Part 60

Till in the golden light Great words began to shine: In sorrow is exalting might, Repentance is divine.

And now the shepherd king We count the human sire Of One who turns our hungering Into achieved desire.

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Elijah.

Elijah, through the night Which shrouded Israel In toiling, groping for the light, Foretold Immanuel.

And in heroic trust That night would yield to day-- His imperfections thick as dust Along the desert way;

His bold, rebuking cry Heard in the wilderness. Till from the chariot of the sky His mantle fell to bless--

The stern, half-savage seer Became a prophecy Of gladness and the Golden Year, In all high minstrelsy.

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Aelemaehus the Monk.

How well he wrought who stood Against an ancient wrong, And left the spangles of his blood To light the sky of song!

A gladiatorial show, And eighty thousand men For savage pastime all aglow-- O marvel there and then!

An unknown monk, his life Defenseless, interposed, Forbade the old barbaric strife-- The red arena closed!

That unrecovered rout! Those fire-shafts from the Sun! O Telemaque! who, who shall doubt Thy Master's will was done?

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Washington.

The deeds of Washington Were lit with patriot flame; A crown for Liberty he won, And won undying fame.

He heard his country's cry, He heard her bugle-call, 'Twas sweet to live for her, or die; Her cause was all in all.

He heard the psalm of peace, He sought again the plow; O civic toil, canst thou increase The laurels for his brow?

As with a father's hand He led the infant state; Colossus of his native land, He still is growing great.

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Lincoln.

God placed on Lincoln's brow A sad, majestic crown; All enmity is friendship now, And martyrdom renown.

A mighty-hearted man, He toiled at Freedom's side, And lived, as only heroes can, The truth in which he died.

Like Moses, eyes so dim, All signs he could not spell; Yet he endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible.

His life was under One "Who made and loveth all;" And when his mighty work was done, How grand his coronal!

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Garfield.