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Never shall my heart be burthened With its ancient woe and fears； I
can drive them from my presence； I can check these foolish tears。
Back； ye Phantoms； leave； oh leave me To a new and happy lot； Speak
no more of things departed； Leave mefor I know ye not。
Can it be that 'mid my gladness I must ever hear you wail； Of the grief
that wrung my spirit； And that made my cheek so pale？
Joy is mine； but your sad voices Murmur ever in mine ear： Vain is all
the Future's promise； While the dreary Past is here。
Vain； oh worse than vain； the Visions That my heart； my life would fill；
If the Past's relentless phantoms Call upon me still！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： THANKFULNESS
My God； I thank Thee who hast made The Earth so bright； So full of
splendour and of joy； Beauty and light； So many glorious things are here；
Noble and right！
I thank Thee； too； that Thou hast made Joy to abound； So many gentle
thoughts and deeds Circling us round； That in the darkest spot of Earth
Some love is found。
I thank Thee MORE that all our joy Is touched with pain； That
shadows fall on brightest hours； That thorns remain； So that Earth's bliss
may be our guide； And not our chain。
For Thou who knowest； Lord； how soon Our weak heart clings； Hast
given us joys； tender and true； Yet all with wings； So that we see； gleaming
on high； Diviner things！
I thank Thee； Lord； that Thou hast kept The best in store； We have
enough； yet not too much To long for more： A yearning for a deeper peace；
Not known before。
I thank Thee； Lord； that here our souls； Though amply blest； Can never
find； although they seek； A perfect rest … Nor ever shall； until they lean On
Jesus' breast！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： HOME…SICKNESS
Where I am； the halls are gilded； Stored with pictures bright and rare；
Strains of deep melodious music Float upon the perfumed air：… Nothing
stirs the dreary silence Save the melancholy sea； Near the poor and
humble cottage； Where I fain would be！
Where I am； the sun is shining； And the purple windows glow； Till
their rich armorial shadows Stain the marble floor below：… Faded Autumn
leaves are trembling； On the withered jasmine tree； Creeping round the
little casement； Where I fain would be！
Where I am； the days are passing O'er a pathway strewn with flowers；
Song and joy and starry pleasures Crown the happy smiling hours：…
Slowly； heavily； and sadly； Time with weary wings must flee； Marked by
pain； and toil； and sorrow； Where I fain would be！
Where I am； the great and noble Tell me of renown and fame； And the
red wine sparkles highest； To do honour to my name：… Far away a place is
vacant； By a humble hearth； for me； Dying embers dimly show it； Where I
fain would be！
Where I am； are glorious dreaminess； Science； genius； art divine； And
the great minds whom all honour Interchange their thoughts with mine：… A
few simple hearts are waiting； Longing； wearying； for me； Far away where
tears are falling； Where I fain would be！
Where I am； all think me happy； For so well I play my part； None can
guess； who smile around me； How far distant is my heart … Far away； in a
poor cottage； Listening to the dreary sea； Where the treasures of my life
are； Where I fain would be！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： WISHES
All the fluttering wishes Caged within thy heart Beat their wings
against it； Longing to depart； Till they shake their prison With their
wounded cry； Open wide thy heart to…day； And let the captives fly。
Let them first fly upward Through the starry air； Till you almost lose
them； For their home is there； Then； with outspread pinions； Circling
round and round； Wing their way； wherever Want and woe are found。
Where the weary stitcher Toils for daily bread； Where the lonely
watcher Watches by her dead； Where with thin weak fingers； Toiling at the
loom； Stand the little children； Blighted ere they bloom。
Where； by darkness blinded； Groping for the light； With distorted
conscience Men do wrong for right； Where； in the cold shadow； By
smooth pleasure thrown； Human hearts by hundreds Harden into stone。
Where on dusty highways； With faint heart and slow； Cursing the glad
sunlight； Hungry outcasts go： Where all mirth is silenced； And the hearth
is chill； For one place is empty； And one voice is still。
Some hearts will be lighter While your captives roam For their tender
singing； Then recal them home； When the sunny hours Into night depart；
Softly they will nestle In a quiet heart。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： THE PEACE OF GOD
We ask for Peace； oh Lord！ Thy children ask Thy Peace； Not what the
world calls rest； That toil and care should cease； That through bright sunny
hours Calm Life should fleet away； And tranquil night should fade In
smiling day； … It is not for such Peace that we would pray。
We ask for Peace； oh Lord！ Yet not to stand secure； Girt round with
iron Pride； Contented to endure： Crushing the gentle strings That human
hearts should know； Untouched by others' joy Or others' woe； … Thou； oh
dear Lord； wilt never teach us so。
We ask Thy Peace； oh Lord！ Through storm； and fear； and strife； To
light and guide us on； Through a long struggling life： While no success or
gain Shall cheer the desperate fight； Or nerve； what the world calls； Our
wasted might：… Yet pressing through the darkness to the light。
It is Thine own； oh Lord； Who toil while others sleep； Who sow with
loving care What other hands shall reap： They lean on Thee entranced； In
calm and perfect rest： Give us that Peace； oh Lord； Divine and blest； Thou
keepest for those hearts who love Thee best。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： LIFE IN DEATH AND
DEATH IN LIFE
I。
If the dread day that calls thee hence； Through a red mist of fear
should loom； （Closing in deadliest night and gloom Long hours of aching
dumb suspense；） And leave me to my lonely doom。
I think； beloved； I could see In thy dear eyes the loving light Glaze
into vacancy and night； And still say； 〃God is good to me； And all that He
decrees is right。〃
That； watching thy slow struggling breath； And answering each
imperfect sign； I still could pray thy prayer and mine； And tell thee； dear；
though this was death； That God was love； and love divine。
Could hold thee in my arms； and lay Upon my heart thy weary head；
And meet thy last smile ere it fled； Then hear； as in a dream； one say；
〃Now all is over；she is dead。〃
Could smooth thy garments with fond care； And cross thy hands upon
thy breast； And kiss thine eyelids down to rest； And yet say no word of
despair； But； through my sobbing； 〃It is best。〃
Could stifle down the gnawing pain； And say； 〃We still divide our life；
She has the rest； and I the strife； And mine the loss； and hers the gain： My
ill with bliss for her is rife。〃
Then turn； and the old duties take … Alone nowyet with earnest will
Gathering sweet sacred traces still To help me on； and； for thy sake； My
heart and life and soul to fill。
I think I could check vain weak tears； And toil；although the world's
great space Held nothing but one vacant place； And see the dark and weary
years Lit only by a vanished grace。
And sometimes； when the day was o'er； Call up the tender past again：
Its painful joy； its happy pain； And live it over yet once more； And say；