Chapter 18

A lowly hope, a height that is but low, While Time sets solemnly, While the tide rises of Eternity, Silent and neither swift nor slow.

ONE SEA-SIDE GRAVE.

Unmindful of the roses, Unmindful of the thorn, A reaper tired reposes Among his gathered corn: So might I, till the morn!

Cold as the cold Decembers, Past as the days that set, While only one remembers And all the rest forget,-- But one remembers yet.

BROTHER BRUIN.

A dancing Bear grotesque and funny Earned for his master heaps of money, Gruff yet good-natured, fond of honey, And cheerful if the day was sunny. Past hedge and ditch, past pond and wood He tramped, and on some common stood; There, cottage children circling gaily, He in their midmost footed daily. Pandean pipes and drum and muzzle Were quite enough his brain to puzzle: But like a philosophic bear He let alone extraneous care And danced contented anywhere.

Still, year on year, and wear and tear, Age even the gruffest, bluffest bear. A day came when he scarce could prance, And when his master looked askance On dancing Bear who would not dance.

To looks succeeded blows; hard blows Battered his ears and poor old nose. From bluff and gruff he waxed curmudgeon; He danced indeed, but danced in dudgeon, Capered in fury fast and faster. Ah, could he once but hug his master And perish in one joint disaster! But deafness, blindness, weakness growing, Not fury's self could keep him going. One dark day when the snow was snowing His cup was brimmed to overflowing: He tottered, toppled on one side, Growled once, and shook his head, and died. The master kicked and struck in vain, The weary drudge had distanced pain And never now would wince again. The master growled; he might have howled Or coaxed,--that slave's last growl was growled. So gnawed by rancor and chagrin One thing remained: he sold the skin.

What next the man did is not worth Your notice or my setting forth, But hearken what befell at last. His idle working days gone past, And not one friend and not one penny Stored up (if ever he had any Friends; but his coppers had been many), All doors stood shut against him but The workhouse door, which cannot shut. There he droned on,--a grim old sinner, Toothless, and grumbling for his dinner, Unpitied quite, uncared for much (The rate-payers not favoring such), Hungry and gaunt, with time to spare; Perhaps the hungry, gaunt old Bear Danced back, a haunting memory. Indeed, I hope so, for you see If once the hard old heart relented, The hard old man may have repented.

"A HELPMEET FOR HIM."

Woman was made for man's delight,-- Charm, O woman! Be not afraid! His shadow by day, his moon by night, Woman was made.

Her strength with weakness is overlaid; Meek compliances veil her might; Him she stays, by whom she is stayed.

World-wide champion of truth and right, Hope in gloom, and in danger aid, Tender and faithful, ruddy and white, Woman was made.

A SONG OF FLIGHT.

While we slumber and sleep, The sun leaps up from the deep,-- Daylight born at the leap,-- Rapid, dominant, free, Athirst to bathe in the uttermost sea.

While we linger at play-- If the year would stand at May!-- Winds are up and away, Over land, over sea, To their goal, wherever their goal may be.

It is time to arise, To race for the promised prize; The sun flies, the wind flies, We are strong, we are free, And home lies beyond the stars and the sea.

A WINTRY SONNET.

A robin said: The Spring will never come, And I shall never care to build again. A Rosebush said: These frosts are wearisome, My sap will never stir for sun or rain. The half Moon said: These nights are fogged and slow, I neither care to wax nor care to wane. The Ocean said: I thirst from long ago, Because earth's rivers cannot fill the main. When springtime came, red Robin built a nest, And trilled a lover's song in sheer delight. Gray hoarfrost vanished, and the Rose with might Clothed her in leaves and buds of crimson core. The dim Moon brightened. Ocean sunned his crest, Dimpled his blue,--yet thirsted evermore.

RESURGAM.

From depth to height, from height to loftier height, The climber sets his foot and sets his face, Tracks lingering sunbeams to their halting-place, And counts the last pulsations of the light. Strenuous thro' day and unsurprised by night He runs a race with Time, and wins the race, Emptied and stripped of all save only Grace, Will, Love,--a threefold panoply of might. Darkness descends for light he toiled to seek; He stumbles on the darkened mountain-head, Left breathless in the unbreathable thin air, Made freeman of the living and the dead,-- He wots not he has topped the topmost peak, But the returning sun will find him there.

TO-DAY'S BURDEN.

"Arise, depart, for this is not your rest." Oh, burden of all burdens,--still to arise And still depart, nor rest in any wise! Rolling, still rolling thus to east from west, Earth journeys on her immemorial quest, Whom a moon chases in no different guise. Thus stars pursue their courses, and thus flies The sun, and thus all creatures manifest Unrest, the common heritage, the ban Flung broadcast on all humankind,--on all Who live; for living, all are bound to die. That which is old, we know that it is man. These have no rest who sit and dream and sigh, Nor have those rest who wrestle and who fall.

"THERE IS A BUDDING MORROW IN MIDNIGHT."

Wintry boughs against a wintry sky; Yet the sky is partly blue And the clouds are partly bright. Who can tell but sap is mounting high Out of sight, Ready to burst through?

Winter is the mother-nurse of Spring, Lovely for her daughter's sake. Not unlovely for her own; For a future buds in everything Grown or blown Or about to break.

EXULTATE DEO.

