PS 3525 .E735 :3 1915 ^opy 1 California Geyser VfV N. MESERVE A CALIFORNIA GEYSER BY ^^^^^^^/Q^j^^e,".^ f PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR BY THE WARREN PRESS 160 WARREN STREET, BOSTON, MASS. 1915 Copyright, 1915 BY William N. Meserve A CALIFORNIA GEYSER The lecturer at first looks wise, Starts low then takes a riser, Then plunges forth in heated guise Then froths and spouts — A Geyser. Succeeding verses show some nerve And possibly some fervor; Produced by William N. Meserve, A somewhat bold rhyMe server. With verse the world is overflowed ; Helps this to overload her? It's good and justifies the ode That yields a pleasing odor. The sweet-breathed calla ever shall Delight us with its pallor; The author wrote this book in Cal., The State that grows the calla. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 5 Heaven's flag has waved since time began, We give it glad hosanna ; To all things bad it is a ban, To all things good, a banner. 6 So much depends upon one's goal; Must be a self-controller; And every rightly ordered soul Less lunar is than solar. 7 'Twere better much the mouth to shut Than merely utter mutter; Whoever expletives with tut May some day stut-tut-tutter. 8 What mighty consequences cram Within some little clamor! It's often true, only a dram Preludes a shameful drama. 9 A fine gift is the gift of wit, Delightful, seldom bitter; Whose wisdom-lamp when brightly lit Reveals a world of litter. 10 Hats at attractive gold will doff As slips it in the coffer; They're seldom known to call it off Who have a golden offer. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 11 This puts you, snuffers in a huff; You rate me as a duffer; Reserve your venom for the snuff That puts you in the snuffer. 12 And still the serried armies grow And multiply the more; And to the front they quickly go To pour the more their gore. 13 Ne'er everlasting any calm, Appears in course some harmer; At proper sounding of alarm The wise are seen all armor. 14 In memory we ever shall Our mother dear recall her ; Nor can there be an interval That will not hint her valor. 15 No use to treat it with disdain For nothing can be plainer, There is no power in weak champagne To make a strong campaigner. 16 There's much that loves the grovel groove, To move it needs maneuver; But all such takes a hasty move When dynamite's the mover. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 17 Some matters rude may yield much good, Somewhat of good things cruder ; No Lion lairs in lowly Jude, Press on to Him of Judah! 18 The sneak will always dog the great, Obsequiously a waiter ; Possessing just the kind of trait That blossoms large in traitor. 19 No matter if the times are calm And soundless the alarmer ; 'Twere well to wear upon the arm Some good defensive armor. 20 I need but simply to allege Without the aid of wager That I was once an army maj . — No, not the Ursa Major. 21 On every hand is evidence That grows the while intenser That every one of good sound sense Should swing a heav'n-lit censer. 22 Whoever will may surely hear And hear it growing clearer, Comes sweetly whisp'ring to the ear A coming golden era. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 23 No doubt the world since time began Has had its propaganda; He's worshiper of old god Pan Who to his sins will pander. 24 Some learners have the quest in eye And show a strong desire To find what best will edify And hold a steady fire. 25 How gladly we strong drink eschew, We thirst for water pure ; So boozing meets its Waterloo Before the water lure. 26 You'd better lay than raise a dust For nought is gained by bluster ; When duty plainly says you must! Then all your forces muster. 27 'Tis grand to be iconoclast And tear things down the faster; Who stumbles on a bioplast Might need to buy a plaster. 28 It's churchly light that's chiefly bright And bleaches darkness whiter ; The church when right is heaven's light, Beware how you do slight her. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 29 The common scheme is take your ease And of yourself be pleaser ; Be careful every prize to seize And so rank well with Caesar. 30 To think is more than "slinging ink," A thinker's more than tinker ; Significant is thin in think — The sloven of a thinker. 31 What cunning craft now skim the sky, Fulfilling man's desire! No bird so high may hope to fly Or spy a higher flyer. 32 Do not expect a man of rank For "rank and file" to hanker; As well expect a sandy bank To charm a handy banker. 33 So many youth go to the bad, Whatever could be sadder? On every side we see some lad Descend the moral ladder. 34 The wish above the earth to fly Denotes a good desire ; Whoever gains the noble high Discerns a nobler higher. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 35 Much treatment by the world is rough And often hard to suffer; When treated to a hard rebuff SHp in a soft-word buffer. 