,transcribed from the #aijf ,elizabeth ,towne edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,,new ,,thought ,,pastels --,,by-- ,,ella ,,wheeler ,,wilcox 99 99 99 99 99 ,published by ,,elizabeth ,,towne ,,holyoke1 ,,mass4 99 99 99 99 99 ,copyright #aijf ,,ella ,,wheeler ,,wilcox ,,index4 ,a ,dialogue #i ,the ,weed #aa ,strength #ab ,affirm #ac ,the ,chosen #ad ,the ,nameless #af ,the ,word #ag ,assistance #ai ,credulity #bj ,consciousness #ba ,the ,structure #bb ,our ,souls #bc ,the ,law #bd ,knowledge #be ,give #bg ,perfection #bi ,fear #cj ,the ,way #ca ,understood #cb ,his ,mansion #cc ,effect #cd ,three ,things #ce ,obstacles #cf ,prayer #cg ,climbing #ch 8,there ,is ,no ,death1 ,there ,are ,no ,dead0 #ci ,realization #da ,picture3 ,photograph of ,ella ,wheeler ,wilcox1 underneath which she has written 8,send forth thy thought--,create--,create60 ,a ,dialogue4 ,mortal4 ,,the world is full of selfishness and greed4 ,lord1 ,i would lave its sin4 ,spirit4 ,yea1 mortal1 earth of thy good help has need4 ,go cleanse thyself within4 ,mortal4 ,mine ear is hurt by harsh and evil speech4 ,i would reform men's ways4 ,spirit4 ,there is but one convincing way to teach4 ,speak thou but words of praise4 ,mortal4 ,on every hand is wretchedness and grief1 ,despondency and fear4 ,lord1 ,i would give my fellow men relief4 ,spirit4 ,be1 then1 all hope1 all cheer4 ,mortal4 ,lord1 ,i look outward and grow sick at heart1 ,such need of change ,i see4 ,spirit4 ,mortal1 look in4 ,do thy allotted part1 ,and leave the rest to ,,me4 ,the ,weed4 ,a ,,weed is but an unloved flower6 ,go dig1 and prune1 and guide1 and wait1 ,until it learns its high estate1 ,and glorifies some bower4 ,a weed is but an unloved flower6 ,all sin is virtue unevolved1 ,release the angel from the clod-- ,go love thy brother up to ,god4 ,behold each problem solved4 ,all sin is virtue unevolved4 ,strength4 ,,who is the strong8 ,not he who puts to test ,his sinews with the strong and proves the best2 ,but he who dwells where weaklings congregate1 ,and never lets his splendid strength abate4 ,who is the good8 ,not he who walks each day ,with moral men along the high1 clean way2 ,but he who jostles gilded sin and shame1 ,yet will not sell his honor or his name4 ,who is the wise8 ,not he who from the start ,with ,wisdom's followers has taken part2 ,but he who looks in ,folly's tempting eyes1 ,and turns away1 perceiving her disguise4 ,who is serene8 ,not he who flees his kind1 ,some mountain fastness1 or some cave to find2 ,but he who in the city's noisiest scene1 ,keeps calm within--he only is serene4 ,affirm4 ,,body and mind1 and spirit1 all combine ,to make the ,creature1 human and divine4 ,of this great trinity no part deny4 ,affirm1 affirm1 the ,great ,eternal ,i4 ,affirm the body1 beautiful and whole1 ,the earth-expression of immortal soul4 ,affirm the mind1 the messenger of the hour1 ,to speed between thee and the source of power4 ,affirm the spirit1 the ,eternal ,i-- ,of this great trinity no part deny4 ,the ,chosen4 ,,they stood before the ,angel at the gate2 ,the ,angel asked3 8,why should you enter in80 ,one said3 8,on earth my place was high and great20 ,and one3 8,i warned my fellow-men from sin20 ,another3 8,i was teacher of the faith2 ,i scorned my life and lived in love with death40 ,and one stood silent4 8,speak60 the ,angel said2 8,what earthly deed has sent you here today80 8,alas6 ,i did but follow where they led10 ,he answered sadly3 8,i had lost my way-- ,so new the country1 and so strange my flight2 ,i only sought for guidance and for light40 8,you have no passport80 8,none10 the answer came4 8,i loved the earth1 tho' lowly was my lot4 ,i strove to keep my record free from blame1 ,and make a heaven about my humble spot4 ,a narrow life2 ,i see it now1 too late2 ,so1 ,angel1 drive me from the heavenly gate40 ,the ,angel swung the portal wide and free1 ,and took the sorrowing stranger by the hand4 8,nay1 you alone10 he said1 8shall come with me1 ,of all