And as for the ways of “getting religion” She could not believe That this should be Thrust upon a poor defenseless Babe, or that a mean advantage should be Taken of his Youth By his parents, in biasing his Later saner judgment by Prejudicing him in favor of certain Opinions that They Happened to have. She did not mean That one should not read the Bible, or obey general morals or Know who Rachel was or Be as uneducated, as She. She meant that one should be Left to oneself, When it comes to thinking out What his Motive in life, And Conception of perfection, and Explanation of the big whys of Life, and Things Like that Are. For one must get an Understanding of such Things (If one is to have a =real= understanding of them) Either through Much theory, Or better, By the experience which only Living gives-- If you get what I mean. But, Thought the girl, What is the use of Worrying About things like that Anyhow? And then she Realized how People always turn toward Religion When they are in Trouble; as the Religious revival in Europe now Shows. And she realized the Comfort that they Get From it. And after all It is only natural that when Material things And means toward the real end Go wrong, And one feels blue, That one should try to Look ahead And beyond At the =real= goal, And get Cheered up, By the confirmation that there =is= a goal. And that is one use of Religion. And besides People Are apt to be too Materialistic, nowadays. And the very presence of ideals, Or recognition of their presence, Will lead one Beyond Such narrowness And Such binding materialism, and so Will lead to Higher ideals-- Hence Higher strivings-- Hence A better world-- Which is An asset in itself, If you get what I Mean. And this is the Real Use of religion. And with this off her mind she felt better. SUNDAY A-top the palisades that touch the sky Where friendly elms flirt with each passing cloud, There let me lie--with Heaven for my shroud, With Nature live, and close to Nature die. I, too, would flirt with clouds that pass me by, Holding my head aloft, my spirit proud, Only by Nature’s wrath shall I be cowed, Only by hand of Providence I die. For Art we live, since Art is Nature’s toy, Fashioned each man in mold almost the same ... Religion, Nation, Race ... are things of name. Cast these aside--God’s playthings are for joy. Amongst the waves that vainly slap the shore, Please God, help me to carry on some more. NEW YEAR’S DAY