Mid-Day Gleanings :: :: University of Virginia Library

To you, beloved alumni, it affords me inexpressible pleasure in dedicating this book of poems, in behalf of my class, the Seven Stars of 1890. As a part of you, our hearts go out toward you, and we are bound with inseverable bonds of friendship. Our aim is as yours, that of doing good for God and our fellow-beings; and may this spirit go round with the years, ever returning, weaving and subsidizing our souls into greater and better works, till the sacred silence of the tombs shall be broken by the anthem of praise, and hallelujahs shall shake the gloom from dreary night as our spirits mount heavenward to assemble in that blest abode where angels shall extend the hand of greeting, and Christ, in divine eloquence, proclaim us welcome.

Yours, Jas. T. Franklin.

PREFACE.

The contents of this book will doubtless be pleasing to its many readers, for its design is to suit the old as well as the young. Although the author is young, yet he may be mentioned as a self made gentleman of culture, and a natural born poet. When he was only seventeen he composed a beautiful piece of poetry titled “Rhyme on Home.” This was the introduction of his poetic career. Since he has been distinguished not only as a lover, but as a composer of both prose and poetry.

His second poem, “The Wandering Heart,” composed during an evening's walk, is said to have required only three minutes for its composition.

A few months after he graduated, which was in June, 1890, he composed this work. He is not confined to one talent, but possesses many, and, best of all, he has that hope in Christ, which he never forgets and walks according to his profession, which leaves a lasting Christian impression wherever he goes.

Yours, Idelle Robinson.

INTRODUCTION.

Although I do not claim any place among the poets and great authors of today, yet I present to the public what it has pleased me to prepare; and whether it is a worthy production, I leave it to the public to decide. This being the first effort of my life, and one which brings to me the pleasant memories of my school life and boyhood days, I ask the public to be not too hasty in condemning it. It is also well to say here, that the Mid-Day Gleanings will run through a series of volumes, which are now being prepared for the press. Each volume will contain a prose addition, which I hope will meet the hearty approval of all, as well as their just criticism.

The Author.

THE TRAIN OF LIFE.

Out from a lonely station,
Bound for Greed and Gain,
A car went through creation
Filled with people vain.

And over hills and valleys,
And over the level plain,
Still rushing, crushing, pushing,
Onward went the train.

Men of every station,
In pleasure and pain,
Left off their occupation
And boarded the train.

It stopped at every station—
Nothing was the fee—
Then hurried through creation
Into eternity.

THE EARTH AND MOON.

We wandered off from Father Sun,
The silv'ry Moon and I:
A sep'rate kingdom we've begun,
Out in the distant sky.

I dressed myself in green array,
She dressed in silv'ry white;
I kept the watch throughout the day,
She watched throughout the night.

Although we claimed our royalty
We feared our father's frown,
Until he, in his majesty,
Presented us a crown.

It was a wreath of shining stars;
From nebulæ 'twas spun,
Suggested by my brother Mars,
And polished by the sun.

Upon the moon he has bestowed
His blessings long ago;
To me he gave a veil of cloud,
And handkerchief of snow.

A lightning arrow placed he here,
A seven-colored bow,
That as we fly we need not fear,
But triumph as we go.

Within our hands a little wand,
Irresistible as air;
We touch the meteoric strand
And cause a shower there.

But arm in arm we keep our course,
Just as it we've begun;
Till soon we'll fly back to that source
From whence we came—the sun.

LITTLE SUE.

IN MEMORY OF A DEAD FRIEND.

'Mong the stately larches, larches,
Where the willow arches, arches,
And the lilies bow;
In the meadows yonder, yonder,
Little Sue would wander, wander,
Looking for the cow.

Her brown eyes kept gazing, gazing,
Where some cows were grazing, grazing,
'Mid the falling dew;
And her voice kept calling, calling,
Though the dews were falling, falling,
Soo cow! Soo cow! Soo!

Onward she went tripping,
Though the weeds were dripping
With the early dew;
'Til a little daisy
Asked, “Are you crazy,
Pretty little Sue?”

Then she hesitated,
As the truth she stated
With a stately bow:
These my only troubles,
Wandering o'er the stubbles
Looking for the cow.

Then under the larches, larches,
Where the willow arches, arches,
And the lilies bow,
In the meadow yonder, yonder,
Onward she would wander, wander,
Looking for the cow.

Her brown eyes kept gazing, gazing,

Where some cows were grazing, grazing,
'Mid the falling dew;
And her voice kept calling, calling,
Though the dews were falling, falling,
Soo cow! Soo cow! Soo!

She told unto the vine
That grew around the pine,
Of her mission true;
And the bramble nodded,
While onward she plodded,
The same little Sue,

When, only to plague her,
Forward sprang old ague,
And the fever, too;
Chased her to the dairy,
Smote her with malaria,
For wading the dew.

How her face did pallor,
As her cheeks grew sallow
With every breath;
Until a shroud was cut,
And her brown eyes were shut
By the hands of death.

And on the hilltop yonder, yonder,
Where she used to wander, wander,

'Mid the falling dew,
By the weeping willow, willow,
Under cowslips yellow, yellow,
Lieth little Sue.

While under the larches, larches,
Where the willow arches, arches,
And the lilies bow,
Homeward slowly plodding, plodding,
On the new grave trodding, trodding,
Slowly comes the cow.

DREAM OF SCHOOL.

While sleeping at my window,
In solemn hush of night,
I dreamed the sun above me
Did give a brilliant light.

And bells were loudly ringing
(Christmas now was o'er)
And voices gaily singing,
At dear LeMoyne once more.

While children in the doorway,
Preceptress on the stairs,
Professor in the office,

Were busied with affairs.

The teachers on the rostrum,
And students, glad to meet
With music mistress smiling,
Quietly kept their seat.

Accompanied by piano,
Young ladies were singing
In alto and soprano,
Their merry voices ringing.

Every heart elated,
Intelligence in store,
An interest created,
In their text-books once more.

The printing office open,
Instructor in the door,
Was waiting for professor
To send the classes o'er.

The students in the workshop
Were busy with the saw;
The manager, complaining,
Was trying to find a flaw.

The day was gliding swiftly

And birds began to flock;
The clock up in the steeple
Had chimed out three o'clock.

And then I was awakened
By fry of steak sirloin,
To find myself in Macon,
Far from the dear LeMoyne.

JEFF DAVIS.

Ho, grim monster! who art thou
That hov'reth o'er my bed,
With bony form and wrinkled brow,
Like a spirit of the dead?
Back! back! stay thy bony hand!
Come not near my bed.
I'm monarch of this Southern land,
And fear not those from the dead.
“Hush!” said the monster, “hush,
Let not an echo fly;
Thy cheek must lose its healthy blush,
For I am death—die!”

Thou art death? then challenge me;
Thou can'st not stop my mouth,

Not I, who quelled a raging sea
And shook the Sunny South.
Then back! back ye goblin dim!
Withstay your falling sword;
'Twas I who crushed a Southern whim
And saved a Southern horde.
Then said the monster, “I know,
So raise your voice and cry;
Call in both your friend and foe,
For I am death—die!”

But wait, O death, consider fame,
Regard immortal strife;
Behold what glory in a name,
What happiness in life.
Consider, too, that civil strife,
In which my fame was spread,
And how I conquered battlefields,
And strew them o'er with dead.
Then said the monster, “No more!
You cannot my sword defy;
Try not my mercy to implore,
For I am death—die!”

But think ye of the war so long,
I waged against the free,
In which I hurled a million strong,

Into vast eternity;
And how I sustained the battlefield
'Gainst a dangerous foe,
And made the North almost to yield
And let secession go.
There bravely fought I, man to man,
Made Richmond's glory swell,
And wielded I the magic wand
Until her glory fell.

Then said the monster, “That is true,
But I do these defy;
Naught else for you there is to do
But think of death, and die.”
Then fell the sword that rent apart
The body from the soul;
Then ceased the flutt'ring of the heart,
For he had reached the goal.
His kinsman gathered to his side,
The night-bird ceased its mirth;
And friend and foe exclaimed, “He died
An alien in the land of birth.”

VOICE OF THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.

