Short Stories and Poems

SHO RT STO RI ES A N D PO EMS

AMERICAN AUTHORS

CRAVEN LANGSTROTH BETTS

D WORTH A. B. WO O

. WAD E R . A. S GRACE HEWITT SHARP

D ONALD L. SUTTO N

V. I . and E. D . WRI GHT BELLE MID D LETON

C. L. KR ABER THOMAS WICKERSHAM

I . M. SOLEY

COCHR ANE PUBLISHIN G CO.

1 9 0 9 amaaf of ae maﬂ as s

Two !t o mes Recei ved JAN 2 WW

Gu m/ ri gh t t ntry g GLASS aQt AXQ Na

i h 1 08 Co pyr g t. 9 , by N P BLI SH I N CO CH R A E U G CO . C O NTENTS

D efe nce o f th e Lo ng Sau t

’ M o nday M awni n wi th Au nt Lu cy M c Cai n”:

n str h t th e n te tates o f m er a Woo dwor tk A Apo o p e o U i d S A ic .

nt u r es f th e h r stmas M acD o nald Adve o C i .

’ ’ Ch r i s m as Befo d e W ah

Th e D o nk ey and th e Wo lf

Th e Sacr iﬁce

’ M e Being G o o d Fo r e Ch r istm as

Wh en th e Cav er n G av e Up i ts D ead

Th e Ch ief o f th e Chase X r aber

Co m ing to Wat ch Taco m a Gr o w Wi cken ﬁa m

Th e Co u r t H o u s e Cat

Wh en I See Thy Child

Th e m er an M ner s i n S ber a A ic i i i .

M au d Bo nney The Sh ado w o f th e R o ck

t th e l Year Far ewell o O d . .

Wish es fo r th e Ne w Year

l Th e Lo r d s Pr ayer ”

A Nigh t i n 1 865

Old Sixm ach

Th e Old D ih ner H o r n D E EN E F TH E N A T F C O LO G S U .

BY V LAN STROTH Ban CRA EN G s .

Ne the S D tory of w France . For thirteen days ieur ollard D o nlac of , with sixteen devoted companions of the gar s M A e ri on of ontreal and ﬁve lgonquin braves , defend d th e renowned Pass against the Whole armed power o f I s= Na o u the roquoi tion, and th ugh all were event ally c slain, their defen e so disheartened the savages that they gave up all hope of driving the French 3 mm C an ada .!

TH E I roquois with wasting torch and cruel b ut chering

hand,

’ Along O ntari o s northern s ho re t hey range with none zt a h c eck, And muster bands a ro und Champ lain t o thr eat the y ou ng

Quebec .

everywhere SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

From every savage girdle hangs some pledge o f ghastly

strife, Torn reeking from the quivering ﬂesh beneath the scalping

knife .

o w wh u ~ N , o would live o t length o f days nor court a tor tu r ed death , Must hasten to the palisades by stealth with bated breath ; The r i venturous co u i er s da bo s all still and watchful go . The winter wild cats are less ﬁerce than this blo o d-fam i sh d f e o e.

The H urons from their villages like deer are hunted forth And hide within the trackless wilds that fringe the frozen North Th li i es T a m e Me c t to adousac the wseo e tidings tell , ’ Where every shrieking blast fo rebodes the Mohawk s m urder yell .

u B t to the fort at Mo ntreal have crossed the champing sea, From Mother France a chosen band of youthful chivalry ; ‘ And o -b he, the pr ud young commandant with high orn , e pe rless port,

D ld D nlac o Lo i . I s ollard, Sieur o f o o , the star f u s Court

’ i t M the o f New T s D ollard speaks o ai sonneuve , governor

France, While ﬂashes ro und the co uncil hall hi s proud and burning e glanc , a B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

H ad I o ne score o f willing hearts to hold the narrow

Saut , These prowling wolves o f I roquois would soon their mas

ters know .

wh No w, o will dare to stake his life upon a desperate chance ? ’ — ’ Who ll earn with me a deathless name who ll wi n r e nown for France ? r O will ye slink and cower still within your fortress wall , ’ While o er your desolated ﬁelds in ﬂames yo u r ’ r o o f-trees fall ?

What ! wo uld ye send the ti dmgs home that by a savage foe The royal lilies ar e besmirched and torn and trampled low ; The B N f D stock o f ayard and avarre, o Conde and unois , Quail like a pack of well-whipped hounds before these I roquois !

S - m — h peak, fellow soldiers, co rades, friends w o now will go with me To h r ? drive the painted devils hence , come deat o victory ’ I n o f K name ing and Christ s dear faith, let whoso will

advance, And to f D draw his blade strike o r fame, for ollard, and f ” or France .

An instant ’ s pause—then si xteen youths spring forth with martial glee ; ’ O u t n r To ﬂash their swords, at o ce they c y, death we ll ” fo llo w thee l 7 and lance

and fo r France

F — a t orth leap the light canoes they bre st S . Lawrence

swvi aft fand wide To where the stately Ottawa r o lls down her Wine dark

tide ,

Until they win the rugged rocks that hem the famed

. sade ; T ff here, lined along the swarthy cli s that bind the frothing

This band of New World Spartans hold ! their mew Ther

’ ” H o o n ! T s r the o u r r e , y canoes hold surely friends i y d

Right joyous ring the welcome shouts that r o und the camp

ﬁres rise .

braves

graves l tain streams for game, ' ‘ Th ‘ s a n 1t r k - t n f as s fathi r st f o r war ey c the oc s rewn , foami g p , and fame ;

the knee

a - a the o r i ﬂam e z f G o d t he Fle u r d e . Bene th m o , peerless Lis — Ar m ! arm they come ! now strike for France ! the foe

.are fai r in vi ew; Th e I o o t he roqu is , a thousand strong, sho ting rapids through ! ” Hurrah ! the muskets volley death ! a thousand y ells reply ; — — A leap a splash three ﬁrst canoes upturned go drifting by !

‘ ” Vi ve v i ve F a c addle er ve—t’h , La r n e l the p s s w e redskins leap to land ; T - ‘ heir scalp locks tossing in the wind , their tomahawks in

th ‘ Like wolves around a lone battue , to shore e O neidas

T t he Mo hey come , the bloodhounds of the Lakes , hawks

I n plumed and p ainted p anoply t he glade the wa rr ior s throng ; Each scalping- knife hangs glittering keen within its deer skin thong Besid e each q uilted q uiver r e sts an ash-b o w t i " with

horn ,

fringe is wo rn . SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS — They rush i n vain ! the dauntless band repel the ﬁerce att tack, And many an eagle plume goes do wn m dust and bloo dy

wrack, While storms from o u t the palisade to greet each fresh advance ’ The Fo r D and Frenchman s stern deﬁant cheer, ollard for France ! ”

F h ive days of stealthy, bold assault the stubborn Frenc

have sto od , ’Till all the trampled sward is now besmirched with savage blood ; No -o u t sleep by night, no peace by day, the worn band wo n have , Fo r hourly rings the p1 ercing whoop and cracks the answer m g gun .

s ! H a Five day the urons , man by man, desert the le guered walls ; T o heir haughty chief alone remains , for naught his s ul appals ; A wh t With only four lgonquin braves, o o him constant

stand, H e ﬁghts beside the roaring Saut for France and Father land !

’ Bu — n t yet , high o er the closing din the yell and crackli g

round , - h Bursts forth the war cry of the French wit hoarse, deﬁant sound ;

I O B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

é— . as th And still the Lilies ﬂaunt the sky still, e foe ad vance Th D and e muskets rattle to the cheer, For ollard for ” France !

Eight long days more ! and yet around the ﬁr e- scathed

palisade , The fﬂ r edmen ba ed , vengeful throng the encircling forest shade ; Eight hundred more o f I roquois adown the R ichelieu sweep ; No w n — , gallants , look your last o earth now must your loved ones weep !

Pile high the blazing birch canoes against the timbers brown M o ne I ake more rush , you roquois , for half your foes are down !

While sore with wounds and spent with toil, and dazed

for want of sleep , H o w Worn the few survivors now who still the barriers keep !

h B M h O , lessed ary ! but ho w weak has grown t eir stal

wart cheer , As ro und that slope o f blazing logs the boldest foes draw near ; Bu t far above the strife o f death the banner streams o n

high , And w w o u I m hile it aves, y roquois , some French an lives to di e !

I t their way,

‘ ' T s n t S fh and fu l et l u nte f sta s here ta d hat tubborn y , ike h d g , at bay ; O ne — No u vell ! cheer, my lads La e France one cheer for Ville Marie !

” T l e e u s hen die ike Fr nchman to the last, for di yo mu t ” with me !

grenade

sade ! Ah ! ! , God it scatters ruin and death midst blinding ﬂash

. a and ro r , Fast through the charred and gaping wall the f uri o us red

skins pour .

’ l sto st o u e erat ffew t o d rs r est . lar e Stand utly ill , y d sp e , G is g for all

Lilies fall !

Spent, wounded, hopeless , overborne, front still the s warthy ring Where thirsty kni ves and tomahawks a t hou s and foemen

. swing !

to back,

t o ! crack ; ’ Still o er the black and blinding smoke the pale blue Lilies

D o ll While fainter , hoarser gro ws the cheer, For ard and

‘ ’ ill ' ' wn f s lum d And st the tufted braves go do , as all the p e

maize , ' ‘ ’ ‘ Eeneath the sturdy peas ant s scythe across the furr o wed ways ; ’ T ill maddened at their frightful loss, the whooping, cr o wdi ng' fo e O ne close and deadly volley pour and lay the Frenchmen

’ i — — - We o ne st ands yet the sword hilt dr opped fro m out his nerveless hand

” “ ‘ Fi s D l o f - d and ol ard , the snow white plume, bol brow

lightning brand . H e th - ff leans against e banner sta , he lifts a last fond glance T - D hen falls with one death throttled shout, For ollard and for France !”

’ And o er o f that smoking holocaust , the peace God comes down ; — Bu t why is raised no victor shout why spreads that sullen frown ? ! o u Lo heaped within y blackened pyre , and strewed the

sanguine plain, The whole Si x Nations view dismayed their best and brav est slain ! t s SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

h o f M t me o w s o f This nig t , ye nuns on real, resu y ur ay

a ’ And oﬁii zwatcher s no w r e y y at Quebec, take from fear l tls

’ Fo r ne zi' i ias s ampler, pro uder deed, since Clovi lifted at c

' Than thatsvhi ch hath been wr o u ght to -day by these few sons o f France !

An m o u I and o d pause in ti e, y roquois, c unt yo ur hundreds

slain , ’ Er e you in clo sing strife wo uld cross the Frenchmen s path again ; H o w m o f w h any , think ye , your braves, ill unt the ﬁelds

of blue, I f every soldier o f France dies like these twenty two ?

1 4 BY AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

’ I TH A NT Y MOND AY MAWNI N W U LUC .

By BELLE TRAVERS MCCAHAN .

