Now e’en above the ocean
Some bigot there may be,
Who only prays to Neptune,
Who dwells beneath the sea.
He sees no beauty ever,
Except in his own flowers.
And if from him you differ,
Contumely on you showers.
THE WORLD IS ASLEEP.
Step softly for the world’s asleep
And when it wakes, it wakes to weep
O’er all the sins and dire mistakes
That it will see when it awakes.
O’er griefs and sorrows of the race,
Which all mankind must sometimes face.
O, world sleep on, ’tis better so
Than to awake and see the woe,
And burdens that mankind must bear;
The aching hearts aye filled with care.
In sleep you dream, and dream of peace;
From turmoil dire you have surcease.
Sleep on! Dream on! From care be free
Through time, and through eternity.
There is no rest, ’tis toil alway;
’Tis warfare, death, and then decay.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE RACE?
What is the future of the race?
I asked a little brook.
It laughingly replied to me
“I cannot stop to look.”
Then next I asked a gray old tree,
It shook with laughter too.
“Go ask the river, it may give
An answer unto you.”
The river stopped upon its course,
And unto me it said,
“Go ask the ocean, it is wise
And I shall soon him wed.”
The ocean seemed with anger filled,
But unto me replied,
“I have no time for foolish speech,
Do not delay my tide.”
The wind, in answer to my plea
A moment paused, to say,
“Go ask the sphinx, perhaps she knows,
And will your fears allay.”
I asked the sphinx, she seemed to smile,
I started back aghast;
She seemed to speak, I heard these words,
“I only know the past.”
I bowed before the placid stone,
And begged to know the past.
“The present is enough for you,
With all its questions vast.”
O tell me of the past I beg!
O do not it withhold
Sometime the future I shall know
It will to me unfold.
“O man why seekest thou to know
The future, or the past?
The present is enough for you,
If not with clouds o’er cast.”
The mountains seemed to pity me,
The clouds shed showers of tears,
The sun looked down in reverence,
And said: “Allay your fears,”
“For there’s a power that rules mankind,
E’er has and ever will.
The future, and the past, are His,
Are governed by His will.”
Then gazing at the works of God,
My thoughts seemed trivial, small,—
Why should I worry o’er the race?
When God is over all.
LOVE’S PATH.
Adown the many walks of life,
Though stormy be the weather,
We will clasp hands in confidence,
And walk Love’s path together.
When days are bright we’ll happy be,
And will not trouble borrow;
But do the very best we can
For clouds may come tomorrow.
Though life be filled with many cares,
If soul with soul is blending,
We’ll bear the cares most cheerfully.
Love hath with us no ending.
When Death shall come, as come he must,—
For life is short, and fleeting,
With outstretched hands and happy smile,
We’ll give him kindly greeting.