O'er freedom's land, a happy dawn
Disperses every cloud,
And o'er the victims, by victors drawn,
Is the cold, bloody shroud;
And in thousands from the blood-washed field,
And thousands from the sea,
Dropping the bayonet, sword and shield,
Come plodding home to me;
While open throw I every door
To satisfy their crave,
And I welcome all, both rich and poor,
If they are of the brave.

Within my walls, 'mong cedars tall,
'Mong flowers white and red,
Among the tombstones the shadows fall
Quietly o'er the dead;
And the wandering clouds, in sunlight shrouds,
O'erspread the soldiers' home,
While through my gateway great thronging crowds,
At my swift bidding come;
But let them come, and here let them rest,

No trouble o'er them wave;
For very soon they will be my guest,
If they are of the brave.

A great Necropolis am I made,
A palace for the brave,
With only a pickaxe and a spade,
I am changed into a grave.
In corridor damp and mouldered cell,
Lieth the honored head;
And he who 'mong bravest warriors fell,
Lies here among the dead.
E'en he who the Union flagstaff bore,
When flags had ceased to wave,
Threw off the uniform that he wore
And came to join the brave.

The bravest defenders of the right,
The captains of the sea,
Who waged the battle and won the fight,
Are resting here with me.
Where funeral knells and tolling bell,
And palace under ground,
In corridors damp and mouldered cells
Their bodies there are found.
With pillows of stone, an earthen bed,

A sleep that nature gave,
A sheet of grass, and a flowered spread,
Bid honor to the brave.

SOLITUDE.

'Mong lonely hills and silent dells,
Where sunlight faintly gleams,
Without companion, nature dwells,
And so beautiful she seems.

I love her, her plains most arid,
For her home is solitude;
To me a tongue speaks she varied
And presents a scene most rude.

On the one hand is nature's plain
And vastness of solitude;
While on the other, hills serene
Stand out in magnitude.

Behind me is the forest dark,
Traversed by shadowy vale;
And before me the brooklet—hark!
How solemn is its tale.

The leaflets all, I know not why,

Happiness to me tender;
While far off in the bright blue sky,
The sunbeams dance in splendor.

Through tree tops howl the savage wind,
'Mong branches leaps the squirrel:
In silence do the brooklets wend,
And into an abyss hurl.

The golden rod and buttercup
Perfume all the misty vale,
While little bees the honey sup
And the rich perfume inhale.

The mocking bird sends up its trill,
And loudly the owlet cries;
From out the woods the whippoorwill
In quivering notes replies.

While humming-birds and butterflies
'Round the blooming red-bud tree,
And heaven with its blue arched skies,
Are comfort enough for me.

A paradise are nature's wilds,
Where the feet of man ne'er trod;
Though Bacon says—“to like such wilds,

You must be a beast or god.”

But Bacon I do now defy,
Let him be a lord or dude;
For neither beast nor god am I,
And I do love solitude.

I love the solitary waste,
Where visits no form of beast;
If God be there, and my heart chaste,
Of fear I'd know not the least.

Joy I'd find in the wild recess,
Encircled by insect lore;
Never liking man the less,
But solitude the more.

MY MOTHER'S GRAVE.

My mother died when I was young,
Only nine months old, they say;
And though I to my mother clung,
They took her away from me,
And placed her in a lonely spot,
The hill I have often seen,
And oft I've sought, but found her not,

Though the grasses still were green.

'Twas in the lovely month of May,
The closing month of the spring;
And little birds in plumage gay
Sad funeral songs did sing.
They watched the men with pick and spade,
So mournful did they wail;
But where that young mother was laid
Little birds may tell the tale.

Though twenty years have passed since then
And the birds are growing gray;
I've often asked of older men
To tell me where she lay.

They answer thus—“I have forgot,
But the grave I oft have seen,
'Tis on the hill, a lonely spot
Where the grasses still are green.”

But on the hill I searched in vain,
And among the rustling leaves;
But ah! my heart is still in pain
And my spirit often grieves.

Yet oft' I searched mid shine or rain,
Though useless to me it seemed;
I often in her arms have lain
And kissed her in my dreams.

And in my wake I ne'er forgot
That dreaming alone I'd been,
But searched in vain that lonely spot
Where the grasses still were green.

At last I saw a nice old jay
Who could all but scarcely see;
His eyes were dim, his hair was gray,
But he rose and bowed to me.
Oh birdie, will you tell me where
My dear mother is, I pray?
And he asked me—“Was your mother fair,
Or was she infirmed and gray?”

O, she was fair, yes, very fair,
So young, and so pretty, too;
They buried her, I know not where,
And I come to ask of you.
“Why, of course, I remember, lad,
'Twas a lovely day in May,
They put your mother away, lad;
'Twas just twenty years today.

My family all have died since then,
And I all alone am left;
They suffered all by wicked men,
Who left me sad and bereft.
But beneath yonder great tree, lad,

'Neath that mossy covered mound,
Your mother there you will see, lad,
If there she can now be found,

For, lad, it is a lonely spot,
As lone as ever I've seen;
But search and you will miss it not,
For the grass is tall and green.”
I hurried beneath the giant oak,
Where its shady branches wave,
And there I saw a mound unbroke,
Which was my dear mother's grave.

I kneeled upon the lonely spot,
And thought the hill serene,
And wept because I found her not,
Though the grasses still were green.
But oft' I think she lies in state
While the stars are tapers tall;
That by her side the angels wait
To see that no ills befall.

And whene'er ill becomes my lot
And death comes upon the scene,
I want to lie in just such spot,
Where the grass is tall and green.

“THE TIGERS AND THE KIDS.”

High in the heavens rose the sun,
And tossed its beams about,
While I watched the children run
To see the throng turn out.

Where goes this throng, my bonnie lad?
I asked a passer-by,
Who in his hands a bat he had.
And now and then would cry—
“Hurrah for the ‘Tigers,’ boys!
And shame upon the Kids,
For, the Tigers sure were born, boys,
To beat the little Kids.”

He stopped a moment, looked at me,
And fire flashed from his lids;
“The big boys are tigers, you see,
And the little boys are kids.
They are going to the picnic ground
To have a game, you see;
And if you want to take the round,
Come quickly, follow me,
And hurrah for the ‘Tigers,’ boys!
And shame upon the ‘Kids,’

For never in history, boys,
Were tigers beat by kids.”

I joined in with the merry throng
And boarded the Elmwood car,
And through the town we went along,
And o'er the hills afar.
The people, they all stared at us
And thought the world at end;
Because it was a dreadful fuss
That upward we did send.
But e'er and anon came the cry
As fire flashed from their lids—
“The Tigers all deserve to die
If they can't beat the Kids;
Then hurrah for the ‘Tigers,’ boys,
And shame upon the ‘Kids;’
There never was a hist'ry, boys,
Of tigers beat' by kids.”

At last we reached the picnic ground,
And Capt. Tiger wheeled
And placed the Tigers in the town
And the Kids upon the field.
And then a ball was batted off
That seemed to touch the sky;

But down it came, by kid was caught,
And hurrah went the cry—
“One tiger dropped out nicely, boys,
And outed by the Kids;
Let every body shout, boys,
For, they can't beat the Kids.”

And then a liner straight was sent
Like lightning o'er the field,
Into a kiddish hand it went,
Whose fingers would not yield.
“I have put another out, boys,”
The kid did loudly cry,
“We sure will beat the Tigers, boys,
Or we deserve to die.”
Another tiger turned about
And batted off the ball;
When all the kids began to shout
Before the ball could fall—
“He has put the whole side out, boys,
That is just what he did;
And great Captain Tiger can't, boys,
Beat little Captain Kid.”

Thus went the game for many hours
Mid many a loud shout,

'Til the Kids said—“The game is ours,”
And hurrah went the shout.
The game was called at 3 o'clock,
The umpire said to us—
Dear friends it may your feelings shock,
The game is standing thus:—
Forty-seven for Captain ‘Kid,’
For ‘Tiger’ twenty-seven,
And this is all the players did
Since the clock struck eleven.”

Then hurrahs shook the lofty air;
The Kids, they grabbed the bat,
And left the Tigers standing there
All quite chagrined at that.
But o'er the hills and back to town,
Straight marched that mighty throng,
On every street that they went down
They shouted out this song—
“Shame upon the Tigers, boys,
And bully for the Kids,
For the Tigers are not born, boys,
To beat the little Kids.
It was not in history, boys,
The Tigers said this morn',
But hist'ry with this event, boys,

Its pages will adorn,
And shame upon the Tigers, boys,
And bully for the Kids,
For Tigers were not born, boys,
To beat the little Kids.”

