INTRODUCTION.

INTRODUCTION.

“Write ye for art,” the critics cry,“And give your best endeavor,That down the aisles of length’ning timeYour fame may speed forever!”“Write ye for truth,” my heart replies,“And prove that generous giving,May help some blinded eyes to findThe noblest way of living.”The simple story, plainly told,May bear its own conviction,And words alive with buoyant hopeMay supersede their diction.Give me the horny-handed claspOf some good honest neighbor,Who finds within the words I speakA strength for earnest labor.Give me the lifted, grateful smileOf some poor fainting woman,Who knows that I regard her soulAs something dear and human.Give me the fervent, heartfelt prayerOf just the toiling masses;To be remembered with their loveYour boasted art surpasses.And this be mine, whate’er the faultOf manner, not of matter,Along the rocky ways of lifeSome living truths to scatter.Birch Arnold.

“Write ye for art,” the critics cry,“And give your best endeavor,That down the aisles of length’ning timeYour fame may speed forever!”“Write ye for truth,” my heart replies,“And prove that generous giving,May help some blinded eyes to findThe noblest way of living.”The simple story, plainly told,May bear its own conviction,And words alive with buoyant hopeMay supersede their diction.Give me the horny-handed claspOf some good honest neighbor,Who finds within the words I speakA strength for earnest labor.Give me the lifted, grateful smileOf some poor fainting woman,Who knows that I regard her soulAs something dear and human.Give me the fervent, heartfelt prayerOf just the toiling masses;To be remembered with their loveYour boasted art surpasses.And this be mine, whate’er the faultOf manner, not of matter,Along the rocky ways of lifeSome living truths to scatter.Birch Arnold.

“Write ye for art,” the critics cry,“And give your best endeavor,That down the aisles of length’ning timeYour fame may speed forever!”

“Write ye for art,” the critics cry,

“And give your best endeavor,

That down the aisles of length’ning time

Your fame may speed forever!”

“Write ye for truth,” my heart replies,“And prove that generous giving,May help some blinded eyes to findThe noblest way of living.”

“Write ye for truth,” my heart replies,

“And prove that generous giving,

May help some blinded eyes to find

The noblest way of living.”

The simple story, plainly told,May bear its own conviction,And words alive with buoyant hopeMay supersede their diction.

The simple story, plainly told,

May bear its own conviction,

And words alive with buoyant hope

May supersede their diction.

Give me the horny-handed claspOf some good honest neighbor,Who finds within the words I speakA strength for earnest labor.

Give me the horny-handed clasp

Of some good honest neighbor,

Who finds within the words I speak

A strength for earnest labor.

Give me the lifted, grateful smileOf some poor fainting woman,Who knows that I regard her soulAs something dear and human.

Give me the lifted, grateful smile

Of some poor fainting woman,

Who knows that I regard her soul

As something dear and human.

Give me the fervent, heartfelt prayerOf just the toiling masses;To be remembered with their loveYour boasted art surpasses.

Give me the fervent, heartfelt prayer

Of just the toiling masses;

To be remembered with their love

Your boasted art surpasses.

And this be mine, whate’er the faultOf manner, not of matter,Along the rocky ways of lifeSome living truths to scatter.Birch Arnold.

And this be mine, whate’er the fault

Of manner, not of matter,

Along the rocky ways of life

Some living truths to scatter.

Birch Arnold.


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