Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE POET. He walks with God upon the hills! And sees, each morn, the world aris New-bathed in light of paradise. He hears the laughter of her rills, Her melodies of many voices, And greets her while his heart rejoices. She, to his spirit undefiled, Makes answer as a little child ; Unveiled before his eyes she stands, And gives her secrets to his hands. LONGINGL O Foolish wisdom sought in books! O aimless fret of household tasks ! 0 chains that bind the hand and mind — A fuller life my spirit asks! For there the grand hills, summer-crowned, Slope greenly downward to the seas ; One hour of rest upon their breast Were worth a year of days like these. Their cool, soft green to ease the pain Of eyes that ache o'er printed words ; This weary noise — the city's voice, Lulled in the sound of bees and birds. For Eden's life within me stirs, And scorns the shackles that I wear; The man-life grand — pure soul, strong hand. The limb of steel, the heart of air ! And I could kiss, with longing wild, Earth's dear brown bosom, loved so much, A grass-blade fanned across my hand, Would thrill me like a lover's touch. LONGING. 15 The trees would talk with me ; the flowers Their hidden meanings each make known — The olden lore revived once more, When man's and nature's heart were one! And as the pardoned pair might come Back to the garden God first framed, And hear Him call at even-fall, And answer, " Here am I," unshamed — So I, from out these toils, wherein The Eden-faith grows stained and dim, Would walk, a child, through nature's wild, And hear His voice and answer Him. One sang all day, more merry than the lark That mounts the morning skies: One silent sat, and lifted patient eyes. One hear...