darkness. Ah, that night
Of all dark nights! And then a speck--
A light! A light! A light!
It grew, a starlit flag unfurled!
It grew to be Time's burst of dawn:
He gained a world; he gave that world
Its grandest lesson: "On, and on!"

--Joaquin Miller.

THE CHOSEN FEW

The Son of God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain;
His blood-red banner streams afar;
Who follows in his train.

Who best can drink His cup of woe,
And triumph over pain,
Who patient bears His cross below--
He follows in His train.

A glorious band, the chosen few,
On whom the Spirit came;
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
And mocked the cross and flame.

They climbed the dizzy steep to heaven
Through peril, toil and pain;
O God! to us may grace be given
To follow in their train!

--Reginald Heber.

HOW DID YOU DIE?

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
With a resolute heart and cheerful,
Or hide your face from the light of day
With a craven soul and fearful?
O, a trouble is a ton, or a trouble is an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it,
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there--that's disgrace.
The harder you're thrown, why, the higher you bounce;
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts;
It's how did you fight--and why?

And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could.
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl or comes with a pounce,
And whether he's slow or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
But only--how did you die?

--Edmund Vance Cooke.

LUTHER

That which he knew he uttered,
Conviction made him strong;
And with undaunted courage
He faced and fought the wrong.
No power on earth could silence him
Whom love and faith made brave;
And though four hundred years have gone
Men strew with flowers his grave.

A frail child born to poverty,
A German miner's son;