Class _2lA5J_5. Book ,i<41 > Lt- Copiglitl^?. COPYRIGHT DEPOSIK LOVE, FAITH AND ENDEAVOR r L- LOVE, FAITH AND ENDEAVOR By Harvey Carson Grumbine Boston: Sherman, French and Company : mdccccix ..'*^.! Copyright, 1909 Sherman, French &» Company 75 3^13 LIBRARY of CONGRESS Two CoDics Reeeived juN 10 m^ Copyngnt £ntrv . A XXc. No, TO MY FATHER WHATEVER IS WORTHY IN THESE VERSES IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED Acknowledgment is gratefully made of per- mission to reprint in this book certain poems which have appeared in The Outlook, Put- nam s Magazine, The Bohejnian, The Gray Goose, and The Pennsylvania Gerinan. CONTENTS OF LOVE Page Two Little Shoeses with their Neck-ties On 3 To Celia 6 Sunshine and Shadow 7 The Trysting Place 9 Love's Awakening II The Swedish Maid 12 Pastourelle 15 In the Clover 16 OF EXILE The Rain 21 Homesick 23 OF NATURE Crocuses and Violets 27 Treasure-trove 28 May 29 A Garden Idyl 30 June 31 December 32 On Seeing a Crocus and a Dandelion in January 33 The Passing of Winter 34 Safe 35 The Century Oak 36 Paradise Sweet 37 My Garden 38 OF THE STUDY To a Scholar 41 To a Teacher 42 To My Arm-chair 43 OF FAITH AND ENDEAVOR Page For the Long Journey 47 A Home at Last 48 To Sleep 49 Death 50 The Lamp of Life 51 P'ellinore 52 Finding God 53 Canaan 54 Across the Void of Night 55 Day of Prayer for Colleges 56 Sweet Chapel Hour 58 The Ivy and the Elms 59 Pro Christo et Liter is 61 Omnia Vincit Veritas 63 Equanimity 65 The Susquehanna 66 Night 67 Oblivion 68 Jubilee Ode 69 Flag Song 74 Fruition 75 For Life 76 OF LOVE TWO LITTLE SHOESES WITH THEIR NECKTIES ON THERE are two little fairy feet in a place not far away That came a-pattering up to me and said to me one day: "My papa said 'e would. If I'd be real good. Buy me the nicest pair o' shoeses 'at choo ever sawn, A pair o' 'ittle shoeses 'ith their neckties on." Those shoeses they be slippers and those slip- pers they be new; I think they are just stunning, — ^yes I dooses, so I do: And so would you, suppose You saw their little bows. My tough old prosy head and heart are both completely won All by those little shoeses with their neckties on ! Now tripping up and down the hall and skip- ping up the stair. Quite radiant in their fleet delight there scintil- late a pair Of scampering little feet. So nimble and petite That on my word and honor it is jolly, jolly fun To see those little shoeses with their neckties on. The sunbeams of the dawning and the star-light of the night They cannot twinkle brighter than those little beams of light — Those merry little feet, So tireless and so fleet, A-running hither, thither, just as fast as they can run — Those darling little shoeses with their neck- ties on. Ah, here around the corner now they come a-pit- ter-patter — Oh! What a merry, joyous, careless romp and jump and clatter! 1*11 just pretend to hide Behind this curtain wide — When — boo! — they dash and scamper — in a mo- ment they are gone — Those laughing little shoeses with their neck- ties on. And when I see them scooting with uproarious hullabaloo, I fancy me a child again to romp and scamper too; I wager I can beat Those nimble little feet; — Stop, wait! O dear! My breath! I'm beat! I'm shamefully outdone By those cunning little shoeses with their neck- ties on! A joyous burst of laughter and a tossing of the curls, A parting of two rosy lips, a gleaming as of pearls : "Say, Mister, Mister Man, Come catch me if you can! — " 'Twould be enough to melt to love the heart of any stone To see those shoeses caper with their neck- ties on. And that's the reason why that I, though you would scarce suppose That I am much a ladies' man, am going to propose : I'm going to propose To catch those little toes That trip and clatter on the stairs and out upon the lawn. And hug me close those shoeses with their neck- ties on. TO CELIA O PRETTY Celia, give me chance To catch your casual smile and glance As there, across the way, you stand Three stories from the solid land Within the window. I grudge the curtain's floating lace Its touch upon your winsome face. And would, a spirit, I might hide Behind the drapery by your side Within the window. The zephyr that, to you unknown, Is irom the azure spaces blown, I would, I would I were, I vow. To kiss the ringlet on your brow Within the window. But ah, alack ! my wayward thought Avails me little, avails me naught, Although my eyes are resting still Where erst you were beside the sill Within the window. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW IT seems so long, Dear One, until the day, When we shall meet again and ne'er to part, I scarce can bide the time, but strive to stay The pulsing flood of joy within my heart. The sunshine comes. The sunshine goes. The shadow falls. The bleak wind blows. It seems so long, so long, Sweet One, and drear; The day to crown our hopes with garlands white Is so far in the future, yet so near I fear me Fate will trick us out of spite. The sunshine comes. The sunshine goes, The shadow falls. The bleak wind blows. The days, the weeks in ponderous cycles pass. Rolling a lumbering roundel of slow moons; What dule and teen since last we met ! My Lass, My hope, unfed, with hunger droops and swoons. The sunshine comes. The sunshine goes. The shadow falls. The bleak wind blows. But, sun or shadow, sun and shadow still Must ever mark the varying scroll of time; Of shadow less, of sunshine more shall fill Our common walk as in Arcadia's clime. The sunshine comes, The sunshine goes, The shadow falls, The bleak wind blows. THE TRYSTING PLACE OF an evening by the river When the sun is in the West, And the apple blossoms quiver, By the toying winds caressed; When the hills are bright with flowers And the fields are gay with bloom, Don't you deem it fun to linger Till the shadows turn to gloom? Ah, true, I do! But tell me, do not you? When the cares of day are over And its lessons all are said. Don't you like to play the rover. Just by aimless fancy led Where ten myriad myriad bluets Nod approvingly their heads? Don't you deem it fun to loiter Where the Maybirds make their beds? I trow I know! But tell me, is it so? By the Susquehanna's border Past the dogwood in the dells. Where the blue hills, ranged in order Like so many sentinels. Guard the village in the valley Nestled close about their feet. Don't you deem it fun to dally There because — ^well, just to meet — We two! Don't you, Pray tell me, think so too? Trudging up a leafy by-way With an epic of old time, Turning from the noisy highway With its moil and toil and grime, Giving dull old Care the go-by, And, to while the hours away. Just pretending to be reading — In the bonnie month of May? Why, yes! So O gueSs! But do you acquiesce? 10 LOVE'S AWAKENING THE rain beat drear on the window-pane In the sough of the wind full mournful; I sighed to think my sighs were vain And the looks of my Love full scornful. Is she a wicked coquette? Ah me, The mask of her lovely seeming With embers of piquant diablerie Aglow 'neath her eyelids' dreaming! The rain beat loud on the window-pane, The blast screamed shrill in its ire; The tortured heart of me was fain To break with its fevered fire. — And yet the rain hath wept enow, The tempest spent its plaining: Bright dawn hath risen to kiss Love's brow And flout her wicked feigning. II THE SWEDISH MAID The wearing apparel and other personal property be- longing to the late Miss Jennie Johnson will be sold at auction this evening. The above announcement completes the finishing chapter of a most romantic and interesting story. The heroine was a young girl of scarcely twenty years. A year ago she was living happily with her parents in her Swedish home with bright prospects for the future. She had a lover and he went to America to make a home for the girl behind him. After being there for a few months, he wrote in glowing terms of the new country in which he was, and sent for her to come that they might be married. She came, but alas! her lover had proved faithless. He refused to marry her. Here she was alone with no friends to shelter her. Thrown upon her own resources, she undertook to support herself; but, being un- accustomed to work and almost heart-broken, she soon be- gan to decline and finally died. Her clothes are to be sold to pay for the expense incurred upon her sickness and burial. — Middletown (Conn.) Herald, ^' TVyT Y love is away in the far-off land ^^ O'er the ocean's waters, waste and wide ; And here I, lonely and love-lorn, stand Who have promised to be his wedded bride. "The cold moon shines on me, alone, And the stars bum dim for me in the sky; My song is tuned to a lifeless moan And the light is dead in my faded eye. "O I must, I will, be near him again And nestle me close to his stalwart side ; I'll hasten my flight o'er the trackless main With love for my hope and God for my guide. 12 "I'll say good-bye to my native hills, To my Swedish home where my parents dwell ; For the hope to see him is one that thrills Me through and through, too deep to tell ! " I'm off o'er the bright blue ocean's waste, I'm off and away to his manly breast ; O speed, good ship! O haste thee, haste! Away to the love-land far in the West ! "He builded a cot, he says, on the shore Where Connecticut's waters roll to the sea; And there we'll gather our thrifty store — I will live for him and he for me. "This fair-famed country over the sea Is rich in joy and goods and gold — The land of the strong and brave and free; And his love, he writes, shall ne'er grow old." At length an end to the dreary sail. An end to her search in the "land of gold" ; But pity her broken and anguished wail When she found him false and his love grown cold. A year's slow moons have rolled around. And the hand of death hath laid her low In an inland town, 'neath a simple mound. Where Connecticut's murmuring waters flow. 13 But the brand of Cain be stamped on the face Of the traitor wretch that dealt this blow At the fair Swede maid of simple grace Whose sorrows are mute 'neath the sod and snow. 14 PASTOURELLE (From Paul Heyse) WHEN branch and bush melodious ring, (Teerewit, cuckoo, teerelee!) When robins from the alders sing, (Teeyo, teeyo, tseekee, tseekee!) Whoever then will pine and sigh, He