9

The sifting sand that marks the passing year
In many-colored tints its course has run
Through days with shadows dark, or bright with sun,
But hope has triumphed over doubt and fear,
New radiance flows from stars that grace our flag.
Our fate we ventured, though full dark the night,
And faced the fatuous host who trusted might.
God called, the country's lovers could not lag,
Serenely trustful, danger grave despite,
Untrained, in love with peace, they dared to fight,
And freed a threatened world from peril dire,
Establishing the majesty of right.
Our loyal hearts still burn with sacred fire,
Our spirits' wings are plumed for upward flight.

NEW YEAR, 1920

The curtain rises on the all-world stage,
The play is unannounced; no prologue's word
Gives hint of scene, or voices to be heard;
We may be called with tragedy to rage,
In comedy or farce we may disport,
With feverish melodrama we may thrill,
Or in a pantomimic role be still.
We may find fame in field, or grace a court,
Whate'er the play, forthwith its lines will start,
And every soul, in cloister or in mart,
Must act, and do his best from day to day--
So says the prompter to the human heart.
"The play's the thing," might Shakespear's Hamlet say.
"The thing," to us, is playing well our part.

EPILOGUE

*Walking in the Way*

To hold to faith when all seems dark
to keep of good courage when failure follows failure
to cherish hope when its promise is faintly whispered
to bear without complaint the heavy burdens that must be borne
to be cheerful whatever comes
to preserve high ideals
to trust unfalteringly that well-being follows well-doing
this is the Way of Life
To be modest in desires
to enjoy simple pleasures
to be earnest
to be true
to be kindly
to be reasonably patient and ever-lastingly persistent
to be considerate
to be at least just
to be helpful
to be loving
this is to walk therein.

Charles A. Murdock

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BACKWARD GLANCE AT EIGHTY***

******* This file should be named 12911.txt or 12911.zip *******

This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.net/1/2/9/1/12911

Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
will be renamed.

Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
one owns a United States