Many a flower hath perfume for its dower, And many a bird a song, And harmless lambs milkwhite beside their dams Frolic along,-- Perfume and song and whiteness offering praise In humble, peaceful ways.

Man's high degree hath will and memory, Affection and desire; By loftier ways he mounts of prayer and praise, Fire unto fire, Deep unto deep responsive, height to height, Until he walk in white.

A HOPE CAROL.

A night was near, a day was near; Between a day and night I heard sweet voices calling clear, Calling me: I heard a whirr of wing on wing, But could not see the sight; I long to see my birds that sing,-- I long to see.

Below the stars, beyond the moon, Between the night and day, I heard a rising falling tune Calling me: I long to see the pipes and strings Whereon such minstrels play; I long to see each face that sings,-- I long to see.

To-day or may be not to-day, To-night or not to-night; All voices that command or pray, Calling me, Shall kindle in my soul such fire, And in my eyes such light, That I shall see that heart's desire I long to see.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS.

1.

Whoso hears a chiming for Christmas at the nighest, Hears a sound like Angels chanting in their glee, Hears a sound like palm-boughs waving in the highest, Hears a sound like ripple of a crystal sea.

Sweeter than a prayer-bell for a saint in dying, Sweeter than a death-bell for a saint at rest, Music struck in Heaven with earth's faint replying, "Life is good, and death is good, for Christ is Best."

2.

A holy, heavenly chime Rings fulness in of time, And on His Mother's breast Our Lord God ever-Blest Is laid a Babe at rest.

Stoop, Spirits unused to stoop, Swoop, Angels, flying swoop, Adoring as you gaze, Uplifting hymns of praise,-- "Grace to the Full of Grace!"

The cave is cold and strait To hold the angelic state. More strait it is, more cold, To foster and infold Its Maker one hour old.

Thrilled through with awestruck love, Meek Angels poised above, To see their God look down. "What, is there never a Crown For Him in swaddled gown?

"How comes He soft and weak With such a tender cheek, With such a soft, small hand?-- The very Hand which spann'd Heaven when its girth was plann'd.

"How comes He with a voice Which is but baby-noise?-- That Voice which spake with might: 'Let there be light!' and light Sprang out before our sight.

"What need hath He of flesh Made flawless now afresh? What need of human heart?-- Heart that must bleed and smart, Choosing the better part.

"But see: His gracious smile Dismisses us a while To serve Him in His kin. Haste we, make haste, begin To fetch His brethren in."

Like stars they flash and shoot, The Shepherds they salute. "Glory to God" they sing; "Good news of peace we bring, For Christ is born a King."

3.

Lo! newborn Jesus, Soft and weak and small, Wrapped in baby's bands By His Mother's hands, Lord God of all.

Lord God of Mary, Whom His Lips caress While He rocks to rest On her milky breast In helplessness.

Lord God of shepherds Flocking through the cold, Flocking through the dark To the only Ark, The only Fold.

Lord God of all things, Be they near or far, Be they high or low; Lord of storm and snow, Angel and star.

Lord God of all men,-- My Lord and my God! Thou who lovest me, Keep me close to Thee By staff and rod.

Lo! newborn Jesus, Loving great and small, Love's free Sacrifice, Opening Arms and Eyes To one and all.

A CANDLEMAS DIALOGUE.

"Love brought Me down; and cannot love make thee Carol for joy to Me? Hear cheerful robin carol from his tree, Who owes not half to Me I won for thee."

"Yea, Lord, I hear his carol's wordless voice; And well may he rejoice Who hath not heard of death's discordant noise. So might I too rejoice With such a voice."

"True, thou hast compassed death; but hast not thou The tree of life's own bough? Am I not Life and Resurrection now? My Cross balm-bearing bough For such as thou?"

"Ah me, Thy Cross!--but that seems far away; Thy Cradle-song to-day I too would raise, and worship Thee and pray: Not empty, Lord, to-day Send me away."

"If thou wilt not go empty, spend thy store; And I will give thee more, Yea, make thee ten times richer than before. Give more and give yet more Out of thy store."

"Because Thou givest me Thyself, I will Thy blessed word fulfil, Give with both hands, and hoard by giving still; Thy pleasure to fulfil, And work Thy Will."

MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER MARY.

A SONG FOR ALL MARIES.

Our Master lies asleep and is at rest; His Heart has ceased to bleed, His Eye to weep. The sun ashamed has dropt down in the west; Our Master lies asleep.

Now we are they who weep, and trembling keep Vigil, with wrung heart in a sighing breast, While slow time creeps, and slow the shadows creep.

Renew Thy youth, as eagle from the nest; O Master, who hast sown, arise to reap: No cock-crow yet, no flush on eastern crest; Our Master lies asleep.

PATIENCE OF HOPE.

The flowers that bloom in sun and shade And glitter in the dew, The flowers must fade. The birds that build their nest and sing When lovely spring is new, Must soon take wing.

The sun that rises in his strength To wake and warm the world, Must set at length. The sea that overflows the shore With billows frothed and curled, Must ebb once more.

All come and go, all wax and wane, O Lord, save only Thou Who dost remain The Same to all eternity. All things which fail us now We trust to Thee.

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Transcriber's Note:

Some apparent printers' errors in the original have been retained here, including "fufilling" and "aguish." There are also many inconsistently hyphenated words that sometimes occur without a hyphen.