Good out of Evil.

    True David halted not
     When sin had cast him down,
    Upon his royal life a blot,
     Death reaching for his crown.

    His work was but half done;
    A man of action still,
     He struggled in the gloaming sun
    To do his Maker’s will;

    Till in the golden light
     Great words began to shine: 
    In sorrow is exalting might,
     Repentance is divine.

    And now the shepherd king
     We count the human sire
    Of One who turns our hungering
     Into achieved desire.

* * * * *

Elijah.

    Elijah, through the night
     Which shrouded Israel
    In toiling, groping for the light,
     Foretold Immanuel.

    And in heroic trust
     That night would yield to day—­
    His imperfections thick as dust
     Along the desert way;

    His bold, rebuking cry
     Heard in the wilderness. 
    Till from the chariot of the sky
     His mantle fell to bless—­

    The stern, half-savage seer
     Became a prophecy
    Of gladness and the Golden Year,
     In all high minstrelsy.

* * * * *

Aelemaehus the Monk.

    How well he wrought who stood
     Against an ancient wrong,
    And left the spangles of his blood
     To light the sky of song!

    A gladiatorial show,
     And eighty thousand men
    For savage pastime all aglow—­
     O marvel there and then!

    An unknown monk, his life
     Defenseless, interposed,
    Forbade the old barbaric strife—­
     The red arena closed!

    That unrecovered rout! 
     Those fire-shafts from the Sun! 
    O Telemaque! who, who shall doubt
     Thy Master’s will was done?

* * * * *

Washington.

    The deeds of Washington
     Were lit with patriot flame;
    A crown for Liberty he won,
     And won undying fame.

    He heard his country’s cry,
     He heard her bugle-call,
    ’Twas sweet to live for her, or die;
    Her cause was all in all.

    He heard the psalm of peace,
     He sought again the plow;
    O civic toil, canst thou increase
     The laurels for his brow?

    As with a father’s hand
     He led the infant state;
    Colossus of his native land,
     He still is growing great.

* * * * *

Lincoln.

    God placed on Lincoln’s brow
     A sad, majestic crown;
    All enmity is friendship now,
     And martyrdom renown.

    A mighty-hearted man,
     He toiled at Freedom’s side,
    And lived, as only heroes can,
     The truth in which he died.