He said, “O brother, where's the use of The king sat bowed beneath his crown, climbing? Come rather to the shade beside me here, Propping his face with listless hand; Watching the hour-glass sifting down Too slow its shining sand. And break the bread, and pour the plen-Poor man, what wouldst thou have of teous wine! me?" The beggar turned, and, pitying, Replied, like one in a dream, "Of thee, Nothing. I want the king." Uprose the king, and from his head Shook off the crown and threw it by. "Oman, thou must have known," he said, "A greater king than I!" Through all the gates, unquestioned then, Went king and beggar hand in hand. Whispered the king, "Shall I know when Before his throne I stand?" The beggar laughed. Free winds in haste Were wiping from the king's hot brow The crimson lines the crown had traced. "This is his presence now.' At the king's gate, the crafty noon Unwove its yellow nets of sun; Out of their sleep in terror soon The guards waked one by one. "Ho here! Ho there! Has no man seen The king?" The cry ran to and fro; Beggar and king, they laughed, I ween, The laugh that free men know. On the king's gate the moss grew gray: The king came not. They called him dead; And made his eldest son one day No clouds at dawn, but as the sun climbed | From the low sun the rain-fringe swept aside, Bright in his rosy glow, And wide a splendor streamed through all the sky; O'er sea and land one soft, delicious No clouds at dawn, but as the sun climbed | From the low sun the rain-fringe swept Warm, odorous gusts blew off the distant land, With spice of pine-woods, breath of hay new-mown, O'er miles of waves and sea-scents cool and bland, Full in our faces blown. Slow faded the sweet light, and peacefully Such unalloyed delight its hours had given, Musing, this thought rose in my grateful mind, That God, who watches all things, up in heaven, With patient eyes and kind, Saw and was pleased, perhaps, one child of his Dared to be happy like the little birds, Because He gave his children days like this, Rejoicing beyond words; Dared, lifting up to Him untroubled eyes Ingratitude that worship is, and prayer, Sing and be glad with ever new surprise, He made his world so fair! SUBMISSION. THE sparrow sits and sings, and sings; Softly the sunset's lingering light Lies rosy over rock and turf, And reddens where the restless surf Tosses on high its plumes of white. Gently and clear the sparrow sings, While twilight steals across the sea, |