Alaska Days with John Muir
Transcriber’s Note
The punctuation and spelling from the original text have been faithfully preserved.
ALASKA DAYS WITH JOHN MUIR
JOHN MUIR WITH ALASKA SPRUCE CONES
S. HALL YOUNG
Illustrated
New York Chicago Toronto Fleming H. Revell Company London and Edinburgh
Copyright, 1915, by FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY New York: 158 Fifth Avenue Chicago: 125 N. Wabash Ave. Toronto: 25 Richmond St., W. London: 21 Paternoster Square Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street
THE MOUNTAIN
Deep calm from God enfolds the land; Light on the mountain top I stand; How peaceful all, but ah, how grand! Low lies the bay beneath my feet; The bergs sail out, a white-winged fleet, To where the sky and ocean meet. Their glacier mother sleeps between Her granite walls. The mountains lean Above her, trailing skirts of green. Each ancient brow is raised to heaven: The snow streams always, tempest-driven, Like hoary locks, o'er chasms riven By throes of Earth. But, still as sleep, No storm disturbs the quiet deep Where mirrored forms their silence keep. A heaven of light beneath the sea! A dream of worlds from shadow free! A pictured, bright eternity! The azure domes above, below (A crystal casket), hold and show, As precious jewels, gems of snow, Dark emerald islets, amethyst Of far horizon, pearls of mist In pendant clouds, clear icebergs, kissed By wavelets,—sparkling diamonds rare Quick flashing through the ambient air. A ring of mountains, graven fair In lines of grace, encircles all, Save where the purple splendors fall On sky and ocean's bridal-hall. The yellow river, broad and fleet, Winds through its velvet meadows sweet— A chain of gold for jewels meet. Pours over all the sun's broad ray; Power, beauty, peace, in one array! My God, I thank Thee for this day.