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S = — Our Father and Mother. = = iiiiiiiiiiiiii = IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMItllllllllllllllKlllllllllllllllllllllllllUllllllllllllillllllllllllllltllllllll S BENJAMIN COOK8EY = ^tlllllllllilllllllllllllliilllllllllllllllllllllllllilllltlllillllllllllllilllllilllllllMIIIIIIIIIIIll Early Thoughts And Ambitions Joseph ftfld Benjamia Cooksey. Copyright, December. 1916, by Joseph and Benjamin Cooksey, FIEST EDITION. y- DEC 27 !9!6 The Hill City Republican PreM Hill City, Kansas. ^-^^o f INTRODUCTION. We take pleasure in introducing this small edition to our friends and acquaintances as our first attempt at literature, and hope that it will meet with their approval. The poems which are presented in this book are local. The peo- ple we have met and known and lived among have all had a part in their making. And so hoping that our friends may find pleasure and profit in the reading of this small book, which we have dedicated to our parents, and, after them, to those who made it possible, our loyal Graham county friends, we introduce this, our Souvenir Volume. — Joseph and Benjamin Cooksey. Four Early Thoughts and Ambitions *THE CARAVAN.'* By JOSEPH COOKSEY. PRELUDE. Come darkening night ! Let all thy shadows fall About this wierd form of mine, Encircling all! Therein let shapes appear Such as haunt those darker, drearer realms Of that fair nook Wherin all evil hides away From the glorious lamp light of the day. I. As nightly visions slowly closed around Encircling all in gloom, with varied form. From out those darker realms Doth creep the "hell dog" from his den To greet a fair, sweet maid, Who had, as nightly visions round, Stole 'way, as one from out her nurse's care To find a fairer, brighter place, wherin to dwell. Five Early Thoughts and Ambitions For home, it seemed, had been to her Far from a fair haven — yes, to her, a "hell." But ere she had her humble dwelling spent Temptations came, with sentiment too strong That tender, carew^orn mind, could resist it not. II. As she walked slow, hurt and alone, Down a long and winding lane In search of shelter She grew^ weary, from the task, And thereby paused to rest her wearied limbs And there, by chance, the "hell dog" lurking 'Bout, came forth to meet and greet This careworn maid. With sympathizing tones upon his lips To soothe, with generosity of human kind The weary eyes ere they were closed In weary sleep. Sleep That comes to careworn creatures Of that great pretending class of human kind. Six Early Thoughts and Ambitions HI. He fondled, sympathized and placed a means Whereby she could, ere light of morning come. Reach that fair haven which awaited her Within the city's walls of gaiety. Where life would be as pleasure and the drudgery of w^ork Would ne'er come to soil those fairy hands. She, believing all to be as prophesied, Went forth unto the city, while the night Still hovered 'bout and closed from view The previous light of day Which had, but few hours hence, Gave light unto the whole world That it might see and know Of things that come to pass Ere darkness hovered 'bout and hid from view The awfulness of sin. IV. O, incarnate being, ye, The interpreter of "hell,'" Seven Early Thoughts and Ambitions Wearing still the cloak of human 'bout your form So as to keep from view the inner part Lest, victims seeing, would come to know And shun you as the serpent. Which right you are, in all respects. Contriving all ; yet far more treacherous Is your attitude. Far greater is damnations cunning ways. V. Ere daybreak came this careworn maid had found A haven wherein all through the night the reddish glare Poured forth to signify that within its walls Damnation was content. To hold and serve as compensation Such fairy forms as circumstance might bring For refuge from starvation s warning call. And oftimes passion is too great to resist the tempter Eight Early Thoughts and Ambitions Who, as brute, lacks that which makes one staid, Aye, yes, lacks character. Doth send for refuge from the outer world Such fairy beings as the^e might be entrapped Ere public gossips, "hell hags" and the like Should grasp the truth and tear it in a thousand tangled tales Each bearing witness gainst her character. VI. Days and nights of undue torture passed Till careworn maid grew weary of her task, And noting then the awfulness of sin Bowed down her head to God And asked in vain That he forgive, and kindly take her in Ere she be forced to cross the sea of sin. Where undue torture ever enters in To punish souls which, ignorant of the fact. Hath done a misdemeanor unto Him. Yet the, in part, for awfulness of sin, Nifttt Early Thoughts and Ambitions The punishment is two-fold. The human heart must suffer from the act While yet it doth maintain the inner form. Then, ere death shall enter in, And separate affection's