OUT OF THE LIGHT!

"OUT of the light!"-Hark! Justice thunders:

"Every foe to human right,

"Mental, moral, legal blunders,

"Stand not in the ways of light."

Every glorious thing in nature,

Flowers, and stars, and diamond eyes,

Things of mean and giant stature,

Sun-lit heavens and moon-lit skies;

Every blooming, smiling feature,

Rosy cheek and radiant brow,

Human or angelic creature,

Ever sung, and sings it now:

Whilst the King of heaven's mansion,
From this world's primeval night,
Throughout Nature's wide expansion,
Loudly cries, "Let there be light."

Out of the light, ye foes to knowledge,
Creeping forth from cloistered cell;

Keep your poison at your college,
That will suit us just as well.

Out of the light! Your false opinions
Feed not those who would be free;

Preach them to your crouching minions,
Those who can't or will not see.
Out of the light, ye foes to reason,
Know ye not (ye are not blind)

That it is the worst of treason

Thus to war against the mind?
Out of the light! Your learned cabals
May deceive an ignorant wight;

But to us they're old wives' fables,
Darkness 'mid a blaze of light.

Friends of truth, we'll let their rostrums Wear their things of white and blue, While we leave their much-quacked nostrums For the beautiful and true.

Friends of truth, be undivided,

Wield the sword of common sense;

Fight! and when the war's decided,

Then we'll crown Intelligence.

Friends, the hour is just eleven,

Morn hath seen our battle won; See you, then, your moral heaven

Wears a cloudless noontide sun.
Battle on, then; battle bravely,
Scatter wide the rays of light;

Soon your enemies shall gravely
Tell you, you were in the right.

"Out of the light!" Hark! Justice thunders,

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Every foe to truth and right,

"Sacred, social, moral blunders,

"Get you from the ways of light."

THE PRIMROSE VOICE.

"I'm come again to greet thee,

With friendship's purest glow,

Where I was wont to meet thee,

Full thirty years ago.
Thy mother here caressed me

With an admiring joy,

Then, turning, kissed and blessed thee,

A ruddy infant boy.

I drew thee forth in childhood,

Where golden king-cups gleam,

Adown the rugged wild-wood,

Anear the brawling stream;

And well I loved thy praises,

That revelled in the air

Of primroses and daisies

'Twas melody most rare.

Oh, many a happy greeting

Since then have we two seen;

Yes, many a merry meeting

Ere buds were tipped with green;

And many a flood of feeling

Hath gushed from thy dear heart,

As seasons came, revealing

The sign for us to part.

Yet men have proved falsehearted,
Embittering thine hours;

And death from thee hath parted
Some sweet domestic flowers.

"I told thee by yon hill-side,

When last we mingled tears,

I'd come again at spring-tide

Through all thy future years:

I vowed I'd leave a token,

A tiny tuft of green :
My vow I've kept unbroken,

The token thou hast seen:
For where the ivy mantling
Repelled the snowy flake,

I saw thee watch my bantling
Upon the sterile brake.