36 The more around the world we rove And look its contents over The more we see how small is Jove, How infinite JEHOVAH! 37 Than prose or verse some things are worse, More need they an immerser ; Much prose is gross and worse some verse And ditto vice versa. 38 The night-life makes you deviate, Of right-life makes you hater ; Its wine-cup makes you scintillate And ever sin till later. 39 On every hand mankind agree And hold th' opinion clear That tho' one have an eye to see He may not be a seer. 40 The world is ever falling short. Their structures constant totter; Because they put in place of ought Lies soft as fur of otter. 10 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 41 If heaven is in your heart's intent And Christ is your Precentor, With Godly grief you must repent, Sow heavenly seed, reap, enter. 42 She, Virtue, tramples idols all, Is free from slavish collar, A long call past the reign of doll And empire of the dollar. 43 Her noblest deeds are not with foam. Writ small is her diploma. And yet her deeds for God and home Are epics for a Homer. 44 In things of taste she is acute And easily a tutor ; Instinctive knows what best will suit, Who suit her best as suitor. 45 Construct of it a back-door mat Then tramp it to a tatter Because it is so low and flat, The stuff that's meant to flatter. 46 Be not we beg extravagant In foolish talk and banter ; For Peace is e'er intolerant Of every folly ranter. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 11 47 To money bags men bend the knee Responsive to their cheer; If tempted with a greenback V They're seldom seen to veer. 48 Water on molten masses poured Is off in steam 'short order;' Heroics of a tinner's sword Will effervesce like soda. 49 I like things warm with right good will, I love it not, a chiller ; With all my faults I love me still — Small love for the distiller. 50 Some places need much more than chill. They need a barrel-spiller ; Is wanted some one armed to kill. Some Jack the "joint" killer. 51 The world they say is derelict, Awaits a tone-up victor; Is wanted something to constrict, A mighty bo' constrictor. 52 We must to what is right be true And make foundations sure; By righteous standards we must do If what we do endure. 12 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 53 No one is rising to deny Unless some crusty crier — There's fire enough in brandy pie To blaze a funeral pyre. 54 As says the preacher-man to you So you should be a doer; For every rightly ordered pew Demands the Gospel pure. 55 The lash will make one's passions fly And set him all on fire ; Yet nine and thirty on the eye Will not arouse his ire. 56 How simple is the primal act, How swollen by an actor! Things lessen some when they contract — Made big by a contractor. 57 Earth's probe is scarce beyond the edge, Heaven's search is with a dredger; Accounts of earth merely allege, On high is kept a ledger. 58 He's not beyond the childish stage, Can't pass the standard gauger, Who, worse then foolish, puts his wage Upon a wicked wager. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 13 59 Somewhat of what we may call mist Is seen in him, a mister; More myst-ery we do insist In her consists, his sister. 60 No longer wait but do it now, While still remains the power, To make and keep a sturdy vow Nought harmful to devour. 61 The earth by curse is set apart, The victim of foul barter, Whose drugs in Satan's fatal mart Make this poor world a martyr. 62 How many they who strut and flout In guises of the doubter Whose doubting doubtless shuts them out In darkness that is outer. 63 'Tis written large in Wisdom's book, 'Twas folly that mistook her — 'Tis gangrene to the eyes that look With greed on "filthy lucre." 64 'Gainst lust let all that's good and just All righteous forces muster ; Forever every leering lust Denies the soul its lustre. 14 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 65 Things beautiful have mighty lure For him the long endurer; The pinch of little makes him poor And longing makes him poorer. 66 How easy is the step to take From Tightness down to faker! How little are the things we make, Of great things God is maker. 67 To be or not to be said he, The bard of Avon, seer; With lapse of time 'tis not to be With those who booze on beer. 68 On heaven's highway no rogues may stalk Nor any thievish walker; In ocean depths there needs no lock On "Davy Jones's locker." 69 Success at making common bricks Requires a skilful mixer; Whoever tries at man's "best licks" Needs Gospel's best elixir. 70 At loneliness we make ado. No one shall us immure ; Blest company e'er calls for two, Looks unto two to tour. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 15 71 No day may ever need be dull, Of good it might be fuller ; From Bible readings one may cull What gives to life its color. 