AU NT LU CY rubbed the suds o ff her black arms and carefully deposited the wet sheet , twisted into a great

coil until it looked like a veritable cobra , into the nearby clothes basket, before she deigned to answer my ques tion . A Mo n unt Lucy was my laundress , and arrived every day morning i n a co mbined state of dignity and depr es “ ’ sion, until she partook of a second breakfast and jes a ’ ’ ’ ” a 0 f nu li l dr p co fee , please, mam , when she usually

bent and became talkative . Bu t h this morning the omelet and biscuits , together wit “ ’ 0 ff I the drap co ee, had failed , and knew from the way in which Aunt Lucy critically eyed a wet piece o f linen before applying the soap that something of u nusual to importance had occurred disturb her . “ ’ ” D i s ﬂo w r s A d no time to put out , unt Lucy respon ed “ ’ D i s in reply to my appeal for her help . de da k ob de

moon . “ ” I Well, what has that to do with it ? returned, insist

ently . “ ’ ’ D i s n u ns de time to plant taters and o y an sich , when ’ ’ ’ ’ o y wants things to b ar fruit under de groun , yo plants ’ ’ ’ in de da k ob de moon, an when you wants fruit above ’ ’ ” groun yo plants in de light u v de moon. I S u A L c . B t these geraniums are already started , unt u y I o u I to bought them potted , y see and want transplant D o n : them along the driveway . t you think a row of scar

l. let geraniums along each si de o f the , dr iveway wil lo o k pretty ?” “ ’ ’ ’ ’ Yas m ﬂo w r s do no , dey luk all right , but yo don ’ ’ M M to o good iss iriam , cause deys many trees round dis ”

D u . e v . place . roots de trees taks de suction from dem “ ” D o they ? ’

Yas r o her u i . m . Aunt Lucy retu ned t r bbing w th i h I o c el n n ncreased vigor , w ile cupied mys f by bri gi g

- - more of the fragrant leafed ger aniu ms from the, veranda. t to the back yard, and with a trowel loosened the ear h

from the po ts . “ ’ ’ ’ ” M B bo r r d u e o m m e an iss oyah r a b ck t o c al fru , beg Au nt i n i t i l n r nd Lucy, rec at ve, without pre imi a ies , a I “

. I w ho u s a knew , as . dropped do n upon the wash se step nd I e d the s er prepared to listen, that had arr iv at rea on of h

’ ’ ’ ‘ L — An I u v er c m , co al di s wu s k i n de! g ni e lu p bac .

’ ’ in and. den sh e so nt hu r ga l. o ve r wi f jes de scr api n s use ’ ’ ’ er u a an e to . h d coal , all full of grass an d rt , I o v r u r ba e ? ’ ‘ ’ do an I M B h l a e lat ~ say, iss oya , what y al tre t m ( a way ’ ’ ’ ? ? ’ i a ? Didn t I gu v yo nice lumps an yo sends me jes (leg ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ — " sco u r i n s u v yo coal ? An Miss Bo yah s gal a standi u ’ ’ ‘ ’ ’

. - dar . she, u sa W o a o mi a ; heah an p an y , hat , y e o vah ’ ’ ’ ’ ” a- a- fo o l r ? talkin to my maw dat way , yo , black nigge A n a o s u r me u t Lucy m de an omin u pa se and then esu d , ’ ‘ ‘ ’ t o D en u er as wi h s me heat, I t ck (i 0 a I say , Y mt ’ ’ ’ ’ Lsc I s u v i sc h n; black , an proud v t ; my blo od pua , whe

r é

’ ’ ’ ’ D i d . ﬂo w r s o u t mawni n ya ll want yo dis , honey ? ’ S I wr ench 'des oon as gits de boil on an e hur in de tub, ' I helps

- The telli ngs o f the s tory had served to open the throttle ’ - to Aunt Lucy s t rouble and her vex ati o u had , evidently I escaped with the steam from her washtub . sat idly in “ the sun whi le ’ Au nt Lucy ﬁnished her process of wrench ”

A i t . ing, which , as unt Lucy did , proved a more appro r i at e r i nsi n I p term than g, and listened in amusement

i u su al e e x ee wh le she apostrophized the cat , takingher p

tions to his sleek, fat and lazy appearance . “ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ i 1 Yo bli nki n o . s o needn t be layin dar y eye at me , y ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ Yo s i luks lak ha f dorg an ha f cat . so b g an lazy, ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ~ why don . yo wu k fo yo li vi n s am e as I duz ? D o n ’ ’ ’ ‘ sharpen yo claus on my clo s basket . Go git yo a log cf ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ Yo o yo wants to sharpen yo clau s . rolls y eyes jes lak ’ ’ ’ ’ o l Jer r y ' Po tah when he t r yi n to mek er bo dy thi nk he ’ ’ ’ - su m m ah all mighty good . Jes lak he done las , when he ’ ’

es . ﬁne cows got in my co n , j as hit wus in de milk all , ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ u I m aw ni n an et mos ha f v it . cotch em in de an ’ ’ ’ f 0 1 - he done sont o de marshal , an Jerry cums down ’ ’ ’ ’ dar fo no o n e o li te way in de er rollin he yes mighty p y, ’ ’ ’ ’ o r r an t ek an he low he mighty s y, , he jes he cows away ’ ’ ’ ‘ ’ ~ I o h . f dey odder me eny mo jes say hol on , dar , ’ Y ’m ! . as please , suh , mister , dese cows is under arrest ’ ’ ’ 1 e o w r fu l b u t 0 Jerry say, h sho p sorry, hit in de ’ ’ ’ u co w natcher v de to lak co n, an he sorry to ﬁn my ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ 0 1 o ho w fence so hit w n t tu n em , an he he s haid an ’ ’ ’ “ roll he s eyes an luk lak he all dey is in de .wurl . Well, ’ ‘ ’ ’ I s i n r de u v o l o o man m ~ suh , s e , hit natcher lak e to ’

. l i s gwine to keep d es e cows twe l I . g t ’ ’ ’ nu f mi lk t pay me fo dat I tells hi m a i he

1 8 ’ ’ ’ ~ i ! -v r = s h An he ain t daah do h t . No rim e wa o nes ’ ’ ’ : h an las w i ntah he got up i n de c u ’eh e n ; say he get a call ’ ’ ’ f ’ - ~ e n na r a et é . chu ch . to preach , dec ll a t f me i n o é t

’ ’ ’ " ’ r - - — . se e w e f h e n f a o t ; a r e L an Si st r 1 , , sho u g , call f m de awd , ’ ’ ~ ’ = ~ a de o nee t w w e u e ti n Po t h say dat y n d g an id d r e , !cause ’ ’ ’ she ~ sho e d b e ed et ah d L l no _ b d a : t ‘ t c aw eg t k w an o “ ll

‘ ’ ’ ’ r i s r Po h f s a d t i er do no w e u r d k r y. S t ta y y a n gg g n k p n w frum anno der when hi t cu m to

’ ’ ’ ’ ' s s o n x e a u tt r o n x a ay he d m k 1 p r u , ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ 4 dab -s he su o t u r o h , li l , pp _ chil an ain t n way ’ ’ - » - f i i t su h f he r a h r . , \v ne o o t m . e wi b e a c e , An ; . e g pp g ne , p

’ ’ ’ ’ ‘ - ~ - v mo n at Si st r s ell e 1 ni ter = t d a d , Po tah Je t gd n i s right fQl

- ei he z u v (d e a er s o r eac s he l dat r g Jerry p p z t p h gwine eave ’ J erry an she z gwi ne D e apr eacher h e

‘ ’ ’ - ax ; s a b m twell hei tek hit u di ss er a us all to ing y , nder id ’ i :an es e he v -s o d t h 8 l l n s t s u ut a “ g i 6 n9 da t on , pr ntly g p 1 p i de ’ ‘ ’ ' L nu a a B e Po ft ah . C l zkne tw hi t wu sn t awd v r c ll r r o se ‘

’ ’ - - e » I o n c ’f m de , d vil , cause gd otch e myself . “ - r wi th t he A c Caught him e devil , unt Lu y ‘ ’ ’ i m l d d S a e e u sda . i . sY s a a an . a ; H. : d c l Ch e y e t zd . y n ght

— W o u I h . ere y t er e , Au nt . Lucy questio ned ' ’ ’ ’ N M i st’r i m . n S a n ! , , a f c or dar e a _ Po t h o m

’ ’ ’

- ~ ar a si ti n es bu llfr ~ wi h da , r , :an d Jerry t j lak ;a gre at og, t ’ ’ - — i — ~ h a ~ t hi n em H e a wa c . e eyes standin out frum f _ ’ ’ sh Me f di v — no o o u f o st no o he s at B t . h w u t ~ be a , abtis

“ I Q SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

’ ’ ’ f ’ Yas ma m I i s I se o ne to o I tend , , , an a strict , ; s t ’ ” m wn b i n ss—I se o s e . y ready, honey Aunt Lucy signified her readiness by drying her hands o n flo er ts her apron and filling her arms with the w po .

“ ‘ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ I wants t git thr o o in time to go t po 0 1 Mist a ’ ’ ’ u nki ns H i st da m awni n I J s funeral . e died y y . wus ’ ’ ’ dar an stop de clock myself at jes ﬁve minutes pas ten . ’ ’ ’ ’ a an de corpse is to be burried dis f noon at two o clock. ’ ’ ’ ’ D e gran chi1 n tekin hit mighty hard an Miss John ’ Junkins say she powerful fraid in spite o f all she ki n do ’ ’ ’ ’ dat hur ol st dau tah gwine faint plumb way, she tekin ’ ’ i s I w u ld o n . S t r so Junkins say she wush cum early, ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ cause she kno w d I d had sper i ence an hit co m fo r ti n to ’ ’ ’ ’ have frien s u v de fambly he p hol em if dey loose dey ‘ ’ I Si st r selfs in dey grief . say , Junkins , we all lak de ’ ’ ’ ’ u v ﬁel - t - grass de , dat to day is an morro is cas in ’ ’ B u nki ns s inter de oven . rer J a good man an de Lawd ’ i ’ ’ " cer n D . t y pass him fru de oven lak aniel Law me, ’ ’ M M I 0 1 twell iss iriam , faint when dey hurry my man ’ ’ ’ ev bawd I nu ver I twell y think will come to, an holler ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ m voice j es play clean out on me an dey haf to cary I ’ ’ ” me back to de kerridge . sho did mo rn . Aunt Lucy heaved a sigh of contentm ent in the knowl edge o f thus having properly acquitted herself on that “ ’ ’ O Yas m I di d august ccasion , and repeated , , sho ’ mo rn , as she patted the earth around the transplanted r eco llec geranium and sighed again , in the satisfactory tion of having left nothing undone which could discredit her in the eyes of the onlookers .