AUTUMN.

Autumn's Come!
And he with his magic hands,
By his polished easel stands,
With skill as great as renown,
Painting golden colors down.

Here he puts a touch of brown,
Colors like his golden crown;
Of the trees, in touches bold,
Paints he ev'ry leaf in gold.

And the hilltops, far and near,
In his picture stands out clear;
Over them a cloud floats by,
And beyond the azure sky.

Here he paints a pretty vale,
Overstrewn with lilies pale;
While the silvery brooklet heaves,
Spotted with the fallen leaves.

Then he leaves the shady bowers
To paint the meadow and flowers,
And in amber paints the plain,
Strewn over with golden grain.

Among his trees squirrels play,
And birds flock in plumage gay,
While the orchards, very cute,
All show up their golden fruit.

He paints, too, the old homestead,
Where lived those who now are dead;
And in the meadows, children play,
Running o'er the new cut hay.

He paints the foundries and looms,
The old church-yard and the tombs;
Vivid pictures of the brave,
Paints he on the new made grave.

When his work is all quite done,
He with canvas marches on
With the days bleak and dreary,
Leaving souls weak and weary,
Autumn's gone!

ECHOED THOUGHTS.

O darling will you let me tell
Just how I feel today;
How merrily chimes each Christmas bell,
As it echoes far away?

It makes me think of days gone by,
Of precious days well spent;
How Jesus left his throne on high,
On a godly mission bent.

The echoes of the distant bells
Strange fancies bring to me,
Like flowers in a lonely dell,
Your own sweet face I see.

And when comes even' on at last,
And frost has chilled the air,
I think again of days gone past
And bless thee in my prayer.

O, if you could only think
Of whom I dream in sleep;
Could you but dream as fairies dream,
You'd know the secret I keep.

Could you but guess, and that you can't,
Though you may dream and weep;

This secret in my heart I plant
A thousand fathoms deep.

I dream of thee, I dream of home,
So sweet can memories be;
I visit where I once did roam,
I dream of eternity.

IDA BELLE.

'Twas of thee, fair woman, with sad, sweet face,
That the poets dreamed of old;
'Twas the mirrored expressions of thy face
That sculptors tried to mold.

To live in thy charms the lover has sighed
Until his cheeks were paled,
And it was thy picture which artists tried
To paint so oft' and failed.

Sweetest perfection itself thou art,
Thy face is a poet's dream,
And through the eye, the window of thy heart,
Both love and kindness beam.

And thy very sad song, which gives you fame,
Would bring angels from above;
A single smile from your lips would inflame
A human heart with love.

For you, like the dazzling sunbeams go,
To light this mundane sphere;
To scatter rich blessings, instead of woe,
Make earth ten-folds more dear.

Like the trailing of the comet bright
That spans the canopy;
Trail on forever thy arcs of light,
Let man thy beauty see.

Thou art a queen, whom heaven has blessed,
Thy throne morality;
Thy palace with truthfulness is dressed,
Thy crown is purity.

O woman, so noble, so pure, so proud,
Sit fast on virtue's throne,
Till eternity round thee casts her shroud
And bears thee to thy home.

CORRUPTED MINISTRY.

O corrupted ministry!
How long can you endure
In foulest iniquity,
Pretending to be pure?
Our churches have you blacken'd
With your darkest deeds of shame,
Disgraces have you spreaded
O'er the fairest woman's name.
The churches have been auction'd
At a price below their cost,
The Devil was the bidder;
O, God! will the church be lost?

Our preacher is a drunkard,
And the deacon will be soon;
The church is a fighting ring
And the pulpit a spittoon.
Ordaining is a mockery,
For the elder is a farce,
His interest all is lacking,
And morality is scarce.
With cigar and the bottle
In Jehovah's holy name,
He goes among our women
To scatter seeds of shame.

The husband he has parted
From the most beloved wife,
Humiliates the mother
And wrecks the daughter's life.
The peaceful homes are broken,
The seeds of strife are sown,
The parson takes some man's wife
And forgets about his own.
On Sunday morn he preaches—
“Walk the commandments in,”
Meanwhile his soul is blushing,
And his heart is black with sin.

Newspapers on the altars
Leave a terrifying stain,
While the preacher stands and sells
And keeps the ill-gotten gain.
The preachers, they are lodgemen,
And the bishop, he is, too,
And so cannot chastise them,
No matter what sin they do
The secret lodge is cursing
Great Jehovah's holy name,
And does a deadly mission
In secret and in shame.

O how long must we endure

This great sin to take its course?
If we would the church secure,
We must break sin down by force.
All the pulpits need be cleansed,
And the churches to be scoured,
The shrine of purity restored
Where once the Christians bowed.
Some volunteers are wanted
Whose hands will ne'er grow cold,
No drunkards ever needed
In the Christian's sober fold.
No man is a gentleman
And no preacher a divine
Who smokes cigars, drinks, or chews,
Or mingles with the wine.

THE CLOT OF BLOOD.

In thought I stood on Nashville bridge,
Just over the vast expanse,
Where Cumberland rolls her turbid stream
And the merry ripples dance.

The sunlight sparkled on the bridge
And o'er the balustrade,
I stepped out upon the edge
To list' what the waters said.

I bent my ear—and low the sound
Of groans, the waves among—
I stood and list' until I found
'Twas there a man was hung.

“O stranger,” sang the waters dark,
“Look on the balustrade,
Where crime has left his bloody mark,
Though the victim be dead.”

I bent my eyes, and lo! I saw
A clot of human blood
That told me of a savage law
Where crime for justice stood.

O waters, tell me all, I cried,
Lay bare the human heart;
“The crime was dark,” the waters sighed,
“Unfitted to impart.”

“But stranger, list',” the waters said,
“For God has made it so,
The deeds of man, though he be dead,
Should here forever show.

Bad deeds are like the clot of blood,
So dark beneath the sun;

The rain, it came; the blood, it stood,
To show a crime was done.

So let your deeds be always good,
Light-houses 'long the shore;
The storm, it came: the light-house stood,
Its lights shone all the more.

O stand ye firmly for the right!
'Tis all we have to tell;
Now we must hasten in our flight,
Oh stranger, fare the well!”

“MATTIE.”

O woman, in thy loveliness,
In grace and truth combined,
Made so perfect by thy pureness,
Made famous by thy mind;
'Neath the heaven's dazzling sunlight,
Thou art a sparkling gem;
Thy deeds, like stars, are shining bright,
For God has polished them.

Should I but say as others say,
True sweet saying of old,

That your value, if you would weigh,
Would be your weight in gold;
Then think you would my sayings false,
Not meant for you at all;
A piece of gold exact your weight
Would be a deal too small.

A million times your weight in gold,
Rubies of every kind
Could never, if the truth was told,
Outbalance your great mind.
A head so small, a brain so great,
Wonderfully contrast;
Think not young woman of thy weight,
But hold thy knowledge fast.

Few like you have attained so much,
And few like you so small;
But from the height that you have reached
Be sure and never fall.
There in this wide world of ours
A mission is for you;
Help others rise, help others live,
Do all that you can do.

Know ye it is the noble soul,
In a cold world like this,

That rises upward from the goal
Unto the hight of bliss?
Then noble be your words and deed,
Let wisdom be your guide,
For wisdom's path to glory leads,
The gate is standing wide.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

Hurrah for Cleveland! the nations cry,
As their exultation shakes the sky
And Grover rises upon high;
While through his piercing eyes looks down,
Watching oceans as they frown;
He seeth the dark and threat'ning cloud,
And heareth the peals of thunder loud,
And yet feeleth he himself so proud,
He sallies still more high.

America justly needs be proud,
For rich and poor have before him bowed,
And he smiled o'er all the crowd;
But, in turning he himself around,
Having heard a muffled sound,
While studying the faces o'er,
And a helping hand he gives to poor,

He leaves a note at every door—
“Your rights in me are found.”
He will show what “justice and law” is,
While old England raiseth up her voice
And claims she must rejoice
That, in Grover Cleveland, now is found
Hopes for the world around;
That some gratitude the nations owe,
And favor certainly will they show,
While in free trade ships they come and go,
And never cause a wound.

