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AUTUMN LEAVES
FROM MAPLES IDE
3
BY SULL IVAN HOLMAN McCOLLESTER
GATHERED UPON H IS EIGHTIETH
BIRTHDAY , DECEMBER 181 1 !
1909 AND AFTER
Au'tuou or Amu-Tnouom or Bonner LAND. AND C nru x. Crmu .
Bu ms AND m naTumour: Au t umn Erna,Roma) Tu: Gm: xx u mw Pam,
Mn xoo, 0mu ma.
"
PR INTED FO R PR IVATE CIRCULATION
l 909
MARLBORO
NEW HAMPSH IRE
DED ICATED TO FRIENDS AND STUDENTS
WORTHY TO BE REMEMBERED
AND LOVED
CONTENTS .
THAN! S you ran BLE SSIN GS Founscomr. YEARSNEEDED HELPTRUE FRIENDSHIPNEW YEAR’S DAY
EA STE R
OUR EDA
DANDEL IONEARLY SPRING!UNE
A SUNDAY RumWITH CARRIEOURamrOCTOBE R
OUR FAY BOY
ASCENT OF LI TTLE FEETMonu mocxANGEL I C AmSUNSET or LmnA HAPPY DAY
NEVER So LIGHTeonn
THE SOUL-LAND
AUTUMN LEAVES
FROM MAPLESIDE
THAN! S FOR THE BLESSINGS
OF FOURSCORE YEARS .
I .
A ll thanks to God for the old home,Composed of hilland dale,
Of dayand night, large houseand burn,Amidst shadesand blooms paleWith flowers bright, meadowsand woods,Fair risingand setting
Oi sun, moonand all lustral orbs,And outlook far reaching.
Stillmorefor parents, fondand !ust,Sistersand brothers true,
Ancestors, wiseand full of hope,Afiording !oys, not few.
Howcou ld he fail to giveheart-thanksFor suchachildhood home !
Itwas quite full of hopeand life,And duties, not irksome.
Hethanks Thee,O God
,Thou hastmade
Loveto abound IEnriching heart with trustand !oy,
5
And laughter’s sound,That in theloneliest bywaysSweet bliss be found.
Hethanksand worships Thee, Most High !For flowers in summerAnd pearls of dew ; in winter, snow,
That facesmayglimmerWith lifeand !oy,and hopeand song,Thus givingwings to time,
That daysand years flyvery fastOnward to life’s full prime .
Yes, thanks for school-dayl longagoWhen, clad in his red frock,
Hesat up straight on hard, front board,Hearing no tick of clock.
When nearly through the hard three R’s
Herose to theback seat ;Soon left thecommon for high schoolAnd found it a great treat.To school he went years out of town ;When fitted for collegeTo Norwichand Cambridge hewentFor cultureand knowledge ;
At graduation he resolvedTo teach for vocation,
To help the young to understandReal growthand fruition .
Always behad striven for true culture ;As he had studied books, menand nature,Helongedand strove earnestly for wisdom,
To dwell near Godand work in His kingdom.
When other youths wou ld seek the woodsbrook,
From choice in qu ietness would take a book,To learn of menand things,all goodand true,To bu ild up character with facts, not few ;So his spare hours ran not to waste nor sport,To livealtogether in passion’s fort.
As onward headvanced in truth,Thoughamply blest,
Hecou ld ne’er find a stepping placeOf perfect rest
,
Nor did he pray to,till he had gained
The highest crest.
At length he joined the ministryTo his first high calling,
That he might lead seoureonFrom ways xhostappalling,
To help young minds to seeand knowThe godly given them
,
Reflected plain from roseand star,As shown in Bethlehem .
All thanks for his own pleasant home.Theprize of heartsmade one,Blessing it with Ada, Carrie,Leeand Fay fromheav’n won ;
Each came in sweetness full of lifeBut suddenlyall leftSave one, breaking theheart with grid ,
80 tryingly bereft.
0,thanks for son still left on earth,To grow to full manhoodWith heartand mind well disciplined,To work for highest good .
Very successful has hebeenIn preaching theGospel,And leading many soul s to Christ,And on God’s love to dwell.
II .
’Tis not the physicalaloneThatmakes precious kinship,
If heartand soularenot in it,False is relationship ;Then selfishness will mount thehorseAnd rideon for mere pelf ;
But let kinship come from the heart,For others ’twill give self.
