Page:Near nature's heart; a volume of verse (IA nearnaturesheart00jack).pdf/88



Thine own appeal to God from heart and lip, Inspired by earnest men, who ne'er cajoled, Who sang their hymns within that saintly fold, With all their worship free from vulgar slip.

Old Ship, the Church, that made the ship of State, Who trained aright thy maidens and thy lads, And lived thy simple life, all free from fads, Thou madest America beloved and great. Sail on, Old Ship, and sweep the farthest sea, And save the souls of men eternally.

TO THE MEN OF THE PRESS

Here's to the fellows who scribble with pen, A busy and buoyant bunch of expert men; They tell what's what, and what the thing is for, From a woman's hair pin to a world-wide war.

MOTHER INDEED

What word among the sons of men So uppermost as mother? What soothing carol ever sung So musical as mother? What poem ever came from pen, So comforting as mother? What acme of our human tongue So eloquent as mother?

Answer, deed of fondest lover, Answer, men of boasted creed; Who or what may rise above her— If she be a mother indeed?

NATHAN O'BERRY

Give me the man that's trustful and bright, The man with a soul and a heart that's right, Who laughs at trouble and is always cheery; And one such man is Nathan O'Berry.

When friends come around, or gloomy or sad, And another along both worried and mad, Just watch those fellows, as all grow merry, In company with brave Nathan O'Berry.

When the stream gets high and a man must cross, Yet he knows not how, without serious loss, There's one to be found with his good old ferry To carry him over, 'tis Nathan O'Berry.