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Nature’s Answer
- Syracuse University Press
- Chapter
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4 | In This Our World Nature’s Answer I. A man would build a house, and found a place As fair as any on the earth’s fair face: Soft hills, dark woods, smooth meadows richly green, And cool tree-shaded lakes the hills between. He built his house within this pleasant land, A stately white-porched house, long years to stand; But, rising from his paradise so fair, Came fever in the night and killed him there. “O lovely land!” he cried, “how could I know That death was lurking under this fair show?” And answered Nature, merciful and stern, “I teach by killing; let the others learn!” II. A man would do great work, good work and true; He gave all things he had, all things he knew; He worked for all the world; his one desire To make the people happier, better, higher; Used his best wisdom, used his utmost strength; And, dying in the struggle, found at length, The giant evils he had found the same, And that the world he loved scarce knew his name. “Has all my work been wrong? I meant so well! I loved so much!” he cried. “How could I tell?” And answered Nature, merciful and stern, “I teach by killing; let the others learn.” III. A maid was asked in marriage. Wise as fair, She gave her answer with deep thought and prayer, Expecting, in the holy name of wife, Great work, great pain, and greater joy, in life. She found such work as brainless slaves might do, By day and night, long labor, never through; Such pain—no language can her pain reveal; It had no limit but her power to feel; Such joy—lift left in her sad soul’s employ Neither the hope nor memory of joy. T H E WOR L D | 5 Helpless, she died, with one despairing cry,— “I thought it good; how could I tell the lie?” And answered Nature, merciful and stern, “I teach by killing; let the others learn.” The Commonplace Life is so commonplace! Too fair Were those young visions of the poet and seer. Nothing exciting ever happens here. Just eat and drink, and dress and chat; Life is so tedious, slow, and flat, And every day alike in everywhere! Birth comes. Birth— The breathing re-creation of the earth! All earth, all sky, all God, life’s deep sweet whole, Newborn again to each new soul! “Oh, are you? What a shame! Too bad, my dear! How well you stand it, too! It’s very queer The dreadful trials women have to carry; But you can’t always help it when you marry. Oh, what a sweet layette!1 What lovely socks! What an exquisite puff and powder box! Who is your doctor? Yes, his skill’s immense— But it’s a dreadful danger and expense!” Love comes. Love— And the world widens at the touch thereof; Deepens and lightens till the answer true To all life’s questions seems to glimmer through. “Engaged? I knew it must be! What a ring! Worth how much? Well, you are a lucky thing! But how was Jack disposed of?” “Jack? Oh, he Was just as glad as I was to be free. You might as well ask after George and Joe And all the fellows that I used to know! I don’t inquire for his past Kate and Carry— Every one’s pleased. It’s time, you know, to marry.” Life comes. Life— Bearing within it wisdom, work, and strife. To do, to strive, to know, and, with the knowing, To find life’s widest purpose in our growing. “How are you, Jim? Pleasant weather to-day! How’s business?” “Well, it doesn’t come my way.” “Good morning, Mrs. Smith! I hope you’re well! Tell me the news!” “The news? There’s none to tell. ...