Sinoe great light has fallen on earthFrom higher lifeand shore,To prove the risenarealive,To diene’eranymore,The heart cannot too thankful beFor su ch news fromabove !
Therealm of God isall crowdedWith his goodnessand love.
It is not crushing nowto bearHard pain fromsudden blow,For sure theRock has been smitten,Whence waters of life dow;If heart sorrows for dear ones gone,If for them it does long,It feels that God has led them on,
And he can do no wrong .
The Comforter has surely comeThrough himwho is theway;
Hesets the gate of deathajarTo show thecloudless day,To help theeye of faith to seeThe glory of heaven
And throngs of friends gone on before,Toadvancein Eden .
A mind to knowand love,
For these sacred, holy longings,Which our high heirship proveFor livesaiding oneanotherUnder the smile, or rod ;For Amaranth securedaloft,Hethanks Thee, 0 ,
his God !
He’d learned the mystery of growth du ly,Not to misjudge mortal changes, decay,
But know, we only hold treasures truly,When first, it seems, they surearegone
aye.
II I .
Heofiers thanks for his su ccessWhile teaching district schoolIn goodly Richmondand Walpole,With pupils true to rule :
At maturity many filledWith honor good places
At home,abroad in public ways,Displaying rare graces.
Hewas Principal full two yearsOfWalpole graded school ;
O i Mount Cwsar SeminaryFor nearly fiveyears’ rule ;
10
Oi Westbrook Seminary, Maine,For nine years very sure ;Whose faithful students wereanx iousTheir powers to inure.
Through strong, urgent calls he became,Without seeking it true,The Regent of Buchtel College,Whenallwas freshand new ;For six years hewas President ;Then byagued illnessFrom this high oflicehe resigned,To win back healthfulness .
To makeanew collegealiveIs no easyafiair ;
But founder, facultyandallDid work with special care,Tomake the college notable
,
Where students could enterAnd graduatewith high honor,And patrons could center.
All thanks to Thee,Most Holy One !
That this work didadvance,That college soon did winanameFor thriftand vigilance,For orderand scholarship high,And strict moral culture ;
11
To put in place of wornout themes .
Devout ethic nurture.
So students free in mindand heartCould worship the Most High ;
Yet charged in classicsand science,Exactness toapply,According to ruleand logic ;Thus they were trained to thinkAnd led to seek highattainment,And of Christ-waters drink.
IV .
So leaving collegewith regretBecause of failing health, he wentAhmad to landsasamoret,For fairestand rarest things, sent.
Hefelt the highest vocationIs teaching mind to thinkand seekFor true knowledge without pretense
,
Yet making it polishedandmeek.
For pleasures real on landand sea;For knowledge fromafar ;For visits oft to schooland churchTo bless heartand notmar :
12
Thesoul lives not on things of sense,But on eternal food .
He’s traveled many thousandmiles ;Has been wrecked twiceat sea;Still in his wand ’rings hereand there,From harm he has been free.
0 God, thanks to Thee for safety !Most kind thou hast e’er beenThrough dayand night, stormand sunshine,That knowledge he might win .
V .
Hefeels now we need n’t goabroadFor thedelectable ;For right here in our own blest landAre things most valuableAdmire the scenes of Italy,Or high Swiss mountsand lakes ;Sure these do n’t surpass in grandeurOur loftiest estates .
Huge rocks do rise sublimely highIn Yosemite Dale !
Niagaraand White Mountains,And Wondrous Mammoth Vale,
14
Have no equals in foreign landsOurs stand superband best,Whether studied separately,Or viewedwithall the rest.
Our national institutions,Our schoolsand churches free,
Produce better results thanallAcross the wide, deep sea.
Electrics, telegraphsand ’phones,
Originated here :All thanks be unto thee, O God,For legacies so dear !
Here many jewelsareunfoundIn our own native land,Which diligencewill discoverIn quarry
,shelland sand,
To hang round the neck of fancy,
As clearest gems to shineIn darknessand bitterest grief,To furnish light divine .
Our sunsets,0 yes
,how splendid !
And shooting Northern lights !The clouds
,howbrilliant with colors
That deck loftiest heights !The soft twilight, how it lingers
15
That mindmaybe induced to knowThe worth of high being.
