H 1 314 '/k LUffOM) 'I II LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. ? 3 XoT q ©fjiiji (Bnjiijrig^l l|a. Shelf ...l:i[.S. T^m BUFFALO THE PETER PAIL BOOK CO. 1895 ,0^^ Copyright, 1895, By CLIFFORD HOWARD. PRINTED BY THE PETER PAUL BOOK CO. Buffalo, N. Y. To the inspiration of my thoughts this little volume is affectionately dedicated. CONTENTS. PAGE. A Love Song 9 There Is No Sin lo The Rose 1 1 Night 12 Love's Nocturne 13 Faith 14 The Candle of Mortahty 15 Eventide ^6 The Calendar of Life 16 A Summer Shower 17 Across the Way 18 The Daisy. 19 Cloudland 20 Forgotten 22 Arcanum 22 To-morrow 23 There's A Song in My Heart 24 Two Souls 26 Simplicity 27 Nescience 28 A Fairyland Tale 29 The Christmas Rose 33 Epithalamium 33 For the Light is Growing Dim 34 Athanasia 35 Liberty . 35 The Miller's Daughter 36 Life's Eternity 37 The Vines 38 VI Contoits. Aphrodite .38 Love 39 How Different 40 Golden-Rod 41 Geraldine 42 The Token 43 A Little Girl 44 Consolation 45 The Beggar's Thanksgiving 46 Genesis 48 Too Late 49 Shadows 50 Sunbeams 51 Song of the River 52 The Fan 54 'Music 55 Why? 57 Innocence 58 He Kissed My Hand 59 Fallen Leaves 60 Affinity 61 Ego 61 The Light Departed 62 Reservation 63 Disillusion 64 Her Name 65 Chansonnette 66 The Evening Star 67 Five Apple Seeds 68 My Boutonniere 69 Dolly Belle . 70 The Plaint of Woman's Love 72 Thoughts in Verse A LOVE SONG. ^npIS just one month to-day, my love, X Since our hearts bespoke The fettered thought which oft had sought Expression to evoke; Since we in love were plighted, dear, Forever and forever. And nought in life — no pain nor strife, — Nor death can e'er dissever The bond that ever stronger grows, The love that ever brighter glows Beyond the heart's endeavor. Yes, one sweet month ago, my love, A Sabbath night in May; It seems a year, and yet, my dear, It seems but yesterday, For in the realm of love, sweetheart, There are no days, no hours, Nought but the rhyme and tinkling chime In love's bright, airy towers. That soar above the mortal world Where dreamlit symphonies unfurled Are love's eternal flowers. lo Thoughts hi Verse. This happy, happy month, my love, Is but the wak'ning dawn — The morning ray — of love's long day; And when this life has gone And loving hearts are still, dear love, And star lights faintly quiver, As over all the shadows fall Across the silent river, Immortal love in myst'ry deep ' Mid heaven-lighted dreams will sleep Forever and forever. I THERE IS NO SIN. F there in nature be a primal cause. Then must it be supreme omnipotence, Unfettered by conditions or by laws. Creator through almighty immanence. All life is but the breath of this one soul. All things are but the varied forms of life, Each is a part of that eternal whole. Whose all-abounding oneness knows no strife; For perfect harmony is force supreme, And out of peace can come no strife or wrong; That which a clashing discord oft may seem Is but man's ignorance of nature's song. Thoughts in Verse. THE ROSE. IF thou couldst read the thoughts that dwell Embodied in this flower And know the truth that they would tell Within their silent power, Then wouldst thou learn the love supreme Of one whose ev'ry hope and dream, Of one whose life hath grown to be Illumined by his love for thee. But ah, to thee the rose is naught Beyond a moment's pleasure, Forgotten like the passing thought Of some sweet, idle pleasure. Perchance, howe'er, the soul that glows Within the bosom of the rose May kiss thee ere it doth depart And find its heaven in thy heart. Thous:hts in Verse. G NIGHT. O, silent night, from me! Thy very nuUity of life Doth cause the unrealities to live And, by thy solemn impotency, give An energy to thee To pierce the heart's existing strife With the relentless, poignant knife Of memory. Come, silent night, and bless The weary soul that laboreth To rest within the shades of dreamless sleep- Blest acolyte of thy supernal deep, That in its cold caress Doth e'er commingle life and death And whisper in its luring breath, ' ' Forgetfulness, ' ' Thoughts in Verse. 13 LOVE'S NOCTURNE. )\ /f ID the shadows softly falUng, IVl Come the elfs of dreamland calling, "Good-night, good-night,'' — Comes the tinkle, tinkle, tinkle Of the distant, frosty bells, Faintly ringing, slowly swinging As their melody impels, "Good-night, my love, good-night; All sorrows now take flight; Then gently sleep in slumbers deep — Good-night, my love, good-night." Fairy melodies are stealing, Gently, faintly, softly pealing, "Good-night, good-night," While the tiny, tuneful tapping Of the snowflakes on the pane Speeds the napping with their rapping To the lullaby refrain: "Good-night, my love, good-night; Until the morning light Shall wake thy soul from dreamland's troll. Good-night, my love, good-night." 14 Thoughts in Verse. FAITH. OFTTIMES in the quiet hour, As I sit Thinking thoughts that vainly tower, As they flit, T'ward the ultimate solution Of the mystery of life, Of biotic evolution, With its incidental strife; Thinking thoughts so high transcending, Thinking thoughts so deep descending, Till the finite mind is pending In unfathomable space; Ofttimes when I thus sit musing In the night, While my thoughts themselves are losing In their flight For the knowledge that is hidden From the philosophic ken. The omnisciency forbidden The mentality of men, Like the soul's illumination Comes a peaceful consolation In the subtle inspiration Of the dream of one whose face Thoughts ift Verse. jc In the lovely picture smiling By my side Seems in tenderness beguiling Me to bide With the faith she loves so dearly, With her faith, that sheds its light As a star that shines most clearly In the darkest depths of night, Till her silent, soothing power, Like the perfume of a flower, Draws me nearer to the bower Of her perfect