“ ’ ” ’ ’ ’ ’ An I mo r ni n fo I still wears yit him ; dat is , ain t ’ ’ ’ ' fo ev yday but I does on Sundays an funerals an sich . ’ ’ ’ ’ I reckon I o ught t be thankful do dat I ain t de t r o u b l

2 0 B Y AMERI CAN ~ A UTH ORS

’ ’ ’ T h dat po Sist homas has . Pears lak she uver will git ' ’ ’ ’ ’ m r ni n “ o u t n o . Firs hur ant died , an she put o n ’ ’ ' ’ ’ ' ’ ’ m r ni n fo o ff f o a yur hur, an she had n mo an tuck hit o ’ am T i u S homas bisse p and died , den she put hit on heavy ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ fo anno der si s r y ur , an jes las Fall , hur t s husband ’ ’ ’ ’ died an now she got hit on . ag in an hur veil de longes ’ n She t u r r i l r dis time she ver has had . tek on b e at e ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ si st r s we- fo husband s funeral , an all feel so sorry po ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ Mi s T r u l homas , cause pears lak she hav mo t bb e dan ’ “ ’ ’ sh he e can stan . S say pears lak Jim s death de las ’ ’ straw seem lak she couldn t guv him up no way . “ ' ” e Give up her sist r s husband ? I questioned . ’ ’ ’ s m b u v Ya ; she s ho did think a eep Jim . Whar dat ’ ’ ’ thing yo di ggi n wi f honey ? Law me ! My back no good ’ ’ ’ I c ’ no mo ; hit ust t be honey . ould wu k all day in de ’ ’ ’ cotton down in Tennessee an I w u ldn t be tired lak I is ’ ’ ’ ’ I n I i hi o e . s tw t n now, when does jes washin got a c ’ ’ ’ ’ fr o I u v u t dat goes all o me an don res good nights . B ’ ’ ’ o co se I still keeps to o dli n “ ” H o w A ? old are you , unt Lucy I ’ l’ N w ’ I s o . o Lawd , honey, dunno ; yo mek dat hon ’ ’ ’ ’ cr y Jo watah dese ﬂo w r s ; he m o s too lazy to draw bref ’ ’ ek twi s I s M him do it , my back got a in hit ; too “ ’ Y u A o don t look old, unt Lucy ; you look as fresh as a

’ ’ ’ Laws B H y , honey, dat whut rer en sen don tol me ’ ” las Sunday. “ U H No w, Aunt Lucy , are you and ncle enderson ' ’ ’ ’ I u ldn s Shoo honey, w t ma ry him if he de onlie t man in de “ H A Why, Uncle enderson has steady work at the llen A d place, unt Lucy, and when he is dressed up and carrie

2 1 s e l rarely en e qua led . “ ‘ ' i f Y s I a n B ! i s x l f a m o ws r r s h m n. , k e a tyl a “ " w n ‘ i an c h e d to he The really; he s aristo rat, belonge t

And just think what an 1mpr ess i ve occa sion t he Wed ! »

-v 1u u ou and U H end ers en a s athe co n d g wo ld be , with y ncle

' ’ fu n h n I kno ws zi I f nv -I , o ey, yo er ’ ’ ’ ” ’f ’ ” J ~ w u ld ma r y o agi n, d ey s n tWO thi ngs » I v sho w u Id have: A m e d o‘lo lo t h u unt Lucy re ain s ng st in o ght , with trowel

‘ “ - s i s m e e ss r r t su pended , that r wa e a y fo ma to recall h er by r “ wo rd o f inqui y . “ ” What ~ « ar ef e u n L ? th y, A t ucy ’ ’ f i i B r H en s en s s r a r s v ar e o l f u ?! l co t re p sh power l , an he

’ ‘ ’ scripture as . fas » as d e preacher hi sse f

~ n f . Aunt Lucy, was pu rsui g her line o thought aloud “ What are the two things you wo u ld have pr o vi dinga yo u ” A c ? I ever marry again, unt Lu y repeated . Aunt Lu cy lowered the trowel and made a fresh o n » s lau ht o wi g int the rich black earth as she replied, th d so lemnit a nd i n marke y a low , conﬁdential tone : n “ ' ’ ’ z ’ ’ M s Mi I s . lee ed h v v r v l is r am , b g t a a pu ple par so an a ’ W ” puah gol atch .

2 2 “ AN APO STRO PH E TO TH E UNI TED

' B:Wo o nwo ar H .

‘ ‘ EX ALTED Nation' ! at ’ thy feet

We place a tribute , fervid , meet . F o u r oundations deep fathers laid, With help from God thy structure made ; Thy States secure ; may they be found T U . ill time shall end , in nion bound

Let those who rule thy fame defend ; The righteous cause with zeal befriend ; T hen strive in light, mankind to lead ; A - world wide peace devoutly speed , T ’ hat battle s din may cease to sound, And all the fruits of peace abound .

Between each race let reign good will Each mind with useful knowledge ﬁll ; To worthy souls from other lands E xtend thy strong, thy welcome hands . ’ O er land and sea thy ﬂag shall wave , ’ The type o f all that s just and brave ! 2 3 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

Great Nation ! May thy people all F o rever heed thy trumpet call , Fo r o f o f men faith , with strength steel , To serve i n truth the public weal ; h R W o , acting ight , disdaining Wrong, ’ l o Shal virtue s wins me path prolong.

Ma y thy fond children know thee well, O f thy rich bounties truly tell ;

With loyal love , with glad acclaim , Sound far and wide thy wondrous name ! May thy true gr andeur never fail ! E ! xalted Nation, thee we hail

SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

ho t u r su it pushing crowds seeing nothing ahead , ever in p f n o the golde ﬂeece , seekers , wanderers , embarked on a toilsome voyage pass before my eyes as in life ; and my

- a wings c rry me swiftly where dwellers of modest , quiet ron u a d places wend their way ; to where great th gs nn me , ar e r so thickly do they swarm , clamoring for bare life , asti

. a at the slightest breath of Fate F miliar , wornout pictures these , in every city ; but my wings convey me into scenes

unfamiliar, too , and my eyes see things unportrayed in song or story—yet ordi nary ‘ woes hold me; z — " I v 1 ew the desolation of a mother her dead babe still h er a folded to her breast , dumbly, reiterating, v in prayer , ' T s her unutterable heart anguish . his little child, a pure

- - and dear as the little one in the silk lined basket shed, h rocked in the home of luxury, is so precious t at no pov er t i ts ha y can dim beauty , though its little form s never

‘ o known the touch f silk and lace or delicate, fondling ' I t h ‘ i n hands . While clasp e t y pallid ﬁgure to my breast; the tearless sobs of the mother sound in the barren room and shatter every barr1 er between class and kind, leavm g human anguish bare - faced with itself—shorn of all cloaks n h no of convention , distinctio , civilization . O , it is t fair i t nu was all she had , this little factory mother, whose a - s f thomable grief is in other hearts to night , as de olate h r u as hers ; in tender hearts that sig against st onger, helpf l a h ones , in he rts that have ached before, that t rob u nder Bu the shabby jacket and the lace corsage alike . t s he is — alone and the awful woe of being alone ; only a very

‘ small part o f a great m achi ne who se life must - feed on

smaller ones . ” th Can we , any of us , comprehend e aching dread t hat

h . e . is xperienced by t em at times, dread o f cold destitu tio n,

2 6 B Y‘ AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

‘ f r f r i n e the s i n the fr antic eage ness o the fa t st light, ga p g, li fti n o f the t relief with the slightest g burden , the poignan - last ~ ﬂo w agony of the grief that sucks the of life blood , the last cruel cut of a i m er ci less fate ? I t is but a feeble war v at best against the relentless force that crushes them from life . — h i s . not fair, this torturing grief and the bare little a nd the shelves yonder , cheerless hearth , while thousands of the golden discs are f alling from only idle hand s a t this

“ very hour ; they laugh who can ﬁnd no real joy of life , so exaggerated and fals e are the pr oducers of thi s m o cki ng

- Bu t ~ n joy. they weep who can shed real tears to ight yet it is not o f reﬁned anguish or gnawing remorse m a

scho led h e r t I . o a speak , but of another kind — None of this poor wr etchedne ss affects her she wants only the little one that is dead ; and pictures ambr o typed ’ upon her memory , of its pale infancy , every fresh day s s new revelation, familiar vision stunning in their reality of its loved face arise at r ever y moment in her tortured H er brain . future hope is vanished , an ephemeral joy . this one enveloping, ennobling love severed from her life a ll No t —flesh like else is withheld . even this tiny morsel o f - o i her flesh , heart her heart , is left her after all the — t pain, the sacrifice , the sorrow that o o gone . Great compassion is in my heart and (being an angel!

— * this sentiment takes shape the li ttle 1imbs move in my t i n r o s e- embrace , the y leaf hands unfold , the eyelids lift and pretty eyes are disclosed and a sigh escapes the once l ! a e . h se d lips beneath my kiss O , joy again unbound

" Yo smi l r i n - ung mother e your work laden hours , laugh

- ~ « e ‘ r t ha e l th l . t h i s t he li fe a mpty she ves, e co d gr a e for ere

“ 2 7 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

h Th s you loved restored , a ideous dream dispelled. i I were an angel with swift wings and sword of ﬁre .

at a a: i t at: a: 11: a: a: t

An ai i gel of the heroic type would forego a continental trip both for education and pleasure to follow out a do ubt ff to ful obligation to a stu y, unprogressive organization ; stay indoors and make little shirts , or distribute pamphlets ; in a silent immolation of everything fortunate and advan tageo u s ; and she would deny with a painful smile a “ ” peach -pink silk gown (like Rose in Eight Cousins did! Bu t because everybody in the world can not have one . ma not to incriminate the heroic angel , someone else y ’ and th er o i c give her the peach silk in charity s name , e h angel can feverishly continue molding little shirts and never can be blamed for wearing the silk gown—unless

she look too well in it . When there is more than enough joy and fortune in ’ one s o wn life let it spread into others that they may ex b and pand and be etter , more helpful happy , rather than

gather their gloom unto us , to dampen , and darken and o u r vitiate lives , too . Why, if the sun cannot penetrate the cellar ’ s remote recesses must we exclude the light from ? all the rooms and make them gray and cold , too God painted the heavens blue and the morning and ’ i evening skies he clothed n celestial colors . Why are the ﬂowers so different in shape and color and texture ? So — perfect , so vivid , so full of splendor , all of nature the e blue violets , the pink roses , the golden , red and purpl ? Y s blooms we love ellow birds like sunshine , blue one hu e like the sky , green like the dense shrubbery and every — o f nature then when H e has set H i s bow in the heavens and ﬁlled the wo rld with sunshine and j oyous things fo r

2 8 BY AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

i H i s t H s beloved , why must they, loved ones , seek he s ordid , the dark ways of earth , the sombre colors, even ? to tint their lives with gray Freedom , gladness and light ,

first of all , are his gifts to us every one , spoken in every sweet breath of heaven, in every bird note, in every wild call , in the voices of sea and forest , in every gorgeous bursting of a flower into life and beauty, in every baby laugh . God did not make all the birds gray and the flowers H e brown like earth that bore them . did not veil the sun , H o r . e H e dull the stars gave color to eyes and hair , ’ tinted with sunrise youth s fair form , not to hide in ’ gloom , but to radiate the soul s sunlight and create all about us , color, life , tone and joy .

