The National tribune., 1884-10-30
LOYAL WOMRNS WORK
Home NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Meetiug---COnverSatiOn Club.
A rAvoRrrE POEM AND IT'S AUTHOR.

IN response to a request from Mrs. II. Hayes,
wife OF Union veteran, Litchtield, Pa, Tho says
she watches aud reads with admIring eyes all
that comes from wouian's pen IN HE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE we reproduce Horace Smiths
"Hvmn to the Flowers" Every reader of
THF TRIBUNE who agrees with Henry Ward
-Beecher shat flowers are the sweetest things
God ever made and forgot to put soul into
will read the poem with genuine interest, be-
cause of the authors sympathetic pleasure in
these exquisite creations OF the Divine Will
Flowers have ever been held up as types of
the divineSt beauty. They have served alike
the poet and philosopher fitting forms OF
comparison; while both solomon, the embodi-
ment of human wisdom, aud He who spake as
never men snakc turned TO them for the most
touching illustrations of the care which the
great Father of all bestows upon his children.
Wordsworth. who lived the nearest to nature
and humanity of all the poets, said:
To me the meanest flower that blows can give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.
Horace Smith, the English poet and novel
list, who half century ago was in his prime,
seems to have been endowed with the same
kindly spirit. He was born AT London in l11S,
and died in 1919. His brother, James Smith,
was also poet, and together they won eX-
tended fame IN the publication of joint poeti-
cal work, entitled Rejected Addresses" being
clever limitations Of Scott, Wordsworth, etc.
HYMN To THE FLOWERS.
by Horace Saldh.l
Day-stars. that ope your eyes with man. to twinkle
From rainbow gaiaxies OF earths creation,
And dew-dropS on her holy affairs sprinkle
AS a Ibation.
We matin worshipersi who bending lowly
Before the uI,riseul sun, Gods lidiess eye,
Throw from your cilaiices a swee; and holy
Incense on high.
We bright noeaics, that with sioried beauty
The floor of Natures temple tesseiiaie,
With numerous emhlen,s OF instructive duty,
Your forms create.
Meath clustered bOaghs each floral bell that
And tolls lis perfume on the passing air,
Makes Sabbath in the fields. and ever ringeth
A call To prayer
Not to the domes where crun.bling arch and COL
Attest the feeblcness of mortal hand
But TO that fame, most catholic and solemn,
Which God hath planned:
To that cathedral. boundIess as wonder,
Whose quenchiess lamps the sun and moon sup
Its choir the winds and waves-its organ thunder
Its dome the sky.
There, as in solitude and shade wander.
Through the green aisies. or stretched upon the
Awed by the silence. reverentIy ponder
The ways OF God,
Your voiceless lips, Flowers! are living preach
Each cup pulpit. and each leaf book,
Supplying to my fancy numerous teachers
From ionelIeSt nook.
Floral apostles! that in dewy spiendor
Weep without woe, and blush without
crime
o, may deeply learn. and neer surrender,
Your lore SubiInet
"Thou vert not, Solomon! ia all thy glory,
Arrayed," the lilies cry, IN robes like ours;
How vain your GRANDEUR all, how transtory
Are human howers!"
In the sweet-scented pictures heavenly Artist,
With which thou p6intest Natures widespread
hail,
What a delightful lesson thou impartest
OF love to all J
Not useless We, Flowers! though made for
y easure,
Blooming Ger field and wave by day and night,
From every source your sanction bids me treasure
Harmless delight
Ephemeral sages! what instructors hoary
For such a world of thought could furnish scope?
Each fading calyx nie,ae1stO naOri,
Yet fount Of hope.
Posthunous gloriesl angel-lke colIectionI
UpTaised from seed or bliD inferred in earth,
Ye are to a type of resurrection,
AND second birth
Were L o God, in churchess lands remaining,
Far from ali voice of teachers and divines.
My soul would find, in flowers OF Thy orddiuing,
Priests, sermons, shrlnes!