seat from soul That it nmight pass in fashions tremulous To unseen quarters where, for evermore. The punishment's in proportion to the sin. Vll. At eventide this careworn maid stood firm And battled 'gainst sin's defying ways Until, from out the westward way, A light appeared, as coming day. And then, alas ! a voice from out the distance called — 'Come, fair one, and join our noble band, The ever ending "Caravan" which guides us to yon shore; Where tears are done ; where days are one. And Knights of Sin shall reign no more." Ten Early Thoughts and Ambitions The Want of the World By JOSEPH COOKSEY What is it the world wanteth > Is it the sport with the high-crowned hat, With smiling face and rattling tongue. With all that becomes a sport, all that ? No ! The world wanteth men with smiling faces. With a will to do and "I Can," Who is a lover of Jesus Christ And a friend and brother of man. h's not what you are, young girl and boy, But only what you will be When the glorious world, with a steadfast eye, Cometh to call on thee. The world wanteth gold, The wealth that's untold, The wheat and the corn, all that. But the greatest it asketh of you, young friend. Is to build a character with foundation so firm That the house which you buildeth shall never upturn Early Thoughts and Ambitions To temptation's swift breezes Which bloweth your way And oftimes destroyeth the good of the clay. So live then, young friend, with this object in view To go higher, be greater, be useful and good, And the best thai you giveth will returneth to you This is the want of the world. Adieu. Long Years Ago. Br JOSEPH COCKSHY Long years ago When nights and days were just the same as now Ahho the time wa? reckoned then by years. And shepherds guided then, the same as now. Their flocks upon the meadows and the moor Near that quiet litde town of Bethlehem. It was nineteen hundred sixteen years ago That Jesus Christ, our Savior, son of woman. Came unto this world a purpose for to serve. It is for Him that we are gathered here tonight To celebrate the birthday of our Christ, Twelve Early Thoughts and Ambitions Who died for us upon the cross at GalUlee. In after years, for sins that man hath made. He suffered pain and agony for us. As He upon the cross, for torment hung Yet no cry of agony escaped His lips. But bore He all, faithfully, until the end. Because He knew within God, His Father, He did have a friend. How oft in life, if we but knew it so When all the world seems sad and lonely, too, And all our life seems one great endless wrong. If we but analyze the cause We find it aye to be Within the blood and flesh that goes to make the whole. Then, well it is that we tonight. Gather here to make the birthday of our Christ One where each shall reap his share of joy and delight. One where tokens of His love is shown to be By simple tidings from off this Christmas tree. Thirteen Early Thoughts and Ambitions You Can*t Always Sometimes Tell. By JOSEPH COOKSEY Friend, did you ever stop to listen, Stop to think, and then to say That the best of knowledge ceases At the ending of the day ? If you have, then did you find it That it's always hard to tell. And youVe formed this opinion "You Can't Always Sometimes Tell ?" If you've seen all this in proper, In the forms that would display, Come and peek at other objects. They are all the self same way. Just an instance. I'll relate, sir. In an humble sort of way That a girl had appendicitis, That is what the doctors say. But the truth is, I want to tell That "You Can't Always Sometimes Tell," Fourteen Early Thoughts and Ambitions So, by far, *ti'^ the best we may Form a humble little lay. And use this as a maxim true. Then in the end be it well To sorta hesitate and wait. In solemn bliss, afore we go, Then say in accents sweet and low, "You Can't Always Sometimes Tell," Whether 'twere for heaven or for hell. When Quiet Comes. By JOSEPH COOKSEY There'll be no sadness of the heart. No tear-dimmed eyes upon our part. If we have lived our lives a-right And ever kept within that glorious way Which leads to endless, perfect day, When quiet comes, to manifest its way. Fifteen Early Thoughts and Ambitions The Flower By JOSEPH COOKSEY Long ago in a beautiful garden, Where beautiful flowers grew. Some were a somber color, Some red, some white and blue. A fairy-like maiden there chanced to be Walking among the flowers. Singing sweet and merrily, When a voice from out the distance Pea'ing soft and low, Speaking in a tongue she had known : "Come, little sister, let's go Out of the land where sinners dwell. Out of the place which men call hell, To that land of brotherly love Forth to the Kingdom of God above.'' She passed, with a smile upon her face, A childish smile of tender grace. Afar to that home above, For she was but a simple flower In the garden of God's love. Sixteen Early Thoughts and Ambitions Lorene By JOSEPH