Oklahoma Sunshine Part 18

The lonely heart with rapture fills And life's hot warrings cool, And all the home with laughter thrills When Willie comes from school!

Ah, World, the school that young hearts seek!

We know full well that you Will keep him long at tasks that speak Of books and ferule, too!

G.o.d grant that in the far-off years He finds no dunce's stool, Whereon to weep with foolish tears When Willie goes to school!

'Tis Morning on the Hill-tops.

I.

What though the valleys wander in shadows manifold?

'Tis morning on the hill-tops and all the skies are gold, And on the purple summits the raptures of the blest Are crooning their evangels and singing songs of rest!

II.

'Tis morning on the hill-tops? The darkness at the feet Shall blossom at the dawning with all the roses sweet, And every grief we gather and every tear we know Shall vanish into gladness as up the paths we go.

III.

'Tis morning on the hill-tops! The glories of His love With life and light supernal are waiting there above, And up the slopes of shadow our weary feet shall climb To kiss the smiles of rapture beyond the tears of time.

IV.

'Tis morning on the hill-tops! What matters sob or sin?

The Master waits our coming and welcomes us within; And there beyond the shadows where gladness reigns alway We'll meet the hosts of morning, and dwell with them for aye.

V.

O, Morning on the Hill-tops! The dim eyes look to you, Beyond the darkened valleys and all the griefs they knew, And to the suns.h.i.+ne waiting in realms of rhapsody, The paths lead on and upward to where you wait for me!

The Defeated.

Not he who loses but who fails to fight, In G.o.d's long years reaps harvestings of blame; Not he the blind but who destroys the sight Receives the curses of the ages' blame!

See the Side-Show.

When you visit at the circus And behold the steeds bedight, And the hoops and rings and races And the clowns that make delight,-- You will miss the happy touches That complete your broadest grin If you see the main performance And don't take the side-show in.

There'll be high and lofty tumbles, There'll be acrobatic feats, There'll be leaps and bounds and twistings, That will lift you from your seats; But with all the glare and glitter, You'll but know the fun begin, If you see the main performance And don't take the side-show in.

There'll be elephants and lions.

There'll be bears and tigers, too; There'll be clowns in robes and spangles All to please the boy in you; But the raptures of your gladness Nothing can completely win, If you see the main performance And don't take the side-show in.

Life is something of a circus: It has half a hundred rings Where its jumbled aggregation Earth's attractions to you brings; But they leave the heart still heavy As it stirs with stress and din, If you see the main performance And don't take the side-show in!

Voting Around.

"Well, Sam, how's cotton-picking getting along?" asked a white man of his colored neighbor.

"Hain't doin' any cotton-pickin' yit," replied Sam. "'Lection time's a-comin' an' I'm jes' a-votin' erroun' tell the candahdates quit runnin'!"

Little Sermons.

Religion is too often what the other fellow ought to practice.

Good never bears any fruit for you, except when cultivated in your own heart.

The devil always has a patent medicine recommended to cure trouble and increase pleasure.

Examine the looks of your conscience. It may be only prejudice that has placed its hand-baggage in the wrong room.

We are always glad to gather the harvest, which is abundant for the whole world, but are willing to leave the weed-pulling to the other fellow.

Love Brings the Song.

What if there's trouble And what if there's wrong?

G.o.d sends the suns.h.i.+ne And Love brings the song!

What if you stumble When racing it strong?

Love will uplift you, For Love brings the song!

Bury your troubles, And life will be long: G.o.d sends the suns.h.i.+ne And Love brings the song!