The Inspiration

Since I’m feeling particularly misanthropic today and can’t be trusted to communicate with others in a civil manner, I’m going to quote the poem that inspired “Missing Letter Mondays” instead.

This poem’s author was not credited, but it was sandwiched between a very short (section of a?) story by Victor Hugo and a poem by Lucy L. Montgomery (so perhaps she wrote this one as well?).  Found in a magazine called “School and Home” from 1898, in the collection of the museum where I volunteer.  (The explanatory information in the brackets was in the original, btw.)

A POEM WITHOUT THE LETTER “E.”

[John Knox was a clergyman in Scotland, famous in the history of the Reformation.  He lived from 1505 to 1572.]

John Knox was a man of wondrous might,
And his words ran high and shrill;
For bold and stout was his spirit bright,
And strong was his stalwart will!

Kings sought in vain his mind to chain
And that giant brain to control,
But naught on plain or stormy main
Could daunt that mighty soul.

John would sit and sigh till morning cold
Night’s shining lamps put out.
For thoughts untold on his mind laid hold,
And brought but pain and doubt.

But light at last on his soul was cast–
Away sank pain and sorrow;
His soul is gay in a fair, fair day,
And looks for a bright to-morrow.