The stars and stripes will the nations praise,
And many a cheer for Cleveland be raised
While at the White House he stays;
For strike he will the much-needed blow,
Make abundant money flow,
And the money he will circulate
Through every home, in every State,
And our joys will he accelerate
And set our hearts aglow.

O, thou eagle! in thy scope so wide,
Go higher still, for no ills betide,
While thou, the nation's pride,
Unfurls the banner o'er our head,
That bears this motto: “Bread!”

Flags of Democracy, o'er the brave,
From the mountains to the sea shall wave,
And voices rise up from the grave—
“'Tis well, no more be said.”

JEALOUSY 'MONG THE FLOWERS

A flower garden seemingly
Was this whole world of ours,
And through this garden dreamingly
I wandered 'mong the flowers.

And I saw flowers gayly dressed,
Some in form of women fair,
And some, as I have since confessed,
Had a dark or auburn hair.

Some personated mignonette,
And some like the daisy fair,
While lovely little violets
Kissed me everywhere.

Among so many flowers fair
I saw a blushing little rose,
While by her side the lilly fair
So quietly did repose.

I touched the lilly as I said
A kiss must be my fee,
But her cheeks turned a crimson red—
She turned away from me.

But that, I said, will never do
For lilly so sweet and fair,
For it has been said, and 'tis true,
“Lil is fairest of the fair.”

So then she turned the pouting lips
Upward to receive the kiss,
But no! no! cried jealous cow-slip,
Not in this garden of bliss.

And then I asked her if she would
When we together strolled.
No plotting here! that's understood,
Chimed in Miss Marigold.

Then Love with “Lil” I tried to plight,
With vows quite old in story,
But, ah, you know that is not right,
Chimed in Miss Morning Glory.

Then all the flowers cried at once,
His love will never be true,

“So ‘Lil’ ought to give him the bounce—
That's just what I would do.”

“Ugly imp,” said a dry old maid,
“He ought to have said it to me,
And he would see I'm not afraid
To show what a woman should be.”

“Hush! hush!” said the little Snow-drops,
“Your words are so needless said;
Old maids this year are sorry crops,
Therefore be thou not afraid.”

“I second that,” said wee Fox-glove,
“For grandpa has often said
That man was a fool to ever love
An out o' fashion old maid.”

“It is true his love is not pure,”
Said jealous Forget-me-not;
“His taste is bad, and that is sure,”
Said the frisky Touch-me-not.

“Well, I am fairest of you all,
And I have received no kiss,
Not even one,” said Miss Snow-ball,
“And I'm quite vexed at this.”

“Well, let us see,” said old Lark-spur,
“I'll tell you what we'll do,
We'll tell a lie on him to her,
And we'll cut their love in two.”

“I'll tell the lie,” said Devil-weed;
“I'll stir up all the strife,
I'll start up such a lie indeed
She'll hate him all of her life.”

And then like lightning sped he on
His mission so foul and wrong,
'Till even the Dandelion
Was deceived by his tongue.

And thus to Lily he began:
“With him your love must now end—
A disguised snake is that man
Who claims to be your friend.

I swear it that he, this same day,
Some big lie has told on you,
That people all who hear it say
‘I wonder if it is true.’”

Then Lily turned her back on me
For what that tattler said,

And all the flowers said to me:
“Your character has been read,

So out of here yourself you take.”
Said all the flowers, “Begone!”
Then suddenly did I awake
To find myself alone.

MUD.

Ah, my soul, what wet and dreary days,
And how I crave the sun's bright rays,
For down this never ending lane,
Plodding daily through the rain,
Brings from my heart a heavy thud—
My eyes behold nothing but mud,
Nothing but mud.

But every morning mid the poor
From my home to the schoolhouse door,
Splashing through the supple clay,
Toiling wearily on my way,
Makes my heart keep up the thud
While before me nothing but mud,
Nothing but mud.

Mud on the door-step, mud in the door,

Mud on the ceiling, mud on the floor,
Mud outside, and mud in the road
Mud on the gateway and abroad;
Mud at table, and mud in bed,
And mud o'er great creation spread;
While this lonely, thumping thud,
Makes me think that man is mud,
Nothing but mud.

But, ah, my soul, why not content,
Complaint to grief always gives vent,
And the more exalted thou be,
The greater seems the fall to thee,
So, weary heart, forget thy thud,
Be content, though the world be mud,
Nothing but mud.

THE MODEL QUEEN.

TO IDELLE.

Thou wert not born in a palace,
Nor hath thou worn the regal crown;
Or the diamond-decked apparel
Like the stately belle of the town.

But lived, thou hast, a lady,

Both at home or when abroad;
And that is a priceless treasure,
Worth diamonds by the load.

Thy fingers decked, were not with rings,
But youthful hands to work were trained;
Not were holidays in leisure,
But were in studies hard retained.

An adept now in thy studies,
And to manual labor prone;
An heiress to every virtue,
Is a lot that is all thy own.

Thou didst not pine for a title;
Thy wants thou didst ever control;
Although thou hadst a woman's pride,
A woman's heart, a woman's soul.

Like the queen who, as milkmaid dressed,
But whose hands spoke true to the wise;
Virtue shows the noble being,
Though you be under disguise.

No royal suitor yet has come,
At thy feet to kneel and to plead;
Yet thousands of worshipful hearts
Regard thee a treasure indeed.

Thou art a princess, yea, a queen,
The proud possessor of wealth;
For virtue to thy cheeks gives bloom,
And to thy soul eternal health.

That thou shalt have a higher sphere,
Is the noble decree of fate;
That thou wert crowned by royal hands
Will be known at the Golden Gate.

Though snares on every hand beset,
Wherever thy feet hath trod;
An angel crowned with honors yet
You'll dwell in the palace of God.

QUEEN OF THE FLOWERS.

When wandering through the fields one day,
And through the meadow coming,
I found a flower on my way,
It was a lily blooming.

Up from the flowers all around
She raised her stately form,
And then, if e'er before, I found
A solace within a charm.

She was kissed by the morning sun,
Though the sunbeams made her blush;
Her happy life had just begun,
So warbled out the thrush.

Up from her stalk a sweet perfume
That spread the meadow over,
And kissed the flowers all in bloom,
E'en to the meadow clover.

Made many flowers raise their heads
And call modest lily sweet,
While others from their humble beds
Walked out to kiss her feet.

And every worm and shrub and tree,
Even the Apple green,
Unanimously did agree
To call her the “flower queen.”

And then the lark and linnet came
Singing loud—“May honor show
That well may fare the lily's name,
And in beauty may she grow.”

A coronation song they sang,
And the chorus joins and sings;

Through all the meadow music rang,
Like harps of a thousand strings.

The band of music was the bee;
The jay bird acted soldier;
He wore a cap upon his head,
And stripes across his shoulder.

Soprano sang the mocking bird
'Til the tenor took its place;
Alto sang all the sparrow hawks,
And the bullfrog sang the base.

While thus presented they the crown
A spectator old and gray
Came forward in his royal gown
And he thus began to say—

“Fairest queen of all the flowers!
Thy lips are a sacred thing,
Though many bees may buzz about,
Beware! they have a sting.

Be not deceived by bees and bugs
Who praise those lips of thine,
For soon they'll stoop to ask a kiss,
And then you must decline.

Or else you will attraction lose,
Thy fragrance and thy charm;
For every bee who takes a kiss
Will take away thy balm.”

DON'T KISS.

TO THE GIRLS.

Beware, sweet girl, and do not kiss,
Place not your honor at stake;
When hear ye the serpent's hiss,
Look close, you will find the snake.

The serpent comes in every kiss,
If dressed in masculine guise,
And always shows without amiss
That virtue it does despise.

Sometimes the dudes at close of eve,
Reposing at your gate,
Wish for a kiss before they leave;
Beware! it seals your fate.

For kissing, like the tiger's thirst,
When tasted human blood;

One victim caught is not the worst
That's to be understood.

But others seeks, and in the end
The modest and the true,
Without warning from a friend
Is made a victim, too.

Beware, too, of your lover's lips
When they're caressing yours,
For next his arm steals 'round the waist
He seemingly adores.