faith and grace. THE CANDLE OF MORTALITY. FAINTLY now, then brightly shining. So it burns itself away, Life and death in one combining To produce the vital ray; For while hving it is dying And in dying 't lives and glows; Thus is death its life supplying. Thus does life its death impose. Without both there can not be Aught but dull nonentity. i6 Thoughts in Verse. EVENTIDE. DEPARTING sun has kissed the earth good-night And slowly fades the blush upon her face, As one by one, with pale and timid light. The silent stars peep forth from unknown space To blossom in the meadows of the sky, While o'er the world a dreamy stillness falls, As nature in her subtle lullaby All life in peaceful drowsiness enthralls. Now fades the ling' ring twilight of the sun And stealthy shadows tenderly transume The varied forms and colors into one And hush the whisp'ring melodies in gloom; Till over all there comes a silence deep And gently falls the tranquil earth to sleep. THE CALENDAR OF LIFE. Blushingly the hopes of life blossom into view; Tenderly the mellow years dim their rosy hue; Mournfully they slowly fade with the dreamy past; Silently the shadows fall over all at last. Thoughts in Verse. j^ A SUMMER SHOWER. SIDE by side they walk together, Heeding not the frowning weather Of a summer's parting day, As the birds are nestward winging And the woodland sofdy ringing In a lulling roundelay. On his lips a question hovers, She her love with blushes covers, Tremblingly they hesitate; When the rain, in sudden drenching— Passion's ardor rudely quenching, Downward beats importunate. So the words remain unspoken And love's quietude unbroken. Leaving two hearts lone and free. Thus has fate the potent power Through a simple summer shower So to change life's destiny. 1 8 Thoughts in Verse. ACROSS THE WAY. THOUGH ev'ry day, Across the way, She flits athwart my vision. Sweet, debonair, With golden hair And charming indecision — Though ev'ry day. Across the way, I catch her shyly peeping, While she, in turn. Doth me discern, Whene'er a watch I'm keeping — Though ev'ry day, Across the way, Whate'er has been the weather. Through summer's glow And winter's snow. Our thoughts have been together — Yet when we meet Upon the street. Thoughts in Verse. 19 We recognition smother, Because, you see. Unhappily, We do not know each other. THE DAISY. ALONE by the meadow a Htde white flower Awakes from its sleep to peep forth from its bower; 'Tis only a daisy, which nature has told To harbor the secret its death will unfold. Beside the bright meadow a sad little maiden — Sweet Gretchen — is passing, her heart heavy laden; She spies the lone daisy and forward she springs And plucking its petals she eagerly sings: ** Er liebt mich, ganz innig, von Herzen, mit Schmerzen, Klein wenig, und gar nicht; er liebt mich, von Her- zen ! ' ' Dear Gretchen rejoices, her sorrows depart, For the soul of the daisy now blooms in her heart. 20 Thoughts in Verse. CLOUDLAND. I^M standing by the gate, dear, Where once we stood before And hstened to the rippHng song Of wavelets on the shore And watched the gath'ring clouds, dear, That o'er the mountain stole. To read above on wings of love The fortunes of our soul; For then our hearts were one, dear. Bound with a single thought — To live and love and love and live As only love had taught; And so, within the sky, dear, In cloudland far away, 'Mid rosy beams we dreamed the dreams Of love's long summer day. We saw the snowy peaks, dear. Of airy mountains high, With fairy streams and cataracts, That sparkled in the sky; And by the em' raid seas, dear. We saw the castles bright, Thoughts in Verse. 21 Whose towers bold seemed made of gold Amid the fading light. Then saw we gardens fair, dear, Where countless flowers grew. While silv'ry brooks seemed murmuring Through fields of golden hue, And music seemed to fall, dear, In gentle, mellow spray, As tinkling bells o'er fairy fells In cloudland far away, I see the clouds again, dear, In all their wondrous art. But, like the hopes and joys of life. They come but to depart; The mountains fade in mist, dear, The crumbling castles fall. While oceans grand and fairyland Fast fade beyond recall. And so they pass away, dear. The dreams of life and love. That for a moment hid from view The endless night above; And thus they are absorbed, dear. Within the boundless sea. Where life and thought and love are nought E'en to eternity. 22 Thoughts in Verse. FORGOTTEN. A SHADOWED mound Of mold' ring ground, A churchyard solitary; A crumbling stone That bears alone The faded name of Mary. A sudden dream, A flitting gleam, A vision dim and airy; One ling' ring thought On which is wrought The once-loved name of Mary. ARCANUM. Each man does in his life some thought control, Unreached by love or fear, by priest or pelf, That speaks to him alone, when in his soul He holds a mute communion with himself. Thoughts in Verse. 23 TO-MORROW. HOPEFUL youth with rosy face StruggHng in the mortal race, Never wearied, never tired; Ever by the thought inspired, That for ev'ry pain we borrow Comes redemption in the morrow; Sacrificing strength and soul, Striving, striving for the goal That awaits the life to-morrow; Spurning flowers of to-day For the blossoms' rich array Of to-morrow, of to-morrow. Listless age with withered face Drifting in the mortal race, Worn and helpless, lone and weary. Gazing through the shadows dreary Of the long, long night of sorrow For the sunrise of the morrow; Drifting, drifting to the sea Of eternal mystery. While the world repeats, '' To-morrow. Thus it speeds the soul from strife, Thus it greets the new-born life, With ** To-morrow," aye, to-morrow. 24 Thoughts in Verse. THERE'S A SONG IN MY HEART. THERE'S a song In my heart That will never depart With the echoes of melodies dead; 'Tis the song of the mill In the old miller's trill As he labored each day for his bread. 