Oklahoma Sunshine Part 45

I.

This the call of the Master, and this is the great Command: "Forward, march, to the shadows!

Fare forth to the Slumber Land!

There's the crown and the purple!

And there is the smile and song, Past the ways of the weary, and over the hills of wrong!"

II.

Forth at call of the Master! Still forth for his perfect grace!

Sweet the vision of valor, and fair is the loving face!

Swift the cradle forgetting, and far from the sob between, March to reign of the rain-bow, and dreams of the years unseen!

III.

Rolls the sword in a circle! The whirl and the flash of fire, Burn the years like a cinder and claim for their monstrous hire!

Croon of cradle, be silent! And down, thou curtain of doom!

Weird as sobs of the midnight the dirge of the wailing tomb!

IV.

Brothers, step to the music! Still on with a shout and song!

Flags above for the triumphs o'er struggles so lone and long!

Croon of cradle and love-song! The ditty and dirge of strife, All are daughters of duty and call to the golden life!

V.

See, the purples of even! Lo, Love has a rosy hand!

Hate fades dim in the distance and grief is a far-off land!

Sweet, 'tis time for the slumber!

With croon of the cradle-song, Rest we there in the Father's arms where the little ones belong!

Dry your eyes, my love, and we Both shall laugh with rhapsody, Hand in hand through all the days And the world's peculiar ways!

What to us unhappiness Of the sad heart's storm and stress?

Joy shall hold our hands and twine Heart to heart through storm and s.h.i.+ne!

The Baby's Hand.

In these days of loot and lucre When no chap can get enough, And the man that wins the praises Is the one that gets the stuff; When the fellow with a plenty Of the "long green" at command Is the one that knocks persimmons From the tall trees of the land,-- What for me shall such things matter? There's a glory more divine Than the jingle of the guinea with the baby's hand in mine!

O, it's nice enough,--the money,-- When the weather's fierce and blue And the blankets of its comfort Come and warm the heart of you!

But it soon demands the minutes Every hour and day and week, With the gall of angry despot And a most unmeasured cheek; So I'm reconciled to leave it and its tyrannies resign For the ways of love and laughter with the baby's hand in mine!

For the jingle of the dollars Soon disturbs the dearest dreams With the thunders of their madness And the rumble of their schemes, Till the heart and brain are weary And the revel of their roar Drive away the mirth and music From the longings evermore!

But the skies above are bluest and the heavens all a-s.h.i.+ne With the faces of the angels when the baby's hand in mine!

Mister Midas, take your millions And the glitter of your gold!

Life has treasures where the heart is That have never yet been told!

There are sweeter things to cherish, There's song of earth and sky, That are only faintest whispers Of the raptures bye and bye!

You have little that I value! Let for me the roses twine With the laughter of the lovers and the baby's hand in mine!

Little Sermons.

The prophets only dared to preach what other men felt but chose to conceal.

The Devil is only the personification of the evil things which men find in their own souls for conquering.

Courage is so rare in the presence of priest-craft that when it once speaks it fas.h.i.+ons creeds for all the centuries.

Caught on the Fly.

A Christian hand achieves more blessings than a religious heart.

If virtue were as expensive as vice, we would all be malefactors.

It takes plenty of grit to keep a proper edge on the tools of success.

There is always a hole for the fellow that wants out, if he is dirty enough to crawl or dig.

What matters it if the peaches are killed and the wheat crop proves a failure! The water-melon crop is still ahead of us, and a heaven of joy in every ruddy heart!

Love and Song.

Ah, Love is no phantom, Love's never a dream!

One hour in her kingdom Is life all supreme!

And ever and ever The scepter she swings For hearts that are happy With laughter that sings!