You think him harmless as the doves,
Poor girl, be not deceived!
Not ev'ry man who says he loves
Can always be believed.

The serpent's kiss has many forms,
And heeds no laws of right,
He has the most bewitching charms
And prowls around at night.

Sometimes it is the married man
Who claims he has the right,
Because he is your mother's friend,
To kiss you a good night.

Beware! he is the adder bold
That never spares his prey;
So if you would your virtue hold,
Be warned and flee away.

Sometimes at parties, too, you'll find
Young men who want to kiss,
But ah! the serpent lurks behind
The thought that wishes this.

Again beware; be true to trust;
Always remember this:
Whatever lad tells you you must
Tell him you do not kiss.

WAYSIDE CREAM.

'Twas mirth and titter the day live-long,
'Twas fun at any cost,
'Twas joy mingled with music and song,
And jests of the merry host.

The brilliant sun from his western throne
Shot forward his arrows bright,
And fairy-like on the carpet down
Fell the brilliant arcs of light.

A merry group was gathered 'round
To welcome a sweet brunette;
And dishes made a clattering sound,
While tables for dinner were set.

“Come in, ladies,” the hostess said,
“And gentlemen, come in, too;
'Tis dinner time, and the feast is spread,
I prepared it all for you.”

To head of the table went Miss Key,
And I to the side did get;
Before me was the beautiful Belle,
At her side the sweet brunette.

Who has ordered cream? said I to “Lu,”
It was sister, answered she;
“No! No!” said Belle, as if it were true,
“I think it was Miss Key.”

However, to us came not the cream,
And there were many sighs;
Miss Belle was like a beautiful dream,
As the tears welled to her eyes.

Then to me she whispered in a moan,
“If we should perchance to meet

The messenger who for cream has gone,
We will stop him on the street.

So in my pocket she hid a spoon,
And we went our journey on;
But alas! came the fun too soon,
Ere we had our journey done.

For with the lovely little brunette
I had tripped across the dell;
She at my side is smiling yet,
Around me she casts a spell.

When suddenly from the dell below
There arose a startling scream;
And back the ladies started to go,
For some one was bringing cream.

Yell after yell, from beautiful Belle,
Quite threw me into a swoon;
She threw off from me the lovely spell,
And searched me for the spoon.

And with spoon in hand she made a rush
Toward him who bore the cream;
Brunette's face took a rosy flush,
So full of joy did she seem.

Her sister, though, so happy she was,
Her face was no longer a dream;

Reality on her countenance was,
As she made 'way with the cream.

A party, happy, were we and gay,
But a few things I'll never forget;
The most thrilling pleasures of that day,
And the face of the sweet brunette.

But in the height of our joy we feared
That danger would happen soon;
For all of the cream had disappeared,
And with it went the spoon.

SONG OF THE SLAVE.

Oh, send me home to Africa,
Back across the sea,
From America's cruel shores
To my own country,
For there my heart is yearning,
Where the Southern sun is burning;
Oh, could I but be returning
To the home of the free.

Oh, how I long for Africa,
Home of Liberty,
Where happiness forever dwells

And all men are free.
It is there I should be going,
Where the bread-fruit trees are growing,
And sweet freedom's breeze is blowing;
'Tis my own country.

Oh, send me home to Africa,
O'er the raging sea,
To the Lake Tanganyika,
In my own country.
Where the children all are singing,
And in hammocks they are swinging,
While sweet freedom's song is ringing
In the land of the free.

Oh, send me home to Africa,
Where I long to be,
From this cruel America
O'er the raging sea,
Where my fathers all are reigning
And their freedom still retaining;
O, they never are complaining
In that land of the free.

Oh, send me home to Africa,
Home across the sea,
Where happiness forever dwells,

And all men are free.
'Tis for there I still am sighing
If, perchance, I should be dying
Upward I would go a flying
From my own country.

THE LAST SNOW.

Fall on, ye fairy snowflakes,
Scatter over the town;
'Tis night, but when the day breaks,
You'll sparkle on the ground.

For winter from his palace
Has just begun to move,
And shakes ye fairy snowflakes
O'er temple, hill and grove.

With gleaming eyes he watches
The snowflake as it falls,
And then, with icy fingers,
He paints the temple walls.

O'er all the earth he breathes
A cold and bitter breath;
The dripping water freezes,
And things are still as death.

With cold and icy fingers
He shrouds the earth in snow;
His fingers touch the brooklets,
And waters cease to flow.

Grim winter is an artist
Surpassing man in skill;
In white alone he pictures
The valley, grove and hill.

His trees are white and drooping,
Laden with the snow;
A freezing breath he breathes,
And wondrous beauties show.

O, man, could you but picture
Humanity in white;
Make every deed conspicuous
In snowy colors bright,

This earth would be a heaven—
A world of wondrous bliss—
Where blessings would be given,
And love and mercy kiss.

“OTTO.”

From rock city in highland rim,
Where seldom azure skies grow dim,
From Meharry's Medical Hall,
To sunny bluffs where shadows fall,
To our city like templed Rome,
We welcome Dr. Otto home.

A course in school he did begin,
And year went out as year came in,
And still did he a course pursue;
One object kept he still in view,
Till he had found just what he sought,
In life's battle he stood and fought.

And when the battle was achieved,
He did not dare to stand aggrieved,
But he, rejoicing, homeward bent,
His heart was full, his mind content,
Now that he could help all mankind,
No suff'ring soul he'd leave behind.

A happy life is his indeed,
For happiness does man most need;
Success, it seems, does come to earth,
And to new life does she give birth,

For a new life has he begun,
A battle fought, a victory won.

Then may he reach the height of fame,
No wrong e'er blot his titled name.
His name on hearts, where'er he goes,
He writes in love, and there it grows,
For courage in the battle strife
Has wrought this change in Otto's life.

BRIDE OF THE SKIES.

With the gentle zephyr of a summer's twilight,
When heard, a single sound was not,
Save, being rustled by the gentle winds, the leaves
And zephyr's almost silent, footfalls
Came—a voice that, in heavenly sweetness, said:
“Behold her beauty, Bride of the Skies!”

Then came the silent zephyr, in her fairy form,
Stooping, my burning cheeks she kisses,
While my aching brow with airy palm she fans,

Thrilling my soul by gentle touches,
She catches me up in her gentle arms
And bears me into the chamber of the bride.

And there the moon, great mirror of heaven, before,
Stood dressed the fair and lovely comet,
Surpassingly beautiful as she twists and turns,
And smiling, her lovely form surveys,
While in her chamber a million candles swung,
Without the guests to the wedding come.

But stands she stately and proud in the palace hall,
And about her gathers her snow white robes,
When the proud but invisible Eternus comes,
And, entering her bridal room,
Takes her, and upon his breast her head she pillows,
While kisses upon her lips he rains.

Then upon his knees falleth the Prince Eternus,

And a ring, with sparkling meteors set,
Draws he from his invisible bosom,
And, while her hand he clasps and presses,
As she, blushing and smiling, kneeleth beside him,
He places it upon her finger.

Rising, with a diadem of stars he crowns her,
When graceful Venus, her bridesmaid, comes,
And with airy touches from her graceful fingers,
That electrify the blushing bride,
Catches she up, of flaming light, a snowy veil,
And spreads it over the bridal robes.

Then softly from earth to heaven is raised
Music, the sweetest by man e'er heard,
And into the blazing skies earth and sea looks up,
When the soft, low wedding march begins,
And planets swing in their beautiful orbs and nod,
While time to music they try to keep.

O, that an angel might paint that scene so sublime!
Describe that proud procession of stars,
For slowly caught up by the moon and reflected,
Seems the whole heaven ablaze with light,
While everywhere the feet of the bride doth tread,
'Neath them skyrockets burst forth and blaze.

Through the heavens her graceful form she carries,
And her robe of light serenely trails,
Until her last glance at the mirror she snatches,
Then, moving slowly from the zenith,
Takes her seat upon the western horizon,
While floats her trail in the eastern sky.

A WANDERING HEART.

A little heart once wandered out
To see what it could see;
It raised its voice in gladsome shout,
Rejoiced that it was free.

It laughed and wept, sighed and slept,
And dreamed of future fair,
That fairies to its side had crept
While it was sleeping there.

It then awoke with gladsome smile
And turned it round about,
But fairies fled into exile,
And not a one was out.

