Branches that run over the wall; a book of Mormon poem and other writings

Front matter

BRANCHBS*THAT RUN* OVER- •THE fm sK;^^i m^

^3mf heparl Bo

"Joseph called the name of the first bornl.Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.

PART I. Branches That Run Over the Wall

PAGE

Lelii, Ishmael and Their Children 13

Dreams and Prophesying 14

Scenes in Ishmael's Garden 16

Departure into the Wilderness 23

Return of Lehi's Sons to Jerusalem 28

The Obtaining of the Records 33

The Mother of Nephi 39

Second Return of the Young Men to Jerusalem, 43

Luelme's Ballad 44

Nephi and Ephin 46

Laman and Lemuel Petition Nephi 50

The Marriage Feast in the Wilderness 52

Laman and Nalma 53

Lemuel and Luelme 54

Sam and Mas 55

Nephi and Ejjhin . . 56

The Fifth Couple 59

Lehi Prayeth and Exhorteth 60

Concluded 62

IV CONTENTS.

PART II. Clusters from Drooping Sprays

PAGE

A Reason 69

A Welcome to Father 70

A Dream of Home 117

A Ruby Wedding Day 119

After the Sad News 128

A Prayer for the Wanderers 138

A Call to Latter-Day Saints 150

Apostrophe 158

'•A Merry Heart Doeth Grood Like a Medicine," 185

"A Card of Honor," 188

A Thread of Thought 191

A Christmas Thought 196

A Good Thing that Need Not Be Shared 201

Baby's Brass Nickel 152

Birthday Song 175

Convalescence 127

Come in Dreams, (Music by Evan Stephens) .... 202

Don't Scold 122

Eliza R. Snow Smith 185

Encourage the Children ... 200

Good Wishes 154

Glimpses Backward and Forward 194

Holiday Offerings 155

It's Better to Laugh Than to Cry 79

I Want to be Close to You 143

Jesus Shall Reign 148

CONTENTS. V

PAGE

Lines Written for Mrs. Susie P. Greene 71

Letter to an Enquirer 133

Mistakes 106

Mary and Her Mother 107

Mrs. Garfield 121

My Jewels 123

Mother's Bread 186

My Father's Daughter 145

Midnight Musings 163

Mother's Birthday 173

Near the Gate 186

O'er the Ocean 77

Our Own 113

Ourselves 129

Our God and His Prophet 182

Preparation 198

Prayer Song, (Music by Joseph G. Foues) 204

Rest and Progression 125

Song for Relief Society Entertainment 81

Sowing Wild Oats 115

Seventeen 131

Something New 141

Song for Birthday of Batlisheba W. Smith 165

The Victories of Peace 99

To E. A 101

To the Holy Spirit 102

Two Babies 103

The Mirror 112

The Baby and the Shower of Rain 114 vi CONTENTS.

PAGK

The Song of the Kighteop.s 126

The Saddest Death 140

Treasures 142

To A. A 144

The Waters of Life 146

The Switch 149

The Sego Lily 156

Two 159

To Katie • 167

The Three Josephs 168

The Mother Love True 172

The Safe Way 176

To Archie and Louise 177

The Smile Triumphant 179

The Children 181

The Masterpiece 189

Why I Do Not Call 74

Willing Obedience 83

We Can 110

When He Shall Come 139

Well Done 161

PART III. The Children's Gtarland

A Greeting to "the Friend of the Little Ones*' . . 208

Angel Guides 211

Angel Watchers 223

CONTENTS. VU

PAGE

A Song of the Children 231

An After Holiday Story 232

Alma's Valentine for Aunt Libbie 240

A Primary Question and Answer 250

A Child's Good-Bye 262

A Welcome 264

Big Letters 217

Children I Have Seen 218

Correct Yourself 260

Evenings at Home • 224

Easter Morn 268

Father and Mother 208

Funeral Hymn 213

Father Knows Best 253

Greeting 207

Jesus' Love 207

Let Them Come Unto Me 215

Little Rosebud 235

Morning 210

Mother 237

Obedience 214

Oar Baby 216

Order Rule 221

Our Work and Our Wealth _. 267

Peace Offerings 238

Two But Not Twins 236

Teach the Baby Gently 252

The Greatest Man 255

Too Fast 257

VUl

CONTENTS.

