<=>^ 1* .^""t.. .,>> ^v^ ,0 ^^^^ '>^1^/ J" c ^^ **.'-3^\/ "°^-^--/ *<>.'-3?\/ ' :* <^ V*-'S*>'' "V'^S-V*^ V'^^V* *" QJ fLt/-^ . O. ^^Z^^^xjL^ HEAVEN ON EARTH and OTHER POEMS By THOMAS OSTENSON STINE SECOND EDITION ENLARGED 1920 PIGOTT PRINTING CONCERN SEATTLE. WASHINGTON Copyright, 1920, By Thos. O. Stine. OCT 25 1220 ©CU601024 /7,/ / PREFACE In 1919 a small edition of my book, ''Heaven on Earth and Other Poems ' ' appeared. Since its publication I have written several poems and also made slight corrections in a few of my poems formerly published. This "Second Edition Enlarged" contains sixty-fiye of my poems and two of mj^ prose sketches, divided into Later and Early Poems. I have had an aim and a purpose in writing poetry and prose, I wrote "Heaven on Earth," "Greetings From Puget Sound," "The Soul of the Poet," "The Blooms of Leschi," and others, for the purpose of instilling into the human soul a love for the beautiful, grand and sublime. I wrote "Emblem of Freedom" and "Spirit of Liberty" to show that a citizen of this country must be true at heart to be an American — native born or adopted. Men and women must be brave, pure and loyal. I wrote ' ' King Bacchus," "The Crimson Cup," "Reflections of Pete La- boe," and others, to reveal evil and wrong. We have to show up and break up evil and wrong to permit the in- flowing and infilling of sunshine. I Avrote "Uncle Sam in Prophecy" about three months before the signing of the armistice with Germany. The purpose of this poem is to show the great work that the United States has b^en doing and will be doing for the good of the world. In brief, all of my poems and prose sketches have an aim and a purpose. In conclusion I like to state that the people ought to take more interest in poetry, because it develops the ideal in young and old, and the ideal brings joy and hap- piness to the human soul. What is life without joy and happiness? The grand, sublime and picturesque scenery of the Puget Sound country is bewitching and inspiring to a poetic soul. This country will produce great poets and artists. THOMAS OSTENSON STINE. LATER POEMS CONTENTS Page All Is Good ^_ 47 A Visit to Kinnear Park 26 Characterization of Henrik Ibsen 57 Cozy Spots 117 Echoes From the Rockies 44 From the Smith Building Tower 31 Greetings From Puget Sound 22 Heaven on Earth 17 My California 42 My Seabeck by the Sea 122 My Washington Forever . 20 Rain and Sunbeams 73 The Sunshine of Heaven 132 Sunbeams Divine 38 The Beauty of the Seasons 71 The Muse at Volunteer Park 105 The Lifting Gospel 112 The Blooms of Leschi 123 The Trail of Ezra Meeker 127 CONTENTS— Continued LATER POEMS The Bitter Weed 36 The Crimson Cup 89 The Higher Goal 86 The Music of the Sea 69 The Plea of Cedar River 63 The Rhododendron to the Poppy. 99 The Ship of Peace 102 The Soul Eternal 52 The Soul of the Poet 66 The Spirit of Truth 46 The Star of Nations 35 The Voice of the Red Cross 75 The Stars and Stripes in Mexico 77 The Waves of Alki 79 The Super and Nether Man 91 Uncle Sam in Phophecy 82 EARLY POEMS CONTENTS Page An Evening on Puge Sound 156 Around the Old Earth 223 At Poulsbo Bay _, 207 Emblem of Freedom 136 Farewell to the Past 185 Hunting Mamma 225 In God We Dwell 208 In the Country 221 King Bacchus 179 Nellie iBohee 183 Nome 166 On Opal Sea 178 Our Duty 182 Queen of Peace 154 Reflections of Pete Laboe 140 EARLY POEMS CONTENTS— Continued Page Spring Hill 230 Sheathe Your Sword : 153 Spring Nymph 218 Spirit of Liberty 150 The Hemlock 151 The Burst of Morn on Puget Sound 157 The Minstrel at Snoqualmie Falls 155 The Baltic Scribe 209 The Heavenly Twins 188 The Northern Nightengale 170 The Spyglass 175 Time 229 Tribute to Jenny Lind 215 Tribute to Leif Erikson 213 Tribute to Mt. Rainier 158 Tribute to Venus 164 Universal Language 137 INTRODUCTION It is ?l)()iit eighteen years ago since Thomas Oslen- son* Stine came into my printing office in Seattle and offered me for publication in The Coast Magazine a poem. Just what it was about I do not recall at this time, but I do remember that it was of merit because it was gladly accepted and published. I remember the edi- tor hesitated when the scroll was offered him— hesitated principally on account of the workman's garb of the visitor. In those days as in these Ave associate local poetry with long hair, long coats, and long faces. But this writer wore neither. lie was just one of us plain folks. I believe at the time he was engaged in clearing some lots he had just bought across Elliott Bay in a suburb called Youngstown, and while he worked phy- sically his mentality did not lag, and he transcribed at night the thoughts of the day. In after years occasionally we made use of his efforts as a writer and poet and always admired the lofty sentiment expressed in his work. After war was de- clared between the United States and Germany Mr. Stine 's patriotism and love of country cropped out to a remarkable degree. His song, "Emblem of Freedom," and his poem "Heaven on Earth" he printed by the thousand and placed them on sale for the benefit of the Red Cross. Mr, Stine's book might well be used in the class- room, for it teaches not only a love for nature, a respect for the Divine control, but it expresses many splendid thoughts in a clarity of manner seldom surpassed. As I perused the proofs, looking for mechanical faults, I could not help being impressed by the ability of the writer and to discover that he loved the things I loved — ^the mountains and waters and classic scenery of our Puget Sound country. At my suggestion a biographical sketch in i\Ir. Stine's own words is herewith inserted. H. C. PIGOTT. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH The charming beauty of the landscape in Valdris, Norway, where I first saw the light, has been surpassed by the grandeur of the Puget Sound scenery. The change has awakened the sublime and poetic. When a boy I was dreaming about America, and in my 'teens I 10 left the picturesque farm — Steine. for the New World. In the s})iiijj;' of 1882 I said goodbye and landed ni June of the same year in Brookings County, South Da- kota, without money and without knowledge of the language. I found employment on a farm, and devoted my spare time to the study of English. I continued working on the farm in the summer and attended school during the winter. After attending the public school for some time, I entered the South Dakota Agricultural College, but was unable to attend continuously for want of means, which detracted more or less from reaching the desired standard. My fascination for poetry lessened my interest in practical studies. In 1890 I took out my final citizenship paper in the circuit court of Brookings. The question then arose regarding the Americanization of the spelling of my name without losing tlie identity of the Valdris farm — Steine. It was suggested that it be spelled Staine, which pleased my brother. I agreed to this. Some time later I conferred with Dr. George LiUey, my good, old teach- 11 er, regarding the spelling of my name. He stated that Steine looked better to him than Staine, but suggested that it be spelled — Stine. Late in Ihe fall of 1890 I left Brookings for Puget Sound via Sioux City, Iowa, where I stopped for a while visiting my sister. I left Sioux City the last part of the following February on the Canadian Pacific and landed in Seattle the early part of March, 1891. The verdure of Puget Sound looked charming, the scenery grand. I turned to school teaching, obtaining a place at Chico, Kitsap County. I spent my spare time studying, preparing myself to enter the senior year of the Washington Agricultural College and School of Sci- ence. Dr. George Lilley, my good, old teacher at the South Dakota Agricultural College, now president of the "Washington Agricultural College and School of Science, assisted me in my studies. After leaving Chico, I filed on forty acres of land in Snohomish County, but soon relinquished it to take up 12 teaching in San Juan County. After teaching a short term I went to Pulhnan, arriving there in the fall of 1892. On examination and credentials from the South Da- kota Agricultural College, I entered the senior year by taking one or two additional studies. The president of the institution soon learned that he was short of teachers, and appointed me to teach a class. I was also placed in charge of the weather bureau. The fourteenth day of June, 1893, I graduated with the degree of B. S., being the first graduate of the institution which is now known as the Washington State College. I remained at the college until the following fall, when I went to Chehalis County to teach a term. I left Chehalis County to return to San Juan County, where I taught during the summer. The following winter I was teaching a private school in Seattle. After closing my school in Seattle I went to Kollingbay, where I taught two terms. I left Rollingbay for Cedarhome, where I 13 taught for about live years, I also taught two terms at Fir and one at Poulsbo. In 1896 I discovered I had lost my citizenship paper, and wrote a friend in Brookings, South Dakota, to ob- tain for me a copy of it, spelling my name — Stine, which he did. I have spent my spare time studying and writing. In 1897 and 1898 I wrote a romance, 'Hans the Unfortu- nate,' but did not publish it. A few years later I made a careful perusal of it, and decided to destroy it, being too radical. The writing of 'Ilans the Unfortunate' was not lost work. It developed my imagination and opened up a wide field for meditation. In 1899 and 1900 I wrote 'Scandinavians on the Pacific' In 1891 I made a trip to Nome, spending nearly three months there. The time spent in going to Nome was a failure financially, but rich in experience. My poem 'Nome' depicts my view of the place. In 1903 my little book, 'Echoes From Dreamland,' 14 was published. I spent much time writing 'Echoes From Dreamland.' I have also devoted much time to the Vi^riting of other poems, subsequent to the writing of the poems contained in 'Echoes From Dreamland.' I spent more than a year writing 'Heaven On Earth,' and fully a year and a half writing 'The Soul of the Poet.' This does not mean writing continuously, but perusing, pol- ishing, writing, pausing and writing again and again. In early life I began to plan for a material condition which would enable me to devote my time to writing. 1 saved up some money teaching and writing, which I invested in the suburbs of Seattle — Youngstown and South Alki. The steel plant was built and the city car line was extended into the district. The property became valuable. I sold my real estate, except two lots on the southwest corner of TAventy- sixth Avenue Southwest and West Andover Street. I erected on these lots a building, which is giving me a good income. 15 In 1911 I made a trip to California, spending about three and a half months there. Some time after return- ing to Seattle I went to Camrose, Alberta, to visit my sister, where I stayed about one month. Poetry has been my delight, writing my ambition and love. While living at my own place in Youngs- town, I devoted most of my time to studying and writ- ing. The grandeur of the Puget Sound scenery has been an inspiration to me. It has filled my soul with a love for the beautiful, grand and sublime. I have omitted, condensed or changed a few words or lines in some of my poems and prose sketches since their first appearance in print. Literature exerts great influence and power and a writer has to be thoughtful and cautious. To me it has been a delight to make a careful perusal of my writings, prose and poetry, before and after publication. THOMAS OSTENSON STINE. 16 HEAVEN ON EARTH I stood iqjon the seashore Below the Cascade slope At sunrise mad with grandeur, AA^hich filled my soul with hope. I saw the sunbeams painting With gold the mountain peaks ; I heard the waters leaping With music down the creeks. The dewdrops on the clover, Like diamonds on the sea, Were sparkling in the meadow Till sunshine bid them flee. The willows on the hillside In silence shed their tears, And plumage songsters caroled Their songs of happy years. 17 The firs with branches spreading Above the jeweled strand, Attired with gold aiid silver Stood bnrning on the land. The landscape l)nrned and glittered; The snn in heaven rose, And spread his beams celestial Where fragrance sweetly floAvs. The sky was blue and mellow; The mountain peaks did glow, And brooklets leaped and Avarbled From out the melting snow. The wildwoods laughed and tingled; The rivers seaward rolled; And in the balmy deep-blue Were walks of blazing gold. 18 The thought of Heaven filled me With joy and glory here; I heard the angels singing With voices soft and clear. I heard them in the brooklets And on the rippling sea, I heard them sing in chorus Their songs of jubilee. I gazed in silence seaward, The ocean breathing lay. Where birds on silver plumage In concert seemed to say: If only man had vision. Endowed with gift to sec The Heaven in and round us, Then life would sweeter be. 19 MY WASHINGTON FOREVER There is a place where duty calls us, My Washington forever. There is a place where music cheers us, And grandeur failing never. (Chorus) My Washington! My Washington! With grandeur failing never. My Washington to thee I turn. My Washington forever. Thy fields of green and soothing breezes. Thy wide and rolling ocean; And skies of blue and sunset burning, I love with fond devotion. 20 I love thy mountains, hills and rivers, Which charm, unfold and fill me ; I love thy waterfalls and music. Which move, divine and still me. I love thy fields of gold and wildwoods. And songsters sweetly singing; I love thy meadows, groves and orchards, And freedom trul}^ ringing. 21 GREETINGS FROM PUGET SOUND Land and sea united greet us, Greeting all in words sublime; And with magic touches lift us, On the sunny wings of time. Over hills and laughing w^aters Plumage songsters hang and soar; From their hearts with gladness panting Greetings ever shake and pour. In the distance melloAv cloudlets Float around the old Rainier, Mixing with his locks of silver In the balmy atmosphere. And we hear Snoqualmie yonder Calling, calling, loud and free. In a voice which shakes with welcome He is calling to the sea. 22 SXOQUALMIXO FALLS 23 From the mountain's snow-clad bosom Brooklets winding seaward sing, And the silver-braided wildwoods Tingle with the joy of spring. Breezes playing with the sea-nymphs Kiss the wooded land with glee, And the golden shore is warbling With the music of the sea. Morning steals serenely on us, Melting in from east to west. And the diamonds on the waters Burn and leap fi'om crest to crest. When the sun departs in Westland Firs and pines in silence weep; Fold their flaming wings in shnnbcr To the music of the deep. 24 Mountains looking seaward charm us On the shore of Puget Sound; Cataracts with music fill us, Breezes w^aft the fragrance round. Hillocks green and valleys blooming And the diamond-studded sea Laugh and sing mth salutation In a strain of harmony. Rivers, lakes and orchards laden Mingle with the fields of gold, And the fir and spruce and hemlock In their verdure wealth unfold. Mountains hold the treasure tempting. And the valleys ever green Teem with blooms of inspiration By the sun-kissed shore serene. 