Missing Page Cornell University Library The original of tliis 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/cu31 92401 320501 2 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, AND OTHER POEMS. AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, AND OTHER POEMS. By W. J. ABRAM. LONDON: HENRY J. DRANE, LOVELL'S COURT, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.G. T /^ EDINBURGH : COLSTON AND COMPANY, PRINTERS. PREFACE. I HAVE gathered many of these Poems from Taifs Edinburgh Magazine — two of them from the Standard — and have carefully excluded any that were either political or polemical, remembering what Keats has sung, — •• They shall be acxxtnnted poet kings, Who simply tell the most heart easing things." W. T- ABRA^: Tempis, i8ga CONTENTS. PACE An Old Man's Love, . . . . i A Nuptial Ode, . . . .6 The Boatmen OF THE Downs, . . ri The Day after Death, . . . . i6 Urania, 19 Agatha, ... 22 A Dream of Nineveh, . . . 24 The First Page in the Album, . . • 29 The Two Worlds, .... 32 One of Us, 37 Virginia, ... . .40 Kind Faces, . . . . -44 An Appeal, . . , . , -45 CONTENTS. Love — a Remonstrance, Little Kate, . Woman, Aunt Mary, The Love that Lives, . The Poet's Answer, After Many Years, Light in Darkness, A Dream of Truth, Thk End of Grief, Flowers, . To-morrow, Good-Night, . Farewell, 48 52 55 58 59 64 66 70 72 74 79 80 82 83 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, AND OTHER POEMS. ERRATA. Page 24. For anxiety like his read hers. „ 82. For earned life read earnest. VI 11 CONTENTS. PAGE Love — a Remonstrance, ... . . 48 Little Kate, ... . . . . 52 Woman, ... . • • 55 Aunt Mary, ... . . -58 The Love that Lives, . . -59 The Poet's Answer, . . 64 After Many Years, . . . .66 Light in Darkness, . . 70 A Dream of Truth, . . 72 Thf. End of Grief, . . .... 74 Flowers, .... 79 To-morrow, 80 Goo °— Far AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, AND OTHER POEMS. AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, AND OTHER POEMS. AN OLD MAN'S LOVE. At even-time, an old man, thoughtfully, Gazed on the flitting phantoms of the fire ; And lights and shadows o'er his furrowed face In quick succession passed. For him, the earth Gave up her dead; and memory brought forth The hidden treasures of her wondrous depths; And griefs unfathomed oceans could not drown- AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, Again there came to him the gentle child, With whom he gathered early violets, And unto whom, with all the earnestness Of childhood, many valued trifles gave. Again — he heard sweet words of welcome, said By lips that often kissed him in his sleep. As sweetly as when o'er his infant face Her long black curls in sunny beauty hung. Again — he knelt beside a marbled face, And prayed as only grief by death can pray ; And lo ! an angel with a dagger stood Before him, and he hid his face, — and took A simple locket from around his neck. And raised it to his lips — then Clara came And sat beside him, and around him twined Her soft white arms, and kissed his wrinkled brow, And gently said, — "My father, I have seen AXD OTHER POEMS. A trouble pass across your hallowed facej And I, who love you better than the world. Would share it with you ; " — ^but the old man said, "My daughter, it were better not;" — and still She whispered, "Tell me." Then at length he spake: ■'It is a simple gilded thing, and yet Has been preserved by me for thirty years. Wealth, that I had, has taken wings and flown ; Love, that I prized, was faithless, and is dead; And you alone are left to me. For she ^^^lo gave it me" — then suddenly there came A trembling o'er him, and the old man rose And clenched his hand, and stood as in his youth Erect, and brightly flashed his sunken eyes; And all his face was terrible with rage; And all his passions in their strength returned; And in a moment all the agonies AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, Of years swept o'er him, and his voice grew strong :- "She left me — from this very house she fied — Fled with a swindler from my poverty, And died a beggar's death. I sometimes wish That I had killed him, as he passed me by With a derisive smile upon his lip." He paused, and more than once he stooped to kiss Her fairy face, all Apriled o'er with tears; And looking on her, he became again The kind old man, and said, "My daughter, pray That you and I may never think of her But in our love, for once she loved us both. Ah ! girl, the love which in our youth we give May slumber, but can never, never die. Though in the first great torrent of our grief Scorn and each passion which can stain the heart May banish every memory of love, AND OTHER POEMS. o In after life we welcome back again The echo of the whisper that was dear. Again, as in the olden time, we walk In pleasant paths; and trifles such as this Become our treasures — shedding over us The holy influence which gives us back The good thoughts of our early days. Dear child, Remember this when I am gone from you; And be you happier than I — a home, A happy home, however small it be, Is better than a mansion full of sin.'' AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, A