PAGE

The Soul of the Baby 259

Take Time 266

Voices 228

Weeds and Flowers 258

Part First. A Poem From The Book Of Mormon

PREFATORY NOTES.

Imagination is afforded a most magnificent basis upon which to build a world of romance, in connection with the thrilling, though concise historical oiitlines given by Nej^hi and his succeeding narrators in the Book of Mormon. And whatever originality may be claimed for the thought which produced "Branches That Run Over the Wall," the ground work, which is truth, has been conscientiously kept uppermost throughout the entire work; and inconsistencies therewith carefully sought to be avoided.

That the real and the implied portions of the work may be at once easily distinguished by the reader, the letter h precedes the historical; that which may be termed siqu^osition is marked by s; c indicates comment; and where omissions of the historical occur, the asterisk * is made use of.

Readers who are familiar with the Book of Mormon will readily see that, excepting some idioms, to which objections are often raised by critics, the plain, easy language of that record has been studiously adhered to in the poem proper. This was done with the belief that the real worth of the effort would be lessened rather than increased by any marked departure from that simple style. For, like the Prophet Nephi himself, "My soul delighteth in plainness."

The Author.

BRANCHES THAT RUN OVER THE WALL.

LEHI, ISHMAEL AND THEIR CHILDREN.

h. gEFOKE the coming of our Savior, Christ, Six hundred years, as sacred records date, In that great city, old Jerusalem, Dwelt Lehi and his neighbor, Ishmael; Both goodly men, well born and affluent. Their sons and daughters, for each house had both,

s. Met often in the church and socially.

And as they grew from childhood into youth, Fond sentiments developed in their souls. From glowing friendship into flames of love; Calm, warm and radiant, or fierce and wild. According to the pulse of man and maid.

h. Laman and Lemuel, Lehi's elder sons, Had tempers hot and wills of stubborn cast;

s. And two of Ishmael's daughters suited them. And were in turn well pleased with their proud ways.

h. But Sam and Nephi, younger brothers, were More pliable, trustworthy, and refined;

s. From Ishmael's daughters chose they gentler maids.

II. Dreams And Prophesying

h. In the first year of Zedekiah's reign, ,

Came many prophets in Jerusalem,

Which would o'ertake that people in their sins,

Except they should repent and turn to God.

And Lehi, as he walked alone one day,

For his beloved but wicked people prayed

With all his heart, and lo! before him came

A fiery pillar resting on a rock.

Great things he saw and heard ; and for that cause

Exceedingly he quaked, and trembled much.

Returning home to loved Jerusalem,

In his own house he sought his bed, and there

Laid down, o'ercome with all that he had seen,

And with the spirit resting on him still.

Then in a vision was he borne away.

E'en that he saw the heaven's ope, and thought

He saw God sitting there upon His throne.

With choirs of angels, numberless, around,

In attitudes of singing, praising Him.

And from the midst of heaven One he saw

Descending towards the earth, whose brightness

was Above the lustre of the sun at noon; He also saw twelve others, following him. Their brightness did exceed that of the stars

Which shine amid the firmament of heaven; They came down to the earth and walked thereon. The first to Lehi came, before him stood, Then handed him a book, and bade him read. Filled with the spirit of the Lord, he read, "Wo, wo unto Jerusalem! for thine Abominations have I seen." And much About Jerusalem he read; that it Should be destroyed; of its inhabitants, Many should perish by the sword; away Should many carried be to Babylon As captives.

After Lehi read and saw Much that astonished him, he did exclaim, "O, Lord, Almighty God, great are Thy works, And marvelous ! Thy throne is high in heaven, Thy power and goodness and Thy mercies are O'er all th' inhabitants upon the earth. Because thou art so merciful and kind, Thou wilt not suffer those who come to Thee That they shall perish." Thus he worshipped God.

Among the people then went Lehi forth, Telling them plainly of their wickedness, And testifying of the marvelous things Which God had spoken and had shown to him; Also of what the book he read contained;

How it was manifest that a Messiah Should come, by whom the world should be redeemed.