is a lout, God pity him; The throstle singeth "Pity him"; The jay, he shrilleth scornfully, "Hehee, teerewit, tseekee!" One morn I chanced the wood along, (Teerewit, cuckoo, teerelee!) There sat a maiden blithe in song, (Teeyo, teeyo, tseekee, tseekee!) I said to her, "Sweet shepherdess, I love thee with all tenderness." Quoth she, "Thou simple suitor bold, Canst warm me in the winter's cold?" The throstle whistled mockingly, "Hehee, teerewit, tseekee!" I called upon a priest one day! (Teerewit, cuckoo, teerelee!) **0 help me, holy man, I pray." (Teeyo, teeyo, tseekee, tseekee!) "God pity thee, my lad," he said. "Go quickly, bring the silly maid; My blessing keepeth snug and warm. Year in, year out, from ill and harm The pair that singeth blithe and free, * Praise God, — teerewit, tseekee !' " 15 IN THE CLOVER SWEET clover, In the breeze Thy lover, The bee, Doth hover thee over. Merrily buzzing whither he please; With a zum-zum drone Comes he Alone ; For a kiss Hums he — But one — And wilt thou refuse him this? He is gone. Sweet clover! When will such another Bold rover For kissing thee Come, And missing thee. Hum Away the far field over! — Thy lover No more, but gone! i6 See, again he comes Through the heat; For thy sweet He hums With freight of gold— Honey-dust ! O yield the fate of old Thou must; — Thy dower To his power Entrust! 17 II Sweet maids In the clover, Lift your heads, Give over! Hear Ariel: "Where the bee sucks merrily, There suck I;" And dare he all This But to miss? Beware ye all ! — Some chance hour In his power He'll snare ye all For the bliss That surely, surely, is his! i8 OF EXILE THE RAIN THE sing-song of the dripping rain. The dull gray sky o'erhead, They lull in me the restless pain With which my soul is fed ; I think of the time when, but a boy, 'Neath the attic roof I lay In my father's house, and my boyish joy As I heard the rain's soft play Lives in me yet to-day. The cottage by the green hillside. The church by the wood hard by, The room where my sainted mother died — Where I should like to die — They live again in the sad refrain And the dull drip-drop of the steady rain. The garden where the hammock swung In the shade of a spreading tree, The tunes that my sister played and sung — They all come back to me. The village school and the blacksmith shop With its bursting sparks of gold. The robin in the apple-tree top — All this, and more untold. The dripping drops unfold. 21 The mulberry tree that I used to climb And rob of its luscious store — O wind, O sea, bear me back to the clime Where my home-sick fancies soar! O wind, O sea, bear me back, I pray. To the attic where a child I lay. And I again a boy would be, A boy with his bold day-dreams. Who sailed away o*er the enchanted sea Where a radiant beacon beams. • •••••.«* The beacon is out and the dreams are o'er. And hope is faded and sear; But my faint heart yearns for the scenes of yore Which the musical rain's soft cheer Recalls to my eye and ear. 22 HOME-SICK AWAY from home in a dreary land Where men are cold with a freezing pride. Where fists are hard as Ishmael's hand And quick to strike, but slow to guide; — I look to catch a brother's eye That he may see my loss, my aim, My weakness, and, in sympathy. Pronounce the word of cheer or blame. But I look, I hope, I wait in vain; The mad wind snarls on the snowy street. Hurling his hate on the window-pane With mocking gibes in swirls of sleet. And, heavy with an unnamed grief, I think of death without despair. What matter? I must find relief! — But, hark! A step upon the stair. A knock. The door swings open wide. There enters One with gracious mien. He seats Him by my lone fireside, — 'Tis Christ, the lowly Nazarene! Though his face is strange, I know it well; 'Tis that which in my dreams has shone — A look of passion none can tell, And love to make the wide world one. 23 Softer than oil the words He spoke, Yet drawn swords to my naked breast; "O take upon your neck my yoke, Brother, and I will give you rest." 24 OF NATURE CROCUSES AND VIOLETS CROCUSES and violets, How bright and fair ye bloom to-day! For you I tune my triolets, Crocuses and violets, And let others sigh regrets For that June's so far away; Crocuses and violets. How bright and fair ye bloom to-day! Vanguard of the hosts of flowers. Trumpeters of conquering joys. Blaze the way for soother hours, Vanguard of the hosts of flowers! Blessings for your balmy dowers Now that sleety winter cloys. Vanguard of the hosts of flowers. Trumpeters of conquering joys! 27 TREASURE-TROVE DOTTING the edge of the country road Near where the farmer his harvest sowed, There bloom in all their shining array The dainty Fivefingers, resplendent and gay. Clustering close in a worm-fence nook. Out of their emerald covert they look And spangle the green of the velvety grass. Nodding their heads to the people who pass. They are the bravest flowers of May, For, vaunting their wealth in a debonair way, High in their spreading hands they hold Their lavish treasure of jewels and gold. All along where the roadways run They bow to th* imperial orb of the sun. And fill their cups with the dews and the showers To drink a health to the passing hours. 