The brightest gems of poetry

Front matter

^oddard

THE

RIQHTEST GEMS

Preface

MAC AULA Y, in his brilliant essay on John Milton, says: "We hold that the most wonderful and splendid proof of genius is a great poem produced in a civilized age." Adopting such a standard, this new and peerless volume is a magnificent repository of the gems of genius, gathered from the most celebrated authors of all countries and ages. Its delightful pages are enriched by the most beautiful and entrancing selections of Poetry, Prose and Song. These are all classified and arranged under their appropriate tides.

' Home, Sweet Home comprises gems for the fireside, picturing in glowing colors the delights of the home circle, the beauty of domestic life and the sweet memories that cluster around the old homestead.

The Charms of Nature contain the most graphic pen-pictures of Natural Scenery, including the Picturesque, the Beautiful and the Sublime. This is the

natural field of poetry;

"Here valleys bloom and mountains rise, And landscapes smile beneath the skies."

The earth, the sea, and the vaulted heavens are portrayed to the reader's wondering eye. The Poetry gf the Year forms another part and contains the most charming descriptions of the Seasons, their Flowers, Birds and Pleasant Pastimes. Descriptions and Tales of the Sea furnish a striking panorama of the World of Waters. The white-winged ships, the bounding billows, the bold sailor, the floral beauties cf the vasty deep are all vividly depicted. Who does not love nature ? What a elow of health comes from the fresh breezes of the sea and from hillside and valley.

"God made the country and man made the town."

The Album of Love. — This part contains the most exquisite and beautiful selections, in delightful variety, gathered from every source. Here are the sweetest and most entrancing productions of Burns, Byron, Longfellow, Bryant, Moore, Emerson, Hood, Tennyson, Shakespeare, Saxe, Irving, Scott, Swinburne, Thackeray, Browning and scores of others who have woven the charms of their brightest genius around the one great master passion.

ii PREFACE.

Narratives in Verse comprise a captivating collection of Tales of Adventure and Romance, beginning with the " Massacre at Fort Dearborn, Chicago, in 1812." In this part famous historic incidents are related in verse by renowned authors, such as Austin Dobson, Frederick Von Schiller, Longfellow and Whittier, Baxendale and Tennyson, Bryant, Helen Hunt Jackson and many others. The most thrilling events are celebrated and are given undying fame by the poetic genius of the brilliant authors who narrate them. The next part includes Ballads and National Airs. These rivet the attention of the reader and in imagination he beholds the scenes they depict as living realities. Our most celebrated National Songs are found in this part, including "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "The Star Spangled Banner," "My Maryland," "The German's Fatherland," etc.

Hope and Memory, or Glimpses of the Past and Future, embrace a delightful collection of poems which carry the reader back to the scenes of long-ago, the memories of childhood, the joys of other days, and draw aside the veil of the future, through which are seen the blossoms of immortal hope.

Next we have Patriots and Heroes, commemorating their noble sacrifices and valiant deeds. Great men who live in history, who rose in their might, and with undaunted heroism purchased the liberties which are the world's proudest possession, are celebrated in immortal song. There is an irresistible fascination about these time-honored heroes, whose grand lineaments are here photographed for universal admiration. Among other productions, we have that thrilling lyric, entitled "The Cuban Crisis."

" Red is the setting sun,

Redder the Cuban sod ; Maceo's valiant fight is done

For freedom and for God.

The long-leaved pine and the stately palm

Bend lowly in grief to-night, And through the hush of the tropic calm There rolls from the sea a mournful psalm,

A requiem over the right."

The Sword and the Plow is another part of this superb volume, which describes the victories of war and of peace. The most renowned writers have celebrated the sentiment which is taking deeper root every day, that

"Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war,"

a saying of Milton, the truth of which no one will deny. The war-cloud lifts from the torn battle-field ; the thunder of guns is hushed; armies are disbanded, and where the sod was red with blood, peaceful harvests wave in their golden glory.

PREFACE. iii

Rural Scenes portray the lights and shadows of country life. Here the pages are fragrant with the floral breath of summer fields and woods. "The whistling plow-boy drives his team afield," and the scythes of the mowers glint in the sunshine. The old farmhouse stands embosomed in cool shadows. "The busy housewife plies her evening care," and, in the winter, sleigh-bells jingle, skaters skim the mirrored lake, and the glow of health beams in the faces of happy country boys and girls. Nothing could be more inviting than these Rural Scenes.

Then comes a wide-awake collection of poems, entitled The World's Workers, in which the nobility of labor is eulogized. Here we learn " How Cyrus laid the Cable," how "you have but to take one step and then another, and the longest walk is ended;" how to win in the batde of life, and with what happy expressions the poet Whittier wrote of the ship-builders, the shoe-makers and the lumbermen. Here, too, are the songs of buskers, the plowmen and the whole vast army of the sons of toil.

The next part embraces the Beauty and Grandeur of the Alps, containing brilliant descriptions of Swiss Scenery. Here Byron appears in the grand march of his lofty imagery. Snow-capped mountains veil their heads in the sky ; cascades dash from towering summits and rivers of ice move majestically toward the deep valleys.