25 A VISIT TO KINNEAR PARK Above the laughing sea enchanting A charming phice is seen; Above the songs of pearl-set ripples, Where blooms adorn the green. I hail th}^ grandeur ever, And breezes failing never. And blooms divinely smiling Above the sea beguiling. Madronas dressed with wings of glory. And snowballs fragrant bloom; And hollywoods with leaves and verdure In laughing beauty loom. I hail thy grandeur ever, And breezes failing never, And blooms divinely smiling Above the sea beguiling. 26 I gaze uj)on the siugiiig wavelets, Where ships so stately sail. I gaze with admiration eve]', And witching grandeur hail. I hail thy grandeur ever, And breezes failing never. And blooms divinely smiling Above the sea beguiling. And as I gaze upon the landscape Along the charming bay, A longing truly fills my bosom, A longing for a brighter d-ay. I hail th}^ grandeur ever. And breezes failing never, And blooms divinely smiling Above the sea beguiling. 27 A SCENE IN KINNBAR PARK 28 Behold the grandeur God has given, The wildwoods and the green; The hapi3y lea and snow-clad mountains, And streams and vales serene. I hail thy grandeur ever, And breezes failing never, And blooms divinely smiling Above the sea beguiling. Behold the heaven blue and mellow, And sunshine graced Avith love, And fields and meadows ever bloomiug, And beauty like above. I hail thy grandeur ever. And breezes failing never, And blooms divinely smiling Above the sea beguiling. 21> Behold a city great and charming, The Queen along the sea. Where smiling grandeur teems divinely With song and jubilee. I hail thy grandeur ever, And breezes failing never, And blooms divinely smiling Above the sea beguiling. 30 FROM THE SMITH BUILDING TOWER One sunny day in June bewitching. In June so fair And void of care I gazed from out the lofty tower, And on the sea And fragrant lea. I saw a landscape sweet and charming, And grandeur true And heaven blue. I heard the music of the city In sunshine fair And balmy air. 81 LAKE CRESCENT IN THE OLYMPICS 32 I saw the mountains grand and rugged, And peaks of snow In silver glow. I heard the breezes' tuneful whispers, And joy and glee From land and sea. I saw the stately, proud Ol^nnpics. And Rainier high And deep-blue sky. I heard the angels of the wildwoods In happy throngs And joyful songs. I saw the hillocks sweet with fragrances And robed in green, And vales serene. I heard the songs of homes delightful. And sweet and clear Afar and near. 33 I saw the Puget, laughing waters In bahny clime And land sublime. I heard the music of the seashore In cadence rare And breezes fair. I saw the ships on ocean sailing With grace and glee And jubilee. I heard the seamaid's mellow greetings, And to the shore Forevermore. 34 THE STAR OF NATIONS The star beyond the veil celestial Outpoured her beams of magic light, And nations sheathed their swords in wonder With songs of joy and glory bright, With songs of freedom, truth and right. On wings of jDeace an angel whispered, That strife and separation fail, And clouds of desecration veil The star on high serenely beaming. Behold the higher goal ! Unite from pole to pole Mankind in love Like that above, And peace on earth extol. NOTE: "The Star of Nations" can be sung to the tune of the "Marseillaise." — T. O. S. 85 THE BITTER WEED I gaze upon the fields and meadows, Where God in beauty sings. I gaze and gaze on landscape smiling, Where niusic softly rings. I see the beauty, love and goodness. And men misguided toil In fields and meadows sweetly blooming. And blooming beaut}" spoil. I see them toil, and planting, toiling, To grow the bitter weed; To grow tobacco weed defiling. And mischief cause indeed. 36 The fields and groves with blooms abudding They mar and vainly praise, And with a harvest of narcotic Pollute the human race. -Ail, would to God that man could fathom The purpose here below, And plant the seed of usefulness And fruit of virtue grow. 37 SUNBEAMS DIVINE Hapjjy are sunbeams, Brighter than gold, True and revealing. Ever unfold Gladness and pleasure, Pleasure and play, Grandeur and beauty, Brighter each day. Bright is the landscaj)e Brighter above, Sunbeams refulgent, Streamers of love. Stir and bewilder. Truly display. Fill us and lift us, Brighter each day. 38 Mountains are looming White is tlie snow, Sunbeams are making Broolvlets to flow. Rivers are leaping, Seaward they swing, Fill US with music. Warble and sing. Bright is the morning, Charming the rose. Blushing mth sunbeams, Lovely it groAvs. Pure is the lily, Godly, serene, Smiling divinely. Blooms on the green. 39 Meadows are laughing, Touched from above, Roses and lilies Tingle with love. Sweet is the fragrance, Heaven is fair, Songs from the wildwoods Float in the air. Grandeur is teeming. Rapture unfolds, Love in our labor Witcheiy holds. Love is bewitching. Virtue imparts, Love is instilling Joy in our hearts. 4U Love is enchanting, Love in onr song, Ever to cliarm us Sweetly along. Love is revealing, Leads us to light. Sunbeams of glory Cheerful and bright. Love is beguiling, Opens our hearts, Love in its beauty Heaven imparts. Love in its beauty, Sunbeams and love. Fill us with glory. Come from above. 41 MY CALIFORNIA Queen of the South and the jewel of Westland; Stately tli}^ mountains transfigure and loom; And in the valle3^s and hillsides below them Roses and olives and oranges bloom. Birds in the meadows and wildwoods are sing- ing, Singing and warbling in cadence serene; And from the ocean the breezes refreshing, Laden with fragrance enliven the scene. (Chorus) Hail to thee, my California, Where the orange blossom grows, Where the palm with roses mingles And the olive fragrance flows; Where the breezes from the ocean With besoothing touches roam, Where the birds are singing sweetly At my California home. 42 Vinej^ards and groves with their fruitage have charmed me ; Poppies in silence their beauty unfold; Under the deep-blue above they are blooming, Braiding their blooms in the sunshine with gold. Ever with greetings remindful and loving, Southland, my country, enchanting and grand, To thee my heart with devotion is turning, To thee mv accents in consonance blend. 43 ECHOES FROM THE ROCKIES Hear the echoes from the Rockies rolling with a cheerful sound! They proclaim that Westland needs us, strong and brave from all around; They proclaim in silver accents, true in spirit and in test. That the future greatness lingers in the bosom of the West. Westland with its wildw^oods spreading from the mountains to the sea; With its groves and weeping willows loud with song and jubilee; With its firs and hemlocks shading fields of gold with fragrant wings. Where the sun his playful glimpses o'er the landscape gently flings. 44 Down the gorges deep and rugged, mighty rivers onward roll, Leaping, roaring, mad with music, to bewitch the longing soul. Snow-clad x^eaks, majestic, grand, at sunrise gleaming burst in bloom. And the lilies in the meadows in their green apparel loom. Awful, yet sublime in grandeur spreads the landscape to the view. With its hills and ])looming valleys and the sky of mellow blue. 45 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH How often the Spirit of Truth is revealing, Revealing the beauty that ignorance mocks; And higher and higher to planes of our glory It fills us and moves us and glory unlocks. And purer and purer to planes of perfection Till life in its beauty and grandeur unfolds The w^isdom of God in the sunshine of knowl- edge, Where truth in its fulness divinity holds. The beauty of life is the token of goodness; The Spirit of Truth is the source and the heart ; And knowledge of nature's expressions and ■ doings Are thoughts of the Mighty which blessing im- part. And deeper and deeper we delve and unravel, The depth is unfathomed, and deejDer indeed; For God in His wisdom no limit intended To power and knowledge and love that we heed. 46 ALL IS GOOD I hear a strange and trembling voice, As I in dreamland ponder; It speaks of life, Its aim and strife. Of life and struggles here below, In words that burn with logic, — For all is good If understood. The law of evolution works In divers moods and manners; It works so odd This law of God, Which swings the stars in circles round. And makes the sea-maid warble, — For all is good If understood. 47 The storm which wrecks the ship at sea, A law divine enforces. The crnel wreck Unveils a lack, Which opes the stream of sympathy. And sets our minds athinking, — For all is good If understood. The scoundrel who his neighbor robs His punishment is finding. He sows the seed Of bitter weed, Which grows unconscious in his path, And wakes his dupes to action, — For all is good If understood. 48 The greed for Avealth — desire to erusli- Tlie gi'eed of men unconscious Inspires reforms, Unlocking storms, And lifts manlvind to higher j^lanes, To nobler thoughts and living, — For all is good If understood. The pulling, pushing, sorrow, death. Are agencies uplifting. They cause the strife And wake to life The latent, growing God within. And keep the world progressing, — For all is good If understood. 49 Tlie sting that opioosition brings Is goodness undeveloped. It moves the heart, And does impart Uplifting motives to the soul — Experience and learning, — For all is good If understood. Defeat is triumph in disguise ; It trims and moulds and fashions, And lifts the soul To higher goal, To realms of duty, justice, truth. By each succeeding failure, — For all is good If understood. 50 The goal of perfect life is ours, Through struggles we shall gain it, Through work and strife, Which wake to life, The Heaven born within our souls- The state of true perfection, — For all is good If understood. Note — Some people may misunderstand the meaning and purpose of "All Is Good." I wrote these verses to show that God will permit evil to awaken the conscience of men and women to higher and nobler things in life. — T. O. S. 51 THE SOUL ETERNAL I dwell in God's own vineyard; A touch of love I feel. I feel the soul eternal, The everlasting will. With plumage throngs I listen, And hear the throbbing heart. The heart of God eternal, Of which I am a part. I am of life immortal, And so are you, indeed; Despite of retrogression. Our path does onward lead. I see the seagulls sailing On silver wdngs so fair. Endowed with light omniscient, A part of God we share. 52 The brooklet seaward winding Rings out with harmony; Divine in tone it carols With longing to the sea. Its course is oft impeded, But onward evermore It tumbles, leaps and warbles Toward the golden shore. There is a power working, A power everj^where, Which rules with love and knowledge In heaven, earth and air. Whence came this mighty spirit Wliich permeates all things, Which sets the suns revolving And singing birds on mngs? 53 Behold the plumage songsters On wings of jubilee ; On wings of grace majestic Along the rolling sea. On yonder fragrant treetop The nightingale I hear. He sings of joy eternal In melody so clear. The wavelets, too, are singing. They join the nightingale, And music fills the heaven, A part of God we hail. The rose is red and fragrant, It speaks of love within; Its velvet crimson tells us Of life devoid of sin. 54 Whence came this mighty spirit, Whi(;h makes the lightning flash, Which sets the ocean roaring, And thunderbolts to clash "^ Whence came this mighty spirit, Which makes the I'aindrops fall, Which bids the smi in heaven To warm and cheer us all? Whence came this mighty spirit, Which makes the lilies bloom, The man to grow and reason, And mountain peaks to loom? It seems to us confusing, We often look in vain To find this mighty spirit. Which speaks in language plain. 55 This spirit works with knowledge- The truth, the source, the heart. It is the ego ever Of which we are a part. This spirit lights our jourue.y, Our course does ouward lead, And grief aud joy aud struggles Are lessons that we need. Our conscience will awaken; No start, no end have we, For birth and death are changes And help to make us free. NOTE: "The Soul Eternal" is likely to be misunderstood. I wrote this poem to show that God is manifesting in and through nature. God's thoughts are the laws of nature. — T. O. S. 56 CHARACTERIZATION OF HENRIK IBSEN The deatli of Ibsen spread a gloomy veil over the literary horizon of Northern Europe. For more than half a century the name of Ibsen has been the kejaiote in dramatic circles. Yes, in dramatic circles, because the world outside of his native country knows him chiefly as a dramatist, but the Norwegians cherish his genius with deeper affection as the author of "Terje Viken." This masterpiece will never wither among the Norsemen, but will bloom in their heai ts as time moves onward. In this poem we feel the depth of Ibsen 's soul ; the fire of patriotism burns on the altar of courage; sympathy bursts forth from the heart of unpolluted love; cruel domi- nation belches out from the deep caverns of hatred and greed. Several translations of ^'Terje Viken" have been rendered into English and other languages, 57 but no one carries along the tenderness, courage and music of the original. The same can be said of his dramas. The reading of Ibsen's works in English is like reading Shakespeare's in Nor- wegian. The flames have been snulfed out and only the cinder remains as evidence of a lucid conflagration. Some authors seek to gain public applause, or to fill the purse with pelfs; others are philoso- phers who cater for neither of these, but delve in- to the sea of human concerns to shape a mirror of life in its reality. Ibsen was a philosopher, a child of nature whose cradle rocked with the waves of natural impulses. He was ahead of the time in which he lived, and chose a course of his own. Instead of building on the edifices of his predecessors, he excavated to the bedrock and erected his own dome. He was a Shakesi^eare of 58 the North, but with a different kind of genius. The Darling of Avon possessed a more subtle wit, but not a keener intellect nor a deeper and more penetrating imagination. In all of Ibsen's works we see a panorama of real life. The actors come, play their parts, and leave. That he was endowed with a tropical and far-reaching imagination is evidenced in all his writings. In mau}^ paragraphs of ' ' Peer G ynt, ' ' perspicuity is clouded by the depth of his imag- inative power. His thoughts and works are universal, but not of a continuous concatenation of ideas. He lays bare the various phases of life, manifesting a flexible multiplicity of higher ideals. As a poet he has paved the walk of philosophy with grace, beauty and elegance. The fire of Lord Byron, the tenderness of Shelly and the 59 universality of Shakespeare are blended in the products of his pen. Like a bud that bursts into bloom and scatters fragrance over the landscape, so has Ibsen's genius added flowers of beauty to Scandinavian literature. Here and there the awful is interwoven with the sublime, modest simplicity with royal magnificence. We hear the thunder rolling across the firmament like Jove's blazing chariot; we see the diamond- studded waves tumbling against a jeweled strand, on the banks of which are l^eautiful gar- dens and orchards, where lilies and roses mingle beneath the drooping boughs of the apple and cherry trees. Tbsen is a cosmopolitan as well as a true citi- zen of his native land. His early wi'itings re- flect the love of home and deal more or less with indigenous conditions, but he broadened out into 60 a citizen universal, and unfolded with rare intuitive power the intricate social fabric of mankind. "The Doll House" is not a ludicrous pro- duction, intended to please and amuse, but a sober reflection of husbandry, mould- ing the j)illars of the home. No other au- thor has handled this theme mbre successfully than Ibsen. His assiduous study of domestic relations has made him an authority in this par- ticular realm, and "The Doll House" is gradu- ally blooming into a fireside comfort and guide. As intimated before, Shakespeare's genius runs on a different string from that of Ibsen's; but in one respect there seems to exist a marked similarity in their mood of thinking; namely, 61 in the selection of lofty themies and in treating them with intensity and exhaustiveness. ''Merchant of Venice" reveals with burning intensity love, purity and hatred ; it unveils the enmity which then existed between the Jews and the Christians with glaring boldness. "When We Dead Awaken," "Ghosts" and "Peer G3ait" burn with the sins of man. They also smile with the blooms of love. Ibsen is like a deep sea into which hereditary sins are thrown. Along the shore of this sea are meadows of sweet flowers, enlivened w4th the music of silvery streams. 