16 NORTH SHORE BREEZE and Reminder 
Along the Way 
A gentleman who had climbed one of the Alpine 
heights without a guide, was found dead near the summit, 
where he had written, “It is cold and clouds shut out the 
Yet be not dull and dead 
To every sight and sound 
Beneath thee and around. 
And let not stern endeavor steel thy heart 
To the sweet joys Love can alone impart. 
August 13, 1915. 
view.” 
A youth, at break of day, 
Up the steep mountain held his eager way 
That from the summit he might view 
The prospect grand— 
Smooth sea and rugged land, 
Domed with a sky of blue. 
One thought possessed his soul, 
‘(One aim his feet, as less and less 
The summit’s distance grew, 
While still his eye was fixt upon the goal. 
Yet on that smiling morn, I guess, 
Along his way 
Fair landscapes lay, 
Stretcht far and wide on either hand 
In mid-summer loveliness ; 
Fair fields with daisies spread, 
Meadows and lakes and ribboned rivers blue 
Gliding the meadows through; 
Flowers at his feet and overhead, 
Clouds of a wondrous hue, 
And close at hand, 
A valley, rainbow-spanned! 
Not these his eye could draw, 
Nothing of these he saw: 
Only the bald mountain-top whereto 
‘His steady steps were true; 
One object sole, 
The shining summit, of his hopes the goal. 
And now, 
The end attained, 
His feet at length have gained 
The mountain’s bare and rugged brow. 
But lo! a cloud 
Doth all the scene enshroud. 
Its misty robes enfold 
His shrinking form. 
In a wild storm 
The winds blow fierce and cold. 
Which way his eye may turn, 
Nothing can he discern, 
Not even the path which led 
His bleeding footsteps from the plain below, 
Now blocked with snow. 
All the fair landscape from his vision fled, 
He sees instead, 
Dull vapory seas outspread. 
Ah, bitter woe! 
Learn thou the lesson, O my soul, 
As the fleet years unroll: 
Look up, not down, 
Fix high the aim and goal 
Toward which thy feet are led, 
And gain at length renown. 
In the hard fight with fortune, fame and sin 
Youth, valor, virtue in the end must win, 
And thou may’st wear the crown. 
Fame sits above, but deathly cold her hand 
‘That waits to wreathe thy brow, 
While here and now, 
Friendship’s warm grasp, 
Affection’s tender clasp, 
The Lover’s kiss, 
Shall yield thee sweeter bliss. 
These hinder not thy course 
These will but give new force, 
New strength and joy impart 
Unto thy loving heart. 
Remember this! 
And what if thou should miss? 
Fame cometh late, 
Fame is a laggard oft outstript by death: 
Such is the cruel mockery of fate. 
Fame is not fame: 
The shining peak 
Our eager footsteps seek, 
When reached is not the same: 
The distant hills, sun-kissed, 
Seem robed in amethyst, 
But when thro’ miles of mist 
We toil, 
They fade to common rock and soil! 
The glory that we sought, 
As we approach it, pales 
And ‘fades to nought, 
Or hangs in mockery above the vales, 
The happy vales we left far, far below 
Where violets blow. 
Whatever else shall fail Love never fails 
But evermore avails 
To feed the hunger of the heart. 
The unbought sympathy of a soul sincere 
Heals sorrow’s smart, 
Shields from misfortune’s dart, 
And to the darkest night brings light and cheer. 
Without it what were fame, | ; 
Or shame. or blame, 
Health, wealth and all the world holds dear? 
Ye who have missed the best that life can give, 
Who in the stress of living fail to live, 
Who, in your care and serving, miss 
Life’s sweetest bliss, 
List to the story 
Of one who sought for glory 
On glittering heights above, 
And though the goal he did attain. 
Found victory vain, © 
Only to gain at end unprofitable goal. , 
Since clouds and darkness quenched the light of love. 
And froze the vital current of the soul, 
Scorn not thy low estate, 
Rail not at ‘stubborn fate, 
Seek not the bauble of an empty name. 
Work while ’tis called Today, 
Strive unto noble ends, 
But scorn not love of friends, 