COOKSEY. PRELUDE. Roll on, huge wave, and bring to me Some tidings from the darksome sea — Where, in encircling gloom is laid. About the life of man and maid. I. A tender maid was she, Lorene, The daughtei oi: a sailor, she. Who at the age of years sixteen Sailed with her father out to sea, As brave as he, not knowing fears, Yet younger, she, by many years. II. The sun brightly rose this morn in June, And each bird sang to its mate a tune, As Lorene's ship sailed away For a port in England, away. But along toward night the sky Owly weather did prophesy. Seventeer Early Thoughts and Ambitions And ere the day its course had run A cloud arose and hid the sun. As moments came and moments went To form the hours which were spent, A fair form was thus arrayed That on the deck with sorrow weighed. It sat and lamented as pea fowls do When mates have gone to lands anew, Where brighter visages are seen. IV. Its nature's way, as best we know, To make each thing after its kind to grow. Shells and rocks and grasses green. Fish of sea and bird of air Each do their duty to repair Their kind and form as best they may Each night or evening, or be it day. V. As with Lorena, who out to sea, Sat and lamented 'bout one of thre« Eighteen Early Thoughts and Ambitions Who was a bright and charming lad In a sailor's uniform was clad When sailed he out to sea. Within his heart was gaiety. But ere his journey was ended Joy and sadness were blended. And he, without a comrade dear Was left within a hemisphere Of loneliness, and nothing more On this fair isle was to be seen Except a rugged wave-beaten shore Where mossy rocks and trees serene Stood forth as monarch of the waste. VI. As evening came to foretell that day Had given all its light away Lorene upon the deck stood brave And watched with eager eye each wave As they played wantonly with ship As tho to dance the Denver dip. Nineteen Early Thoughts and Ambitions And clouds went rolling, curling by. As tho in battle with the sky. And the wind arose as in vain To battle 'gainst clouds and rain. Each lightning flash marked its way Through the darkness, as it flashed to sea And Sailor Libons stood on deck With eagle eye and craned neck And watched with daughter wistfully As winds arose contendingly And drove the helpless ship away Toward the south ; and when the day Came forth without a noted change The ship still kept within a range Unmarked by atlas of the sea. Unknown to all but one, and he Three years of dreary hours spent, Three years of life of mere content. But tho as God had willed it so He had a smile that ever grew. Twenty Early Thoughts and Ambitions Which, mingled in with incontent. Which marked his face, when smiles went. But yet, w^ithin his soul there grew, A firmer hope to live anew Those blessed hours of childhood days, Those bless'd hours when God's w^ord sways And hovers *bout the neighboring hills And speaks as doth the rippling rills To childhood's unbehoovered way In childish likeness, childish play. Which, as the innocent lamb. May wander from the fold And seek shelter of its Father's House As did the Lamb of Old, VIl. Three days the good ship sought the south Three days of rain, not one of drouth. Two weary nights Lorene thus spent In dreaming of the one who went Out on the dismal sea away. Twenty -one Early Thoughts and Ambitions Three years had gone. Three years and a day But still her thoughts were ever there In daily routine, evening prayer. Believing that the all and all Of life had passed, when came the fall Which caused the good ship to strand And strew with wreckage the southern shores of sand, But still there lived a hope which grew A firmer hope to live anew By aid of childhood's memories Those blessed days when God through nature speaks To the innocent Iamb which plays Amongst evil's ever tempting ways. And oftimes grasps, while yet a tender babe, Yet in the grasping plants a seed Which grows and makes a worthless plant, a weed. Twenty-tiro Early Thoughts and Ambitions VIII. Three suns arose, yet tho a-sail The good ship sought a calmer gale. And ere three suns had calmed to rest It peeked at the ocean from the west. And peeking thus, displayed afar, An island, though it seemed a star. Lorene peered thro the seaman's glass And there beheld a greenish mass. And near the shore to dismay A signal to and fro, away, In the wind gave proof That distress was hovering *bout the way. And seeing this the good seaman at the stern Set sail for the isle as the sun's rays the sky began to turn, IX. At nightfall the good ship at anchor lay By the island's edge in a tiny bay. All thru the night the calm old sea Twenty -three Early Thoughts and Ambitions Looked up, as to say, in merry glee, *'A hero art thou, old ship, to be At peace in the calm old sea." But at the morn, when the sun's first ray Gave proof that night had passed, and day Had come to show the beauties of