NUPTIAL ODE. I. Not for a bride whose forehead proudly bears A v/reath of brilliants, but for one who wears The pleasant smile which rubies cannot gain, I weave my words into a bridal strain. The young bird passes from the parent nest, And leaves the home' of love, the vale of rest. And wings its flight — it often knows not where- Joyously singing in the fresh spring air; Led by unerring instinct thus to roam With love from love, and build itself a home. How like a young bird is a maiden fair, With orange blossoms braided in her hair AND OTHER POEMS. I When in the springtime of her hfe she gives Her hand to him in whom her being lives, And leaves tlie home of many happy days To walk with him in undiscovered ways. A thing of sunshine, poetry, and truth, As fresh as when our world was in its youth ; She will not look into the coming years — Her heart has not a place for doubts or fears; Her faith, which ever has been woman's crown. Her love, which many waters cannot drown — Shall all his house with household treasures fill, And evermore anticipate his will ; Though Time may scatter silver through her curls, And change the colour of her bridal pearls, Her summer love a winter shall not know. But, growing older, lovelier shall grow. 5 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, I saw the sunlight darkened, and again The clouds return, with desolating rain; The shepherd trembled for his scattered sheep, The merchant for his ships upon the deep; The voice of music was no longer heard, And far away had fled the singing-bird, And fear and trouble wandered to and fro. And strong men bowed their heads and wept for woe ; But clear amongst the winds I heard the voice Of woman saying — " Husband mine — rejoice That I am with thee in thy deep distress, And never, nevermore will love thee less.'' II. + She comes in all the beauty of her youth. And all the sweetness of her maiden truth; Comes with the smile of faith upon her brow. To trust us ever, as she trusts us now; AND OTHER POEMS. 9 Comes to be loved, and loved she shall be, e'en As England loves her widowed mother Queen. Princess of Denmark, hearest thou the throng? Dear bride of England, listen and be strong. A million voices welcome thee to-day, A million mothers for thy safety pray, A million maiden hearts with thine rejoice. And every little child that has a voice Sings out, and still unwearied sings with pride, "God bless, with all thy blessings, England's bride." And stronger than the strength of war shall be The nation's peaceful welcome unto thee; And more than many armfed men the sight Of England gathering round thee with delight. And often in the stillness shalt thou hear, The children's voices ringing in thine ear ; 10 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, And oft when angry passions shake the world And unloved rulers from their thrones are hurled, Shall come to thee the welcome of to-day, And thou shalt fear no evil, but shalt say, "Husband, I hear the people by our side Singing, 'God save the Prince, God bless his bride.'" + Standard, 1863. Missing Page 12 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, "They have seen and heard our signal, but the sea runs mountains high, It were madness thus to venture with the dying ones to die." But, hark ! There is a shouting, and the lugger is afloat ; O God, preserve them harmless and shield their little boat. Yet see, there is a wavering, a longing after life. And only one — the helmsman — stands unshaken 'midst the strife ; He is racing with the hurricane, and vieing with the storm — He is pointing to the perishing and to the drooping form. He is pointing to the mother, and his look is -fixed and wild: He thinks of her he left at home, his little ocean child. AND OTHER POEMS. 13 "Take courage, men, take courage; shall we leave them there to die?" " No," and the shout is upward borne, and onward still they fly. And he ceased not to encourage them until they gained the wreck, And then till all had rescued been, he stepped not from the deck. And fervent was the mother's prayer, as " Guard him, God," she said, And heartfelt was the blessing of the rescued from the dead. But the noblest men must perish, and the bravest often die. When all around is happiness, and not a foe is nigh. The thunder was not rolling, the winds were hushed to sleep — 14 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, There was quiet in^ the heavens, there was peace upon the deep. A ship was weighing anchor, and a boat beside her lay, "Farewell," she said, and on she sped, and soon was far away. She heard no struggling with the waves — no cry of helpless might — She knew not that a soul the less beheld the morning light. That the saviour of a hundred lives, the foeman of the grave. Was numbered with the numberless who sleep beneath the wave. But his name shall live beyond him, and his deeds recorded be, For a hero of God's making is the hero of the sea. 1859. 