'Mid the plash of the wheel And the roll of the reel, And the waters that noisily sped, Came the miller's old croon In the rhythmical tune O^ the hum of the mill in its tread — " Work and sing while there's light, While there's hope in the breast, For the day will take flight And there's coming a night When the toiler will go to his rest. " But the miller and mill Now forever are still, For the miller has long passed away And his mill by the stream. As a memory's dream. Is departing in silent decay. Thotights in Verse. 25 Yet the purl of the brook And the breath from each nook Breathe the soul of his quieted lay In a threnody low For the weary who go To their rest at the end of the day — "Work and sing while there's light, &c." There's a song in my heart That will never depart, Though the sound of the music has fled; 'Tis the song of the mill In the old miller's trill. Though the mill and the miller are dead. 'Mid the passing of years, With the smiles and the tears That have come and have lingered and sped, Comes the memoried croon In the mutable tune . Of the throbbing of life in its tread — " Work and sing while there's light, &c." 26 Thoughts ill Verse. A TWO SOULS. S died the twilight of the day, Two mortal spirits passed away. Amid the luxuries of wealth, With flick' ring hopes of better health, ' Mid all that love and gold could buy, With friends and dear ones ever nigh, 'Mid watchful, tender, loving care. Physicians' skill and clergy's prayer. She smiled and died. Full mournfully the bells were tolled, Fond, hopeful hearts grew drear and cold, While over all the busy land The sad news flashed on ev'ry hand. And people sorrowed, mourned and wept For her who now in silence slept Beyond the tide. Without a home, without a friend To shelter or to comfort lend. Within starvation's deadly grasp, As to her breast in frenzied clasp Thoughts in Verse. 27 She pressed her hfeless infant boy— Her only spark of earthly joy, — She wept and died. No loving voice, no tolling bell, No sound, no sign to bid farewell, No sobbing heart, no sad despair, No burning tear, no one to care, No one to grieve, no one to pray For her who thus had passed away Beyond the tide. And so two spirits went to rest. As died the twilight in the west. SIMPLICITY. AROUND the board in childish stare He watched the guests with thoughtful face Bow low their heads, as if in prayer. To say their solemn, silent grace; And folding then his little hands, • While meekly drooped his curly head, He, too, as one who understands, Spoke softly to himself and said: " Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep." 28 Thoughts in Verse. NESCIENCE. 1AM waiting, I am waiting by the riverside alone For the voice of one whose spirit hke a dulcet breath has flown. I am waiting, I am waiting by her lonely sepulcher, Where the music of the forest breathes the requiem for her, Where the waters of the river whisper ever from the deep Of the burial, perennial, impenetrable sleep, While the antiphon of heaven knells the dirge of parted breath And the stars in awful silence tell of everlasting death ; Still I'm waiting, oh, I'm waiting, for a message from her soul 'Mid the murmur of the waters in their weird, eternal dole. I am waiting, I am waiting by the dark, sepulchral stream In the fearful fascination of a melancholy dream, As I yearn and ever hearken in a ponderable fear By the river in its purling so mellifluously drear Thoughts in Verse. 29 For a token from my loved one, that the love of parted souls Holds communion with the livings and their destiny controls; But the gurgle of the current in its dolorific flow Is the only sound that answers through the dark- ness cold and low, While I'm waiting, sadly dreaming, 'neath the stars' frigidic stare, By the tomb of my beloved in the anguish of despair. A FAIRYLAND TALE. ^^ T^LL not go to bed," she had playfully said, X While clambering up on my knee, " 'Till fairyland tale of a beautiful dale You tell all alone now to me." The moon's pallid light through the deepening night Entangled itself in her hair And it kissed her face in the tremulous trace Of a soul that had parted fore'er. 30 Thoughts in Verse. *' A fairyland tale of a beautiful dale Before you jump into your bed ? Then listen, my dear, ere the brownies draw near And the wily old sandman has fled. " A long time ago, when the days were aglow With mystical music and mirth, The elfin of love on a fairyland dove Stole two loving hearts from the earth. " Far over the sand of the lullaby land. With its little dream fairies aglee. They traveled afar by the light of a star Beyond the deep, billowy sea. ' ' For a paradise fair was awaiting them there — The flowerland garden of love, — Where the heather bells ring and the meadow brooks sing With the melodies floating above; "Where the moon's gentle beams are the silvery streams That enripple the dreams of the morn, And the starry lights tell of the angels that dwell In the realm where the flow^ers are born; " Where the dewdrops of light are the thoughts of the night That awaken the blossoms of hope; Thoughts in Verse. 31 Where the sunbeams repose in the blush of the rose And the scent of the hehotrope. " It was here that they walked and they sang and they talked With the birds and the posies and brooks, O'er the hills and the vales and the mellowy dales And the musical, tunable nooks. " But at length, one sad day, as they happened to stray Far out on the fairyland lea, They heard the deep roar on a far-away shore Of a strange and a wonderful sea. "And then, hand in hand, they went down to the sand Where the ocean rolls out to the nioht, And there as they gazed, trembling, frightened, amazed, In the gloom of the vanishing light, " A grim phantom dark in a shadowy bark Stole silently over the deep And closer it drew t'ward the terrified two As a vision that comes in a sleep. " Ere either could fly or could whisper good-bye. The phantom had flitted afore With one loving heart to forever depart From the other alone on the shore. 