the way Lorene peeked upon the shore. There Bewhiskered man with unkempt hair Gave signs and signals, but to no avail As such as given were those as man of primeval Would have given to mate On returning from the battle front Whereby to show his fate. Lorene in seeing such as this Called to her father in a manner bliss Who came, and seeing such a sight Went on shore to find the meaning And, on grasping, said, "Oh, God, is it the truth Or am I dreaming. Twentyfcur Early TKoughts and Ambitions Be this Orlo Otkin, God grant it is the truth. Aboard, my boy, let's to our native land." X. Tv'o happy hearts put out to sea, Two happier hearts were never seen, Than those of Orlo and Lorene. As ever doth the saying go "Thru absence true love will fonder grow." And through scenes upon the ship that day It would cause one to study, then to say : "True love is love without fail, Doth not flutter and haunt each gale. For strong w^inds may blow From east and west Yet true love doth linger, heaven blessed." The worth of a thing Comes only from its use. Twenty -flvt Early Thoughts and Aonbitions The Last Bitter Hour By JOSEPH COOKSEY How sweet to live, but sweeter still to die. To soar far out this wierd world, anon To those fairer realms, far beyond the sky. Where moon, stars and flickering light of sun Ne'er take their turn to radiate the light, But where the heavenly light doth ever shine. And there, through the golden streamers of the past Is seen the goodness of the world. How sweet to look upon that farewell hour As one of sweet contentment and of joy. As one of life eternal, not of death. As one where each thing there, no matter be How small, doth answer forth to God's great prayer. He who lives in measures of His grace No veil of sin shall ever hide His face; But ever more so Christ-like thou wilt be That God shalt ne'er come to deplore thee. Twenty-six Early Thoughts and Ambitions Two Years By JOSEPH COOKSEY Two years hath gone As the snail doth go From pool to pool In the evening when the sun is low And the shadows 'round grow cool ; But still it all doth seem A falsehood. Yes, and more than that, a dream. But tho, if eyes and words deceive me not, I find it yet the truth The young life not the old Hath taken wings and flitted 'way Far out to sea far o'er the bay, While I out on that island in the sea. Shipwrecked and alone prayed, aye, yes. But now as she hath gone Fair sweet one and left me 'lone Upon this world where trouble, sin and sorrow Are measured out to one in quantities unsought for. Twenty -seven Early Thoughts and Ajrribitions Ah ! Blessed be the day when man can claim That which God took as His for selfishness. No, for God's work all is just. And if work be just no matter be How humble life doth seem, Or if the wolf doth linger at the door. Yet be it in part that we should suffer thus Within the end we reap a great reward. Beautiful Twilight Hours By JOSEPH COOKSEY Beautiful twilight hours At the setting of the sun, Beautiful twilight hours When the night is just begun. How sweet it is to wander, How very sweet to see When night begins to squander Its darkness o'er the lea. Twenty-eigkt Early Thouglits and Ambitions Beautiful twilight hours When nature all serene Paints pictures 'bout the horizon Paints pictures on the green. How sweet to sit in silence And dream about the day When nature shows the beauty The beauties of her way. Beautiful twilight hours, The stillness of the night When birds and bees and flowers Hide themselves from sight. Out on the dismal wayside Away and afar it may seem. There comes fi om the land of fairies A sw^eet, sweet peaceful dream. Find not all fault w^ith a brother who In a former time befriended you. Because if it's faults you're looking for You need not look, you'll find it true The greatest fault is found with you. Twenty- Early Thoughts and Ambitions Part II. PREFACE. By BFNJAMIN COOKSEY I measure not my fame By all the bards who sing my name. Or by the men who never knew The things I did, or still can do. I measure it by memory's store Of deeds to friends that I adore. Thirty Early Thoughts and Ambitions Adieu To Childhood By BENJAMIN COOKSEY Sweet, happy childhood, I bid thee adieu. On time's golden wings How swiflty I flew. O ! Nearest of nature, ! Dearest of man, No man can forget you For his life you began. No matter the glory achieving ril live in the land that I'm leaving. My life, my heart, my all, Are centered in my childhood's fall. The joy of my childhood 1 always shall sing, For I roamed in the wildwood And loved everything. Oh, childhood's joyous hours Return to me again, With all the lovely flowers Scattered all among the rain. Thirty -one Early Thoughts and Ambitions The Rainbow By BENJAMIN COOK8EY. The clouds were lowering round me The rain was pouring down Till I thought that it would drown m« Before I reached the town. I saw a house by the roadside