28 MAY SWEET month of May, the loveliest of the year! When all the world, arrayed in garb of green. Smiles like a comely girl; when far and near, On hill-top and in valley, there is seen In all its grandeur the handiwork of God: The leafy trees, the bursting buds, the sod Up-sprouting with blue violets atween The blades of springing- grass ; in modest mien Anemones hold up their heads and nod To stirring winds, and mark the place where trod Erstwhile the foot of April wet and gray. O hail, and hail again, sweet month of May! 29 A GARDEN IDYL OCOME into the garden, Maud, O come, for it is May; The peach-tree is in blossom, Maud, The plum-tree too is gay; The apple-tree is putting forth Its buds of pink and white. And all around the garden shines A diamond burst of light. The pease are peeping through the earth To view the life around. The onions are four fingers tall Above the mouldered ground; The lettuce spreads its crinkled hands To catch the dewy air. And the radishes are certainly Attesting they are there. O come into the garden, Maud, O come, for it is May, And look upon the tuber just Up-shooting through the clay; The bean-stalk too is taking root. The corn is up in rows, And Mother Earth is putting on A brand-new suit of clothes. 30 o JUNE iUT on the hills, Away from the throng, Where the fountain spills And the days are long, There let me linger and learn to forget The city's mordant hurry and fret, For it is June. Give me a line And hand me a hook. And let me recline In a leafy nook. Close to the edge of the lucid stream; There let me dally and angle and dream. For it is June. Adown the glade Where the daisies grow. In the midst of the shade Where the buttercups blow — O there I must hie me and make me a home And heal mine eyes in the pool of Siloam. 31 DECEMBER HIGH like skeletons grim The trees hold up their arms; The last leaf's hurried from its limb By the tempest's wild alarms; The river ripples gray and cold, And autumn's o'er like a story told. Deep in the lonely wood The leaves lie thickly strown; The timorous rabbit finds him food, The snow-bird seeks his own; The cricket long has ceased his song, For the breath of winter's cold and strong. Close to the level plain The snow clings like a sheet; The chimney moans as if in pain. Lashed by the hissing sleet; And all good men are glad to be Where the Yule-log sparkles merrily. 32 ON SEEING A CROCUS AND A DANDELION IN JANUARY THE weary watcher at the window stands With moaning heart all dolorous and for- lorn; "Ah, when will break the lilac-scented morn? When will these icy fetters burst their bands?" The weary watcher wrings his pleading hands: "And are my hopes of all fruition shorn — The sunnier smiles of May and April worn? Has winter frozen, then. Time's hour-glass sands?" Behold a crocus, in his eye a tear, Meek tribute to the season's sorrows old, And there a dandelion flaming bold: "We are the changelings of the yester-year. Strewn flowers fallen from his funeral bier; We too must pass into his grave grown cold." 33 THE PASSING OF WINTER LOCKED in a cold embrace Lies the silent river; Hither, thither, shadows chase. Dark and darker ever. Sharp the north-wind blows, Whistling 'round the corner; Drearily the day will close, Die without a mourner. All o'ercast the sky. Dun and bleak the wood; Let Old Winter quickly die For his sullen mood. Though the sky be dun, Though the day be drear. Well I know the Spring-time sun Will restore good cheer. Clouds again shall break, Days again be brighter; Vernal chords again shall wake. Heavy hearts grow lighter. 34 SAFE HOW the rain pours! The demon of night is loose! How the wind roars! With a swash and a swirl And a swish, The winds whirl And dash and splash, So you cannot choose But wish To be Comfortably Tucked snug and warm From harm By your fireside. Or in your trundle-bed. Then let the storm chide And blow! You can abide Its dread Roar. Go And be satisfied. 35 THE CENTURY OAK THE century oak, rugged and gaunt, Holds high to-day, as he was wont A hundred years ago, his head, Hoary with snows that have vanished. Defiant and grim to the wind's wild taunt. The hooting owl finds here a haunt. And feathered choristers now chaunt As when the century's dawn made red The century oak. No season's coil his heart can daunt; Ptocessive years their changes vaunt. But, constant till the line have fled And mouldered in oblivion's bed. He holds his own, rugged and gaunt, — The century oak. 36 PARADISE SWEET PARADISE Sweet, delicious fruit Vertumnus proffered in his suit Of her whose love he could not choose But win, or die if she refuse — Pomona, nymph of chaste repute. Though Pan might pipe his amorous lute And Cupid wing his darts to boot For him, she was not fain to lose Paradise Sweet. To all gods else ungracious, mute. She held it meet to spurn, confute Th' Olympian rout, save one whose dues Lay in a gift of regal hues, — Vertumnus, lord of Hybla fruit And Paradise Sweet.^ lA very toothsome apple. 