32 Thoughts in Verse. " ' Stay, loved one,' he cried, but the murmuring tide Only bubbled and gurgled and purled. While gloominess fell like a dolorous spell All over the fairyland world. " While this, as you know, was a long time ago — Yes, long before you came to be, — Yet every night with a glimmering light He walks by the wonderful sea, " All alone there to weep, when the world is asleep, By the ocean's chill, witherful spray. Where aching hearts yearn for a moment's return Of the souls that have drifted away. " And now, little one, as my story is done. Come, scamper away to your fold, There to travel once more to the lullaby shore And forget the strange tale I have told." " Then is it not true what you've told of the two?" She queried in whisperings frail; " No, no," I replied, as I wearily sighed, " 'Tis only a fairyland tale." Thoughts in Verse. 33 THE CHRISTMAS ROSE. WHEN birds and butterflies have fled And leaves and flowers all are dead, When meadows sleep beneath the snow, And woodland brooks no longer flow. Then comes the dainty Christmas rose. Loved child of nature's tender care, Fond, fragile, fragrant, frail and fair, Enraptured wakes to smile and die Beneath the winter's cruel sky; So blooms the lovely Christmas rose. The incarnation of a breath. Sweet life communing with its death, The timid kiss that winter stole From blushing summer's fleeting soul — This is the gentle Christmas rose. EPITHALAMIUM. 'TwAS nought but a word — a lone whispered word,- Which only one heart in the universe heard; But it fastened the link that none can dissever, Enclasping two souls in a union forever. 34 ' Thoughts in Verse. FOR THE LIGHT IS GROWING DIM. Y' ES, dear, I hear the tolHng of the ev'nuig chapel bell, I hear the far-off voices and the murmurs of the dell, I hear the nesting swallows as they flit and lightly skim Amid the gath'ring shadows, for the light is grow- ing dim. Come, sing to me the music of the days of long ago, While daylight gently lingers where the twilight breezes blow; O, sing to me, my darling, in the words of love's old hymn, Ere parting day hath vanished — for the light is growing dim. Come hither! aye, draw closer, dear, that we may nearer be! Methought in fearful fantasy, that thou hadst gone from me; . Thoughts in Verse. 35 That I was here all lonely with the shadows gray and grim; That day had sped forever— for the light is growing dim. Ah, yes, 'twas but a vision of the joy of faded years, Nought but the dream remaining with the heart's embittered tears; Nought but the spirit yearning through eternity for him, While thought and life are waning — for the light is growing dim. ATHANASIA. The tender flower of the summer's glade- Fond afterthought of winter's icy sting, — Lives but to bloom and blossoms but to fade, That from its tomb another life may spring. LIBERTY. There is on earth no liberty so great But that its very greatness, soon or late. Doth lend the means whereby the favored free Convert their freedom into tyranny. 36 Thoughts m Verse. THE MILLER'S DAUGHTER. ^ER the bridge across the water Comes the miller's pretty daughter, Lightly tripping, gaily skipping o'er the hurly-burly stream. Where the morning sun is sipping And the shadows gently dipping, As she hums a little ditty like the murmur of a dream. How her merry blue eyes twinkle At the sprinkle and the tinkle Of the music of the ripples 'neath her dancing toe and heel; How she sings and laughs with pleasure At the tantalizing measure, At the dashing and the plashing of the splashing water wheel. Ah, this charming little maiden. With her heart so lightly laden. Steals the hearts of all the laddies, all the laddies on the hill. Thoughts in Verse. 37 While the jealous country lasses Frown upon her as she passes And they toss their saucy tresses when a-coming by the mill. But the miller's pretty daughter, Like the purling, whirling water, Never stays nor cares to listen to the words they have to say. Caring nought for lass or laddie. Caring only for her daddie, While she's tripping, while she's skipping, gaily tripping on her way. LIFE'S ETERNITY. EACH life is to itself eternal, Aware of neither birth nor death: Howe'er remote the search internal, It knows not of its waking breath. Nor does it know when falls the curtain Upon the thought that was to be. And thus within its sphere uncertain Each life is an eternity. 38 Thoughts in Verse. I THE VINES. N childhood's assurance, our fate to forestall, We planted two vines by an old garden wall. 'Mid tears of the night and 'mid joys of the sun, The vines closer grew till they twined into one. In union endearing they mingled above — Prophetic fulfillment of predestined love. ^ >fC *^'. *fC ^j^ The vines are still clinging in sweet unity (The one was for her and the other for me), But time hath uncoupled her name from my mind And altered the destiny love had divined. APHRODITE. Divine duality, that doth alloy With chilling curse her fervent prayer; That burns the quickened soul with fulgent joy To leave the ashes of despair! Thoughts in Verse. 39 LOVE. THOUGH we should know when first the light Awoke the everlasting night Upon the silent, pregnant earth, And sentient life was given birth, Though we should know when first the soul Fell captive to the world's control. When love, its spirit to impart. First thrilled the wond'ring mortal heart, We would not know when love began; For love was here to welcome man. Before the earth had once revolved. Before the stars had been evolved. Yea, e'en before the birth of time, Love breathed in harmony sublime Upon the dark, amorphous sea Of motionless infinity. Love is the deep, eternal source Of vital and of cosmic force. From whence has sprung all that exists. The power that fore'er persists In that which is and is to be — The essence of eternity. 