11: a: 11: 11: a: an s 1 1 xur I n the gray streets under the soft ﬂurry of snow in

‘ whose white density every ﬁgure is shadowy , misshapen,

I follow in the hurrying stream two jovial friends . H f ours ago they left the o ﬁce rooms , with their big desks , o b okshelves , revolving chairs ; the telephones and electric bells and lights , the busy noises , the drone of business ; the click of typewriters and the frequent swish of the fair pompadours who operate them ; the acrid breath of dead — n o ff cigars left it all , this daily scene , at dusk switchi g n the lights and noiselessly sinki g to the lowest plane , to the free air , the night throbbing with its possibilities , to breathe life again. And they swing into man-haunted places reeking with ’ smoke , humming with men s laughter and jests ; meeting acquaintances , forming new plans , making trivial engage — ments , and observations all with the enviable freedom of to men pass where they choose, discover all things , see " w o f w r d or nt a el the heels the o l w king ponderously , i ric t y , — s eak u as the ' wi ll mo l nu u e think and p y , move un ested , q s — ti o ned u e ai r a o f , anywhere and still to be d mb b fore a p ’ - ans - \ aekno w1ed e o ftti rne s wom eyes , to g reverently their n o ly sordid wisdom , to be confounded by the mysticism ,

t he . r delicacy of her being, to ﬁnd in the ve y heart of their clanging commercial interests no pr o blem half so bafﬂi ng

as her many sided mind . And - w i t s o f to night ith millions blinking lights , its - lu r i ~ i I f fl t n vo ce s u tt er t . housands of g , away with hem ‘ — e f d n o ff Ladi s like a i g dreams smile ver, their big mu s into ’ h c tw as t e o bachelors eyes and p s into the mists . T ’ I wit hrough places filled with girls of every type ,_ h the bachelors , note every shade of weariness , disappoint ment and even exhilaration on the myriad pretty faces everywhere t hat women are e mployed where their hour s e x h li d i ht s The are tended on o ay z n g . two jovial f riends s - at la t go home to their quar ters . Cosy chairs before a wide fireplace filling one end o f the room invite to s nooz I n - o i ing comfort . its brick w rk b g Satsuma vases stand

~ u f with pipes and guns . Pretty faces peep o t o gilded

frames fro m . every nook ; thick ru gs stretch on the ﬂoo r

» - bi . awcd a r me and g p shaggy dogs p d ecstatically afte the n.

nd . i h h i s A a , a o t pi no couch w t pill ws ﬁll one side , and er e

l d e . h « -i n a tab e un r w ose now lighted electric lamp , books

u i n ar I t . e co nf s o e scattered . is a home they two hav made o f n and prided in, undesecrated by the presence « a y

woman . ‘ hi s at lo v es a d Paul , laying; aside coat , h , g n cane , draws wn the wi de ‘ fr o nt s u t e ti r s f do curtains , hutting o th e p

i w spar kli ng light s . and hushing the deathless m u r m u r o f the h t s r . e w e o midnigh t eets Cold, cru l skies ith t ir diam nd 3 0 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

J -clu stet s piercing a nd white look down ; not the lo ve ’ br eedin ni ght with its pale stars unblinking v i gi l and the g — amorous moon and wooing breeze but bitter , hard . Jean

‘ lifts and replenishes the ﬁre on the irons and then at the

« So l he p i ano ftly strums a tune , and Pau with his hands hind hi m stands with his back to the roaring ﬂames and i n . sings :a caressing baritone “ I Jean , turning at the piano , as though ” Bu someo ne else were in the room with us. t Paul who

’

no o f . sees thing, course , says no , and Jean plays on se k e Pre ntly both men recline in easy chairs to smo ,

n laz i l ‘ o f f o f ff r talki g y the af airs the day, the di e ent issues

f h - s o t eir lives , their interest in general , though neither o ne ea sp ks of his soul interests , if indeed suspecting each

O o f ' them co n ther ; and , in their bachelor complacency , hard fate and the minute income from their Yet vocations , like all reaching out for more . - e essing rooms beyond , ach possesses an array of

s and . suit linen ﬁt for a millionaire , and neither refuses the other o r himself a princely spread or any extravagant l T p eas ure. hey cannot ﬁnd the outlet for so much that vanishes like dream gold before they have clutched it ; they cannot exist like men in any other circumstances ’ ~ a be u n they h ve not g to climb Fortune s stair , the wheel

r — o fs achi évem ent has not started to revolve for them but sitting“ her e and thinking of it all is much more pleasant r a and g tifying than the climbing and pushing would be . " — — The thought of marrying i i they even wanted to is a e ‘ Y . e ! a B moot d question Gods be reason ble . eggars mar

. - . r yi ng? . Attributing this w orthy self denial to the heroic idea o f Waiting until they are -able to sustain wives proper l h e the r vi le e y, t eyres rve p i ge to save nothing that can b 3 1 SH ORT STORI ES AND POEMS

s Bu t n S m t o h d pent . to ight omething see s stir the ar shelled consciences of both ; each in glancing at the two l i n most familiar faces in litt e gilt frames , very casually B B — t e deed , murmurs something about etty and elle but gret is not strong enough to be active , or to very deeply m f - o n i press the crust o self love both hearts . Then I (being an angel ! stand on the hearthrug be fir eli ht fore them ; they see the g dimly as they reflect , for I stand between it and them , a nebulous barrier and say inaudibly , that they may feel without either knowing what the other has heard “ ’ So you re sorry , old fellows , in your snug bachelorhood ’ for the way you ve treated Betty and Belle ? To - day in o I h my airy flight am ng the unfortunate saw bot , and o o guess where they are , if y u can think of them l ng —I enough observe , you gaze intently upon their pictured faces—how much better to have the real ones near your n I i o w ; their eyes smiling up into your eyes . am a wra th — A ” the Christmas ngel knows your inmost hearts .

Paul and Jean are deeply stirred , both intent upon the ﬁre through my ethereal being which they believe to be the fragrant cigar smoke pu ﬂi ng from their half- smiling lips into blue wreaths and spires and cloudy pictures . “ e B . etty looked very tir d and rather friendless , Jean She was standing behind a counter in a great big store where they do not treat girls very beautifully . Von Vul ture regards all of humanity that comes in his way but Y little machines to com his gold . our Betty is one o f them—the Betty of the old days with the smiling eyes and She shining hair . sighed so often , too , for she makes a I B fo r good many mistakes am afraid . eside, she cared ’ And Y u . you . o did not treat her fairly at all it s a new 32

SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

’ and h o who r ? I t s a plenty, which t ey have l st, will resto e co ld Christmas eve and you are cosily smoking expensive o B B cigars, and po r etty and elle are alone in their little six

‘ h r i n h To - by eig t ty g to be appy . morrow morning will s co me perfumed no tes and invitations from dainty ladie , and remembrances from them and acknowledgements fo r — ” yo urs and Betty and Belle ? I I d Being a shade was not yet breathless , but divine o ne le Jean and Paul growing restive . Paul draped long g o n over the other and pulled stronger his cigar . “ ’ I o f B to - ht wonder what s set me thinking elle nig , he said , and Jean turning said “ By Jove ! I happened to be thinking o f Betty at this m ” oment . ’ h n d h B . Me e s o th laug ed uneasily on t beli ve in g o ts , “T h tm m though . hey say that about C ris as ti e began

Paul tentatively. “ I tho u ght there was something o r so mebo dy i n the ”

lo w . ro o m , said Jean in a voice “ ’ ’ ” h I m s h d o . O , it s not ing, sure, ai Paul , c nvincingly Th two h en each persuaded the other that the girls , eac m h had k ti e t ey seen them , looked very businessli e and spruce ; had never voiced a complaint o r a wish ; seemed a o f h little tired , course, but t en “ ’ D o t o ld ? i t esn . Jerry act queer, Paul Wagg ng his ail ” at the ﬁre ! Th had no f i h m ey little ways , doubt o amus ng t e selves that men knew nothing about ; girls could have splendid o n so m i t fo r a times uch less than takes a ma—n ; why, girl can have the time o f her life o n a dollar j ust o ne s k m d o u - f m T o to a ilver buc , in y lots o the do . hey g ma i n e t e ; 34 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

’ o n the ? H e s What the deuce does he see wall, Jean ” been doing that the whole time .

A wondering silence of a moment . ff e And they can have candy . two or three di er nt kinds, and ice cream and a long street car ride and maybe a — N lunch all in one free afternoon . ow a man could never The di s sati s do that . girls surely never displayed any faction—i n short they were to be admired for their inde pendence of spirit . “ H a . e . S y , put him out , Jean makes me nervous — ” E i o n. H e s uncanny here Jerry, come xit the beautiful collie with the tender eyes , who loved the stroke o f my ghostly hand . I t - was noble of them to strike out for themselves , and very likely they enjoyed it and could earn their o wn liv ing as well as any man could for them . At least Jean and Paul contented themselves in saying Bu t u o o f so . something kept t gging at the closed d ors A h their better hearts . meditative silence fell ﬁlled wit pale blue smoke . “I m ’ ?” say , Paul , to orrow is Christmas , isn t it I Wh ?” was thinking the same thing, old man . y H o w - — B about the girls to morrow you know . etty and Belle”—for bachelors in speaking of the great sister “ ” hood the girls at times to be understood must specify. “I was just wondering , Jean, maybe we could ﬁx it to B I ’ll ” . ! night y Jove , try And striding to the telephone he turned his square shoulders to Jean and waited . “ ’ ’ I f o ld they re in the same little place it s all right , fel f low . What a note o expectancy vibrated in his deep to nes . 3S SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

’ After a few minutes anx 1o u s waiting a dialogu e en sued and both young men were talking through the tele phone at the same time to two young ladies inconsiderately roused from their ﬁrst sleep and both trying to listen and talk at once . At f length when it was all arranged, a number o sur prising pleasures and the receiver hung up o n the last “ “ - I prolonged Good night , Paul said . feel pretty guilty,

Jean . What a little thing pleases a girl And standing in one o f the wide windows he raised the curtain and looked up at the stars ; while o u t in the city f faintly came the early chimes o Christmas day. H e rattled the few lonesome coins in his po ckets r e ﬂecti vel : y, saying “ ’ Well , the confectioner s will be open anyhow , and after to- morrow T hey made many worthy resolutions together, yawning I and rubbing their heads , and seeing my mission ended ,

floated lightly out of the window , and swiftly en route to o f B my own fireside , brushed past the lofty apartment etty B n and elle , where they were u earthing from their trunks long unused gala garments and talking in subdued happy tones together. I flapped my wings benevolently against the pane and

ﬂew away, for T e u n hough the world is m rry and ro d and wide, I wn am glad to be home at my o ﬁreside .

i 36 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

’ E ’ D E AH CH R I S MAS B FO W .

H By GRACE EWITT SHARP.

’ ’ ’ M SS A GI N N Y hr i s m as I V , C times ain t like dey used ” to be . “ U ? Why, ncle ' ’ Cause people don t see no good time, like dey used

H Uncle was an old negro man . e was warming his n D e ha ds over the kitchen ﬁre , after having shovelled a m e H e ce b r snow o ff the walks . had been a faithful friend and servant in this Missouri home for eighteen The years . girl , Virginia , was preparing raisins and citron for a plum pudding. Christmas was in the air “ ” and Uncle was reminiscent . “ ’ Yes su m I . tells de young folks dat dey don t see no ’ ’ m e s lav r good ti s , like we did in y time . We begun savin ’ ’ ’ Chr i s m as foh in de fall , an if we didn t hab enough money , our white folks holp us out . “ ’ U n Mr ? ncle , you belo ged to . John Glover , didn t you ’ No m ! Cm m el lo v eh H e twas John G . went by de ” ’ Cu nnel M name ob , cause he was Gunnel in de exican ’ ’ ’ I s heer d u nnel B fatheh s Wah . e C radshaw (dat s my ’ ’ Cu nnel lo veh mastah! and G (dat s my mastah ! , sit an ’ ’ ’ D e talk bout de wah times . y tole a story ; twas bout 37 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

A ’ B ’ ’ an merican an a ritish wus ridin , an dey met a ’ ni a D e ni a gg in he road . gg , he raised he hat an de A ’ merican he raised he hat an bid him de time ob de day . ‘ ’ D e B D ni a ? D e A ritish says , oes yo speak to a gg meri ‘I ’ can says , ain t gwine to let no man be better raised I I f I ’ ’ ’ t . a dan is he is , won t low him to show hit . D ” s wus George Wa hington dey said said dat . U o ncle , smiling and thinking, sto d with his hat in both

. S hands, looking over the stove , but seeing nothing oon m he began, in his quiet, slow onotone , as if his thoughts were unconsciously vocalized : “ ’ ‘ ’ ’ O le mastah died d r ectly after No -Nothin Time ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ” s ects heah No -N T don t p you se durin othin imes , he t h said , glancing mischievously at e girl . “ ‘ ’ l ni nl - e O e mastah wus an a strong No Nothin . H gib chi ll n de at i o ns e his u all good e c . D y all had business ’ ’ m H ’ . e hades an min s . Jim wus y age wus de leadin ’ ’ r o h hs D - f e t e . e m one . We wus like b y ain t none o out N o u h nebber stepped him . one ob white folks had ’ ’ wi d o u - ibbi n ni as s o m e . nothin t g dey gg , “ D e M 1 n boys went to arion College Philadelphy, not ’ ’ he h I ev r fah from . went dah Saturday night to tote ’ ’ em I dey clean close . rode de white mule , an as hit wus ’ l u h l o . I M r . McCo s too fah to git back , stayed at Frisbie g ’ ’ D e u h Chr i s m as o . y an , people wus very interment all ’ u r D en d o t o boys cum home . o big p an de little wus put n B Cu llu d o . lack and white seed a good time den . folks ’ ’ B u had two whole weeks gib em j es to hab fun in . eg n ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ dancin a week befo Chr i s m as an nebb er quit dancin D New Y . d n till eah ance half de night at one place, e ’ ” ’ n go an dance o u t de res o b de night at a o dder . 38 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

’ ” ? The Uncle , you didn t dance, did you girl lifted “

. Yo u her brows in mock horror . told me the other day that I would have black marks put against me for skip ping over the ﬂoor . “ Y s u m M m n d I n .lem e s , iss Va g y, said Uncle , sa ly ’ ’ I I s tr f Bu I e o o . t days did . bound to tell de don t likes ’ ’ ’ Sc fo o self to yo make trouble y . “ ’ ’ ' i f Yo u Chr i s m as m o hni n we n ggas wus up be o day . ’ ’ ' u ali t see , de white folks roun dah wus q y an didn t git ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ h i m m hni n Dey l u fo C r s as o . up day, specially a l s had ’ ’ wu sn t wu i e s b dc a heap ob company , an de boys g ti y h l d \Ve selves when dey home from school on a o i ay . ’ ’ ’ ’ hr i s m s 1 D e l s allus wake em u p an git dey C a g f . y al u ’ ’ ’ so methi n M gib us . We fasten ole astah John s doah an ’ ’ u —an won t let him o t till he gib us money he allus did . “ ’ ‘ ’ ’ ’ Afteh we d raised em all we d run oveh to Cu nnel ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ Po t eh s o Cu nnel Po t eh o Joe (y didn t know , but y ma ’ ’ D e M n I o did . armadukes visited in dat cou ty an seed y ’ Cu nnel Po ma when she wus a little miss! . We go to ’ ’ ’ ’ hr i s mas teh s an git he C gif . H e allus gib us some ’ thin . “ P ’ h Gunnel o t e wus a monstrous likely man . H e wus ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ M r Po t eh B u t . den , cause de ellion hadn t broke o , an ’ to Cu nnel o n So u th n I he cum be de side . allus said if ’ ’ he d been o n de Union side he d a-got anything he want ’ H e bi si n essest o b d . ed . wus de man in dat pa t c country ’ ’ ’ H e a o tl - allah wus a han some man , t ll an p y, wid gray y ’ ’ H e M — i s m s . hr a eyes owned andy dat s my wife . C ’ ’ e c times we didn t habt to wuk , only do de nec ssary ho es , ’ ’ ’ nu an holp wid de horses an ho s . “ ’ D ah wus a monstrous sight o f huntin took place 39 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

’ Chr i s m as week ; de game wus twenty to o ne what it is ’ ’ ’ D eh I s - now . cum in, in droves . e seed em a layin not ’ - a . twenty feet from me, lookin at me Looks so pretty ’ w — See hen dey goes to run ; dey don t run , dey jumps . ’ ai h D c em throw dey white tails in de . e h is like rabbits ’ u hked dey nips frost an gits fat . We had heaps ob j hams , smoked . “ ’ ’ ’ ’ I d o Chr i s m as I se g roun an tend to de stock , den I done wuk . allus throwed de oats oveh de fence foh de D . e sheep Sometimes de seed fell on dis side . lambs ’ ’ ’ would stick dey hades through foh hit an de nex m o hni n ’ ’ ’ ’ I d ﬁn dey hade o n de groun on one side an dey body ’ ’ o n tu theh ketched side , whah de wolves had em an eat ’ ’ M I s away dey necks . any a time e seed wolves a sittin ’ mm de selves on de side ob de hill , su in y m de sun . “ ’ i l D r B e . O ausley, he d cum up from Palmyra and ’ ’ ’ hc r r i sbi Mc u llo u h M . e C bring dogs an F g , he d cum, an ’ ’ ’ ’ de d D e d ole mastah an de boys , y all go huntin . y take ’ us along t o carry de ammunition an pick up de game . Prairie chickens cum in such droves dey soun’ like thun ’ hke s tu . S deh . Wild y , mor n we could hit ometimes ’ ’ ’ some would git lost an stan o n de fence an gobble t o ’ ’ ’ ’ tu hke s de d I f de tame y an y gobble back . yo ketch em even when dey ’ s young yo ’ se got to keep dey wings ’ ’ And M i e . Va nn crapped, d y s so wild , iss g y, with eager “ ’ o nu interest, does y know dat if yo puts snuff deh a ’ ’ ’ o ff chicken s nose, when yo takes em de roost at night, dey won ’t holla H e seemed to be pleasingly reminiscent for a while , then came back to his story .

“ ’ ‘ ’ D r Bau sle s Mu r aw D . y fastest houn was named . e ’ M I u l bo ys called it urat , so allus calls it dat . C nne John s 40

SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

’ ’ ’ we d go to somebody s cabin an dance—very pr incipally ’ r P t eh o o . at de estate o b M . J e “ ’ ’ I recollect o net I wus ridin our white mule an ’ ’ ’ M - h andy wus a sittin up behin me . We wus goin ome, ’ ’ ’ I an de night wus pa t cloudy, wid snow on de groun . ’ ’ seed so m ethi n gray rise up from de hollow d r ectly i n ’ I n h t o b . e be o M front us b said nothin andy, but de ’ D e dc mule , hit seed hit , too . thing j es flew across field ; ’ h D to no ha . o o skimmed like a cloud . idn t seem tech w L k ’ fl i n like a woman y . “ ’ ’ ’ D e o mule, hit j es took foh home , an I couldn t st p ’ h1m I neb er M u s to . b looked back an andy w like be ’ ’ ’ l f h n D jo s ed o f if she adn t a helt o mighty tight . at s ’ ’ ’ I I t e W de onliest real ha nt ever seed , but lls yo e se de ’ n fust o e gittin to dat dance ! We did dance de co tillo n , ’ ’ ‘ ’ Va i nn - -o ne de g y reel , but de bes wus three to . “ ’ ” S o ne ? Th was ure it wasn t sixteen to , Uncle ( e year

“ ’ ’ N m a- o . , said Uncle , seriously We couldn t took ’ ’ ’ ’ Yo twu s : Yo s cah ob so many . see , dis way stan in ’ ’ ’ o ne co hneh a tneh anu ddeh co hner an yo p stan s in , wid ’ ‘ D en ci r cu two . yo all dance to de middle till dey say ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ l t D en a t neh a e. yo han s yo p yo han an she han s ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ A yo huh han an yo swing an promenades. llus had ’ o b i ne ‘ allah heaps c dah an doughnuts an things . O y gal “ I liked pretty well (in a tone of conﬁdence! ; so did Bu t all de boys . when we found out she put love pow b 1 n Yessu m ! de s de cidah , we got skeered ob huh . Put ' ’ o wdehs n love p to make de boys like huh ; a dey all did . ’ ’ ’ ’ Afteh I I I foun she d killed a cat lef huh alone , cause u tr u b les m e e ts knowed dat makes a pusso allus b o . D y gi ’ ’ ’ ’ i i c na an na to be l ke a bee ; jes follow a t h yo an g g, B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

’ ’ i s . One o b j es like a bee stings , even if yo running our ’ play-actin songs was

’ r r i er S H eh cums a wa , jes frum pain, ’ - h h A courtin o b my dau g te Jane . M dau hteh y g , Jane , she is too young ’ ” ﬂ t r i n To be ruled by a a te tongue .

U ncle , the negroes were in a better condition than ’ ?” they are now , weren t they “ ’ Yessu m h , dey wus allus took cah ob, an dey be aved ’ ’ de selves bett eh n cu llu d no w y de folks does , cause dey ’ tr ai ni n O u h had . white people allus taught us to tote ’ ’ ” f i h Bu t M Va i nn U a . yo know, iss g y, and ncle weighed “ his philosophy long before giving it utterance, even a u h b d likes to be free . “ ’ ’ ’ O ne ob de las Chr i s m as times I went to I member ” cleah mighty , he went on, his heart being full of the sub “ ’ ’ D e o u h I M jest . dance wus in cabin an d took andy ’ ’ ’ home an wus standin talkin to huh on huh cabin steps . ’ T ’ ’ ’ was a white night ; moon shinin an snow on de groun . ’ ’ ‘ ’ I Mr Po t eh i ldbu hd see . cum ridin up on he hoss , W , ’ ’ nu fo llo wi n i c H e wid he ho s a t h . reined up at de doah ’ ‘B an say, radshaw ’ ‘ ’ I o ff Mr Po t eh H e takes my hat an say, . , suh ‘B ’ ’ say, radshaw , what yo doin oveh heh so much foh “ ‘ ’ ’ I Mr Po t eh I say , . , hab takes a lakin to dis woman, ’ ’ ’ I ’ d ’ an if yo se willin like to marry huh . “ ’ H e stiddies a minit an cuts de snow wid he whip . ‘ ’ ’ ’ D en D . D e he say, at s all right , if yo ll be good to huh ’ Po tehs I o . allus thought a heap ob me . S tooks huh 43 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

m o and Uncle had seated hi self during the conversati n, “ i dd n n w st . o he sat, smiling and y U Virginia left the room , but soon returned . ncle, ” shut your eyes and hold out your hands .

Uncle complied , the satisﬁed smile enveloping his coun nan H t e ce e a . . opened his eyes as he felt silver dollar “ H ” “ I ’ ll ’ oney, he said , slowly, thinks o b yo a jes like I b ” does o de Lo hd . B Y AMERI CAN A UTH ORS

WH O I S GREAT ?

By GRAcE H EWITT SHARP.

WH O is great ? The boasted lord of heired estate ? ’ The su m tu u s ? fashion queen , in p ease Ambition ’ s crowned —Who fawns to please ? The theorist, in dreams , at peace A ? sleep , from duties ﬁnds release The doctor, who, in cap and gown,

Pours information , gains renown ; Yet for no fact can cau s e expound ? No !

H e is greatest far who gives B — i ack love for hatred binds , forg ves ; Within whose soul is righteous rest ; ’ No r pomp , nor praise is made life s quest ; ’ Whose neighbor s good is as his o wn ; Whose wish is to have Good enthroned W hose justice , wisdom , unselfed love , H i s title to divineness prove .

T a hat person , if he meet appl use , ’ O r , if obscure, he lives God s laws,

‘ ’ I s H i s God s own image . estate

- — I s God bestowed the go o d ar e gr eat ! 45 SH ORT STORI ES AND POEMS

E I NOT THE REA I TY V L L .

By GRACE H EWITT SHARP.

SAY o u c y evil is not a tive, ’ H as no place within man s mind ? Every mortal is its servant ; N o o ne . is all good , we ﬁnd

T rue , the evil is apparent, No r its activeness denied, Bu t it is not truth , eternal ; M ’ ortal thoughts have God s , belied .

Go d made all that was created M an H i s S i r i t , image ; p , good ;

God could not express an evil . ’ Let God s work be understood .

h h Pure thoughts , wise thoug ts , just t oughts , love thoughts ,

’ Go d Come from , Who holds their course .

Fleshly thoughts and all their outcome, ’ Ar e not streams from spirit s source .

Flesh and matter, evil , discord, r A e the opposites of Mind . ’ o d T c G , ruth , an t express an evil ’ r i t s Like pro duces e e kind . 46 B Y AMERI CAN A UTH ORS

l Al the virtues are eternal, i Evil but a chang ng dream . ” This will pass ; and man as i mage

Will no more an outcast seem .

h h See t e perfect, and its s adow, E vil , darkness , will away, As the night is changed to clearness ” When the bright sun brings the day .

47 SH OR T “ STORI ES AND P OEMS

T RTH I E H E WO WH L .

By GRACE H EWITT SHARP.

D o o u y say you shrink from troubles ,

Turn from duties o n your. road ? Every act to lift the burdens O f ’ ’ another neath life s load, Pu r i fies o wn thine earth nature . A e fi y , consumes thy sel sh love , B urning up the finite flesh thoughts , ’ For another s goo d to prove .

D o yo u suffer for the giving ’ O f yourself fo r others woe ? L o v e alo ne i s tr u ly li vi ng; H ere may self unselﬁsh grow. And ho me hear t . the rapture of this ’ r ﬂ Will with peace and j oy o e o w.

D o you love your brother truly, Whatsoe ’ er his lot may be ? Little while this life we dwell in ; Bu t through all eternity

We must know, as God doth know H i s impartial Fatherhood M o u r ust reverse selﬁsh cravings , t o no w w Learn love as e sho uld . 48

SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

RE URRE TI N S C O .

E E By GRAC H WITT SHARP.

PEACE ! close the door and rest thou within . i n Peace the spirit , which knoweth not sin ; ’ o f Peace, in the love and the truth Christ s heart . ’ ’ ’ Mi ss ? T d are life s plaudits hey re ﬂeeting at best . H ere in God ’s Love is the inﬁnite rest

Life is more blessed , though friends should all fail , I f ’ spirit s pure love for all mankind prevail .

—’ ’ Close up your volume tis s elf s little book ; O u t Go o d into let the seeking soul look . an Love , only love , right d purity see ; ’ Man C H i s is God s hild, reﬂection is he .

50 B Y AMERI CAN A UTH ORS

E N EY AND TH E TH D O K WOLF.

B D . U y ONALD L S TTON .

AR T I P .

S K G B E EE IN A RID .

AN ass , having labored nine years for a man,

Working as only a hardened donkey can, O ne day was freed , and given a bag of gold And more advice than his poor head could hold . H e l scarce y listened to what his master said, Bu t ran away as soon as he was fed . ’ I n a great wood he d gone about a mile ,

When a ﬁerce wolf said , with a sickening smile , “ - Si r ! A i t no t Good morning, beautiful day, is . “ ” Yes k , brayed the don ey, but a triﬂe hot . I ” guess , the wolf remarked , in a careless way, Y u has ff - o r noble lord let you o to day . I t is a shame that “you must work for men I ” When at home am sleeping in my den . “ I ” have no lord, the donkey said with pride, ”

And h e. I i S r d. who says have , Wolf, has lie A I Si r Ass bad mistake made , , of course ; I mixed your lordship with the slavish horse . The poor wolf looked so sad and full of pain, 51 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

RE RRE TI SU C ON.

E By GRAC H EWITT SHARP.

E PEAC ! close the door and rest thou within .

Peace in the spirit , which knoweth not sin ; ’ o f Peace , in the love and the truth Christ s heart . ’ ’ ’ Mi ss ? T d are life s plaudits hey re ﬂeeting at best . H ’ ere in God s Love is the inﬁnite rest . n Life is more blessed , though frie ds should all fail , ’ I f o spirit s pure l ve for all mankind prevail .

—’ ’ Close up your volume tis s elf s little book u t Go o d O into let the seeking soul look . an Love , only love , right d purity see ; ’ Man C H i s is God s hild, reﬂection is he .

50 B Y AMERI CAN A UTH ORS

TH E D O N EY AND TH E K WOLF.

B D . U y ONALD L S TTON .

AR T I P .

S K G B E EE IN A RID .

AN ass , having labored nine years for a man,

When a ﬁerce wolf said , with a sickening smile , “ - Si r ! A i no t t . Good morning, beautiful day, is “ ” Yes , brayed the donkey, but a triﬂe hot . I ” guess , the wolf remarked , in a careless way, Y u has ff - o r noble lord let you o to day .

“ I t is a shame that yo u must work for men ” I n When at home am sleepi g in my den . “ I ” have no lord, the donkey said with pride, ”

And h e. I i S r d. who says have , Wolf, has lie A I i r Ass bad mistake made , S , of course ; I mixed your lordship with the slavish horse . The f poor wolf looked so sad and full o pain, 51 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

The mo lli ﬁed ass , , hastened to explain “ I left my master and labor no more , E C ven to do the tiniest , little hore , For I have planned to go to donkey - land ’ An d sue for some exquisite lady s hand . “ ” “

Bu t . r , said the wolf , the way is ve y long, And I though see you are well built and strong, I t will take weary months to travel there .

Come with me unto my restful lair . “ ” I Mr thank you , . Wolf , the donkey brayed , ” And I shall see that you are richly paid . The ass tossed high his treasure - bag of hide n n Until the da ci g coins rattled inside . “ D ” ear lord , the old wolf said , bowing to the ground , ' Your coins have a most sweet and musical sound . ” “ ’ Bu t come , he urged , let s go to my retreat , M a t o y stomach cries th t it is high time eat . ’ And so they walked unto the wolf s great lair And found a splendid dinner cooking there . The wolf had many weird and curious things , ’ Bits of ivory and tips from eagles wings . The as s looked on this princely wealth with awe And stared in wonder at all his big eyes saw. “ Mr . Wo lf, your wealth is very great H ave you been an Ofﬁcer of the State ? I remember that my master said one tim e T e s hat th y grow rich without rea on or rhyme, And ll you assert you never work at a . Whence c omes this w ealth I see within your hall “ ” “ D o I e x lam onkey , exclaimed the w lf, can p l And everything to your great mind m ake p ain . i f e H ere s a piece o magic call d a glass, 52 BY AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

i ass I nsi de you w ll behold a fellow . H e too k a mirror from among his curios ’ And held it near t he donkey s tilted nose . “ ”

! . What a creature the donkey cried , in surprise What lovely ears and such bright and shining eyes ! h Mr ! O , . Wolf, see the big bag of hide

A twi n to the one that hangs by my side.

I see it in the magic glass you hold . ” Can the enchanted bag be ﬁlled with go ld ? The wolf picked up a ﬂask lying near

And waved a wand about in ﬁgures queer. “ “ I D o . Be Mr . d quick, onkey, what tell

O r else you’ll break this weird and dreadful spell . Take the bag that holds your tinkling gold And pour the coin into my magic mold ; And as you look , the fair, reﬂected ass t Will pour mo ney in o the enchanted glas s. Within the mirror riches lie untold All I l’ these l give and take instead your gold . The d donkey did as he was told to o , T ’ hen with the ass gold the wolf withdrew . “O h ! ” cried the donkey , nervous and alarmed , When will the glass give up the gold it charmed ” Al B ' l . smiles , the wolf returned efore you go, “ H e I I chuckled , will tell you what know . W c hen thus you wave the wand and oaths de laim, The glass will satisfy the wish you name . The mountain witch did give me strict commands d When magic power she put into my han s . She told me that a pro s perous year would pass I e When should meet a handsom , learned ass ;

That I shou ld die unless I . taught the o at h. 53 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

And h gave the ass the wand and mirror bot . The n tale and meal havi g come to an end , The gleeful donkey rose to leave his friend . “ “ ’ Mr f s m . o I W l , , he aid , robbing you To take the wand and magic mirror , too . Bu t as he dropped them in the bag of hide The smiling wolf to the donkey thus replied “ ’ M I ve y friend , laid away a goodly store ’ ” To o er last until my righteous days are . “ ” What wonder , the astonished donkey mused , S uch ponderous wealth this little glass infused . I t feels so light , and yet so much does hold,

Within its glassy surface lies all my gold . “ ” ’ Si r ! Good day . Wolf the donkey , tearful , brayed . I I d ” would with you could have longer staye . \ D T . o God be with you , onkey dear part A r ” lmost breaks my sad and lonely hea t .

ART I I P .

K FOX THE DON EY AND THE .

And so the donkey kept upon his way, a ’ Ple sed as a lamb upon a summer s day,

For now he could assume a joyful gait , ’ R elieved o f his treasure s oppressive weight . And as he went gamboling gaily along H e brayed a delicate , melodious song ; With such tremulous sweetness did it rise T o hat the welling tears ﬂ oded both his eyes .

Finally, by his powerful feelings swept,

‘54

SH ORT STORI ES AND POEMS

O r u a r o f i h rt fo m such exqu site line . “ And I thus the fox went on , only said T ’ I hat in a book somewhere that s what read . S " ome books , except for lies , are mostly true

' A saint would lie that spoke slightingly of you . “ ” Sa y nothing more, the ass said, with a sigh, “ ’ I m i F x u r o o . glad, S , y did not mean to lie n Let us, dear brother , hasten o our way And u r not foolishly throw o time away . The fo x o n inquisitive , as they journeyed , “ ’

R M I . emarked, any months , suppose, you ll be gone “ ” “ ’ Yes I m o ff - , brayed the ass , for donkey land , ’ To fo r proudly sue some fair lady s hand . The country lies full many league s ahead An d unfamiliar roads my feet must tread . “ ” “ Yes I , said the fox , though was never there, Th I d e . damsels , am told , are won rous fair Bu t to o , sir, the journey is hard and expensive, , And I o u cannot imagine what y will do . To travel without wealth o f any kind ’ ’ I s I m impossible , afraid you ll ﬁnd . T do ake my advice and not further roam , Bu t turn about and journey to your home . “ ’ ” I m a very rich, the h ughty donkey brayed, f O all the world my soul is not afraid . At I dawn had a single bag of gold, u B t now my riches are almost untold . “ I ! ” ndeed the fox murmured, pricking his ears , M ” isers seem poorer than this ass appears . ” Bu t , pardon me, dear sir, aloud he inquired , ” Why do yo u travel thus raggedly attired ? The a ass was hurt, being little vain ; 56 B Y AMERI CAN A UTH OR S

to fo x H owev er , the he started to explain ,

R ehearsing the story the wolf had told ,

H e spoke o f the trade he made for his gold . s The cunning fox replied , repre sing his sneers , “ Some people have brains and others have ears .

ART I I I P .

F S F THE ORE T AIR .

Si r ! Fox , the haughty donkey cried, look there r Buildings I see and tents and temples fai . B ! Si r Fo x s y Gad , beyond that highest teeple See e l the crowds and crowds of forest p op e . L e ! o t O . us go , Fox , into that t wn I w wish to buy clothes and a suitable go n, For I am rich and have increasing desire TO dress in the swellest and brightest attire. Mr a s D ear . Fox , you shall h ve what you wi h , A silver pipe, or golden carving dish . “ ’ ” Y Si r Ass fo x ou re very kind , , drawled the , Picking his way with care among the rocks ; “ T hank you . but pardon this display of nerve, I ” For your company is more than deserve . And , bowing low , the smiling fox began “ Si r , your humble servant has a plan .

’

Let us hire a booth in yonder fair, And es e you , in bright t rob s of colors rare , S Can how your wand and mystic mirror both . M - n ajestic, say the awe inspiri g oath , ’ And while the people s blood is running cold, 57 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

Command the mirror to vomit forth its gold . ’ u The donkey s face with Childish pride ill mined, A tragic pose he thereupon assumed . “ Si r I . Fox , your plan is what most desire B o n efore a multitude , my soul ﬁre, To speak in thundering tones the wondrous tale ’ h ‘ l u And free t e go d from o t the glass jail . ’ Fo x I S 0 , , feel within my oul s clear spring The to power to eat and then the power sing. ’ A e C y , from my hildhood s earliest days I wakened the sun with sweet and tuneful brays . I needed no fool teacher, but forlorn, A a genius and mighty actor born, o f r Struck attitudes loving , tender g ace, And n , yearning , poured my feeli gs into space, ' Unti l t he r cows, enraptured with su prise, T o n urned full me their wide , wondering eyes . What art ! the bit destroyed ! The roll of fame I Si r weep to think , Fox , has lost my name, And future generations will blame the knave T Off hat bore me to be his stubborn slave . Bu t I l come , my friend , like your p an ; in truth, ” We will secure in yonder fair a booth . “ The AS fox began , to admission price , ” I W M r D ish, . onkey , to ask advice . S ” “ top , cried the donkey , do not bother me ; O f course , we will let all the people in free . The n mo ey means nothing to us at all , And I - ﬁlled desire to have a well hall . “ ’ ” I t s Mr As s plain , . , the fox sadly said , T 15 no w hat nothing but acting in your head . r People love things that cost money o pain . B Y AMERI CAN A UTH ORS

Things easily gotten are held in great disdain .

O nly let the price on death be high , “

And all the fools on earth would want to die . I f you desire a crowd , take my advice ” And make the admission a fearful price . “ ” “ Fox , cried the ass , let it be as you please, ’ ” r i ﬂ And don t bother me with t es like these . Th “ ey hired a forest booth , and criers , too,

To tell the fair just what they wished to do .

A , , , crowd collected but the price was high And only a very few at ﬁrst would buy. Bu t the story gained by being retold , ’ Until twas rumored the ass vomited gold . I ndeed , some of the people at the fair

Said they had seen him walking through the air . S o n oon such a cr wd the gate went pouri g through , To take the gold was all the fox could do . At ﬁrst he ﬁlled one bag of straining hide . And then he laid another by its side ; And the when the entrance way to booth had cleared, The fox picked up the bags and disappeared .

PART I V

K S THE DON EY IN THEATRICAL .

M eanwhile the ass seated in state inside , B r eheld the growing throng with swelling p ide, And u n thought with tears of the days when great , n k own, 5 9 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

l e H e acted to the admiring cows a on . The curtain rose, he stepped upon the stage ; i ff H s train was borne by a gira e as page . i o d H s form was draped in robes of red and g l ,

Swung in many a rich and graceful fold . The ass the o f the e , reaching center stag ,

Began t o let his powerful feelings rage . D the ramatically, his tail high in air,

H d . e tol his tale, adding everywhere The wolf “ wo uld have fainted fro m sheer sur prise ” T o e o think he c uld have told such awful li s . The c m th saw people scar ely breathed ; tre bling, ey Th k ﬂ h hi s aw e don ey as the mirror in p . — H e waved the magic wand the Crowd grew co ld T d hrice he bade the mirror vomit gol . And every word the frantic as s did utter Made the disappointed people mutter “ ” “ ” “ ” “ Yo u coward ! Yo u thief ! Yo u fool ! Yo u lying knave !” ” And K th e ! w a to a ill fraud the cro d beg n r ve. The n n r donkey, frighte ed at the a gry th ong,

Lucklessly thought to try the power of song. H i s troubled head held back, solemnly swaying,

The . poor ass bellowed out his tuneless braying . The u f rious crowd , with one wild , angry roar, S “K !” hrieking, ill swept him through the door . Th e soldiers of King Lion broke through the mass And n seized upon the struggli g, bedraggled ass . “ M r y prisoner , sir the captain ﬁe cely cried .

“ l e With a fresh burst of song the ass rep i d . From the hall they dragged him by the tail

And safely locked him in the county jail .

60 B Y AMER I CAN A UTH OR S

R PA T V.

N TH E DONK EY O TRIAL.

h mm T e ass next day, when su oned to his trial ,

Took his seat with a very cheerful smile . Bu t when called on to make an honest plea

H e told his tale and sobbed in misery, B n egging the mighty ki g to set him free , That he might see the dear old wolf once mor e And from his name remove the stain it bore

Rightly learn the oaths , and in a day

The ticket price and more to all repay. “ I fo x fear the has been beaten and robbed . ’ ” I m o sick with apprehension , the d nkey sobbed . I f he is dead , my cup of woe is ﬁlled. My God ! My God ! I know my friend is killed ! ” “T — i t hieves live is the good people that die , S u h aid the lion king, heaving a mo rnful sig . “ S ince the world began , and till it ends , R u and ﬂatter er s h og es will ave their friends . ’ For them are stirred the mothers noblest fears, For them are shed in vain her fonde st tears ; Bu t peace abhors the very things they touch, And misery has their hearts within its clutch . M fo x n y guards pursued the i to his lair, ’ And found the stolen gold he d hidden there . E H o ! nough . valiant guards , unlock the box And bring us here that thieving, lying fox . The i fox , tied with ropes , was sullen and gr m , The donkey could scarcely recognize him . S k h o r m to c e cowling, he loo ed a ead n see ed ar ,

6I SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

No r hardly know what he was doing there . D n t uri g his trial he did not try o speak, Bu t so leaned against a post , he was weak .

‘ Thus peo ple feel from highest triumph borne

When chained and cast into places forlorn . Every step man’ s feelings exultant ascend s Unto his downfall potential force doe lend . The greatest rapture that any mortal feels s u H a pain and grim despair pon its heels . ’ When twenty years hard work his doom was made, The no t sullen fox did appear dismayed . “ E Bu t . when the king cried out , nough for thee ” H O ! ! doughty guard , set thou the donkey free A ’ fearful wrath grew in the fox s heart . H i s eyes with strain and bitter tears did smart . As curses loud he howled above the crowd , An d dire vengeance upon the donkey vowed . And as the doughty guard dragged him away, The donkey , ﬁlled with woe and sad dismay, B egged the king the poor , dear fox to free , And take instead his own sweet liberty . “ ”

! n . Poor , silly thing the kind ki g said and smiled Y u our heart is soft and easily beg iled . D O you not know the cause of this wild hate , That ﬁlled the fox ’ s heart with rage so late ? Why at ﬁrst patiently all he bore And afterwards in rage foul vengeance swore ? Because in his damned soul he thought that you ff Would su er in a gloomy prison , too . Villains their troubles can the better bear I f innocence the punishment does share . S ome in doing good receive their joy,

SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

Striving the donkey’ s fears to drive away “ We order you to take the wand and glass T Y u i r As o . o S s ? the wolf understand,

And a No w . get your b g of gold . say no more My servant will escort you to the door And T give you money for your trip . . ake care,

Unless a thief Come on you unaware . H ass aving spoken , the king the dismissed , l Graciously a lowing his paw to be kissed. u Calling his g ards , he followed secretly , T n hinki g to punish the wolf for his knavery . ’ The donkey s heart was gay as to the west ’ H e o n s journeyed the forest king s behe t . ' Th d r i ht e an b . sun was warm , the day was calm g Th e C . lear, pure air was ﬁlled with dazzling light And every step he made along the road

Some new scene of wondrous beauty showed .

