PART I. POEMS OF PATRIOTISM

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OUR COUNTRY AND OUR FLAG.

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THE FLAG OF HOBSON’S CHOICE.

A SONG.

Written June 10th, 1898, to commemorate in verse the great achievement of Richard P. Hobson and his crew of seven men, in sinking the steamer “Merrimac,” in the mouth of Santiago harbor, island of Cuba, under orders of Admiral Sampson.

CHORUS.

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THE OLD SOLDIER.

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WASHINGTON.

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A VOICE FOR FREEDOM.

Written in 1856, during the struggle in Kansas, between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers.

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THE RECONCENTRADOS.

A Spanish physician on his way from Cuba to Spain, on arriving at New York about October 1, 1898, was asked about the reconcentrados, and answered sarcastically, “There are no reconcentrados now.” This answer was understood to mean that they had all died of starvation excepting the few that were saved by the United States.

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THE PRAYER.

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THE CELEBRATION.

The following verses were written in November, 1889, when it was supposed the World’s Fair at Chicago, to celebrate the four hundreth anniversary of the discovery of America, would be held in 1892.

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ODE TO ONTARIO.

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THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

On the manner in which the union of these countries should take place, from an address delivered at Niagara Falls, Ontario, July 4th, 1888.

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ODE TO OUR COUNTRY.

The following blank verse was written in January, 1864, during the war of the rebellion, when many people in the northern states were advocating peace on almost any terms.

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PART II. POEMS OF SENTIMENT

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THE MILK OF HUMAN KINDNESS.

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THE WORKING GIRL.

Text: A newspaper item said that shop girls are often insulted on the streets by men who assume that they are immoral because they are poor.

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THE WAYWARD GIRL.

Suggested by reading the testimony of the severe whippings given with the “cat o’ eight tails” in the Industrial School for Girls at Adrian, Michigan. Written May, 1899.

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THE ROSE CURE.

Written for Rose Gearing, a grandchild seven years old, while at Lorain, O., November, 1897.

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TO A SNOW DROP.

The following verses were suggested by seeing a large and beautiful drop of snow, in the form of a star, descend slowly and gradually melt away on my clothing. The first three verses came to me spontaneously and come the nearest to being an inspiration of anything I have written up to January, 1888. I had only to write down the words, which were ready without the labor of composition. I mention this fact not because there is any merit in the verses, but because I had a touch of inspiration, and have ever since believed that writers and speakers are sometimes inspired with thoughts that come to them without passing thru the process of thinking. Written December, 1859.

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A FAMILY SONG.

Tune: A Life on the Ocean Wave.

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THANKSGIVING DAY.

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PARENTAL ADVICE.

Composed for the occasion of the marriage of my daughter, Flora, to Howard C. Beck, June 17th, 1891.

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THE DOCTOR.

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BROTHERLY LOVE.

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THE MINISTER’S WIFE.

Written on the occasion of the marriage of my daughter, Worthy, to Rev. G. N. Kennedy, October 17th, 1892.

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NOTHING TO SAY.

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THE HEART.

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MY DARLING FLORA’S MARGARET.

The following poem was written to soothe and comfort my daughter Flora, when lying low with typhoid fever in Detroit, while her then only child, Margaret, thirteen months old, was at my house in St. Clair. The acts attributed to the child actually occurred.

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THE RICH, SWEET SOUND OF THE HUMAN VOICE.

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THE MAN FOR THE TIMES.

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PART III. POEMS OF FEELING

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TO MY SOUL.

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DEAR ROLLA.

Verses on the death of a child about three years old, written to comfort his parents.

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TO THE MEMORY OF A GOOD WOMAN.

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MEMORIAL LINES.

On the death of Mrs. Maggie Blood, an exceedingly bright and popular young wife.

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TO THE MEMORY

Of Mrs. Fidelia Whitaker, the excellent wife of my old and good friend, Byron Whitaker of Detroit, Michigan. Mrs. Whitaker had many fine qualities, and commanded my respect and esteem to a high degree.

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BRAVER THE SICK.

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DO NOT DIE TONIGHT.

Written in answer to the poem “If I Should Die Tonight.”

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MEMORIAL LINES

On the death of my niece, Mary McElroy, of Lapeer, Michigan, a bright, intelligent and amiable girl, twenty-one years old.

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AN ADDRESS TO DEATH.