40 Thouzhts in Verse. HOW DIFFERENT. H' OW different we Would all of us be Could we know of the future await- ing To sever the ties That at present comprise The life that our hopes are creating. How many a word Would remain unheard, How many a sentence unspoken; How many a thought Would remain unwrought, How many a promise unbroken. How many a heart Would its feelings impart And hold them no longer in keeping, But would gladly express The love we repress Till the spirit forever is sleeping. How many an act We would now retract, How many a selfish emotion, Thoughts in Verse. 41 To joyfully bear Vexation and care With patience and loving devotion. How different we Would all of us be Could we look o'er the graves of the morrow, Could we look from the light To the infinite night, From the joy to the infinite sorrow. GOLDEN-ROD. HIDING by the woodland rill, Decking meadow, lane and hill To enclasp the flitting rays Of September's gilded days, That it may immortalize Glories of the summer skies. Sun-kissed flower of the field; Summer's gift to Autumn's weald; Golden link that interweaves Thoughts of Spring with fallen leaves; Queen of all the wildwood sod- Wondrous, peerless golden-rod. 42 Thoughts in Verse. GERALDINE. HEAR her dainty little feet Pat' ring up and down the street, Scamp' ring o'er the dusty way, Tripping now in happy play, Dancing to some childish song, Frisking now in haste along, Skipping on the terrace green — Lovely little Geraldine. Eyes that flash with saucy mirth, Shine like litde stars on earth; Rosy lips with sparkling pearls. Nut-brown hair that seldom curls. Dainty form and winning grace, Sweet, aristocratic face; Tout ensemble, little queen — Lovely little Gerladine. Tiny feet in slippers red. Sunbeams smiling on her head, As she trips sedately by Seeming not to see me nigh. Or, in bashful, artful play. Looks and laughs and runs away; Thoughts in Verse. 43 Sweet coquette with baby mien — Lovely little Geraldine. And at night when all is still, Save the crickets' dreamy trill, Twinkling stars look down and peep On a little form asleep, Tired out with merry play. Floating now in dreams away To some distant fairy scene — Lovely little Geraldine. THE TOKEN. THERE are no words unspoken To tell my love for thee; But ne'er can fond love's token In mortal language be. The tongue can not confess it, No song my love can tell; Yet though no words express it, Thy heart doth know it well. True love can ne'er be broken, And as thou lovest me, Thou art thyself the token Of my dear love for thee. 44 Thoughts iti Verse. A LITTLE GIRL. A LITTLE, bright-eyed, winsome girl, Whose golden hair in tangled curl (An aureole of artless grace) Caressed her dimpled, thoughtful face, As earnestly she moved about While sorting clothes and playthings out — Sweet baby garments, laid away As sacred to another day, And remnants of some jingling toys, That had forever ceased their noise, — And these she placed with loving care Within a little cradle bare. " Whose pretty things are these? " I said; " For surely, you've outgrown them all, And this small crib's too wee a bed For one who's over three feet tall." " They are not mine," she answered low; " They are for baby brother dear, Who went away, I s'pose you know, A long, long time ago, last year. They said I'd see him 'gain some day; But just what day, nobody knew; Thoughts in Verse. 45 They said he'd gone far, far away — I dess it must be miles, don't you ? But I's been waiting for him, though — I dess it's been twelve months or ten; I's had my birfday weeks ago And soon it will be here again. But now I's going to make his bed And hang his little dresses near And hx a pillow for his head And put his spools and playthings here, 'Tause he'll be back on 'Tris'mas day — Oh, yes, it's really, truly so; He's found some one to lead the way And he'll be here that day, I know. " How do I know? " — a thoughtful pause. "You will not tell? — Well, 'tause, you see, I wrote to dear, old Santa Claus To bring the baby back to me." CONSOLATION. Beneath the tears of winter's weeping, A summer blossom may be sleeping; A bud unseen 'mid storm and shower, To be some day a radiant flower. 46 Thoughts in Verse. THE BEGGAR'S THANKSGIVING. AS from the church in mellow strain the tuneful anthem stole, The beggar's heart grew young again and stirred his slumb'ring soul With memories of bygone years, with visions bright and clear Of happy days long, long ago, when life and love were near. Again he hears the joyous bells upon Thanksgiving Day, Again he hears the merry birds in chirping rounde- lay. As walking by his mother's side, his little hand in hers. He greets upon the narrow street the good, old villagers. Again he sees the little church, with ivy-covered tower, Again he sees the old town clock and^'^hears the tolling hour, Thoughts in Verse. 