Of the past 'tis the talisman, when _we three met_, When the star of our friendship arose not to set; And pure as its rising, and bright as the star, Be its course through our heavens, whether near or afar.
_Mother's New Year Gift to the Little Children_
Father-Mother God, Loving me,-- Guard me when I sleep; Guide my little feet Up to Thee.
Father-Mother good, lovingly Thee I seek,-- Patient, meek, In the way Thou hast,-- Be it slow or fast, Up to Thee.
Beyond the clouds, away In the dim distance, lay A bright and golden shower At sunset's radiant hour,-- Like to the soul's glad immortality, Making this life divine, Making its waters wine, Giving the glory that eye cannot see.
In God there is no night,-- Truth is eternal light, A help forever near; For sinless sense is here In Truth, the Life, the Principle of man. Away, then, mortal sense! Then, error, get thee hence, Thy discord ne'er in harmony began!
Immortal Truth,--since heaven rang, The while the glad stars sang To hail creation's glorious morn-- As when this babe was born, A painless heraldry of Soul, not sense,-- Shine on our 'wildered way, Give God's idea sway, And sickness, sin, and death are banished hence.
This is the hour they then foretold-- When earth, inebriate with crime, Laughed right to scorn, and guilt, grown bold, Knelt worshiping at mammon's shrine.
This is the hour! Corruption's band Is driven back; and periled right, Rescued by the "fanatic" hand, Spans our broad heaven of light.
Righteousness ne'er--awestruck or dumb-- Feared for an hour the tyrant's heel! Injustice to the combat sprang; God to the rescue--Liberty, peal!
Joy is in every belfry bell-- Joy for the captive! Sound it long! Ye who have wept fourscore can tell The holy meaning of their song.
'Tis freedom's birthday--blood-bought boon! O war-rent flag! O soldier-shroud! Thine be the glory--nor too soon Is heard your "Cry aloud!"
O not too soon is rent the chain And charter, trampling right in dust! Till God is God no longer--ne'er again Quench liberty that's just.
Respectfully inscribed to my friends in Lynn.
I come to thee O'er the moonlit sea, When the hoarse wave revisits thy shore! When waters shout, And the stars peep out, I am with thee in spirit once more.
