<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN>
<h2><SPAN name="page136"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>THE AGE OF MOTORED THINGS</h2>
<p style="text-align: right">ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.</p>
<p class="poetry">The wonderful age of the world I sing—<br
/>
The age of battery, coil and spring,<br/>
Of steam, and storage, and motored thing.</p>
<p class="poetry">Though faith may slumber and art seem dead,<br
/>
And all that is spoken has once been said,<br/>
And all that is written were best unread;</p>
<p class="poetry">Though hearts are iron and thoughts are
steel,<br/>
And all that has value is mercantile,<br/>
Yet marvellous truths shall the age reveal.</p>
<p class="poetry">Ay, greater the marvels this age shall find<br
/>
Than all the centuries left behind,<br/>
When faith was a bigot and art was blind.</p>
<p class="poetry">Oh, sorry the search of the world for gods,<br
/>
Through faith that slaughters and art that lauds,<br/>
While reason sits on its throne and nods.</p>
<p class="poetry"><SPAN name="page137"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p.
137</span>But out of the leisure that men will know,<br/>
When the cruel things of the sad earth go,<br/>
A Faith that is Knowledge shall rise and grow.</p>
<p class="poetry">In the throb and whir of each new machine<br/>
Thinner is growing the veil between<br/>
The visible earth and the worlds unseen.</p>
<p class="poetry">The True Religion shall leisure bring;<br/>
And Art shall awaken and Love shall sing:<br/>
Oh, ho! for the age of the motored thing!</p>
<h2><SPAN name="page138"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>NEW YEAR</h2>
<p><span class="smcap">Mortal</span>:</p>
<p class="poetry"> ‘The night is cold, the
hour is late, the world is bleak and drear;<br/>
Who is it knocking at my door?’</p>
<p><span class="smcap">The New Year</span>:</p>
<p class="poetry"> ‘I am Good
Cheer.’</p>
<p><span class="smcap">Mortal</span>:</p>
<p class="poetry"> ‘Your voice is strange;
I know you not; in shadows dark I grope.<br/>
What seek you here?’</p>
<p><span class="smcap">The New Year</span>:</p>
<p class="poetry"> ‘Friend, let me in; my
name is Hope.’</p>
<p><span class="smcap">Mortal</span>:</p>
<p class="poetry"> ‘And mine is Failure;
you but mock the life you seek to bless.<br/>
Pass on.’</p>
<p><SPAN name="page139"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span><span class="smcap">The New Year</span>:</p>
<p class="poetry"> ‘Nay, open wide the
door; I am Success.’</p>
<p><span class="smcap">Mortal</span>:</p>
<p class="poetry"> ‘But I am ill and spent
with pain; too late has come your wealth.<br/>
I cannot use it.’</p>
<p><span class="smcap">The New Year</span>:</p>
<p class="poetry"> ‘Listen, friend; I am
Good Health.’</p>
<p><span class="smcap">Mortal</span>:</p>
<p class="poetry"> ‘Now, wide I fling my
door. Come in, and your fair statements prove.’</p>
<p><span class="smcap">The New Year</span>:</p>
<p class="poetry"> ‘But you must open,
too, your heart, for I am Love.’</p>
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