62 THE PLEA OF CEDAR RIVER You say that I am fickle, And nurse the poet's dream ; . A child of melting snow-peaks, A gliding, winding stream. And gliding, winding. And pleasure finding In music as I leap From mountains to the deep. You oft forget my labor, But happy still am I. I glide and sing enchanted, And lust for gold defy. And gliding, winding, And pleasure finding In usefulness and song. And singing glide along, 63 I turn the wheels with laughter, And laughing still I turn, And coaches start arolling. And lights electric b-urn. And gliding, winding. And pleasure finding In labor as I roll With music in my soul. My touch is cold, they tell me, With lips that long to taste My soothing, crystal volume, With eagerness of haste. And gliding, winding, And pleasure finding In touches cold and sweet, As ruby lips I meet. 64 My missiou is a pleasure, I sing and glide along, With duty in my motion, And music in my song. And gliding, winding, And pleasure finding. In gliding to the sea. With song and jubilee. And now I must remind you, Queen City by the sea. To keep my cr3"stal volume From all pollution free. And gliding, winding, And pleasure finding, In duty as I roll Enchanted to my goal. 65 THE SOUL OF THE POET He sang a song, a song appealing, A song appealing. The magic bard with hope revealing, With hope revealing. His song had charms, divine and blooming, Divine and blooming; And music sweet and sunbeams looming, And sunbeams looming. His song invoked in cadence mellow, In cadence mellow, Sweet roses red and roses yellow, And roses yellow. The daisies in his song were smiling, His song were smiling ; And lilies laughed in words beguiling. In words beguiling. He gazed around in pensive dreaming. In pensive dreaming. 66 With rising hope and rapture beaming, And rapture beaming. He gazed beyond this earth rebelling, This earth rebelling; Beyond this earth his soul was dwelling, His soul was dwelling. The stars above outpoured their glory. Outpoured their glory ; And singing heard with joy their story. With joy their story. A touch divine bestirred and moved him. Bestirred and moved him ; And thoughts from high with glory filled him, With glory filled him. He paused and sang, and singing ever. And singing ever. With soul in God and failing never, And failing never. 67 The world may scoff at dreamers singing, At dreamers singing; But far and wide their souls are wijiging, Their souls are winging. They ope the gate of life eternal, Of life eternal, And sing away to climes supernal, To climes supernal; They sip the joy unheeded teeming. Unheeded teeming, The joy divine serenely beaming, Sereneh" beaming; They snatch from stars in yonder heaven, In yonder heaven. The will of God to glory given. To glory given. 68 THE MUSIC OF THE SEA And lo ! the sea, sublime ! I hail thee, • The wide and rolling ocean. The singing waves with hope inspire me, And laughing waves in motion. The music of the sea, The singing of the sea, And echoes from the lea. Enchanted me to thee. The riiDpling Avaves, the pearl-set ocean, AYhere sunbeams bask in glory; And surges rolling in commotion Unfold in song their story. The music of the sea, The singing of the sea, And echoes from- the lea. Enchanted me to thee. 69 The wavelets on the shore are singing, And surges laugh, and rolling. The echoes ring, and ringing, ringing, And gentle breezes strolling. The music of the sea. The singing of the sea. And echoes from the lea. Enchant me to thee. The yonder singing waves are rolling, And rolling, singing ever, Across the ocean rolling. And resting, resting, resting never. The music of the sea, The singing of the sea. And echoes from the lea. Enchanted me to thee. 70 THE BEAUTY OP THE SEASONS The year lias beauty, joy and glee, And seasons four in number; And roses budding in the lea Unfold the summer fragrance. The autumn speaks of wealth and play And golden leaves af ailing; And winter chilly melts away To joy of springtime blooming. And as we watch the seasons run, The life of man inspires us; And motives which in childhood burn Like falling leaves are wilting. The rose is budding in the spring, And fragrance rare unfolding; And joy and hope on treetops ring, Where birds are sweetly singing. 71 The Slimmer laughs and sunbeams gleam, The landsca]3e sweet with verdure ; And roses smile and roses teem Like manhood strong and happy. But roses wilt and roses die, And manhood strong is wilting, But working still to beautify, For God of love is working. The leaves are falling, golden leaves, The leaves of manhood falling; But hoary age still joy receives, For God in all is present. Each season has its work to do. Each leaf and bloom a duty, And manhood strong, divine and true, Like falling leaves is wilting. But as we gaze beyond this scene, A higher thought inspires us, For souls in God, divine, serene. On higher planes are blooming. 72 RAIN AND SUNBEAMS The gray and purple mixed in cloudlets, And cloudlets into clouds did grow; And on the thirsty plain ])elow The gentle rain with hojje descended. The rain is falling, dripping, dropping, And gentle rain and sunbeams free To soothe the meadow, grove and lea, And rainbow arches loom and charm us. The velvet green and budding wildwoods, Where gentle rain and sunbeams fall, Rejoice and smile, and smiling, call To loving breezes softly laughing. Behold the rain and sunbeams glitter, And weaving arches bright and raie From vales of green to heaven fair ; And hillocks proud with verdure greet us. 73 The snowy mountains move and cliarm ns, But rain and sunbeams laughing land, And snowy mountains weejDing stand, And brooks and rivers seaward warble. The lea and woods are set abudding. For rain and sunbeams bring their love In sim-kissed dewdrops from above; And Nature's soul with joy is beaming. 74 THE VOICE OP THE RED CROSS How often we fail in devotion to duty, To duty that Heaven decrees; To duty divine and uplifting in purpose, And duty in higher degrees. The needy are calling, And truly installing Our aid with devotion, Beyond the blue ocean. The sailors and soldiers and others are calling. The bleeding and woiuided today. Away from our homes they are calling and call- ing. And calling to lighten their way. The needy are calling. And truly installing Our aid with devotion, Beyond the blue ocean. 75 The tears of the wounded and mothers despon- dent, Are flowing on merciful wings Across the blue billows to Yankees responding, Where freedom in consonance rings. The needy are calling. And truly installing Our aid with devotion. Beyond the blue ocean. With hope in their bosoms the needy are calling, And calling in spirit of love ; And women and children are calling and calling For aid to our Father above. The needy are calling. And truly installing Our aid with devotion, Beyond the blue ocean. 76 THE STARS AND STRIPES IN MEXICO There is a eountiy to the south, A sunny country surely, A country full of future hope. And grandeur set securely. This coiuitry to the south we hail With sympathy and feeling. With hope divine and kind regards^ And freedom true revealing. This sunny country to the south Has fields of smiling beauty; And Uncle Sam with brawny arms Does lead in moral dut}^ There is an echo on the breeze. Our country dear should heed it, For Mexico is on the south, And Mexico will need it. 77 The brawny arms of Uncle Sam Now Mexico is needing To guard her coast from foreign foes Across the ocean leading. A harbor gained in Mexico A danger sad is telling, For Mexico is on the south, And safeguard strong compelling. The Mexicans rejoicing will. When truth reveals the story; When Stars and Stripes protecting waves In Mexico with glory. When Stars and Stripes protecting waves To Panama depending. Then life will bloom in love divine With Uncle Sam commanding. 78 THE WAVES OF ALKI I knoAV a place where grandeur cheers us, And songs enchanting soar; I know a place where breezes soothe us, And ocean billows roar. I know a place where scenes bewitcli us With hope sublime and grand; I know a place where surges greet us And dash upon the strand. I know a place where music fills us With joy the seashore knows; I know a place where verdure charms us, And fragrance soothing flows. I know a place where hope and gladness On laughing breezes sail; I know a place where waves delight us And golden beaches hail. 79 A SCENE AT AI.KI 80 I hail this place with joy and greetings, And Alki beaches fair ; I hail this place sublime, refreshing, And blooms of l)eauty rare. I hail this place of charming grandeur, Where hope and gladness teem; I hail this place, bewitching trnly, Where jeweled pebbles gleam. I hail this place and ocean breezes, AVhere cooling sweetness charms; I hail this place and fragrance wafting From fields of smiling farms. I hail this place with joyous longing. Where locks of seamaids flow; 1 hail this place of fond enchantment, Where roses sweetlj^ grow. 81 UNCLE SAM IN PROPHECY Our Uncle Sam with courage true Across the sea was gazhig, Across the ocean deep and blue With love of freedom blazing. He had no hatred in his soul, No hatred Uncle noted; But gazed upon a higher goal With love of God devoted. I-Ie saw the ships on 3^onder sea, The ships, exploded, sinking; He heard the cry of liberty, And set the world athinking. He saw the sword beyond the sea, The French and British bleeding. But fighting still for victory. And with our Uncle pleading. 82 Again he gazed and saw afar, In vision brightly gleaming, 'The glory of the morning star, With light effulgent beaming. He took the saber in his hand, And went to fighting surely, And Germans soon did comprehend That Uncle hit securely. He drove the kaiser down the vales, And over rivers flowing; He followed up his bloody trails With freedom's saber glowing. He drove him over wooded hills. To meet his lofty notion; He drove him over rocks and rills With firm and steady motion. 83 He hoisted high the banner free, The Stars and Stripes with glory ; He taught the Germans liberty, And sang a golden story. His saber burned with holy fire, For God was in the battle. And to the music of his lyre The Germans chose to settle. And when his work was done, indeed, On fields of Europe weeping. In Mexico he took the lead With glory onward sweeping. He saw the need of brawny arms In Mexico appealing; He saw the need of schools and farms, And love of home revealing. 84 He saw the need of God in man, . And patriotic ruling; He had a higher, nobler plan Of law and gospel schooling. He saw the need of light and love To Panama redeeming ; He saw the need of God above. And freedom's banner gleaming. So let the Stars and Stripes appear, Protecting wave with glory, To Panama with love and cheer To tell the golden story. 85 THE HIGHER GOAL From out the struggle of todaj^, A curse and blessing surely, We see a brighter, better way. The world is growing better. The sword is broken to our joy, We hear the voice of Heaven, And homeward comes the soldier boy, There is a glory teeming. The higher goal before us shines, To doubt is folly truly; Around it blooms the eglantines, A higher duty prompts us. The rose has thorns, the fragrant rose. The rose of tender beauty ; But sweet, divine, it blooms and grows. And breezes fragrance scatter. 86 The lily smiles in grove and lea^ There is a graceful smiling. It smiles witli hope and purity, Revealing hope serenely. We see in yonder, golden sky, There is a higher glory, A splendor rare, uplifting, high. The glory of the heavens. We hear the music of the sea, The waves are rolling ever. And echoes from the verdant lea, The wildwoods teem with glory. We see the glory in the air, The love of God is beaming. The love divine and void of care. In all divine forever. 87 We feel the throb))iiig heart of Ood, And throbbing, pulsing, throbl)ing ; And throbbing to His wielding rod, We feel His throbbing, throbbing. May peace and love and virtue be, And virtue, hope and dut.y ; Our higher aim which leads to thee, We trust in God forever. THE CRIMSON CUP I know they sing in cadence loud • The praise of wine with glory; I know they sing but fail to hear The sad and dreadful story. I hear the song that children sing, And mothers bent to weeping, When Bacchus with his crimson cup Their fathers lost is keeping. We sing and plant the golden corn, A harvest rich inspires us ; And with the goodly gifts of God We fill the cup that mars us. We spread the gospel far and wide, But narrow be our vision ; We ope the stream of crimson flush, And spoil our gospel mission. 89 We sing of art and feats of yore, And hail the cup asinging, But oft the tempting, crimson flush Has set the mind awinging. We couch in song our pedigree, And sing a golden story, And singing, hail the crimson cup, And Bacchus in his glory. We sing, but lo ! the rising star A sweeter song is singing, A song from out the starry deep With prohibition ringing. 