The prayer of Ajax was for light; To see his foeman's face. Let our unceasing, earnest prayer That crushes into dumb despair One half the human race. O suffering, sad humanity! Patient, though sorely tried! I pledge you in this cup of grief, The alarm, the struggle, the relief, Then sleep we side by side. M MAIDEN HOOD AIDEN! with the meek, brown eyes, In whose orbs a shadow lies Like the dusk in evening skies! Thou whose locks outshine the sun, Standing, with reluctant feet, Gazing, with a timid glance, Deep and still, that gliding stream Then why pause with indecision, Seest thou shadows sailing by, Hearest thou voices on the shore, O, thou child of many prayers! Like the swell of some sweet tune, Morning rises into noon, May glides onward into June. Childhood is the bough, where slumbered Birds and blossoms many-numbered ;Age, that bough with snows encumbered. Gather, then, each flower that grows, Bear a lily in thy hand; Gates of brass cannot withstand One touch of that magic wand. Bear through sorrow, wrong, and ruth, On thy lips the smile of truth. O, that dew, like balm, shall steal And that smile, like sunshine, dart EXCELSIOR HE shades of night were falling fast, THE As through an Alpine village passed A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice, A banner with the strange device, Excelsior! His brow was sad; his eye beneath, And like a silver clarion rung The accents of that unknown tongue, In happy homes he saw the light Of household fires gleam warm and bright; "Try not the Pass!" the old man said; The roaring torrent is deep and wide!" "O stay," the maiden said, "and rest "Beware the pine-tree's withered branch! Beware the awful avalanche !" This was the peasant's last Good-night, At break of day, as heavenward |