The following article was suggested and started while sympathizing with a neighbor’s family in the loss of a young child stricken suddenly by death, but was not completed until after the death of a much loved lady school teacher, when it was finished on the request that I write something for the memorial exercises, February, 1894. I was very busy at the time and this, my first literary wrestle with Death, was hot and fast.

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A TRIBUTE

To the Memory of Mrs. Hon. Justin R. Whiting, a brilliant woman. May 22nd, 1900.

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CAPTAIN ARCHIE MORRISON.

On the 31st day of May, 1900, a bolt of lightning struck one of the spars on a new steamer nearly finished, but still on the stocks, at St. Clair, Michigan, and instantly killed three men, of whom Archie Morrison was one. Mr. Morrison was a good man. I knew him well, and wrote the following testimonial to his character, to comfort his family and friends.

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PART IV. POEMS OF DESCRIPTION

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WHERE THE WIND BLOWS.

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ODE TO LAKE SUPERIOR.

Written 1855.

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THE DUNDAS VALLEY.

A few miles west of Hamilton, Ontario, is one of the most beautiful sections of country it has ever been my pleasure to see. The Grand Trunk Railway cars run along the side of Dundas Mountain for several miles, and the view of the valley from the cars is magnificent. In passing over this route in the summer of 1892 I was charmed by the view and inspired to write the following little poem.

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THE ST. CLAIR RIVER.

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PART V. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS

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COMPENSATION.

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EXPANSION.

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FEAR NOT, LORAIN.

The following poem was written at Lorain, O., November, 1897, and published in the “Evening Herald” of that city. It was intended to stimulate the courage of the people, who were gloomy, altho the prospects were good.

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THE TEACHER.

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A GEM.

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THE CHINA WEDDING.

Read at the party given by Mr. and Mrs. Hiram W. Robertson, on the twentieth anniversary of their marriage, December 16th, 1887. Composed the same evening after supper.

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THE HONEST MAN’S FATE.

Written January, 1866.

TIME AND TIDE.

Composed while dreaming about time and tide.

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CHRISTMAS DAY.

Written at the request of my daughter Grace, then eleven years old, to be spoken by her at the holiday exercises in school, December, 1887.

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PROGRESSIVE EUCHRE.

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THE WINNER.

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A WALK BY MOONLIGHT.

THE PAINTER.

Written on a postal card and mailed to a lady, as a token of my appreciation of her skill as a painter.

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A DOCTOR’S ADVICE.

“Just Think of Something Else.”

In the summer of 1898 I was taken quite sick at a hotel over two hundred miles from home, and was confined to my room for five days. On complaining to the doctor that I was not getting well fast, he said I should not worry about my sickness, but “Just think of something else.” I took his advice and the same night wrote the following verses.

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HERE I AM.

A little grand-daughter wrote me a little letter and in it she said, “If I were a little flower, this I would do: I would be happy all the day.” Under these words she made a sketch of a bush bearing flowers, and wrote beneath the sketch, “Here I am.” I replied as follows: To the sweet little flower, “Here I am,” formerly Miss Rose.

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A CHRISTMAS TURKEY.

Lines sent with a large fat turkey to a friend for Christmas, 1862.

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TO MRS. HARRIET S. DELANO AND HER BABY.

Written 1858.

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FOR THE BABY.

LINES ON MY FATHER.

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ADVICE TO A YOUNG POET.

AN ACROSTIC.

Written for a niece of P. T. Barnum, 1863.

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CHARLEY’S PUPPY.

Charley wrote me that his puppy was white but had a black spot on his back.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Written for Children.

TEMPERANCE.

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THE FOLDING PUZZLE.

The first line was written on the outside, the rest on the inside.

IN FLORENCE’S ALBUM.

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WRITTEN IN THE ALBUM

of Lizzie Leonard, a very tall young girl, at her mother’s home near Middleboro, Mass., December, 1881.

IN HENRIETTA’S ALBUM.

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IN WORTHY’S ALBUM.

IN FLORA’S ALBUM.

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IN ETTA’S ALBUM.

IN GRACE’S ALBUM.

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THE GALLOP OF LIFE

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WHERE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE WE KNEW.

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THE HONEST MAN.

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BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

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THE NURSE.

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A SWEET DISPOSITION.

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THE SCOW RACE.

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A HAPPY CHOICE.

BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.

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THE VALUE OF A FRIEND.