47 While silently the people pass within the welcome door To plain, uncushioned benches on a bare, unpol- ished floor. Again he feels the love of God, long faded in his breast. Again he feels the thrill divine of heaven's hope and rest; The world again grows bright and fair, and charity and love Once more enchain the smiling earth with paradise above. Again he hears his mother's voice, that dear, sweet, loving voice, Amid the singing of the hymn that made his heart rejoice; Yea, e'en the same old hymn sublime, that now came to his ears, As tremblingly he stood without, his dim eyes filled with tears. The music ceased; thanks had been said within the church walls dim; But all day long, 'mid cold and want, he heard the sweet, old hymn. And in the stillness of the night, an angel passed that way And carried home one thankful soul upon Thanks- giving Day. 48 Thoughts in Verse. GENESIS. EAC H one was perched upon a box and slowly swung his leg, While wrestling with the problem of the chicken and the egg. They reasoned and they argued it, yet neither one could say Which was the first, the egg or chick, upon cre- ation day; " Because," said one, " without a hen an egg there can not be; " "But," t'other said, "it takes an egg to make a hen, you see! " In vain they strove to fathom it, in vain they sought to guess. Until another, sitting by in quiet thoughtfulness, With innocent assurance said, while whittling on a peg, "I'll tell you fellows how it was: I guess God laid the eggr A Thoughts in Verse. 49 TOO LATE. FALT'RING tongue; The note is sung Too late. An act deferred, A laggard word, An unresolved endeavor; The day has gone, The world moves on — Too late, too late, forever. A heart repressed; The love confessed Too late. A touch withheld. An impulse quelled, The links of life dissever; The soul has gone, The world moves on — Too late, too late, forever. 50 Thoughts m Verse. SHADOWS. EV'NING shadows in their flitting, In their flitting to and fro, Seem to whisper and to beckon — Beckon us to come and go; For they tell in noiseless cadence, In a noiseless, mystic rhyme, To the heart of joy or sorrow Soon or late there comes a time When the daylight fades to twilight And the twilight into night, And the shadows gently bury Earthly memories from sight; When the day of life is ended, When the gulf of life is spanned, And the soul returns forever To the silent shadow-land. Thoughts in Verse. 51 SUNBEAMS. O^ER the tempest's angry gushing, Through the clouded veil of night, Steal the sunbeams softly blushing. Comes the restful morning light; Struggling with their gende power Through the darkened forest sod, They unfold the hidden flower — Wake the slumb'ring thought of God. Unto ev'ry human sorrow Comes at length the peaceful ray, Comes the promise of the morrow, Comes the dawning of the day. That in stealing through the portal Of the shadowed night of dole Wakes to hope and life immortal Latent glories of the soul. 52 Thouo^hts in Verse. SONG OF THE RIVER. AS I stand by the stream in its murmuring flow And watch the stray beams of the moon as they glow And they ghmmer and shimmer in ghostly array On the turbulent water e'er rolling away, As the night's palling breath, witli its funeral moan In the dole of a soul that is dying alone. Chills my breast with a trembling, ineffable fear, There comes a strange sound, a strange voice to mine ear. 'Tis the voice of the river that calls to me there, Enthrilling and filling my heart with despair; Oh, the river is calling and drawing me near With a melody strangely, alluringly drear, And this is the song that it murmurs to me As it rolls o'er the shoals on its way to the sea: "Come, oh, come from the world with its trouble and strife; Cast into oblivion the bubble of life; Come to rest on my breast in the ocean of sleep, In the ocean so peaceful, so great and so deep, That self, reabsorbed in the infinite soul. Ne'er awakens again to earth's bitter control. Thoughts in Verse. 53 Ah, life's but a struggle from cradle to tomb, A striving and driving through torment and gloom. While man's but a creature of torture and pain. Discerning, yet yearning for heaven in vain; For the light of a day is the shadow of years And the one happy smile is a fountain of tears — E'er the greater the pleasure, the greater the woe That follows the loss of the joy that must go. Man is born but to die and the grave is the end, Whate'er be the length of the path he may wend; Yet he battles and toils with the world and its hate, E'er hoping and groping 'gainst pitiless fate, While he labors and strives and he suffers and fears 'Mid the care and despair and the burden of years. When the meed for his struggles that end with his breath Is nothing, aye, nothing, but infinite death ! Then, oh flee from this scene of malevolent gloom ! Why stay and delay the inex'rable doom ? Come, oh, come to me now, to my welcome embrace And my waters shall smother and cover thy face And banish forever the phantom of life With the chains and the pains of a merciless strife!" So the river is lulling and luring my soul. While low, like the flow, knells the tremulous toll Of the funeral bell far away in the lone — The knelling and telling of life that has flown. 54 Thoughts in Verse. Yea, the river sings sadly, yet madly and clear Dark visions are becking and calling me near: '' Oh, come to me, come to me, come to my breast! Aye, come to the river, the giver of rest ! ' ' See ! the waters are boiling and toiling to meet, To meet me, to greet me and further entreat, And the river is welling and swelling its deep To grasp me and clasp me forever in sleep. While lapping and purling and hurling it sings And splashing and dashing it stealthily clings, E'er palling, enthralling and calling to me. While whirling and swirling its way to the sea. THE FAN. I HELD her fan, as by the hill We mused in quiet thought, A-list'ning to the trickling rill With lulling music fraught. Thus as we sat in language starved 'Neath nature's dreamy ban, I, quite unthinking, slowly carved My name upon the fan. Thoughts m Verse. 