Page:The poems of Edmund Clarence Stedman, 1908.djvu/195

HORACE GREELEY He knew thy fields and woodland ways,

And deemed thy humbleest son his brother:—

Asleep, beyond our blame, or praise,

We yield him back, O gentle Mother!

Of praise, of blame he drank his fill:

Who has not read the life-long story?

And dear we hold his fame, but still

The man was dearer than his glory.

And now to us are left alone

The closet where his shadow lingers,

The vacant chair,—that was a throne,—

The pen, just fallen from his fingers.

Wrath changed to kindness on that pen;

Though dipped in gall, it flowed with honey;

One flash from out the cloud, and then

The skies with smile and jest were sunny.

Of hate he surely lacked the art,

Who made his enemy his lover:

O reverend head and Christian heart!

Where now their like the round world over?

He saw the goodness, not the taint,

In many a poor, do-nothing creature,

And gave to sinner and to saint,

But kept his faith in human nature;

Perchance he was not worldly-wise,

Yet we who noted, standing nearer,

The shrewd, kind twinkle in his eyes,

For every weakness held him dearer.

Alas that unto him who gave

So much, so little should be given!

Himself alone he might not save

Of all for whom his hands had striven.

Place, freedom, fame, his work bestowed:

Men took, and passed, and left him lonely;— 165