BASELESS PRIDE.
(This pride-humbling survey of man and his destiny was written by William Knox, a Scotchman.)
Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?
Like a swift fleeting meteor, a fast flying cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
Man passes from life to his rest in the grave.
The leaves of the oak and the willow shall fade,
Be scattered around, and together be laid;
And the young and the old and the low and the high
Shall molder to dust, and together shall lie.
The infant a mother attended and loved,
The mother that infant’s affection who proved,
The husband that mother and infant who blessed—
Each and all are away to their dwellings of rest.
The maid on whose cheek, on whose brow, in whose eye,
Shone beauty and pleasure—her triumphs are by;
And the memory of those who loved her and praised
Is alike from the minds of the living erased.
The hand of the king that the scepter has borne,
The brow of the priest that the miter has worn,
The eye of the sage and the heart of the brave
Are hidden and lost in the depths of the grave.
The peasant whose lot was to sow and to reap,
The herdsman who climbed with his goats up the steep,
The beggar who wandered in search of his bread,
Have faded away like the grass that we tread.
The saint who enjoyed the communion of Heaven,
The sinner who dared to remain unforgiven,
The wise and the foolish, the guilty and just,
Have quietly mingled their bones in the dust.
So the multitude goes—like the flower or the weed
That withers away to let others succeed;
So the multitude comes—even those we behold—
To repeat every tale that has often been told.
For we are the same our fathers have been;
We see the same sights our fathers have seen;
We drink the same stream, we view the same Sun,
And run the same course our fathers have run.
The thoughts we are thinking our fathers would think;
From the death we are shrinking our fathers would shrink;
To the life we are clinging they also would cling—
But it speeds from us all like a bird on the wing.
They loved—but the story we can not unfold;
They scorned—but the heart of the haughty is cold;
They grieved—but no wail from their slumber will come;
They joyed—but the tongue of their gladness is dumb.
They died—aye, they died—and we things that are now,
That walk on the turf that lies o’er their brow
And make in their dwellings a transient abode,
Meet the things that they met on their pilgrimage road.
Yea, hope and despondency, pleasure and pain,
Are mingled together in sunshine and rain;
And the smile and the tear, the song and the dirge,
Still follow each other, like surge upon surge.
’Tis the wink of an eye—’tis the draught of a breath—
From the blossom of health to the paleness of death,
From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud!
Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?
BOOKS PUBLISHED BY
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Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains; or, The Last Voice from the Plains—An authentic record of a life time of hunting, trapping, scouting and Indian fighting in the Far West. Copiously illustrated by H. S. De Lay and by many reproductions from photographs. By Capt. W. F. Drannan, who went on to The Plains when fifteen years old.
Rough Life on the Frontier.—A True and Graphic tale of the Doing and Daring of the Men who pushed Westward in the early days of our country’s life; told by a man who was one of them, and shared their struggles, hardships and final success. Copiously illustrated with 23 full page engravings from original drawings by H. S. De Lay. 530 pages.
Life in the Mines; or, Crime Avenged.—Including thrilling adventures among miners and outlaws, the mystery of the Phantom Horseman and the dark concoctions of One-Eyed Riley. By C. H. Simpson, author of “Wild Life in the Far West,” “A Yankee’s Adventures in South Africa,” etc. Copiously illustrated by H. S. De Lay.
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Pearls from Many Seas.—A collation of the best thoughts of 400 writers of wide repute. Selected and classified by Rev. J. B. McClure. Illustrated with 50 full-page engravings selected especially for this work from the great art galleries of the world. A volume of rare value and interest to all lovers of good literature. Reading matter, 528 pages.
Evils of the Cities.—By T. De Witt Talmage, D. D. The author, in company with the proper detectives, visited many of the most vile and wicked places in New York City and Brooklyn, ostensibly looking for a thief, but in reality taking notes for a series of discourses, published in this volume, which contains a full and graphic description of what he saw and the lessons drawn therefrom. The Doctor has also extended his observations to the “Summer Resorts,” the “Watering Places,” the “Races,” etc., all of which are popularized from his standpoint in this volume. Reading matter, 397 pages.
A Yankee’s Adventures in South America.—(In the diamond country.) By C. H. Simpson. Giving the varied experiences, adventures, dangers and narrow escapes of a Yankee seeking his fortune in this wild country, who, by undaunted courage, perseverance, suffering, fighting and adventures of various sorts, is requited at last by the ownership of the largest diamond taken out of the Kimberly mines up to that time and with the heart and hand of the fairest daughter of a diamond king. Containing 30 full-page illustrations by H. S. De Lay. Reading matter, 234 pages.
Bible Characters.—A collection of Sermons by the most renowned divines of their times on these subjects; a beautiful and inspiring book that ought to find its place into every home where good and elevating literature is sought after. Dwight Lyman Moody, Dr. Talmage, Joseph Parker, etc.; illustrations from the famous paintings by Gustave Dore. 477 pages reading matter.
The First Mortgage.—A truthful, instructive, pleasing and poetical presentation of Biblical Stories, History and Gospel Truth. By E. U. Cook. Fully and handsomely illustrated from the world-renowned artist, Gustave Dore, the whole forming an exceedingly interesting and entertaining Poetical Bible. One of the most handsome volumes ever issued in Chicago. 288 pages.
Helen Blair.—A novel by Nina Miller Elliott. It is a well written and decidedly interesting story and holds the reader from the first page to the last.
When the Heart Is Young.—By Nina Miller Elliott. Everyone who has read “Helen Blair” will want to read “When the Heart Is Young.” It is one of the best works of fiction brought out in recent years.
Every Woman’s Right.—An exceptionally interesting story by Nina Miller Elliott. A story full of love and true to life, and every woman will enjoy reading it.
Peggy Kip.—Nina Miller Elliott’s latest book. A novel that every one will read and remember with appreciation.