Side by side the great men rise Towards the heights of brighter skies; But tho’ minds together blend And each friend is joined to friend, Till their spirits interchange And their thoughts have fullest range, Yet while aging day by day, They diverge upon life’s way Till Young Genius claims his own And they choose to soar alone.
THE HERE AND THERE.
By courtesy of Ladies’ World, New York City.
The Here and There are not so far apart, As oft’ they seem to Sorrow’s waiting heart; The waking love that Here no more shall sleep Will There the souls in perfect union keep. God does not mean, tho’ Heaven be bright and fair, To break the strands between the Here and There. The heart that loves shall love beyond the skies; The soul that lives shall live in Paradise. We know that He in joy and peace will keep Our own and His until we fall asleep. The same sweet smile, the loving face so fair, But glorified, awaits our coming There. To those who trust and patiently endure, He gives them back, bright, beautiful and pure. They are not lost to such as you and me But still shall love us thro’ Eternity;— And from temptation and from earthly care Shall lead us upward to the Heavenly There.
AIR CASTLES.
Sometimes I dwell not here— But far away, Where not a breath disturbs My fondest dream; Where, loitering at ease, Myself alone I please And sing my soul good cheer Within my castles fair, That I have built in air, Above Time’s stream.
Outside, like haunting ghosts, The clouds appear, But noiselessly pass by Each bolted gate; Around my castle walls, The hush of moon-light falls, While, like the armied hosts, With torches flashing bright, The stars come out at night To celebrate.
’Tis bliss to dwell like this, In airy heights, Above the common crowd And earthly din; Where all the livelong day, With my best self I stay And naught of glory miss; Where neither friend nor foe, To pity or bring woe, Can enter in.