The Jews were angry with the prophet then, And mocked him, as did those of olden time. They even sought to take away his life; But 'twas not thus appointed unto him ; In tender mercy, came deliverance. The Lord blessed Lehi, even in a dream. Because he had so faithfully declared The things which God commanded him to speak Unto the people in their sinfulness. And in a dream was Lehi also warned, That for his words the wicked sought his life. And that his days might not be shortened thus, The Lord commanded him that he should take His family, and leaving all things else. Depart into the wilderness and live.

III. Scenes In Ishmael's Garden

s. Marzo and Nalma, daughters of Ishma'l, Sat hidden in the shadows of the vines, 'Mid trees and shrubb'ry rich with od'rous bloom. The elder sister, Marzo, deftly wrought, With quick and skillful fingers on a vest Of costly stuff with rare embroidery. But Nalma, idly and with listless air,

And watched the scented leaves all tattered fall,

Or on a rijipling zephyr float away.

And Nalma also crooned a strange, weird song,

Half grief, half desperation in its wail

Of disappointed love and wild revenge.

"Nalma," the elder sister said at length,

"O, love-lorn maiden! wilt thou never cease.

Or change the senseless nature of thy song?''

"Peace, Marzo!" answered Nalma sullenly,

"Wait till thy prudish heart hath felt the touch

Of love's hot fingers playing on its strings,

Until thine ear can catch no other sound,

Thine eyes are blind to all but love's own light;

Then time enough 'twill be that thou shouldst

chide.

Dost thou not know my Laman comes today ? That he is late, therefore I must be dull? Hush — Say not I have murmured — He is here!" And Laman entered where the sisters sat Embowered in Ishma'l's garden; but he came Not with the buoyant, free and careless step With which he sought his love at other times. A slow, uncertain, almost muffled tread Made Nalma start, then listen breathlessly. And as her quick eyes caught her lover's glance, She saw — she knew not what — but something there, Which chilled her heart and made her bright cheek

pale.

He took her hand and pressed it silently,

Then drew her forward into deeper shade.

"O, Nalma! truest of all woman-kind,

And best beloved ; how shall I let thee know

The cruel fate which threatens all our hopes?"

And Laman as he spake thus bitterly.

The trembling maiden folded in his arms,

While his hot tears fell on her shining hair.

"What can it be? O, Laman tell me all!"

Cried Nalma, weeping, though she knew not why.

"I can but tell thee, loved one, we must part!

Of more than this I'm cautioned not to speak."

And Laman pressed his lips to Nalma's brow.

"Not speak to me," cried Nalma, "all thy heart?

Not tell me all that thou art giv'n to know?

I am not, then, and I can never be

Part of thy soul; I'm not to be thy wife!"

"Thou sayest it, O Nalma! thus it seems —

But, here! I will not bear it! Thou art mine!

I will not leave thee! thou shalt he my tvifeP''

And Laman trembled with emotion strong;

And speaking further, thus betrayed his trust :

"My father's wild and visionary dreams,

Bring naught but trouble to his family.

He makes such enemies by his strange words

That he is fearful they will take his life;

And nothing now will satisfy his whim.

But he and all our household must depart.

Leaving our home and all our precious things.

Seeking for safety in some distant place.

But now I hold thee to my heart once more,

And I am strong my father to defy ;

I'll tell him plainly that I unll not goP''

"Yea!" Nalma answered with indignant look,

"Yea, tell him plainly and defiantly,

To go without thee, or go not at all.

'Twere better, if he must, that he should die,

So old a man, if dreaming brings him death.

Than that young hearts so welded in their love,

Be simdered, living hopelessly, or die!"

"Shame, Nalma, shame!" cried Marzo, who o'er-

heard Her sister's passionate, unguarded speech, "Shame, thus to speak of that most worthy sire Of thy betrothed! O, thoughtless child, To speak of Lehi thus, to Lehi's son! His first born, too; unto the birth-right heir; Who should his father's staunch supporter be. His first, his best and strongest advocate!" While thus the elder sister well reproved The younger for her wrong and foolish words, A strange and brilliant light came to the eyes Of Nalma, as her lover gazed therein. Close to his ear she placed her lips and said In whisper low and magical, "Hush, hist! I may not answer Marzo, but I see — O Laman! I must be in vision, too! Go to your father, say that you will go

With him into the densest wilderness, Or where he will. This evening be thou here; I'll come alone, and we can then talk o'er Plans for the future as we may not now." And Laman answered, "As thou wilt, my love, I will not question." And he went his way.

