56 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



The warrior chief had won the fight at last 

 And leaving Kir-jath-Sepher in the dust, 

 He sought the vale of Hebron and his bride. 

 'T is thus through all the centuries of change, 

 Love works his miracles, and bears his tests, 

 And wins the symbol of his royal birth, 

 A crown of victory or crown of thorns. 

 Achsah, the beautiful, the hero's child, 

 A Jewish maiden brought to Syrian bloom 

 The Syrian sunshine in her yellow hair 

 The spirit of the tribe of Judah in her eyes, 

 The hero's child went forth the hero's bride. 

 Achsah went forth with blessings on her head, 

 The benediction of a wiser age: — 

 "God bless thee in thy basket and thy store, 

 And make thee mother of the sons of God." 

 But when the bride had gone a little space 

 She paused awhile, then turned and left her lord 

 And sought her father with uplifted face, 

 And said, " O, father, thou hast given more 

 Than my own foolish heart could hope or ask, 

 A gentle south-land, leaning to the sun, 

 Smiling in his caresses till she bears 

 Roses and lilies and all bounteous things, 

 The nuptial mystery of earth and sky. 

 But one thing lacketh to my goodly dower; 

 Grant thy gift may be at last complete, 

 The springs of water with encircling palms, 

 That northward bound ray good heritage." 

 Then he, the grandest warrior of the old, 

 Whi) wholly followed God and served his race, 

 Made no dissent or cavil at her words, 

 But gave the upper and the nether springs. 



2fS *j* v|C 5J» ■(% 



Dear child, the object of a higher care, 

 Is aught still wanting to thy sweet estate ? 

 Lives there a sense of something far and rare 

 And richer than has fallen to thy fate ? 

 Maybe the father knows highest need 

 And waits thy asking in some tender mood, 

 Giving the hunger that thy soul may feed 

 Upon the tokens of his fatherhood. 

 Maybe we thirst that we may taste and see, 

 How sweet the rivers of his goodness be, 



