Home Lyrics: A Book of Poems Part 17

Thus the cla.s.s social barriers which the pride Of Anglo-Saxon nations still provide, May yield beneath more kindly pressure lent, To make all cla.s.ses happily content.

What worthier monument could nations raise, To merit from its ma.s.ses grateful praise, Than such attractive parks to educate, And morals, minds and manners elevate?

For lectures on home subjects, not too long, Might be delivered freely to the throng, Exemplifying the Creator's laws, Which yield their just effects to every cause, Whilst music in sweet tones of band and voice, Might lead the congregation to rejoice, As well to educate as charm the ear, And many a saddened heart uplift and cheer.

TO A FAITHFUL DOG.

Dear Vixey! quadruped of n.o.ble type, I fain would chant the praises of thy life, Though words of mine are powerless and weak, To sketch thy character, so brave yet meek.

Full of sincere devotion, without bound, Art thou to thy dear master, faithful hound!

Thy love for him refres.h.i.+ng is to see, For in him centres thy felicity.

When he is saddened or beset with fears I've seen thy lovely eyes suffused with tears.

And thou hast nestled by him to express Thy sympathy in eloquent caress.

But when in happier mood, and accents bright He speaks to thee, what transports of delight Beam from thine eye where joy and peace prevail, Upraise thy ears and elevate thy tail.

Those solemn, full, expressive eyes of thine, With fond affection and emotion s.h.i.+ne, As he permits thee to curl round and lie Upon the sofa near him cozily.

Nothing will tempt thee to forsake his side, Where thou reclinest, with delighted pride.

Vain are all efforts to divert thy choice, Unless o'er-ruled by his beloved voice.

And whilst in Mrs. Mount's well-ordered room, Where thou with him art dining after noon, How knowingly thou dost inspect each face, Where thou, instinctively, kind feelings trace.

If thou could'st only speak, what tones of love Would pa.s.s 'twixt thee and him, thy joy to prove, For surely never could affection be Stronger than thine in warmth and constancy.

Serving each member of the family, With true allegiance and fidelity, Though chiefly to thy youngest mistress thou Dost with affectionate submission bow.

Albeit, thou wouldst forsake them all to win One quiet word or coaxing look from him; Thy first obedient loyalty is shown To him who thou so proudly count'st thine own.

No wonder, then, that he so prizes thee, For such devotion and fidelity, Which, even from a dog, can joy impart To a despairing or a troubled heart.

Thy great, round eyes with eloquence express Unselfish love and fullest confidence, Almost beyond the power of words to tell, When gazing on the one thou lov'st so well.

Dear Vixey, I conclude by sending thee, Over the boundless, intervening sea, Many kind words and pats by the loved one Who thy fond, ardent, faithful love has won.

SELF DISCIPLINE.

Self discipline and perseverance strong, Effort on effort, with endurance long, Make kings of men, who subjugate and sway Stern empire over self each hour of day.

They, like skilled generals, lead on the van Of thoughts progressive in the inner man, And marshal well their forces, so to fight That truth and justice be diffused as light.

Such const.i.tute an empire grand within, Raise fortresses 'gainst known and secret sin, And thus become brave conquerors, whose deeds Leave all the monument that goodness needs.

They form a true refining power on earth, A high n.o.bility of sterling worth, Who, though oft poor in worldly riches, may Far n.o.bler thrones than those of earth's kings sway.

Triumphs o'er self-will, selfishness and pride, Ensure a wealth of consequences wide, Which gain the victor armour that shall win Him further victories o'er self and sin.

But 'tis the will of heaven that each should keep This armour bright, and sow what he would reap, That industry unflinching, tireless zeal Should to earth's workers rich results reveal.

Endurance disciplines to sympathy, Which deals a death blow to cold apathy, Making its owner ready to risk all, And smile down obstacles at duty's call.

Kind gentleness comes also in its train, Constraining men to serve those some would blame.

Patient with erring strayed ones far from home Sternly severe unto themselves alone.

Then comes the blissful privilege that flows Through self-denial, of a.s.sisting those Who may through ignorance have lost their way, Or blindly stumbled in the glare of day.

That charity translated into love, Is of all graces foremost, all may prove, Meaning not merely money, which counts naught, Unless with sympathetic kindness fraught.

Intelligible to the searching mind, Is the Creator's message to mankind, If it with fervour study His grand laws, Which prove that each effect must have a cause.

As naught material is lost in s.p.a.ce, So nothing spiritual can man efface; Exemplifying thus the axiom sure, That conquering love, truth, justice must endure.

So let each strive to serve as best he can.

His Father G.o.d, himself, and fellow man, By subjugating self, and shewing forth That justice, love, truth, peace, should rule on earth.

Then might that brotherhood which Christ ordained, Be through the wide world practised and proclaimed, As one grand creed for earth's vast family, Of loving service to the Deity.

THE CENTENARY OF A HERO.

George Stephenson, the heroic son of Britain's hardy race, The world this day holds festival, his grand career to trace; And proudly as compatriots England enshrines his name, Among her choicest heroes, on her cherished scroll of fame.

This ninth of June commemorates the glad centenary Of him whom mighty nations hold in grateful memory; A veritable hero he, worthy immortal praise, And the most lavish monuments mankind may to him raise.

Out of the humblest ranks of life the Wylam pitman rose, To a stern, irresponsive world great secrets to disclose; And through the rare, majestic force of a G.o.d-inspiring will, He forced the world his grand design and purpose to fulfil.

The poor, illiterate youth thus reared in penury extreme, Could scarcely read or write ere he attained eighteen, And yet, by the observant force of a self-guided brain, He lived to benefit a world, and gain immortal fame.