72 To blazing fires consign the whip, Frown down the clown the whipper; All right when handy foot lets slip The fine corrective slipper. 73 The liar when he comes to die Must quiver in the fire; Yet heavenly melodies may lie Within a quivering lyre! 74 Some cunning rogues are coolly cute, Related to the looter; Forever seeking to impute Bright silver's worth to pewter. 75 This has no reference to you, You're better bred I'm sure; But some there are whose word is pooh! When asked to help the poor. 76 'Twere well to make and keep a vow To do what's in our power, To know how best to live and how To use the present hour. 16 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 77 Inclined is she to jeer and scoff When nothing comes as proffer; By word and action says, "hands off"- Unless a hand's the offer. 78 Mahogany has hog in view And much of pigment sure; 'Twould surely make a funny chew But makes fine furniture. 79 Before great schemes 'twere well to bow And seek for needful power ; Hare-brained are they who seize a scow The mighty seas to scour. 80 Some fight at dropping of a hat And rave with wicked clatter; And never end the foolish spat Till blood begins to spatter. 81 There is a gentle, harmless wit That cutely is a hitter ; Unlike acidulated twit — More like some soft sweet twitter. 82 Admire we those who dare to fly And up to heights aspire; Who leave the ground and upward hie To sightly heights sky higher. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 17 83 I knew a doctor, oft he chose To hitch his chair up closer That he might use his practised nose As truthful diagnoser. 84 Some things have rose-scent for the nose But to the eye brought closer Are least suggestive of the rose So hideous sub rosa! 85 If one should seek me to undo By mean discomfiture I'd put on him a size-small shoe To make my vengeance sure. 86 Sharp lunar caustic maketh whole, ^ The body's swift controller; The sorer ailments of the soul ' Need caustic that is Solar. 87 Connecticut is ranked first rate By every commentator; The little nutmeg State is great — Near by she finds a gr(e)ater. 88 Have at them with a heavy maul ' Until enough! they "holler;" Who fan the fires of base base-ball Each one's a low bass bawler. 18 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 89 Great numbers have the tramping lust And move along with bluster ; They show unnumbered specks o' dust On every "exoduster." 90 There is a word, 'tis full of glee And quite as full of cheer, A lovely word, begins with D, Completes itself in dear. 91 The ne'er-do-well who shows great lack And ever grows the slacker, He should be made to toe the crack Or hunger for his cracker. 92 Earth's noble prizes him await Who crosses his equator ; He who's all talk, no operate. Is but a sorry prater. '93 Twixt wing and leg we instant know Which pleases us the more; Yet pass we by the flying crow And choose the running crower. 94 It is the never-changing lot To every son and daughter That what in childhood is a "tot" In age becomes a totter. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 19 95 At dinner-time no one's inert, Is rarely found alerter ; The advent of a good dessert Is marked by no deserter. 96 Exceeding great should be our care To be the right flag bearer ; That as we on life's journey fare 'Tis toward a region fairer. 97 What if what follows could be true 'Twould make your fortune sure: The graces all are found in you, They all in you inure. 98 It's well with each man to go straight, A careful operator; Beware how you manipulate Or one may nip you later. 99 Don't fly into an angry heat, Much better to be sweeter; Give sugar taken from the beet Is better than to beat her. 100 That home is surely on the wise That's run by no mean miser ; Among the best of happy ties Is found the appetiser. 20 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 101 He wants to do the handsome thing And studies what to bring her ; He hesitates between a ring — Or, better still, a wringer. 102 He calls things ornamental, bosh! Declares they give him nausea; Such fol-de-rol he says wont wash — And so provides a washer. 103 Efficiency is found in few Whose promises are sure; A noisy, blustering ado Scarce represents a doer. 104 You give a glutton mild rebufif He'll turn on you the rougher; He's made of poorest kind of stuff Who's but a stomach stuffer. 105 Whoever lets his morals slip, The victim of a tripper, May sometimes do quite well to skip With some outsailing skipper. 106 With some we join in covenant And some we leave instanter ; Whoe'er encounters can't and cant Should leave them at a canter. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 21 107 Whoever is with notions filled Will prove a foolish builder; No matter how he may be willed They'll surely him bewilder. 108 There is a great prize that is high That any may acquire; At first approach the prize as spy, Then mightily aspire! 