16 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, THE DAY AFTER DEATH. There is a calm more terrible unto the stricken soul Than all the raging tempests of wild grief which o'er it roll: A calm which from the strong man takes his strength of heart away, And veils in midnight darkness all the sunshine of the day; From beauty steals its loveliness, from life its many joys, And leaves the man, amidst his griefs, a child 'midst broken toys — Leaves him a sense of loneliness mysteriously dread. And voices ever whispering — dead, dead ; amidst the dead. „ AND OTHER POEMS. i' Then will he to her chamber go, where still she seems to sleep, Forgetful of the voices go, to speak and not to weep : Will gently draw aside, and even still more gently close. The curtain round the form that lies in loveliest repose. Dread Death ! he will not think of thee — sweet Death, long will he gaze On her to whom thou givest back the beauty of past days — Oh, cheek ht with transparency ; oh, thou seraphic gleam Of what the dead in heaven are ; oh, fade not yet, dear dream. Alone with -death he trembled not, with her there was no fear. But thrice he kissed and left her, growing colder and more dear: 18 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, One only thought was on him then — to tread the path she trod; For Love renews its strength in death, and death is peace with God. And now, when others turn from him, he feels that she is near, And soft and sweet her well-known voice is ringing in his ear ; His early loved, his lately lost, doth sit with him awhile. And brighter than the sun, he feels the brightness of her smile. Missing Page AND OTHER POEMS. 19 URANIA. "Sister of Mercy," saint to sects unknown, I know thee, and thy heavenly mission own ; No priestly hand hath consecrated thee, Thine is the unction of the Deity. A woman of the world, a child of song, I saw thee move amidst the titled throng; A child of Heaven, inspired from above, I saw thee in thy secret work of love. Ah, sister, there are some who think me gay Because I sometimes laugh an hour away. Because, when others smile, then I smile too. And play the mimic to a chosen few. But oh, how often with a heavy heart 20 .cv i.»f^ jKy^-*^- !orx^ Tt«$ de«<»r fool peiferati$ le» a»sm- ^ait: How t^ft sbfe ^(icows asi^ » tiit£tt«d «ftK^, And quits t!« ^a^ bsr ac&o^ beati tv> b^^ In s fca^ ;iitxk\ Oct a bed ot Isifv Ah me>. tf wv»i»»i Ml — if ccof Jfeejr ML At OQW tibeyie fest; snd bbv3u^ht bfttiMe or » »5s«iar K?r. But ^t wittdi ta&:'»i ft*J«B tfee ris^ or pvvc C^EUu^ot»i£e tt?etf cutDOt restore. Oh >'«. *W livi; but tv>f yviasdhtes and ^B*fe. \V&«,> thttik that Hsjav\;« se«s acxd wmks at ctiia& WTk-" rvb affiartwR o£ As bal to kisj* that it ttttet Kve AND OTHER POEMS. 21 A wreck 'mid wrecks? Or did it ever shed A halo round the memory of the dead, To tell of infamy, to carve a snake. And write upon a tomb, " Here lies a rake ? " She paused, and then Urania gently came And took her hand, and softly breathed her name, And whispered, "Sister, in a bygone day. You wandered where false flowers deck the way. That leads from love and home, and there you played With trifles till night came, and lost. You strayed Where Death was hiding, though you knew it not ; But He who still remembers — when forgot — Sent me to whisper to the troubled breast, ' Come unto Me and I will give you rest.' " 22 AN OLD MAN'S LO VE, AGATHA. What shall we say of Him who gave her life — For His own pleasure and in His own day Took it again — from sorrow, sin, and strife? " He giveth His beloved sleep," we say. What though He stand before the door and knock, In peace, in love, though death it be He stands; What though the waves be dangerous? The Rock Of all the Ages is above the sands. He came most gently, and yet ere He came She heard Him coming, and His footstep knew. And when He spake she answered to her name, Nor shrank when to Himself her soul He drew. AND OTHER POEMS. 23 Unspotted by the world, her simple life Was one long childhood to its dosing day; She had no longing for the name of wife — Loving her own, much loved she passed away. For cold indifference which wears a ring, The sacred emblem of a broken oath, She will not have to kneel before the King, Nor ask His pardon for a blighted troth. Thy virgin souls, O God, are all Thine own, In them Thy purest love itself unfolds ; And as they stand around Thy jasper throne, No purer angel all Thy Heaven holds. 24 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, A DREAM OF NINEVEH. The Arab colt is bounding to and fro On Shinar's plain, where thickest flowerets grow, Now starting wildly o'er the yielding mead, And now returning quietly to feed Beside his master's tent. The shepherds keep A lazy vigil o'er their wandering sheep ; Girls with their pitchers gaily trip along, Humming a portion of some ancient song ; And seated round his frugal meal of dates The Arab chief invents as he relates. But hark ! I hear a shout, see with what speed Yon horseman urges on his panting steed; AND OTHER POEMS. 