55 The deed was done and, though unmeant, I could not help but fear That she might captiously resent So bold a souvenir. And yet it proved not troublesome, For by love's happy plan. The name I carved has since become Her name upon the fan. MUSIC. IS music nought but cold, material sound Rung forth in euphony to please the ear? Or may within its harmonies be found The voice that whispers from the unknown sphere Of life and immortality — The soul's bright ideality? Full oft some simple melody or chime, As pealing from the organ, grand, sublime, Or stealing from some plaintive voice unknown. Or e'en a whisp'ring zephyr quickly flown, Enthrills with ecstasy the list'ning mind And, like a flitting phantom strangely old. There comes a vision vague and undefined. That fills the heart with longing uncontrolled — Some dim-remembered scene or place. Some once-familiar form or face, — 56 Thoughts in Verse Entrancing now the mind's enraptured gaze With tantaHzing images of days Long since departed with the dreamy mist That setting sun of yesterday has kissed. Is it the knowledge of these days returned, Or is it but the vision of a dream, Whose impress on the brain had been unlearned Till brightened by the music's quick'ning theme? Or may it be transcendent memory Of pre-existent life in faint rehearse, As throbs the chord of dark infinity That binds the soul with all the universe And pulses with supernal life Beyond the spirit's mortal strife. Whene'er departing melodies of earth. In sombre symphony or mellow mirth, But touch in unison the vital note Uniting distant worlds howe'er remote? So does the soul, that ne'er before gave sign Of joy or love, but slumbered on unknown, Awake one day within the clasp divine Of some electric, sympathetic tone. To hear amid earth's jarring throng The harmony of nature's song; As does the tou:h of heaven's breath unfold The hidden bud, though seeming dead and cold. And brings to light, in mystery combined, A life and beauty none had e'er divined. Thoughts in Verse. 57 WHY? WHY do we love ? To float for one fond moment in a blissful dream And wake to find another ceaseless memory ? To kindle flames, that darker may the darkness be, And warble songs, that deeper may the silence seem ? To learn that joy is ever sorrow's womb? To know that grief is but affection's tomb? — For such is love. Why do we live ? To blindly battle with a destiny ordained — Weak captives on the treadmill of a bounded sphere ? To point the way to paradise, and linger here To furnish to the worms all that the soul has gained ? To pass to earth while reaching t'ward the sky? To prattle of eternity, and die ? — For such is life. 58 Thoughts in I'erse. INNOCENCE. IX bonny Scotland o'er the sea, upon a summer's day, A little maid trudged merrily along the public way; And for the first time in her life, this happy peasant lass Gazed on the world beyond her home in yonder mountain pass. With beaming face and cheery song she tripped on t'ward the town In time to reach the turnpike gate before the sun went down. She gently tapped upon the bar, afraid to pass it by, Awaiting patiently without for someone to reply. And when she saw the gateman come with kind inquiring mien. She asked, " Pray, will you tell me, sir, am I at Aberdeen ? ' ' Thoughts in Verse. 59 "That's where you are, my bonny lass," he answered with a grin; 'Then will you tell me, sir," she cried, ** if Peggy is within ? " HE KISSED MY HAND. WITH outstretched hand I said good-bye And hid with smiles the heart-felt sigh Of love's command. I heard not how he bade adieu, I only felt, I only knew He kissed my hand. Though many years have flown since then And we may never meet again Upon this land. No time nor sorrow can destroy The brightness of that moment's joy — He kissed my hand. 6o Thoughts in Verse. FALLEN LEAVES. SPECTRES of a throng Ever banished With the years; Echoes of a song That has vanished With the tears. Dreams in dreary haze Dimly sifted Through the light; Shadows of the days That have drifted Into night. Thoughts from childhood's page Softly prating To and fro; Fantasies of age Mutely waiting For the snow. Thoughts in Verse. 6^1 AFFINITY. I MET her on the crowded street; A smile, a bow, As passing people ever greet, And yet, somehow Her look, her glance, her smiling face, Sweet loveliness and gentle grace Are with me now. As did a flitting sunbeam light The darkened way; Though but a moment in its flight, Its soul doth stay Embodied in some heart-born flower, That gathered to its pregnant bower The quick' ning ray. EGO. Whate'er may be each life's divergent course, All human acts, however small or great, Have in the love of self a common source And prove the unity of love and hate. 62 Thoughts in Verse. THE LIGHT DEPARTED. THE world's merry laugh and the sunbeams clear That ripple the infinite sea, Are the echo sad and the shadows drear Of a day that has gone from me; For then we were four upon life's bright shore — To-night, we are only three. Fond memories come and the visions go Like the dreams of an unhappy sleep, The nebulous forms drifting to and fro On the rocks where the wild billows leap, The phantoms unreal that flittingly steal Through the gloom of the limitless deep. The chilling winds moan 'mid the breakers' roar And now through the shadows I see A life that goes out from the lives on shore And I hear a voice calling to me, As slowly the light fades into the night Far out on the infinite sea. And never again will the light return — The light of a life that has flown, — Thoughts in Verse, 63 Though spirits may call and the heart may yearn For the soul that has drifted alone To infinite rest on the silent breast Of the dark and the hidden unknown. While the lips may smile and the cheeks may glow- As if from sad memory free, The joys of the days of the long ago Will never come back to me; For then we were four upon life's bright shore — To-night, we are only three. RESERVATION. The deepest grief is that which doth conceal With smiling heart the spirit's lifeless gloom. Where silently the hidden tears congeal To form at last their sorrow's welcome tomb. 64 Thoughts in Verse. DISILLUSION. IS AW beside a meadow stream A flower, which in fancy's dream I oft had sought. The beauties of the blossomed field Or e'en the garden's rarest yield To it were nought. With ecstasy my heart was thrilled, For in this flower was fulfilled A life's desire; Within its bosom there lay furled A joy, which nought else in the world Could e'er inspire. With trembling hand 1 gently sought To pluck this rare, incarnate thought Of heaven born; Yet ere I could the treasure clasp, I felt within my loving grasp A stinging thorn. Poor mortal and illuded mind, That had sweet happiness divined Thoughts in Verse. 