What progress is in store formind set free,
From earthly drawbacksandallowed to seeThe work, begun here, perfectedaboveAndall eternity made helpful love !
Let him,0 Father
,prize highly this life
,
Andwil ling be, to bear its toiland strife,Thatall the better fitted hemaybeTo liveandworkand growand dear friends
VI .
The seen we just begin to know,
However long we live ;It cannot otherwise be trueThan that ourGod will giveOpportunity for learning,As higher up we pass ;The things which here we cou ld not grasp,There we ’
11knowall,alas
Thus meditating, his own landSeems the dearest ofall ;His native state, his natal town ,
And birthplace claim first call
16
Thehome where he has longest lived,Holds first choice on his part ;
So Mapleside, his domicile,Is dearest to his heart.
His great grandsire first purchased it ;His parents long owned it ;
Hechanced here,and here heabides,To tilland to plant itWith fruit trees
,maplesand chestnuts,
And cedarsand roses ;Here glows thesun, earlyand late ;In peace the day closes.
Contentment hehas here enjoyedWith high-minded consort
,
Much loved childrenand truest friends,
Makingasweet resort.His library of books is here ;Each one, he knows, commendsHigh thinkingand devout living
,
That life beallamends.
In his studyaway from noiseHehas held communionWith Moses, David, Pauland !ohn,Shakespeareand Washington,Franklin, Emersonand Homer,With throngs of followers,
17
To proveeqoerience, theteacher,Andall men his scholars .
Hefinds it pleasant to recallHow he induced brothersToaimaloft, seeking knowledgeIn high school with others
,
Whose parents felt this could not be;Still to his school they went ;In learning great progress they madeWith strong minds rightly bent.
This pleased parentsand gained consentFor them to college go ;
They worked theirway, graduatingWith class honors, not low ;Then forawhile studiedand taughtWith eminent success ;As debts were paid, one his mind-foreeTo healing didaddress .
The other in his seeking stroveTo master chemistry,Being proficient in scienceAnd laWs of his country ;Bothalready in their lineareAdoptsand widely known ;The chemist isauthorityFrom his science-seed sown.
18
Which diligence ’l l delight to find,And diamonds in the ground
,
Which cul ture will seek for till found,For thesearebeautiful ;When seen by oneof thoughtand taste,Theyaretruly helpful .
VII .
Already science has unfurledIts colors, doing thingsIn earthand far ex tended sky
,
To clip electric wings ;Thus these bright bubbles on therimOi eternity glow,To show that mind in thesaint-landCan great truths come to know.
To keep young, one must thinkand doTo helpand bless truly,That goodness shallend in ripenessAnd wrong shall die surely.
Soaided he does with his mightThe duty closeat hand,Conscious theAll-Wise ’ll compensateAll doing his command .
The prayer on his birthday isThat Deitymayhold
1 )
A ll souls, youngand old , in hisarms,Bearing themto his fold,That theymay e’er live, loveand grow,Rapidlyadvancing,
Giving dev out thanks to the LordThat life is unending.
VIII
Sermons three thousand has he preachedFuneralsattended
Numbering su re fifteen hundredWith weddings oft blendedA thousand lectures he ’s givenOu cu ltureand travelsIn his countryand Great BritainUpon hilland levels.
Through these changes hair has silvered,
The crowfoot marked the face,To show the house inwhich helives
,
Is falling in its place.
These transits do notafiect him;Hefeels youngasafore.
So should it be, let flesh grow old,And mind grow young in lore.
Oldageof youth is forty years,Declares Victor Hngo ;
21
Yet eighty years seem young to him,As onward he does go,The spring time only of soul-life ;It is his chiefest noy
To know, he ’s done little formen,While Christ died for their joy .
Descending now thesunset slopeThoughtful ly he would plan,
Toadmire the works of nature,To serveGodand helpman.
As earth’s dramashall seemto closeHelongs to hear the call,Up higher, comeaway from earth,To thank God for itall .!
IX .
The littlechild he knows reliesOnanarmnot his own,Conscious he is not strong nor wise ;Heshuns the dark,alone ;
But let kind parents beat hand,Tenderly toabide,And heat once is shorn of fear,For true love is his guide.
