Gems In Verse

If deBert Bands my eager f eet would journey. Nor weary till I kissed the earth where thon Bhouldst stand; If it were sea, I'd cross the waters over. Nor fear the tempest till I reached thy land; U it were death, I would not live without thee; The weary hours could never solace know, But glad I y irom the empty world about me, Through death'8 dark way to seek thee, love, I'd go. Not desert lands, nor sea, nor eren death, dear. Divides our lives and keeps our souls apart; But distance wider than two worlds compute, love, Hath its equator in thy süent heart. - Louisville Courier-Journal. Solomon Spanked. To his mother, fair Bath-sheba, Solomon the Wise, ttaid he: "Adonijah, Haggith's son, Hath doue evil unto me; "For as we were playing now Just outeide the city wall. Lo, he knocked me down, and did Me a sneaking rascal cali!" "Did you give him blow for blow?" Bath-sheba the Fair, said she. "You just bet your life I did; He'U not lord it over me] "When he hit me, called me ñames, I stopped not to make reply; From the shoulder deep I hit out, Giving him a black eye!" Very grave was then Bath-sheba, As she sadly shook her head; "Only brutes resort to blows, Solomon, my son," she said. "When again he striketh thee, Be not hasty, check thine ire; Thus on his unruly head Shail thou heap up coals of firc." Solomon the Wise but smiled; "Guess I'd better go aiid see If he'll give those marbles back That he won from me," said he. "Marbles! Did you play for keeps?" Cried Bath-sheba, shriek on shriek, And she caught her recreant son Ere he had a chance to speak. From her foot her sandal drew, Took him there aeross her knee. And the way she fiogged the lad Was a sight for men to see. Solomon the Wise was mute, Till he was well out of reach, Then he said, "Oh, mother, why Don't you practice what you preach?" - Anne Louise Brakenridge. Song and Singer. I saw him once, the while he sat and played, A stripling, with a shock of yellow hair, His own rare songs, in mhth or sorrow made. But tender all, and fair. And as the years rolled by I saw him not, But still his songs full many a time I sung, And thought of him as one who bas the lot To be forever young. Until at last he stood before mine eyes An age bent man, who trembled o'er his staff; My sight rebelied to see him in such guise, Ripe for his epitaph. I grieved with grief that to a death belongs; How time is stern I had iorgot, in truth. And how that men wax old, whereas their songs Keep an immortal youth. -Richard E. Burton. Dar's a Good Time a-Comin. We's awaitin, white folks, waitia Fur de captur ob ole satan. Gat do time fur 'crastinatin, So we'll take de gospel kyar, Fur we hear dem angels 6ingin An de golden bells a-ringin- Joyful tidins dey is bringin from afar. Dar's a good time a-comin, Georgiana, Fur de prophets tole erbout it long ago; Dar's a whisper in de breezes. Georgiana, Whar de cotton an de sugar cane grow. Git a-prayin, darkies, prayin, Fur dar'll be no mo' delayin, Doan' yo' hear de music playin? 'Tis de resurrection ban, An de trump'll soon be blowin Whar de Jordán am a-flowin- In de gospel kyar we's goin to dat lan. Git dem chillum all togedder, Georgiana, Doan' f ergit to f otch de chicken an de jam, Fur we'll all git a-hungry. Georgiana, On dat long an weary journey to de Lam'. Ef yo' cotch de debble, kill 'im, He'a a mos' umbrageous villain, An he's watchin fur de chillum, Hidin by de ribber side: Git a-singin, darkies, singin, Jine yo' hans an git a-swingin, Fur de gospel bells am riugin íur de brida. Friz yo' ha'r in de mornin. Georgiana, Wash yo' robes f rom de blumish ande sin, An we'ü cross ober Jordán, Georgiana, An ole Peter'll swing de gate au let us in. - Emile Pickhardt. Brown's I-ullüby. There, there, there, tbere, There, there, there, What's the matter vvith the boy? There, there, there. Did he go to bed at six o'clock. And sleep till half past two? Well, well, well, well, There, there, there. Now close your little eyes. That's right. Now open them again. That's right. Now rest your dear head on the other shoulder. Now smile. Oh, how sweetl Wake up now and go to sleep again. There, there, there. Shut your beautiful blue eyes and wake op again. Yes, I know. Well, well, well. Lie down and get up. There, there, there. It would be lighter if it wasn'tfso dark. And warmer if it wasn't so cold. Yes, yes, yes. But the sun will be out in a few minute, For it's most morniug. Yes, yes, my little dear, my pet. -Puck. What Is a Smile? What is a smile? A latent g-leam Of sunshine born within the eyes. As water lilies in a stream, Awakened from thelr long, deep dream. To light arise. What is a smile? A nameless thing, The lack of which a fair face mars. And makes to be like brook or spring Ku radiant sunlight imagiug, No dancing stars. What is a smile? An airy rhyme Which tells more with its subtle wile Than tongue could teil throughout all time, Which sets the heart bells in a chime- This is a smile] - Josephine Preston Peabody. Evening Song. Look off, dear Love, across the Ballow sands. And mark yon meeting of the sun and sea; How long they kiss in sight of all the lands. Ah, longer, longer we! ïw in the sea's red vintage melts the sun. As Egypt's pearl dissolved in rosy wine, And Cleopatra night drinks all. 'Tis done; Love, lay thine hand in mine. Come forth, swect stars, and comfort heaven's heart; Glimmer, ye waves, round elso unlighted sands. O nightl divorce our sun and sky apart, Never our Ups, our hands. - Sidney Lanier. Black business- Maktoff ink. Always in practice - Physicians.