Again it shook its haughty form
And started on apace,
Then paused to give a greeting warm
To a little flower vase.

Then off it leaped with sudden bound,
O'er the flowery spray,
Over the rocks and mossy mound,
It plodded on its way.

It heard the little cricket's song,
The birds, it heard them, too;
Beside the river it walked along
Well bathed in the morning's dew.

It rushed into the lonely dell
Where mortals never roam,

But there it found no place to dwell,
There was no place like home.

So on it went the world around,
With no one would it join
'Til it came to Memphis town
And entered in LeMoyne.

And there for once it ceased to roam,
(Poor thing, it needed rest),
And tried to find a better home,
Within another's breast.

“But ah! sad heart, a foolish choice
To make thyself a slave,”
Was heard to say a spirit's voice,
“'Tis better in the grave.”

Thus refused a resting place,
It wept and onward went;
With care it studies every face
While on love's mission bent.

THE NIGHTINGALE OF SONG.

TO “SIS.”

One Summer's night in month of June,
At half-past eight, or not as soon,
I sat enraptured in my seat
List'ning to strains unearthly sweet.

They came like the summer's shower,
Refreshing every bush and bower,
Drifting on the still night air,
Falling freely, purely and rare.

They came from lips of a dark brunette,
With eyes as dark as midnight jet;
Her face was sad, her form was neat,
Her lips, no doubt, unearthly sweet.

She sang a song in smooth accent,
That made my heart to joy give vent;
And my very soul exalted rose
Beyond the sky to quiet repose.

I wandered off in heav'nly lands,
Through verdant fields, on golden strands;
I thought I heard an angel sing,
“Love, I'll hide thee under my wing.”

And then I heard the echoes swell,
Sounding o'er earth in ev'ry dell;
Then lifted up by balmy breeze,
Were wafted far beyond the trees.

Again the echoes rose on high,
And drifted far beyond the sky;
My soul rose up on wings of bliss,
My heart went out to receive a kiss.

When the singer's song had ended,
My soul again to earth descended;
I found myself in a chapel grand,
In a city of my native land.

I sat there with my eyes transfixed;
My thoughts were gone, my brains all mixed;
I tried if I one smile could gain
Ere the singer had ended her strain.

But not a one could I engage;
She heeded me not, and left the stage;
But when the people gave applause,
She was called again; without pause

She rose and sang it o'er again,
The same sweet song, the same sweet strain;
And, wandering on the same old route,
With the singer's song my heart went out.

And sometimes now, in accents clear,
That same sweet voice falls on my ear;
Those same bright eyes, that same sweet face,
Smile upon me in ev'ry place;
And ever now, as life glides on,
Upon my soul sweet visions dawn.

CHRIST'S WHISPER.

When my heart grew weak and weary,
And the days grew bleak and dreary,
I heard a voice so gently calling,
Upon my ears softly falling—
“Come, even while sea billows roar,
Unto this fair but unknown shore.”

That same voice still is calling me—
“Come, come away across the sea;
Come while the tide does ebb and flow,
And the winds do softly blow;
Come even while sea billows roar,
Unto this fair but unknown shore.

Softly still it is calling me,
Merrily calling, full of glee,

Borne on the night winds o'er the sea,
Floating gently o'er the lea,
Calling as sweetly as before—
“Come to this fair but unknown shore.”

Somebody still is calling me—
“Come over the deep and dark blue sea;
Come in the morn or dewy eves,
Haste thou on ere my spirit grieves;
For I am waiting as before
To give thee welcome on this shore.”

And yet that voice is calling me,
Merrily calling, full of glee,
Borne on the night winds o'er the sea,
Floating gently over the lea,
Falling sweeter than before—
“Oh, come! come to this unknown shore.”

Then merrily, merrily go,
While the winds do softly blow,
Oh merrily, merrily go,
While the tide does ebb and flow,
And even while sea billows roar
Go view that fair and unknown shore.

THE VALENTINE.

A little maple once was I,
A reed of flax were you,
Within a meadow, side by side,
We both together grew.

A happy life we both did lead,
And great in nature grew;
A lovely pair we were, indeed,
And made a lovely view.

We might have together grown,
A maple and a flax,
Had the wicked farmer mercy shown,
And spared us from his ax.

Off to the manufactory
He took you far away,
While to the hungry old saw-mill
He carried me next day.

They wove you into snow-white cloth,
A cloth of linen kind,
And scooped me out into a tray,
As thin as thinnest rind.

First into paper, then to board,

They pressed you nicely down,
While butter in my scooped out tray,
They sent around the town.

You were bought by a nice young man,
And I by a lady fair,
And then our last career began,
And here's the whole affair:

They were courting, or they feign
A lover's bond to form;
She paints me 'til a lovely scene,
He takes me under his arm.

A plug he cuts from out your back,
Then with some ribbon red,
And with some blue and green, intact,
He binds me there instead.

So, after many years we meet,
Though once in verdure fine;
We now are pleased the world to greet,
As some one's valentine.

DISAPPOINTMENT.

“Tis Easter, Tom,” says Legs to me,
“And you just bet your worth
If I'm there at half-past three
I am biggest man on earth.

I want you just to come and go,
No better you'd deserve
Than see me kiss that pretty girl
Who lives beyond the curve.

Come, take the car, I'll pay your fare,
And haste, I prithee,
For she expects me to be there
Just as the clock strikes three.”

So, with collar up to his chin,
He took the red street car,
And later on we both walked in
Where gates did stand ajar.

He rang the bell, then gave a grin,
And seemed as lost in bliss;
He was sure she would let him in
And he would steal a kiss.

Some footsteps sounded in the hall;

He made ready to embrace,
For I am sure I saw it all
Written upon his face.

“Magnetta, ope the door,” he said,
And soon it came ajar,
But there before us, in her stead,
Stood Magnetta's pa,

Who calmly smiled at us, and said:
“Gentlemen, walk straight in.”
Legs, blushing, turned a crimson red,
And lost that pleasant grin.

But there we stayed three hours or more,
Yet no girl did we see.
At length I said, “Legs, let's go,
The engagement was at three.”

We took our leave, that Easter day,
When Legs did some one see,
Down the road he darted away—
“Come, Tom, this is she.”

I can not tell you how it was,
But this is what I saw:
He did not kiss her, as he thought,
Because it was her ma!

No girl we saw the live-long day;
'Twas very strange to me
How things could happen in this way
And expected, too, at three.

DONATED FLOWERS.

While 'neath the flowers, sadly wandering,
With thoughts of days gone by,
I saw the birds around me squandering,
Soaring toward the sky.
The gayest of all, a mocking bird,
Singing his tuneful lay;
The singer, the sweetest ever heard,
Cheered me along my way.
He recalled to me the magic spell
Thrown over me last year;
His voice, like yours, I remember well,
Did sound so sweet and clear.
Because he sang the same sweet song
That once I heard you sing;
It made my heart beat loud and strong,
Echoes my soul did ring.
How long I stood, how many hours,
I don't remember well;

But this I know, I plucked some flowers,
And they the tale may tell.
And they to you I do gladly send,
White and red roses, too;
Accept them, my bonnie young friend,
I plucked them all for you.

THE WEATHER.

Today the sun looks down in my face,
The heavens are dazzling bright;
The earth drinks up its flood of rays,
The moon comes out at night,
And all the little stars look down,
Smiling from overhead,
While the night, in her pearly gown,
Sits watching by my bed
'Til rosy dawn sets in again
And gray clouds float o'erhead;
When dawn comes the pattering rain
And thunder, oh such dread!
Now I put on my over shoes,
And, much against my will,
I'm forced to cross those muddy sloughs
And trudge up o'er the hill.
And then a blizzard soon sets in,

And wind and sleet and snow,
And hail with some rain mixed in
Come pouring down below,
'Til the sunlight thro' the arches
In splendor lights the earth,
And the spring birds 'neath the shadows
Begin their songs of mirth.

THE FLOOD.

When all the world did wicked grow,
God's anger was intense;
Much more so than ever before,
Or ever shown us since.

To Noah he said commandingly:
“Build for me an ark;”
And Noah (understandingly)
Did work from dawn till dark.

When the ark was thoroughly done,
To Noah's honest joy,
The good Lord said: “It is well done;
Now, I will the world destroy.”

