LOVE’S ACCEPTANCE.
Love’s jewels are better than baubles.—
A palace may not be a home;
Unhappiness dwelling within it
Though jeweled from throne-room to dome
Love’s jewels are all that I ask for;
True love is more precious than gold,
I wish not for palace, nor mansion
Thine arms shall me ever enfold.
A sip from Love’s brook is far better
Than wine from a gold jeweled cup.
’Tis poison in chalice, if Hatred
Sits with us at table to sup.
The mirror I crave is the love-light
That beams in thine eyes, and thy face,
And, cottage when furnished with love-deeds;
Of poverty shows not a trace.
Love ever looks upward, not downward,
Will therefore not think of bare floor;
And will not fly out of the window,
Though Poverty enters at door.
My gowns may be cotton, or linen;
It matters but little to me.—
My beauty is not of much value,
Unless it is pleasing to thee.
The nest thou hast built by the brookside,
Is better, far better for me
Than mansion, or palace, or castle;
No shadow within shall there be.
But echoing songs of thy “birdling”
Shall fill every corner, and nook.
The willows shall be sylvan bowers;
And fountain of love shall be brook.
AUTUMN LEAVES.
I now have culled from out Life’s forest
These Autumn Leaves which I shall send you
They have been pressed into service
For my little book.
Perhaps if you the leaves had chosen,
You would have culled more brilliant colors,
And pressed them better too.
By careful searching you may find one
That pleases you by word, or measure,
And cherished e’en will be.
I hope that you will take some pleasure
In reading book, and conning measure.
But kindly criticise.
I give my leaves into your keeping,
I hope with love you will receive them,
These offsprings of my heart.
FINALE.
My “Autumn Leaves” are gathered,
And now they must be pressed.
I hope they will give pleasure,
And hearts by them be blessed.
Transcriber Notes
In a few cases, obvious errors in punctuation have been fixed.
In the [table of contents], “Our Virtues Are Carved Upon One Tombstones” changed to “Our Virtues Are Carved Upon Our Tombstones”. “Can’st Tell Me” changed to “Canst Tell Me”. “To A Friend On Her Birthday” changed to “To A Friend On Her Birth-day” “Yesterday changed to Yesterdays”
[Page 32]: A missing quote was added after “Are governed by His will.”