Bees in Amber Part 18

Peace reigned triumphant. On the quiet air I heard the merry laughter of the child, And the great sigh of grat.i.tude that rose From all the mother-hearts of all the world.

"_Shall it be Peace or War_?"-- Once more the voice,-- "_To one man is it given to decide_, THOU ART THE MAN! _The scales are in_ THY _hand.

Think well, and say,--Shall it be Peace or War?

As thou, shalt say so shall it be with thee_."

But, ere the answer came, all vanished like A sc.r.a.p of paper in a fire of coals.

Then, with a crackling peal, the thick black vail That hangs before the face of men was rent, And in the instant lightning flash I saw,--

A chamber hung with black and heaped with flowers, Where candles tall flashed white on watchers' swords.

High on a high-raised bier lay one at rest-- Crosses and orders on his quiet breast, Head proudly cus.h.i.+oned on his country's flag, Hands calmly folded on his helmet's crest, His back to earth, his mute face turned to heaven,-- Answering the summons of his Over-Lord.

I strained my eyes upon his face to learn Thereon his answer. But the dark vail dropped, And left me wondering what his word had been.

Had I but read his face I should have known Who lay there.--Man, like other men? Or one Who grasped the greater things, and by his will Brought Peace on Earth and drew Earth nearer Heaven.

The bells beat softly on the midnight air Proclaiming the New Time? Shall it be Peace?

A voice within me cried and would not cease, "_One man could do it if he would but dare_."

NOTE.--This was written in 1898, at the time of the Tzar's Rescript to the Powers suggesting a Peace Conference with a view to the lightening of the ever-growing burden of arms.

The possibilities have changed their faces, but at heart the great problem remains much the same. And above all, the great fact remains that if Great Britain, Germany, Russia and the United States joined hands for a World Peace, they could ensure it. Germany is still mistrustful. On her lies a great responsibility.

YOUR PLACE

Is your place a small place?

Tend it with care!-- He set you there.

Is your place a large place?

Guard it with care!-- He set you there.

Whatever your place, it is Not yours alone, but His Who set you there.

IN NARROW WAYS

Some lives are set in narrow ways, By Love's wise tenderness.

They seem to suffer all their days Life's direst storm and stress.

But G.o.d shall raise them up at length, His purposes are sure, He for their weakness shall give strength, For every ill a cure.

SHUT WINDOWS

(_For the Braille Magazine_)

When the outer eye grows dim, Turns the inner eye to Him, Who makes darkness light.

Fairer visions you may see, Live in n.o.bler company, And in larger liberty, Than the men of sight.

He sometimes shuts the windows but to open hidden doors, Where all who will may wander bold and free, For His house has many mansions, and the mansions many floors, And every room is free to you and me.

PROPS

Earthly props are useless, On Thy grace I fall; Earthly strength is weakness, Father, on Thee I call,-- For comfort, strength, and guidance, O, give me all!

BED-ROCK

I have been tried, Tried in the fire, And I say this, As the result of dire distress, And tribulation sore-- That a man's happiness doth not consist Of that he hath, but of the faith And trust in G.o.d's great love These bring him to.

Nought else is worth consideration.

For the peace a man may find In perfect trust in G.o.d Outweighs all else, and is The only possible foundation For true happiness.

AFTER WORK

Lord, when Thou seest that my work is done, Let me not linger on, With failing powers, Adown the weary hours,-- A workless worker in a world of work.

But, with a word, Just bid me home, And I will come Right gladly,-- Yea, right gladly Will I come.

KAPIOLANI IN RAROTONGAN

Mr. F.W. Christian, of the Polynesian Society of New Zealand, whose personal acquaintance with the South Sea Islands and their dialects is unique, is translating "Kapiolani" into Rarotongan. He writes--

"I enclose a four-line stanza which, translating your first line--'Where the great green combers break,' etc.--strictly according to East Polynesian ballad-metres, ushers in your great theme.

"'Kapiolani' will, I trust, G.o.d willing, become a household cla.s.sic in many of the Eastern Islands, such as Rapa and Manahiki, where the Rarotongan language runs current as a sort of Lingua Franca or Sacred Esperanto, thanks to the magnificent translation of the Bible by the great missionary, John Williams. I have translated the poem most carefully, and as accurately as possible into the peculiar metre and cast of expression which an Eastern Polynesian 'Atu-Pe'e, or Versifier, would immediately grasp as idiomatic. The first lines run thus:--"

Tei te ngai mangungu--anga no te an ngaru roro'a Ki runga no te punga matoato'a Ngaru kerekere, ngaru mamaata e tini Ki runga no te 'Akau-Pipini.