FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26  
27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   >>   >|  
it must be safer from adverse winds because it carries so low a sail, and will cruise along so close to the shore and not try to sail out in the deep waters. And so I bid the dear little wanderer (dear to me), God-speed, and bon voyage. Marietta Holley. New York, June, 1887. WHAT MAKES THE SUMMER? It is not the lark's clear tone Cleaving the morning air with a soaring cry, Nor the nightingale's dulcet melody all the balmy night-- Not these alone Make the sweet sounds of summer; But the drone of beetle and bee, the murmurous hum of the fly And the chirp of the cricket hidden out of sight-- These help to make the summer. Not roses redly blown, Nor golden lilies, lighting the dusky meads, Nor proud imperial pansies, nor queen-cups quaint and rare-- Not these alone Make the sweet sights of summer But the countless forest leaves, the myriad wayside weeds And slender grasses, springing up everywhere-- These help to make the summer. One heaven bends above; The lowliest head ofttimes has sweetest rest; O'er song-bird in the pine, and bee in the ivy low, Is the same love, it is all God's summer; Well pleased is He if we patiently do our best, So hum little bee, and low green grasses grow, You help to make the summer. THE BROTHERS. High on a rocky cliff did once a gray old castle stand, From whence rough-bearded chieftains led their vassals--ruled the land. For centuries had dwelt here sire and son, till it befell, Last of their ancient line, two brothers here alone did dwell. The eldest was stern-visaged, but the youngest smooth and fair Of countenance; both zealous, men who bent the knee in prayer To God alone; loved much, read much His holy word, And prayed above all gifts desired, that they might see their Lord. For this the elder brother carved a silent cell of stone, And in its deep and dreary depths he entered, dwelt alone, And strove with scourgings, vigils, fasts, to purify his gaze, And sought amidst these shadows to behold the Master's face. And from the love of God that smiles on us from bright lipped flowers, And from the smile of God that falls in sunlight's golden showers, That thrills earth's slumbering heart so, where its warm rays fall That it laughs out in beauty, turned he as from tempters all. From bird-song running morn's sweet-scented chalice o'er with cheer, The child's light laughter, lifting lowliest souls heaven
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26  
27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
summer
 

grasses

 

golden

 
heaven
 

lowliest

 

chieftains

 

bearded

 

prayed

 
prayer
 
befell

countenance

 

centuries

 

smooth

 

visaged

 

youngest

 

eldest

 

ancient

 

vassals

 

desired

 
brothers

zealous
 

entered

 
laughs
 

slumbering

 

flowers

 

sunlight

 

thrills

 
showers
 
beauty
 

turned


laughter
 

lifting

 

chalice

 

tempters

 

running

 

scented

 

lipped

 

bright

 

silent

 

dreary


depths

 

carved

 

brother

 
strove
 

scourgings

 

behold

 

shadows

 

Master

 

smiles

 

amidst