Coquetting all day with the sunbeams, Where the bright red berries rest, It seemeth to me the best. I once had a little brother, With eyes that were dark and deep; But his feet on the hills grew weary, And, one of the autumn eves, I made for my little brother A bed of the yellow leaves. My neck in a meek embrace, NEARER HOME BY PHOEBE CARY One sweetly solemn thought Than I ever have been before; Nearer my Father's house, Where the many mansions be; Nearer the great white throne, Nearer the crystal sea; Nearer the bound of life, Where we lay our burdens down; Nearer leaving the cross, Nearer gaining the crown! But the waves of that silent sea O, if my mortal feet Have almost gained the brink; If it be I am nearer home Even to-day than I think, Father, perfect my trust! Let my spirit feel, in death, That her feet are firmly set On the Rock of a living faith! THE MUSINGS OF ARROYO AL BY ARTHUR CHAPMAN It seems to me this life we lead One bawlin' critter in the herd Kin do much damage on a drive; His locoed doin's is absurd. That critter that has scairt the bunch They has to be, it seems to me, These locoed steers and locoed men. But think how easy life'd be If, when they bawl and bawl again, The herd'd stand there, as it shud, And jest take fresh holt on its cud! SUNSET THOUGHTS BY MINNIE CONWAY To-night, as I sat by my window, With that strange and wonderful splendor I thought that the hands of angels Is it not a beautiful fancy, This sunset thought of mine, May pass to the morning of gladness Perhaps while I sat there dreaming Went in through the sunset gateway To the city paved with gold, Passed in to the new life's gladness, To be no longer old. When for me the sunset gateway I know I shall remember In that land so fair and far My strange and beautiful fancy Of the sunset gates ajar. THE OLD ARM-CHAIR BY ELIZA COOK I love it, I love it! and who shall dare I've bedewed it with tears, I've embalmed it with "T is bound by a thousand bands to my heart; Not a tie will break, not a link will start; Would you know the spell? a mother sat there! And a sacred thing is that old arm-chair. In childhood's hour I lingered near The hallowed seat with listening ear; To fit me to die, and teach me to live. She told me that shame would never betide With Truth for my creed, and God for my guide; As I knelt beside that old arm-chair. I sat, and watched her many a day, When her eye grew dim, and her locks were gray; 4 |