Thus letman in his God confide,Whatever then befall,
On him surely he can rely,Heedingalways his call ;Then
,though hemay seem to stumble,
God will not let himfall,But keep him humbleand thankful,To love him most ofall .
Heart-thanks to Thee, O God, for having madeLove toabound
In earth belowand inall realmsabove,To bringaround
The ul timate rescue of every soul,A work profound l
So neither life, nor death, nor change below,Nor changeabove,
Can ever separate us, while we live,From his great love,
X.
Eye hath not seen nor tongue hathNorear hath heard it sung,How joyous
,if body be old,
Theheart can e’er be young !Thanks, 0 God, to Thee,when oldHas strong muscle unstrung,Thatmind, the most exalted gift,Can keepadvanced years young .
28
Then letwhatever will betideTo hinder or oppose,If only he press on in life,Heavenwill be its close.What though theroad be very rough,It can ’
t be very long :He’11 smooth it with hopeand good cheerAnd most celestial song.
To stand still isalways hurtful ;We shou ld beactive now,That when the close of life shall come,There ’ll be sweat on thebrow ;The Master then will be smilingAt setting of the sun,
And ’11 say, ! Goodand faithful servant,
I paythee withwell done.!
Thus many of our precious onesHave passed to the bright shore ;
So itwas with ChristandapostlesAndall, wise in true lore .
Mayhe have like ex perienceAs he ’11 cross the riverTo friends, so many, triedand lovedTo beatrue liver.
There meetingall whom he has knownAnd honored in earth-land ;
24
How glad thiswillmakemindand soulTo be ’midst that vast band,To liveandact forevermoreIn serving Highestwill!
This ’11 make heaven so sweetaboonAs sainted minds to thrill .
So longas helpful hecan beTo nearand distant friends,
0 God, let himremain on earth,To tell how thy love sendsAll things divine to human souls,But when the body numbs,Then speedily let himdepartWhither no evil comes ;
To live,love, learn, workand grow there,
The mortal laidaside,That he no longer be hinderedIn doingwhat ’
11abide ;Where life consists in knowing GodAnd him whom he hath sent.Then for such favorsmayhis thanksForevermore be spent !
XI .
All we can take through the gatesajarIs justwhat weare;
95
N 0 gold, no pearls, no great wealth will remainThe pure soul to stain.
Yet, over the dark !ordan we can goWithoutany foe,
By clasping theFather’s hand, heeding his voiceFrom our own free choice.
Thus our dark,earthly, silent, starless night
Will be changed to light,
As radiant faces welcomeas there,Freed from sinand care .
After harvest of sowing eighty years,
Here is sweet rest in spiteof workand tears,As memory stores up shocks of straywheat,To feedand cheer the heart in glad retreat,Making ready for smooth passageahead,To be nearer God than ever beforeIn thought, feeling, doing, loving far moreThan possible,as mortal, heretofore.
26
NEBBED HELP.
Revealed, it is toasalways,As time on wings rushesalong,That God’s tenderand fond embraceIs holding us lovingly strong.
’T is notalone ’mid joyand smiles,Our heartsand minds grow wiseand true,The larger growth is in the shadeWhere painand sorrow have their due.
Tears often prove glasses to souls ;Sweet lovemay come by sore despair,
Enriching life by lasting gain,To fix affections on things fair.
Ex perience proves moreand more,As we journey on each new day,That light from the good Father’s faceIs shining full upon ourway.
So’midstall life’s bright tintsand shades,We can hold fast the Father’s hand,
And beassured through nightand day,That hewill guide to the Home Land.
27
TRUE FRIENDSHIP
Iswhat ’Tis virtue,
’tis truth,
’tisgoodness,
Religionand wisdom joined with meekness ;’Tis the bow of hope
,the sunbeam of love
,
A gemand pearl from pure heavenabove ;’Tis the beauty of beauties,angel’s dove,To condu ct our hearts to InfiniteLove
,
To growas to highest capacity,Dwelling on earth or in eternity.
NEW YEAR’S DAY.
Last New Year’s daywas fairas MayThe skywas blue with deepest ray;O’er hillsand in thevaleswas snow,Makingasplendid crystal glow .
Theboysand girls wereallastirWith sledsand skates, wearing no fur ;Theairwas filled with cheerful song,Causing the dayto speedalong.