90 THE SUPER AND NETHER MAN I saw a man of pedigree, Of heart and wealth and action free. I saw him in a royal home With longing keen to see and roam. I saw him pace the floor in grief, And pacing songht to find relief. His sonl was meek, bnt deep in thought. And gazing round he glimpses caught Of duty true and man in need Of higher aim and God indeed. He took a retrospective view Of land and sea and heaven blue, Of royal pomp and liberty, Of sorrow, vice and poverty. He saw the way of wealth and greed. And poodle dogs that women lead Through fragrant vales of idle life, And caused among his folks a strife. His folks with Bacchus loud in cheer. 91 Aiid nicotine afar and near, With smiles beguiling truly sought To wean him from his wayward thought. He gazed upon the landscape fair, And saw the stately grandeur rare. He saAV the handiwork of God, And felt His love and wielding rod. He saw the rose and lily pure. And snowballs hung on twigs secure. He heard the music of the brook. And joy divine that man forsook. He saw the beaming, rising sun. Which melted down the starry dawn. He saw the hills and snow-peaks white In glowing splendor looming bright. He saw the children at their play, And heard their laughter sweet and gay He saw in yonder smoky dell The home of labor sounding well. 92 .Ple heard the music and the spin Of flying wheels and work within. He saw the old and children small At labor hard to masters' call. He saw the little ones so fair Devoid of play and proper care. He saw them toil to please the greed Of men unconscious to their need. He saw their tiny hands and feet In action swift to make complete The chilly plans to pluck and tear The dollars out of childhood fair. He gazed and flung his darting beams, Where vice degrading fully teems. He saw humanity in want. And men degraded lurk and hunt In search of bread and dives to sleep, Where high and low and fallen keep In fellowship with imps of hell. 93 And soul and virtue mock and quell. He saw the imps of hell at play Devising plans to win their way In crimes of high and low degree To please their view of liberty. He saw the mother's hope and love, Her boys and girls with joy above, Enticed and brought to ruin low By imps decoying as they go In search of victims young and old With smiles of help and plans untold. But as he saw in vision sad The innocents to ruin led He rose and to the city turned, With dewy eyes and heart that burned, And there beheld the dives of sin. And sought the fallen folks to win. His heart was warm and glad to seek And found the humble Harrj^ Meek. The good and loving pedigree, 94 With liome and wealth and action free In conversation trnly fell With Harry Meek to hear him tell His story of the life below, Where weak and fallen come and go. And snreh^ Harry kind and good His comrade fair he understood, And spake of vice in words of shame. Which better folks so oft proclaim. With locks of silver Harry stood Before his comrade fair and good, And pleading sought to make him see The need of work to help and free The victims which we often blame. But brought to ruin and to shame By peacocks bent to dollars bright, Who lurk behind the veil of night. But as he spoke he pointed up, And saw King Bacchus with his cup, 95 And poodle dogs and women fair In fond display in castles rare. He emphasized in mellow tone How certain folks had wealthy grown. He emphasized and tears did roll With sympathy to lift the soul Of young and old who fallen had To wine and vice and habits bad. The good and loving pedigree With cloudy eyes began to see. He saw the work of Harry Meek Among the fallen, poor and weak. He saw the old and fading youth, Degraded, doped, and void of truth. He saw the kind and helpful Meek With love of Christ unfailing seek To lift the sad and weary soul To light divine and higher goal. 96 And as he saw his work and plan He greeted Meek as Super Man. The good and loving pedigree With burning heart and sympathy In silence gazed in pensive mood, And saw the pure, divine and good. He saw the mellow blue above. And heard the music and the love Of singing birds and angels near. Of happy folks and children dear. He saw the lily burst in bloom. And snovry mountains higher loom. He saw the wildwoods and the lea. And laughing waves upon the sea. He saw the rose of crimson hue. And blooms of purple, white and blue. He saw the beauty, joy and love, And heard the voice of God above. 07 He saw the need of suubeams bright To light the dark and gloomy night. He saw the castles on the hill With rising hope and stronger will. He saw his folks in Bacchns care, And poodle dogs and women fair, Devoid of God and higher aim, And rose repenting to proclaim, "Forgive, O God! and lift them up. Alcove the sparkling, crimscm cup, Above the fmne of nicotine And poodle dogs and vice wdthin." 1)8 THE RHODODENDRON TO THE POPPY The Rhododendron on the hillside In royal splendor stood. *EIer purple, pink and white apparel Displayed a happy mood. '^I am a queen," she said delighted, ''And represent a land Adorned with grandeur, rugged, stately. Where joy and music blend." And surely she continued saying, "My Washington I know Bespeaks my queenly state and beauty In valleys green and peaks of snow." "I often laugh at things around me, And greet the plumage choir. When morning bursts upon the landscape With silver, gold and fire. 99 ^'Ancl with the rising sun emblazing, The hills and lakes in flame Reveal the grandeur of my country With glory to my name." "1 have a sister dressed in yellow, Aiid touched with red and white, Beyond the Oregon fields of roses In sunny Southland bright." ' ' She is the beauty of the wildwoods. The charm of valleys green. And in the Golden State delightful They hail her as the queen. ' ' "She represents the orange blossoms, And groves of Southern hue ; The hills and plains and balmy breezes. And skies of mellow blue." 100 ' ' She has been chosen for her beauty ■The queen and bride of blooms In Southh^nd by the wide Pacific, Where grandeur ever looms." "She is my friend among the blossoms In Southland fair and green, And with a tender salutation I greet her as a queen." 101 THE SHIP OF PEACE How oft we fail to see the purpose, When 23assion riot runs, When evil thoughts beset our motives, And wrath with fury burns. With sadness swing the stai's of wisdom In silver setting bright Above our heads benighted surely In floods of dazzling light. Like lightning leaping out of heaven, A madness burst within. And men unheeding turned to fighting With flaming swords to win. And those who loved a peaceful nuising. Or tranquil labor sought. Were heaved upon the angry billows With eagerness of thought. 102 But Henry Ford with ])caceful longing The Ship of Peace did Iniild, And sailed across the rolling ocean To calm the battlefield. The bullets flew and guns were roaring, And men in heaps did fall, And streams of crimson oozed and flooded. But heeded not the call. The Ship of Peace on mission noble, And Henry Ford the man, Revealed the want of higher motives And God's eternal plan. The peaceful ship returned derided, And sorrow reached our shore, With tidings of the dead and dying Upon the field of gore. 103 But when the ship had found her mooring Then Ford with peaceful aim Unsheathed the sword to down in battle The Kaiser and his game. And sure indeed the haughty Kaiser, With soldiers, gold and shani„ Was driven from liis throne and power With swords of ITnele Sam. But lo ! the peaceful ship will greet us With joy through ages long, And men inspired with warlike doings Will sing a sweeter song. And on the sea of God's affection Upon the golden shore The Ship of Peace, divine in purpose, Will sail forevermore. 104 THE MUSE AT VOLUNTEER PARK How sweet and charming to beliold This loeaut.y spot with fountains, The velvet green where blooms nnfold With greetings from the mountains. It charms and fills And love instills This spot with blo(^ms and fountains. We hail this resting place on high With longing, hope and pleasure; The blue, enchanting, mellow sky Adorned with golden treasure. It charms and fills And love instills This place of rest and pleasure. 105 A SCENE AT VOLUNTEER PARK 106 And as we gaze and pause and stroll Upon this green before us The lilies whisper to console And roses sweet implore us. It charms and fills And love instills This velvet green befcn'e us. We see the Puget Sound in glow, And gold and silver burning Upon the waves which come and go With breezes fresh returning. It charms and fills And love instills The Sound with silver burning. 107 We see the firm and old Rainier With locks of snow agleaming Above the happy Volunteer, Where fragrance rare is teeming. It charms and fills And love instills The old Rainier agleaming. And to the east with grandeur rare, In setting green and smiling, We see Lake Washington so fair In laughing mirth beguiling. It charms and fills And love instills The lake with grandeur smiling. 108 And in tins park of joy and song Awakes our recollection. When we beliold the statue strong Of Seward with affection. It charms and fills And love instills This park with recollection. And on this green divine and fair We see him stand in glory, And in a tone of grandeur rare Alaska tells the story. It charms and fills And love instills With Seward in his glory. 109 His view of things we must admire, A statesman wise and daring, And to his worth awake the lyre With praise and love unsparing. It charms and fills And love instills His view of things and daring. The still, adjoining, resting place Bespeaks a hidden story, A¥here friends departed sleep in grace And in their sacred glory. It charms and fills And love instills This resting place of glory. 110 And surely here the pioneer, Who paved our way with roses, AVho sought with friends the Volunteer In silence noAV reposes. It charms and fills And h)ve instills This sacred place of roses. But on his tomb in setting green A rose is sweetly blooming, A token of our love serene With light from heaven looming. It charms and fills And love instills The rose serenely blooming. Ill THE LIFTING GOSPEL A veil of darkness could be seen, Enswatliing fields and meadows green, The rivers, vales and stately liills. And mountains grand and laughing rills. But, lo! the sunbeams from above Descended with their light and love, With lilazing splendor from on high. And melted, burned and lit the sky; And men misguided could be seen To seek the pure, sublime, serene. The love divine set vale and hill To smile and sing to God's own will. The vineyards bloomed and fragrance rare Perfumed the earth diA'ine and fair. The higher aim of God above Unfolds in nature, beauty, love. In harmony with Gospel Truth, With Christ to save, to lift and soothe. 112 The word of God revealed to man According to His way and plan Unfolds and lifts tlie low and weak Through faith and love who tridy seek To find the truth, the light and way. Which leads on high from day to day. There is no doubt and sham in God, Nor in His love and wielding rod. He reads the heart of 3'^oung and old, And in His wisdom does unfold The truth and false to lift and cheer Devoid of vanity and fear. The world is helpless in its sin, But Christ has come to seek and win The fallen in their sinful state. Who often mischief contemplate. The higher goal is yet in gloom. But sunbeams come to cheer and loom The places dark on hill and plain With higher motives to obtain. 113 We see the fallen with regret, The youth with dope and cigarette. And oft the word of God we hear Defamed and scorned afar and near. The syndicate of vice is loud. Degrading, ci'imson, vain and proud; Devoid of truth and ( -hrist indeed, And in its ruin seeks to lead. Upholding, spreading crime and shame, Polluting, marring in the name Of liberty and freedom dear. And service, truth and work sincere. But, true ! another class we know. Who often seeks to lead and sow. But scatters seeds on shallow ground. And in its foolish way looks round. But fails to find the harvest sought. Because of shallowness of thought. 114 The brighter beams from God descend, A¥hieh joy and ghidness trnly lend, And nnrse the seeds of Christ divine In souls inclining to repine. Have you as saints with brighter hope Surveyed with Christ His aim and scope? Have you beheld His sAveeping eye From pole to pole in earth and sky? Have you with Christ in thoughts and deeds Beheld the world He loves and heeds? Have you beheld His children dear From east to west Avitli love sincere? Have 3^ou with love and charitj^ Relinquished selfishness to be A shining light to all on earth Regardless of their place and birth? Have vou beheld the poor and low. The fallen folks that Christ did know? 115 Have you outpoured your oil to heal The sick aud wounded who appeal For aid and sj^m^Dathy to bear The stings of pain and grief and care ? We have a duty here below To lift and make the fallen know That Christ is ready to impart His love divine to soothe the heart. Our Christ who came to teach and die That we may live a life on high. 116 COZY SPOTS It was a liapp}^ summer clay With sunbeams l)riglitly beaming. It was a day of joy and play, And gladness sweetly teeming AVith goodly cheer Afar and near. It was a day of rising hope, And vision gleaming brightly Along the higher span and scope To wake and lift us rightly To ^oy above With hope and love. 117 But truly in the vision bright Came shadows to our seeing, And work to light the gloom}^ night, And lift each human being To plains of light, And manhood bright. And cities crowded came to sight With gloomy scenes appealing For cozy spots and fountains bright, And light and love revealing The higher life To ease the strife. 118 •We often see the bad indeed In cities large and noted, Where wine and mischief truly lead, And to the wrong devoted, But blaze and light The gloom of night. There is a need of better things, Of cozy spots and fountains, And resting courts where music rings With echoes from the mountains. And C'hrist indeed To guide and lead. 119 There is a need of blooms and play For children in their bringing To manhood strong and light of day, And joy divinely ringing — And joy and song To gnid(^ along. There is a need of breezes fair, And sunbeams brightly beaming; There is a need of purer air, A,wd lighted fountains gleaming To lift the soul To higher goal. 120 So let us join to lift aud do, And hail the things demanded. And place the weak and fallen, too. In places God intended — And places bright With fond delight. 121 MY SEABECK BY THE SEA I know a place sii))lime, serene, Where wings of langhing maples Lay shadows soothing on the green To cheer and charm and gladden. Chorns : My Seabeek by the sea, Where meadow larks are singing, And ocean waves are ringing In happy harmony. I hail thy groves and music rare, Thy vales and charming hillocks ; Thy courts of green and balmy air, And breezes sweet with fragrance. I hail thy sunset's burning glow, Which turns the waves and seashore. And mountains grand and peaks of snow To gold and blazing splendor. 