25 He reins it in, and speaks : " Haste to the mound, For God is great, and Nimrod has been found." Come let us follow him. Why do I tread So lightly? What is it that makes me dread? I know not what. See there the Image lies, And there has lain for twenty centuries. The hand that sculptured it is turned to clay, Kings that beheld it once have passed away, Armies that in procession passed before This grand old work of art, are now no more. The Conqueror is conquered, and the grave Alike conceals the coward and the brave. Virtue and Vice, Humility and Pride, Learning and Ignorance lie side by side, — All, all are gone, and this alone is here, A Bust upon a Nation's sepulchre. And in that hour, when Fancy, unconfined 26 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, By reason, clothes the beings of the mind In forms most terrible; when shapes are seen The like of which on earth have never been ; When grappling with some monster we are hurled Down an abyss into another world; When struggling for our liberty we break The spell which binds us, and with shrieks awake. In such an hour, I stood beyond the tomb, And heard an Angel tell a Nation's doom. And thus he spake ; " Like to a Cedar tree. Upon Mount Lebanon was Nineveh. There was no cedar on the Mount like her Whose top was higher than the highest fir; Kings with their armies dwelt beneath her shade — The Kings she conquered and the Kings she made, Her slaves were Princes, and her Princes more Than ever man presumed to be before ; Missing Page Missing Page Missing Page 30 J.V OLD M.^.y^S LOVE. How passionate and earnest be the language of his pen! Oh! poet boys, ye often speak more manfully than men. They mask their thoughts, they will not speak the language of high truth ; And ardent, deep devotion, such they deem the trash of youth. Yet read, and let it be unto thine heart a thing of joy; In after life we often wish the man more like the boy. But in a few short ye.irs, what then will seem the songs we sing? Mere empty mockeries; perhaps, this book a foolish thing. Its leaves will then be faded ; may be hands that wrote it, cold; AND OTHER POEMS. 31 But thou wilt not destroy it, faded though it be and old. Though its verse may lose its sweetness, and its charm forgotten — be A grave of buried fancies — 'twill be precious unto thee. 32 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, THE TWO WORLDS. How still the mighty city seems ! 'Tis night — Far spent — but still, 'tis night. No sound of toil Or revelry disturbs the slender sleep Of restless suffering. E'en Vice has gone Unto her home — if home can ever be Where love is not. Yet silence is not peace. How many thousands thousand times have looked Eastward, to catch the first rays of the sun. As if his rising were the end of grief? All night they watched for him, and all the day They longed for night — and so will long again. AND OTHER POEMS. 3-3 A little while, and he will wake to life; The birds and flowers, and birds that cannot sing. Will welcome him with all the voice they have; For e'en the city sparrow finds a voice ■\^Tjerewith to greet him. Men despise the bird. But I have envied it. Despised, it lives A life of peace ; but longed for, it would die A captive's death. The silence is not peace ! See where, within the doorway, hides a child. Breathless with fear, lest any should spy out, And drag her from the only resting-place She has on earth. When yester-eve she begged A shelter and a crust, they turned her forth To starve or steal Woe unto them! They fill Our gaols with criminals, oiu: streets with vice ! The silence is not peace ! A merchant heard The south wind rustling through the leaves, and lo ! 34 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, To him it was a storm-wind, and he saw His rich ships, near the haven, on the sands. A mother, whose young boy but yesterday Had left her, trembled as a passing cloud Shadowed but half the stars. Oh ye, who stand Beside the grave of many buried hopes, With none to comfort ye — whose life has been One long, long day of unsuccessful toil. Sleepless ye may be, but ye have not known Anxiety like his. At midnight rose A cry amidst the silence — for Death came Most stealthily, and from her husband's side His young wife very gently bore away — So gently, that he knew it not ; but woke. And found her cold and dead. Ye sleepless ones ! He has a past from which he cannot fly; y? should have none ; sleep on in peace, or wake. AND OTHER POEMS. 35 And let your dreams become your destinies. What though the world will know ye not? For you There is a world it never knew — a world Of love and beauty — of most perfect love And never-fading beauty; rich it is, With more than earthly riches; all its paths Sparkle with brighter gems than those which shine Round beauty's death-marked forehead. O'er that world Of thought the shade of Death is never cast, And all the great and good as children walk Amidst its pleasant ways. There, not at noon. Mysteriously veiled, but evermore Revealed to those who seek Him in His works, The Deity appears. Walk ye therein, And gather ye, aad scatter o'erour earth Its everlasting flowers ; then for you The silence will be peace, and solitude 36 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, A world of more than worldly joys. Behold ! The sun has risen ! — rise ye too, and act ; For what is action, but embodied thought? And to succeed, but to fulfil a dream? AND OTHER POEMS. 