The birds of winteras of yore,Did their best to flyafore ;The pufiychickadeeand !aySeemed bound tomakeagaladay.
Young men called on young ladies fair,To wish them joyand bliss most rare :
28
The oldand worn remained indoors,
To eon their joysand do their chores .Some sorrowedat the empty chair
,
The unread bookand look of hair ;The year had changed joysand gladnessTo hours of tearsand lone sadness.Sinoe God doesalways for the best ;This truth divine imparts soul-rest ;’T is passing out of lone drear nightIntoadayof brightest light.As we study inspirationWe learn of the soul’s duration,How ’
twas born to live foreverAnd do with highest endeavor.So death turns gross darkness to lightThus putting ofi weakness for might ;The past with joy we now recallAnd hope on with no fearatall .To this end we climb New Year’s wal lWith joyand hope, dread ing no fall,Enjoying scenes
,futureand past,
To build up character to last.Thiswas my New Year’s rosaryWith strangely varied glossary
,
Inwoven with snowand dowers,
To end time in Eden Bowers .
29
EASTER.
Glad Easter ’s hereagain !Accompanied with beauty of spring ;Its bells farand wideareclear ringing ;To hearts the sweetest joys ’tis bringing
Withoutanyrefrain .
Now hope lights up theway;In woodsand vales flowersarespringing ;In copseand orchards birdsaresinging ;And brooks
,purlingand free,arepouring
Out music nightand day.
Nowsorrow finds relief,Since Easter proclaims, Christ is risenThetomb, no longeradark prison,But window of light in profusion,
To fill sou ls with belief.
The stone is rolledaway ;Sad hearts need no longer to sorrow,For lifeand comfort it can borrow,To sootheand bless, todayand morrow,
The soul, yes,and foraye.
We should welcome Easter,
As the key to manyamansionWhere dwell lost friends through blestascension .
Whose names we loveand often mention,Perfecting character.
30
OUR EDA .
Shewasadarling, bright,With eyesall light ;Her cheeks were rosy red
,
With beauty fed .
Her hairwas dazan silk,Without least bilk ;Her featuresallured sureThehearts,all pure .
Awake, shewasastir,Yetall loved her ;Inact helpful she ’d beAsall cou ld see .Precocious, keen in mindThe new to find
,
A leader,with her mates,
As caused by fates .
And she feltall to bless,And none depress ;Her soulwas full of cheer,Causing no fear.
Nioethings shedid enjoy,Yet ever ooy;Her voicewas sweetand strong,So felt the throng :
81
As she would sing to themOi Bethlehem,
Giving joy to the placeWith happy grace.
Shewas the light of home,Being ne’er unwelcomeWe ’d dreamed dreams of herWithoutablur.
Yet brief were her summers,
Though healthwas hers,BeforeamessengerCame down eager
,
And translated Eda,Our blest Eda,From our home to heaven,Our hearts riven .
But he who gave thechildSo fairand mild,Did lift the veiland showedHow his works glowed 1
And how she lives to knowAnd upward go,With cherished ones forayeWithall to say
82
They seem to be celestial oft,And moved by will of mind.
The dandelions thu sareexalted,Imparting lessons high
,
To help souls be wiseand saintedAnd feel
,God is near by.
EARLY SPRING.
Once more fresh spring has come,To makeall new,Toarch thevalesand hillsWith deepest blue ;
The sparrows have their willsAnd robins
,too.
Warm rainsand sunshine fallIn turnand mass,
To grow things greatand small,Thebudand grass,To cover fieldand wall,To be first-class.Leafage soon robes thewoods
,
To beall fannedBybreeze from shoreand sea,Mountainand land,Forapanacea,Everat hand .
84
Thearbutus now smilesIn the lone dell ;
Thebluets star the fieldsWithoutaknell ;
Cold winter to spring yieldsWith joyous spell.
Now earth is full of lifeWithall so new ;For spring brings forth summerWith crystal dewAnd would haveall glimmerFor rarest view .
Who does n’t like early springWith its high calls,Up higher in the lightWhere nothing palls,
Butall live where ’t is bright
And naught enthralls
!UNE.