this waiting and insistent band4 ,of what ,god gave1 you built your paradise2 ,behold your mansion waiting in the skies40 ,the ,nameless4 ,,unnumbered gods may unremembered die2 ,a thousand creeds may perish and pass by2 ,yet do ,i lift mine eyes to ,,one on high4 ,unnamed be ,,he from whom creation came2 ,there is no word whereby to speak ,his name ,but petty men have mouthed it into shame4 ,i lift mine eyes1 and with a river's force ,my love's full tide goes sweeping on its course ,to that supreme and all embracing ,source4 ,then back through all those thirsting channels roll ,the mighty billows of the ,over ,soul4 ,and ,i am ,he1 the portion and the ,whole4 ,as little streams before the flood tide flee1 ,as rivers vanish to become the sea1 ,the ,i exists no more1 for ,i ,,am ,,he4 ,the ,word4 ,,oh1 a word is a gem1 or a stone1 or a song1 ,or a flame1 or a two-edged sword2 ,or a rose in bloom1 or a sweet perfume1 ,or a drop of gall1 is a word4 ,you may choose your word like a connoisseur1 ,and polish it up with art1 ,but the word that sways1 and stirs1 and stays1 ,is the word that comes from the heart4 ,you may work on your word a thousand weeks1 ,but it will not glow like one ,that all unsought1 leaps forth white hot1 ,when the fountains of feeling run4 ,you may hammer away on the anvil of thought1 ,and fashion your word with care1 ,but unless you are stirred to the depths1 that word ,shall die on the empty air4 ,for the word that comes from the brain alone1 ,alone to the brain will speed2 ,but the word that sways1 and stirs1 and stays1 ,oh6 that is the word men heed4 ,assistance4 ,,lean on no mortal1 ,love1 and serve2 7,for service is love's complement71 ,but it was never ,god's intent1 ,your spirit from its path should swerve1 ,to gain another's point of view4 ,as well might ,jupiter1 or ,mars ,go seeking help from other stars1 ,instead of sweeping ,,on1 as you4 ,look to the ,great ,eternal ,cause ,and not to any man1 for light4 ,look in2 and learn the wrong1 and right1 ,from your own soul's unwritten laws4 ,and when you question1 or demur1 ,let ,love be your ,interpreter4 8,credulity40 ,,if fallacies1 come knocking at my door1 ,i'd rather feed1 and shelter full a score1 ,than hide behind the black portcullis1 doubt1 ,and run the risk of barring one ,truth out4 ,and if pretention for a time deceive1 ,and prove me one too ready to believe1 ,far less my shame1 than if by stubborn act1 ,i brand as lie1 some great colossal ,fact4 ,on my soul's door1 the latch-string hangs outside2 ,within1 the lighted candle4 ,let me guide ,some errant follies1 on their wandering way1 ,rather1 than ,wisdom give no welcoming ray4 ,consciousness4 ,,god1 what a glory1 is this consciousness1 ,of life on life1 that comes to those who seek6 ,nor would ,i1 if ,i might1 to others speak1 ,the fullness of that knowledge4 ,it can bless1 ,only the eager souls1 that willing1 press ,along the mountain passes1 to the peak4 ,not to the dull1 the doubting1 or the weak1 ,will ,truth explain1 or ,mystery confess4 ,not to the curious or impatient soul ,that in the start1 demands the end be shown1 ,and at each step1 stops waiting for a sign2 ,but to the tireless toiler toward the goal1 ,shall the great miracles of ,god be known ,and life revealed1 immortal and divine4 ,the ,structure4 ,,upon the wreckage of thy yesterday ,design the structure of tomorrow4 ,lay ,strong corner stones of purpose1 and prepare ,great blocks of wisdom1 cut from past despair4 ,shape mighty pillars of resolve1 to set ,deep in the tear-wet mortar of regret4 ,work on with patience4 ,though thy toil be slow1 ,yet day by day the edifice shall grow4 ,believe in ,god--in thine own self believe4 ,all that thou hast desired thou shalt achieve4 ,our ,souls4 ,,our souls should be vessels receiving ,the waters of love for relieving ,the sorrows of men4 ,for here lies the pleasure of living3 ,in taking ,god's bounties1 and giving ,the gifts back again4 ,the ,law4 ,,when the great universe was