Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/388

Rh In addition to the books mentioned, Joaquin Miller wrote. "Songs of the Sunland," "Songs of the Desert," "Songs of Italy," "Collected Poems," "Songs of Mexican Seas," "The Baroness of New York," "The Danites in the Sierras," "Shadows of Shasta," "Memorie and Rime," "Gold Seekers of the Sierras," and "Songs of the Soul;" and unlike many authors, he acquired a fortune from his pen.

In a tribute to this adopted son of Oregon, upon his death the "Oregon Journal" editorially said: "His 'Mothers of Men' and his 'Columbus' are two of the most beautiful creations of the English language."

The bravest battle that ever was fought;

Shall I tell you where and when?

On the maps of the world you will find it not;

It was fought by the mothers of men.

Nay, not with cannon or battle shot,

With sword or nobler pen;

Nay not with eloquent word or thought.

From mouths of wonderful men.

But deep in a walled-up woman's heart—

Of woman that would not yield,

But patiently, silently bore her part—

Lo! there is that battlefield.

No marshaling troops, no bivouac song;

No banner to gleam and wave;

And oh! these battles they last so long—

From babyhood to the grave!

Yet, faithful still as a bridge of stars,

She fights in her walled-up town—

Fights on and on in the endless wars,

Then silent, unseen—goes down.