At one, at many failures be not dismayed. Out of failures fortunes, master-works are made! Thou cans’t be good, thou cans’t be great! ’Tis not too late; tis not too late,-- Tho’ thy heart were black as night;--tho’ Thy hands were stained with blood,--yet God’s grace (and penance yet) would make thee white as snow. A purpose have--firmly fixed, unchangeable! Staid as are Hercules’ rocks. Thus anchored fast unto Hope’s solid shore Thou cans’t withstand griefs ruder schocks. Let, oh let adversity’s mad ocean-billows roar Round thee. Hate’s spume shall fall as sea-flakes tossed but in jest. To pleasant dreams thou cans’t lie down, securely, sweetly rest Disturbed by neither Slander’s viper-tongue nor Mar’s iron crest. Build,--build thy abode on solid ground, With massive walls and battlements around. What tho’ misfortune’s myrmadons come thick and fast! Abiding Confidence will rout the prowling foe at last. Complacent be in darkness--complacent be in rain; The never-quenched sun soon will shine again. Lo! Is not earth a school? An outer court? A place wherein rude Intelligence is taught? Is not the soul immortal? Does not Death but tear away Life’s soiled habilaments of clay? If so--have, then, no fear of thy “good valet” Death. He strips thee but to cleanse, and better clothe. Have hope, have faith, have charity; Strive to merit immortality. At Pleasure’s fount dip deep. In its pure ecstatic tide thy troubles steep. Grave saint, if _righteous souls shall joyous live again_ Why should we sorrow here? Why vainly foster care and pain? Nay, nay, most happy presence, acquainted best with Joy and Love Are those best fitted, sir, for life,--for exalted consecrated life above. Then, mortals blest, why still? Why sad? Cheer up, dear fellows, and be glad. Live merrily--live while you may, Gaily, gaily tripping along life’s way. Waste not these few, these fleeting, precious hours; After death, as after night, dawns the brighter, fairer day, Be happy, then, be thankful, grateful as the flowers. _MY COLORADO_ Colorado! Oh, my own beloved Colorado! Colorado, in the early days of spring; Colorado, “when the birds are on the wing.” Colorado, Colorado, ’tis of thee I dearly love to sing! Colorado, when the brooks are flowing full and free; Colorado, when “the herds come lowing o’er the lea”; Colorado! Colorado! Oh, my own beloved Colorado! Colorado is the place for you, friend, and for me. Colorado, Colorado in the Autumn’s golden glow; Colorado, when the hills are capped with snow; Colorado, when the skies are soft and blue; Colorado, Colorado,--how I do love you! Colorado! Oh, my own beloved Colorado! _BEAUTIFUL COLORADO_