LiBRARY OF CONGRESS. Vbd^ZZ Chap.. Copyright No. ShelfAl-^-P6 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. i IX POEMS (W Home and Fireside Charles William McCabe. V 76 3-^^^ .A a,"^^^ ^ !?1^ Dedicabed bo ti)j Fabl)er apd MobI)er Who, during a life of toil, retained the elements of true living and made home happy and a blessing to their children, by their kindness, cheerfulness and Christian bearing in the face of many discourage- ments and hardships. THE AUTHOR. Copyright 1896, BY C. W. McCAB^. PRESS OF COMMERCIAL PUBLISHING CO. San Francisco, Cal. PROEM. Oh, is there on earth, a picture more fair Than the family gathered round the fireside. Not the family alone but the nation is there,— The brain and the brawn we so pride. It is by the fireside great lives are made, — The influence brought to bear there. Oh, home, thy dear memories never shall fade. But with time and great nations shall wear. f b^ ^oil ers. t tow pleasant on returning home from toil, ] To know that those best loved thy com- ing wait. What peace and happiness after a day of m.oil, To meet thy wife and children at the gate. Affection's kiss goes round, and on each face The light of love and sweet contentment rest, While the fond father for a little space. Clasps his sturdy offspring to his breast. No towering walls of marble palace holds Ties dearer than the toiler's humble cot. No truer life its blossoms there unfolds, Than that which blooms the poor man's family plot. [9] Taught in the days of youth to serve the Lord, And Hve in quiet unpretentious ways, No wicked strife is there to bring discord. But peace and happiness lengthen out their days. What honest cheer the toiler's coming home, To head the table and bless the hard-earned bread, And pray for those without such comforts roam The world at large, unhappy and unfed. How sweet to hear the children's merry voices. As through the house they caper with delight. Oh, how the parents' honest hearts rejoice As with modest pride they gaze upon the sight. At nine the clock has struck the hour for rest. The children sleep within the trundle-bed. Oh, kiss them tenderly and own thyself much blest. For joy that comes to those who truly wed. [10] Blest are they ere life is on the wane, Who understand the secrets of true life, If from all vice and folly do refrain. And solace find in husband or in wife. Seek where you may no lasting joy you'll find. But in the narrow circle here laid down. No ties of wealth or fame are strong enough to bind Together hearts, where dissention's shadows frown. The law of love is ruler of the home. And honest toil the greatest nations make. Think not you Ml find, no matter where you roam, A different law divined for thy own sake. Contented be with the toiler's humble lot, Free from pomp and ostentatious life. Let thy home be the workman's tidy cot. Thy best friends thy children and thy wife. [11] ^\)z ^m. /^H, I love to hear the rain ^^ On the roof and window-pane, As it patters, patters down, Clothing earth in a wet gown. Lost in dreams or gentle slumber Flit the hours without number^ When the patter of the rain Beats on roof and window-pane. How the shadows light and darken, When to rain and wind I harken ; What ghostly figures then appear, What strange voices do 1 hear. [12] Now I start from gentle slumber, Turn to the clock and note the number Of the hours that stole away While King of Nodland held his sway. Out of Nodland to day dreaming, Slippered feet and grate-fire gleaming. Thus i love to hear the rain On the roof and window-pane. Now through palace halls 1 stray, Culling life's roses all the way. Proud ambition drinks her fill. But something more is wanting still. Now in fancy proud ambition Bows her head in deep contrition, And the common w^alks of life Seem more worthy of man's strife. For all great things loose their prestige. And the ages leave no vestage Of the things that have been. Of the temples made by m.en. [13] So in strange lands do I wander, Life's grave problems love to ponder, When the patter of the rain Sounds on roof and window-pane. f ^e f y^0 l^i^, ei^s. DEDICATED TO AGE. /TlHE river of life grows less wide, I There is no ebb or flow of tide. Dark clouds have fled from out the sky. Life's cares and troubles pass me by A gleam of light I see beyond, That in my soul find glad responc Rent in twain is the vapored screen, Immortality's river is rolling between. Lo! in the distance as in a dream, I see the boatman crossing the stream. [14] 1 b^ [fcrssiriq ©j r/i^l)!. rrtHE gray and restful twilight I Hangs softly over the earth, Evening steals on and the firelight Plays merrily around the hearth. Night is here and the darkness Hides the world and its sin, Brings a haven of rest to the weary, Wings to the burdens of men. Midnight comes and the city Lies silent, breathing deep, While white-winged guardian angels Their silent watches keep. [15] Morn is near and the darkness Flies from the light of day, And the white-winged guardian angels Flit silently away. e ^QLVzs ©j JJije. f X^HEN the cares of life o'er press me, ^^ When day is changed to night. When joy is turned into sorrow. And the world seems aught but right. Then in my phantom barque 1 enter. And with the tide drift on the sea. Drift far on the unknown river. Drift into eternity. r- [i«] Llr)sp0^ r)sp0^er) Vqi^^y pctvei? ^ T night or day, At work or play, Rejoicing or in despair, Deep in the heart Unbidden start Unspoken prayer. In the quiet of night, Thoughts of wrong and right Increase or lighten our care. Which ere