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Show On the Frozen Yukon Oil, ships that sail down from tho glnclal north Vlth your burdens of dlilmmcrlnd cold. What spectres of Death In tho pitiless wnstn ltlclo low In your uhlverlnR hold? Vhnt triumphs of thoao who havo wrestled wres-tled with Death Cnn n'erhnlnncn tho burden of woe For the hearts that aro still on tho frozen Yukon, And tho bones that arc covered with snow? For the veins that nro chilled and tho eyes that upslnro Through tho wreath of a liorcal shroud, Whcio tho elements shriek and tho ragged rocks rako In tho bend of the lowering cloud? Oh, nn army of dead swell a requiem weird In the tempests that sullenly blow O'c the hearts that arc still on tho frozen froz-en Yukon. And tho bones that are covered with snow I Is the recompenso full when exultant n nway from tho Jaws of Despair And back to tho green, smiling valleys ng.iln Ilrlng a booty nil yellow and fair? What meed from tho Joy of tho fortunate fortu-nate few Can tho soul of the universe know. Tor tho hearts that aro still on tho frozen Yukon And the bones that are covered with snowl Twero better a thousand times over to walk In tho pathway of honor and toll, Than hark to the Siren that sings In tho north. And plunge In tho feverish moll; Kor over a picture of terror must llvo In tho depths of tho gold's yellow glow Of tho hearts that aru still on tho frozen Yukon, And the bones that aro covered with snowl Oh, pastoral pence of tho patriarchs old, When th husbandman tended his sheep. Nor dreamed a wild, feverish dream of tho north Nor heard In his sleep tho scductlvo refrain re-frain As he lay In his steading nsleepl Of tho Siren that sings from the floe To the hearts that aro still on the frozen Yukon. And the bones that covered with snowl Oh, pastoral peacol when his humblo hearthstone Was enough for the son of tho soil; When contentment nnd lovo wero tha gods he revered, And his soul win tho soul of his toll. Oh, curse of the years! that Is blighting our raco With a breath of tho tempests that blow O'er the hearts that nro still on tho frozen froz-en Yukon. And the bones that aro covered with snowl Lowell Otus Reese. |