the golden waves of Love? 
     Sweep up the debris of decaying faiths;
     Sweep down the cobwebs of worn-out beliefs,
     And throw your soul wide open to the light
     Of Reason and of Knowledge.  Tune your ear
     To all the wordless music of the stars
     And to the voice of Nature, and your heart
     Shall turn to truth and goodness as the plant
     Turns to the sun.  A thousand unseen hands
     Reach down to help you to their peace-crowned heights. 
     And all the forces of the firmament
     Shall fortify your strength.  Be not afraid
     To thrust aside half-truths and grasp the whole.

     MY FRIEND.

     When first I looked upon the face of Pain
       I shrank repelled, as one shrinks from a foe
       Who stands with dagger poised, as for a blow. 
     I was in search of Pleasure and of Gain;
     I turned aside to let him pass:  in vain;
       He looked straight in my eyes and would not go. 
       “Shake hands,” he said; “our paths are one, and so
     We must be comrades on the way, ’tis plain.”

     I felt the firm clasp of his hand on mine;
       Through all my veins it sent a strengthening glow. 
       I straightway linked my arm in his, and lo! 
     He led me forth to joys almost divine;
       With God’s great truths enriched me in the end: 
       And now I hold him as my dearest friend.

     [Illustration:]

     CREATION.

     The impulse of all love is to create. 
       God was so full of love, in his embrace
       He clasped the empty nothingness of space,
     And low! the solar system!  High in state
     The mighty sun sat, so supreme and great
       With this same essence, one smile of its face
       Brought myriad forms of life forth; race on race,
     From insects up to men.

               Through love, not hate,
     All that is grand in nature or in art
       Sprang into being.  He who would build sublime
       And lasting works, to stand the test of time,
     Must inspiration draw from his full heart. 
       And he who loveth widely, well, and much,
       The secret holds of the true master touch.

     [Illustration:]

     RED CARNATIONS.

     One time in Arcadie’s fair bowers
       There met a bright immortal band,
     To choose their emblems from the flowers
       That made an Eden of that land.

     Sweet Constancy, with eyes of hope,
       Strayed down the garden path alone
     And gathered sprays of heliotrope,
       To place in clusters at her zone.

     True Friendship plucked the ivy green,
       Forever fresh, forever fair. 
     Inconstancy with flippant mien
       The fading primrose chose to wear.

     One moment Love the rose paused by;
       But Beauty picked it for her hair. 
     Love paced the garden with a sigh
       He found no fitting emblem there.