In the midst of these sweet meditations Death struck us both with his wing; the sleep of fever seized us both at the same hour. I woke alone!... You sleep now in the land of Adonis, near the holy Byblus and the sacred waters where the women of the ancient mysteries came to mingle their tears.
Reveal to me, O my good genius, to me whom you loved, those truths which master Death, prevent us from fearing, and make us almost love it.
(From the dedication page of his "Home Ballads.")
I call the old time back; I bring these lays To thee in memory of the summer days, When, by our native streams and forestways,
We dream them over; while the rivulets made Songs of their own, and the great pine trees laid On warm noon-lights the masses of their shade.
And she was with us, living o'er again Her life in ours, despite of years and pain-- The Autumn's brightness after latter rain.
Beautiful in her holy peace, as one Who stands at evening, when the work is done, Glorified in the setting of the sun!
Her memory makes our common landscape seem Fairer than any of which painters dream-- Lights the brown hills and sings in every stream.
For she whose speech was always truth's pure gold Heard, not unpleased, its simple legends told, And loved with us the beautiful and old.
(Dedication to His Sister, Mary Field French, from His "Little Book of Western Verse." Copyrighted, 1889, by Eugene Field, Published by Charles Scribner's Sons.)
A dying mother gave to you Her child a many years ago; How in your gracious love he grew, You know, dear, patient heart, you know.
The mother's child you fostered then Salutes you now and bids you take These little children of his pen And love them for the author's sake.
To you I dedicate this book, And, as you read it line by line, Upon its faults as kindly look As you have always looked on mine.
Tardy the offering is and weak; Yet were I happy if I knew These children had the power to speak My love and gratitude to you.
Trained Observers of Men Describe the Impressions Made Upon Them by the Ruler of the Russian People, But No Two Agree in Their Estimates of the Man Behind the Mask.
_Compiled and edited for_ THE SCRAP BOOK.
In the present crisis in Russia the actual character of the Czar is a matter of unusual interest to the world at large, since he is one of the factors to be considered in predicting the outcome of the most tremendous social and political upheaval of the time.