But in the traveller's heart a secret sense Lifts to the starry calm of heaven his eyes; “Father of all!" he urges his strong plea, "All souls are Thine; the wings of morning bear None from that Presence which is everywhere. Nor hell itself can hide, for Thou art there. "Through sins of sense, perversities of will, Through doubt and pain, through guilt and shame and ill, Thy pitying eye is on Thy creature still. "Wilt thou not make, Eternal Source and Goal! In Thy long years, life's broken circle whole, And change to praise the cry of a lost soul?" ITALY. ACROSS the sea I heard the groans Of nations in the intervals Of wind and wave. Their blood and bones Cried out in torture, crushed by thrones, I dreamed of freedom slowly gained With corded muscles battle-strained, I turn me, awe-struck, from the sight, Shall tread the darkness under foot. I know the pent fire heaves its crust, Though with the earthquake and the storm. God reigns, and let the earth rejoice! Yet, surely as He lives, the day Of peace He promised shall be ours, THE RIVER PATH No bird-song floated down the hill, No rustle from the birchen stem, The dusk of twilight round us grew, For, from us, ere the day was done, But on the river's farther side A tender glow, exceeding fair, With us the damp, the chill, the gloom: While dark, through willowy vistas seen, From out the darkness where we trod Whose light seemed not of moon or sun. We paused, as if from that bright shore And stilled our beating hearts to hear Sudden our pathway turned from night; Through their green gates the sunshine showed, A long, slant splendor downward flowed. Down glade and glen and bank it rolled; And, borne on piers of mist, allied "So," prayed we, "when our feet draw near The river dark, with mortal fear, "And the night cometh chill with dew, "So let the hills of doubt divide, "So let the eyes that fail on earth On thy eternal-hills look forth; "And in thy beckoning angels know The dear ones whom we loved below!" A MEMORIAL. M. A. C. O THICKER, deeper, darker growing, In love surpassing that of brothers, One in our faith, and one our longing And gladder for our human speech. Thou heardst with me the far-off voices, To homely joys and loves and friendships Ran back and left thee always young. And who could blame the generous So overprized the worth of others, weakness And dwarfed thy own with self-distrust? All hearts grew warmer in the presence Thy greeting smile was pledge and prelude The task was thine to mould and fashion And light with thought the maiden's face. O'er all the land, in town and prairie, Thy call has come in ripened manhood, Live on, to own, with self-upbraiding, |