With mighty foes within,
Who stormed the fortress of his life
And triumphed in his sin.

* * * * *

Good out of Evil.

True David halted not
When sin had cast him down,
Upon his royal life a blot,
Death reaching for his crown.

His work was but half done;
A man of action still,
He struggled in the gloaming sun
To do his Maker's will;

Till in the golden light
Great words began to shine:
_In sorrow is exalting might,
Repentance is divine_.

And now the shepherd king
We count the human sire
Of One who turns our hungering
Into achieved desire.

* * * * *

Elijah.

Elijah, through the night
Which shrouded Israel
In toiling, groping for the light,
Foretold Immanuel.

And in heroic trust
That night would yield to day--
His imperfections thick as dust
Along the desert way;

His bold, rebuking cry
Heard in the wilderness.
Till from the chariot of the sky
His mantle fell to bless--

The stern, half-savage seer
Became a prophecy
Of gladness and the Golden Year,
In all high minstrelsy.

* * * * *

Aelemaehus the Monk.

How well he wrought who stood
Against an ancient wrong,
And left the spangles of his blood
To light the sky of song!

A gladiatorial show,
And eighty thousand men
For savage pastime all aglow--
O marvel there and then!

An unknown monk, his life
Defenseless, interposed,
Forbade the old barbaric strife--
The red arena closed!

That unrecovered rout!
Those fire-shafts from the Sun!
O Telemaque! who, who shall doubt
Thy Master's will was done?

* * * * *

Washington.

The deeds of Washington
Were lit with patriot flame;
A crown for Liberty he won,
And won undying fame.

He heard his country's cry,
He heard her bugle-call,
'Twas sweet to live for her, or die;
Her cause was all in all.

He heard the psalm of peace,
He sought again the plow;
O civic toil, canst thou increase
The laurels for his brow?

As with a father's hand
He led the infant state;
Colossus of his native land,
He still is growing great.

* *