And he who battled and subdued, Then in Life's goblet freely press, New light and strength they give! And he who has not learned to know The prayer of Ajax was for light; To see his foeman's face Let our unceasing, earnest prayer Be, too, for light, for strength to bear Our portion of the weight of care, One half the human race. O suffering, sad humanity! Patient, though sorely tried! I pledge you in this cup of grief, The alarm, the struggle, — the relief, - MAIDENHOOD. AIDEN! with the meek, brown eyes, Thou whose locks outshine the sun, Standing, with reluctant feet, Where the brook and river meet, Womanhood and childhood fleet! Gazing, with a timid glance, Deep and still, that gliding stream Then why pause with indecision, When bright angels in thy vision Beckon thee to fields Elysian? Seest thou shadows sailing by, Hearest thou voices on the shore, That our ears perceive no more, Deafened by the cataract's roar? O, thou child of many prayers! Life hath quicksands, — Life hath snares, Care and age come unawares! Like the swell of some sweet tune, Morning rises into noon, May glides onward into June. Childhood is the bough, where slumbered Birds and blossoms many-numbered; Age, that bough with snows encumbered. Gather, then, each flower that grows, Bear a lily in thy hand; Gates of brass cannot withstand Bear through sorrow, wrong, and ruth, O, that dew, like balm, shall steal And that smile, like sunshine, dart EXCELSIOR. HE shades of night were falling fast, As through an Alpine village passed A youth, who bore mid snow and ice A banner with the strange device, Excelsior! His brow was sad; his eye beneath And like a silver clarion rung The accents of that unknown tongue, |