296 



MY LIFE 



[Chap. 



''Voices. 



*' I remember voices 

 In my early home, 

 Pleasant and familiar, 

 Breathed in sweetest tone — 



'' Little manly voices, 



Brothers then were near, 

 Soft and kindly voices ; 

 Of my sisters dear. 



" Grave and tender voices, 

 Voices now no more, 

 In the ear of childhood 

 Whispered golden lore. 



" I remember voices, 

 Tones of later years, 

 Passionate and tearful. 

 Full of hopes and fears. 



'' Eloquent and earnest, 

 Seeming firm and true, 

 Trusting to these voices 

 I've had cause to rue. 



" Friendship's voice deceived me, 

 And the maid I loved. 

 Vain of wealth and beauty. 

 False and fickle proved. 



" I remember voices. 

 Now I hear but one, 

 The silent voice within me 

 Speaks to me alone — 



" ' Calm amid the tempests, 

 Live in peace with me, 

 Thou shalt learn Earth's wisdom 

 And Heaven's mystery.'" 



The following poem is probably the last written by my 

 brother. There is no draft or note of it in his rough note- 

 book, and it is written out carefully on a sheet of thin letter- 

 paper which he probably obtained in Para. It was there- 

 fore almost certainly written during the two weeks before his 

 fatal illness. 