37 MY GARDEN THE broad catalpa lifts his pleading palms; The maple burns his altar-candle red ; The golden-glow, by breath of Heaven fed, Bends to the breeze his reverent salaams. The humble-bee drones forth his pious psalms. Sweet chorister of peace and lowlihead; The pansy bows above his dewy bed Obeisance to the South-wind's censed balms. So may the air of Heaven take my soul And fan its latent love to eager flame; So may the sun of God's warm love incline My will to own the magic of His name ; So may each influence of His grace combine To lend my life to His divine control. 38 OF THE STUDY TO A SCHOLAR ENSCONC:&D here among these speaking tomes Of treasured wit caught from the mind of time. What pleasure to imagination comes, What wisdom from the wise when in their prime ; How sweet the days to learning consecrate, The evenings passed in study how sublime, — Ensconced here among your tomes, elate With largess brought from each Protean clime! Ensconced here a guest among the great And mighty of the vellum page and scroll, Cup-bearing eunuchs on your pleasure wait And embassies here parley with your soul; An emperor among these tomes, what fate Of mart and trade can stultify your state? 41 TO A TEACHER IF days be filled with pleasant ministries, Why shouldst thou pine for things thou hast not sought? If day and night be such that thou art brought But one step nigher the immortal skies ; If life emit a fragrance such as lies In scented herbs, why shouldst thou pine? No lot Could yield thee more, though every hour were fraught With argosies of pearls and purple dyes. Then why repine? The far-off interest Of years laid by in service of the least Of them that need thy help, to more shall grow; Like bread cast on the waters, to a feast Feeding a multitude ; then shalt thou know Thy fill of joys and say, "Aye, this was best!" 42 TO MY ARM-CHAIR DEAR, steadfast friend, capacious comforter, Mute minister of solace and of rest, Sweet soother for the highway's clash and stir. Swift Veillantif in dreamland's luring quest! To thee I hie me at the spring of night Obedient to thine eloquent behest To mount and spur away in airy flight. Then leap I to the saddle with new zest. Leaving behind the fret of dusty noon. Charging the bastions of the star-paved West To scale the summit of one golden boon: To browse on Academia's woody crest And amble to Castalia's murm'ring tune. On, on, my steed, beyond the dreaming moon! 43 OF FAITH AND ENDEAVOR FOR THE LONG JOURNEY WHEN I am ill, Place me near the window, Dear, That I may see the people in the street. Their kindly faces glowing With salutation meet To hearten me. When I am dead. Lay me by on the upland high That I may see the starry heavens near. Their kindly faces beaming With invitation clear To beckon me. 47 A HOME AT LAST YEA, I have builded me a dwelling-place — A lawn for summer evenings with a garden For spade and mattock; and for your soul's warden On long cold winter nights, a wide fire-place To toast your feet, "invite your soul" and trace The spirit's flight. Across the way fair Arden, Where Puck and Ariel trip the dewy sward on And Rosalind pursues her am'rous chase. Then fling the door wide open and let in The bidden guest, and bring the bread and wine ! Here wassail, drink-hail, till the rafters spin, Here twine us garlands of the hop and vine. All hail the joys that mem'ry bringeth in. Long life to those in future here shall shine! 48 TO SLEEP THE day is done, and, stalking through the town, Swarth night's abroad, clad in his sable vest. And burghers stout ensconced are at rest Upon their pillows lavendered, of down. Thus fortified, I scout the glooming frown Of sable night within my sun-bleached nest, And heal my beating temples on the breast Of sweet repose upon my couch of down. — Of sweet repose, the sweeter that dull care Hath heavy hung amid the heat of day; The sweeter now for that I strive and dare And hew and draw upon the dusty way At noon as when reveille thrills the air: Then haste thee, sleep, on me thy guerdon lay! 49 DEATH IN the dying year, when the ramping North- wind blows With hissing sough upon the ivy green, Striking deep wounds with frosty fang and keen, Rending the quick with fierce devouring snows, Not vauntingly the ivy and the rose. But welcoming with pale or blushing mien The dule of death, array them in the sheen Of holiday to hail a long repose. So, late or soon come God's ambassador. With trumpet flare, or swiftly unawares. Pray, let there be nor hurried step nor stir Of anxious fear; let music minister A gracious welcome — this no time for cares; Go, spread the feast and open wide the door. 50 THE LAMP OF LIFE THE pander, sated with a plenteous ease And drunken to his fill of pleasure's wine. With Circe's devotees transformed to swine. Too late shall cry to Heaven to appease Kis fevered thirst; but, panther-like, must seize. To rend with tooth and claw incarnadine, With angry greed and passion-flaming eyne. Blood-reeking innocence for lechery's fees. Then do not, friend, set too much store by sense. Nor nurse the flesh with overzealous care; The lamp of life, alight with prurient flare. Can only stench a beacon of offence; But trim the wick with lustral flame to burn That trooping years may pause and view and learn. 