Who in the blaze of riper day Of purer science, holier laws, Failure? While tide-floods rise and boil Round cape and isle, in port and cove, Resistless, star-led from above: What though our tiny wave recoil? A CHRISTMAS CAROL. IT chanced upon the merry, merry Christmas eve dreary "Oh! never sin and want and woe this earth will leave, And the bells but mock the wailing round, they sing so cheery. How long, O Lord! how long before Thou come again? Still in cellar, and in garret, and on moorland dreary The orphans moan, and widows weep, and poor men toil in vain, Till the earth is sick of hope deferred, though Christmas bells be cheery." Then arose a joyous clamour from the wild fowl on the mere, Beneath the stars, across the snow, like clear bells ringing, And a voice within cried- "Listen!—Christmas carols even here! Though thou be dumb, yet o'er their work the stars and snows are singing. Blind! I live, I love, I reign; and all the nations through With the thunder of my judgments even now are ringing; Do thou fulfil thy work, but as yon wild fowl do, Thou wilt heed no less the wailing yet hear through it angels' singing." MY HUNTING SONG. FORWARD! hark! forward 's the cry ! One more fence and we 're out on the open! So the great cause flashes by, Nearer and clearer its purposes open, While louder and louder the world-echoes cheer us: SONGS. Ask if I love thee? Oh smiles cannot tell Weeping for thee! Ask if I love thee? How else could I borrow Pride from man's calumny, strength from thy sorrow? Laugh when they sneer at the fanatic's bride Knowing no bliss, save to toil and to bide Weeping for thee ! II. The world goes up and the world goes down, Sweet wife, No, never come over again. For woman is warm though man be cold, Till the heart which at even was weary and old Can rise in the morning gay, Sweet wife, To its work in the morning gay. |