Part 50 (1/2)

II.

The Man who Loved the Soul of Things Went forth serene and glad, And mused upon the mighty world, And people called him mad.

An unseen presence walked with him Forever by his side, The wedded mistress of his soul-- For Wisdom was his bride.

She showed him all this mighty frame, And bade him feel--but named no name.

She stood with him upon the hills Ringed by the azure sky, And shamed his lowly thought with stars And bade it climb as high.

And all the birds he could not name, The nameless stars that roll, The unnamed blossoms at his feet Talked with him soul to soul; He heard the Nameless Glory speak In silence--and was very meek.

--Sam Walter Foss.

THE INQUIRY

I wonder if ever a song was sung but the singer's heart sang sweeter!

I wonder if ever a rhyme was rung but the thought surpa.s.sed the meter!

I wonder if ever a sculptor wrought till the cold stone echoed his ardent thought!

Or if ever the painter with light and shade the dream of his inmost heart portrayed!

I wonder if ever a rose was found and there might not be a fairer!

Or if ever a glittering gem was ground and we dreamed not of a rarer!

Ah! never on earth do we find the best; but it waits for us in the land of rest, And a perfect thing we shall never behold till we pa.s.s the portals of s.h.i.+ning gold.

A SONG OF LOW DEGREE

He that is down need fear no fall; He that is low, no pride; He that is humble ever shall Have G.o.d to be his guide.

I am content with what I have, Little be it, or much; And, Lord, contentment still I crave, Because thou savest such.

Fullness to such a burden is That go on pilgrimage; Here little, and hereafter bliss, Is best from age to age.

--John Bunyan.

NOT YET PREPARED

O thou unpolished shaft, why leave the quiver?

O thou blunt axe, what forests canst thou hew?

Untempered sword, canst thou the oppressed deliver?

Go back to thine own maker's forge anew.

Submit thyself to G.o.d for preparation, Seek not to teach thy Master and thy Lord; Call it not zeal; it is a base temptation.

Satan is pleased when man dictates to G.o.d.

Down with thy pride! with holy vengeance trample On each self-flattering fancy that appears; Did not the Lord himself, for our example, Lie hid in Nazareth for thirty years?