Brave Men and Women Part 54

The battle is set, The field to be won; What foes have you met, What work have you done?

To courage alone Does victory come; To coward and drone Nor country nor home!

XCV.

For thee, of blessed name, I ask not wealth or fame, Nor that thy path may be From toil and trouble free; For toil is everywhere, Some trouble all must bear, And wealth and fame are naught, With better stuff unwrought-- I crave for thy dear heart Eternal Duty's part.

For then indeed I know Thy pathway here below Will bloom with roses fair, And beauty everywhere; And this will be enough When winds are wild and rough, To keep thy heart in peace.

XCVI

All things to-day have voices, To tell the joy of heaven, Which unto earth is given; This Winter flower rejoices, This snowy h.e.l.lebore Which blooms for evermore On merry Christmas Day, Reminding us of One Here born a Virgin's Son, To take our sins away.

The death its leaves within Is but the death of sin; Which death to die was born The pure and guiltless Child Who Justice reconciled And oped the gates of morn, What time a crimson flame Throughout a word of shame Did purge away the dross, And leave the blood-red gold, Whose worth can not be told, He purchased on the cross!

And thus a prophecy Of Him on Calvary, Who takes our sins away, Is this fair snow-white flower Which has of death the power, And blooms on Christmas Day.

XCVII.

True friends.h.i.+p writes thee here A birthday souvenir: All blessings on thee, dear, For this and many a year!

XCVIII.

A myth that grew within the brain Relates that Eden's bowers Did not, 'mid all their wealth, contain The glory of the flowers;

Because there were no opened eyes To take that glory in, The sweet and innocent surprise Which looks rebuke to sin;

For Love, and Innocence, and Truth There made their dwelling-place, Than which fair three immortal Youth Required no other grace.

But when through sin the happy seat Was lost to wretched man, Our Lord, redeeming love to meet, Redeeming work began:

The flowers, which have a language now, Shall deck the weary earth, And, while men 'neath their burdens bow, Remind them of their birth;

And, with their vernal beauty rife, To all the Gospel preach, The Resurrection and the Life, In sweet, persuasive speech.

XCIX.

Reader! if thou hast found Thy life to reach and sound, Some thought among these rhymes, My school of rhymes and chimes, _Then this, I pray thee, con:_ Somewhat to feed upon It has--a kind of lunch, Served with Olympian punch, To brace thee every night, And make thy mornings bright-- Complines at even-song To make thee brave and strong:

SUNDAY NIGHT.

Thou, Father, givest sleep So calm, so sweet, so deep; And all Thy children share Thy goodness everywhere, And to Thy likeness grow Who love to others show.

Grant me more love, I pray, Than I have shown to-day.

O Father, Son, and Dove, Dear Trinity of Love, Hear Thou my even-song And keep me brave and strong.

MONDAY NIGHT.

Before I go to sleep, That I in joy may reap, Lord, take the tares away Which I have sown to-day, Productive make the wheat, For Thine own garner meet, And give me grace to-morrow To sow no seeds of sorrow.

O Father, Son, and Dove, Dear Trinity of Love, Hear Thou my even-song And keep me brave and strong.

TUESDAY NIGHT.

While I am wrapped in sleep, And others watch and weep, Dear Lord, remember them, Their flood of sorrow stem, Take all their grief away, Turn Thou their night to day, Until in Thee they rest Who art of friends the best.

O Father, Son, and Dove, Dear Trinity of Love, Hear Thou my even-song And keep me brave and strong.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

Night is for prayer and sleep!

Behind the western steep Now has the sun gone down With his great golden crown.

O Sun of Righteousness, Arise! Thy children bless; With healing in thy wings Cure all our evil things.

O Father, Son, and Dove, Dear Trinity of Love, Hear Thou my even-song And keep me brave and strong.

THURSDAY NIGHT.

While I am safe asleep, Good Shepherd of the sheep, If some poor lamb of Thine Stray from the Fold Divine Into the desert night, In the sweet morning light, Choose me to bring it thence Through Thy dear providence.

O Father, Son, and Dove, Dear Trinity of Love, Hear Thou my even-song And keep me brave and strong.

FRIDAY NIGHT.

That I may sweetly sleep, Thy child, O Father, keep To wake and love thee more Than I have done before.

And do Thou prosper all Who on Thy goodness call, And take their sins away Who have not learned to pray.

O Father, Son, and Dove, Dear Trinity of Love, Hear Thou my even-song And keep me brave and strong.

SAt.u.r.dAY NIGHT.

If death upon me creep While I in darkness sleep, Dear Lord! whose time is best, Be Thou my bed and rest!

Then at Thy smile of light Will my dark cell grow bright, And angel-sentinels Ring the sweet morning bells.

O Father, Son, and Dove, Dear Trinity of Love, Hear Thou my even-song And keep me brave and strong.