37 ONE OF US. Sixty years ago to-day, An infant in its cradle lay. What would that infant be ? The mother, leaning o'er her child. Doubtful prayed and hopeful smiled, And answered, " Good to me." And years rolled on, and up he grew, Strong as an oak, and noble too : Beneath his friendly shade, The orphan ever found her rest, And crept unto his kindly breast, And there her home she made. 38 AN OLD MAN'S LO VE, His God was with him all his life, And like unto him grew his wife : And round about his knee, The brightest jewels of his bride — The young man's hope, the old man's pride, A sight for kings to see. His happy children laughing clung. Till all the house with music rung : And sitting there awhile, I envied him his simple joy — When, listening to his younger boy, His face was all a smile. Sixty years of age to-day, Strong and happy — scarcely grey — AND OTHER POEMS. 39 I know the secret now : A warm good heart will ever give, To those who for each other live, An ever youthful brow. 40 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, VIRGINIA— A MEMORY. How like her features in the twilight seem The sweet creation of a summer dream, From which we wake, and, waking, wish to sleep. The dear delusion in our minds to keep ; Her flaxen hair, all loose in careless grace ; The roseate hue which scarcely tints her face ; Those lips, by angels coveted; that hand. So delicately formed; the velvet band. Clasped with a cross upon her neck of snow ; Those eyes, with native tenderness which glow — Time cannot take them from me whilst I live, A.nd Death her spirit back to me shall give. AND OTHER POEMS. 41 In years gone by when, on the canvas spread, Friends saw my works, they laughed at me, and said That vanity was written on my brow. And bade me leave the easel for the plough ; But one there was — a little, loving thing. Unnoticed, and untaught to dance or sing — In all her thoughts and all her ways a child, Though grown to womanhood ; and when she smiled A glory round about her forehead played. And Envy slept, and Sorrow's words were stayed. Her soul' was filled with beauty; she would walk Amidst the woods, and gather weeds, and talk Of them and of their Maker, till each wood Seemed vocal with her words — "All things are good And beautiful, and He who made them all. He careth for the things men common call, He careth more for thee." With thoughts like these Missing Page AND OTHER POEMS. 43 To life for those who loved her, and we sought To hide from her and from ourselves the thought That she was passing from us. Ere she died, One Sabbath eve she called me to her side. And placed her hand in mine, and bade me tell The anthem's words. "He doeth all things well," I answered; and then, earnestly, she. said, " So ever think of Him when I am dead." O God ! Thou knowest how that night I prayed For her, on whom our country's curse was laid ; But in Thy mercy Thou did'st hear me not. Yet even now her name is unforgot, For, thinking of her, often have I said " God bless her ! " not rememb'ring she was dead. 44 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, KIND FACES. A BLESSING on the faces that have smiled on us through life, And ever smiling still are seen amidst our daily strife ; The welcome which they gave us, and the very songs they sang, Are ringing in our ears, as sweet, as long ago they rang ; And often in those moments, when dark clouds above us roll. And a shadow deep and terrible is creeping o'er the soul, We see their faces, hear their words, albeit absent long, And as we listen once again, take courage and are strong. Missing Page Missing Page AXD OTHER POEMS. 47 He ne'er forgot to say, " God bless thee, wife.'' And now what sees She in the Christmas blaze? A blackened corpse, and dark and darkening days. For you the weaver weaves his life away. And shall they want upon our Christmas day? Shall one in all the land be desolate. One heart be bittered by a thought of hate? Shall one poor soul break down with grief that day, One starring sufferer be turned away? No, by the Peace we look for from above. Our Christmas day shall be a day of love. Standard. 48 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, LOVE— A REMONSTRANCE. Love should be nursed 'midst beauty — in a vale Sweet with the music of the nightingale; Love should be whispered in a maiden's ear In summer evenings, when the sky is clear, And softening south winds, stealing o'er the soul, Enchantingly its ev'ry thought control — Till care is lulled to rest, and life doth seem As fair as that of which young poets dream ; And all the past is as a blotted page, And all the future a too distant age Whereof to think, — and with the dying day Resistlessly the spirit glides away AND OTHER POEMS. 49 Into that dream-land, whereof Love is king For evermore, and Doubt an unknown thing. But is it all a dream-land when we sleep, From worldly troubles, and our spirits leap Into that better world from which they sprang Ere yet the morning stars together sang Eve's bridal anthem? No, no; it must be Some dim remembrance of Eternity ; When mounting upward, upon eagle's wings, Far, far away from all the grosser things Of earth, amongst the stars, the spirit roams. Revisiting the angels in their homes. Love is a recognition, and can trace The fairest beauties in the plainest face. And look upon it, till indeed it be His life-long dream become reality. He knew her ere he saw her, and she felt Missing Page AND OTHER POEMS. 