it be, From our hearts flow free Unspoken prayer. [17] It is the lot of men That all must sin, All have sorrow to bear, And passing them by, We hear them sigh Unspoken prayer. When comes that day And we're called away. Called to dwell over there. We Ml find in God's heart Ready to start A record of unspoken prayer. r^aces. /^^ACH life 's a history, but human faces. Upon which time has left deep traces. Are mirrors of the heart's distresses, Which to the world divers tales confesses. [18] ^<2>rr)'s hziizv to Jiill, OR THE BROTHER CANDIDATE. f^EAR BILL : I 've just now took in hand ^^ my pen, To write a few lines to you agin, And as this letter 's from me to you Please excuse the writin' and spelin' two. As a boy there was none like you, dear Bill, Who could harness a team and go to mill. Who dun the chores in the early morn, In a day husked a hundred bushels of corn. 'T was I who used to lie in bed, While you, dear Bill, went right ahead A'tendin' the cattle and doin' the work Which I, dear Bill, so loved to shirk. [19] When in the field we used to hoe, If the weeds were strong you dun my row. 'T was always so, 't was just your way. And I can't help thinkin' of it to-day. How easy my life you used to make. My burdens upon your shoulders take, How in a hundred different ways You helped me in our boyhood days. But this ain't the reason 1 've writ to you. For this of course I often do ; But they say at the Grove, — the people say, That I, dear Bill, am in your way. 1 mean, of course — about election day. That 's what the people at the Grove all say. Say, if they were brothers they 'd hate To be agin each other as a candidate. Well, your family bigger 'n mine, dear Bill, You 've four more mouths than me to fill. And I reckon you 'd the sheriff be. If, as the people say, it were n't for me. [20] So now, dear Bill, to tell the truth. And to square the debt of my early youth, I ain't agoin' to run agin A man who is my nearest kin. Tomorrow, dear Bill, is election day. And I 've writ a letter to the paper to say : '' That 1, Tom Jinkins, brother of BilTs, That lives at the Grove, County of Mills, *' Have concluded not to run agin A man who is my nearest kin, And asking the people of the County of Mills, Not to vote for Tom Jinkins, the brother of Biirs." Saying: *' I Ve just concluded, before it 's two late Not to be a sheriff candidate ; But that my oldest brother, the one named Bill, Is in the race for sheriff still/' [21] Tell the boys at the corner — make them un- derstand — That I 'm two busy a tillin' my land. 1 Ve a crib to build, and must dig a well, And that will take a right smart spell. I ain't a man of affairs, no how. All the boys who know me must this allow. But some other time, mebbe, I won't hate To be a sheriff candidate. [22] ^y5ili^l)f ^©les. niHE air is so soft and fragrant around me, I The evening comes stealing o'er valley and hill, But the silence is broken, so softly, so gently, By the sound of sweet miUsic and my soul seems to fill. 'T is the notes of a guitar so sweetly is sound- ing, Afar o'er the valley on the still evening air, In tremulous tones its voice is resounding. By the soft summer breeze wafted hither and there. As I list to the strains so sweet and spell- binding, My thoughts speed away on lightest of wings. And a calm that 's the saints' seems my soul enter-winding. My heart and all nature in harmony sings. [23] ^\)z ^Id Willoy^ ^pec. /^H ! the old willow tree that stands in the ^^ meadow, Its low drooping branches throwing a deep cooling shadow, How oft have 1 sought thee in the heat of the day. To rest and to dream the noon hour away. In thy shade oft in childhood, (Oh! bright, golden hours,) Have I pillowed my head on a wreath of wild flowers. And with the song of the lark and the hum of the bee. What sweet rest it was 'neath the old willow tree. [24] 'Neath thy low bending branches, tree of beauty and splendor, I first met my love, so fair and so slender. 'Twas long, long ago, sweet Amy and me. First plighted our love 'neath the old willow tree. The flight of the years has whitened our hair, And life's cares and sorrows oft seem hard to bear. Yet not a year passes, but my Amy and me Renew our first love 'neath the old willow tree. Oh, old willow tree, we still fondly cleave thee, For old memories sake we Ml be sorry to leave thee, But we hope when we 're gone, my Amy and me. They Ml lay us to rest 'neath the old willow tree. ^-^ ^-^ [25] 5uli] 95 ^®95' /?^H ! there 's joy in the Autumn when the ^^ frost 's on the ground, And the nuts from the trees are falHng around, To rise with the sun and off to the woods. Where the frost-bitten nuts are shedding their hoods. Oh ! what joy in the Autumn when the trees are aglow. With red-tinted leaves kissed by Autumn's young snow. To go to the woods ere the frost 's off the ground, And gather the nuts that lie scattered around. [26] Oh! it 's jolly in Autumn with the boys and the girls, To go to the woods where the bushy-tailed squirrels Are carrying nuts to their holes in the trees, To keep them from starving during winter's cold freeze. What unstinted pleasure after a day of real toil. To return home at night heavy ladened with spoil, To crack nuts and tell stories 'round the kitchen's warm fire, Till the clock on the mantel strikes the hour to retire. Oh ! there was nothing in Autumn that gave me such joy. As going a nutting when I was a boy. To rise with the sun and off to the woods. Where the frost-bitten nuts were shedding their hoods. [27] «/ir) <§/iufuir)r) k)ii»