If you've deemed me harsh and hasty, thought my judgment weak and blind, Oh! remember, dearest children, that the teacher has to bear With your weakness and your folly, with your troubles and your care, Has to study human nature, curb the passions of the child, Patiently explain the problem, teach you to be true and mild; Many duties crowd upon her, in this temple of the mind; Oh! be lenient in your judgment, think not she is harsh, unkind; For the noblest ones have faltered, moved by passions deep and wild, For a moment lost to reason, weak and helpless as a child. If I've ever wronged you, children, Oh! I trust you will forgive; High resolves and true repentance teach us better how to live. When the peaceful summer twilight rests upon the scorching lands, Often times in thought and feeling, in this temple I shall stand, See again your merry faces, live these winter hours o'er, Feel the presence of the loved ones, gliding through the open door, Hear your gladsome voices ringing on the peaceful summer air, Hear your kindly words of welcome floating 'round me everywhere; And your thoughtless words and actions all forgotten then shall be, While the memory of your good deeds only shall be borne to me; And this memory, Oh! beloved ones, shall a green oasis be,Be a union 'twixt our spirits, golden chain of purity. Whereso'er your feet shall wander, keep your spirits firm and strong, Live to make great men and women, scorn to do that which is wrong; Though the tempter stands beside you, overcome each wild desire, And through great and moral action conquer passion's evil fire; Thus you shall go forth to duty, strong to labor and to do; Pride of home and pride of parents, and a nation's glory too. And to those whose words of wisdom o'er our common life was thrown, Who, when parted from the loved ones, made for us a loving home, Oh! we bless you, cherished spirits, for your great unwearied love, For your kindness without measure, sweet as sunshine from above; Bless you for the useful lessons patiently you've daily taught, For the tenderness and home-love with which every deed was fraught. Oh! we feel our spirits stronger, having shared your love and home, And our prayers shall still be with you, wheresoever we may roam. We are going homeward, homeward, sad thoughts flit across the mind, Mingled with the joy of meeting treasured spirits left behind. Feeling stronger, wiser, better, having met within these walls, And o'er all the winter hours, sadly now the curtain falls. Oh! a thousand thoughts and feelings rush across the weary mind, Little children love each other, be you ever just and kind, Learn forgiveness, 'tis a lesson you should learn in youth's spring-time; To "forget is only human "-to forgive is half divine; Thus where'er on life's great ocean may our future life be thrown, We shall feel that we are nearing, nearing to the Father's home, Where the care-worn and the weary, and the little children dwell, Where love-tones alone are echoed, where is breathed no sad farewell. 100 CHOICE SELECTIONS No. 14. THE FLOWER OF LIBERTY.-O. W. HOLMES. What flower is this that greets the morn, It kindles all the sunset land; Oh, tell us what its name may be! In savage Nature's far abode Its tender seed our fathers sowed; The storm-winds rocked its swelling bud, Its opening leaves were streaked with blood, The full-blown Flower of Liberty! Then hail the banner of the free, Behold its streaming rays unite With spotless white from Northern snows, The sister stars of liberty! Then hail the banner of the free, 7 |