“So take thee, Noah, two of each
Of everything that's clean;

And for them, from my furore's reach,
These walls shall be a screen.”

Then came a breeze among the trees,
A rumbling far away;
The shepherd boy in horror sees
The sunlight fading 'way.

For, o'er the hills a little spot
Had mounted upon high;
It was but a tiny spot,
But spreaded o'er the sky.

It chased away the sunlight,
And blotted out the sun;
And darkness, like eternal night,
With the tempest had begun.

The eagle 'bove the mountain topped,
And mounted into the sky;
The little birds in terror stopped
And whispered: “Danger nigh!”

The cattle of a thousand hills
Came scampering o'er the plain,
Leaping brooks and silvery rills,
Rushing from the rain.

They saw sitting upon the hill,
The ark of gopher wood;
Made by Noah of God's own will,
To shelter all the good.

Into the ark in terror fled
Every living thing,
Just as to Noah had been said
By heaven's only King;

Went two of each and every kind
Of living creatures in;
But wicked man was left behind
To perish for his sin.

So then took Noah his three sons
And all their family in;
But wicked people said, “he jests,”
And kept on in their sin.

Then Noah prepared to embark,
On waters not yet seen;
“Oh, man!” he cried, “Fly to the Ark!”
But man was too unclean;

And so kept on in wickedness
'Til God himself revealed
To them in their selfishness,
That he their fate had sealed.

For fiercer grew the howling wind
And darker grew the sky,
While lofty oaks did nimbly bend
And lightning flashed on high.

Then came a burst of thunder wild,
A shock—such bursting bombs!
They frightened nature's only child
And echoed 'mong the tombs.

Then a silence—such a hush
Mortals had never known,
And then a bolt as if to crush
The hardest mountain stone.

The heavens, they, in anger still,
Wore one furious frown;
O'er ev'ry hill and vale there fell
The rain in torrents down.

A raging storm on sea and land,
And darkness coming on,
Before which mortal dared not stand
And day could never dawn.

When God's relentless anger fell,
The people, sore, alarmed,

Thought all of earth, and even hell,
Might fear such dreaded storm.

O'er all the heights, and ev'ry plain,
O'er ev'ry hill and vale,
The waters raged, like on the main,
And fiercer blew the gale.

It raged in furore over earth,
Crept up the mountain's side;
Ten thousand children, just from birth,
Were swept on with the tide.

“No mercy for the dying child!
No ears to heed its cry!”
Were heard to say the waters wild,
“Mortality must die!”

Man climbed up the tallest tree,
But that would never do;
“Ha, ha, ha!” laughed the gaping sea,
“I'm coming up there, too.”

Then up the mountain, all defiled,
He fled to nature's towers,
But, “No, no!” cried the thunders wild,
“The mountains, they are ours.”

But up the mountain on he sped
Though punishment was due,
And, just for spite, the mad waves said:
“We're coming up there, too.”

And so, hemmed in on ev'ry side,
He uttered screams of fear;
The echoes rang out far and wide,
But God refused to hear.

The greedy waves crept o'er his head,
And heeded not his plea,
But strangled him 'till he was dead,
Then buried him in the sea.

And then, suddenly thro' the sky
The sunlight faintly burst;
A rainbow loomed out on high
That said, “this ends the curse.”

The clouds all quickly passed away,
The sunbeams lit the sky,
'Twas near the hundred and fiftieth day
When the waters said good-bye.

Again with furore o'er the lea
And back towards the West,
They hasten back into the sea
Where they now calmly rest.

And the Ark, with it precious freight,
Mid calm and all of that,
Landed, so the Hebrews state,
Upon Mount Ararat.

Eight persons, only, left the Ark
And marched across the plain,
Forever aft' in ages dark
To people the world again.

KAY PULLIAM'S GIN.

TO THE PULLIAM CHILDREN.

[_]

Note.—

One spring evening, while sitting at my window, near Rossville, Fayette County, Tennessee, I heard the cry, “fire! fire!” I rushed to the scene of horror, to find it the farm gin which belonged to a farmer by the name of Pulliam. I eagerly watched the flames as they rose up in splendor against the vernal skies, and I saw the old house sink into a mass of ashes. So touched was I with that scene of mingled beauty and horror, that I drew from my pocket a pencil and tablet, and wrote a

poem, which I dedicated to the farmer's children.

—March, 1889.

Hum, hum, hum, went the old gin wheel
Of old Kay Pulliam's gin.
Zoo, zoo, zoo, through the old sage field
Loud blew the cutting wind.

But, as the wind blew cold and raw
Straight through Kay Pulliam's gin,
Gayly sang Mr. Jackson Warr,
And raked the cotton in.

While he sang as a gay skylark
A stifling smoke arose.
His eyes caught the glittering spark,
And his heart within froze.

He called to the driver, ho! ho!
As would his great grand sire,
Then leaping to the ground below,
Screamed out—“fire! fire! fire!”

But onward blew the cutting wind
Straight through the old dry frame,
A mighty crackling rose within,
And higher leaped the flame.

And the cows left their pasture feed
To watch the flames ascend,
But when they smelled the cotton-seed
They seemed to comprehend.

But fiercer grew the seething flame,
Of it will memory tell,
How cranky grew the old dry frame,
At last the old house fell.

Thus ceased the humming of the wheel
Of old Kay Pulliam's gin,
But zoo, zoo, through the old sage field
Still blows the cutting wind.

SCHOOL LIFE ENDED.

TO THE CLASS OF 1890.

At last! at the terminus
Of normal training's day;
But seven if you count us,
Yet ask what you may.

We rest here but a second;
Sweet is a moment's rest:

So soon we shall be beckoned
Onward at God's request.

The waters still are flowing
Within their murmuring rills;
The harvest fields are glowing
Along the sloping hills.

Let's get our sycles ready
Before the autumn rain,
With hands both firm and steady,
Reap in the golden grain.

But hark! we're at the ocean—
The ocean deep and wide:
We hear its surging billows,
We see its swelling tide.

And should we launch our vessel
Upon this stormy sea,
What damage could there happen
To seven as true as we?

Tho' on the stormy ocean
We'd meet with endless strife;
But due us is a portion
Of trouble thro' this life.

So let's be like the seven,
“The seven peas in a pod,”
That grew beneath the heaven
For the glory of their God.

But when our “pod” is open
And the winds our union sever,
Who'll go into the desert
And the starving birds deliver?

Who'll leap up to the attic
And thro' the window peep,
To cheer the poor, afflicted,
And watch them in their sleep?

Who'll go out on the hillside
Where oft' the shepherds sleep,
And spread your branches wide
To feed the hungry sheep?

For here our school life ends:
We dare not try to shirk;
But say “farewell, dear friends,”
And hie upon our work.

We'll be a happy seven
Where'er our feet have trod,
And live beneath the heaven
For the glory of our God.

Tho' with the tempest shifting,
Or while the sunbeams dart,
With pearly clouds we're drifting
Farther and farther apart;

Yet we shall be a seven,
On land or on the main;
Our compass points to heaven,
And there we'll meet again.

THE FUNNY MAN.

The funniest man I ever saw
I'll tell you this, you see,
He is about the size of pa,
And lives with Kitt McCree.

He goes to Macon, gets his drink,
And then gets on a spree,
But when its off—how strange to think,
Comes back to Kitt McCree.

He takes his beer and whisky straight,
Jolly as he can be.
His name to you I will not state—
He lives with Kitt McCree.

One day while whittling with his knife
The bark from off a tree,
“Duch,” said he to his hearty wife,
“Just leave old Kitt McCree.”

So off he moved to neighbor's house,
To live with him, you see,
But, before three weeks were quite out,
Went back to Kitt McCree.

And there he is until this day,
Jolly as he can be;
And there he'll be until he's gray
With same old Kitt McCree.

KING AUTUMN.

Autumn one September day
With but a golden wand
Came to this country (people say)
From a strange, foreign land.

He found the earth enrobed in green,
With flowered belts around,
A skirt of nature's grandest scene
In tucks of grandeur bound.

He thought her queenly in her form,
But just one thing alack,
A golden belt, a chain and charm,
And brownish-colored sack.

And so he touched her queenly hand;
And trees that graced her crown
Did waver 'neath his magic wand
Till came a shower down.

