Why do I love thee? Ask God to reveal Why He hath made thee so unlike the rest;— True and unselfish, perchance thou mayest feel That I have good reason for loving thee best. Art thou the dearest one? Love can but show That thou art the dearest, ideal of mine; Knowing, I love thee; and loving, I know; To know and to love are the gifts divine. CLASS ODE,—1885. We sail far out to sunset’s light beyond, On Life’s most restless and most fitful deep; Where tempests rage and storms do oft abound, And waves and billows care not long to sleep. In Ocean’s lap most priceless pearls we’ve found, And gathered them as onward we have passed; We deemed the work but pleasure and reward, Rare treasures that in years to come would last. Life’s dark blue waters cannot be recrossed O’er which we passed so joyfully each day; For youth and pleasure can not always last, And Duty bids us hasten on our way. We know that here our voyage together ends And each alone must earn his own reward; But through the storms and sunny days alike We shall be guided by the hand of God. To-day we all must bid a fond farewell; We know henceforth our lives apart must be, Until we cross the deep that lies before, To be no longer tossed on life’s rough sea. And when beyond the ever-changing waves We anchor on that shining Heavenly shore, May we, who linger now to say: “Farewell,” United stand to part again no more. TWO SIDES. The clouds that float above Each have two separate sides,— One toward the earth below, The other toward the sun; And when we see our lives, Which God in goodness guides, Upon the darker side He sees the brighter one. Some day we shall behold The side that He can see, And we shall praise His name For blessings that are ours; Till clouds shall all disperse, And life shall grander be,— Refreshed like mother earth When sunshine follows showers. THE CHANGING CURRENT.