GAY-HEARTEDNESS
Walking on the old Navy Yard bridge, Washington, D. C., once with a
companion, Mr. Marshall, from England, a great traveler and observer,
as a squad of laughing young black girls pass'd us--then two copper-
color'd boys, one good-looking lad 15 or 16, barefoot, running after
--"What _gay creatures_ they all appear to be," said Mr. M. Then we
fell to talking about the general lack of buoyant animal spirits. "I
think," said Mr. M., "that in all my travels, and all my intercourse
with people of every and any class, especially the cultivated ones,
(the literary and fashionable folks,) I have never yet come across
what I should call a really GAY-HEARTED MAN."
It was a terrible criticism--cut into me like a surgeon's lance. Made
me silent the whole walk home.
AS IN A SWOON.
As in a swoon, one instant,
Another sun, ineffable, full-dazzles me,
And all the orbs I knew--and brighter, unknown orbs;
One instant of the future land, Heaven's land.
L. OF G.
Thoughts, suggestions, aspirations, pictures,
Cities and farms--by day and night--book of peace and war,
Of platitudes and of the commonplace.
For out-door health, the land and sea--for good will,
For America--for all the earth, all nations, the common people,
(Not of one nation only--not America only.)
In it each claim, ideal, line, by all lines, claims, ideals,
temper'd;
Each right and wish by other wishes, rights.
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