And quickly hastened in. To find a place to hide From the thunderous crash and din. In the door of the little shanty A frightened woman sat ; Four children called her "Aunty," But she quieted them at that. "Welcome, stranger, to the shelter, For the storm is gathering fast." So I stepped from out the pelter Of the hail stones, safe at last. But the children all were fearful Of the thunder's mighty crash. And the smallest one was tearful At the lightnings vivid flash. Thirty-two Early ThougKts and Ambitions For a moment all the waters In the heavens seemed to fall ; Then there came a moment's quiet And she reassured them all. Soon the sun was brightly shining. And the world was fresh and green, While the sun began to mining Colors for a rainbow screen. When the baby saw the rainbow He was silent for awhile. Then he cried, with child-like luster : "Aunty ! Aunty ! See God smile !" The storm was over, and yet Stretched outward and onward For many and many a mile, The Rainbow — God's reassuring smile. Some times in our lives, you know, Storms are gathering fast. If we only work contented God will smile on us at last. Thirty-tkree Early Thoughts and Ambitions Every storm contains a rainbow. Every life its shining hours. As the storm ends with the rainbow Let us live in ours. The Life That's Passed Ey BENJAMIN COOKSEY. Oh, girl that with me used to roam O'er the wild sweet praires, our home. Can it be ! Can it be ! That you rest in death's sea Under the billowy foam ? Can it be, can it be, that iily-iike Thou iivest but a little while. And faded like a loving smile, Thou, who with me, in childish way. All o'er the meadows used to play ? Can it be, oh. Christ, that she le an angel now with Thee ? I fain would wish that she were here Thirtj-four Early Thoughts and Ambitions To play with me, as in days of old — But, alas ! 'twill never he. My boyhood's passed, ne'er to return, And as God wiliest, so 'twill be. We all must pass at last. For life is fleeting fast ; And as God willed, so let it be. But still in loved memory The time that's passed Will aWays seem Without her there An empty dream. — — I m' The Dawn of Life By BHNJAMIN COOKSEY The rosy tints of rosy dawn Awakened forest deer and fawn. And the whole world was made Rose-tinted by those early beams In a flaming arch waylaid. Thirty -five Early Thoughts and Ambitions And gathered by the fleecy seams Of clouds that idly floated on the sky Until they broke from ail restraint And flooded over ail the country by ; A moment later they had faded faint And the sun arose, and once again The world took up its scenery plain. They stood upon the river brink Two children yet too young to think Of love's sweet call and power over all. But in the hearts of childish mirth We often find the true love's birth. In each small heart there dwells a power That stronger grows each tiny hour, Till some day, in the future dim, It conquers and overwhelms him And makes him slave to woman's will. A happy slave and willing still To do the things which love calls great — For what is greater than the tribute paid By every lover to his chosen maid ? Thirty-«ix Early Thoughts and Ambitions In this is woman's greatest power, Greater than fame or father's dower, For she may. by its magic, rule The smartest man or lowest fool. The sun above the golden rim Had brightened many a pleasant hour As goes the hour to her and him Together in love's fragrant bower. For when the mind assails the truth Of love, its faith, its truth and joy He quickly finds his Ruth, She quickly finds her "boy." Tis then life's sun shines brightest. And hearts are then the lightest ; For what to childish heart or mind Is joy except some joyous find ? Silently they stood beside the river wide. She, in her dress and hood, seemed like a youthful bride. He, with his ruddy cheeks and freckled nose, Looked well the part of dime heroes. Thirty -seven Early Thoughts and Ambitions So they, in love's young blissful dream. Wandered idly down the silent stream. Each flower and minnow spoke to them Of days long passed and yet to come, With a fervent wish and pleading dumb. Their hearts were glad and blissfully free As they followed the river to the sea. Each happy, care-free, wandering day, Spent in innocent childish play Brought them nearer to that door Which, opened once, ne'er closes more, For we've but one youth to live And God, himself, carmot another give. But we can take the better part Throughout our lives, within our heart, if we but keep a smiling face, A heart filled up with childish grace, A soul well filled with mirth and joy. Gathered when we're girl and boy. Our paths will be a starlit sea Wherin no storms may ever be. Thirty-eight Early Thoughts and Ambitions When? Ey BENJ/vMIN COOKSEY Oh, nature, make me strong That I may turn from words to deeds And right the world's great wrong. When people turn from di^erent creeds And