109 I seek for gold a thousand fine, For Him the skilled Refiner; The Bible is the mine, and mine. If I serve well as miner. 110 When comes some buzzing scandal-chat Give it no chance to scatter But wipe it on the back-door mat If 'tis a trifling matter. 111 The queens of song are singing on And each has honors on her ; Whatever laurels they may don Mary's the pre Madonna. 112 Your face against all gambling set Or find yourself in fetter ; Great foolishness It is to bet; Bet not, "you bet," you'd better. 22 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 113 Beware the heedless heartless crew Of whom each one Is boor ; Who, seeking to discomfort you, Work your discomfiture. 114 Low-spirited and dull are you, You hardly can endure? The Gospel gives to you a cue To point you to a cure! 115 We strongly urge you to be well And be a right good "feller;" But should it come, a feeble spel, Call In the — Webster speller. 116 The man of words we're apt to flout. Especially a shouter; What house can do without a spout, What town without a spouter? 117 The noisy world wears deep its rut And gossips wide its mutter; 'Twere well to keep the mutter shut To sputter under shutter. 118 Admire we him who's boldly brave, We take him into favor; He launches forth and breasts the wave And calmly waives a waver. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 23 119 Not every one who on demand Is of big fish a lander ; The man who wins a propagand' He is a proper gander. 120 Whatever instruments are in The dinner bell is winner ; There is no music like the din That calls us in to dinner. 121 The fight is on, its heat is white, Incessantly grows brighter; And looks to see each neophyte Become a hero fighter. 122 Countless around are friends and foes "Like leaves in Val Ombrosa;" And how most properly to pose Quite often is a poser. 123 The highways of the world you try To see what they require ; You Wisdom see, don't pass her by She'd have you be a buyer. 124 The wilful one who will not see The blindest does appear ; And "deafer than a post" is he Who'll pos'tWely not hear. 24 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 125 Forever since man's world began The food that takes the banner And is most prof table for man Is heaven's soul-feeding manna. 126 'Tis good, yes, better is the best As seen by every tester; The grand superlative is est, Denghtf 'ly seen in Esther. 127 Some leading men, their names are blank, Took ship and nearly sank her ; 'Tis strange that men of highup rank Should show the lowdown rancor. 128 A "frozen smile" however bland Is to the true as slander ; Like splendid fruitage when it's canned, If I may speak with candor. 129 Eureka! happily our feet Pursue the path discreeter If only happily we meet Attuned to common metre. 130 We search and come at last to see One Lord alone appear; To Him we gladly bend the knee ; No other far or near. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 25 131 He should be smitten on the kopf And sent to play the gopher ; There's universal use for loaf But none at all for loafer. 132 We hear of ways the "drop" to drop, They're scarcely worth a copper; The real, royal way to stop Is stop the popping stopper. 133 Great joy to some is in a spat No matter what the matter; The luxury of "tit for tat" Precursor is of tatter. 134 Some get their passions all inflate And think their pleasure greater; Some others when they recreate List well to their Creator. 135 Heaven's Architect is heaven's Lord Declared by heaven's recorder; Before His mighty works we're awed. Spellbound to see their order. i36 Whate'er you have that's much at fault Is something good to alter; And music is not seen in salt Except you make it psalter. 26 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 137 When what you say gains a hurrah! Intending you to flatter The danger is that such eclat Degenerate to clatter. 138 Some little one may be anoint To join or be disjointer; Some little sharp acute penpoint Is oft to great things pointer. 139 So much to master and to know And multiplies the more; The intellect starts strangely low — Climbs high while getting lore. 140 Earth's axis end has long been goal To tempt the eager stroller; 'Tis claimed they've fairly reached the Pole- Now reach the star more polar! 141 Perfection's seat is 'way 'way back, 'Tis difficult to track her; In almost everything is lack — Save putty or some lacquer. 142 A never ending faker host This poor world seems to foster; Impose a ruinous impost On every such imposter! A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 27 143 Sailors are held both hard and fast Safeguard against disaster; The more they are "before the mast" The more behind the master. 144 Life's highway you are traveling on Can lead to endless honor; Fight on before your chance is gone, Fight on or you're a "goner"! 