51 Wll be to thee, when in thy loneliness Thy pride shall leave thee, and thy deep distress Become thy judgment ! — what a world of woe Be thine, when all who look on thee shall know Thou art not loved; and some that know shall sa)', "See how the crushed heart dieth day by day." 52 AN OLD MANS LOVE, LITTLE KATE. I THOUGHT rny little lovely one Long years ago was dead, And I remember how I saw The warm earth o'er her spread. Yet I am always meeting her, However great the crowd. And I often hear her voice above The music sweet and loud. She comes to me and talks to me. As in the olden time. And I murmur out a fragment Of a well-remembered rhyme. AND OTHER POEMS. 53 Some little thing I wrote for her, So full of boyish truth, That thinking of it — childhood seems An earnest man — and youth. As if the winds had colder blown. As if the winter's snow Had tinged with frost the bursting bud, And chilled affection's glow. They ask me what I'm thinking of. And unto whom I talk; They little know that she and I The earth together walk. The words the wayward boy did speak The man repeateth now, And oft in fancy prints again A kiss upon her brow. 54 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, Oft I have seen a fairer face, A more commanding form ; But she was made for sun and flowers, And not for strife and storm. She was the children's favourite, And often would they leave Their mother's side, where she for them Would fairy legends weave. All earthly things her lovers were, The timid to her came. The rough man laid his "roughness by. And softly breathed her name. And even Death was kind to her, And as she sleeping lay. And when the sun was shining bright, He carried her away. AND OTHER POEMS. 55 WOMAN. The nightingale had sung the birds to sleep, And sat aloft, her midnight watch to keep. Soft was the wind that lingered in the tree. As if to catch and waft her minstrelsy Unto the angel's homes. Still was the lake, As if it feared its rippling might awake The swan, which nestled on its silent brink. Or change the thoughts of her who seemed to think Of deeds of darkness, done in olden times, Red with the hue of unforgotten crimes. She seemed as one who, at the close of day, 'Midst steep and narrow rocks pursued her way ; As one who slipped, snatched at some bough which broke. Missing Page AND OTHER POEMS. What though She knew not that a honied tongue Could sting, until She found that it had stung? She listened and She fell, and in her fall She brought a desolation upon all. But with the curse a greater blessing came. And woman's glory has outshone her shame. She was the first to own the Saviour's power, The last to leave Him in His dying hour; She, weeping, followed Him when others fled. And She first saw Him risen from the dead. Kings may be great, but She is greater still, — It is the Mother moulds the Prince's will; And sweetest of the Singers shall he be Who leamt his first song at his ^[other's knee; Nor yet the least esteemed amongst the good Who by a Mother's word has firmly stood." 58 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, AUNT MARY. Past ninety years of life, and full of smiles, Nor half forgetful of her girlish wiles; A blush will oft become her agfed face, A blush which well a younger maid might grace. She sought, and loved, and lived the simple life. Which leaves to man the mastery and strife; She lived to teach the children of to-day. That God is good to those who love and pray; That all the wealth of all the world is nought. If by a broken word that wealth be bought. She lives, the fearless advocate of truth, A daughter of the gentle, trusting Ruth; She lives, through pestilence and war, to say, "God never throws an honest soul away.'' Missing Page Missing Page AND OTHER POEMS. 61 Friendless and poor, unnoticed in his youth, And envied in his age; whose own right hand Had won for him a name that shall not die. And when he said to her, "They buried him In the Old Abbey, 'midst the mighty dead, And I, too, hope some day to win a tomb Not far from his," she was more proud of him Than of her beauty. But there came to them One who had gathered many gaudy flowers. And in her lap he placed them, and he said, " I gathered them for you." Well pleased, she smiled. And went away with him. And then the boy Rose, and in silence by his mother sat. He knew that next unto the love of God, Hers was the holiest Oft unto her. Burning with passion, had he gone to tell Some fancied wrong, and never yet had she 62 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, Turned from him or his trifles. They two were As unlike as the eagle and the dove. And yet that passionate, ambitious boy Would tell her all his heart, and wondrously Her meekness led him wheresoe'er she would. "So, Alfred, you have come to me, at last," She said ; " I fear you little thought of me Before the Tempter with the flowers came And took her from you." Then she kissed the boy, And when she saw her words had touched his heart. Kissed him again, and said, " Oh, ever come, And I will always wait for you; my love Is ever with you. Should God spare my life To see you in your manhood great and good, My heart would leap for joy, and if the world Should turn from you as from a leper, I Would cling the closer." Then the boy looked up. AND OTHER POEMS. 