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 By H. H. SPIERS 
 
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 Qlran^JJifa 
 
 By H. H. SPIERS 
 
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 Copyright Applied for 
 In the name of Henry H. Spiers 
 
 ©CI.A5267(i3 
 
 <'l^ Jl I 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 Care 
 
 No day of life but has its solemn care. 
 We live and move as transient beings 
 must, 
 And in thus doing have a worthy share 
 Of all that's coming — more than we 
 think just. 
 
 But human nature largely is at fault. 
 
 Whence come our cares? 
 Think wisely, all our own? 
 Why not at once decide to call a halt? 
 
 Why linger at the threshold and to 
 groan? 
 
 'Tis thus in every thing of human kind. 
 Our sorrow deepens, why this sorrow 
 hold? 
 Simply because in every step we're 
 blind. 
 Why not look out to see joys mani- 
 fold? 
 
 Riches perchance come to us. Come to 
 all? 
 By no means and its wisely planned 
 'tis so; 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 Wealth's advent stops our pleasure, 
 great and small. 
 This may be seen by all wher'ere Vv^e 
 go. 
 
 Perhaps 'tis pleasure we on earth en- 
 thrall. 
 
 Around its idols some may flock to see 
 The votaries of joy and on them call. 
 
 Soon then a worshiper of her to be. 
 
 Dread care with all its glamour waits 
 us there. 
 As we one burden lift another comes. 
 While we stand listless ever wishing 
 share. 
 The solid work of our brave life 
 benumbs. 
 
 May be it's poverty we're fighting. 
 Oh the sad day when victim to its 
 call! 
 Then in the march of time— things 
 righting, 
 Be we on equal level placed with all. 
 
 What'ere the state of life or living be 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 Unwelcome care comes knocking at 
 
 our door; 
 We bid him enter, then no more for me 
 Is light and sweetness found upon our 
 
 shore. 
 
 Agar in his love of goodness, beauty, 
 Prayed "Poverty nor riches on him 
 
 fall" 
 For fear of failure, in line of duty. 
 But conscience Yvith the most of us is 
 
 small. 
 
 Look about you! All for wealth are 
 praying. 
 Could those prayers be answered, 
 stricken dumb 
 With care we would sadly then be stay- 
 ing— 
 As blind and stolid creatures to suc- 
 cumb. 
 
 Sad is the day for any class or people, 
 When wealth alone has only mission 
 there. 
 
 Better to demolish every steeple 
 Than have this god alone established 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 here. 
 
 In the years to come if we a nation, 
 Living, acting in every cause for 
 good — 
 Each village, hamlet should be a station 
 Where this great truth is clearly un- 
 derstood. 
 
 Care, like a famine or desolation. 
 Stalks us at mid-night or the noon- 
 tide hour; 
 Leaves with a horror or detestation, 
 But madly holds wtihin its lured 
 power. 
 
 Cherish then no vainly fond ambition 
 That leaves us powerless in its grasp 
 
 to hold. 
 Banish thought that we may have 
 
 volition 
 To live and do for all through time 
 
 untold. 
 
T E R M I N A L T^^^ E D I E S 
 
 Politics 
 
 When things are high 
 
 And wages small, 
 One draws a sigh, 
 "Can't live at air. 
 
 When help is scarce 
 
 And wages high, 
 Life is a farce. 
 
 And this no lie. 
 
 With produce low 
 
 And wages great. 
 Life is no go 
 
 On real estate. 
 
 When help is full 
 
 And wage is low 
 Life is quite dull 
 
 For all below. 
 
 When one wants rain. 
 
 Another snow. 
 He thinks again 
 
 To make things go. 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 So in this life 
 
 It seems to me 
 The question rife: 
 
 How shall things be? 
 
 On these great themes so 
 marked, sublime, 
 The politicians spend their 
 time. 
 It is a question all in line. 
 How politics can be so fine'\ 
 
 Common Sense 
 
 One question all have asked and ask 
 
 again : 
 Why am I here a traveling on this 
 
 main? 
 Such questions none can answer, and 
 
 no doubt 
 If answered be, no worth would e'er 
 
 come out. 
 One may as wisely stop and hold his 
 
 tongue 
 As argue or converse on this so long. 
 Should you be traveling o'er a lake of 
 
 ice 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 And stop or break, plunge all in 
 
 waters nice, 
 What would the first and last great 
 
 question be? 
 How can I best from these great waters 
 
 free. 
 
 One would not wrangle on small 
 
 points of law, 
 But simply reach out, grab the near- 
 est straw. 
 So in this life we^re placed here all can 
 see, 
 But why or wherefore is small truth 
 
 forme; 
 My only and prime object is to move 
 So as to gain the greatest worth in love ; 
 Not wrangle nor cause here a great 
 offense 
 By reasoning against a common sense. 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 Old Friends 
 
 "The lamp burns low, my brother dear, 
 And we are still upon the road. 
 
 We had no voice in coming here — 
 We^re living. This is our abode. 
 
 "The life for us was always sweet, 
 Though bitter things were in the way. 
 
 How pleasant here to others meet 
 How much of happiness each day." 
 
 "If we on earth much longer stay. 
 The friends of youth are all beyond. 
 
