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The half…forgotten record Of bygone things and days。
Bring here the ancient volume； The clasp is old and worn； The gold is
dim and tarnished； And the faded leaves are torn。
The dust has gathered on it … There are so few who care To read what
Time has written Of joy and sorrow there。
Look at the first fair pages； YesI remember all： The joys now seem so
trivial； The griefs so poor and small。
Let us read the dreams of glory That childish fancy made； Turn to the
next few pages； And see how soon they fade。
Here； where still waiting； dreaming； For some ideal Life； The young
heart all unconscious Had entered on the strife。
See how this page is blotted： Whatcould those tears be mine？ How
coolly I can read you； Each blurred and trembling line。
Now I can reason calmly； And； looking back again； Can see divinest
meaning Threading each separate pain。
Here strong resolvehow broken； Rash hope； and foolish fear； And
prayers； which God in pity Refused to grant or hear。
NayI will turn the pages To where the tale is told Of how a dawn
diviner Flushed the dark clouds with gold。
And see； that light has gilded The storynor shall set； And； though in
mist and shadow； You know I see it yet。
Herewell； it does not matter； I promised to read all； I know not why I
falter； Or why my tears should fall；
You see each grief is noted； Yet it was better so … I can rejoice to…day
the pain Was over； long ago。
I readmy voice is failing； But you can understand How the heart beat
that guided This weak and trembling hand。
Pass over that long struggle； Read where the comfort came； Where the
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
first time is written Within the book your name。
Again it comes； and oftener； Linked； as it now must be； With all the
joy or sorrow That Life may bring to me。
So all the restyou know it： Now shut the clasp again； And put aside
the record Of bygone hours of pain。
The dust shall gather on it； I will not read it more： Give me your hand…
…what was it We were talking of before？
I know not whybut tell me Of something gay and bright。 It is
strangemy heart is heavy； And my eyes are dim to…night。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： A CHAIN
The bond that links our souls together； Will it last through stormy
weather？ Will it moulder and decay As the long hours pass away？ Will it
stretch if Fate divide us； When dark and weary hours have tried us？ Oh； if
it look too poor and slight Let us break the links to…night！
It was not forged by mortal hands； Or clasped with golden bars and
bands； Save thine and mine； no other eyes The slender link can recognise：
In the bright light it seems to fade … And it is hidden in the shade； While
Heaven nor Earth have never heard； Or solemn vow； or plighted word。
Yet what no mortal hand could make； No mortal power can ever break：
What words or vows could never do； No words or vows can make untrue；
And if to other hearts unknown The dearer and the more our own； Because
too sacred and divine For other eyes； save thine and mine。
And see； though slender； it is made Of Love and Trust； and can they
fade？ While； if too slight it seem； to bear The breathings of the summer air；
We know that it could bear the weight Of a most heavy heart of late； And
as each day and hour flew The stronger for its burthen grew。
And； too； we know and feel again It has been sanctified by pain； For
what God deigns to try with sorrow He means not to decay to…morrow；
But through that fiery trial last When earthly ties and bonds are past； What
slighter things dare not endure Will make our Love more safe and pure。
Love shall be purified by Pain； And Pain be soothed by Love again： So
let us now take heart and go Cheerfully on； through joy and woe； No
change the summer sun can bring； Or the inconstant skies of spring； Or the
bleak winter's stormy weather； For we shall meet them； Love； together！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： THE PILGRIMS
The way is long and dreary； The path is bleak and bare； Our feet are
worn and weary； But we will not despair。 More heavy was Thy burthen；
More desolate Thy way； … Oh Lamb of God who takest The sin of the
world away； Have mercy on us。
The snows lie thick around us In the dark and gloomy night； And the
tempest wails above us； And the stars have hid their light； But blacker was
the darkness Round Calvary's Cross that day； … Oh Lamb of God who
takest The sin of the world away； Have mercy on us。
Our hearts are faint with sorrow； Heavy and hard to bear； For we dread
the bitter morrow； But we will not despair： Thou knowest all our anguish；
And Thou wilt bid it cease； … Oh Lamb of God who takest The sin of the
world away； Give us Thy Peace！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： INCOMPLETENESS
Nothing resting in its own completeness Can have worth or beauty：
but alone Because it leads and tends to farther sweetness； Fuller； higher；
deeper than its own。
Spring's real glory dwells not in the meaning； Gracious though it be； of
her blue hours； But is hidden in her tender leaning To the Summer's richer
wealth of flowers。
Dawn is fair； because the mists fade slowly Into Day； which floods the
world with light； Twilight's mystery is so sweet and holy Just because it
ends in starry Night。
Childhood's smiles unconscious graces borrow From Strife； that in a
far…off future lies； And angel glances （veiled now by Life's sorrow） Draw
our hearts to some beloved eyes。
Life is only bright when it proceedeth Towards a truer； deeper Life
above； Human Love is sweetest when it leadeth To a more divine and
perfect Love。
Learn the mystery of Progression duly： Do not call each glorious
change； Decay； But know we only hold our treasures truly； When it seems
as if they passed away。
Nor dare to blame God's gifts for incompleteness； In that want their
beauty lies： they roll Towards some infinite depth of love and sweetness；
Bearing onward man's reluctant soul。
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VERSE： A LEGEND OF
BREGENZ
Girt round with rugged mountains The fair Lake Constance lies； In her
blue heart reflected Shine back the starry skies； And； watching each white
cloudlet Float silently and slow； You think a piece of Heaven Lies on our
earth below！
Midnight is there： and Silence； Enthroned in Heaven； looks down
Upon her own calm mirror； Upon a sleeping town： For Bregenz； that
quaint city Upon the Tyrol shore； Has stood above Lake Constance； A
thousand years and more。
Her battlements and towers； From off their rocky steep； Have cast their
trembling shadow For ages on the deep： Mountain； and lake； and valley； A
sacred legend know； Of how the town was saved； one night； Three
hundred years ago。
Far from her home and kindred； A Tyrol maid had fled； To serve in the
Swiss valleys； And toil for daily bread； And every year that fleeted So
silently and fast； Seemed to bear farther from her The memory of the Past。
She served kind； gentle masters； Nor asked for rest or change； Her
friends seemed no more new ones； Their speech seemed no more strange；
And when she led her cattle To pasture every day； She ceased to look and
wonder On which side Bregenz lay。
She spoke no more of Bregenz； With longing and with tears： Her Tyrol
home seemed faded In a deep mist of years； She heeded not the rumours
Of Austrian war and strife； Each day she rose contented； To the calm toils
of life。
Yet； when her master's chil