51 PELLINORE THE golden distances that fringe the morn Once flung a promise to the eager gaze 0£ Pellinore the bold; and, with amaze, Ambition burgeoned like the flowering thorn For knightly quest. Anon there trilled, up- borne Above the ruddy boles of leafy ways, Hurtling a summons to adventurous frays. The tirra-lirra of King Arthur's horn. And, as it grew, filling the living air, Pellinore heard and drew his maiden blade. Riding apace with jingling spur and mail To win or die. For that his heart was fair His sturdy shoulders kissed in accolade Excalibur, his lips the Holy Grail. 53 FINDING GOD ORION, warder of yon star-strewn dome. The Pleiads laughing through their golden hair. The serried files of the Milky Way, and there The sentinel of the North, proclaim the home Of the living God. The glow-worm in the loam. The robin piping in the ruddy air Of April mornings, and the dewy hare Outrunning the mist wherever he doth roam, — These too His hand proclaim. His dwelling- place No eye can measure and no ear explore; But this I know, I feel it more and more: 'Tis here and now, in these my feet and hands. My breath, my heart, and all the living face Of earth, and sky, and sea, and clouds, and lands. 53 CANAAN << A ND they went forth to go to Canaan land, -^^ And to the land of Canaan they did come." Ah, happy pilgrims to a destined home Directed by Jehovah's guiding hand. What time ere that ye had your purpose planned How far had your unguided feet to roam? Was guidance always yours vouchsafed, the dome Of Heaven ever at your eyes' command? Thrice happy pilgrims ye whose sandaled feet Nor thorn nor bramble tangles nor leaves torn, Nor doubt nor siren lust nor hate nor scorn. Ere forth ye fare with dauntless courage meet, True to the compass of One Purpose sweet As music on the Bridegroom's nuptial morn. 54 ACROSS THE VOID OF NIGHT ACROSS the void of night Two points of yellow light Like eyes Look through the window-pane And gild the slowly falling rain. Across the void of doubt Two stars, once nearly out, Like flame Burst on my darkened faith And rout the brooding shades of death. ENVOY An if Sister Charity Abide by my fireside. Sweet Faith Is come to ope for me The doors of immortality. 55 DAY OF PRAYER FOR COLLEGES THIS day we lift our souls to God And plead His saving grace; We bow our wills to Jesu's rod, Our petty ills efface; In His warm bosom fold our hands And close our eyes to view Winged seraphs waving with their wands A welcome to far Canaan's strands;. We pray That they Our own dark hearts illumine will And make our wailing grief be still. This hour we cry our keen remorse For trespass of His will, For straying from His love-lit course To tangled paths of ill. Diseased in soul, attainted, weak. Through Christ's atoning grace Deliverance we humbly seek: The benison that crowns the meek This day We pray Our own rich heritage may be For earth and for eternity. 56 Attainted, foul, but stricken down With shame and penitence, Our trespasses we freely own. Our palsied impotence ; Though serpent-stung, temptation-lured. Through Christ's restoring touch Our smarting wounds shall yet be cured, The Prince of Darkness felled, immured. And we Through Thee, O Lord, shall feel our pulses heal And thrill with all God's wealth of weal. 57 SWEET CHAPEL HOUR A HYMN SWEET chapel hour, our cares we bring In penitence an offering Upon the altar of the Lord, Pleading the promise of His word. — The promise that, when two or three Are come to seek in company Fulfillment of their meek request. He giveth what is meet and best. Our cares, our cross aloft we hold For Him to fashion into gold — For Him to reckon for our tears The far-off interest of years. Our cares, our cross — ^what else beside Could satisfy the Crucified? What gold for Him without alloy, The Prince of Cares, the King of Joy? Sweet chapel hour, sweet chapel hour, Possess us with thy healing power! O take our burden for His love, His Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove! 58 THE IVY AND THE ELMS I THE ivy clings to the chapel wall Aspiring steadfastly To climb aloft to the belfry tall And know the mystery That swells afar from the peal of the bell Celestial history. As the ivy clings, cling feet and hands. Aspiring heavenward To mount aloft where Moses stands. Beholding there the Lord Unroll in a cloud of fire the scroll Of His everlasting word. 59 II The elms uprear their suppliant palms And leafy phylacteries To swing to the winds the odorous balms That from their censers rise — That spread abroad and float to the skies In votive ministries. As the elm-tree pleads, plead heart and tongue In measured voice and time ; Sing, soul, to the soul of Love a song Shall with His music chime — Shall bring from above the rush of His wing, The breath of His peace sublime. 