DEAD. ALMA LATTIN. Within the flower-lined casket she was laid, The very life blood of my heart seemed stayed- I laid my darling down without a sigh, "I cannot lose her; she's my only one; I know my darling's shining form will wait Beyond this world, where grief's dark night Enshrouds my saddened life, at heaven's gate I'll meet my child where all is light. PARTING. In the wood, love, when we parted, All without was gay around us; Trouble not our last farewell, Nature knows no pain or sadness; Never shall we meet again. A BEAUTIFUL LEGEND. OFTLY fell the touch of twilight on Judea's silent hills; Slowly crept the peace of moonlight o'er Judea's trembling rills. In the temple's court, conversing, seven elders sat, apart; Seven grand and hoary sages, wise of head and pure of heart. "What's best?"said Rabbi Judah, he of stern and steadfast gaze; "Answer, ye whose toils have burdened through the march of many days." "To have gained," said Rabbi Ezra, "decent wealth and goodly store, Without sin, by honest labor--nothing less and nothing more." "To have found," said Rabbi Joseph-meekness in his gentle eyes "A foretaste of heaven's sweetness in home's blessed par adise." A BEAUTIFUL LEGEND. 127 "To have wealth and power and glory, crowned and brightened by the pride Of uprising children's children," Rabbi Benjamin replied. "To have won the praise of nations, to have won the crown of fame," Rabbi Solomon responded, faithful to his kingly name. "To sit throned, the lord of millions, first and noblest in the land," Answered haughty Rabbi Asher, youngest of the reverend band. "All in vain," said Rabbi Jairus, "unless faith and hope have traced In the soul Mosaic presents, by sin's contact uneffaced." Then uprose wise Rabbi Judah, tallest, gravest of them all "From the heights of fame and honor even valiant souls may fall. "Love may fail us; virtue's sapling grow a dry and thorny rod, If we bear not in our bosoms the unselfish love of God.” In the outer court sat playing a sad-featured, fair-haired child; His young eyes seemed wells of sorrow-they were God-like when he smiled! One by one he dropped the lilies, softly plucked with childish hand; One by one he viewed the sages of that grave and hoary Step by step he neared them closer, till encircled by the seven, Then he said, in tones untrembling, with a smile that breathed of heaven, "Nay, nay, fathers; only he within the measure of whose breast Dwells the human love with God-love, can have found life's truest rest; "For where one is not the other must grow stagnant at its spring, Changing good deeds into phantoms---an unmeaning, souiless thing. "Whoso holds this precept truly, owns a jewel brighter far Than the joys of home and children--than wealth, fame and glory are; "Fairer than old age thrice honored, far above tradition's law, Pure as any radiant vision ever ancient prophets saw. "Only he within the measure- faith apportioned-of whose breast Throbs the brother-love with God-love, knows the depth of perfect rest." Wondering gazed they at each other, once broke silence and no more: "He has spoken words of wisdom no man ever spake before!" |