Page:Near nature's heart; a volume of verse (IA nearnaturesheart00jack).pdf/32

 Beneath life's burdens or sudden quake, Mid the wide and varied warring zones, Of the seven children of my friend Jones.

But seven, you know, is the perfect plan; It stands for all that's the best in man— In his youthful days and ripest years, In his joys and sorrows, high hopes and fears; 'Tis God's own number—away with groans! For seven times blessed is my friend Jones.

In logical order the eighth arrived, And, take it from me, they all revived; With one accord and high hearted aim, They gave to the eighth the greatest name; They all prepared with love's sweet loans, To make him the most famous of my friend Jones.

But youth is still his, and his good wife's too, His only sweetheart forever true; And the Father'll be pleased their quiver to fill, For a heritage large is his manifest will, If here and hereafter no dullards and drones, But all active and cheerful like my friend Jones.

ONE OF THE NINE AMBITIONS TO RISE.

On the fifteenth month, and one August morn The ninth leaps to life, another boy is born. What the Lord commanded, my friend hath willed, "Increase" is the law, and the law's fulfilled; Yet not ceaseless order, with nine vying tones In the growing family of my friend Jones.

Such a happy man, for to all a friend; Not a Hottentot would Jones offend; And chiming in church or turning the sod, My friend is ever the friend of God. May the buoyant family all mount thrones— Then eternally blessed, my friend Jones.

My mind sweeps on to a Kingdom vast, To numberless children who'll come at last, As sons of the Highest on a shining shore, There to play and sing forever more— In the temple of God great living stones, And some from the family of my friend Jones.