Miscellaneous Writings Part 79

The h.o.a.ry head with joy to crown; In short, the right to work and pray, "To point to heaven and lead the way."

The Mother's Evening Prayer

O gentle presence, peace and joy and power; O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour, Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight!

Keep Thou my child on upward wing to-night.

Love is our refuge; only with mine eye [10]

Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall: His habitation high is here, and nigh, His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.

O make me glad for every scalding tear, For hope deferred, ingrat.i.tude, disdain! [15]

Wait, and love more for every hate, and fear No ill,-since G.o.d is good, and loss is gain.

Beneath the shadow of His mighty wing; In that sweet secret of the narrow way, Seeking and finding, with the angels sing: [20]

"Lo, I am with you alway,"-watch and pray.

No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain; No night drops down upon the troubled breast, When heaven's aftersmile earth's tear-drops gain, And mother finds her home and heavenly rest. [25]

[Page 390.]

June

Whence are thy wooings, gentle June?

Thou hast a Naiad's charm; Thy breezes scent the rose's breath; Old Time gives thee her palm. [5]

The lark's shrill song doth wake the dawn; The eve-bird's forest flute Gives back some maiden melody, Too pure for aught so mute.

The fairy-peopled world of flowers, [10]

Enraptured by thy spell, Looks love unto the laughing hours, Through woodland, grove, and dell; And soft thy footstep falls upon The verdant gra.s.s it weaves; [15]

To melting murmurs ye have stirred The timid, trembling leaves.

When suns.h.i.+ne beautifies the shower, As smiles through teardrops seen, Ask of its June, the long-hushed heart, [20]

What hath the record been?

And thou wilt find that harmonies, In which the Soul hath part, Ne'er perish young, like things of earth, In records of the heart. [25]

[Page 391.]

Wish And Item

Written to the Editor of the _Item_, Lynn, Ma.s.s.

I hope the heart that's hungry For things above the floor, Will find within its portals [5]

An item rich in store;

That melancholy mortals Will count their mercies o'er, And learn that Truth and wisdom Have many items more; [10]

That when a wrong is done us, It stirs no thought of strife; And Love becomes the substance, As item, of our life;

That every ragged urchin, [15]

With bare feet soiled or sore, Share G.o.d's most tender mercies,- Find items at our door.

Then if we've done to others Some good ne'er told before, [20]

When angels shall repeat it, 'T will be an item more.

[Page 392.]

The Oak On The Mountain's Summit

Oh, mountain monarch, at whose feet I stand,- Clouds to adorn thy brow, skies clasp thy hand,- Nature divine, in harmony profound, With peaceful presence hath begirt thee round. [5]

And thou, majestic oak, from yon high place Guard'st thou the earth, asleep in night's embrace,- And from thy lofty summit, pouring down Thy sheltering shade, her noonday glories crown?

Whate'er thy mission, mountain sentinel, [10]

To my lone heart thou art a power and spell; A lesson grave, of life, that teacheth me To love the Hebrew figure of a tree.

Faithful and patient be my life as thine; As strong to wrestle with the storms of time; [15]

As deeply rooted in a soil of love; As grandly rising to the heavens above.

Isle Of Wight

Written on receiving a painting of the Isle

Isle of beauty, thou art singing [20]

To my sense a sweet refrain; To my busy mem'ry bringing Scenes that I would see again.