Page:Near nature's heart; a volume of verse (IA nearnaturesheart00jack).pdf/85

 It is beautiful to grow old, When the heart remaineth young; It is beautiful to be brave, When mercy's note is sung.

It is beautiful to be good, If filled with knowledge true; And service is beautiful, When service maketh new.

There is beauty in men's laugh, When laugh the pure in heart; It is beautiful to be bright, With wit for noblest art.

'Tis beautiful to see the sun, And Nature in her courses run; The wild and healing mountains, And overflowing fountains; Her blue unbounded sky, Which oceans glorify—

Her silver spray of waterfall; Eternal rocks, both large and small; The heavenly hue Of diamond dew, On sun-kissed flower, In morn's high hour.

Beauteous to see the sunset's glory; God's secret read in the deep-laid story; The sleep of butterfly, From death to life and why; Jehovah's predilection, In every resurrection.

How beauteous in music of the stars to lave, With song of the sea from ever rolling wave, And note of woodland thrush, Which gives the heart its hush; Pipe of oriole— O Beauty of the whole!

In sweet, divine content, May mortals ever sing, The anthems of the soul, The beauties of the King.

Ah, Beauty is for all, If Truth but disenthrall—, O, yes, 'tis Heaven's plan, For Beauty in the man.