TO LABOR IS TO PRAY.

195

TO LABOR IS TO PRAY.

PAUSE not to dream of the future before us;

Pause not to weep the wild cares that come o'er us; Hark how Creation's deep, musical chorus,

Unintermitting goes up into heaven!

Never the ocean wave falters in flowing;
Never the little seed stops in its growing;

More and more richly the rose heart keeps glowing,
Till from its nourishing stem it is riven.

"Labor is worship!" the robin is singing;
"Labor is worship!" the wild bee is ringing;
Listen! that eloquent whisper, upspringing,

Speaks to thy soul from out nature's great heart. From the dark cloud flows the life-giving shower; From the rough sod blows the soft breathing flower; From the small insect the rich coral bower;

Only man, in the plan, shrinks from his part.

Labor is Life! 'Tis the still water faileth;
Idleness ever despaireth, bewaileth,

Keep the watch wound, or the dark rust assaileth;

Flowers droop and die in the stillness of noon.

196

TO LABOR IS TO PRAY.

Labor is glory!—the flying cloud lightens;

Only the waving wing changes and brightens,
Idle hearts only the dark future frightens,

Play the sweet keys, wouldst thou keep them in
tune!

Labor is rest-from the sorrows that greet us;
Rest from all petty vexations that meet us;
Rest from sin-promptings that ever entreat us;

Rest from world-sirens that lure us to ill.
Work,—and pure slumbers will wait on thy pillow;
Work,-thou shalt ride over care's coming billow;
Lie not down 'neath Woe's weeping willow;

Work with a stout heart and resolute will!

Labor is health! Lo, the husbandman reaping,
How through his veins goes the life-current leaping!
How his strong arm in its stalwart pride sweeping,
True as a sunbeam the swift sickle guides.
Labor is wealth,-in the sea the pearl groweth ;
Rich the queen's robe from the cocoon floweth ;
From the fine acorn the strong forest bloweth;

Temple and statue the marble block hides.

Droop not! though shame, sin and anguish are round thee!

Bravely fling off the cold chain that hath bound thee!

MY BIRTH-DAY.

Look to the pure heaven smiling beyond thee!
Rest not content in thy darkness,

a clod;

Work for some good, be it ever so slowly;
Cherish some flower, be it ever so lowly;
Labor! all labor is noble and holy;

Let thy great deed be thy prayer to thy God!

197

FRANCES S. OSGOOD.

MY BIRTH-DAY.

BENEATH the moonlight and the snow
Lies dead my latest year;
The winter winds are wailing low

Its dirges in my ear.

I grieve not with the moaning wind

As if a loss befell;

Before me, even as behind,

God is, and all is well!

His light shines on me from above,
His low voice speaks within,-
The patience of immortal love

Outwearying mortal sin.

198

MY BIRTH-DAY.

Not mindless of the growing years
Of care and loss and pain,
My eyes are wet with thankful tears
For blessings which remain.

If dim the gold of life has grown,

I will not count it dross,

Nor turn from treasures still my own,

To sigh for lack and loss.

The

years no charm from Nature take;

As sweet her voices call,

As beautiful her mornings break,

As fair her evenings fall.

Love watches o'er my quiet ways,
Kind voices speak my name,
And lips that find it hard to praise
Are slow, at least, to blame.

How softly ebb the tides of will!
How fields, once lost or won,
Now lie behind me green and still

Beneath a level sun!

How hushed the hiss of party hate,

The clamor of the throng!

MY BIRTH-DAY.

199

How old, harsh voices of debate
Flow into rhythmic song!

Methinks the spirit's temper grows
Too soft in this still air;
Somewhat the restful heart foregoes
Of needed watch and prayer.

The bark by tempest vainly tossed
May founder in the calm,

And he who braved the polar frost
Faint by the isles of balm.

Better than self-indulgent years
The outflung heart of youth,
Than pleasant songs in idle years
The tumult of the truth.

Rest for the weary hands is good,
And love for hearts that pine,

But let the manly habitude

Of upright souls be mine.

Let winds that blow from heaven refresh,

Dear Lord, the languid air;

And let the weakness of the flesh

Thy strength of spirit share.