63 And answered her : "All wealth, all fame, were nought Without you. You who gave me life, must share Whate'er life gives, or little worth to me Would be its brightest gifts." 64 AN OLD MAN'S LO VE, THE POET'S ANSWER. Tell me, can you gather roses In the winter on the heath ? Will a love long time forsaken Gaily wear her bridal wreath? Cannot he whom you have chosen Breathe your name in some sweet song Grieve you that the Poet's raptures Not unto the rich belong? Write for you a bridal blessing, Weave it into fairy rhyme, And let all its happy phrases. Mind you of a pleasant time? AND OTHER POEMS. 65 Lady, hear the Poet's answer : "Love can sweetly touch the lyre, Golden fingers cannot tune it, Love alone can Song inspire." (56 Aff OLD MAfTS I.OVE, AFTER MANY YEARS. Come to me, dearest, with the silver curls, Come, as of old, idien they irere raven black ; Time, which has taken much, has left me all Thy beauty and thy love, nay given more. Thine eyes may not so brightly sparkle now. But deeper, calmer, holier is the gaze With which thou look'st on me; — thine hand is not So soft and round, but wanner is its grasp. A painter would prefer the maiden iace. But I can read in thine the growing love Of many years, and trace in it the faith Which never reasons, but believing trusts — The laith God gjves unto the loving heart. Missing Page 68 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, Was the remembrance of the lately lost. Mine was the homage of a heart, which gives Its tribute silently — which gives its love But once in all a life ; and when I spoke 'Twas not of love, but unto thee my heart Was as an open book; and when I paused Thy cheeks were crimsoned, and thine eyes shone out With more than sympathy ; — and as thou said'st "Speak on, so ever speak— for I do love To listen to tliee,'' o'er thy voice there came A very pleasant trembling. Then it was I told thee all my fancies, all my dreams Of what a love should be; — a life must be — If life be love. And I remember well The summer evening when amidst the fields We walked, and o'er the waving corn there came The chiming of the old cathedral bells, AND OTHER POEMS. 69 And unto thee I said, "Come, let us go Unto His house who of Himself hath said, 'My name is Love, and I will dwell with those Who one another love.'" Away from all. Amidst the monuments of holy men. We sat and worshipped Him. And thou hast not Forgotten that old anthem, hast thou, wife? That eve we felt our love was blessed of God ! Since then we two have looked upon the dead, And seen that even Death was beautiful; Since then together walked the earth, and traced A blessing in its curse. We are not rich, But some that are, are poorer still than we; And now that we are old, I say again That which I said to thee long years ago — Thy love is more than rubies, and thy faith Than all the pearls beneath the Eastern seas. 70 AN OLD MAN'S LO VE, LIGHT IN DARKNESS. Come, sister, come, the sun shall shine once more upon thy brow So brightly and so warmly, thou shall bless it — even thou Who sitt'st in darkness all the day, and seest not the cloud That threatens in the distance, or the noonday sky doth shroud. Once, if but once again, we'll rest beneath the old beech tree, And thou shalt hear the birds sing out their joyous minstrelsy. AND OTHER POEMS. 71 The fawns will not forget us, they will come as once they came ; And thou shalt call, and they shall answer, each one to its name. Come, sister, come, the sun shines out, and all the biids are gay, Across the bridge, and through the wood, again we'll take our way. 72 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, A DREAM OF TRUTH. The taunts of men whose creed is what they see And nothing more, have stilled the Poet's song, But not the truths he told. The strength that deals The deadliest blow is not the strongest strength — A child of Love is more than Giant strong; And he shall rule, and lead men where he will, And be their Poet. He shall speak to them Truly and lovingly, and they shall hear The little voice that echoes mighty truths. And out of granite hew the Poet's dream; And marble monuments shall be the shrines Of songs of Love, and Palaces shall rise AND OTHER POEMS. 73 The thoughts in stone of him they once despised; And All shall hear the Poet's welcome song: "The world is beautiful, and God is good, And all men are His children, and for all He made the sun, the rainbow, and the rose. For All, that when the work of day is done, All should be happy, and rejoice in Him.'' 74 AN OLD MAN'S LOVE, THE END OF GRIEF. It was the time when through the land of old The vesper bell chimed out the hour of prayer, And through the open window welcomed came The gentle air, with many flowers fresh. It was the month of June, the loveliest one Of all the year, ere yet the flowers droop Beneath the scorching sun, or cattle seek The shelter of the hedge — it was a night When o'er the mind there comes a holy joy, And all the stars are something more than lamps To light us on our way, and earth and heaven Converse of Him who for us made them both. AND OTHER POEMS. 