He moved among the leafy tents
Till colors varied came,
And till bouquets of golden tints
Were given earth his dame.

Then he smiled upon the flowers,
Which blushed and drooped the head:
And stepping out from the bowers,
In frigid tones he said:

“I, the great king of all the land,
Know nothing of mother;
But early left my native land
To dwell in another.

The earth at once shall change her robe
From green to brilliant brown,
And every creature on the globe
Shall recognize her crown.”

He placed his hands upon the leaves
Which soon their verdure lost;
And blew his breath among the eaves
And left a coat of frost.

Then we insects and little elves
Did vanish as of gold,
And men threw cloaks around themselves
Because 'twas getting cold.

And every year since that day,
When earth puts on her brown,
All of the wise pull off their gay
To recognize her crown.

A FADED FLOWER.

TO “MAGNETTA.”

[_]

Note.—

This flower was left by a member of the senior class of 1889 in a Latin reader, in the Normal Institute, LeMoyne, and remained there till found by the class of next year, whence sprang this poem:

O, beautiful, lovely flower,
(Between the pages pressed)
Once thou decked a graceful bower,
And often was caressed;

Until a maiden came one day
To admire their velvet crest,
And plucked thee, took thee far away
Upon her heaving breast.

She brought thee to this study-room,
Far from your shady nook,
Between these pages sealed thy doom,
And kept thee in this book.

She wrote above thee an epitaph,
Beneath thee something better;
Across thy other verdant half
She wrote her name—Magnetta.

She was so pleased with all thy charms,
With all thy grace and style,
She often clasped thee in her arms,
Caressed thee with a smile.

She put thee in this self-same place,
She read this self-same book:
To her you added queenly grace,
And thee she ne'er forsook.

She was a girl of simple grace:
Angelic sweetness not amiss,
So often, too, in her embrace,
Didst thou receive a loving kiss.

But summer time came on at last,
Commencement day came, too:
She greeted thee her very last,
And bade thee an adieu.

She left thee a fading flower,
A treasure more than dear;
But one day 'mid autumn's shower
We came and found thee here.

We greeted thee for her namesake,
And let many tear-drops start:
For thee no ruby would we take,
Yet so soon we, too, must part.

We'll pardon her if she was cruel
To break thee from thy tree;
Because to us all a jewel,
Much treasured, you shall be.

So with this ribbon we'll bind you
And leave you in this book,
So some other class may find you
And for your hist'ry look.

And now we will part forever:
The winds some day may tell
That we've forgotten thee never,
So farewell, dear! farewell!

FATE.

I met her in the country
When the sun was low,
And the sky was radiant
With an amber glow.

We played croquet together
On the school-yard ground,
Till fell the twilight shadows
And the night came round.

“Good-night, sir!” said she softly,
As she walked away;
“We'll meet again to-morrow,
If fine be the day.”

Again next day I met her
In the early morn,
When heard was but the ringing
Of the hunter's horn.

With me she went afishing,
Tho' nothing was caught;
I wondered if I loved her,
Would it come to naught?

100

We went to church together,
And she sang a song;
I dreamed about the singing
All the night live-long.

I then knew that I loved her,
And did not repine,
Because that she was promised
And never could be mine.

But love I will forever,
Till we meet above;
For death can never sever
Bonds of sacred love.

The heaven bells will ring it
In their merry chimes—
“I love her!”—and be echoed
Back a thousand times.

The angels all will sing it
In their melody,
That I will love her ever
Thro' eternity.

101

THE KIND REPLY.

A Christian man one summer's day
With care his books perusing,
Was smiling in a pleasant way
As something seemed amusing.

An open letter in his hand
Thro' which a friend was pleading,
She who was his dearest friend,
Her words he had been reading.

When suddenly the door flew wide,
A stalwart friend came in,
And stepping to the Christian's side
This story did begin—

“That girl whom oft you call your friend
Has used you as a tool,
Tho' innocent does she pretend,
Yet plays you for the fool.”

“Oh, no!” said he, “It all I see
And fully understand,
That barrier 'twixt her and me
You wish to take your stand.”

102

“Oh, no, sir!” said the stalwart friend,
“It is a true old tale,
And upon it you may depend,
Deceit is a female.

Did you not to Stanovilla
One lovely summer's day,
With your lone red umbrella
A friendly visit pay?

And when you had departed
Back forty miles to roam,
She a wicked letter started
Out on its mission home?

To a girlish friend she stated—
‘These words I gladly send;
The question's being debated,
If not the world's on end.

This day there came to see me,
My memory makes no slips,
A young man, a perfect beauty,
With great big liver lips.’

You see I am not a barrier
Betwixt yourself and friend;
That girl will prove a terror
And bite you in the end.”

103

Then stepped he out thro' the door
Without a sense of wrong;
The Christian sank upon the floor
In thought the day live-long,

At length he rose and with a frown,
Insulted as he thought,
With pen and ink did he sit down
And wrote what he ought not.

Said he: “If you in this persist
Friendship sure must sever,
And then our long-loved friendship end
Forever and forever.”

He sent the letter on its way
And tears came to his eye,
But ere the close of that same day
There came the kind reply—

“Dear sir, you have insulted me,
But I forgive you this,
For, sorry, sorry you will be
Ere the dew the grass doth kiss.

And as for welcome at my home,
I give it to you freely,
And will be glad whene'er you come
If you believe it really.

104

But to recall your friendship, sir,
Such can ne'er be in you,
For if you are a Christian, sir,
Friendship must continue.

And thus you will some future day,
When passion you forsake,
Consider things the other way
And see your own mistake.”

The Christian did, and strange to say,
Became a wiser man,
And knows that nothing e'en this day
Can do what kindness can.

And now he teaches ev'ry born
How anger to defy;
Not by hot words and mocking scorn,
But with a kind reply.

105

CHRISTMAS BELLS.

Chime on, O, Christmas bells, chime on!
As once thou didst of yore,
When broke the stillness of the morn
With the echoes you bore.
“Peace on earth, good will to men,”
Is what your echoes told,
And that the angels even then,
Were playing harps of gold.

Chime on, O, Christmas bells, chime on!
Amuse the babe new-born,
And with thy peals and welcome sound
Cheer up the rosy morn;
And bring into my aching heart
That Christ of long ago,
That he some blessings may impart,
I ne'er have felt before.

Chime on, O, Christmas bells, chime on!
I love thy welcome sound:
Forgive, O Lord, what I have done
In sin the whole year round.
Those angry words I spoke to friends
Torment me even yet;

106

Help me, O Lord, to make amends,
And then let me forget.

Chime on, O, Christmas bells, chime on!
Unite the hearts of friends;
Bring back that joy that once our own
And happiness it tends:
And when the old year makes its halt,
Do let us then and there
Lay off our sins and evr'y fault,
New life begin with prayer.

THANATOS.

O'er nature's extended field
I am a tyrant king;
Where I my giant sceptre wield,
No life can ever spring.
E'en the flower, when I walk
O'er earth with kingly tread,
If by chance I touch its stalk
It at my feet falls dead.

I chase the birds of the wood
And kill them just for fun;
They hide, but they never could
My presence ever shun.

107

I break up the squirrel's den,
Their happiness destroy;
And I the fleet reindeer then
Into my arms decoy.

I kiss the leaves on the trees,
And never greived am I
When their verdant beauty flees
And nature seems to die;
For life it is that I haunt,
In air, on land or sea;
And funer'l songs I chant—
“Farewell mortality!”

Man I shall forever hate.
(Between us but a pace),
For since Adam's lost estate
I'm ever on his chase.
I murder his babe—poor child!—
E'en on its mother's breast;
Nor heed I screams pleading wild
Nor grant his vain request;
But with the babe off I run,
Making my mission brief,
Looking backward just for fun
And smiling at his grief.

108

I visit the sick man's bed,
And to him I say “Die!”
A moment more and he's dead,
Such a monster am I.
My strength can ne'er tell its own,
For space will ne'er give room;
I forced the God from his throne
And shut him in the tomb.

I the verdant fields disrobe,
I conquer all the brave;
The air, the sea, e'en the globe
I make as one great grave.
Over earth on ev'ry hill
I blow my pois'nous breath,
And write on every house sill
And ev'ry doorpost—Death.