60 PRO CHRISTO ET LITERIS ^ BE this our motto writ in flame, Pro Christo et Literis, Before our vision e'er the same, Pro Christo et Literis, On palimpsest and classic tome, On ivied wall, aspiring dome, On foreign shore, at shrine of home — Pro Christo et Literis. Be this our sword to win the fight, Pro Christo et Literis; Be this our beacon-fire by night. Pro Christo et Literis; Be this our pibroch in the fray. The sign of valiance for dismay. The trumpet-call to win the day- Pro Christo et Literis. Be this our comfort in distress. Pro Christo et Literis; Be this our prayer to cheer and bless. Pro Christo et Literis: — To Christ and Culture ever cleave, For God and Truth all things achieve. For Light and Love fight on believe- Pro Christo et Literis. 1 The motto of the University of Wooster. 6i For Thee we count all loss a gain, Pro Christo et Literis; With Thee we cure all grief and pain. Pro Christo et Literis ; With Thee we break dark Error's chain. With Thee we'll wake the world again, With Thee we'll shake her heart and brain — « Pro Christo et Literis. Then, comrades, rise and join the throng Pro Christo et Literis; — The saints who led to right the wrong Pro Christo et Literis; Come, lave your souls in bliss divine. Come, see the Lord in glory shine, Come, drink new valor at His shrine — Pro Christo et Literis. 62 OMNIA VINCIT VERITAS ART seeking for pelf or power of king In the hot raging battle on life's ringing plain? Art fighting for fame with a sword or a sling — Goliath or David — ^the victor or slain? Embossed on his shield the hero will wear This legend in letters refulgent and fair, Omnia vincit Veritas. Art lolling in palace of marble and granite, Bedecked with the splendors of Ormus and Jewry? Believe it, all these shall be counted but vanit- Y the day when the goats shall taste of God's fury. The glitter of rubies and diamonds and paste Shall pale in the flash of His winnowing blast : Omnia vincit Veritas. A shameless impostor may thrive for a day And prink bar-sinister with purple and er- mine — , The robe of fine purple will fall to decay, The ermine the prey of corruption and vermin. Yet this legend is proof to the moth and the rust, This legend embossed on the shield of the just — Omnia vincit Veritas. 63 The serpent of slander may coil on the tongue Of oily civility fluting its charms; Beware the false lyrics the Lorelei sung! Fling off the fell spell! Rouse! Haste thee to arms! Up, gird thee for battle and break the soft snare! Shout, shout the good pibroch upon the glad air — Omnia vincit Veritas. Green malice may hurtle a Parthian javelin And envy devise a pitfall for thy feet; Whatever the lot the weird Fates be unravelling. The truth will prevail when the story's com- plete ; The Truth ! Let it flame from the hand of the Lord As it flashed in the lightning of Sinai's word — Omnia vincit Veritas. 64 EQUANIMITY NO surcease needs the pulsing heart of man. No respite from its unremitting toil; Through light and gloom, from peace to fretting broil, It pours its tide since first its currents ran. And, though the years that life's brief firelight fan May prove it true and bring it lustrous spoil. Or play it false and yield dry husks of coil, It pulses on as when its life began. So let the Will her restless spirits train And hold in leash the hyen in the blood. Or prick the lagging genii of the brain And spur them to a fuller meed of good; Rule thou within, fair mistress of the free, O bride benign, hight Equanimity! 65 THE SUSQUEHANNA ALONG the river's widening shores The willows sway and bend And whisper to the wind; The boatman idly dips his oars Where lengthening shadows send Their long arms far behind. He sings, " My life be like this river That floweth calmly on forever. O blessedness serene That feels no wracking change Of passion or of woe; No transport rapt or keen, But love of simple range Blithe hearts need only know; Just as the placid river flows May all my days move to their close ! " 66 NIGHT WITHOUT I know the astral graces sweep In whirl diurnal to a stately tune Unheard of ear, but seen of eye — a Run- ic symphony around the skyey deep. Within all things dispose themselves to sleep : Hushed is the patient mother's soothing croon; And there upon the carpet loosely strewn The infant's mimic world, a ruined heap. We strive by faith; we droop in doubt; we scorn The darker ways; we earn our daily bread: Ulysses-like at morn we hail the wars; At noon sailing high-crested seas, — are borne At length to the westering sun uncomforted. — Within the scattered toys — without the stars. 67 OBLIVION II BEHOLD swarth Night, emerging from his lair In misty lowlands where the river creeps With slow meander to its destined deeps, Upgathered his pinions on the air; And, glooming through the casement on the stair. He frighteneth a child of Dawn, who weeps To see his fairy house of Day in heaps Of smudgy ruins, erst his palace fair: — His palace, with a turret hewn of blue. An aerie for his eyes to fly afar Above the hills, above the level plain. Above its market cries and din and jar. Its stress of battle and its throes of pain. Behold, swarth Night now summoneth his due! 68 JUBILEE ODE In commemoration of the half-million endowment cam- paign for the University of Wooster. ^^/^ YEAR of joyous jubilee, ^^ Wooster is free! From near and far And all the world around To the utmost star Let the happy news resound— 'Wooster is free'! "Oh let the tidings run Merrily 'round the world, Swift as the fleeting sun, Bright on his shafts impearled— * Wooster is free'! "O tell it to her sons. Go, tell it to her daughters Beyond the farthest waters E'en where the Jordan runs! In the distant palmy isles Within the tropic seas; Beyond the Hebrides And Caucusus' defiles; In stupefied Cathay, In Hindustan and Ind; In every heathen way Where lies the fettered mind — Break forth, O Golden Day, And say 'Wooster is free. Ye shall be free. And God shall reign to Eternity' ! 