TO ELIZABETH
OBIT JULY 8, 1893
O noble, true and pure and lovable
As thine own blessed name, Elizabeth!—
Ay, even as its cadence lingereth
Upon the lips that speak it, so the spell
Of thy sweet memory shall ever dwell
As music in our hearts. Smiling at Death
As on some later guest that tarrieth,
Too gratefully o'erjoyed to say farewell,
Thou hast turned from us but a little space—
We miss thy presence but a little while,
Thy voice of sympathy, thy word of cheer,
The radiant glory of thine eyes and face,
The glad midsummer morning of thy smile,—
For still we feel and know that thou art here.
TO ALMON KEEFER
INSCRIBED IN "TALES OF THE OCEAN"
This first book that I ever knew
Was read aloud to me by you!
Friend of my boyhood, therefore take
It back from me, for old times' sake—
The selfsame "Tales" first read to me,
Under "the old sweet apple tree,"
Ere I myself could read such great
Big words,—but listening all elate,
At your interpreting, until
Brain, heart, and soul were all athrill
With wonder, awe, and sheer excess
Of wildest childish happiness.
So take the book again—forget
All else,—long years, lost hopes, regret;
Sighs for the joys we ne'er attain,
Prayers we have lifted all in vain;
Tears for the faces seen no more,
Once as the roses at the door!
Take the enchanted book—And lo,
On grassy swards of long ago,
Sprawl out again, beneath the shade
The breezy old-home orchard made,
The veriest barefoot boy indeed—
And I will listen as you read.
TO—"THE J. W. R. LITERARY CLUB"
Well, it's enough to turn his head to have a feller's name
Swiped with a Literary Club!—But you're the ones to blame!—
I call the World to witness that I never agged ye to it
By ever writin' Classic-like—because I couldn't do it:
I never run to "Hellicon," ner writ about "Per-nassus,"
Ner ever tried to rack or ride around on old "P-gassus"!
When "Tuneful Nines" has cross'd my lines, the ink 'ud blot and blur it,
And pen 'ud jest putt back fer home, and take the short way fer it!
And so, as I'm a-sayin',—when you name your Literary
In honor o' this name o' mine, it's railly nessessary—
Whilse I'm a-thankin' you and all—to warn you, ef you do it,
I'll haf to jine the thing myse'f 'fore I can live up to it!