But when noonday splendor With her sunlight stayed, Roses, young and tender, Soon began to fade. When the night winds sighing ’Round Love’s portals play, Rose leaves, crushed and dying, Soon will blow away. INFLUENCE. The whole vast pyramid, Humanity, Is built on Influence, an unseen power, Whose great foundation stone is laid at start, Upon which rises day by day a part; Until the whole, imperfect though complete, Awaits the Judge at close of life’s brief hour. Like swallows who have found a summer sun, And frozen buds which wake to springtime light, So starved Humanity, which seeks awhile The warmth and light of earth’s most friendly smile, Bursts into fuller life and glories new By strength of influence daily used aright. As song of bird invites to melody Some other soaring songster of the air, Until a chorus, wakened far and near, Fills quiet hour with music and with cheer, So playful Zephyr may Æolus wake To scatter clouds and make the earth more fair. As raindrop falling to a fainting field May summon forth a sweet, refreshing shower, So little words may speed on loving wings, Till earth awakes and all the glad world sings; Till fainting hearts revive and souls are saved, By needed influence of cheer and power. If life with Socrates could make man wise, If Aristides could make mortal just, Then life with Christ can make a Christlike man, Who lives, reflecting Christ, as best he can; Whose nature is o’ertaken, sanctified, Whose influence ensures a sacred trust. The spell of Christ-life, deepening o’er the soul, Refines and softens conduct, speech, and mind; And what men think, and feel, and do, and say, Will make the earth less hopeful or more gay,— Will show a daring demon to the world, Or prove the loving God to mortal-kind. LIFT UP THY HEART. Lift up thy heart, The day is bright, There is no need of sighing; Do well thy part, Ere falls the night, Be happy in the trying. Fear not the way, God knows it all, His love is ever guiding; Be true to-day, And hear His call, In faith and works abiding. Look not before, Nor yet behind, The present is thy blessing; Doubt Him no more, But gladness find, His gracious gifts confessing. Lift up thy heart, And like a King Rule o’er it, faithless never; Do well thy part, Till earth shall sing, And Heaven be thine forever. TWO PATHS. When eastern skies are bathed in mists of gray, And all the heralds of the night are gone, I watch two shadows, moving o’er the way, Beyond the dim, uncertain light of morn.