change into a brethren throng ; When heart of flesh no longer bleeds For those who die upon the bloody fields. And those that live to still repent. They lived, to see their country kneeled Before the moral foe of population bent. From duties sore and their fate sealed To live and see their wealth so spent That it must take the foeman's life Not only that, but something more, Must take his babies and his wife. And make them slaves to still do o'er The frightful scenes of battle rife. They then shall reach the destined shore Where God, in all fulfillment, rests secure. Thirty-nine Early Thoughts and Ambitions Pictures in The Rain By BENJAMIN COOKSEY I love to lie and hear The wind howl over head. And the rain fall far and near I know that nature is not dead, And in those falling drops I see The promise of a life to be. The lilies by the stream Will wake from sleep And end the winter's dream With promises to reap. And in the falling rain I see the gladness, not the pain. Oh, rain ! If Hfe could be like thee Always refreshing, helping those in need. Their lives refreshing, and so be The agent that revives the seed Of life's true meaning and true worth Then mankind would be king of earth. Forty Early Thoughts and Ambitions Solomon Waters By BENJAMIN COOKSEY. In the bend of the inland river, In the land of the corn fields green, With the winds of the prairie a-quiver The truest of life can be seen. In the silent white hight of the moon. In the broadening glare of the sun, It's all of a painted picture. Where the Solomon Waters run — They come from the highland towers Of the silent low-lying hills. They come from the lowland bowers. In the sweetest of twinkling rills. The land is full of the valleys Wore down by their dancing feet, And the waters that flow in the river Are sparkling and happy and sweet. They flow by the hills and valleys, They flow by the islands and bays. They flow by the minnow pool rallies. Forty- Early Thoughts and Ambitions They How by the fields of maize. Here in a narrow channel, There in a widening stream, Now through another channel Into a land of dream. The violets clusteririg near them With heads of royal blue, Bend low down to hear them Murmuring silvery through Green and slender and tall The grasses and willows bend, Smilingly guarding them all From the overheated wind. Consolation By BENJAMIN COOKSEY To her who teaches me In actions, deeds and words, To turn my English free And sing the songs of birds. Forty -two Early Thoughts and Ambitions To her ril turn when I have fled To distant realms beyond the sky The kingdom of the dead. To her I owe that I defy All things to make me sad For any length of time. But nature is not always glad But in a sense doth rhyme. The flowers, grasses and the weeds All seem so sweet a company When the heart is torn and bleeds When friends have turned to foes And people pass thee by All strangers. One who knows The bleeding heart's sad cry When scalding tears unbidden fall And sorrow holds thy memory's hall. Go forth to nature's scenes of art And to her open wide your heart. Let sorrow drift to outer air For pent up sorrow leads to despair. Forty-three Early Thoughts and Ambitions Pick flowers from the growing sand, They are alive and understand. Their 'lotted time ends with the call Of frost, when the red leaves fall. Then why should we complain If we can live for years of pain And still our souls can keep ? Then why should we in sorrow weep When flowers grumble not If they but bloom and fade and are forgot. What if a life, on nearing the prime, Is carried away by the wings of cruel time ? Should we weep and bewail them that's gone Or only still saddened move on. Should our faces show signs of sadness and sorrow. Or only a smile, in the face of our past and tomorrow ? Sadness and sorrow is life Decembered, They'r better forgotten than remembered. Do the roses that bloom in the clay Forty -four Early Thoughts and Ambitions Hide their faces from view if we take one away? Or if they're all taken but one Does it hide its fair face from the sun ? Do the petals pale and grow dimmer, Or only add more to their color and glimmer? Does it cry of the ties that we sever. Or only shine brighter than ever? Abstinence By BENJAMIN COOKSEY. Abstinence is my name and 1 am power Whereby ambition's heights attain. I am the path that must be trod If you succeed and win your God. I am the metal that minds are made from. To me all weaklings in their weakness come. And when they mind my dictates true They have a power all their own and new. No power on earth is greater than The power of w^ill in fighting man. Portr-l'iir© Early Thoughts and Ambitions To A Traitor By BENJAMIN COOKSEY To him or her who gives away Their country class or school. For the foul deed there's bitter pay Each guilty pang but names him fooL And mankind points in shame To him who downs a name. Yea ! Revenge