 What matters it we're growing gray? 
 What cause have we to here despond? 
 
 "When the last call shall summon us 
 We pass as others do that way. 
 
 What need of making any fuss? 
 More need of gladness on that day." 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 Doubt 
 
 There were just twenty who stood out 
 To hear the eloquence on doubt. 
 Doubt, said the speaker, "I perceive 
 Is negative of to believe." 
 Now when one tells me there is doubt, 
 I calmly wait me and look out. 
 Should Mr. B., who owns a bank. 
 Disclose while working at his crank 
 That he alone owned not ten cents, 
 I certainly would have some sense 
 And not go courting of his niece. 
 Expecting a nice slice apiece. 
 Should farmer A., who owns ten cows, 
 Turn loose the jays to have them 
 browse 
 And in the meantime I should find 
 The animals were poor in kind, 
 I would not bail him for ten cents — 
 My doubts would rise and that im- 
 mense. 
 Should Turnpike Jake be on a spree, 
 I would not say ! Jake call on me. 
 My doubts would rise in the event 
 That he should ask me for a cent. 
 When neighbor Smythe calls on the 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 wire 
 To neighbor Jones, "Your house on 
 fire," 
 
 I know full well it must be true. 
 
 For telephones are nothing new. 
 
 But how the words run on the wire 
 I leave it now to some one higher. 
 When Captain J., across the sea, 
 Sends home a telegram to me: 
 "Your boy is hurt somewhere in 
 
 France,'' 
 I simply rise and take no chance. 
 I know full well it must be so. 
 For telegrams are all the go. 
 But how the fluid runs along 
 Will certainly quite end my song. 
 When brother J., away on high 
 Sends flash to me along the sky: 
 "S. 0. S. Dear," I view the scene 
 And think he's out of gasoline. 
 I know full well beyond a doubt. 
 He can not run when that is out. 
 But how the flash came down to me 
 I plainly do not know or see. 
 Now Parson James calls ev'ry week 
 To have me come to hear him speak. 
 He tells me there is far above 
 
TERMI NA L TRAGEDIES 
 
 A "Place" for all who seek in love. 
 My doubts at once arise, you see, 
 How he can do so much for me? 
 On mornings clear I gaze in space. 
 But never yet have seen a "Place". 
 Unless I clearly can conceive 
 I can not, will not, yet believe." 
 
 Der Kaiser 
 
 The war is over, — so 'tis said, 
 Der Keiser has a lesson learned; 
 
 No m.ore with visions in his head 
 Will war commence — all nations 
 spurned. 
 
 Some simple truths that he may see — 
 If apt as pupil as with sword; 
 
 That fighting of itself — per se 
 Reaps an inglorious reward. 
 
 That fighting never is indeed 
 A fast insurance of good blood. 
 
 That one may have a nation's need. 
 And yet be lovely, truly good. 
 
 A people now can wisely know 
 The value of external show, 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 But never will a lesson be 
 Like lesson of Democracy. 
 
 Belgium^s Christmas 
 
 The bells ring out 
 
 On Christmas morn 
 To hail a festal day; 
 
 We look about 
 With hope forlorn 
 
 For pleasure in that way. 
 
 Our home is there, 
 
 But no one near 
 Can even sing a song. 
 
 Our love must share 
 The sorrow here, 
 
 For war has been so long. 
 
 The one who gave 
 
 In other years 
 Has gone to his last rest. 
 
 We now must save 
 With m.any tears, 
 
 God granting us his best. 
 
 When wars shall cease 
 And all is peace 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 Love may his gifts enthrall. 
 
 But we forlorn, 
 Sit here this morn, 
 
 Expecting none at all. 
 
 Oh hearts that mourn 
 
 With sorrow worn 
 May rest to you be giv'n ! 
 Then can we share 
 
 The anguish, care 
 For all this side of heav'n. 
 
 Order Reversed 
 
 He came to me 
 
 Most wondrous wise. 
 
 And joy was sparkling in his eyes. 
 
 Said he at once, 
 "Fm here to see 
 If you will shortly marry me." 
 
 "What, marry you. 
 You simple dunce! 
 To tie a knot not loosed at once?" 
 
 "Why, when folks marry they attire 
 In best of garb and love aspire". 
 
 "Come early and stay late of course. 
 Beseech, implore and talk till hoarse". 
 
TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 
 
 "Get on their knees declare, adore 
 And swear that for life evermore" 
 
 "They will watch over and protect 
 To never in the least neglect". 
 
 "Then when the girl's worn out with 
 
 sighs, 
 She tears her hair, stands up and cries". 
 
 "Now that's the way that people do 
 When they the girls in marriage woo". 
 
 "And you my boy, come here to know 
 If I will take you now in tow". 
 
 "Well, I propose to change the plan; 
 Not marry like a senseless man". 
 
 "I notice that in looking round 
 Few happy marriages are found". 
 
 "The plan of marriage you can show. 
 But do you happy marriage know" ? 
 
 "Then why expect — compel a way 
 Which no good man can take today" ? 
 
 "My plan is this: Get married first — 
 Then court till death; 
 Accept the worst". 
 
 "Your plan is right my honest boy. 
 I will accept with greatest joy". 
 
IlliSi™ °^ CONGRESS 
 
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