O !une! delightsome month of !unelWhenall on earthappear in tune !You put on finish sure to spring,Asall her bells do widely ring ;You usher in the glad summer
,
While voices breathe notamurmur ;You give the world the longest dayAnd bring it forth with lustrous rayAnd paint its close with choicest huesAnd spray its fieldswith sparkling dews.The vireo now sweetly sings
,
As on the limb shecalmly swings.O !me! the month of bluest skies !And numberless gaybutterflies !All things belowdeclareyou best !So carols lark when near her nest.The sweetest scent from every roseDelights usas the wind oft blows ;Red clover smiles being in bloom
,
And timothy waves high its plume ;The bee,as light reflects themom,
Goes forth to fill with sweets her horn ;At night even the starsaboveAppear to drop new rays of love.Thus nature sings toall in tune,No othermonth can equal !une!
86
The mounts of Eden glow her sheen,
To furnish thoughtsand joys serene .
0,come, securely pleasant !une!
And pitchall souls in perfect tune !To sing great praise to you in nameBecause ofall the months, thedameSomayal l hearts be oneat noon,Atmomand night, to honor !unel
A SUNDAY RIDE WITH CARRIE.
The morn was fairand very bright ;A voice bid usaway ;
SeCarrieand myself made haste,To ride that sacred day.
Our coursewas down through the valleyBy river wideand grand ;
Of which great poets have sweetly sungAndart painted the land .
Itwas the early summer time ;Allwasalive with praise ;The cloverwas in bloomand birdsDid songs of gladnpss raise .
The ride with its insbiring views,So filledas with the good
87
That onarrivalat thechurchWewere in holy mood .
Over thehillswas our return ;Most charmingwas theway!When height of land was gained
,we there
Desired to stopand stay.
Butas this would n’t do, on we droveAnd soon reached Spofiord Lake,
The most beautiful water gemInall theGranite State.
Its surfacewas like polished glass,Reflectingalong shoreGrand trees, neat cottagesandmenSeeking for easeand lore .
As Carrie observed,feltand thought,
Shewas filled with delight ;As weapproachedawoodsy spot,We stopped, 0 , whatasight !
Mayflowers starredall the rich groundDismounting
,soon the hands
Were loaded full of sweet blossomsWhich were tied fast with bands.
Soon nosegays were made for motherOi blooms most pinky white
38
S uddenly shelooked up tomeWith eyes dashing sharp light ;
Ex claiming, Papa,aren’t you glad,
You haveagood daughterTo rideand go to church with youYes,! came forth instanter !
Shehad been bright sunbeams of lightAll through the rideand day!Now verily ’midst flowers rare,Shewasalovely Fay!
In heaven shewas needed sure,
For less thanafortnight,
A messengerat twilight cameAnd bore her from our sight.
Through faith now only to be seen,
Thrilledwith glad joys on high,
Amidst perennial dowers,Too beautiful to die!
OUR PINERY.
I planted out thetrees with careAfter they were dug upas rare,In woods nearandacross the sea,To beautify the lawnand lea.Therewas delight in setting themOut
,as voices sang gladanthemBecause, when they shou ld grow in size,Itwas felt they wou ld beaprize,To break the wind from Mapleside,That far 03 it might safely glide .Thenas thebreeze should stir the leavesThe sweetest music from the treesWould cheer the heartand calm the mind
,
Tending tomake life pureand kind.
We were engaged in this good schemeFor others, to render supremeIn giving joyand real comfort
,
As they shou ld make it their resort,
In winter cold, to break the blast ;In summer hot, to coolair fast.But Providence keeps osaliveTo see his forcesactand strive
,
To grow sprouts to large, shady trees,Makingahome for birdsand beesAll through the long days of the year ;As frostsarriveand leaves fall sear
40
No wonder the Greeks supplied woodsWith sylphs
,nymphs, elfsand strange goods
For trees were temples for their godsUnder which priests girded with ephodsWorshippedand worshipped oftand long,Serving gods in prayersand song.
Our P inery one God reveals,Who
,as Father, every soul seals.
OCTOBER.
The year is made splendidBycharms of October !The sun spreads gold on mountain top ;The stars by night ne’er makeastop,And harvest givesabundant crop,That none besober.
For while this month gilds leavesFor nature’s fair ccvsr,It paints tall treeand lowly herb
,
And renders hilland vale superb,
And puts the ugly under curb,
To glint October.
Russet checked, ruby crowned,Hies in bright October !Woodbineand ivies twine his crest,
42
While leaves of splendor robe his breast,And his feet inaster tufts restAmid red clover.
