The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendall Holmes Volume 3 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 edition. Excerpt: ...Mark the record Friendship traced. Prisoned in the walls of time Life has notched itself in rhyme: As its seasons slid along, Every year a notch of song, From the June of long ago, When the rose was full in blow, Till the scarlet sage has come And the cold chrysanthemum. Bead, but not to praise or blame; Are not all our hearts the same? For the rest, they take their chance, --Some may pay a passing glance; Others, --well, they served a turn, --Wherefore written, would you learn t Not for glory, not for pelf, Not, be sure, to please myself, Not for any meaner ends, --Always "by request of friends." Here's the cousin of a king, --Would I do the civil thing? Here 's the first-born of a queen; Here's a slant-eyed Mandarin Would I polish off Japan? Would I greet this famous man, Prince or Prelate, Sheik or Shah?--Figaro ci and Figaro la Would I just this once comply?--So they teased and teased till I (Be the truth at once'confessed) Wavered--yieliled--did my best. Turn my pages, --never mind If you like not all you find; Think not all the grains are gold Sacramento's sand-banks hold. Every kernel has its shell, Every chime its harshest bell, Every face its weariest look, Every shelf its emptiest book, Every field its leanest sheaf, Every book its dullest leaf, Every leaf its weakest line, --Shall it not be so with mine? Best for worst shall make amends, Find us, keep us, leave us friends Till, perchance, we meet again. Benedicite.--Amen October 7,1874. IN THE QUIET DAYS. AN OLD-YEAR SONG. A S through the forest, disarrayed-"-By chill November, late I strayed, A lonely minstrel of the wood Was singing to the solitude: I loved thy music, thus I said, When o'er thy perch the leaves were spread; Sweet was thy song, but sweeter now Thy...