145 Low living loosely, lacking light. Of danger is inviter; Whoe'er is living under right Should seek heaven's Underwriter. 146 But little of the earth is tilled, Her beckoning hands bewilder; For things uncommon you are billed, Arise and be a builder! 147 You wish to find a happy home, A home that's no misnomer? 'Twere worth the while to go aroam To find earth's best aroma. 148 In seeming innocence she's wrapt. Than she there's none that's apter; And when with picture hat she's capt She wears the airs of captor. 28 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 149 Maturing youth has boyish craze T' impress the casual gazer; A man's beard is his hope to raise — To fall before the razor. 150 Poor creatures we, we all aver, Tho' possibly in error; When our poor bodies they inter Will we be found in terra? 151 The spirit of all wars is mean, To spoil and render leaner ; Where dispositions are irene Avoid they war's arena. 152 Whoever sees a pick'rel swish Instanter is a wisher; A first-rate place for fried fresh fish Is in the lingual fissure. 153 'Twere well our dark forebodings ceased; Let every one be f easter ; For He who glories west and east Has glorified our Easter. 154 Invading firesides is no joke. It wakes the moody croaker; Who says : The nose that dares to poke Invites the handy poker. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 29 155 Look to the sky they proudly say, See suns on suns up there; That only is a "milky way" — Down here's a butter weigher, 156 Tobacco chewing's down to date And needs a swift abater ; A chewer must expect to rate A vile expectorater. 157 Some women, few, strange garb assume Of whom 'tis said by rumor That they have lost their radiant bloom Who radiate in bloomer. 158 Behooves me sure to be discreet And possibly be sweeter; Need not exhort me to be neat — I am a true "Bean Eater." 159 Each morning, noon and every e'en We seek the way that's cleaner; We crave that things that would demean Attack not our demeanor. 160 Keep calm and cool, be not extreme. Nor be a foolish dreamer; Have care, beware a fiery theme That brings on erythema. 30 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 161 Sweet sympathy we love to see And of it love to hear; Serves noble purpose "to a T" When glistened by a tear. 162 Let them who will some goddess serve With much or little fervor; More profit find I in my nerve Than aught from her, Minerva. 163 He measures but a little span Who never is a planner ; He's "small potatoes" of a man Who nothing cares for manner. 164 So much the world develops sham, So much is merely glamour; So little like the noiseless clam So much like noisy clamor. 165 Awaits the world the garbage cart To ferret every quarter For slang just fairly floods the mart; To that the world is martyr. 166 He well deserves some handling rough, Should get it from a cuffer; When prowling 'round with sneezy snufif Efface him with a snuffer. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 31 167 There is a snake that's very bad, Regard it from a ladder; We'd rather it subtract than add, That poison-dealing adder. 168 If one I know were only dumb I'd welcome him as comer; He comes, finds in my ear his drum And plays the part of drummer. 169 Some marshall wildly all their force And shout till they get hoarser; Their veins swell up to varicose, Their speech gets coarse and coarser. 170 You'd better her ill will abate With some pacificater Or else you'll find that lass irate May use a lacerater. 171 Philosophers of great big eye To giddy heights aspire; But reach instead of heights, O my, Such floundering depths o' mire! 172 Some kinds of hate are quite innate Appearing soon or later ; You never can domesticate A sour-dough masticator. 32 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 1 73 Looked far and wide on every side My circle growing wider; At last! I cried on having spied A real web-foot spider. 174 In California they assign Great value to the miner, Requiring eighteen forty nine To make one "forty-niner." 175 Far better not in danger go Because you may deplore ; Much better not your small skiff row Where heartless breakers roar. 176 Small brooks to mighty rivers lead, The small to great is feeder ; How singularly small the seed That grows a soaring cedar! 177 Of Bible people there's no end Of those who evil render ; Among the many "which" offend We note the witch of Endor. 178 In Death's hard hand the bow is bent With arrow made to enter; At given signal it is sent And finds the mark at centre. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 33 179 With drunkards everything's aslant, They wabble as they saunter; Upon a drunken mendicant You find a men's decanter. 180 To see the mountains many go But soon have raptures more That multiply with O and Oh! At sight of golden ore. 181 On automobiles hear him dote, Owns one and is a gloater ; The eye is mainly minus mote That rightly sees a motor. 