4
POEMS BY MISS ELIZA JANE STEPHENS.
THE PRODIGAL.
I wasted health when young and strong,
For life was fair and promised length;
I toiled, enjoyed with all my strength,
And never asked it right or wrong.
For life was fair and promised length;
I toiled, enjoyed with all my strength,
And never asked it right or wrong.
I wasted time in seeking place,
And scorned each homely duty done,
Nor felt the days glide one by one,
And leave me with no added grace.
And scorned each homely duty done,
Nor felt the days glide one by one,
And leave me with no added grace.
I wasted love, for vainest things
Were oft enthroned within my heart,
Until they made of life a part,
And then alas! took airy wings.
Were oft enthroned within my heart,
Until they made of life a part,
And then alas! took airy wings.
And now when sick, alone and old,
I come, O gracious God, to thee;
And thou wilt welcome such as me,
And gather me within thy fold.
I come, O gracious God, to thee;
And thou wilt welcome such as me,
And gather me within thy fold.
COMING FROM SCHOOL.
They are coming, happy children,
School is out and they're at play,—
Coming through the lane and orchard,
Surely not the nearest way
School is out and they're at play,—
Coming through the lane and orchard,
Surely not the nearest way
Rosy cheeks and eyes that sparkle,
Laugh that's ringing loud and free,
Constant din of childish prattle,
Not a heart hut's tilled with glee.
Laugh that's ringing loud and free,
Constant din of childish prattle,
Not a heart hut's tilled with glee.
Roaming here and there 'mid flowers,
Playing drive, or take a ride,
Counting o'er the mountain frolics,
Source alike of joy and pride.
Playing drive, or take a ride,
Counting o'er the mountain frolics,
Source alike of joy and pride.
Naught care they for wealth or fashion,
Bonnets swinging in the hand;
Fairy locks are freely waving.
Round the brows so deeply tanned.
Bonnets swinging in the hand;
Fairy locks are freely waving.
Round the brows so deeply tanned.
Little hats are clutched half brimless,
Butterflies must now take care,
Earnestly, ea(;h youthful sportsman
Longs to take them in his snare.
Butterflies must now take care,
Earnestly, ea(;h youthful sportsman
Longs to take them in his snare.
Tiny feet are treading homeward,
By the brook and 'long the hill,
Pausing at each downy bird's nest,
And the rocks beside the mill.
By the brook and 'long the hill,
Pausing at each downy bird's nest,
And the rocks beside the mill.
Merry shout and songs and laughter,
Fall united on the ear,
Sweet enough to rouse the languid,
And the drooping spirit cheer.
Fall united on the ear,
Sweet enough to rouse the languid,
And the drooping spirit cheer.
They are weaving childish fancies,
Seeing through the golden light.
Everyday, as it advances,
Bringing something pure and bright.
Seeing through the golden light.
Everyday, as it advances,
Bringing something pure and bright.
Life with them is sport and pastime,
Earth a paradise of flowers,
And they revel 'mid its beauties,
Dreaming not of wintry hours.
Earth a paradise of flowers,
And they revel 'mid its beauties,
Dreaming not of wintry hours.
Tell them not of their delusion,
Nor recite some woeful tale,
Better list to their rejoicings
Than to hear them sigh and wail.
Nor recite some woeful tale,
Better list to their rejoicings
Than to hear them sigh and wail.
Soon enough they'll share the anguish,
Soon enough will join the strife,
Bear the burdens and the crosses,
Know indeed what's meant by Life.
Soon enough will join the strife,
Bear the burdens and the crosses,
Know indeed what's meant by Life.
UNSATISFIED.
We ever long for things beyond,
And most for that which farthest lies,
As if the meaner gifts were ours,
And all withheld that we could prize.
And most for that which farthest lies,
As if the meaner gifts were ours,
And all withheld that we could prize.
We search for gold with greedy pains,
And when 'tis found we fear its loss,
And fret and wear our lives away
To win and hoard the shining dross.
And when 'tis found we fear its loss,
And fret and wear our lives away
To win and hoard the shining dross.
We seek for fame—the noisy breath
Of flattering crowds we pine to hear;
Where'er 'tis won, each word of praise
Was dearly bought with sigh and tear.
Of flattering crowds we pine to hear;
Where'er 'tis won, each word of praise
Was dearly bought with sigh and tear.
And much is envied beauty's dower,
Though frail as is the thistle down,
It dazzles only tor an hour,
And flies if sorrow do but frown.
Though frail as is the thistle down,
It dazzles only tor an hour,
And flies if sorrow do but frown.
But friends, and health, and faithful love,
These are of life the nobler part;
Oh, fling your baubles all aside,
And prize the joys that reach the heart.
These are of life the nobler part;
Oh, fling your baubles all aside,
And prize the joys that reach the heart.
A DAY.
The morning comes in splendor bright
With glittering dew and opening flowers,
Sweet songsters waken us to light'
And glory in these wondrous hours;
We revel 'mid earth's choicest sweets
And gaze on beauty with delight,
Our senses quickened by repose
Throughout the long and peaceful night.
With glittering dew and opening flowers,
Sweet songsters waken us to light'
And glory in these wondrous hours;
We revel 'mid earth's choicest sweets
And gaze on beauty with delight,
Our senses quickened by repose
Throughout the long and peaceful night.
The noontide comes with busy hum,
And ceaseless steps of hurrying feet,
While voices quick and harsh and loud,
Proclaim the traffic of the street.
The sun holds fierce, relentless sway,
There's burning heat and sweat and dust,
And mortals fret and toil and wear,
And question ever why they must.
And ceaseless steps of hurrying feet,
While voices quick and harsh and loud,
Proclaim the traffic of the street.
The sun holds fierce, relentless sway,
There's burning heat and sweat and dust,
And mortals fret and toil and wear,
And question ever why they must.
But gently falls the eventide,
A few soft clouds are in the west,
Sweet sounds are in the distance heard,
And zephyrs softly breathe of rest,
And man so zealous through the day
Is wearied out with all the strife,
And bows his head in thankfulness,
Then falls asleep, and this is Life.
A few soft clouds are in the west,
Sweet sounds are in the distance heard,
And zephyrs softly breathe of rest,
And man so zealous through the day
Is wearied out with all the strife,
And bows his head in thankfulness,
Then falls asleep, and this is Life.
THE EXILED EMPRESS.
Hers was a noble womanhood,
So full of rarest, sweetest grace,
So rich in goodness, showing forth
In love for all the human race.
So full of rarest, sweetest grace,
So rich in goodness, showing forth
In love for all the human race.
A faithful wife, she gladly sought
The counsel of her husband wise,
And he in turn, accounted her,
Of all he held, the dearest prize.
The counsel of her husband wise,
And he in turn, accounted her,
Of all he held, the dearest prize.
A loving mother, e'en in death
Forgetting naught of tenderness,
She yearned her children to behold,
To bid farewell, once more to bless.
Forgetting naught of tenderness,
She yearned her children to behold,
To bid farewell, once more to bless.
Still sighing for her native land
Until at last she fell asleep;
Can it be wrong when such are dead
To pause awhile and o'er them weep?
Until at last she fell asleep;
Can it be wrong when such are dead
To pause awhile and o'er them weep?
