Poems by Wm. Gill Mills written and published in The Advocate in Gilroy, CA
(Pub. 1/16/1869)
By William Gill Mills
Though storm clouds gather o’er our head
Like vengeful sprites communing,
And winds on rapid pinions spread
A death-like dirge attuning
Though chills attack the shrinking frame
That seems of life aweary,
While every scene by field and stream
Is comfortless and dreary
Yet soon the teeming clouds will burst
Their vapory-margined river,
And nalture, thus with plenty nursed,
Will smile and thank the Giver.
The piercing blasts will genial be,
Like babes at rest reclining,
As Sol peeps forth, for night nor day
Nor clouds prevent his shining.
Thus, when the path of life appears
By clouds and storms attended,
And distant scenes are viewed thro’ tears,
And human hope’s suspended;
The Hand that stills the wildest storm,
And wisely governs nature,
Will shield the humble heart from harm,
And blessings give the creature.
And though our prospects may be dark,
Our hopes afar be driven,
He that provided Noah’s ark
Still rules in earth and heaven.
He keeps the bird that wings the air –
Protects the fragile flower;
So we, the subjects of His care,
Shall realize His power.
Gilroy, January 1869
(Pub. 2/20/1869)
Life’s Enjoyment
By William Gill Mills
Our life is mixed with joy and care,
With
pleasure and with pain;
And each the mingled cup must share
That higher
powers ordain;
But we the noble gift possess –
Then use it
while we may.
To sip the cup of happiness,
And throw
the dregs away.
The well taught mind this truth discerns –
There’s good
in all we view’
And rising in the being learns
To seize the
goodness too;
The end of life ordained for man,
While loving
truth and light,
Is to enjoy the most he can,
And firmly
cling to right.
Then while we have the powers bestowed,
And scenes
to gratify,
We’ll pluck the flowers on life’s rough road,
And thorns and weeds pass by.
For evils only die or grow
As we their life impart;
So let each seek the good to know
And keep a
happy heart.
Gilroy, February 1869