182 Who drinks too much will soon or late, And sooner too than later Discover that a dizzy pate Attends a dissipater. 183 Out to the hay field blithe we go And give its work encore ; At scythes we sigh that grass to mow, We'd rather less than more. 184 If comes he cooing like a dove. Persistently to hover, Then 'cause we dearly love to love We'll treasure such a lover. 34 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 185 He comes and gives your bell a ring, A wicked nuisance bringer, Just send him forthwith traveling Forbidding him to linger. 186 The risk by some is counted great By many a cordial hater ; They counsel ne'er inoculate For fear it knock you later. 187 'Tis needful he should be acute, A very bull's-eye shooter; And more than commonly astute Who tongues the world as tutor. 188 Some writers into passion fly Which mounts up high and higher; In hard polemics versify — A controversy fire. 189 Some one has been so mean to you You never can endure? Before your final act to sue Just — dump it in the sewer! 190 You'll find him in his chosen clique Against all good a kicker; Of work he never does a lick — Save lick his lips for liquor. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 35 191 Some schools there are of low estate, Contending none is greater; Beware how you matriculate Or they may trick you later. 192 Into each others arms they fly, To blissful heights aspire, And dote upon the binding tie — ■ Until the parties tire. 195 When you and I went off to school Our ardor soon grew cooler ; Closely allied to proper rule We found the handy ruler. 194 Music hath power to quick the brain, A wonderful constrainer ; Against some siren's sweet refrain Be a discreet refrainer. 195 I had a fowl and got his mate And gave her to a waiter To coop her and domesticate — ■ That same domestic ate her. 196 Just as men sow they always reap And scarce a truth probes deeper; And they who scheme and get and keep Will some day get a keeper. 36 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 197 Much talk on talk will much befog And little good will augur ; Contestants in such dialogue Will set their "heads a-logger." 198 I'm in for harmless sparks of fun — Blank cartridge kind of gunner; Materials and make home spun — A little weak Holmes punner. 199 Residing where volcanoes hiss You call it Buena Vista; Resembles much the kind of bliss Discovered in a blister. 200 He who as yet is but half-fledge Should carefully be hedger ; Some people, instant to allege, No day book keep nor ledger. 201 'Twere ever well to guard the lip, Quick temper is a tripper; Whoever wears the shoulder-chip May soon feel far from "chipper." 202 Down, down they go in swath that's wide, A down that is not "eider;" Some drink themselves to suicide On alcoholic cider. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 37 203 Each one is hailed — wake out of trance, Press on a true advancer ; Who never overcomes his can'ts Will breed a moral cancer. 204 But little does he wet the lip Who merely is a sipper ; God, bountiful, would have him dip - With heaven's great northern dipper. 205 We're in demand, myself and you, Respond we must for sure ; The likes of us were always few, We fear we're getting fewer. 206 He eats at will and drinks at will. Of rightness is a killer; He won't do well but will sin till Of sense he's no scintilla. 207 For money many fume and fret And every one's a sweater; But riches sorrow will beget — Go slow's the better getter. :* • 208 The distance short and short the time And all of it sublimer — He comes to every kind of clime, The aviating climber. 38 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 209 You write, you think, a melody- Expecting cheers t'appear; You feel quite sure of eulogy — They give to you low jeer. 210 Your mouth-marks seem to indicate That you have played the traitor; And if it was in sin you ate They are insinuator. 211 Mean gossip hath an aftermath That to great harm is father; Be sure and "tell it not in Gath" Nor where the gossips gather. 212 She is so cute and elegant. So ready for a banter! Beams on us with a charming chant, Is charmer and enchanter. 213 The way of indolence forsake, It is a trouble-maker ; One way to dissipate its ache Is, cultivate your acre. 214 We dearly love the modest beau Who never is a bore; Unlike the man of wordy flow Who takes and holds the floor. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 39 215 To stuff their stomachs many give The labor of a beaver ; But they who merely eat to live Fear no rebellious liver. 216 Hard disappointment in the main Meets him, a poor maintainer; Whoever will "try, try again" Is apt to be a gainer. 217 The world is full of base "clap trap" And people merely dapper; Whose eyes mayhap have endless snap, Whose tongue is mostly snapper. 