Poems

The following has been written in reply to the lines which appeared in the "News," entitled, "Weakness and Perversity. " God, the Eternal Mind, far-reaching, unconfined, Whose love no thought can comprehend, or goodness has divined; He who pervades all space, in whom all life exists, To whom all powers, all heights, all depths, are less than summer mists; He hath created us, in image like His own— As from the lofty forest tree a thistle ne'er has grown, So from the Mind of God nothing unlike Him springs, For like yields like; God has made us, then are we worthless things? Are we by nature weak, when He is mighty, strong? Must we, while knowing well the right, in weakness do the wrong? Is mind indeed so base?—its source is pure and high; Must we to brutal instincts fall and every virtue die? If this indeed were true, then were our birthright fled, His likeness would be torn away, and all that's vital, dead; Then sin could conquer us, but victors now are we, Knowing that all things shall be ours through Him that made us—free! Why did you do the wrong, desiring much the right? Because yon understood not God, thought darkness to be light, Deemed sin a mightier power than was Omnipotence, Yourself a frail, uncertain thing, helpless, without defence! The flesh indeed is weak, but 'tis not flesh that lives, It is not flesh that to the soul thought and emotion gives, 'Tis Spirit, boundless, strong, that gives us life and breath; The flesh may crumble and decay, but Spirit has no death! Then act, act with thy might! scorn failure and despair, Remembering he who conquers all, a crown of life shall wear! No sacrifice is vain that in His Name is done; Then forward press with steadfast hope until thy goal is won! And all thy future days one mighty song shall be, A song wrought by a Master-hand in matchless harmony! Swelling in sweet refrain, soaring beyond confine, Until thy life is lost in His,—Eternal and Divine! BY ONE "CONCERNED.

The following lines are chiefly interrogatory, and cordially invite answer in rhyme on the subject they broach, from any "whom it may concern. " What is it that leads us so astray? We know the right, but do the wrong: Shunning the "strait and narrow way," In devious paths behold earth's throng! We are not deaf, nor are we blind: We know how fatal is the way; But something base in mortal mind Makes virtuous purpose easy prey.

No gain is lost; the clear-eyed saints look down Untroubled on the wreck of schemes and creeds; Love yet remains, its rosary of good deeds Counting in task-field and o'erpeopled town. Truth has charmed life; the Inward Word survives, And, day by day, its revelation brings; Faith, hope, and charity, whatsoever things Which cannot be shaken, stand.

The Shepherdess calls the sheep! Where have they gone astray, The long and cloudy day? Around the big earth-ball, Thrills the clear, gentle call,— The Shepherdess seeking the sheep. The lambs are cold and numb, The wolves have wasted the fold, (In sheep-skin as of old) And not since Galilee, From blue Tiberian sea, Has such a summons come! Oh, tender as the wind of May That woos the buds to bloom, And stirs their dear perfume; As strong as Sun's demand That clouds forsake the land, She calls them, night and day!

Brave Christian soldiers, gallantly marching. Joyfully singing all the bright way, Gird on your armor, follow your Leader, Jesus commands you and you must obey.

The full seven days are completed, And the dawn of a new day appears, When Mary and Magdalene, coining, Are seeking the Light thro' their tears. With the oil of Heaven's inspiration, And the perfume— the richness of Love, They have come in the hush of the morning, Their devout consecration to prove.

We have boiled the hydrant water, We have sterilized the milk; We have strained the prowling microbe Through the finest kind of silk. We have bought and we have borrowed Every patent health device, And at last the doctor tells us That we've got to boil the ice.

If the Lord your habitation, And your dwelling has been made, Nothing evil shall befall you, Neither can you be afraid. Angels shall be round about you.

Thou little Book! what depths divine Of Life, and Truth, and Love, Mark all thy pages, fill each line, And lift the thought above Earth's sordid things, its emptiness. Its tumult, sin and strife, Its pain and woe—deceitfulness, To the real things of Life.

It is the morning of the Sabbath-day, The light is breaking through with golden ray, I must awake, the glorious Truth to see, For God and Love are coming near to me. I must press through the crushing throng of thought, And hear the Word by Revelation brought, Reach out and touch its holy garment, white, Knowing I shall again receive my sight.