A king ofall themonthsIs golden October !
Heru les in glory on the hillsAnd sways his sceptre by cool rills,Andmagnificent works he buildsAll the earth over.
It is no useless thingTo admire October !To live in his fair blue weather,To roam fields with friends together,As freeas birds ofafeather,Clasped firmtogether.
Dear friend now struggle onTill earthly toil’s over ;
You rise by help of by-gone years ;As !ordan, its darkness gone, nearsWith peerless diademappearsYour own October.
FAY BOY .
A darling childwas be,As ever there could be;
Hewas delightsome round my study chair ;His body
,headand heart,
Seemed just right from the startSo we felt, he ’11 long bewith us, so fair.
But sickness came to him;His eye soon became dim
,
And suddenly our Faywas borne fromsightFilling our hearts with griefAnd no conscious relief
,
For sorrowand darkness shut outall light.
Still we could n’t think himdead,As his form lay in bed,Though his eyes were closedand his cold hands still,Yet thechild so belovedCou ld only be removedTo higher conditions by Divine Will.
Such feeling dried the tearsAnd somehow quelled the fears
,
That we might know, It is well with the child,That God hath taken himTo dwell with seraphim,
That henceforth he might shun thewrongand wild .
44
So in daily prayerTo God our tried hearts dareSubmit to his willand sad Providence
,
Feeling his waysarejustAnd so in himwe ’d trust
,
Our FayBoy is living, in innocence.
Yes,he lives ; tell us where !
Near us everywhere ;Not in the raiment hewaswont to wear
,
That hath returned to dust,As sureal l bodies must
,
However,the beautiful child isn’t there .
It is spirit that lives ;To this theFather gives
Eternal life that sorrowwemaybear,And dwellat his right handIn midst of kindred band,And so in heaven meet our FayBoy there .
ASCENT OF LITTLE FEET.
Whatwas the music soundHeard I oft,Very soft
,
As IwanderedaroundWas it rainOn thepane,
Then falling on the groundWhich I heard
,
Notabsurd
Nay, something far more fleet,Hereand there
,
On thestairSounds came of little feet,
Not of gloomTo my room,
As theymyear did greet,Dear Carrie,Eda, fairy!
Smiling with'
fair facesOn the floorThrough the door,
Yetwith pleasing gracesDid their feet
,
Most complete,
46
Echo joy from their prances,As they ranWithout plan.
So their wee feet did fall,Fast clatter,Soft patter,
Through houseand throughTill one dayThey fell prey
In body to death’s call,And their feett oed sweet,
As they passed up to God .
MONADNOC! .
Southward turn, 0 Time, in thy flight!That Imay enjoy clearest sight,As Iwas wont to in boyhood,When nature promised only good,To feed
,replenishand blessmind
With landscapes finest of their kind !Not far southward beyond the daleThere he mostly stood with no veil.
Young hearts wou ld surely thrilland leap,
As the sun o’er his head wou ld creep !47
Setting summitandallaglow,With silver fired
,making great show,
As the sun rose towards high noon,To prove himselfaprecious boonBysetting hillsand vales on fire,To furnish heartsall they desire.
Then Old Monadnockwas monarch !His headabove soaring of lark ;Delighting to enticeclouds near,That they might kiss with no fear,Yieldingat once to his commandAndwil lingly clasp his great hand,Crowning beautifully his browForcingall below himto bow .
It is delightful to be bornWhere hills
,plains, dalesand woodsadorn
Landscapes for beauty, unsurpassed,Producing impressions that last
,
To turn thoughts from earth-scenesabove,Toadmire God’s vastnessand love,Showingwhence come the greatand small,To call forth deepest thanks forall .
Whenasmall boy I cou ld butask,Whence
,how is Monadnock so vast!
Feeling,he must be very old
,
Being greyand worn withageand mould .
48
Hesawwhite maneome hereand takeThelandas his,asad mistake.
O ld Monadnock,honor to Thee
For what thou hast beenand wilt be IThy fame ex tends over the earth ;Thy name is dear in gloomand mirth ;Ever thou dost proudly beholdThousands of homes, ne’er to be sold ;Whose inmates do enjoy real life,Relieved of fearandanx ious strife .
