I see a Spirit by thy side,Purple-winged and eagle-eyed,Looking like a Heavenly guide. Though he seem so bright and fair,Ere thou trust his proffered care,Pause a little, and beware! If he bid thee dwell apart,Tending some ideal smartIn a sick and coward heart; In self-worship wrapped alone,Dreaming thy poor griefs are grownMore than other men […]

Through the blue and frosty heavensChristmas stars were shining bright;Glistening lamps throughout the CityAlmost matched their gleaming light;While the winter snow was lying,And the winter winds were sighing,Long ago, one Christmas night. While, from every tower and steeple,Pealing bells were sounding clear,(Never with such tones of gladness,Save when Christmas time is near,)Many a one that […]

Judge not; the workings of his brainAnd of his heart thou canst not see;What looks to thy dim eyes a stain,In God’s pure light may only beA scar, brought from some well-won field,Where thou wouldst only faint and yield. The look, the air, that frets thy sight,May be a token, that belowThe soul has closed […]

Stand this way–more near the window–By my desk–you see the lightFalling on my picture better–Thus I see it while I write! Who the head may be I know not,But it has a student air;With a look half sad, half stately,Grave sweet eyes and flowing hair. Little care I who the painter,How obscure a name he […]

Do not cheat thy Heart and tell her,“Grief will pass away,Hope for fairer times in future,And forget to-day.”–Tell her, if you will, that sorrowNeed not come in vain;Tell her that the lesson taught herFar outweighs the pain. Cheat her not with the old comfort,“Soon she will forget”–Bitter truth, alas–but matterRather for regret;Bid her not “Seek […]

Before I trust my Fate to thee,Or place my hand in thine,Before I let thy Future giveColour and form to mine,Before I peril all for thee, question thy soul to-night for me. I break all slighter bonds, nor feelA shadow of regret:Is there one link within the Past,That holds thy spirit yet?Or is thy Faith […]

Is my darling tired already,Tired of her day of play?Draw your little stool beside me,Smooth this tangled hair away.Can she put the logs together,Till they make a cheerful blaze?Shall her blind old Uncle tell herSomething of his youthful days? Hark! The wind among the cedarsWaves their white arms to and fro;I remember how I watched […]

Where are the swallows fled?Frozen and dead,Perchance upon some bleak and stormy shore.Oh doubting heart!Far over purple seas,They wait, in sunny ease,The balmy southern breeze,To bring them to their northern homes once more. Why must the flowers die?Prisoned they lieIn the cold tomb, heedless of tears or rain.Oh doubting heart!They only sleep belowThe soft white […]

Spare her at least: look, you have taken from meThe Present, and I murmur not, nor moan;The Future too, with all her glorious promise;But do not leave me utterly alone. Spare me the Past–for, see, she cannot harm you,She lies so white and cold, wrapped in her shroud;All, all my own! and, trust me, I […]

I saw a Ruler take his standAnd trample on a mighty land;The People crouched before his beck,His iron heel was on their neck,His name shone bright through blood and pain,His sword flashed back their praise again. I saw another Ruler rise–His words were noble, good, and wise;With the calm sceptre of his penHe ruled the […]

Though he lived and died among us,Yet his name may be enrolledWith the knights whose deeds of daringAncient chronicles have told. Still a stripling, he encounteredPoverty, and struggled long,Gathering force from every effort,Till he knew his arm was strong. Then his heart and life he offeredTo his radiant mistress–Truth;Never thought, or dream, or faltering,Marred the […]

Over an ancient scroll I bent,Steeping my soul in wise content,Nor paused a moment, save to chideA low voice whispering at my side. I wove beneath the stars’ pale shineA dream, half human, half divine;And shook off (not to break the charm)A little hand laid on my arm. I read; until my heart would glowWith […]

Linger, oh, gentle Time,Linger, oh, radiant grace of bright To-day!Let not the hours’ chimeCall thee away,But linger near me still with fond delay. Linger, for thou art mine!What dearer treasures can the future hold?What sweeter flowers than thineCan she unfold?What secrets tell my heart thou hast not told? Oh, linger in thy flight!For shadows gather […]

Let me count my treasures,All my soul holds dear,Given me by dark spiritsWhom I used to fear. Through long days of anguish,And sad nights, did PainForge my shield, Endurance,Bright and free from stain! Doubt, in misty caverns,‘Mid dark horrors sought,Till my peerless jewel,Faith to me she brought. Sorrow, that I weariedShould remain so long,Wreathed my […]

Let us throw more logs on the fire!We have need of a cheerful light,And close round the hearth to gather,For the wind has risen to-night.With the mournful sound of its wailingIt has checked the children’s glee,And it calls with a louder clamourThan the clamour of the sea.Hark to the voice of the wind! Let us […]

Let thy gold be cast in the furnace,Thy red gold, precious and bright,Do not fear the hungry fire,With its caverns of burning light:And thy gold shall return more precious,Free from every spot and stain;For gold must be tried by fire,As a heart must be tried by pain! In the cruel fire of SorrowCast thy heart, […]

Shine, ye stars of heaven,On a world of pain!See old Time destroyingAll our hoarded gain;All our sweetest flowers,Every stately shrine,All our hard-earned glory,Every dream divine! Shine, ye stars of heaven,On the rolling years!See how Time, consoling,Dries the saddest tears,Bids the darkest storm-cloudsPass in gentle rain;While upspring in glory,Flowers and dreams again! Shine, ye stars of […]

God gave a gift to Earth:- a child,Weak, innocent, and undefiled,Opened its ignorant eyes and smiled. It lay so helpless, so forlorn,Earth took it coldly and in scorn,Cursing the day when it was born. She gave it first a tarnished name,For heritage, a tainted fame,Then cradled it in want and shame. All influence of Good […]

Be strong to hope, oh Heart!Though day is bright,The stars can only shineIn the dark night.Be strong, oh Heart of mine,Look towards the light! Be strong to bear, oh Heart!Nothing is vain:Strive not, for life is care,And God sends pain,Heaven is above, and thereRest will remain! Be strong to love, oh Heart!Love knows not wrong,Didst […]

Hush! I cannot bear to see theeStretch thy tiny hands in vain;Dear, I have no bread to give thee,Nothing, child, to ease thy pain!When God sent thee first to bless me,Proud, and thankful too, was I;Now, my darling I, thy mother,Almost long to see thee die.Sleep, my darling, thou art weary;God is good, but life […]