wrought ,to might and majesty from naught1 ,the all creative force was-- ,thought4 ,that force is thine4 ,though desolate ,the way may seem1 command thy fate4 ,send forth thy thought-- ,create--,create6 ,knowledge4 ,,would you believe in ,presences ,unseen-- ,in life beyond this earthly life8 ,,be ,,still3 ,be stiller yet2 and listen4 ,set the screen ,of silence at the portal of your will4 ,relax1 and let the world go by unheard4 ,and seal your lips with some all-sacred word4 ,breathe 8,god10 in any tongue--it means the same2 ,,love ,,absolute3 ,think1 feel1 absorb the thought2 ,shut out all else2 until a subtle flame 7,a spark from ,god's creative center caught7 ,shall permeate your being1 and shall glow1 ,increasing in its splendor1 till1 ,,you ,,know4 ,not in a moment1 or an hour1 or day ,the knowledge comes2 the power is far too great1 ,to win in any desultory way4 ,no soul is worthy till it learns to wait4 ,day after day be patient1 then1 oh1 soul2 ,month after month--till1 lo6 the goal6 the goal6 ,give ,,give1 and thou shalt receive4 ,give thoughts of cheer1 ,of courage and success1 to friend and stranger4 ,and from a thousand sources1 far and near1 ,strength will be sent thee in thy hour of danger4 ,give words of comfort1 of defense1 and hope1 ,to mortals crushed by sorrow and by error4 ,and though thy feet through shadowy paths may grope1 ,thou shalt not walk in loneliness or terror4 ,give of thy gold1 though small thy portion be4 ,gold rusts and shrivels in the hand that keeps it4 ,it grows in one that opens wide and free4 ,who sows his harvest is the one who reaps it4 ,give of thy love1 nor wait to know the worth ,of what thou lovest2 and ask no returning4 ,and wheresoe'er thy pathway leads on earth1 ,there thou shalt find the lamp of love-light burning4 ,perfection4 ,,the leaf that ripens only in the sun ,is dull and shriveled ere its race is run4 ,the leaf that makes a carnival of death ,must tremble first before the north wind's breath4 ,the life that neither grief nor burden knows ,is dwarfed in sympathy before its close4 ,the life that grows majestic with the years ,must taste the bitter tonic found in tears4 ,fear4 ,,fear is the twin of ,faith's sworn foe1 ,distrust4 ,if one breaks in your heart the other must4 ,fear is the open enemy of ,good4 ,it means the ,god in man misunderstood4 ,who walks with ,fear adown life's road will meet ,his boon companions1 ,failure and ,defeat4 ,but look the bully boldly in the eyes1 ,with mien undaunted1 and he turns and flies4 ,the ,way4 ,,between the finite and the infinite ,the missing link of ,love has left a void4 ,supply the link1 and earth with ,heaven will join ,in one continued chain of endless life4 ,hell is wherever ,love is not1 and ,heaven ,is ,love's location4 ,no dogmatic creed1 ,no austere faith based on ignoble fear ,can lead thee into realms of joy and peace4 ,unless the humblest creatures on the earth ,are bettered by thy loving sympathy ,think not to find a ,paradise beyond4 ,there is no sudden entrance into ,heaven4 ,slow is the ascent by the path of ,love4 ,understood4 ,i ,,value more than ,i despise ,my tendency to sin1 ,because it helps me sympathize ,with all my tempted kin4 ,he who has nothing in his soul ,that links him to the sod1 ,knows not that joy of self-control ,which lifts him up to ,god4 ,and ,i am glad my heart can say1 ,when others trip and fall 7,although ,i safely passed that way71 8,i understand it all40 ,his ,mansion4 ,,there was a thought he hid from all men's eyes1 ,and by his prudent life and deeds of worth ,he left a goodly record upon earth ,as one both pure and wise4 ,but when he reached a dark unsightly door ,beyond the grave1 there stood his secret thought4 ,it was the mansion he had built and brought ,to dwell in1 on that shore4 ,effect4 ,,an unkind tale was whispered in his ear4 ,he paused to hear4 ,his thoughts were food that helped a falsehood thrive1 ,and keep alive4 ,years dawned and died4 ,one day by venom's tongue ,his