218 Time flies and ever fatefully And brings your ending near; Give careful heed and listen ye! Is this your fateful year? 219 In prophecy the proper way Is list the true purveyor; It matters little what / say, List well what says Isaiah! 220 So much we need a pleasing tact So much life's pleasing factor! It proper is to be exact — But not a hard exactor. 40 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 221 In Paul's great splendid three ranks one Passed by by many a shunner; FAITH greatly helps life's race to run, Wings on the faithful runner. 222 One virtue helps us to be brave, Forbids that we should waver ; HOPE has ability to save And has the heavenly savor. 223 HOPE has a crown, a fadeless wreath Of sweet celestial heather ; Transcends whate'er is found beneath, Its heath has e'er been ether. 224 The greatest of Paul's royal three, It floods the world with cheer ; It rhymes with dove and ends with E, So pleasing to the ear. 225 You'll find it no uncommon fate As seen by common data ; Men wide and wider still dilate — Dilating still, die later. 226 The hungry tramp his wits must use To circumvent abusers; He begs and what he gets he chews Tho' "beggars can't be choosers." A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 41 227 No need to be a pachyderm Nor ever much to murmur ; The way to stand in terror firm, Stand on God's terra firma! 228 To make adjustments study hard, Such study is rewarder. 'Twere well indeed to preen with nard Lest something dampen ardor. 229 Life's problem largely is to thrive And each must be contriver; Who gains from business would derive Not driven is but driver! 230 It's better to avoid the path Where evil forces gather; Escape we should the path of wrath And choose the peaceful rather. 231 The mind diseased wrecks not a few Whose ailments are obscure; He happy is who gets the cue That leads up to a cure. 232 Bright minted gold men love to see And, getting, hold it dear; A freshly issued greenback V Most people will revere. 42 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 233 Beware the swagg'ring loafer chap, His goods aren't worth the wrapper; He isn't worth a rag-man's scrap Who poses as a "scrapper." 234 Your bumptious boy himself "allows" He classes with the rousers ; Is more than average he trows — He pants to trundle trousers. 235 The sword is emblem of a fight, A tooth denotes a biter ; What smites and conquers left and right Is pencil of a writer. 236 To see some things of sharp dissent Forbid by conscience-mentor Should paint the face of any gent The color of magenta. 237 You never need go far to find A prevalent reminder That they are blindest of the blind Whose eyelid is their blinder. 238 It may be nice to "chew the rag" And banter with a swagger ; You'd rather ride a crow-bait nag Than auto with a nagger. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 43 239 Be careful what you put on file Else you may please the smiler; And only swell the scrapman's pil6 For he is chief compiler. 240 There is a sect that worries me, An insect 'tis, severe ; I only need to see the flea And you would see the fleer. 241 In raising dust there is some risk But if it need be brisker 'Tis this would make a royal whisk, A tattler's busy whisker. 242 'Twere better much to be recluse Than be a license user; Whoe'er in moral things is loose Is sure to be the loser. 243 Around and 'round is busy blat, A never ending clatter ; For what they say and call it chat Related is to chatter. 244 To strongest ranks do vict'ries go? Not so says hist'ries' lore ; Oft victor he who daunts the foe E'en tho' they number four. 44 A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 245 By no means is't an eagle scream Or fancy of a dreamer ; The Stars and Stripes command esteem On land or on a steamer. 246 There is a prize for him who tries, A diligent deviser; He's poorly wise if penny-wise, Arise! get wise and wiser. 247 'Tis nice upon the sea to go And sail it o'er and o'er; But fatally there is no show Unless there is a shore. 248 There is a way to walk upon Where's found no low-bred scorner; Where one may struggle on and on And win the crown of honor. 249 In life's career small chance for halt Nor much its course to alter; And greatly is a man at fault Who finds a chance to falter. 250 She seeks a hero, that's no sin Because 'twas born within her; She needs to be a heroine To be a hero winner. A CALIFORNIA GEYSER 45 251 It's hard to know just where you're at In statecraft's tangled data ; It takes a cunning diplomat To probe a deep-low matter. 252 They're not a few we should defend, Glad service we should render; To such we kindly should attend Whose hearts are torn and tender. 253 It's scarce a tragedy to die So common to expire ; The bloody cross, that makes me sigh Rememb'ring the Messiah. 254 How royal is the noble trend Of those who rightness render! And come they to a glad, glad end And more than glad addenda. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS