The Story of Time [pp. 1]

THE STORY OF TIME
LOOKING backward,
Mlind of Man,
Lo! what marvels
Thou dost scan!
Fiery cloud-mist,
Tempest whirled,
Whence ariseth
World on world.
Then, in matter,
Force and Law,
Never resting,
Drive and draw,
And each primal
Element,
By its virtue,
Duly lent,
Stores in nature
Wealth and power
For some User's
Princely dower.
Ages passing
While on earth,
Plant and mammal
Come to birth;
Then a morning
Calm and clear,
When Man riseth
Royal here.
Other ages
Numberless,
Fraught with struggle,
Strain and stress;
Balanced chances,
Death or life,
Sweet or bitter,
Peace or strife;
Flower and thistle
In the path,
Nature's blessing,
Nature's wrath,
Ease and hardship,
Pleasure, pain,
Joy and sorrow,
Loss and gain,
Failure, triumph,
Wail and song,
And contending
Right and wrong.
By the ceaseless
Discipline,
Age of Reason
Ushered in!
Powers unfolding
Into skill, p
Insight, foresight,
Purpose, will;
Widening knowledge,
Growing thought
For the man-child
Nature-taught;
Whilst that Beauty
In his breast
Works the wonder Love of Best;
And those glories Truth and Right
Heav'n exalteth
In his sight.
Thus the present Wondrous hour!Sees him standing
Girt with power.
All these marvels,
Thou dost scan,Looking backward
Mind of Man.
Clock-case carved by M. Doyle, to represent the great periods of world development-and human time
V,