Verses by the Wayside

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1907. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... We know not what the future is, So make our heaven now; Love wealth but for the good it brings, And not to Mammon bow. GOING Going. Alas! and must thou leave us? Couldst thou not tarry here Where friends and kind companions Would fill thy life with cheer? Going. Could not our friendship please thee That thou must roam away? Thinkst thou to gain new friendships Since thou wilt go and stay? Gone. Each day, dear friend, we'll miss thee, And vacant be thy chair. Since thou must go, God bless thee, Shall be our farewell prayer. THE LESSON OF THE LEAVES O father, help gather the leaves, My little ones pleaded with me; I could not refuse their request, So joined in their innocent glee. O father, not two are alike, We know, for we've hunted to find Twelve similar ones for our room, But cannot find two the same kind. Perchance to your limited sight All vary, my children, in hue; And yet, if you seek, you will find Resemblance most striking and true. Each leaf has a stem, veins, and cells, And each is composed of the same, Thus proving their relative kin, Though difFerent in color or name. I wended my way the next day Through crowd-crushing masses of men, And noted each face as I walked, --The thought of the leaves with me then. No two men alike in that throng It seemed, as I watched them go by; Could the lesson of leaves be applied To this busy throng? queried I. Just then in the street was a crash, Three people were killed and some crushed. Each one in that mass stopped to help, For aid and assistance all rushed. This answered my thought of the leaves; Each heart, filled with love for mankind, Each brain with its nerves, tissues, cells, God-made, are alike you will find. Each being a part of a whole; Mankind but a unit God made. Let one sink in sin, suff...