Throngs have climbed to thy pinnacle,Regarding it no miracle,To see the settlementsand lakes,Afiording views best, nature makes.As I looked from Lebanon Mount,Alpines
,Rockies
,these could not count
Against thy fair prospectsand reignO’er landscapes, beautifuland plain .
Thou ’st been help, cheerand strength to
In rounding the whole world to seePeoples, sightsand institutions,Mindful of thy ex hibitionsThou gavest joy in youthfu l days,As I would look with earnest gazeAtmomto see thee in gold-blaze,Orat sunsetaglow with praise .
50
Thyheadat my home stil l in sight,Thou givest sure greatest delight !Thouart trueweather predictor
,
And sometimes wild storm di ctator !Pleasure I feel toacknowledgeThee monarch of thyrealm,
and pledgeTheeadmirationand true love
,
Till God doth callasallabove .
ANGELIC AID.
Do we feeland know thatHand in hand we rangeWithangelsall thewayThrough this world of change
Far sweeter voices cal l usUpward than we think,As heavenward we go,Escaping each brink .
We know something guides us,That is out of sight,And leads us lovinglyInto paths of right ;Itsarmsand handsaren’t feltByour mortal grasp ;Soul to sou lalways clingsWith tendcrest clasp.
51
This seraph leadership,Felt every day,Should ever be prized moreThan language can say.
The higher onlyaidsThe lowerand leadsIt onand up to God,Doing worthy deeds.
SUNSET OF LIFE.
The river is calmest, meeting the tide ;The flowersaresweetestat eventide ;The birds sing happiestat close of day;Man seems noblest when just passing
'
away.
Morning is wideawake,ev ’ning has charmsThat sootheand quiet with most cordial balms ;And wearyman must like her sure thebest,For morning says hardwork, but evening, rest.
Night comes so gentlyand so softly bearsPeacefulnessas bushing with seraphsairs,To speedand strengthen men in their raceTo banish weariness from every face.
Howal l becomes hushedand stillas night throwsRound earthand sky her calmnessand repose !
52
To broodand nourishahelpful power,Which cannot be secured from morning hour.
While day lastsman must labor onand prayLet whatever come to passas itmay:Thus it is in timeandall through this life ;There can’t be restamidst physical strife .
A HAPPY DAY.
Would you know how this is made !Confidein God ;
Heknows theway, he is staid,Full of method .
So trustand go on hisway,As he leadeth
,
And you will haveas fairaday,As you hopeth ;Him only trust, that isall ;Then the daywill surely beHappy whatever befall,Serenely joyousand free .
Yes,duly trust, loveand ask
God’s leadership,And he will give theeno task,Rather friendship
,
58
To speed thee right onward stillDoing his will,And thus thy cup of !oyfill,Doing his will ;
Hewho formed theeto do good,Will not fail to reach his end,For he is e’er understood,His succor ready to lend .
Let us put in his keepingEvery care,Yes
,rightaway ere sleeping,
And we shall fareIn life’s severe battle well,Pressing onward,Anx ious of his love to tell
,
Helping upward .
0,how plain isal l theway!Fitted up by theA ll-Good,Toatruly Happy Day,When souls feed onangel-food .
NEVER SO LIGHT BEFORE.
Sunlight is one of the best giftsTo mortals while on earth ;It ope’s thebud, the sou l uplifts ;It rarely causes death.
Apply the prism to onewhite ray.
And 10 ! it unfolds sevenEx quisitehues through theassay,And will mind enliven .
All light is full of great surprise ;Thebirds so singat dawn,
Thestars declare itas they rise,
And so thesports of fawn .
It is theforce that wakes up life ;Gross darkness, oh ! how still !
But light sure fills the daywith strife,Yetall’s fu ll of good will.
The last words of Goethe spokenWere these
,! Give me more light.!
Hefelt light his soul would quickenAnd makeall truly bright.
A precious friend passingaway,Truly herself in lore,
55
As things she often scanned would sayNever so light before.
Her soul seemed to have countless eyesTo seeby one vast SunMost clearly thatwhich never dies
,
The life-work being done.
God saidat first, Let there be light,Great darkness fledaway,And earthand heaven felt hismight,Andall proclaimed, "
l!is day!
As progress has been made onward,God’s seal has been more light !
He’11 not change,asall go upwardTo Mansionsalways bright.
