_Hark! The drums! Muffled drums! The long low ruffle of the drums_!-- And every head is bowed, In the vast expectant crowd, As the Great Queen comes,-- By the way she knew so well, Where our cheers were wont to swell, As we tried in vain to tell Of our love unspeakable. Now she comes To the rolling of the drums, And the slow sad tolling of the bell. Let every head be bowed, In the silent waiting crowd, As the Great Queen comes, To the slow sad ruffle of the drums! _Who is this that comes, To the rolling of the drums, In the sorrowful great silence of the peoples_? Take heart of grace, She is not here! The Great Queen is not here! What most in her we did revere,-- The lofty spirit, white and clear, The tender love that knew no fear, The soul sincere,-- These come not here, To the rolling of the drums, In the silence and the sorrow of the peoples. _Death has but little part In her. Love cannot die. Who reigns in every heart Hath immortality_. So, though our heads are bent, Our hearts are jubilant, As she comes,-- As a conqueror she comes-- With the rolling of the drums, To the stateliest of her homes, In the hearts of her true and faithful peoples. _For the Great Queen lives for ever In the hearts of those who love her. January, 1901_. THE GOLDEN CORD Through every minute of this day, Be with me, Lord! Through every day of all this week, Be with me, Lord! Through every week of all this year, Be with me, Lord! Through all the years of all this life, Be with me, Lord! So shall the days and weeks and years Be threaded on a golden cord, And all draw on with sweet accord Unto Thy fulness, Lord, That so, when time is past, By Grace, I may at last, Be with Thee, Lord. THANK GOD FOR PEACE! JUNE, 1902 _Thank God for Peace_! Up to the sombre sky Rolled one great thankful sigh, Rolled one great gladsome cry-- The soul's deliverance of a mighty people. _Thank God for Peace_! The long-low-hanging war-cloud rolled away, And night glowed brighter than the brightest day. For Peace is Light, And War is grimmer than the Night. _Thank God for Peace_! Great ocean, was your mighty calm unstirred As through your depths, unseen, unheard, Sped on its way the glorious word That called a weary nation to ungird, And sheathed once more the keen, reluctant sword? _Thank God for Peace_! The word came to us as we knelt in prayer That wars might cease. Peace found us on our knees, and prayer for Peace Was changed to prayer of deepest thankfulness. We knelt in War, we rose in Peace to bless Thy grace, Thy care, Thy tenderness. _Thank God for Peace_! No matter now the rights and wrongs of it; You fought us bravely, and we fought you fair. The fight is done. Grip hands! No malice bear! We greet you, brothers, to the nobler strife Of building up the newer, larger life!