65 With eager greed, Awoke as from a mortal strife To find the flower of my hfe A common weed. Strange, dual force, that can destroy For all eternity the joy So lately giv'n; That doth create but to dispel — That casts the throbbing soul to hell In sight of heav'n. HER NAME. HER name, you say, is not so sweet As Isabel or Marguerite, Annette or Geraldine ? Ah well, and need I then reply. That through the heart, and not the eye. True loveliness is seen ? For you may have your Isabel And all the pretty names that dwell Within your fancy's frame, But they with all their loveliness Have not the power to express The charm of her dear name. 66 Thoughts in Verse. CHANSONNETTE. I SAW two silv'ry clouds, love, Come sailing one by one. As spirits soft that moved aloft On t'ward the setting sun. Methought in fancy's dream, love, That they were you and I Thus gliding on to love-land Beyond the blushing sky. Then floating side by side, love, And ling' ring on the way To greet the star that from afar Stole forth to seal the day, Still closer e'er they drew, love. Until the day was done. When fading into love-land The two were only one. Thoughts in Verse, 67 THE EVENING STAR. IT shines amid the Hght subdued Upon the tranquil soHtude, Where, restful and alone, Enshrouded in a stillness deep, He sleeps the everlasting sleep Within the great unknown. It shines amid the light subdued Upon the living multitude, Where I remain alone — Alone amid the worldly strife. Enchained within the tomb of life. With mem'ries overgrown. Oh, that the time may not be far, When with the faded ev'ning star. Whose mellow light hath flown. Another soul may take its flight Unto the silent, boundless night, To be no more alone. 68 Thoughts in I'erse. FIVE APPLE SEEDS. JUST five apple seeds! yes, five little seeds I To unfold to me fortune's decree: *^ Ah, how hard is my fate! oh, how bitter the thought, 'Mid the joys I have sought and the hopes I have wrought, That my love should prove false unto thee! For it's one that I love and it's two that I love And it's three that Pm loving, I say, And it's four that I love with the love of my heart; But a love that must part; yea, alas, it must part. For with five I will cast thee away. just five apple seeds! yes. five little seeds To unfold to me fortune's decree; But how blind is my heart and how foolish am I To thus drearily sigh when I clearly espy That my fate has been trifling with me — For it's one that I love and it's two that I love And it's three that Pm loving, I say, Thoughts 171 Verse. 69 And it's four that I love with the love of my heart, With a love ne'er to part! yes, a love ne'er to part, For with five I will love thee for aye! MY BOUTONNIERE. MY boLitonniere of pansies fair Bespeaks to me a lang^uage rare. For other minds may not perceive Nor other hearts discover The thoughts and songs that interweave The fancies of an ardent lover. While it may well to others tell The secret of some garden dell. To me it whisp'ring breathes of one — Her loveliness expressing, — The thought of whom is as the sun The blossoms of the heart caressing. Thoughts in Verse. DOLLY BELLE. DOWN the lane beside the meadow where the honej-suckle grows With the daisies and the clover and the lovely briar-rose, While the \-iolets are sleeping 'neath the shadow of the ddl, Lived a little, blue-eyed maiden, known to me as DoUv Belle. Oit I met her lighdy tripping, tripping e'er in meny- chase, While the sunbeams through her tresses kissed her rosy, dimpled face, And the posies of the meadow where her flitting footsteps fell Nodded nods of nodding welcome to their lo\Tng Dolly Belle. And she took me to her garden, to her garden down the lane. Where the cheer}- little songsters, in a chirruping refrain. * Thoughts in Verse. 71 And the flowers, by their blushes, loving secrets tried to tell To their charming, dainty mistress, lovely, little Dolly Belle. There she sang to them in carols, caroling so sweet and clear. That the gentle breath of heaven hushed its'melody to hear. Life was all a mellow summer, all the world a quiet dell To this merry, fairy maiden, joyful, blithesome Dolly Belle. "Come," I said, "and let us wander, wander far and far away. Where the roses never wither and the robins always stay "— For I loved this little maiden more than any words can tell, — But the jealous soul of nature claimed my darling Dolly Belle. Oft I ramble o'er the meadow as the daylight fades away. As the sunbeams faindy tremble on the edge of parting day. And I wander by the garden where the birds and flowers dwell Ever longing, ever waiting, for their angel Dolly Belle. 72 Thoughts in Verse. THE PLAINT OF WOMAN'S LOVE. WONDROUS love, that stirs the woman's breast With gentle kiss borne down from heav'n! O tyranny of man, that hath suppressed Expression of her love God-giv'n! She dare not manifest by uttered word The passions that her soul enthrill; The music of her love is all unheard. Earth's rarest melodies are still; While he, upon an impulse, may proclaim His simulated love, that glows With vacillating and impassioned flame In sordid aphroditic throes. O vaunting man, who hath by cruelty Made cruel even love so fair. That it doth blight the life it came to free — A curse upon its own sweet prayer. 016 117 619 9 ^