122 THE BLOOMS OF LESCHI I know a cozy spot enchanting, • Where daisies red and white Are blooming sweetly in the sunshine In stars and circles bright, Which fill us And still us With rapture beaming And beauty teeming. Below the firs and willows budding, Which dress the hill above. We see the birch and pine and cedar With wings outspread with love. Which fill us And still us With charms beguiling And verdure smiling. 123 1^:-^.. ^^»m:}^ -^j'^a^^wpg^^g^^'TirrrnTm A SCENK AT LESCHI PARK 124 In happy clusters, sweet and blooming, The rose and lilac grow Beneath the wings of laughing maples. And twigs with balls of snow. Which fill us And still us Divinely surely And ever purely. Along this velvet green delightful The frisky wavelets roll with glee In harmon}^ to notes outpouring From silver throats with jubilee. Which fill us And still us With music ringing And joyful singing. 125 And here and there in verdant setting Bewitching lilies bloom, And daffodils among the briers In golden dressing loom, Which fill ns And still us With fragrance flowing And joy bestowing. And in this dell of blooms and garlands We pluck from twigs of love The buds of joy divinely blooming With rapture from above, Which fill us And still us A¥ith hope supernal And life eternal. 126 THE TRAIL OF EZRA MEEKER At Huiitsville ninetj^ years ago •A sturdy man of daring Beheld the beauty of this earth With willingness of sharing The burden of his country dear In venture, deed and action, And surely sought to blaze the way With courage and aifection. His name is known the country round. We call him Ezra Meeker, The pioneer who westward bore With daring as a seeker. In earl}^ fifties he began To cross the plains bewailing According to his chosen plan With oxen yoked for trailing. 127 AN ORCHARD SCENE IN EASTEFtN WASHINGTON LAKE CllETiAN TN THIO CASCAni<:S 128 With Twist and Dave he westward moved With consolation beaming, And scenes majestic came to view With divers grandeur teeming. He scaled the Rockies steep and wild, And down the valleys blooming He drove his team ^dth steady sx3eed Beyond the snowpeaks looming. The Cascades he with courage climbed, And saw the ocean rolling Below the crags and hills and plains. Where breezes fresh were strolling. And down upon the balmy shore With daring he descended To build a home where roses bloom, And joy with struggles blended. 129 And after years of fruitful life, The sylva near the ocean Became a blooming field and home By vitals set in motion. And here the sturdy pioneer, Who blazed the trail with glovy, In harmony with duty lived To tell the daring story. The Oregon Trail to Puget Sound Revived our recollection, When Ezra Meeker rose again To show his fond atfection. And in a sweet and happy mood, With silver locks aflowing, He saw the famous trail unmarked With monumental shoAving. 130 Aiid iu the year of ninety-six With oxen yoked securely, And monuments to mark the trail He eastward wended surely. And when this noble work was done, With patriotic feeling, He stroked his flowing, silver locks With jubilee revealing. 131 THE SUNSHINE OF HEAVEN How joyful to dwell in the simsliine of heaven, Where roses of friendship console us, And fellowship blooming with glory supernal. And blessing and love that extol us. Chorus : How joyful to dv^ell in the sunshine of heaven, The sunshine of heaven. Where Jesus to glory is given, To glory is given. How joyful to dwell in the beautiful vineyard, Where Jesus to glory is given, And plucking the buds and the blossoms of blessing From twigs in the sunshine of heaven. How joyful to dwell in the heavenly mansion With angels and seraphim blended. And singing divinely in chorus celestial, The story of Jesus ascended. 132 ENGLISH IN NORWAY Away to the north where the snowpeaks enchant us, And mountains and valleys delight, And gorges and wildwoods in verdant apparel Reveal and unfold to our sight. Away to the north to the coast of old Norway, The home of the Vikings of yore, '\¥here sunbeams are bright and the heavens are looming. And sagas translucent in lore. Away to the north where the poets are singing In accents euphonic and SAveet, And music is drawn from the harps of the players With rhythmical cadence to greet. 133 And lo ! we are viewing the world in its beauty, And man in the province of love, United by ties of eternal creation, And ruled with the scepter above. A zephyr celestial is strolling above us, And whispers a silvery call In language united and purpose uplifting With motives divine to instal. We see on the wings of the future approaching That Norra with scenery grand Will sing in the tongue of the Albion's poets The praise of her beautiful land. We hope and we wait in the land of the Yankees With longing to welcome and greet The tongue of the Engles and Saxons adopted In Northland with glory replete. 134 The poets of Northland Avith Albion singing Will glide with their phrases along, And show to the world in melodious cadence The grandeur of Northland in song. And surely we hail with a longing consoling The day when the poets will sing In words that are rippling in vigorous English With Norra's sweet musical ring. 135 lEarly Pn^ma EMBLEM OF FREEDOM Emblem of freedom, how dearly I liail thee, Gleaming with spangles of victory won ; Smiling with hope, which with longing has filled me, Courage and love that our fathers have shown. Firm in protection, Pure in affection, Pride of our country, the flag of the brave ! Spirit awakens with fond recollection, Deeds of our fathers that sleep in the grave. Tyranny rallied with fury despairing. Peasants to battle for liberty flee ; Washington leading and firmly declaring, "Yankees forever unconquered and free." Land in commotion. War on the ocean, Never shall ruffle the flag on our shore, Flag that our fathers with blood and devotion Gallantly hoisted as onward they bore. 136 UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE • From sea to sea our schools abound, We boast of learniug great, Of him who speaks the Hebrew tongue, In French a graduate. We often grin at clannishness. At prejudice, indeed. When China's folly in the East Through other minds we read. We see the scholar, linguist, scribe. At public places meet, To nurse the dead, decaying tongues, Or German phrases greet. They talk of treasure, wealth to gain, In Greek and Latin lore. But fail to see the jewels bright Upon the other shore. , 137 Who seeks to bar the stream of thouglit From universal flow, Erects a wall of clannishness, Where thorns and thistles grow. Who seeks to alienate the race By divers tongues or creeds, Impedes the growth of unity And mischief sadly breeds. Unveil the gems that nature holds, Let love our weapon be To rend the walls which separate, Or chill our sympathy. Unite mankind from pole to pole By universal speech ; And weld all nations into one To lift the poor and rich. 138 What language sbould the world adopt? The English I would dioose ; It's rich in words and vigorous, And fit for all our use. So, let us all our forces join. In heart united stand, And loA^e shall bloom in kindred speech Through ages without end. 139 REFLECTIONS OF PETE LABOE When songsters in their phimage fair Had drooped on branches here and there, When mountain peaks rose huge and high Against the western, sunset sky; I saw poor Pete ; yes, Pete Laboe, The tenant son in spirit low. His locks were gray, and bent he stood Upon the graveyard b}^ the w^ood. In restless mood he longed to hear, The sacred voice of one so dear, The echo of a maiden true. The faithful servant, Nellie Prue. A flood of love now shook his soul To ecstasy beyond control ; For round his heart with magic care He seemed to feel her touches rare. His eyes grew moist, he gazed around. Arid spake unheeded on the ground ; "No marble tops her weedy tomb, 140 No epitaph, no fragrant bloom; Unknown she sleeps to pomp and fame, But virtue smiles around her name. All, would to God her dust had tongue, That she again might weave in song Those thrilling tones of love divine. Which brought her lips so oft to mine. All, would to God the world could hear The echo of her soul so dear. The ebbing flow of love and truth, Which s}Tiibolized her age and youth. ' ' He stood and gazed upon her clay. And weeping loud he paced away With steps so tender on the grass And whispered low as he did pass : "Despite of toil and servitude. Of angry words and action rude. She served her master true and brave Till she was carried to the grave. 141 The master who for greed of wealth Had phi eked her vitals — robhed her health- For when he quaffed his wine so red She toiled outdoors alone and sad; And often as the tears did roll Adown her cheeks to soothe her soul, She thought about her humble birth And pitied all the poor on earth." While on the sacred ground he paced Unconscious to his brow he raised His bony hand from weather brown, And on the graveyard kneeling down. He thought of days when Nell and he Together capered round in glee ; He thought of days with gladness filled, And poverty that would not yield. His soul now ebbed with overflow, And spake again in accents low : ''How oft I saw her flit around 142 With bleeding feet upon the ground, In chase of cattle on the leap, Or wading through the jungles deep; HoAV oft T met her on the trail, When night had spread its dewy veil In chilly crystals shining fair. With dripping gown and ankles baie ; How oft I saw her in the field, When moon a somber light did yield, Alone and weary raking hay Till darkness drove the moon away." Now came the tender thought with tears, Wliich on his soul had burned for years. He stooped and laid his head so gray Upon her weedy tomb to say : ''How oft beneath the hemlock wings. On yonder slope where robin sings. We wont to play in fond caress. Or join in frolic on the grass. 143 'Twas there our souls together rushed, When love in blushing childhood gushed; 'Twas there beneath the spreading shade, When spring its velvet cloak had laid. In purple blooms ui^on the green, I broke the question most serene. The answer came as from above, Your heart was full with love of love, And touched my ear with nuptial sound Beneath the branches on the ground." He slowly raised his weary head, Then shook his silver locks and said: "We tried to fix the time and place. And planned the preacher's fee to raise. We figured day, w^e figured night ; We built oft castles, dark and bright; We tried each rule, but failed to give The requisite to wed and live. We met and chatted as before, 144 But calculation evermore Unveiled the gloom of want and need, And so in sorrow we agreed To wait until some better time, Or tr_y our luck in foreign clime. She joined her master, so did I, To labor hard my hands apply. For nothing else before us spread Than servitude to make our bread. Each day, each hour, from morn to night, The thought of bondage dimmed our sight. I tilled the soil, unflinching, true. And planted corn, which richly grew. She, too, the maiden, bright and fair, The yoke of servitude did bear. She lugged the urchins, raked the hay. And carried water from the bay. At dusk when darkness clad each dome. Alone she drove the cattle home ; 145 She milked the cows, she fed the swine, And plucked tlie berries from the vine. She gathered wood to feed the grate, And darned and sewed till ev'ning late. Each year we tried a step to rise. To get a glimpse of Paradise; But to our sorroAV, steeped Avith rage. Our station darker grew with age. The sunshine which in childhood smiled The lurid world, unsought, beguiled. And filled our souls with dreams of hell, With gloom which only slaves can tell. The tender thoughts of early years Have vanished with the flow of tears. A stern reflection of our life Tiays bare to view revolting strife. The nuptial bell which rang in youth Is silent, mossy and uncough. The castles which we oft did frame 146 H«ave crumbled into grief and shame, And on their ruin dwell our tears, Our smiles, our hopes, of childhood years. A thrill of horror stirs ni}^ soul. The thoughts of youth, unfolded, roll As silently the past I scan, And gaze upon the tomb of man. Beneath this turf of grass and weed Lies one for whom my heart doth bleed. Yes, one so pure, so sweet and fair Wliose sympathy I longed to share. How often in the fragrant lea, When toil resigned to action free. We met and chatted here and there, When meadows smiled with roses fair. How often, yes, how often then In budding youth we laid our plan. The sunbeams round our vision played, But turned to moonbeams as we laid 147 Our fancy on the screen of strife With full reality of life. Erelong the laurels, wilted, waned. For tyranny supremely reigned. And paved our way with thorns and tears. Which darkened all our future years. Unyielding struggle sapped our strength, Till death had worked its gloomy length. The blooms of youth all turned to gray And toil and sorrow laid away Her form so fair beneath the sod To dwell forever with her God. The years that marked her earthly stroll Lie fresh and keen upon my soul. But lips I pressed in fond embrace Now sleep in dust beyond my gaze, And hands so full of care and toil Are mingling with the mother soil." A year of struggles fled apace, 148 And Pete Laboe then joined lier placCi Their masters, too, now buried lie On marble arms in dust nearby. Their limbs are stretched in uncouth shape, And pearls their cells no longer drape ; For God decreed devoid of fear That High and Low and hoary Seer Shall turn to dust in one domain, And justice, truth and love shall reign. 149 SPIRIT OF LIBERTY Listen! tlie bugle is tenderly pealing, Lexington looming serenely today, Heaven with glory above us revealing, Freedom unfettered forever and aye. Often, yes, often witli smiles of affection Scenes of the past are returning to view. Struggles involving the right of protection Ring from the graves of the noble and true. Bravely the pilgrims their country defended, Spirit of libert}^ prompted each man. Down through the valleys they swiftly descended Fearless of death into battle they ran. Cannon and muskets around them were roaring, Yorktown their triumph proclaiming one day, Higher and clearer in bugle-notes soaring, ''Freedom unfettered forever and aye." 150 THE HEMLOCK A scene so eiichanting came o'er my soul, I saw the old hemlock and Avildwood ; The river and cliffs, where cataracts roll. With fancy and dreams of my childhood. The thrushes were singing sweet in the lea, Their voices in consonance blended ; The tapering treetops tingled with glee, And melodies softly ascended. How often at noon or ev'ning serene. The hemlock I courted divinely; The hemlock that crowns the sweet-scenting green With branches outspreading sublimely. Yes, often I sought the hemlock's cool shade. So sacred and dear to my childhood, Where breezes beguiling wafted and played With fragrance that rose from the wildwood. 151 With longing I hail the shady green spot, The hemlock that towers above it ; The murmnring stream, my father's old cot, And songsters that circle around it. 