ldish feud,
His glee, like noisy urchins brash and rude,
Who trample flowers, pay no thoughtful heed.
The careless acts bring harm and pain with speed.
And sin-scarred hearts deceive themselves, delude
No one. Such souls will have few friends at last.
When life is hard, no one will bear his care
Unless a kindly one, who looks about
To help, to pull and clear. The field is vast!
O weary man! Unhappy world! "Unfair
Is life" men say, "The whole is full of doubt."

SHE RETURNED IT

She borrowed a lump of sugar
To sweeten a cup of tea.
I felt so very silly
When she brought it back to me.

TO MY FRIENDS

On Christmas day, let happy dreams
Sparkle and flow like bubbling streams.

A MAIDEN'S DREAM

I often think and dream and ponder
Of things that I have seen,
And twist the real into a wonder
When men and birds convene.

If I could reach that star up yonder,
My soul would lift and preen;
If Summertime would always stay
My yard would be more green.

I see the airplane rise and soaring
On all bright days and fair;
The tiny specks go roaring out
Across the hills from care.

If my good pilot friend is landing
On some star world up there.
He might bring back some silver
Or flowers for my hair.

PROMISES

On New Year's day
Mankind makes promises
Of gossamer film.

IN BOASTFUL PRIDE

He walked quite proudly on the rocky ledge
And shouted, "I am standing here so high!
How fine the valley and the flowing rye,
I see the barn that's near the osage hedge;
Come look--it's splendid from this shaly edge!"
He leaned far out and slipped--the foolish guy.
Where he had stood was only murky sky.
To face great danger is a privilege.
Don't dare for show, my boy, the rock might slide.
For worthy cause the brave will stand or fall,
But watch the stepping where the bluff is steep;
Remember too when flushed with boastful pride,
Men take most careless risks--don't reckon all;
And then--a life goes out in just one leap.

IN THE STORM

Hear the gale roaring through woods!
Trees bend and snap and sway,
They race and break on this dark day.
If I could fashion some sturdy hoods
To hold the storm at bay,
Then trim and straight would all trees stay.
But great trees knotted by winds' moods
--Like men who face their care--