NEARER HOME

BY PHOEBE CARY

One sweetly solemn thought
Comes to me o'er and o'er;
I am nearer home to-day

Than I ever have been before;

Nearer my Father's house,

Where the many mansions be; Nearer the great white throne, Nearer the crystal sea;

Nearer the bound of life,

Where we lay our burdens down;

Nearer leaving the cross,

Nearer gaining the crown!

But the waves of that silent sea
Roll dark before my sight
That brightly the other side
Break on a shore of light.

O, if my mortal feet

Have almost gained the brink;

If it be I am nearer home

Even to-day than I think,

Father, perfect my trust!

Let my spirit feel, in death, That her feet are firmly set

On the Rock of a living faith!

THE MUSINGS OF ARROYO AL
BY ARTHUR CHAPMAN

It seems to me this life we lead
Is jest like that in Cattle Land;
A few wild critters will stampede
A quiet and contented band;
And find out what the trouble was!
And can't, because there ain't no cause.

One bawlin' critter in the herd

Kin do much damage on a drive; His locoed doin's is absurd.

And at the market man alive! That critter that has scairt the bunch Don't fetch enough to buy a lunch.

They has to be, it seems to me,

These locoed steers and locoed men. But think how easy life'd be

If, when they bawl and bawl again, The herd'd stand there, as it shud, And jest take fresh holt on its cud!

SUNSET THOUGHTS

BY MINNIE CONWAY

To-night, as I sat by my window,
As the west was all agleam

With that strange and wonderful splendor
That is fleeting as a dream,

I thought that the hands of angels
Had swung heaven's gateway wide,
And I caught some glimpse of the glory
From the hills on the other side.

Is it not a beautiful fancy,

This sunset thought of mine,
That the gates of heaven are always
Swung open at day's decline
That those whose day is ended
Of earthly woes and ills

May pass to the morning of gladness
That dwells on the heavenly hills?

Perhaps while I sat there dreaming
Of the gateway in the west,
Some poor soul went through the portals
To a long and endless rest.
Went in through the sunset gateway

To the city paved with gold,
Passed in to the new life's gladness,

To be no longer old.

When for me the sunset gateway
Shall at day's decline unclose,
And I enter through its portals
To a long and sweet repose,

I know I shall remember

In that land so fair and far My strange and beautiful fancy Of the sunset gates ajar.

THE OLD ARM-CHAIR

BY ELIZA COOK

I love it, I love it! and who shall dare
To chide me for loving that old arm-chair?
I've treasured it long as a sainted prize,

I've bedewed it with tears, I've embalmed it with

sighs.

"T is bound by a thousand bands to my heart;

Not a tie will break, not a link will start;

Would you know the spell?

a mother sat there!

And a sacred thing is that old arm-chair.

In childhood's hour I lingered near
The hallowed seat with listening ear;
And gentle words that mother would give
To fit me to die, and teach me to live.

She told me that shame would never betide
With Truth for my creed, and God for my guide;
She taught me to lisp my earliest prayer,
As I knelt beside that old arm-chair.

I sat, and watched her many a day,

When her eye grew dim, and her locks were gray;
And I almost worshipped her when she smiled,
And turned from her Bible to bless her child.
Years rolled on, but the last one sped,
My idol was shattered, my earth-star fled!
I learnt how much the heart can bear,
When I saw her die in her old arm-chair.

"T is past, 't is past! but I gaze on it now, With quivering breath and throbbing brow: "Twas there she nursed me, 'twas there she died, And memory flows with lava tide.

Say it is folly, and deem me weak,

Whilst scalding drops start down my cheek;
But I love it, I love it, and cannot tear
My soul from a mother's old arm-chair.

ROSES UNDERNEATH THE SNOW
BY GEORGE COOPER

Summer groves may lose their gladness,
Wintry winds may wander by;
Cares may come and weary sadness,
Must we then forever sigh?
Brave the storm with firm endeavor,
Let your vain repinings go!
Hopeful hearts will find forever
Roses underneath the snow.

One by one the links that bind us
May be severed here on earth;
But the sun will surely find us,

Through the winter's gloomy dearth!
Cheerful hearts around us beating,
Wearing ever summer's glow,
Ah! we know you're always meeting
Roses underneath the snow.

Never joy that earth can send us,
Can forever leave us here;