h gladness then,
And you, dear Mother, taught me love and truth,
Taught me to seek the best in men.

With heart full of faith and noble thought
To bear my load and do good deeds.
And cherish worthy things, the hope not bought,
With visions for the living needs.

You said be honest with my God and soul,
Devoted to my land and home,
And all that men hold dear. In loyalty
Respect and prize the fertile loam.

Today my country calls, she needs her son
To fight the Japs and Hitler too.
No coming back until the job is done.
This is as honest men would do.

IN THE STORM

Hear the gale roaring through the woods!
Trees bend and snap and sway;
They race and break on this dark day.
If I could fashion some sturdy hoods
To hold the storm at bay,
Then trim and straight would all trees stay.
But great trees knotted by winds' moods,
Like men who face their care,
Stand scarred yet stanch and bravely there.

TO US

O petty trifles! Why cling to us so?
Our time in doing small things quite consumed,
And hearts protected like earth worms encased,
Always singing childish songs, sol me do,
And crawling safe in shady vales below,
Like snails advancing, scoff and hurt endured,
Dead there upon the rack, no port secured.
O brother plant, some grains of corn will grow!
The faithful farmer sows live fertile seed.
Be not a grub but rise and stretch hands up
When on the height reach down to troubled friend,
And lift your fellowmen, toil not for greed.
Wash out the grounds and fill the empty cup.
The rose will bloom where rocky pathways wend.

THE FLY AND THE SPIDER

The big black fly was in a sorry plight;
She hung and dangled in a spider's web.
It was too late to make a hurried flight.
The sand is sifting and the tides will ebb.

The spider then drew dose his silken thread,
It was no use to ask the reason why.
He only wished to eat and save his head,
And he must catch his breakfast, or die.

HER GOOD BYE

I love you, Darling, sweetheart mine,
Our troth is pledged, O joy divine!
With apple blossoms in my hair
I hope and breathe a fervent prayer
To keep my trust all down the years,
And love you always through the tears.
O heart of mine, my feet do sing
As down the aisle into the Spring
Of bursting bud and lilac time,
Of budding trees and robin rhyme,
So tenderly, Dea