name was stung4 ,he cried aloud1 nor dreamed the lie was spawn ,of thoughts long gone4 ,each mental wave we send out from the mind1 ,or base1 or kind1 ,completes its circuit1 then with added force ,seeks its own source4 ,three ,things4 ,,know this1 ye restless denizens of earth1 ,know this1 ye seekers after joy and mirth1 ,three things there are1 eternal in their worth4 ,love1 that outreaches to the humblest things2 ,work that is glad1 in what it does and brings2 ,and faith that soars upon unwearied wings4 ,divine the ,powers that on this trio wait4 ,supreme their conquest1 over ,time and ,fate4 ,love1 ,work1 and ,faith--these three alone are great4 ,obstacles4 ,the slothful man saith1 ,there is a lion in the way2 a lion is in the street4--,,proverbs #bf3 #ac4 ,,there are no lions in the street2 ,no lions in the way4 ,go seek the goal1 thou slothful soul1 ,awake1 awake1 ,i say4 ,thou dost but dream of obstacles2 ,in ,god's great lexicon1 ,that word illstarred1 no page has marred2 ,press on1 ,i say1 press on4 ,nothing can keep thee from thine own ,but thine own slothful mind4 ,to one who knocks1 each door unlocks2 ,and he who seeks1 shall find4 ,prayer4 ,,lean on thyself until thy strength is tried2 ,then ask ,god's help2 it will not be denied4 ,use thine own sight to see the way to go2 ,when darkness falls ask ,god the path to show4 ,think for thyself and reason out thy plan2 ,god has his work and thou hast thine1 oh1 man4 ,exert thy will and use it for control2 ,god gave thee jurisdiction of thy soul4 ,all thine immortal powers bring into play2 ,think1 act1 strive1 reason1 then look up and pray4 ,climbing4 ,,who climbs the mountain does not always climb4 ,the winding road slants downward many a time2 ,yet each descent is higher than the last4 ,has thy path fallen8 ,that will soon be past4 ,beyond the curve the way leads up and on4 ,think not thy goal forever lost or gone4 ,keep moving forward2 if thine aim is right ,thou canst not miss the shining mountain height4 ,who would attain to summits still and fair1 ,must nerve himself through valleys of despair4 8,there ,is ,no ,death1 ,there ,are ,no ,dead40 7,suggested by the book of ,mr4 ,ed4 ,c4 ,randall47 8,,there is no death1 there are no dead40 ,from zone to zone1 from sphere to sphere1 ,the souls of all who pass from here ,by hosts of living thoughts are led2 ,and dark or bright1 those souls must tread ,the paths they fashioned year on year4 ,for hells are built of hate or fear1 ,and heavens of love our lives have shed4 ,across unatlassed worlds of space1 ,and through ,god's mighty universe1 ,with thoughts that bless or thoughts that curse1 ,each journeys to his rightful place4 ,oh1 greater truth no man has said1 8,there is no death1 there are no dead40 ,it lifts the mourner from the sod1 ,and bids him cast away the reed ,of some uncomforting poor creed1 ,and walk with ,knowledge for a rod4 ,it bids the doubter seek the broad ,vast fields1 where living facts will feed ,all those whose patience proves their need ,of these immortal truths of ,god4 ,it brings before the eyes of faith ,those realms of radiance1 tier on tier1 ,where our beloved 8dead0 appear1 ,more beautiful because of 8death40 ,it speaks to grief3 8,be comforted2 ,there is no death1 there are no dead40 ,realization4 ,,hers was a lonely1 shadowed lot2 ,or so the unperceiving thought1 ,who looked no deeper than her face1 ,devoid of chiseled lines of grace-- ,no farther than her humble grate1 ,and wondered how she bore her fate4 ,yet she was neither lone nor sad2 ,so much of love her spirit had1 ,she found an ever-flowing spring ,of happiness in everything4 ,so near to her was ,nature's heart ,it seemed a very living part ,of her own self2 and bud and blade1 ,and heat and cold1 and sun and shade1 ,and dawn and sunset1 ,spring and ,fall1 ,held raptures for her1 one and all4 ,the year's four changing seasons brought ,to her own door what thousands sought ,in wandering ways and did not find-- ,diversion and content