But--if Thou shouldst This way again, And we can find So much as one small corner Free from guest, Not then in vain Thy quest. But now-- The house is full. Pass on!" Christ passes On His ceaseless quest, Nor will He rest With any, Save as Chiefest Guest. LIFE'S CHEQUER-BOARD "'Tis all a Chequer-Board of Nights and Days, Where Detiny with men for pieces plays, Hither and thither moves, and mates and slays, And one by one back in the Closet lays." _Omar Khayyam_. A Chequer-Board of mingled Light and Shade? And We the Pieces on it deftly laid? Moved and removed, without a word to say, By the Same Hand that Board and Pieces made? No Pieces we in any Fateful Game, Nor free to shift on Destiny the blame; Each Soul doth tend its own immortal flame, Fans it to Heaven, or smothers it in shame. CROSS-ROADS Oft, as he jogs along the Winding-Way, Occasion comes for Every Man to say,-- "This Road?--or That?" and as he chooses them, So shall his journey end in Night or Day. QUO VADIS? Peter, outworn, And menaced by the sword, Shook off the dust of Rome; And, as he fled, Met one, with eager face, Hastening cityward, And, to his vast amaze, It was The Lord. "_Lord, whither goest Thou_?" He cried, importunate, And Christ replied,-- "_Peter, I suffer loss. I go to take thy place, To bear thy cross_." Then Peter bowed his head, Discomforted; There, at the Master's feet, Found grace complete, And courage, and new faith, And turned--with Him, To Death. So we,-- Whene'er we fail Of our full duty, Cast on Him our load,-- Who suffered sore for us, Who frail flesh wore for us, Who all things bore for us,-- On Christ, The Lord. TAMATE _Great-Heart is dead, they say_,-- Great-Heart the Teacher, Great-Heart the Joyous, Great-Heart the Fearless, Great-Heart the Martyr, Great-Heart of Sweet White Fire. _Great-Heart is dead, they say_,-- Fighting the fight, Holding the Light, Into the night. _Great-Heart is dead, they say_.-- But the Light shall burn the brighter. And the night shall be the lighter, For his going; And a rich, rich harvest for his sowing. _Great-Heart is dead, they say_!-- What is death to such an one as Great-Heart? One sigh, perchance, for work unfinished here;-- Then a swift passing to a mightier sphere, New joys, perfected powers, the vision clear, And all the amplitude of heaven to work The work he held so dear. _Great-Heart is dead, say they_? Nor dead nor sleeping! He lives on! His name Shall kindle many a heart to equal flame. The fire he lighted shall burn on and on, Till all the darkness of the lands be gone, And all the kingdoms of the earth be won, And one. _A soul so fiery sweet can never die, But lives and loves and works through all eternity_. BURDEN-BEARERS