerland, certainly, but by the principles which govern Switzerland, as but a question of time. The odious phrase itself of the « partition » of a coun- try carries with it a bad odour ever since the extraordi- nary exploits of the adventurous Potemkin, and his ambi- tious and misguided mistress Catherine second. -q- And the unwarranted, high-handed, and predatory in- terference of that unscrupulous wilful woman, — absolute and dissolute despot, — by ovei'-powering violence and conquest, in the country of a most gallant and patriotic people long struggling to throw off the hateful Yoke of foreign domination, and despotism ; her long continued despotic oppression thereof; its wholesale dismembei-ment, thrice repeated, upon three different conquests ; the whole- sale partition between the triple alliance of conspirators (*); and the final extinction of a high-spirited nationality long heroically strugghng for the breath of life under the heel of a foreign despotism, — all taken together forms one of the most painful and disagreeable chapters of Eu- ropean history ! It has left there an ugly stain, forever ineffacable ; and offers an example, in its atrocious nature and three-fold repetition, of gratuitous and unscrupu- lous defiance of Public Law, happily without paralled in modern history ! Fortunately all that wretched business was a great while ago ; and we have got well beyond it. We live in another Age. A new and more enlightened one. We have more light, and greater advantages. We owe much to them, and more and better things are expected of us. The Christian religion and its precepts, as those of ethics and morals, are becoming more and more a matter of practice, rather than of profession merely. As having ap- plication not to another life merely, but to this especially. It is remembered that the author of the Christian dispen- sation gave « commandments, » having reference particu- larly to this life. That he said, during his last hours and among his parting words, « a new commandment I give _ 4 — « unto you, that ye love one another. » And that he added, « if ye love me, keep my commandments. » And however slowly we are approaching the application of this Christian injunction by Christian states, it is at least certain that the day of Arbitration in the place of « Trial by Battle, » for the adjustment of international differen- ces, is at hand. It has arrived ! (And the latter barbarous procedure, a legacy of the tribal condition of mankind, will sooner or later take its place among the strange and rudimentary customs of the Middle Ages.) And the day has likewise arrived, when the impor- tant and sacred rights of Peoples and Nationalities are regarded rather than the ambitious rivalries and quarrels of dynasties, and families and « Houses » ! — And it is likewise certain that whatever party or parties should attempt the role of « Catherine second » today, with a country like Switzerland, — on whatever pretext, — would meet with swift and effectual rebuke, and universal condemnation ! And would be handed down to an immor- tality of infamy compared with which the audacious and arbitrary performances of that bold and extraordinary despote, and her abettors and favorites, would dwindle into the pardonable enors of an unfortunate and mis- guided princess, in a despotic and partially civilized com- munity. Where, as Montesquieu says, « One alone governs, « according to his will or his caprice ; » and where [the principle of] virtue is not at all necessary, and [that of] honor would be dangerous » . . « un seul y gouverne selon ses volontes et ses caprices. » . . « pour la vertu elle n'y est point necessaire, et I'honneur y serait dangereux. » (E. des L., Liv. III. c. II. et IX.) — 5 — They would, moreover, have to reckon first of all with the intelligent Swiss themselves, — who, however small their numbers, would know very well how to take care of themselves, (and better than any one can tell them) : as they have done, since the days of their legendary heroes and patriots. (Who, however legendary, are yet very authentic and very real, en principe, in every heart in Switzerland. If they never existed, they ought to have existed. Where ever there was feudalism and absolutism, they had their raison d'etre. As in such case they always must have.) Mythical or historic they are very much alive today. (Whatever forms and appearances absolutism and menace may take.) And these beloved and immortalized heroes would reappear, very palpably, in life and action. The Tells and Winkelrieds, the Stauffachers, Fiirsts and Mel- chthals, would be about as numerous as the Swiss them- selves. And Sempach and Morgarten and Nsefels and Saint-Jakob would be revived and repeated in every encounter with an army of conquest. Only overwhelm- ing numbers could subdue these patriots idolizing their country, and history, and nationality. And if finally over- powered by invading myriads and myrmidons, there would be nothing left to the despoiler but the silent mountains and valleys, where the hardy defenders of their noble country would die to the last man, rather than submit to any foreign domination, rule, or adminis- tration. In now many years abroad, and in different countries, I have never yet seen one, in which the sentiment of nationality and patriotism is stronger than in Switzerland. — 6 — Local differences or rivalries may at times engage them, chez eux, as is constantly happening in every other land. — But at the first moment of national danger, at the first note of menace external, every man comes instantly to the front as a « hon Suisse. » Not now Gene- vois, Vaudois, Balois, Bernois, Ziirichois merely, but a « good Swiss. » Guter Schweizer. And if it is true every where, that the honor of the citizen is bound up with the honor of his government, it strikes one as especially true here that every « good Swiss » considers his life itself as bound up with the life and existence of his common country. And that life he stands ready to offer whenever the Fatherland calls for it ! He acts without phrase. But when that call comes, his heart hears once more, and whispers and reechoes, the thrilling patriotic Choral of his childhood : (**) Rufst du mein Vaterland? Sieh' uns mit Herz und Hand, Air dir geweiht ! Heil dir Helvetia ! Hast noch der Scshne ja, Wie sie Sankt Jakob sab, PYeudvoll zum Streit ! Frei, und auf ewig frei, Ruf unser Feldgeschrei, Hair unser Herz ! Frei lebt, wer sterben kann, Frei, wer die Heldenbahn Steigt als ein Tell hinan, Nie hinterwserts ! {■') Call'st thou, my Fatherland? See I we come, heart and hand Vowed all, to thee I — 7 — And his heart and hand act together. And to the words and music of this inspiring national hymn, sung in every hamlet and hall and schoolroom in the land, — and by company and battalion, — united Switzerland marches and keeps step, as one man ! But beside the Swiss themselves, there would also be a certain great Power to be taken into the account. Namely, the power of Public sentiment. Which, taken universally, is but another name for the Moral sentiment. We may well say taken universally, for with our means of instant communication today, the heart of mankind beats as one ! And this public sentiment, which has been called « Society's great eye, » may now also be called the conscience of the world. It acts instinctively, instan- taneously, simultaneously, and universally; and may well be considered a Great Power. It enjoins the right, it frowns upon and restrains the wrong, and it cannot be treated with levity. It is an alliance of mankind ! It acts promptly, and it has the means of making its opinions and injunctions respected. It would not regard with un- concern an unwarranted and selfish attack upon a sover- eign state, or a reckless disregard of its sovereignty, to suit the convenience of others numerically stronger. And under its broad cu' .^