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VERSE： THE UNKNOWN
GRAVE
No name to bid us know Who rests below； No word of death or birth；
Only the grass's wave； Over a mound of earth； Over a nameless grave。
Did this poor wandering heart In pain depart？ Longing； but all too late；
For the calm home again； Where patient watchers wait； And still will wait
in vain。
Did mourners come in scorn； And thus forlorn； Leave him； with grief
and shame。 To silence and decay； And hide the tarnished name Of the
unconscious clay？
It may be from his side His loved ones died； And last of some bright
band； （Together now once more；） He sought his home； the land Where
they had gone before。
No matterlimes have made As cool a shade； And lingering breezes
pass As tenderly and slow； As if beneath the grass A monarch slept below。
No grief； though loud and deep； Could stir that sleep； And earth and
heaven tell Of rest that shall not cease； Where the cold world's farewell
Fades into endless peace。
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VERSE： GIVE ME THY HEART
With echoing steps the worshippers Departed one by one； The organ's
pealing voice was stilled； The vesper hymn was done； The shadows fell
from roof and arch； Dim was the incensed air； One lamp alone with
trembling ray； Told of the Presence there！
In the dark church she knelt alone； Her tears were falling fast； 〃Help；
Lord；〃 she cried； 〃the shades of death Upon my soul are cast！ Have I not
shunned the path of sin； And chosen the better part？〃 What voice came
through the sacred air？ … 〃My child； give me thy Heart！〃
〃Have I not laid before Thy shrine My wealth； oh Lord？〃 she cried；
〃Have I kept aught of gems or gold； To minister to pride？ Have I not bade
youth's joys retire； And vain delights depart？〃 … But sad and tender was the
voice … 〃My child； give me thy Heart！〃
〃Have I not； Lord； gone day by day Where Thy poor children dwell；
And carried help； and gold； and food？ Oh Lord； Thou knowest it well！
From many a house； from many a soul； My hand bids care depart：〃 … More
sad； more tender； was the voice … 〃My child； give me thy Heart！〃
〃Have I not worn my strength away With fast and penance sore？ Have
I not watched and wept？〃 she cried； 〃Did Thy dear Saints do more？ Have I
not gained Thy grace； oh Lord； And won in Heaven my part？〃 … It echoed
louder in her soul … 〃My child； give me thy Heart！〃
〃For I have loved thee with a love No mortal heart can show； A love so
deep； my Saints in heaven Its depths can never know： When pierced and
wounded on the Cross； Man's sin and doom were mine； I loved thee with
undying love； Immortal and divine！
〃I love thee ere the skies were spread； My soul bears all thy pains； To
gain thy love my sacred Heart In earthly shrines remains： Vain are thy
offerings； vain thy sighs； Without one gift divine； Give it； my child； thy
Heart to me； And it shall rest in mine！〃
In awe she listened； and the shade Passed from her soul away； In low
and trembling voice she cried … 〃Lord； help me to obey！ Break Thou the
chains of earth； oh Lord； That bind and hold my heart； Let it be Thine； and
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Thine alone； Let none with Thee have part。
〃Send down； oh Lord； Thy sacred fire！ Consume and cleanse the sin
That lingers still within its depths： Let heavenly love begin。 That sacred
flame Thy Saints have known； Kindle； oh Lord； in me； Thou above all the
rest for ever； And all the rest in Thee。〃
The blessing fell upon her soul； Her angel by her side Knew that the
hour of peace was come； Her soul was purified： The shadows fell from
roof and arch； Dim was the incensed air … But Peace went with her as she
left The sacred Presence there！
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VERSE： THE WAYSIDE INN
A little past the village The Inn stood； low and white； Green shady
trees behind it； And an orchard on the right； Where over the green paling
The red…cheeked apples hung； As if to watch how wearily The sign…board
creaked and swung。
The heavy…laden branches； Over the road hung low； Reflected fruit or
blossom From the wayside well below； Where children； drawing water；
Looked up and paused to see； Amid the apple…branches； A purple Judas
Tree。
The road stretched winding onward For many a weary mile … So dusty
foot…sore wanderers Would pause and rest awhile； And panting horses
halted； And travellers loved to tell The quiet of the wayside inn； The
orchard； and the well。
Here Maurice dwelt； and often The sunburnt boy would stand Gazing
upon the distance； And shading with his hand His eyes； while watching
vainly For travellers； who might need His aid to loose the bridle； And tend
the weary steed。
And once （the boy remembered That morning； many a day … The dew
lay on the hawthorn； The bird sang on the spray） A train of horsemen；
nobler Than he had seen before； Up from the distance galloped； And
halted at the door。
Upon a milk…white pony； Fit for a faery queen； Was the loveliest little
damsel His eyes had ever seen： A serving…man was holding The leading
rein； to guide The pony and its mistress； Who cantered by his side。
Her sunny ringlets round her A golden cloud had made； While her
large hat was keeping Her calm blue eyes in shade； One hand held fast the
silken reins To keep her steed in check； The other pulled his tangled mane；
Or stroked his glossy neck。
And as the boy brought water； And loosed the rein； he heard The
sweetest voice that thanked him In one low gentle word； She turned her
blue eyes from him； Looked up； and smiled to see The hanging purple
blossoms Upon the Judas Tree；
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And showed it with a gesture； Half pleading； half command； Till he
broke the fairest blossom； And laid it in her hand； And she tied it to her
saddle With a ribbon from her hair； While her happy laugh rang gaily； Like
silver on the air。
But the champing steeds were rested … The horsemen now spurred on；
And down the dusty highway They vanished and were gone。 Years passed；
and many a traveller Paused at the old inn…door； But the little milk…white
pony And the child returned no more。
Years passed； the apple…branches A deeper shadow shed； And many a
time the Judas Tree； Blossom and leaf； lay dead； When on the loitering
western breeze Came the bells' merry sound； And flowery arches rose； and
flags And banners waved around。
Maurice stood there expectant： The bridal train would stay Some
moments at the inn…door； The eager watchers say； They comethe cloud
of dust draws near … 'Mid all the state and pride； He only sees the golden
hair And blue eyes of the bride。
The same； yet； ah； still fairer； He knew the face once more That bent
above the pony's neck Years past at that inn…door： Her shy and smiling
eyes looked round； Unconscious of the place； Unconscious of the eager
gaze He fixed upon her face。
He plucked a blossom from the tree … The Judas Treeand cast Its
purple fragrance towards the Bride； A message from the Past。 The signal
came； the horses plunged … Once more she smiled around： The purple
blossom in the dust Lay trampled on the ground。
Again the slow years fleeted； Their passage only known By the height
the Passion…flower Around the porch had grown； And many a passing
traveller Paused at the old inn…door； But the bride； so fair and blooming；
The bride returned no more。
One winter morning； Maurice； Watching the branches bare； Rustling
and waving dimly In the grey and misty air； Saw blazoned on a