The evening came, and with it came the two,

Laman and Nalma, filled with hopes and fears,

Treading with stealthy steps the garden paths,

Until again they met amid the shade,

And rich, sweet fragrance of the trees and vines.

Nalma was first to speak in voice subdued,

And long she prated, pouring in the ear

Of her adorer, wild, ambitious thoughts.

Which charmed and flattered, though they startled

him.

As side by side they sat, or gently moved From place to place, her story thus was told:

"Laman, my Laman! Thou comest well; For much have I in my mind to tell. Sit thou here 'neath the almond bough, Where the cooling zephyrs may kiss thy brow; That brow shall a sparkling crown adorn, For, Laman, thou art the eldest born! Forth with thy father's household band, Thou shalt depart to an unknown land; There is naught to yield thee a diadem Of all that dwells in Jerusalem ;

But in fdir. new lands shall thy kingdom 'rise,

And its grandeur live, though the old world dies.

To thee shall thy brothers their tributes bring,

And own thee their ruler and lawful king;

And all who oppose thee shall be cut down,

Still adding glory unto thy crown.

And I, O Laman! thy queen shall be,

To live and triumph and reign with thee.

Marzo shall never more cry me 'shame!'

But proudly echo her sister's fame;

For with wonder this city shall yet be filled,

At the mighty kingdom which thou shalt build.

O, haste thee, my Laman! go forth to find

Thy kingdom in greatness and wealth combined.

And wherever thou goest, I follow thee.

O'er mountain, o'er desert or raging sea.

I am thine forever, and thine alone,

And eager to share with thee, crown and throne.

As thy father in vision, I too, behold,

My Laman a king, with his crown of gold.

O haste thee, Laman ! go forth and tell

To thy brother counselor, Lemuel,

This vision of mine, but to none beside.

For others would mock, and my claim deride.

Go, haste thee, Laman! put forth thy might.

To conquer whate'er shall oppose thy right!"

When Nalma had this wondrous vision breathed, With strong but trembling hand on Laman's arm, i BRANCHES THAT RUN OVER THE WAI.L.

She plead with him to hasten e'en from her, And work out swiftly all she saw for him Of splendid, glorious victory o'er all That might obstruct his sure and speedy rise To fame and greatness and unrivaled power. But sure as Laman was of Nalma's love. And of her own belief in what she said. He shuddered at the thought of leaving her To find herself a way of following him. And mournfully and doubtfully he spake :

"Nalma, my Nalma! I need not haste.

To find all thy sweet thoughts have embraced;

A kingdom, glory and wondrous pow'r,

For thou art queen of my heart this hour.

My father leaves all his precious things,

We may have all that such affluence brings.

Thou shalt be ever my peerless queen.

And I thy king, as thine eye hath seen.

Bid me not leave thee, my love, my own,

For the world itself, with its grandest throne!"

With saddened voice the maiden whispered now.

Into the ear low bent against her face;

"Wouldst thou, O Laman! sit idly down,

Nor win for thyself a world, a croimi?

Thy younger brothers such sloth would scorn —

Yet Laman, thou art the eldest born!

The birth-right is thine, and with all thy love.

BRANCHES THAT RUN OVER THE WALL. 2B

I will not rest until thou above

Thy father's household shalt rise and claim

Thy legal rights in thy royal name.

/ will not rest, or he happy, till

Thou shalt my vision of thee fulfill!"

Still Laman answered low and tremblingly: "Nalma, beloved one, thou dost not know The depths through which we may have to go. Thy beauty — the baseness of evil man — No, no! I cannot accept thy plan! If I go thou shalt promise here to wait. Until I return for thee, soon or late. Sooner or later, I'll come for thee. For where I am thou shalt surely be!"

The girl responded quickly to his words.

While with her touch she urged him to be gone :

"Enough, my Laman, I answer yea;

I'll wait thy coming, now haste away !

Let thy power be felt, let thy place be known.

Then come for Nalma to share thy throne."

Laman then kissed her eager, upturned face, And left her for an unknown lapse of time.

