No matter what role you are giving, No matter what skill you betray, The everyday life you are living, Is certain to color the play. The thoughts we call secret and hidden Are creatures of malice, in fact. They steal forth unseen and unbidden, And permeate motive and act. The genius that shines like a comet Fills only one part of God’s plan, If the lesson the world derives from it Is marred by the life of the man. Be worthy your work if you love it; The king should be fit for the crown; Stand high as your art, or above it, And make us look up and not down. ILLOGICAL. She stood beside me while I gave an order for a bonnet. She shuddered when I said, “And put a bright bird’s wing upon it.” A member of the Audubon Society was she; And cutting were her comments made on worldly folks like me. She spoke about the helpless birds we wickedly were harming; She quoted the statistics, and they really were alarming; She said God meant His little birds to sing in trees and skies; And there was pathos in her voice, and tears were in her eyes. “Oh, surely in this beauteous world you can find lovely things Enough to trim your hats,” she said, “with out the dear birds’ wings.” I sat beside her that same day, in her own house at dinner, Angelic being that she was to entertain a sinner! Her well-appointed table groaned beneath the ample spread Course followed appetizing course, and hunger sated fled; But still my charming hostess urged, “Do have a reed-bird, dear, They are so delicate and sweet at this time of the year.” NEW YEAR. I saw on the hills of the morning, The form of the New Year arise, He stood like a statue adorning The world with a background of skies. There were courage and grace in his beautiful face, And hope in his glorious eyes. “I come from Time’s boundless forever,” He said, with a voice like a song. “I come as a friend to endeavor, I come as a foe to all wrong. To the sad and afraid I bring promise of aid, And the weak I will gird and make strong. “I bring you more blessings than terrors, I bring you more sunlight than gloom, I tear out your page of old errors, And hide them away in Time’s tomb. I reach you clean hands, and lead on to the lands Where the lilies of peace are in bloom.” NEW YEAR. As the old year sinks down in Time’s ocean, Stand ready to launch with the new, And waste no regrets, no emotion, As the masts and the spars pass from view. Weep not if some treasures go under, And sink in the rotten ship’s hold, That blithe bonny barque sailing yonder May bring you more wealth than the old.