The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-07-25
FAITH.
BY WILL IL. HERMAN.

tDedlcated TO H. Z. H., Pittsburg, Pa,
sing, not of this changeful clime-chao
of sunlight and of SHOWS ....r.
But Of the deathless summer-tide in Ian,
of lily and of rose
Where, boating in the breathless calms
upon the lotos-purpled Nile,
We drift between the regal palms ant
pyramids for many mile.
Here, where the viper rears its brood with
in the noxious weeds and flowers,
A pillared city proudly stood, with COLDER
minarets aud to wers.
Behold this lone, deserted place, where
| serpents third the seed-plumed grass
Here, in it's stateliness and grace, kiosk
stood of stone and brass;
But now the night-bat and the owl hide in
its poison-reeking vines,
And jackals and hyenas prowl by its pale
, n..ndrake-hidden shrines.
These lightning-cloven marble walls, with
sculptured images ornate,
Mark the imperial palace halls where
grand, gray bearded kings held state
Here were their soft and shaven lawns,
where frc-hearted tulips blazed,
Within these greenwood shaws the fawns
upon the fat grape-clusters grazed.
Here swans superbly foated by the barge
moOred to this marble stair,
Here shot shining fountain high and
foaming in the amber air.
Here, through these dim, wraith-haunted
rooms, swept many noble courtier-
train,
With velvets, diadems and plumes, the
brave, the lovely and the vain.
And now we pass into the gloom Of fra
grant forests, and we see,
The bright magnolia in bloom, the verdure
of the banyan tree,
cactus with it's crimson flowers,
The pied pinks in the red-stone rooted, the
hot, snake-haunted bamboo bowers.
The ring-dove, rising while it's sings, on
wllrring wings, till lost in light,
The rock-goat, bleating while its springs
from breezy height to breezy height
And as we dreamily ride by between the
ruins and the woods,
think of blast and battle-cry that break
these baleful solitudes.
Of victories, forgotten now, defeats of
which no wrecks remain,
OF laurel leaves on warrior-brow, of con-
quered leader lying slain;
OF loves and hates, of joys and pains, OF
welcomes and of fare-ye-wells,
OF sacrifices and of gains, of marriage
feasts and funeral bells.
1 sadly sighed: Thus runs the doom
puissant Kingdoms rise to fall
wan and CHASTITY over all.
Then spake thee, o thou friend of mine
All things of time shall be undone,
Save faith that makes our race divine, and
Edon-life and Earth-life one.
Since it hath lit its lamp upon the sacred
shrine within my breast,
I feel that from my heart hath gone its
phantom gloom, its vague unrestj
1t seems that suns flood through the fierce
and Storm m-jarred midnights wild with
wrath
That violets and daisies pierce the SHOWS
that drift upon my path;
When looking through the unclosed doors
OF charnel vaults, see afar
The sunny scas and shining shores beyond
the coffin-worm and star;
When treading deserted street, where
long-dead men and women trOd,
follow their white, spirit feet unto the
very goal of God;
Where never thunder-bo!t, and night, and
pesti1ence, and battle-roar,
Ind wreck, and poverty, and blight, and
age can harm them any more.
What matters 1t il we must lie at rest be-
meath the sea or sod
Dur spirits-though our bodies die-sre
rounding grandly back to God!
When in the white cathedral-walls. where
censer swings and cresset burns,
Where wave the purple funeral pals gold
sprinkled DER the gorgeous urns.
hear the Mass-I am oppressed by the
tear broken, sombre tones,
When "Passus ct scultus est" through
the great, quivering organ groans;
,ut suddenly-the sorrow past-joyfully
up the spirit springs, |,
When, like silvery clarion-blast, clearly
"Et resurrcxit" rings!
hus, in that land of wreck aud wrath, 1
spake of vanity and loss
7hen thou put forth thy purer faith I saw
the crown above the crossl
he oneness of existence, then, startled,
saw and understood;
he self same souls that make us men,
make us the star-wreathed angel hood.
hen let us work; nor idly sigh, because |
our temples shall decay,
ecause the thoughts we pen shall die,
perhaps in a swift-coming day;
ut hold il true that we progress from |
starry sphere to starry sphere,
nd that the Lord will bless and bless