"In swarming city, at wayside fane,
By the Indus' bank, on the scorching

321

Have gloomed their worship this thousand years.

plain,

I had taught, and my teaching all

seemed vain.

ERASTUS W. ELLSWORTH.

ERASTUS W. ELLSWORTH.

[U. S. A.]

WHAT IS THE USE?

"No glimmer of light (I sighed) appears; I SAW a man, by some accounted wise, The Moslem's Fate and the Buddhist's For some things said and done before their eyes,

fears

"The living seeds I have dropped remain In the cleft: Lord, quicken with dew and rain,

Then temple and mosque shall be rent in twain!""

What man is, in desires,
Whispers where man aspires.

Dust though we are, and shall return to
dust,

Yet being born to battles, fight we must;
Under which ensign is our only choice.
We know to wage our best,
God only knows the rest.

Then since we see about us sin and dole, And some things good, why not, with hand and soul,

Wrestle and succor out of wrong and

sorrow,

Grasping the swords of strife,
Making the most of life?

Yea, all that we can wield is worth the end, If sought as God's and man's most loyal friend.

Naked we come into the world, and take
Weapons of various skill,
Let us not use them ill.

As for the creeds, Nature is dark at best;

And darker still is the deep human breast.
Therefore consider well of creeds and
books,

Lest thou mayst somewhat fail
Of things beyond the vail.

Nature was dark to the dim starry age
Of wistful Job: and that Athenian sage,
Pensive in piteous thought of Faith's
distress;

For still she cried, with tears:
“More light, ye crystal spheres!"

But rouse thee, man! Shake off this

hideous death!

Be man! Stand up! Draw in a mighty breath!

This world has quite enough emasculate hands,

Dallying with doubt and sin.
Come here is work-begin!

Come, here is work-and a rank fieldbegin.

But what and where are we? what now Put thou thine edge to the great weeds I

-to-day?

of sin;

So shalt thou find the use of life, and see | To make me own this hind of princes
Thy Lord, at set of sun,
Approach and say, "Well done!"

peer,
This rail-splitter a true-born king of