LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. 167 That might hunger's keen pang release; The many shall not bow to the tyrannous few, But all men be treated as men! [ing sue--When the poor for their lives shall not kneelO, when is that time? tell me when! Yes, there is a land where the weary can rest, A home for the grief-laden heart; [pressed, A time when true manhood shall not be opNor groan under poverty's smart: [come, A clime where no grief and no sorrow can Where riches all shall alike share! To reach it, with Christ we must enter the tomb; With Him we must pass it,-'tis there. POSTHUMOUS APPRECIATION. Had crushed it to the ground, Lo! when 'twas crushed it fragrance shed, And filled the air around. Men marveled that to plant not fair Such fragrance had been given; Nor dreamed, till crushed, it was so rare And held incense of Heaven. GEORGE RUDDELL. BORN: UTICA, IND., APRIL 1, 1868. REMOVING to Paola, Kansas, at an early age George was there educated, and later attended the Baker university at Baldwin City, passing examination in that institution two years later. About this time George commenced teaching school, which avocation he has since followed. LIFE IS A RIVER. If our cause is what it should be And we'ell find our path clear'd homeward If pigs in clover" baffles skill, Lord! what does this, I wonder. I start with Pee," then ..Ef" and 66 Vee," 64 And travel on to "Eshon;" I tangle. Ray" with "Dee" and "Gay," I strive to get the word-signs fixed, Whene'er I try to Ster" them. 66 An Iss" with "Tee" makes it a Stee," It seems most like a fable, "Yeh-lay" with Bee is. You-will-be," And.. Bee with An 64 El-hook". Able." .. my," .. him" 66 Em" means " me," " and "may," While Em" with 64 Shon" means ASPIRAMUS NOBLISIMUS REBUS. While sojourning on this terrestrial ball, With trials and troubles to grieve us: May this maxim be firmly impressed upon all, Aspiramus Noblisimus Rebus." Like the swift flying clouds are our days fleeting by Soon or later grim death will receive us; Be not overcome, but this maxim apply,..Aspiramus Noblisimus Rebus." The flowers that bloom through the long summer days, Of the frailty of life mutely plead us, To be earnest and prayerful and give God the praise, Aspiramus Noblisimus Rebus." Be hopeful when sore with affliction distressed: "Though hope very oft will deceive us, Our Father is good, and means all for the best,- .. Aspiramus Noblisimus Rebus." When the soul is cast down and dark clouds hover 'round, And friends to our fate seem to leave us, In the darkest of clouds, silver lining is found,-- "Aspiramus Noblisimus Rebus." In temptation's hour when trials begin, Sit not idly down and of life fondly dream, "Aspiramus Noblisimus Rebus." When with sorrow o'erwhelmed, and with sadness depressed, When our efforts seem naught to achieve us, Trust fully in God -- he'll take care of the rest, "Aspiramus Noblisimus Rebus." In faminine's dark day, in adversity's hour, Remember God's promise to feed us; To Him be dominion and glory and power -"Aspiramus Noblisimus Rebus." If the storms of this life we would safely outride. Een though our afflictions bereave us, Cling firm to this maxim whatever betide, "Aspiramus Noblisimus Rebus." MRS. LAURA S. R. MCCARTHY. BORN IN LEWIS CO., N. Y. THE exacting duties of student, teacher and housekeeper in succession, have operated, together with great delicacy of constitution, to thwart the expenditure, by this lady, of time and energy in the direction of authorship. Mrs. McCarthy has, however, produced numerous poems that have been widely copied in prominent journals. In 1878 she married Edward McCarthy, a lawyer of great prominence, of Lowville, N. Y., where she now resides. Personally she is a pleasant lady, and is constantly surrounded by a host of friends and admirers. COMPENSATION. No darkened cloud, no rainbow spans the soul; No doubt, hope, wears no wreath of victory won; No toil, no ecstacy of rest; the sun No rising glory flings 'till veiled by night; No wrong 'mong men, no triumph of the right; No death, no life where Heaven's blest ages roll. MIDNIGHT. "Tis night's mid-glory - Earth, so calm, so still, On couch of space is wrapped in slumber's spell; How soft and pure her bosom's rounded swell 'Neath fleecy robes, and placid radiance shed From silver orb, like watcher's lamp, o'erhead! While starry legions dimly throng and fill Her airy chamber, whence all sound is fled Save breath of rising prayer, or whir of wings As angels viewless pass, or heavenward springs The guardian who hath wrought the Father's will. Midnight and moonlight, silence, stars and God 170 LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. Why should I care for those who gaze On me with cold, indifferent eye, Since oft there comes a loving throng Who never once have passed me by. And yet, this human heart of mine For human sympathy oft yearns; Yet that in which deception lurks My whole soul rises up and spurns. For peace and truth and love are mine, And wheresoe'er these powers are known 1 walk serene, content to know That I am never all alone. But human eye a limit has Which may not penetrate the heart; And so I clasp my faith more close, And patiently I walk apart. For well I know there'll come a time When I'll no longer walk alone, For in the home that is to be My heart shall know and claim its own. LEWIS J. EARLY. BORN: PELLVILLE, KY., FEB. 2, 1865. SEVERAL Works have been written and published by Lewis J. Early under the nom de plume of Markus Pillsberry, which are of a Till death shall call for us and take us away To moulder to dust in the grave. Then proudly thy waves on the farther shore, Will tell of the dear ones who are gone, And gently thy ripples roll proudly away To join in the murmuring song. Then silent and sadly along the dear stream, Our friends will in memory come To gaze on thy bosom, to sing the sad song Of the loved ones who've gone to their home. ON THE OHIO RIVER. All quiet along the Ohio to-day, No cry save the scream of the crane, As he murders the fish on the farther shore, While he tramps in the sand and the rain. All peaceful to-day on the river shore, All silent along the white sand; But swiftly and smoothly the boats glide along, 'Mong the billows so proudly and grand. All quiet along the Ohio this eve, The murmuring waters, how clear! While sadly we gaze on each sandy reef, And sigh for the ones who are here. Listless and still are the leaves on the trees,--For the autumn has called again, And on thee we gaze, dear Ohio, with these, And long for the cool 'freshing rain. All quiet along the Ohio to-night, The night winds blow coldly and drear, While soft falls the dew on thy bosom again, And the night-bird we distantly hear. Thou dost not forsake us, Ohio, thou'rt here, And on thee we fondly will gaze, MRS. MARCIA M. SISCO. BORN: STEUBEN CO., N. Y., MAY 31, 1832. MRS. SISCO has written both prose and verse, and her poems have received publication in the local press. She now resides in Pomeroy, Iowa. AN APPEAL TO LIBERTY. And look with naked eyes upon her sword- Pictures of men - good, honest men-- Because of unbelief in Christian creeds; Nurslings of tyranny-offsprings of misery, too, Held in the lap of ignorance and crime, And holding in thy strong right hand With the pure bracing air of freedom's bowers. |