Above me are the Alps,

The palaces of nature, whose vast walls Have pinnacled in clouds their snowy scalps,

And throned eternity in icy halls Of cold sublimity, where forms and falls

The avalanche — the thunderbolt of snow ! All that expands the spirit, yet appalls.

Gathers around the summits, as to show How earth may soar to heaven, yet leave vain man below. — Lord Byron.

Let it not be supposed that the little people are forgotten. The part on Childhood and Youth contains captivating selections for the young. All the innocence of childhood, the sports of the little folks as well as the pathos of their merry laughter hushed in death, are depicted with a master hand. Our literature is rich in tales and lessons for the young, the brightest and best of which adorn these pages.

The Crown of Genius, containing tributes to celebrated persons, sings the praises of those whose names have become historic, while the part entitled Thought and Sentiment embraces the choicest productions from master minds on a great variety of topics. A vast collection of the finest poems ever written.

iv PREFACE.

Tragedy and Sorrow comprises pathetic selections from the most distinguished authors. This part has a pecuHar charm and beauty of its own. The Gates of Pearl appeal to the religious sentiment and give full expression to the soul's loftiest aspirations. Here are glowing tributes to faith and hope ; pithy descriptions of the practical virtues ; tender words of comfort for the bereaved and grand descriptions of the heavenly world.

Wit and Wisdom, comprising sparkling gems from the world's humorists> contains the brightest and most fascinating collection of witty pieces. There is wholesome mirth on every page. This part is followed by a large Cyclopedia of Poetical Quotations, the subjects being arranged alphabetically.

There is need of Vocal and Instrumental Music in every family, and often little opportunity to obtain it. This volume contains a choice collection of music from composers of world-wide fame. Thus it is a complete and charming household book. It contains something of special interest to all classes of intelligent persons. The refining and elevating influence of one such book in the home is beyond the power of any one to estimate.

The work also contains Biographies of Celebrated Authors, whose productions appear in this volume. Here are given the main facts in the lives of those gifted men and women who have charmed all readers with their delightful effusions. The publishers are firmly convinced that nothing has been omitted to render this work complete. It has been made from the very best materials and is o-olden throuo-hout.

HOME, SWEET HOME.

I'AGE

The Light of Home . . . Sarali J. Hale 17

My Child J.R.Lozvcll 18

A Mother's Love Emily Taylor 19

By the Fire '. . 19

The Little Arm-Chair 19

An Old Sweetheart of Mine . /. W. Riley 21

Alone in the House . . Mary T. Willard 22

The Old Friends . . . . 0. W. Holmes 22

Charity Bishop Ken 23

That Circle of Gold . . W. D. Ellwattgcr 23

Old Christmas 24

Two Pictures 24

Dearest Love ! Believe Me . Thos. Pringle 24

Twilight Corriiic M. Rocktvcll 24

A Wife's Appeal to Her Husband ... 25

Grandmother's Work . Mrs. C. E. Hewitt 25

An Idyl of the Kitchen . /. A. Eraser, Jr. 20

The Open Window . H. W. Longfclloiu 2(3

Where there's One to Love, Clias. Swain 26

The Proudest Lady . . Thomas Wcslzi'o •:/ 27

The Home-coming Lord Byrjii 27

The First Smile '. . 28

The Two Gates 29

The Empty House 29

The Joys of Home .... John Bozvring 29 She Grew in Sun and Siiower

True Contentment H. S. Kent 30

Our First-born Gerald Massey 31

The Mortgage on the F"arm 32

Love in a Cottage N. P. Willis 33

Grandfather's House. . . Mary McGuire 33

Happy Love . . , . Charles Afackay 34

The Old Barn . . . . T. Buchanan Read 34

Good-night Song 35

Page 35

One of the Sleepy Kind

All, No ! I cannot .say " Farewell "

Alexander Rodger Bertha in the Lane, Elizabeth B. Browning

Absence Fanny K. Butler

The Happy Lot .... Ebenezer Elliott

The Baby C. G. Rogers

.Scenes of my Youth . . Robert Hillhousc The Three Dearest Words

Mary J. Muckle

The Mother Charles Swain

The Old Farmhouse . H. W. Longfelloiu The Cricket on the Hearth, W. C. Bennett

My Own Fireside '\. A. Watts

The Window D. F. McCarthy

The Lost Little One

Gathering Apples 43

Home — a Duet .... Barry Cornwall 43 If Thou hast Lost a Friend, Charles Szvain

I Think on Thee T. K. Hervey

Unconscious Influence

Domestic Love George Croly

Not L"st, but Gone Before, Caroline A^orton

Aunt Jemima's Quilt

The Old Oaken Bucket, 5(iw.'. Woodivorth

I Come to Thee, My Wife ir>u. Brunton

35 36 36

37 37 38

38 39 40 40 41 42 42

The Happy Husband . . S. T. Coleridge

43 44 44 44

45 45 47 47 48 49

Just What I Wanted 49

Come Home . . . F-.liciaD. Hemans 50

Farewell . Lord Ryron 50

Near Thee Charles Szvain -50

Her Feeble Steps . . . . /. R. Eastwood 51

Failed ' 52

Everv Inch a Man 52

VI