They knew not how he learned at all, He sat and watched the dead leaves fall, It seemed the loveliness of things Did teach him all their use, For, in mere weeds, and stones, and springs, Men granted that his speech was wise, Yet after he was dead and gone, And e'en his memory dim, Earth seemed more sweet to live upon, More full of love, because of him. And day by day more holy grew Their first-born brother as a god. THE TOKEN. Ir is a mere wild rosebud, Yet there's something wondrous in it, And stir my heart's blood far below Lips must fade and roses wither, All sweet times be o'er, They only smile, and, murmuring “Thither!” Stay with us no more : And yet ofttimes a look or smile, Forgotten in a kiss's while, Years after from the dark will start, And flash across the trembling heart. Thou hast given me many roses, Earth's stablest things are shadows, Haply some chance-saved trifle May tell of this old home: As now sometimes we seem to find, AN INCIDENT IN A RAILROAD CAR. He spoke of Burns: men rude and rough Pressed round to hear the praise of one Whose heart was made of manly, simple stuff, As homespun as their own. And, when he read, they forward leaned, Drinking, with thirsty hearts and ears, His brook-like songs whom glory never weaned From humble smiles and tears. Slowly there grew a tender awe, It was a sight for sin and wrong A sight to make our faith more pure and strong I thought, these men will carry hence God scatters love on every side, There is no wind but soweth seeds Of a more true and open life, Which burst, unlooked-for, into high-souled deeds, We find within these souls of ours Within the hearts of all men lie All that hath been majestical And thus, among the untaught poor, O, mighty brother-soul of man, Where'er thou art, in low or high, Thy skiey arches with exulting span O'er-roof infinity! All thoughts that mould the age begin In his wide brain the feeling deep |