Was that a branch that shed its load?
-Black is the night and cold,-
Or was it a footstep in the snow-
A timid footstep-halting, slow!
Ah me! I am getting old!

Is that a tapping-soft and low?

Can it be... I thought I heard. . . but

no,

"Twas only a branch that shed its snow,God's truth! I am getting old!

Come home again to the fold.

Dear Lord! a hand at the frozen pane!
-White on the night's black cold-

O my lamb! my lamb! are you come again?
My dear lost lamb, are you come again?

Are you come again to the fold?

It is!

Lord,

. . It is! . . . Now I thank Thee,

For Thy Mercies manifold!

She is come again!

She is home again!

My lamb that strayed from the fold!

BIDE A WEE!

Though the times be dark and dreary,
Though the way be long,

Keep your spirits bright and cheery,-
-"Bide a wee, and dinna weary!"

Is a heartsome song.

THE WORD THAT WAS LEFT UNSAID

"A red rose for my helmet,
And a word before we part!
The rose shall be my oriflamme
The word shall fill my heart."

Heart, Heart, Heart of my heart-
Just a look, just a word and a look!
A look or a sign that my love shall divine
And a word for my hungering heart!

She toyed with his love and her roses;
Was it mischief or mischance?-

She dropped him a rose-'twas a white one,
And he lifted it on his lance.

Heart, Heart, Heart of my heart!
Is it thus-is it thus we part?
With never a look, and never a sign,
Nor a word for my hungering heart!

She sought him among the dying,
She found him among the dead;
And the rose was still in his helmet,
But his life had stained it red.

Heart, Heart, Heart of my heart!
Now my heart within me is dead.
And alack for the look!

And alas for the sign!

And the word that was left unsaid!

DON'T WORRY

Just do your best,

And leave the rest

To Him who gave you

Life,

And Zeal for Labour,

And the Joy of Strife,

And Zest of Love,

And all that lifts your soul above

The lower things.

Life's truest harvest is in what we would,

And strive our best for,

Not most in what we could.
The things we count supreme
Stand, haply, not so high
In God's esteem

As How and Why.

All-Seeing Sight

Cleaves through the husk of things,

Right to the Roots and Springs,—

Sees all things whole,

And measures less the body than the soul.

All-Righteous Right

Will weigh men's motives,

Not their deeds alone.

End and Beginning unto Him are one;

And would for could shall oft, perchance,

atone.

Motives are seeds,

From which at times spring deeds

Not equal to the soul's outreaching hope.
Strive for the stars!

Count nought well done but best!

Then, with brave patience, leave the rest To Him who knows.

He'll judge you justly ere the record close.

THE GOLDEN ROSE

The Golden Rose is blowing still,
Is growing still, is glowing still,
In lonely vale, on lordly hill,
The Golden Rose is glowing still;-
If only you can find it!

The Golden Rose still breaks and blows,
Still breaks and blows, still gleams and

glows,

'Mid icy blasts, and wintry snows,

The Golden Rose still breaks and blows;-
Search well and you may find it!

The Golden Rose can never die,
'Tis grafted on Eternity;
In hearts that Love doth glorify,
The Golden Rose can never die,-
May it be yours to find it!

GADARA, A.D. 81

Rabbi, begone! Thy powers
Bring loss to us and ours.
Our ways are not as Thine.
Thou lovest men, we-swine.
Oh, get you hence, Omnipotence,
And take this fool of Thine!

His soul? What care we for his soul?
What good to us that Thou hast made him

whole,

Since we have lost our swine?

And Christ went sadly.

He had wrought for them a sign

Of Love, and Hope, and Tenderness divine; They wanted-swine.

Christ stands without your door and gently knocks;

But if your gold, or swine, the entrance blocks,

He forces no man's hold-he will depart,
And leave you to the treasures of your heart.

No cumbered chamber will the Master share, But one swept bare

By cleansing fires, then plenished fresh and fair

With meekness, and humility, and prayer.

There will He come, yet, coming, even there He stands and waits, and will no entrance win Until the latch be lifted from within.