From many a path of glory And many a throne of power Is still recalled the wonder Of some dear, distant hour. Men look through years of toiling, Of sorrow, strife, and harm, And treasures unforgotten Their childhood on the farm. The Clock (1924) WHAT is the matter with our clock I cannot understand. It sounds its steady old tick-tock With mien and manner grand. To look at its great open face You’d think it truthful quite. I’m sorry such is not the case. It’s hardly ever right. Just yesterday when I was blue Because Tom didn’t call To play with me when work was through, Its hands scarce moved at all. When I went to his house today To spend an hour or so, We’d scarce got started at our play Till it was time to go. The Dream (1924) I had a dream the other night, Too sweet for word of tongue, Of days when, beautiful and bright, The children all were young. I saw them playing on the floor And ’mongst the dooryard flowers. Soft baby voices came once more From unforgotten hours. I came from work when eve was late And all the sky was gold. They ran to meet me at the gate With greetings as of old. I helped to tuck them in at night With prayers of happiness, But my arms ached when dawn was bright With a great emptiness. An Easter Vision (1924) Whene’er I hear the Easter Bells Ring out their carols gay, The graves from all the hills and dells Dissolve from sight away. I see the mighty planet left Without a marble stone To tell of death, or one bereft Who comes to weep alone. Dear hands, long folded to their rest, Return to touch my own, And voices memory has blessed In each familiar tone Speak as in other days to me; While on the springtime’s breath Is borne to every land and sea The news: “There is no death.” The Electric Spark (1924) SEE this snappy little spark Flashing pertly in the dark; Coming with its sudden gleam Out from nowhere, it would seem; Glowing here against the shade, Fire unkindled, light unmade, Brother to the bolt’s fierce blow And the driving dynamo. Here is hid the mystery, Mayhap, of the land and sea. All creation’s story may Hide within this flashing ray. Light, and heat, and force it holds; Boundless energy unfolds; Tells the secret, if we find it, Of the God who stands behind it. Fade-Outs (1924) Faces, like stars, rise on our little ken; Shine on our souls with warm and cheering ray. Then, like the stars, they pass from us again, Leaving the dreary world of yesterday. Friends slip into our little world awhile. Joys come to thrill us with their rapture keen. The friends go trudging on their winding mile The joys fade as a picture on the screen.