'Twas there in my youth when leisure it gave, I sat with my mother delighted ; With mother so dear that sleeps in the grave Till twilight our vision benighted. 152 SHEATHE YOUR SWORD My heart is sad, a scene of ghastly hue Has spread its blood-stained l)osoin to my view. The past, unheeded, lifts a cry of woe ; I hear the echo rising from below. Inspired with dread, it trembles to my ear With caimon 's roar, with shouts of pain and fear. Surveying all, the tears begin to flow As oft I muse with longing keen to know The cause of ^var, the want of human love, The empty heart, devoid of God above. 153 QUEEN OF PEACE Yes, ni}^ soul grew restless As I gazed around, And beheld my brothers Lying on the battle ground. But as I was lonely gazing Came a message on the breeze, And beguiling as an angel Rose the stately queen of peace. And beguiling as an angel Rose the stately queen of peace. Oft I stood and listened To her words serene. Which with gladness filled me On the sad and lonely green. On the green so sad and lonely. When she viewed the deeds of yore, Came a soft and gentle whisper: "Peace on earth f oreverniore. " Yes, a soft and gentle whisper: ''Peace on earth f orevermore. " 154 THE MINSTREL AT SNOQUALMIE FALLS He paused on liis way, he listened and gazed. For Nature was cliiming so j^urely. He wondered what hand had chiseled the walls That towered above him securely. The sunbeams were weaving arches of gold, And music to heaven ascended ; The spirit of God in nature revealed, His echo in cataracts blended. Inspiration burst with tears as he gazed. The grandeur bewildered and stirred him ; The raging and foaming stream as it fell Uplifted his soul and inspired him. 155 AN EVENING ON PUGET SOUND A vocal stretch in sapphire glow, A sunset sea of melted gold, Where dancing ripples softly laugh, And music fills the balmy air. In robes of green th,v banks outstretch, The pine and fir with burning wings Lay shadows on thy gleaming breast. Where loving breezes gently play. Above the clouds the snow-capped guards Have pushed their hoary heads on high To watch the sea-gulls sailing round Upon the billows' streaming locks. The fragrant blooms along the strand Have drooped their heads in calm repose ; The sun has sunk behind the hills, Where silver cloudlets float in wine. 156 THE BUEST OF MORN ON PUGET SOUND Sad darkness creeps away in gloom, The jeweled East begins to loom. Bright streaks like fiery tongues appear, Then blazing beams the earth endear. Low hang the birds on wings in space, The twilight melts around the place. The ripples roll in gilded hue, And pearl-set blooms bewitch the view. A drowsy zephyr shakes the pine. The partridge struts among the vine. Now, mounts the sun the sky serene To kiss the hillocks robed in green. 157 TRIBUTE TO MT. RAINIER How often have I turned with wonder unto thee, Most awful form, the king of kings thou standest firm On green-swathed feet, with head of silver rising high. Enchanted I Ve stood and gazed upon thy rugged breast, Outstretched with verdure, where fierce torrents swifth?- roll With thy huge tears to swell the deep, Avhich carols loud, And lifts a voice of praise unto thee — awful mount. Canst thou, O sprite, which soars around this silent shape, Tell me who set his pillars on the rock of time ? Who rounded his broad shoulders and his head with snow? Who dressed his feet with roses, hemlock, pine and fir? 158 Wliose liand unlocked the streams which tumble down his sides With music which awakes the soul to ecstasy ? O God ! Thy heart in rocks and winding torrents throbs ; In valleys decked with blooms; in cloudland streaked with gold ; And would that I did know thy sacred will and plans. How often in the morning when the sim emerged From out the crimson curtain in the rosy East, I've stood enchanted in Thy gentle breath and gazed, Filled with Thy soul, O God ! my eyes grew dim with tears. As I distracted viewed Thy work of ages long. The sunbeams bore on seraph wings I watched and hailed, As they descended from Thy blazing throne above, 160 Arfti with the smiles of Heaven laid their tender lips Upon Thy less divine creation — land and sea. Uplifted, filled with raptnre as I turn to thee, O hoary mount! the monarch of the drifting clouds. Below thy broad and chilly brow the sea-gulls hang, Or drift on snowy wings around thy fragrant feet. Thy bosom, sloping seaward, teems with streams that roll With music fierce and mad, to mingle with the sea. Precipitous and wild, the gushing torrents leap, And rainbows bend in arches round thy rock- ribbed breast. When heavenward I gaze, mj soul is filled with joy, 161 As I behold the purple strung on bars of gold. O clouds, which sweep above me, gray or flushed with red. Can ye unveil the arm which pushed this form on high? And blazing shafts, the signs of storm and thun- derbolts, Which shoot across the deep blue like Jove's burning car, Can ye tell me the purpose of this hoary shape. With head in heaven, feet sunk deep beneath the sea? Enchanting sunbeams, messengers from climes above. Tell me who robed this stately form with dazzling light? No answer, silence, save the soughing of the pine. O God! to Thee I turn, Thou Mightv God, to Thee. 162 Within Thy bosom wisdom lurks in many moods. Thy mighty hand this awful form through ages shaped And clothed him with the garments of Thy own free soul. Thou crowned hun with a hood of snow and bade him shine ; Thou loosened his huge tears and called the tor- rents forth ; Thou bade the roses and the wildwoods dress his feet, And sunbeams from above to paint his rugged breast. 163 TRIBUTE TO VENUS Silently when shadows blended On the breast of night, Prom thy blazing throne descended Glimpses of delight. Smiling purel}^, Aiid securely Hung thy beams in dazzling j)ride Dowai the heaven deep and wide. In the ev'ning I have seen thee Perched on silver feet, Playing like a seraph round mc^^ Tenderly and sweet. Playing, winking. Softly blinking- Prom thy loft}^ throne on high To thy sisters in the sky. 164 And thy pearl-set bosom wreathing Golden smiles of love To my longing soul is breathing Rai^ture from above. Mute, beguiling, Gently smiling, As thy silver lances leap Down the silent, azure deep. Oft thy glory lifts ni}^ station, Joy that heaven sips. Which is falling to my vision From thy solar lips. Shining purely, Tell me truly What thy constant purpose bo In the blue and silent sea? 165 NOME Breezes flying over mountains down upon the gloomy Nome Take me gently, I beseech you, as you southward seek to roam. Lust for treasure brought me hither from the verdant Puget Sound, Nuggets which my soul have tempted hid within this frozen ground. Mountain ranges sweeping northward to the shining polar sea, Gold-bestudded, proudly boasting, rugged mon- sters sad to me. Fainly would I honor give you as my soul un- biased speaks. Riches doubtless throng your bosom, spreading out with snow-clad peaks. 166 Heaven truly bends above you, sparkling bright with iris hue; Fiercely breathe the rolling billows on the ocean deep and blue. Sunshine often in the summer cheers the lonely, blushing bloom; Fierce and savage broods the winter o'er the landscape wrapped in gloom. Cold and dreary is his palace, pillared firm with beams of ice; Frozen stands the lonely hillock, and the snow around it flies. Often in the star-lit even, when the breezes chilled the lea ; When sweet fancy ushered gladness to my heart near by the sea. 167 Often then stole tliougiit and dut)^ o'er my sonl with many tears, Thinking deeply of the pleasure which I hailed in former years ; Thinking of the present status, eager after gold and fame, Grasping, hoarding, empty jewels in a manner. steeped with shame. Often in a trance of wonder have I watched the eager crowd, Searching in a sort of madness up the rivers swift and loud. Often, often as the sunbeams faded from my view at night. Have I listened to the lawless, lurking round with weapons bright. 168 Driving men with blade and musket from their claims so deaily paid; Stabbing, shooting, bloody murder! as to plans that rovei's made. Honest miner, haunted, tortured, as he little tried to make; He who sought with pick and shovel mountain's stubborn slope to break ; He who left his wife and children in a country far away, Not to look for joy or glory, but their home to save and pay ; He Avho left his sweetheart sighing with a kiss upon her lips ; He who left his weeping mother, gazing at the north-bound ships. These and others have been plundered, pity him who laid the plan ! Pity all so low in spirit as to hurt their fellow men. 169 THE NORTHLAND NIGHTINGALE Bird of royal birth and station, Oft my childhood thou didst charm, With thy thrilling flute so tender On the happy Valdris farm. Many years have passed unheeded, Struggles which have ceased to be. Since I left thy home and country Far away beyond the sea. Still, a fond remembrance fills me. Fresh in love and cherished hope. As I think about thy capers On the pine-clad mountain slope. In the morn when sunbeams scattered Streaks of gold athwart the lea. On the pine or weeping willow Burst thy strains of jubilee. 170 — '-^ ''^ , - te*:^ V^.6 AO^.. _~^>^^ '0-^vW- THE NORTHLAND NIGHTINGALE 171 When the sun in yonder westland Drew his sworcls of silver hue From the lips of drowsy billows, Sweeter still thy music grew. Soft and tender as the brooklet Fell thy voice upon my ear, With a charming touch of Heaven, Pure, beguiling, sweet and clear. Oft the twilight breeze did carol, Shook with melodies my soul ; But its sighing strains soon vanished. When thy music sought control. When thou soared for pleasure northward, Laden with the joy of May, Then the hardy sons of Northland Rose to listen to thy lay. 172 And the maidens, fair and blusliing, At the loom or spinning-wheel, Rushed with sudden flirt and flutter On the lawn with magic will. Filled with jo}^ thou sang delighted, Panting forth a stream of love, Like an angel, strayed, departed, From the sunny clime above. Oft my thoughts to thee are turning, Thinking of the early years, When I listened to thy f luting- Till my eyes grew dim with tears. Would that I again could meet thee On some fragrant mountain slvpe. And with childhood spirit listen To thy song of love and hope. 173 Leagues of sea and land are lying. Stretched between thine home and mine, Still thy notes inspire and fill me, Fill my soul with thoughts divine. Time and distance cannot part us, Chill nor mar our kindred ties ; Spirit which uplifts and guides thee Also in my bosom lies. 174 THE SPYGLASS The pages on record that picture the past, In stillness I view with the sages at rest. 'Tis clear to my mind as I ponder and gaze, That man through his struggles uplifted the race. A stretch of unfoldment in divers degree. Prom Socrates' time to our Huxley I see. The Angles and Saxons and Teutons did rove, Like Vikings from Northland who eagerly strove With rival intentions to wander away To master the earth and the others to sway. The sunshine which brooded in darkness and birth Came smiling through clouds to illumine the earth. 175 Each choosing a clime to its liking and taste, And nations were fonnded and separate placed. The tongne that each spoke was nnw^ritten and crnde ; The codes that existed more stifle than prude. When ages departed to line the dark iomb, Then Ignorance grunted in desolate gloom. When science was rooted, its tendrils increased. As barbarous traits of hiuuanity ceased. The rapture insjDiring brought musical chime. And language was moulded to meter and rhyme. The ships that were sailing the deep-rolling sea Wove nations together b}^ friendly decree. 176 Through sequence of ages the nations entwined, With argosies laden the ocean was lined. The Schoolhouse ax)peared but so little at first, But grew and expanded as Ignorance cursed. The sunshine of knowledge was driven from rest, And darkness unfolded her hideous breast. As yet we are groping — our Heaven unborn — But sunbeams are smiling to kiss the bright morn, When nations shall swing to a union-laid throne, All speak the same language, all couupxel as one ; And knowledge shall blaze through the gorges of hell. That God the Almighty His secrets may tell. 177 ON OPAL SEA Leap 3^e winds on sandaled feet, And sing ye waves your sweetest chimes, On Opal Sea In jolly glee. Laugh ye hemlock, fir and spruce, And play ye breezes with their wings. In freedom's air. And sun so fair. Smile ye flowers in gladness free, I kiss your lips and love you true. Sweet daisies white, So pure and bright. Burst ye rose-buds, fresh and full, And drink the nectar heaven sips. The beams sublime From solar clime. Lift your heads ye stately hills, And scatter smiles where music flows. On Opal Sea, And land so free. 178 KING BACCHUS King Baecliiis witli liis brimming cup At Christmas eve was singing, His soul was free, Ms lips were loud With notes exalted ringing. In jolly mood Inspired he stood, And praised the loving bowl, With music in his soul. He sipped the purple flush with joy, Elated he was smiling At goblins in their jeweled cars. Or ghosts on wings beguiling. Again he sips With ruby lips The nectar in the glass, Then round he lets it pass. 179 And drinking still, lie grows and swells, He hails the cup with pleasure, And boasts of strength and daring feats, His gold and costly treasure. Again he sips With ruby lips The sparkling wine so red. In honor of the dead. He claims the crown, a royal crown, King Bacchus in his glory. But as he stands his scepter falls And leaves a dreadful story Again he sips With ruby lips His loving, farewell bowl. With sorrow in his soul. 180 No trophy crowns his weedy tomb, He courted vice with pleasure, He made the mothers sad at heart, And tears the children's treasure. His way was wrong. His only song- Was sorrow steeped with shame, To cluster round his name. 181 OUE DUTY It is our duty, one and all, To do our best; To live a life whicli time may prove To be a test Of virtue, honesty and truth As ages roll With steady, firm, unchanging speed To higher goal. It is our duty, one and all. To do our part, To lift the fallen, poor and weak, With willing heart; To stand united, work as one, For truth and right; To lead the weary, fettered soul To freedom's light. It is our duty, one and all, To clear the way. To build a bridge to higher planes From day to day; To do our share of honest toil In court and lea; To make the world divine and sweet On land and sea. 182 NELLIE BOHEE Alone on the pier sat Nellie Boliee, At twilight in silent devotion; Heartbroken she gazed with longing to see Her father come sailing the ocean. (Chorus) She waited alone, poor Nellie Bohee, Alone on the pier by the ocean ; And saw far away the wide-spreading sea With ships on its bosom in motion. At last she beheld her ship from the pier, And knelt as she waited in blessing; Then toddled to kiss her father so dear Aboard of the vessel now resting. 