69 "From every hill shall rise His incense to the skies; His praises loud shall ring Where men and angels sing, *Wooster is free'! "His truth, like living light. Shall spread from pole to pole ; His choral anthems roll Beyond the bounds of sight. Lo, Light and Love with Honor, Truth- These blessed four, Children of immortal youth. Angelic spirits of the Lord, Shall multiply for evermore. Singing their Maker's word And calling forth to all the seas and lands, *In triumph, all ye people, clap your hands— Wooster is free* " ! This anthem benedight The organ of the soul Swelling, roll on roll. Discourses in delight. O listen with the inner ear And hear! O lift a loving eye and see The vision of our Deity — It is our jubilee! And offer up To Him our cup, Filled full and over-brimming With joys the Saints are hymning! 70 "Lo, Wooster is free! Love and Honor, Light and Truth, These four As of yore Shall run from shore to shore And gather in the youth To nurture them for liberty — For Wooster is free! Henceforth The sons and daughters of the North, The Golden West, the Homeland East„ Prisoners of hope released. Shall come in search Of Alma Mater — Mother Church — Shall go elate The loyal children of the Church and State! For WoQSter is free!" 71 O listen while again the choral throng Chant forth in numbers sanctified and strong "Yea, Wooster is free! Shod with fire, His flaming Word, By Love and Duty spurred, His Holy messengers shall go From tropic heat to polar snow To spread abroad the truth; His valiant youth Shall walk with Science In meet reliance Upon the dictate of His laws; Patience in reverence shall pause To press from fact to primal cause And humbly walk with God Where thunderbolts obey his nod — Where stars of night Whisper the secrets of His might. No sun shall dim Its light to those in search of Him; No planet roll In vain for them who read His scroll. The farthest bound Of thought profound Shall flame across the glowing page And thrill the bosom of the sage ! 72 "Religion, Science, eye to eye, Shall read the riddles of the sky, And Art with hallowed feet explore The myst'ries of earth's darkest shore. Dame Nature, veiled with beauty, shall reveal The fount of wisdom and the joys that heal — For Wooster is free!" So rise the strains of heavenly gratitude To Him who is the Giver of AH Good ; To God, the Father of All Righteousness, And Christ, our Savior, nailed upon the tree That we, defiled, might undefiled be And cured forever of our sins' distress. O join, ye people, all ye people join And chant a prayer unto our Lord divine — A prayer of praise and joyous jubilee To Hiir who gave that Wooster might be free! 73 THE SABLE AND GOLD (WOOSTER FLAG SONG) THOU flag we love all flags above, Five hundred fists thy colors hold; Five hundred breasts thy glory sing. Thou Sable and thou Gold! Chorus All hail the banner that we bear. Its colors free unfold! And fling upon the waving air The Sable and the Gold! Let Echo fill our towered hill And o'er our ivied turrets roll; Brave hearts abound with glorious sound- Five hundred as one soul ! Let Honor pale, let Valor fail, Let Love her sacred flame defy; Let Virtue hide her head in shame Ere we thy name deny! Let traitors doom themselves to gloom And cowards earn the frown of scorn; No craven clown shall bear Thee down. No dastard see Thee torn! No lusty foe shall ever know The valor that we dare uphold; For what can daunt the men who vaunt The Sable and the Gold! 74 FRUITION TO do, to dare, to sweep the living strings That, breathing, make up life's ^olian lyre, Re-echoing here on earth the heavenly choir Reverberant with thunder on their wings! To dare, to do, to search the hidden springs Where life evolves from matter like to fire Kindled to flame in bosoms that aspire — This, Ruddy Youth in hope exalted sings. And Age — shall Age dispel the golden dream, Or Hope give o'er and falter on the way? Wearied and faint, footsore, renounce the gleam The heyday paths of morning purpling o'er? Nay, rather, on and forward whence no more The dream shall dim, but burst Resplendent Day. 75 FOR LIFE NOT in warring creeds. Not in the clash of deeds. Not in the din of fight, Empanoplied with might. Comes Faith. Not in the stress of doubt Nor dialectic rout; Not in the hot acclaim Of Jahveh's potent name Comes Hope. Not in the pride of sense Nor Justice' recompense; Not in smiling ease Nor eager art to please Comes Love. But silently, like rain Upon the thirsting plain, Come Faith and Hope and Love The waiting heart to prove. iUN 10 1909