THE WREATH OF LAUREL AND THE CROWN OF GOLD.
By Clyde Scott Chase
"He that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things." THE Father, to His children of the earth, has said:
"Be temperate while in the flesh ye dwell;
Your happiness words then can scarce portray;
But if slaves thou to appetite be led,
The misery of thy wasted, fleeting day,
The united tongues of nations can not tell.
"Across the highways and the paths of life
Are strung the meshes of the tempter bold;
But he whose progress naught can swerve or stay,
Who girds his armor for a noble strife,
And conquers all that barricades his way,
Shall wear a laurel with a crown of gold!" But, ah! unheeded is the guiding Voice
From out the realms of happiness on high,
And scorned are all the offerings of love—
Sweet gifts to make the hearts of men rejoice—
And from the shining star of hope above,
The tempter's glitter draws affection's eye. And men there are along life's storm-lashed shore—
Wrecked ones whose story in their hearts are told—
With sunken eyes and sorrow-silvered hair,
Whose weary souls cry out in accents sore:
"O God, that I had chosen but to wear
"Thy gift of laurel with its crown of gold!" But there are men whose hearts are true and strong,
Whose footsteps firm the ways of peace pursue,
Whose shield the foe's keen weapons can not rend;
And bursts the music of a nation's song
As in their coronets are seen to blend
A tint of laurel and a golden hue. And their bright works about the world are strewn,
For all upon life's journey to behold,
And bright their beacons on the headlands gleam,
While flees the darkness as at brilliant noon,
That all may shun the swift and treacherous stream,
And seek the laurel with its crown of gold.
CLYDE SCOTT CHASE.