183 '^Dear father," she said in accents quite low, ' ' Come go with me home I am waiting ? For mother is ill and anxions to know About your long voyage belating. ' ' ''My Nellie," he sighed, "I cannot today," The captain in anguish repenting; "Go tell to the world my darling I pray, The curse of the wine glass so tempting." 184 FAREWELL TO THE PAST Farewell! each tiying year, farewell! Thy time has ceased to be, Still in thy withered heart I hear The echo of the free. Thy path is robed with many smiles, With tears and sorrow deep, And struggles which my fathers bore Within thy bosom sleep. The kings that wont to rule are mute, Their lips in silence lay. In dust upon their marble chins Within their cells of clay. Around their sacred berths I see Their subjects, strong and frail. Together stretched beneath the sod Where equal rights prevail. 185 No class distinction there is known, They all together sleep ; The rich and poor, the wise and fool. No serf to toil and weep. How often on this weedy turf Their deeds we fail to see. Their onward march with weary steps To freedom's jubilee. Their struggles prompt us, teach, unfold, A lesson true to life; Yes, something good, I truly ween, To mitigate our strife. What should we gather from the past ? A question ever new ; The good, of course, the answer be. The only treasure, too. 186 Leave all the false, impure and b?.d, In darkness buried safe ; ^ Leave every creed and doctrine wrong To perish in the grave. Leave all which leads to woe and fear, With sunshine fill thy soul, And scatter smiles of love and truth, As ages onward roll. 187 THE HEAVENLY TWINS The Heavenly Twins are two noted person- ages, sitting on two shining thrones, each view- ing independently the condition of the earth. They are known as ''The Man in the Moon" and "The Man in the Snn." Their stories are re- spectively as follows, to-wit: THE MAN IN THE MOON As twilight deepened around the wings of night, the man in the moon rode in his blazing chariot up the purple horizon, which melted into a soft blue as he swept onward, leaving streaks of silver and gold behind. His hoary head loomed brilliantly as he cast his big e,yes upon the earth with a stern, reflective look. Rolling through the heavens with a steady motion, his staring eyes grew more intense and penetrating. He flung his flaming lances over the blue vault 188 of the sky ; Ms cheeks flushed and his streaming locks filled the firmament with celestial splen- dor. Growing uneasy, he whipped his vojal steeds into a burning whiteness and dashed through a black cloud like a meteor. As he landed on the opposite side in an open sea of briglit azure, he shone with the luster of Venus, and magically poured a flood of Heavenly advice down the deep blue, proclaiming in a silvery phraseology: ''From time immemorial I have made my regu- lar journeys around the earth in ni}' blazing ve- hicle for the purpose of guiding you during the dark and treacherous night. I have spread my dazzling beams over cities and valleys; I have blazed the track of rich and poor ; I have never quenched the flame of my lamp on any occasion or at any place. Notwithstanding the long 189 stretch of years, I have done just as my Father told me when He sent me into space on His mighty arm of gravitation, namely, to shine at night. ' ' In my revolutions around your globe for mil- lions of years I have had occasion to see many queer and interesting things. Often have. I gazed with joy and glory in my soul at the prog- ress of evolution ; often have I hoped to see the summit of perfection, the union of heart and hand in the mighty realm of divine forces. But, alas ! as my chariot rolled over fields of celestial serenity, it plunged, now and then, into deep and black shadows, where bold conspirators inces- santly worked on gigantic schemes to upset the equilibrium of the whole creation." He paused for a moment, watched the steady motion of his steeds, then turned his staring eyes earthward again, gazing in an attitude of deep meditation. "I have a story to tell you," he re- 190 sumed. deliberate!}^, growing intense and earnest as he proceeded. "Long, long ago, the mighty Creator of all things, my Father, your Father, and everybody's Father, had planned for the ad- vent of man on the earth. He called forth from the bosom of His own soul a certain species of plants, which, with the flow of time, blossomed, changed, unfolded, beautified. From the same source He wrung the fishes and other animals of an infei'ior type, which also evolved into high- er forms. He breathed intelligence into every living tiling, an intelligence which expanded and penetrated into every molecule. ''Man sprang into existence by slow degrees, unfolded and broadened, became the master of brute force and the highest form of living creat- ures. God has been generous with this peculiar composition called man. He has moulded his form in the crucible of beaut}^ and grace; He 191 has batlied his soul in the sunshine of intelli- gence and reason; He has oj^ened the gates of heaven and unlocked the vault of sublimity and rapture for his enjoyment and pleasure. But how has this creature called man appropriated nature 's luxurious gifts ? ''Perdition! my heart aches as I listen to the different nucleus of bald-headed schemers, coun- selling among themselves to violate every law; plan to burst the links of mutual affiliation and to loosen the golden clasp of eternal affinity which unite man and God into one. I have tried to refrain from giving expression to my view, but whereas, I see before me the highest form of nature throw aside the sunbeams of reason and wisdom, and, like apes, sip from the bowl of ig- norance the poisonous juice of superstition, egot- ism and greed, I can no longer remain silent. 192 **Have you not heard the voice of truth whis- per into your ears ? Have you not observed the fact that nature is subjected to laws? Why do you not seek to live in harmony with natural forces? To every action there is an equal re- action. This law penetrates the depth of the universe and operates in the ethical as well as in the physical realm. ' ' A black cloud swei)t over the face of the moon and the old man turned his attention to the com- pass. As he regained a fair view of the earth he renewed his philosophical discourse with in- creased fervor: "I admire," he stated resolute- ly, "the good and noble, the pure and sublime ; I adore the man or woman whose heart flows out for the purification of society and the unfold- ment of mankind. Everyone, young and old, weak and strong, has a mission to perform, a dutv to make life sweeter and better on the earth 193 as well as beyond the grave. You are imbued and surrounded with the breath of God, the laws of nature are working in every tissue of your body, in the sap of the pine, in the soft blushes of the rose, in everything, everywhere. Joy, health and happiness are qualities radiating from the harmonious working of divine forces in nature. The hypocrite, the murderer, the slave of materialism should be pitied. They are ig- norant of their low plane and incapable of ap- preciating the higher and more divine forces, emanating from the unf athomed depth of eternal love and sympathy." His bright eyes swept over the surface of the earth, peeped into the royal palaces and the lower dives of the big cities. He shook his majestic locks and a fresh volley burst from his burning lips. "I hear with a painful sensation," he em- phasized warmly, ''the shouts of ranting trum- 194 peters, advocates of dogmas, boosters of political parties and pipers of savage patriotism. Brush away the false and harbor the true. Examine the operation of nature; study the problem of life, and listen to the voice of God in the tumbling waterfalls, in the dashing waves of the ocean, in the whispering leaves of the laurel, in the tender melodies of the thrush. How do the birds in the forest worship their Creator ? Listen to the soft and sweet flow of music on the treetop as the sun sinks below the golden horizon in the west? Does the nightingale weave together traditional superstition for his faith, or does he drink from the inspiring bowl of God? Watch the gentle smiles of the lily as the sunbeams kiss its blos- som, transfiguring it into a blushing crown of silver and gold. Observe the joy and harmony everywhere ; study how delicately everything is attuned to natural laws; unbosom your souls; 195 read the book of nature. God revealed in the Holy Writ is also singing and smiling in the beauty of nature. The aj^pearance of Jesus Christ was a revelation of God's wonderful plan. Cease to quarrel about moss-bearded creeds; unite your energy for the discovery of truth and wisdom embodied in the handi- work of God, the forces of universal intel- ligence. Unlock the current of loA^e, and scatter far and wide the enchanted tendrils of fellow- ship. ''As I listen to your prattle on protection and patriotism my heart throbs with anger. I appre- ciate your sacred reverence for home; I glory in the love you manifest for your country ; but I abhor your disregard and littleness directed against your fellow brothers across the boundary line. Watch the birds, notice how happily thej^ mingle in all the climes of the globe. Their lan- 196 giiage is one, their music a harmonious flow of love and universal sympathy. How does your mingling compare with the winged angels of the air?" The old man shook his hoary head into a streaming halo of snow, as he speeded hurriedly towards the zenith, renewing his dissertation with increasing force. "My heart burns," he exclaimed irascibly, "when I meditate upon God's own offspring. I have seen the bud of reason and the bloom of philosophic instinct up- rooted and heaved into the grave by the cold hand of prejudice; I have seen the nightmare of superstition spreading her dark wings upon the pearl-set blooms of truth and love ; I have seen the dogmatic advocate with his shining blade stabbing the hoary expounder of philosophy and wisdom. ' ' How dearly I loved old Socrates ! How often 197 I have shed dazzling beams to illumine the streets of Athens, when the brave sage stood barefooted in the midst of a dense multitude unfolding the maxim of moral conduct and the philosophy of life ! But, ah ! how did the self-styled potentates, wielding the scepter of government, receive his ringing messages of wisdom and truth. Their prejudice was enkindled, their ignorance intensi- fied; superstition became their plausible ex- cuse ; the hemlock was prepared, and the daunt- less interpreter of the laws of nature drank the cup of death and fell into an untimely grave. '^ Socrates is not the onl}^ one who sleeps in the dust a martyr of thought and freedom. Nay, a long train of brilliant stars bends over the horizon of your civilization. Blood and tears are flowing down the gorges of human greed, selfishness and vice. How can a man of thought and heart remain silent through untold ages? 198 Constantly a panorama of crime has spread out before my eyes. I have seen kings and mon- arclis crawl under the veil of religion to slaugh- ter their fellow brothers; I have seen innocent men and women, faithful to justice, true to their honest conviction, burned at the stake under the guise of God's will; I have seen bald-headed age with one foot in church and the other in the grave at midnight's silent hour, scheming, working, to gain possession of the whole earth; I have seen homes ruined and children thrown on the arms of mercy by heartless fossils, who figure as moral lights and counselors of the people; I have seen the lawmaker join hands with the pulpit orator in sanctioning the establishment of houses of ill- fame; I have seen the young girl, the bloom of the household, torn from the bosom of a loving mother and heaved into the den of prostitution ; I have seen the young man, the pride of the fire- 199 side, dragged into the gilded hall of infam,v; I have seen the future pillars of every nation — young girls and boys — led to ruin by the gviudy peacocks of society with the full consent of hoary monsters, entrusted with the scepter of control." It was now after midnight, and the old man hurriedly drove his brilliant steeds down the heavens. He cast his burning eyes once more upon the earth and proclaimed in a firm accen- tuation: ''Before I bid you farewell, permit me to promulgate my views. My declaration comes from the heart, hence I speak without hesita- tion. Listen ! You are depressing and repelling the spirit of your Creator and violating the laws of your own being. You are burning the es- sence of your own happiness by cultivating the weeds of prejudice ; you are driving sunshine out of your own bosoms by fostering superstitious creeds ; you are trimming the wings of your own 200 prosperit}^ by retaliation. Banish your vanity for the amalgamation and upbuilding of the hu- man race. God has drawn no line of distinction. You are all the offspring of the same stem. Ex- tricate the impediment of the different tongues, which has a tendenc}^ to alienate and freeze the current of sympathy. Language is an instru- mentality by which you convey your thoughts and should be universal. Uproot the tendrils of selfishness and greed and extend the hand of brotherhood to the weak and helpless. Read the book of nature, as well as the bible, seek the shades of the pine for the presence of God, and listen to the voices of angels in the tinkling brook. Heaven is everj^where. God is within — the ego of the soul." As the old man had delivered his proclama- tion, he rolled down the horizon in his silver ve- hicle and disappeared. 201 THE MAN IN THE SUN The flowers in the meadows were studded with diamonds; the trees in the forest were tingling with the music of singing birds. The heaven above spread out in a deep blue ; here and there w^ere shades of purple. Streaks of silver were shooting up from the horizon, then a halo, with morning greetings, rose beyond the hills. The ocean was breathing softly, on its bosom lay a quivering flush of gold. The man in the sun ascended in his burning vehicle. He cast his beaming eyes over hills and valleys and cheered the earth with his smiles. A'fter meditating for a while he burst into a blazing and earnest discourse, saying, "I think you like my appearance, but only a small num- ber at the present time will appreciate my teach- ing. My eyes are far-reaching and I can see a long distance ahead. The future is to me an open book. I can see the mistakes that God's 202 cliildren have made, but I have not come to criti- cise. I suppose you know that I have tried to cheer your hearts in the past, and I shall also be glad to do so in the future. As I am. willing to let my beams fall on good and bad, on rich and poor, I hope yon will consider my advice and teaching. They will help you to cut short many angry turns in your onward walk. It is through experience and instruction that the human race is evolving. You have now reached the stage in evolution wdiere instruction plaj^s an important part. I can see the golden peak in the distance and will blaze the way with my beams, if you will follow me. Remember, however, that you have to leave many things behind to enable you to climb the rugged hillsides; you will have to leave your bad habits, your x)rejudice and small- ness ; your foolish creeds and dogmas. Remem- ber this: You will have to be so broad, liberal. 