of mind4 ,she loved the tasks that filled each day-- ,such menial duties2 but her way ,of looking at them lent a grace ,to things the world deemed commonplace4 ,obscure and without place or name1 ,she gloried in another's fame4 ,poor1 plain and humble in her dress1 ,she thrilled when beauty and success ,and wealth passed by1 on pleasure bent2 ,they made earth seem so opulent4 ,yet none of quicker sympathy1 ,when need or sorrow came1 than she4 ,and so she lived1 and so she died4 ,she woke as from a dream4 ,how wide ,and wonderful the avenue ,that stretched to her astonished view6 ,and up the green ascending lawn ,a palace caught the rays of dawn4 ,then suddenly the silence stirred ,with one clear keynote of a bird2 ,a thousand answered1 till ere long ,the air was quivering bits of song4 ,she rose and wandered forth in awe1 ,amazed and moved by all she saw1 ,for1 like so many souls who go ,away from earth1 she did not know ,the cord was severed4 ,down the street1 ,with eager arms stretched forth to greet1 ,came one she loved and mourned in youth2 ,her mother followed2 then the truth ,broke on her1 golden wave on wave1 ,of knowledge infinite4 ,the grave1 ,the body and the earthly sphere ,were gone6 ,immortal life was here6 ,they led her through the ,palace halls2 ,from gleaming mirrors on the walls ,she saw herself1 with radiant mien1 ,and robed in splendor like a queen1 ,while glory round about her shone4 8,all this10 ,love murmured1 8is your own40 ,and when she gazed with wondering eye1 ,and questioned whence and where and why1 ,love answered thus3 8,all ,heaven is made ,by thoughts on earth2 your walls were laid1 ,year after year1 of purest gold2 ,the beauty of your mind behold ,in this fair palace2 aye1 and more ,waits farther on1 so vast your store4 ,i was not worthy when ,i died ,to take my place here at your side2 ,i toiled through long and weary years ,from lower planes to these high spheres2 ,and through the love you sent from earth ,i have attained a second birth4 ,oft when my erring soul would tire ,i felt the strength of your desire2 ,i heard you breathe my name in prayer1 ,and courage conquered weak despair4 ,ah6 earth needs heaven1 but heaven indeed ,of earth has just as great a need40 ,across the terrace with a bound ,there sped a lambkin and a hound 7,dumb comrades of the old earth land7 ,and fondled her caressing hand4 8,,you ,,loved ,,them ,,into ,,paradise10 ,was answered to her questioning eyes2 8,you taught them love2 love has no end6 ,nor does love's life on form depend4 ,if there be mortal without love1 ,he wakes to no new life above4 ,if love in humbler things exist1 ,it must through other realms persist ,until all love rays merge in ,,him4 ,hark6 ,hear the heavenly ,cherubim60 ,then hushed and awed1 with joy so vast ,it knew no future and no past1 ,she stood amidst the radiant throng ,that came to swell love's welcoming song-- ,this humble soul from earth's far coast ,the center of the heavenly host4 ,on earth they see her grave and say3 8,she lies there till the judgment day20 ,nor dream1 so limited their thought1 ,what miracles by love are wrought4 ,,ella ,,wheeler ,,wilcox',s ,,autobiography ,this is called 8,the ,story of a ,literary ,career10 wherein ,mrs4 ,wilcox tells the story of her own life4 ,it is a modest little book1 beautifully printed on fine paper1 with artistic half-tone pictures of ,mrs4 ,wilcox and her famous home1 ,the ,bungalow4 ,bound in heavy ,old ,stratford1 printed in two colors4 ,,price1 #ej ,,cents1 ,,postpaid -- ,published by -- ,,elizabeth ,,towne1 - - ,holyoke1 ,mass4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,nautilus ,this is ,elizabeth ,towne's monthly magazine1 of ,self-,help1 for which ,mrs4 ,wilcox wrote #bf new poems in two years4 ,mrs4 ,wilcox recommends the magazine to her friends4 ,also some of ,mrs4 ,towne's books4 ,ask for sample copy of ,,the ,,nautilus and you will learn about the books4 -- ,,address -- ,,elizabeth ,,towne1 - - ,holyoke1 ,mass4