is sweet As the first draught you quaff, And say, aha, I've beat, But know not why you laugh. But, Oh that bitter cup Which you, yourself, have raised. To your own foul lips held up. Fate still will hold it there Till all its bitter dregs have dazed Your mind and heart and soul. You, then, must ever roll In all the filth of earth. Wherin no thing is lower yet In the justice scales of worth. Forty -six Early Thoughts and Ambitions The Flower That Bloomed by the Side Of the Stream By BENJAMIN COOKSEY It bloomed by the side of the stream, A modest, sweet violet flower. And little did it dream What would happen ere an hour Passed o'er its bending head. A stranger passed and picked it From its stem and it was dead. Thus is life with us. We know not when the call From God may come to us And we may quickly fall Like leaves from off the trees When the year is old. But we must pay the fees Of life and all its giving, For death is still as yet The penalty of living. Forty -seven Early ThougKts and Ambitions The Mystery of Violet Isle By BENJAMIN COOKSEY PRELUDE Sweet fancy's harp, awake. Thy longest silence break, For the wild world's sweet sake Tell why yon isle of blue Holds but one life instead of two. Two children, roving hand in hand, Came upon a violet land Surrounded by a river lake, And mindful of the tales that told Of a man, alone and old. Who lived and wept for memory's sake Upon an island in a lake — Crossed over with that one intent To ask him why alone he spent His days amongst the violets blue. They found him 'mongst his flowers — Thus he spent his leisure hours — Forty-eight Early Thoughts and Ambitions And when they asked him why He lived so much alone He answered in a dull, sweet tone : "As I wander by the river Where in days of long ago The grave grass used to quiver Now the waving corn fields grow. If you knew of half the sorrow Or the pain that I've gone thru You would never, oh, no, never, Ask the questions that you do. I was once as light and happy As you youngsters are today. But I'm old and have grown weary Of a life that's thrown away. And I fain would ask God's mercy On a feeble, weary head. If, instead of with the living, I would number with the dead. "In my childhood I did play Fort J -ft If;© Early Thoughts and Ambitions With my comrade, little Fay. We wandered all these prairies o'er. Picked the violets from the shore. Mingled them with daffodils That were gathered on the hills. And with hands unerring, tried Boatlets fashioned, side by side. And the boats that thus were made Prom my memory ne'er shall fade. When 'twas time to homeward go We would wander oh, so slow. Till we reached our parting ways» Bid good bye in the sun's last rays — Waving each other a last farewell From the crest of yon lofty swell. "I remember well, oh, fatal day ! We set our flower boats afloat And watched them sail away. She saying, as our names she wrote, And placed them in two chosen boats Fifty Early Thoughts and Ambitions 'Sail on, thou boats of fate, And as thou goest so shalt go The lives of those whose names you know. If calm and silent sailest thou Together out of sight; they too, like thee. Together onward they shall go. But if you part, and separate sail, Or if one sinks, the other slow^ Sails on — one lives alone to wail.' "When she had shoved them out, And the waters bore them on, We heard a warning shout : 'The dam ! The dam has gone !' Then came that awful roar. One moment still w^as left us, One moment, and no more ! The wall of water surged around us And we were born aw^ay. Oh. Christ ! That I e'er lived To see the dawning day, Fifty -one Early Thoughts and Ambitions For some where, drifting onward, In that water w^as my Fay, "I have traveled far and w^ide, I have seen the storm's confusion, I have drifted on the tide Of my life's sad evolution, And I've come around the bend, I am waiting, only waiting, For I'm almost at the end. And as silently I'm waiting Scenes of long ago return. And I wonder if in heaven My childhood will return. Then I'll happy be again In that land of love and pain." The moon is casting down her sheen Upon the Violet Isle so green. And the violets down by the lovely shore. Listen, listen, still once more. To a tale of love I ween, Pifty-two Early Thoughts and Ambitions For two lovers march the strand StroUing ever hand in hand, Where in youth they used to play. That the morning, this the day, As they silently stroll along From the highland comes a song, That the wind is ever singing, Joy within their hearts is ringing. Yet their thoughts are still of him That in the twilight, oh, so dim. Who will find his love at last. Of that non-forgotten past In that Violet Isle above That is ruled by steadfast love. All that is good and pure and true Friendship will bring it all to you. There's never a chasm so deep or wide But friends may bridge it side by side. f ^ imTSI °^ CONGRESS