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The greater peril in the strife； The less this evil should be done； For as
in battle； so in life； Danger and honour still are one。
Arouse him then：… this is thy part： Show him the claim； point out the
need； And nerve his arm； and cheer his heart； Then stand aside； and say
〃God speed！〃
Smooth thou his path ere it is trod； Burnish the arms that he must
wield； And pray； with all thy strength； that God May crown him Victor of
the field。
And then； I think； thy soul shall feel A nobler thrill of true content；
Than if presumptuous； eager zeal Had seized a crown for others meant。
And even that very deed shall shine In mystic sense； divine and true；
More wholly and more purely thine … Because it is another's too。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： A LOST CHORD
Seated one day at the Organ； I was weary and ill at ease； And my
fingers wandered idly Over the noisy keys。
I do not know what I was playing； Or what I was dreaming then； But I
struck one chord of music； Like the sound of a great Amen。
It flooded the crimson twilight Like the close of an Angel's Psalm； And
it lay on my fevered spirit With a touch of infinite calm。
It quieted pain and sorrow； Like love overcoming strife； It seemed the
harmonious echo From our discordant life。
It linked all perplexed meanings Into one perfect peace； And trembled
away into silence As if it were loth to cease。
I have sought； but I seek it vainly； That one lost chord divine； Which
came from the soul of the Organ； And entered into mine。
It may be that Death's bright angel Will speak in that chord again； … It
may be that only in Heaven I shall hear that grand Amen。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： TOO LATE
Hush！ speak low； tread softly； Draw the sheet aside； … Yes； she does
look peaceful； With that smile she died。
Yet stern want and sorrow Even now you trace On the wan； worn
features Of the still white face。
Restless； helpless； hopeless； Was her bitter part； … Nowhow still the
Violets Lie upon her Heart！
She who toiled and laboured For her daily bread； See the velvet
hangings Of this stately bed。
Yes； they did forgive her； Brought her home at last； Strove to cover
over Their relentless past。
Ah； they would have given Wealth； and home； and pride； To see her
just look happy Once before she died！
They strove hard to please her； But； when death is near All you know
is deadened； Hope； and joy； and fear。
And besides； one sorrow Deeper stillone pain Was beyond them：
healing Came to…dayin vain！
If she had but lingered Just a few hours more； Or had this letter
reached her Just one day before！
I can almost pity Even him to…day； Though he let this anguish Eat her
heart away。
Yet she never blamed him：… One day you shall know How this sorrow
happened； It was long ago。
I have read the letter： Many a weary year； For one word she hungered …
There are thousands here。
If she could but hear it； Could but understand； SeeI put the letter In
her cold white hand。
Even these words； so longed for； Do not stir her rest； WellI should
not murmur； For God judges best。
She needs no more pity； … But I mourn his fate； When he hears his
letter Came a day too late。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： THE REQUITAL
Loud roared the Tempest； Fast fell the sleet； A little Child Angel
Passed down the street； With trailing pinions； And weary feet。
The moon was hidden； No stars were bright； So she could not shelter
In heaven that night； For the Angels' ladders Are rays of light。
She beat her wings At each window pane； And pleaded for shelter； But
all in vain： … 〃Listen；〃 they said； 〃To the pelting rain！〃
She sobbed； as the laughter And mirth grew higher； 〃Give me rest and
shelter Beside your fire； And I will give you Your heart's desire。〃
The dreamer sat watching His embers gleam； While his heart was
floating Down hope's bright stream； 。 。 。 So he wove her wailing Into his
dream。
The worker toiled on； For his time was brief； The mourner was nursing
Her own pale grief： They heard not the promise That brought relief。
But fiercer the Tempest Rose than before； When the Angel paused At a
humble door； And asked for shelter And help once more。
A weary woman； Pale； worn； and thin； With the brand upon her Of
want and sin； Heard the Child Angel And took her in。
Took her in gently； And did her best To dry her pinions； And made her
rest With tender pity Upon her breast。
When the eastern morning Grew bright and red； Up the first sunbeam
The Angel fled； Having kissed the woman And left herdead。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： RETURNED
〃MISSING〃 （FIVE YEARS AFTER）
Yes； I was sad and anxious； But now； dear； I am gay； I know that it is
wisest To put all hope away：… Thank God that I have done so And can be
calm to…day。
For hope deferredyou know it； Once made my heart so sick： Now； I
expect no longer； It is but the old trick Of hope； that makes me tremble；
And makes my heart beat quick。
All day I sit here calmly； Not as I did before； Watching for one whose
footstep Comes never； never more 。 。 。 Hush！ was that someone passing；
Who paused beside the door？
For years I hung on chances； Longing for just one word； At last I feel
it：… silence Will never more be stirred 。 。 。 Tell me once more that rumour；
You fancied you had heard。
Life has more things to dwell on Than just one useless pain； Useless
and past for ever； But noble things remain； And wait us all： 。 。 。 you too；
dear； Do you think hope quite vain？
All others have forgotten； 'Tis right I should forget； Nor live on a keen
longing Which shadows forth regret： 。 。 。 Are not the letters coming？ The
sun is almost set。
Now that my restless legion Of hopes and fears is fled； Reading is joy
and comfort 。 。 。 。 。 。This very day I read； Oh； such