Oklahoma Sunshine Part 42

If the bad people never made scandal, what would the good people have to talk about?

Opportunity may call once, but she never rings the bell for the servant when she finds us visiting our wife's folks.

The lazy man is always willing to give the hustler a big percentage for collecting the living that the world owes him.

Don't Trade with Trouble.

Don't make a trade with Trouble!

He would buy you bargain cheap, And you'd have to pay a ransom That would climb up mighty steep!

Don't sell yourself to Trouble, 'Cause he banters you each day!

Out beyond the snows of labor Wait the blossomings of play!

Don't make a trade with Trouble!

Never stop to name a price; Tell him plain he'd better travel Without any more advice!

Trouble never paid a dollar Of the mighty debt he owes; Don't sell yourself to Trouble And the sorrows that he knows!

Little Sermons.

The Devil has such a good appet.i.te that you can't afford to have him boarding at your hotel.

Broken heads are more numerous than broken hearts, and they also pay more fines in the police court.

When Faith and Hope leave a woman's heart, it is entirely empty of the graces; for Charity never had a home there.

Life and Love.

Life, and the trouble that comes along,-- Life and the griefs it carries; But Love comes by with her lips of song, And the joy that forever tarries!

Life and the love and the bliss supreme,-- Life and the smiles of gladness; And the song she sings is a holy dream Where the soul forgets the sadness!

Where Love Abides.

We walk in the present as roamed we the past, With gladness before us and joys unsurpa.s.sed, And Love lights the new days as Love lit the old, With the smile of her joy and the laugh of her gold!

The world and its sorrows no longer supreme Fade away in the smiles of the wonderful dream, And the light of its love overs.h.i.+nes the abode Of the shadows that falleth on beautiful road.

O, Sorrow, stay far in the desolate night, Where the black of your wings bears the black of your flight, And hasten, O tears, down the deserts that lie In the silences vast of the bleak bye-and-bye!

O, Joy, tune the stars till they sing through the night, While Love wreaths the lilies of Good with delight,-- Till the stars fill the earth with the seraphim song, And Love with her garlands hides all of the wrong!

Keep in the Light.

It's no use to court the shadows!

They will hide your heart in night!

If you want to gather roses You must linger in the light!

It's Good bye, Mr Speaker.

O, it's good-bye, Mister Speaker, when the motion to adjourn Says the stuff is off forever and forbids us to return!

And there's much of tears and laughter, much rejoicing and regret, At the measures we enacted and the things we didn't get; But the sixty days are over! And this hope each heart imbues That the people are forgiving and our errors will excuse!

It was sixty days of labor with but little recompense; It was sixty days of struggle with the rivalries intense; It was sixty days of effort to enthrone the people's will, And to legislate the good things and the evil things to kill; And if we but scanty trophies for our battles can display, Still it's good-bye, Mister Speaker! We are going home today!

We have found there's something mighty in the large affairs of state, And we know beyond a question it is hard to legislate!

For there stand so many fellows plucking at the public goose, That it's moving lofty mountains when you try to pull 'em loose!

But it's good-bye, Mister Speaker! If we failed to do the best, Let's be glad at what we purposed and surrender all the rest!

It is pretty safe to figure that the legislature man Shall receive but scanty praises though he does the best he can, And with fellows on the left of him and fellows on the right, Full of sage advice and counsel, his is not a happy plight; But the record has been written and for us it stands for aye, So, it's good-bye, Mister Speaker! We are going home today!

O, it's good-bye, Mister Speaker, and it's farewell this and that, And it's wish you well, my brother, with the work you labor at!

And if we have missed our calling and we don't deserve applause, Nevermore we'll leave the furrow just to tinker at the laws; If we failed, 'twas worth the trying, whatsoe'er the people say, But it's good-bye, Mister Speaker! We are going home today!

A Memory.

A scarlet on the maples, A daisy down below, And perfumes of the gardens That blossomed long ago!

Love lifts the face of morning, And walks the twilight late, And one is there beside me And leans across the gate!