Part 5 (2/2)

Yet unto themselves apart, Whisp'ring they had said of her-- ”Dying of a broken heart-- Death her only comforter-- For the man she loved is dead-- She will follow soon!” they said.

AFTER THE FROST

After the frost! O the rose is dead, And the weeds lie pied in the garden-bed, And the peach tree's shade in the wan suns.h.i.+ne, Faint as the veins in these hands of mine, Streaks the gray of the orchard wall Where the vine rasps loose, and the last leaves fall, And the bare boughs writhe, and the winds are lost-- After the frost--the frost!

After the frost! O the weary head And the hands and the heart are quieted; And the lips we loved are locked at last, And kiss not back, though the rain falls fast And the lashes drip, and the soul makes moan, And on through the dead leaves walks alone Where the bare boughs writhe and the winds are lost-- After the frost--the frost!

CHARLES H. PHILLIPS

OBIT NOVEMBER 5TH, 1881

O friend! There is no way To bid farewell to thee!

The words that we would say Above thy grave to-day Still falter and delay And fail us utterly.

When walking with us here, The hand we loved to press Was gentle, and sincere As thy frank eyes were clear Through every smile and tear Of pleasure and distress.

In years, young; yet in thought Mature; thy spirit, free, And fired with fervor caught Of thy proud sire, who fought His way to fame, and taught Its toilsome way to thee.

So even thou hast gained The victory G.o.d-given-- Yea, as our cheeks are stained With tears, and our souls pained And mute, thou hast attained Thy high reward in Heaven!

WHEN IT RAINS

When it rains, and with the rain Never bird has heart to sing, And across the window-pane Is no sunlight glimmering; When the pitiless refrain Brings a tremor to the lips, Our tears are like the rain As it drips, drips, drips-- Like the sad, unceasing rain as it drips.

When the light of heaven's blue Is blurred and blotted quite, And the dreary day to you Is but a long twilight; When it seems that ne'er again Shall the sun break its eclipse, Our tears are like the rain As it drips, drips, drips-- Like the endless, friendless rain as it drips.

When it rains! weary heart, O be of better cheer!

The leaden clouds will part, And the morrow will be clear; Take up your load again, With a prayer upon your lips, Thanking Heaven for the rain As it drips, drips, drips-- With the golden bow of promise as it drips.

AN a.s.sa.s.sIN

Cat-like he creeps along where ways are dim, From covert unto covert's secrecy; His shadow in the moonlight shrinks from him And crouches warily.

He hugs strange envies to his breast, and nurses Wild hatreds, till the murderous hand he grips Falls, quivering with the tension of the curses He launches from his lips.

Drenched in his victim's blood he holds high revel; He mocks at justice, and in all men's eyes Insults his G.o.d--and no one but the devil Is sorry when he dies.

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