203 flexible and loving tliat you can extend a wel- come hand to friend and foe alike. God is every- where. Seek to understand the laws that govern the universe and you will know God's methods of operation. You will have to abandon old notions for the good of all, which I know you will do, as you are growing broader and better from year to year." He gazed toward the zenith with flaming eyes. He grew more and more philosophic as he rolled in his chariot across the heaven, flinging his lov- ing smiles earthward. He articulated instinct- ively: "The people on earth have just com- menced to open their eyes. The}^ are growing broader, and their future is bright. They will soon see what God intended them to do. Before entering, however, the deep sea of full under- standing, they will have to pass through many hard struggles. The Orient and the Occident 204 wil> clash, owing to race feeling, to territorial possessions, political and connnercial relations. The struggle will be fierce, but the outcome good. There are three great things that God will bring about on this earth, namely, a universal lan- guage, a universal government and universal peace. ''A universal language is the prime requisite. The great obstacle to a universal government and universal peace is the estrangement of the people, caused principally by the bewilderment of the many languages in use. It is necessary to have a univeisal language to establish uni- versal fellowship. National hatred must be wiped out. A universal language will help to do it. "Listen! with the onward march of progress, I want you to recognize the fact, regardless of 205 birthplace, that all of you are the offspring of the same imi)artial God, subjected to the same natural laws, therefore, unite in fellowship and friendship." His brilliant eyes beamed with sympathy as he rolled steadily westward through a deep blue sky. Streaks of gold and silver gathered around his burning car. He gazed earthward and be- held the earthly conditions. In firm and earnest accents he uttered: ''Be- fore I bid you goodbye I want to impress on your minds clearly and vividly these words: 'Always remember that God's will is the guiding power.' " These were his last words. 206 AT POULSBO BAY The ocean waves are softly ringing, The wildwoods pant with sweetness rare, With tender voice the birds are singing, And mnsic trembles throngh the air. Inspired with glee. Which fills the lea At Poulsbo bay. The soul of happiness is smiling, When morning bursts on pearl-set wing ; And hillocks laugh with joy beguiling. While plumage songsters sweetly sing Their freedom's air In sunshine fair At Poulsbo bay. And jingle, tingle, chiming, singing, The wavelets roll with jubilee ; The echoes ring, and chiming, ringing, And breezes waft around in glee, Afar and near The heart to cheer At Poulsbo bay. 207 IN GOD WE DWELL Ring out ye harps with love and truth, On Earth, in Sea and Heaven blue ; And God uncurtain to our grasp. The God impartial, firm and true. Is Hell a den of many looks. And Heaven, too, a part of all? O mighty Soul! unfold and smile. With God divine we stand or fall. O death! a change from night to morn. Which leads to sweeter, purer life, As on we pass to higher planes By each succeeding hope and strife. Yes, God in man and man in God Through life or death on either shore. On either shore in arms divine, We dwell forever, evermore. 208 THE BALTIC SCRIBE By the Baltic rolling sea, On the Finnish shore, Lived an old, sagacious scribe, In the days of yore. Silver locks were streaming Like a halo gleaming- Down his furrowed face. Marked with grief and grace. With a bright and mellow glow, Firm in spirit true. Burned his gentle, beaming eyes. Deep in color blue. In his throbbing bosom lay Thoughts of right and wrong, Tyranny w^hich fiercely reigned Moved his pen along. For his little journal Words of truth eternal 209 He inspiring wrote In a metric note, Which with freedom sparkle, burn, Burning evermore, In the hearts of young and old. On the Baltic shore. Across the land, o'er hills and fragrant lea. His stanzas flew with hope of liberty. The sons of Finland, patriotic, brave, The ringing message soon expression gave. Their love grew warmer, more intense and keen Till freedom blossomed in their hearts serene. Alas! their hope, imbued with sacred jo}^. The Bear now sought with saber to destroy ; For he had planned his country to extend And blood and death to him sweet pleasure lend. m With bowed head the scribe with pen in liand Was driven from his home and nativ-e land. His little shop, his leaden types and press, With which he songht injustice to redress, Were to the flames with rousing jubilee Unquestioned heaved to mock his liberty. With fettered hands an easy prey he fell To waste away within a dungeon cell. No more to see his wife and children dear, His native land, his friends afar and near. Shackles on his hands and feet, Like a criminal. Sat the old sagacious scribe In a dungeon cell. Time and fury keeping, Wife and children weeping 211 On the Finnish soil, Where they wont to toil. Homeless, helj)less and forlorn, Victims forced, to yield To the soldiers' brntal rage On the bloody field. Brokenhearted, helpless, lost, Prayers rose in vain, Mercy failed to calm the rage, To besoothe the pain. Brutes in soldiers'- glory, Heaven knows the story, Seized the victims, young and old. All unheeded fell. While the scribe with shackles bound Reveled in his cell. 212 TRIBUTE TO LEIF ERIKSON Deep in tliought he gazed around, Ocean waves were rolling, Breezes fanned his cherished hope, Set his fancy strolling. Like a sailor scenting storm, Filled with daring notion, Stood the Viking, Leif the Bra v^e, Bj the rock-bound ocean. Land beyond the salt,y sea, Flowery plains and wildwood, Spread a picture to his view. In his early childhood. Mischief brooding on the deep. Clouds in mad commotion Tilled his soul with bold exploits On the stormy ocean. 213 With a crew of fearless men, Wont to ocean faring, Gallantly he westward sailed With undaunted daring*. 'to- At the helm he firmly stood, "Onward," he proclaiming; Temi)ests sweeping o'er the sea Set his eyes aflaming. In the distance he beheld Hillocks clad with wildwood, Streamlets leaping through the \^ales, Like in dreams of childhood. "Vinland," he proclaimed with joy, Land that he was seeking, On the shore across the sea, Leif, the Northland Viking. 214 TRIBUTE TO JENNY LIND Oft Avo hailed the joy and gladness At the golden dawn serene, When the nightingale was singing In the forest fresh and green. Natnre then with raptnre tvemhled, Music flowed divine along To besoothe our restless feeling By the magic thrill of song. Song that cheered us, Moved and filled us. Filled us with a joy serene, Sweet and tender on the green. As oin* thoughts enchanted wander. Like the listless ocean crests. Then a longing keen and tender Steals into our throbbing breasts. Friends departed gently prompt us, Those who cheered the toiling throng. 215 Those who strewed our path with roses, Filled our souls with joy and song. Song that cheered us, Moved and filled us. Made our life serene and sweet. When our hearts despondent beat. Oft our e3^es grow soft and dew}". When the past returns to view. When the pure and good inspire us With a greeting kind and true. With a greeting of remembrance, Teeming with the joy of yore. Like the mellow notes of Jenny, Jenny Lind forevermore. Song that cheered us. Moved and filled us. With her soul divine and free. With her joy and jubilee. Sweet as thrushes' magic fluting On the treetops in the lea. Or the nightingale's deep clarion, Trilled her voice with jubilee ; 216 Rich in music as the brooklet, Warbling through the meadow greeii, Fell her silver notes so tender From her lips with joy serene. Song that cheered us, Moved and filled us. Filled our hearts to overflow In the daj^s of long ago. Melodies which sweetly trembled From her lips with jubilee Were not all which graced her being, Made her known from sea to sea. In her bosom Virtue caroled, Love and truth did ever glide With her mellow strains of gladness Like the fragrant-breathing tide. Song that cheered us. Moved and filled us. As she onward smiling bore, Svea's darling evermore. 217 SPRING NYMPH She comes in March on fragrant wing, On fragrant wing, The magic nymph with joy of spring, Witli joy of spring. She lays her lips on snow-clad peaks, On snow-clad peaks. And streamlets roll adown their cheeks, Adown their cheeks. She northward drives the chilly breeze. The chilly breeze. With tonches warm o'er land and seas, O 'er land and seas. She paints the lea afar and near, Afar and near. In color green, enchanting, clear. Enchanting, clear. 218 The meadows to lier calling bloom, Her calling bloom, And skies above with fragrance loom, With fragrance loom. She makes the saj) run up the trees, Run up the trees, The sun to wake the honey-bees, The honey-bees. She makes the birds on treetops green. On treetops green. To shake with song divine, serene. Divine, serene. Outdoors she calls the maidens fair. The maidens fair. The young and old her joy to share, Her joy to share. 219 Her witcheiy the glebe beguiles, The glebe beguiles, And sprouting corn abroadcast lies, Abroadcast lies. She makes the groves of fir and pine, Of fir and pine, To burst in bloom like eglantine, Like eglantine. When sunshine bids the sunnner sway. The summer sway, She blesses all and flits away, And flits away. 220 IN THE COUNTRY Take me, take me to the old, old home, In the country, Where the deer and elk so fondly roam. In the country. Where the full-blown rose Avith fragrance bends, And the mellow horn enchantment lends, In the country. In the country. Let me sit where rivers swiftly roll, In the country. With bewitching voice to cheer my soul, In the country. Let me sip the joy that thrushes spill On the morning twilight fresh and still. In the country. In the country. 221 'Twas there on the homestead far aAvay, In the country, That I heard the harp of nature play, In the country, 'Twas there by the sea in days of youth That the voice of love my soul did soothe, In the country. In the country. 222 AROUND THE OLD HEARTH Tlfe willows have stiffened, their l^ranches are leafless, Aucl lonely they stand on the l^ank of the river. The monarch of winter is wielding his scepter, With hands that are shivering, cold as the north- pole. The brooklets are weaving their borders of silver, And icicles hang like the swords of the Romans. December appears and the heaven is sprinkled With spangles of lead ; from its bosom is falling, So graceful the snowflakes, and sail down the deep blue. The pine and the hemlock are draped with a mantle Of white as they stand on the hillside in silence. Beholding the splendor adorning the landscape. When Yuletide approaches, the steeds and the urchins 223 Are heard on the highway with bells that are ringing Clear as the brooklet that warbles in springtime. The hearth now is blazing with comfort that pleases And maidens are chatting around it delighted With swains of their liking who came from a distance To woo and to win them as sweethearts in wed- lock. And smiling serenely the basket of apples The housewife is bringing to sweeten their pleas- ure. All, little they care for the wind which is raging, The fury which falls from his lips as lie whistles. Exalted in hope at the hearth they are chatting, So cheerful and happy the swains with their sweethearts. 224 HUNTING MAMMA Little Jennie Lee was lonely, Lonely playing on the lawn, So she went to look for mainina At the setting of the sun. Mamnia who had left her darling Many, many years before. With a smile as she departed For the happy, golden shore. Gazing round she wept in silence, Toddled weeping to the sea, Which outspreads below the homestead By the fragrant, verdant lea. Standing weary on the seashore, Gazing, gazing, far and near. Where she heard a gentle whisper, ''O my Jennie, darling dear." 225 'Twas her mamma 's voice so tender, Wafting, wafting, to her ear. 'Twas her voice which gently whispered, "O my Jennie, darling dear." Little Jennie Lee responded Brokenhearted by the sea: "Mamma, mamma, I am lonelj^; Mamma, come and play with me?" To her lips, with gladness trembling. Came a sweet and tender kiss. 'Twas her mamma's gentle presence Bringing love and Heaven's bliss. "Darling Jennie, don't yon worry," Said her mannna, sweet and clear, "I am with yon late and early. Watching you, my darling dear." 226 Little Jennie smiled delighted, Whispered low in childish tone, ''Mamma, come for I mnst hnny, Papa is at home alone. ' ' "Darling dear," her mamma answered, ' ' Tell yonr papa, kind and true, Tell him, dear, that I am watching, Tending, watching, all of you." Smiling still she stood and listened, Gazing at the waning day, "Mamma dear," again she whispered, "Come and go with me I pray?" "Darling, don't yon fret," she answered, "I am with you evermore. Tell your papa that I love him, Love him truly as before." 227 So, again she kissed her darling, In a happy, sweet adieu, Then in accents soft she told her, "Jennie, dear, be good and true. Tell your papa that I love him, Love him truly as before. Tell him we shall meet in Heaven, There to mingle evermore. ' ' 228 TIME On thy broad wings I sail, O aggravating time ! As ages onward speed To higher, nobler clime. How oft thy cheeks I hugged, When tears were flowing fast. But chilly smiles thou gave To heal my wounded breast. With thee I toss, O time ! On wings of cunning charms. Through gulfs unknown for aye, In nature's mighty arms. 229 SPRING HILL I know a place where roses bloom, Not far away, I knoAV a place where fountains flow In sunshine gay. Majestic, grand. Spring Hill outspreads Where ripples roll Across the bosom of the deep To cheer the soul. 'Twas there the wildwoods laid their shades Upon the shore, When Amunds came to build his home In days of jove. 'Twas there he swung with brawny arms — O pioneer! The axe which made the hillocks ring With music clear. He banished by his sturdy stroke The forest gloom; 230 He made the rugged grove and lea To burst in bloom. And like a hero, brave and true, He passed away. And on his tomb a fragrant wreath His friends did lay. Spring Hill with blossoms fresh and green Adores his name, And fountains babbling sweet with song His deeds j)roclaim. So, sleep in peace — O pioneer ! Beyond the sea, A fond remembrance fills our souls With thoughts of thee. 231 o • » * A .'^ .. o_ * '^^/-Tr;-* .«,^' c^ * .< 'bV" '^0^ ^ • ' ^ ^^ '^ * » •"> a9 ^^ "^ ^^ &V. •-*^,<.* .'^\ •%/ :'^^, %/ 0^ <3. -^^0^ 1 * . « • -f* .\ ' ^^ ' • • « .\J C?^ o , » • «% * - ° " " - <^ «V . u ' - •^^ a\ '•^'^^ flA j.\ >-J. ' • • s .\i O^ o , t " ^/V JON ??? ,-. '% ^OUN^ r..-'^'. %