By the Sea and Other Verses Part 4

Out of the blindness and the night Into clear and constant light.

Out of the weariness and pain Into everlasting gain.

Out of the toil and durance hard Into rest and rich reward.

Out of the doubting and distress Into certain blessedness.

Out of the dusty lanes of care Into pastures green and fair.

Out of the glaring desert sun To shades where cooling waters run.

Out of the din of woe and wrong Into choral waves of song

Out of the dwelling, worn and old, Into the city of pearl and gold.

Where now, O Death, where is thy sting?

Thou art the summons to the King.

O Grave, where is thy victory?

Thou art the gateway to the free!

TO A. H. B.

A "COMMENCEMENT" GREETING

With Portraits of Eminent Authors

Dear Hallam, with this trifling gift Best wishes now I send thee; Through all thy future life may joy And grace and peace attend thee.

May this the bright beginning be Of days love-crowned and royal; May griefs and faults and foes be few, Friends manifold and loyal.

May gems from authors such as these Store well thy mental coffer, But for thy heart's enrichment please Accept the love I offer.

1882

TO WINNIE

ON HER WEDDING DAY

Stars will s.h.i.+ne on, tho thou art gone, But we shall miss the gleaming Of one bright eye's responsive smile, And love-light softly beaming.

And flowers will bloom,--but we shall miss A fragrance and a beauty That brightened for us here and there The sombre path of duty.

And friends will greet us on our way, But we shall miss the sweetness Of a fair presence that hath made So much of life's completeness.

And yet 'tis well; we give thee joy, And pray with this caressing; That love and peace without alloy May be thy bridal blessing.

A LIFE WORK

IN MEMORY OF DANIEL HILL

He heard the cry of man enslaved In bonds and servile toil; And gave his voice for freedom till The "Freedman" tilled "free-soil."

He saw his weaker brother reel, Pierced by Drink's poisoned dart, And wrought and wrote with fervent zeal To stay the Tempter's art.

He heard the clash of sword and gun In deadly battle-strife; And pleaded till his day was done For Love's sweet rule in life.

He rests in peace. Who now shall wear The mantle he let fall?

Who teach as he the Father-love, The brotherhood of all?

VISIONS

I saw when Israel toiled and groaned beneath the Pharoah's rod, And in his hopeless bondage moaned his helpless prayer to G.o.d.

I saw when from the river's brink the infant leader rose, Who, reared in Egypt's royal court, still felt his brothers' woes.

I heard him at the burning bush his swift excuses bring: "Who, who am I, that I should stand before the Egyptian king?

"And who am I that I should lead the people of thy choice?

My warning word they will not heed, nor hearken to my voice.

"And who am I that I should move a monarch to relent?

I, but a man, and slow of speech, nor wise, nor eloquent."

I marked the answer: "Plead no more thy vain excuse to me; I am the Lord; my servant thou; my glory thou shalt see.

"I am the Lord; the power is mine; 'tis thine to hear and do; The Lord almighty is to save, by many or by few."

The man of doubt exchanged his fears for faith in G.o.d and right, While meek obedience on his brow sat like a crown of light.

The slow of speech grew eloquent, till Israel gladly heard; And bolder waxed the Leader, till the king's hard heart was stirred,

And he in fierce displeasure drove the captives from his land; Not knowing their deliverance was all divinely planned.