IV. DEPARTURE INTO THE \tlLDERNESS

Lehi, obedient to the Lord's command,

Took but his family and journeyed forth, With tents and with provisions for the way. His home, the land of his inheritance, His gold, his silver and his precious things. All these he left, and with undaunted faith, Departed thence into the wilderness. That one, lone family, traveling on and on, Came to the borders near the Red Sea shore ; And nearer still they traveled by the sea; They numbered six, Lehi, his wife, Sariah, Laman and Lemuel, their elder sons, And Sam and Nephi.

After three whole days Of ceaseless travel, Lehi pitched his tent. 'Twas in a valley, by a river's side. And Lehi built an altar there of stones. And made an oifering unto the Lord, Yea, thanks he gave unto the Lord his Grod. He named the river Laman, for his son, And when he saw the river's water flowed Into the Red Sea's fountain, thus he spake:

"O Laman! that thou mightest be like this,

Yea, like this river, run continually

Into the fountain of all righteousness."

And unto Lemuel, Lehi also spake :

"O that thou mightest like this valley be,

Steadfast, immovable and ever firm,

In keeping the commandments of the Lord!"

Because of the stiflPneckedness of these,

Laman and Lemuel, his elder sons,

Entreatingly thus spake their father, whom

They murmured oft in many things against,

For that he was a visionary man,

And from Jerusalem had led them forth,

To leave the land of their inheritance,

Their gold, their silver and their precious things.

To perish in the wilderness. And this,

They said, because of foolishness.

And vain imaginations of his heart.

Thus murmured Lehi's elder sons because

They did not know the dealings of the Lord.

Nor yet did they believe Jerusalem,

That great, fair city, e'er could be destroyed,

According to the words the prophets spake.

And they were like unto the wicked Jews,

Who sought to take away their father's life,

Ere he had left them at Jerusalem.

And in the valley there, of Lemuel,

Clothed with the power and spirit of his Grod,

Did Lehi speak to his rebellious sons

In such a way it caused their frames to shake ;

He did confound them, that they durst not speak

To utter more against their noble sire.

Wherefore, they did as he commanded them.

There by the sea dwelt Lehi in a tent.

Nephi, the fourth son, was exceeding young.

Yet large in stature, and with great desires To understand the mysteries of Grod. Wherefore he cried unto the Lord, and lo ! In tender mercy God did visit him, Soft'ning his heart, so that he did believe In all the words his father, Lehi, spake. And Nephi never did rebel against His father; and he taught his brother Sam The things the Holy Spirit showed to him. And Sam believed his younger brother, but Laman and Lemuel would not hear his words. Nephi was grieved for their hard heartedness, And cried unto the Lord in their behalf. Then spake the Lord to Nephi:

"Thou art bless'd Because of thy great faith ; with diligence And lowliness of heart, me hast thou sought, And thou shalt prosper, Nephi, inasmuch As my commandments thou shalt always keep; And to a land of promise shalt be led; Yea, e'en a land I have prepared for thee; A land most choice above all other lands. Thy brethren, inasmuch as they rebel Against thee and continue so to do, Shall from my presence surely be cut off. And thou, if thou shalt my commandments keep, Teacher and ruler o'er them shalt be made. And in that day that they rebel 'gainst me.

A sore curse will I place on them, that they Shall have no power o'er my seed, except They also shall rebel, and then, Thy brothers' seed shall be a scourge to thine, To move them to remembrance of me."

When Nephi to his father's tent returned, After he thus had spoken with the Lord, His father, Lehi, said to him: "I dreamed. And in my dream the Lord commanded me. That with thy brethren thou shouldst now return Unto the City of Jerusalem; For Laban hath the record of the Jews, And thy forefathers' genealogy.

And they are all engraved on plates of brass. And this the Lord commands, that ye shall go, Thyself and brothers, unto Laban's house. Seek and obtain the records thus described, And bring them down into this wilderness, And now, behold thy brothers, murmuring, say. It is a hard thing I require of them. But it is not that I require it; The Lord commands it; therefore go, my son, And much shalt thou be favored of the Lord, Because thou hast not murmured." Nephi said: "My father, I will go, and do the things The Lord commandeth, for I know that He, Unto men's children, giveth no commands. Save he shall make a way by which they may Accomplish that which He commandeth them."

When Lehi heard this from his youngest son, He was exceeding glad; for then he knew That Nephi had been greatly blest of God.