75 And Alfred sat with Kate, and to her said, "This afternoon I saw you stand before My mother's portrait, and I heard you say, 'A face that all who look upon must love.' And so it was, and I remember well 'Twas such another night as this I said, 'Good-night, dear mother, for when I return, Maybe I shall not see you ; ' and she raised Her gentle face to mine, and every nerve Was asking for a kiss before I went. And half imploring that I would not go — ' Good night ! ' and then I backward turned and said, ' I would that you could go with me, the night Is fair and soft, and you would be so pleased.' ' I will, another time, my boy, I will,' She answered, and I left her. There was not A doud in all the sky, yet o'er my soul 76 AN OLD MAN'S LO VE, A shadow fell, and more than once I paused, And smiling at my fears went on; but still The shadow deepened — 'If another time Should never come' — there was upon her face A beauty of reflected light; She seemed Like her old picture when the setting sun Plays o'er her features, and she spoke to me As if she thought I should not come again, And all her words to me were as the notes Of music not of earth ; and then I tried To listen not, and yet again I heard The voice repeating, 'If another time Should never come,' — and then I homeward went. ' Hush, Alfred, hush 1 she sleeps, and ere she slept She asked for you, — "Has Alfred not returned? He wished that I had gone with him, poor boy ; He did not know, or he would not have gone. AND OTHER POEMS. 77 Husband, dear husband — you who always were The best and kindest unto me — come near, — Nearer, for I am faint, and I would sleep, — God bless you," — and she sleeps.' I heard, but not A word I answered, and. some said, ' He has No feeling ; ' but when all was stilly I went And looked upon her, and her cheek was warm, And all the sorrow of her life had passed Away, and I beheld her as when first She left her father's home. Ah, me ! it seemed So strange to pray and not to pray for her. And then, and for long years, to me the earth Seemed not so beautiful, until you came.'' And Kate replied, "Ah, would I were as good As she ; yet will I try to grow more like. And you shall miss her somewhat less as years Roll on." And Alfred answered her, — " Methought 78 AN OLD MAN'S LO VE, Just now her spirit passed before, and came And kissed you — let me see; yes, it is there, Her spirit kiss, and I can hear the sound Of many voices, and this song they sing, — ' Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, rejoice. The well is full, the pitcher by the side — The well of love, of priceless love, is full, And lo, it is a well of life ; and she Who gives thee water now, in days to come. Shall give thee what the rich man cannot buy,- ' Pure golden words of comfort, gifts of God ! ' " AND OTHER POEMS. 79 FLOWERS. They bloom in the Palace, and live in the Cot, And sad is the home where the flowers are not ; We find them, and love them wherever we go, And the purest and sweetest are found in the snow. ^Ve are born, and fresh flowers beside us are laid ; We love, and our love-knots of flowers are made ; We die, and it may be 'mid winter and gloom. But in summer the flowers will grow over our tomb. 80 AN OLD MAN'S I.OJ'E, TO-MORROW. "To-morrow, my mother." a little child said, " To-morrow, my mother, I will ; " But to-day was his last, and to-morrow came not. And to nine out of ten never will. To the tenth it once came, to a very old man, Long time had he lain on his bed, And his hands were so cold, and his limbs were so stiff. He already seemed one of the dead. "Pray to Heaven for mercy," they breathed in his ear, "There is time enough yet," he replied; "I am better — much better," he would have said more. But ere he could say it he died. AND OTHER POEMS. ^1 So it is with the child, so it is with the man, " To-morrow is ever the thought Which checks the bright progress of many a soul. With schemes of magnificence fraught 82 AN OLD MAN'S LO VE, GOOD-NIGHT. Good-night, good-night, the day is done, And work is finished, rest is won. Sweet rest that is for those Who lead an honest earned hfe. Who never weary of- the strife With wrong, and earn repose. Good-night, good-night, in slumber deep, Or sweetly dreaming, lightly sleep, And sleeping dream that I, Still unwearied, watch beside thee. Careful that no harm betide thee ; Sleep, dreaming love is nigh. AND OTHER POEMS. 83 FAREWELL. Farewell! it is a word which must be said Unto the faithful and the faithless dead. Farewell is shadowed on the infant's face, And fare thee well is wove on bridal lace. Farewell ! — there beats not in the world a heart But knows, or shall know, what it is to part. Farewell is written on the summer flower, And echoed in the stroke of every hour — Alone, unheard in Heaven. COLSTON AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. 'yy ,* "- X.'-*' t'' /.