The Atlanta constitution., 1900-07-30
"SonqS Of the Soil''
By FRANK L. STANTON
A Song from an Attic.


Only a song of you!
What is the message the bells ring clear
To the faith-formed skies above?
1t seems to me-if know. my dear
IT is only n message of Love!
OF Love that suffers the scourging rod,
Singing where Poverty dwells;
Whose voice rings true to the throne of
In the melody of the bells!
This is Gods day--so the churchmen say
And q beautiful day 1t is,
And I'm looking over the hills away
At all of the day that is.
The birds are singing They do
not know
That the bells have called to prayer;
The reckless rivers In music flow,
And the lilies of God stand fair.
".
Never a meadow that looks forlorn,
With the daisies white and calm:
The winds that rustic the tender corn
Are singing no solemn psalm.
The beautiful oaks stand brave and clear
Where the Sabbath sunlight streams,
And the hills are so close to the skies. my
dear,
That the angels read their dreams.
v.
Tho oaks are preaching: tho gentle pines
Have sermons of mystic art:
There are lessons sweet in the swaying
vines.
And Love is the text. Sweetheart
The flame of the sunfiower. burning
bright,
Gives the color to the clod:
And the lilies know they are affairs white
|, Where the wild winds worship God.
vi.
The bells are mute: In the sanity place
What lovelier scene appears?
A futter of fans and rustic of lace,
And beautiful. whispered prayers.
Beautiful. whispered prayers-and then
Terrors OF wrath above!-
Sweetheart, If the dear Christ died for
men,
Don't you think that He died for Love?
VII.
It was ever His lesson-broad love for
Beautiful hopes for fears;
His smile was peace to the Magdalen
Who bathed His feet with her tears.
And 1 thlnk-and the thought is like
grace to mel
Were He here OF His own sweet will.
He would walk on the waves of this
Galilee,
Whispering: Peace! be still!'
VIII.
A song. or a sermon? Sweetheart, the
day
Is dying off In the west
Tho sun. in the old-time splendid way.
Is giving the world Gods rest.
Clouds of crimson. like banners hung
In sky of glooms and CLEANS.
The mother-bird is with her young
And the world is with the dreams.
TX.
And I? There are dreams that
are mine, my dear!
Here. In this lonely place.
The thorn I'd clasp and the cross I'd
bear
If only might see your face!
Could 1 run to you as the rivers run
To tho seas where the white ships roam;
If only might know-with the days
work done
Tho Joy of your welcome home!
Could you meet me there, in the twi-
light air.
AS the restful shadows fall,
Thankful to God for ALL
1 would say: Though lonely the desert
way,
And barren of bloom or dew,
1t led me at last to the light of day
1t led me at last TO your
Once more the bells! And the sanity
throng
Passes in dim review;
And I'm here, like a sinner, singing a
song
Only a song of youl
Sweet be your dreamsl Der the meadow
lands
Ger the mountains near the blue,
Comes the call of Sleep. and her beck
oning hands -
am going TO dream of you!
The One Way.
The one way. my dearie. In summertime
and snow:
The one way. my dearie. and that's the
way to go!
And what to us Is glory when all the
stars above
Tell ever one sweet story of love-of hui
man love!
and we fall;
But Love that grows not weary hath
strength enough for all!
And what to us Is glory, and all earth's
splendid CLEANS?
Still, dear, the old, sweet story, and still
the dreamsI the dreams!
The one way. my dearie. whatever life
may be:
I know just how to love you. and that's
enough for mel
And what to us is glory-the hearts he
roic beat
While ever thrills that story II love
1 love you. Sweet"
The one way, my dearie! In all
the lonely lands
You feel my reverent kisses, Sweet on
your woman s-handsl
And what TO us is glory? In earth or
heaven above
There thrills no sweeter story than just
your love! Your lovei
The Growlers.
Don't rail so at the sunshine,
Whatever may be said,
When light has left the skies you'll be
"A long
i'''' .Dead,'
You will not hear the winds sing
In the gree ntreeS overhead:-
When light has left the skies you'll be