Forests grand , immense , that , opening wide ,

Languid , sylvan seats revealed inside , O r stony peaks , rearing their heads on high

Until they seemed to touch the cloudless sky . All l pleased , the happy donkey saw , and fe t H i s heart and soul with admiration melt . “ ” Ye skies , he stopped upon a peak and brayed , ’ H o w I v e ! . oft seen thy ethereal glories fade The darkest nights beasts ever looked upon A ssured them of the near approach of dawn . S I uch has been my life , now rejoice The feeling of the universe to voice . Ye streams which , like bright threads of silver glow , Ye s ar mighty forests that stretch o f below, To I i c hi e h you ded ate t s pow rful thoug t, 64 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

The like of which t he Lord has scarcely wrought ; All things teach and each thing in its turn

Something from the rest is forced to learn . I behold your forms of towering might ,

Rolling trees ﬂashing the warm sunlight, And you behold not peak , nor stream , nor tree,

Bu t . turn your quiet , admiring gaze on me So each receives and gives a ﬁt return ; Th e greatest from the smallest often learn . The most beautiful plant that ever grew ’ Some vile earth long hid from mortal s view . I For even , a gifted , graceful ass , B I eheld myself when procured a glass , B efore , in chains and grim darkness bound . M ’ y neck grew sore with vainly turning round . A s I ! t last a glas found , oh , happy hour An 10 ! d the earth revealed its choicest ﬂower . ’ The wolf s old cave he found deserted and bare . And a family of toads living there . The ass kept on until he saw a d. oor, l ’ Concea ed with brush , he d never seen before . A massive stone appeared to block his way . Th e ass sat down and thus began to bray :

I have a sack of yellow gold, My back grows tired the sack to hold ; Oh I , am rich

Th n e frightened donkey stopped a d looked around .

H e c . thought he heard a sharp , rackling sound H e saw a wolf hidden in the grass , d s Who had his eyes glued on the astonishe as . 65 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

” h i r ! O , S Wolf the gladdened donkey cried, An d in a second the wolf was at his side . H e grasped his hoof with tears and sobs o f joy “ And bo called the elated ass his darling y . A n sked him o e question and then another , “ “ M ass ixed with beloved and darling brother , Until the donkey could have wept for shame ‘ u h To think that he had tho ght t e wolf to blame . ’ I n i the wolf s cave the pair sat down to d ne . ’ The host explained the donkey s looks , like wine, H ad ﬁlled his head upon the meeting day, And th n he ewrong wand had give away . ’ H e said that he had followed another s track c When he rushed out to bring the donkey ba k . “ ’ Th e ! anks be to God , my friend , you re h re at last “ Th u t F e wolf cried o . orget the frightful past .

Come with me into yonder mountainside , ” And you shall have the wand so long denied . The to ass followed the wolf from room room , T hrough deserted caverns dark as the tomb , U ntil they stopped before a door of rock, l Fastened by a massive forest ock . “ O h ” “ ! , the wolf said , how foolish we can be ’ The I wand is inside , and haven t my key . I i l w l go back and get it , never fear , And I will soon return , donkey , dear . The ass sat down to wait and to be brave ; B c ats ﬂew around the lamp and gloomy cave . H e s m e v heard a ound ad by a mo ing stone, T en all w as s e as s o n h il nt , and the al e . As hour by hour drew to a wear y end Th e donkey grew uneasy for his friend . 66 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

s H e ros e and stumbled by cha ms dark and grim ,

And many skulls t hat seemed to stare at him . H e reached the opening they had used that day,

Bu t found a boulder blocked the narrow way . “ ” “

h ! . O , God the donkey cried his fate is known t The darling wolf was crushed beneath this s one .

The poor ass tried in vain to move the rock . T c . hen sang a song, still trembling from the sho k

Loudly the ass did sing, but even he

Grew tired O f singing till eternity . W s m r earied at la t , the ass could bray no o e , A nd . , fainting, sank upon the mossy ﬂoor H e woke to hear the great rock roll away . H i s H e e name was called . answer d with a bray , And a n g sped to see the wolf , bleedi g, in chains , The r D forest king and troop of ba king anes . “ “ Wr c ! et h cried the wolf , see what you made me do ” See what your cursed gold has brou ght me to ! Th e ass before the king fell on his face ’ And started with tears to plead the prisoner s case . “ The A ﬁerce king cried , nother word and yo u I s C will ca t in hains and have beaten, too . We chased this beast for many a weary hour B ” efore , tired out , he fell into our power . The castle reached . the wolf in jail was thrown . The sovereign and the ass were left alone . “ ! ” “ ’ Poor fool exclaimed the king, don t you know

“ Why the wolf was bound and beaten so ? Th e treacherous wolf it was that locked you in, T hinking your gold would well reward the sin .

M - y mind has dwelt upon your life to day . o I Concerning you p or ass, wish to say, 67 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

I t is not kind to give you wealth nor gold ,

Which you have not the power nor sense to hold . Bu t stay with me and royal service take , A I faithful guard know that you will make . The donkey paused and scratched his massive head . “ “ ’ll M I a . y Lord , he brayed, do as you have s id The k lion too his hand , and out they went , The n sovereig and his subject quite content . To keep the ass from bothering him the king D u ecided that the wolf and fox m st swing . And on the morrow , ere the sun went down, The fox and wolf , sentenced , gained renown . I n their cheerless cells received bouquets , o f Locks hair and letters ﬁlled with praise . I n the papers , their death being so near, - Life sized , embellished portraits did appear . At dead of night the gallows trap was sprung, And in the air their lifeless bodies swung. B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

TH E A R I I E S C F C .

A hr i s tm as tch C Ske .

MR M H R B K R B S. S U y A EL E RON A E .

EVERYTH ING in the room betokened respectable pov

er t . A k n y man , loo ing sick u to death , was dressing a - Th C a s . e fair haired little boy , in he ply mart clothes lov ing, last touches were given , and the shaking hands of the father gathered together the frayed garments lately fo ldn i worn by his son , carefully g and making them nto a I n neat package . a few hours they will represent all ha e a n hi s t t r m i s to him of boy . There was still an hour to spare before they would The leave for their journey . father took the little boy on his knee , folding him closely in his arms , as a thing too a n precious to lose , g zi g with intense devotion into the l sma l face , upturned . to ask a question . “ W ’ ’ ?” here s we doin , papa H eath had come o u t conqueror in his bitter fight with elfi shnes s H e S . answered his son with a voice at Once firm and pathetic “ We u are going p into the country , to a little town on — ” an R the river , to try experiment, onald . “ ’ ’ ” W s er m ent a ? hat s a p , p pa I ’ can t explain it to you , dear ; but you must do just 69 ! To - s as papa says . Listen morrow will be Christma D a I bi y , and want you to go , bright and early , to a big , g ‘ ’ I n N house that know of , and si g oel to an old man that ”

. r ? lives there . D O you emember the song “ I ” Course do , papa . I S s u . ing it , dear ; mu t be s re The childish voice obediently quavered the old Christ mas greeting so commonly used i n England :

N — N —N — N oel oel oel oel , The B - aby Christ was born to day, I n a city far away . H e e i h es s a and cam w t a m age of Pe ce Love , ” From the Father Who lives above .

T u u l hat will do , pet . J st repeat that verse nti the ” H Old a nd s . e man hears you , then give him thi letter ’ e produc d a thick packet , which he placed in the child s The e pocket . man stopped abruptly , cov ring his face S with his wasted hands . eizing them in his tight little R : grip , onald tried to pull them away, crying “ ’ o s e What s the matter , p p y Th ere was no answer but a dry sob . “ ”

! o u . Papa , papa , tell me with perempt ry t gs Th m “ h e an . u c mastered his emotion S a headache , baby !” Poor papa ! ” he softly patted the gaunt face of his father . “ ’ I n Th t s better o w . e man labored with his grief , “ ’ s and as umed a commonplace manner . Come, child it s time to go . A A short journey brought them to a cou ntr y station . 70

SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

few remaining hours that remain to him with his boy . Th r e morning broke clear and cold, and after a hur ied breakfast they set Off for their long walk over the hills . I t a a a was nearly _ mile , he remembered , to the gre t g tes T Of Grafton Park . hey neared the house , and then the

- white faced man held his child in a last, close embrace . “ ’ N o u ? othing will ever let y forget papa, darling ’ ” a n ! What idear, papa ’ With his head lying on his father s shoulder, his arms R tightly clasped around his neck , onald listened to the b u t beli ev last instructions, wondering what it all meant , Th ing that what his father did was right . e baby had ’ never thought of questioning his father s wisdom . “ No u s w . . remember, dear Walk around the ho e and ‘ ’ N i n d sing the oel greeting that papa taught you . S g un er b the windows until some one hears you . Proba ly a serv i eax ant will ask you into the kitchen, and you must not e l o v until you see the o d gentleman named Graft n . Gi e I D o him the letter that put in your pocket . you under stand ?” “ Y s H e . e a , papa moved his head , facing his f ther . ” I — i n d is Grafton, too, papa the middle , he laughe . “ Yes , you are Grafton, in the middle, he repeated , Yo u o ld a humoring him . are to tell the gentlem n that R o H I your name is onald Graft n eath . shall expect you — ” t o s . stay with him , if he asks you all day, perhap ’ N’ ’ ?” where ll you be , papa “I h I ’ ll — ? . O , go back to the hotel “ ’ ’ I d i u n R . w v o onald weakened wather go y , papa , ’ ’ ” n u m s si u s catch bears po b s es . The miserable man was hard pressed for words or strength to utter them . Presently he said 72 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

Would you stay here if you knew it would gi ve papa ” a r - e -al jolly time ? “ H w ’ ?” o tould it, papa , when we s chums Yo u The tense nerves of the man were failing him . i I f R s . must believe me onald , without asking quest on you stay here papa will be free to have a r -e-g-u - l-a-r -l-y ld ” jolly O time . “ ’ ”

I ? . H o w long mus stay , papa he whimpered , softly

Until papa sends for you ; and , remember, brave , lit ” tle boys never cry . The child laid his quivering face against the emaciated “ ’ ” n W a ? e . O of his father hen ll you send , p pa chum “ I —I ’ R T y . don t just exactl know , onald rust me, and ’ ” be papa s bravelittle boy . “Y I ” es . , is , papa T O f H here were signs life about the mansion , and eath knew the very minute had come when R onald must leave

- . O ne him passionate embrace , a great heart wrench , and the little boy left his dying father .

a: s =i= a: a: a: an: O ld H oward Grafton sat brooding in his comfortable I library . t was Christmas eve , but it brought with it no H i s S joy for him . widowed ister moved softly about the room , trying to arouse in him at least a semblance o f happiness . “ H ?” oward , it is Christmas eve , you know ” “ And pray, he snarled , how does Christmas eve differ from any other eve to a couple of fossils ?” “ Sh e H laid a hand on his shoulder . oward, it is true — there are but two old people here, but the child may ” have lived . H e moved uneasily in his chair, bidding her remem 73 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEM S

her that she was touching on a forbidden subj ect, but his sister persisted “ ” H o n I oward , her hand still rested his shoulder , O ld D o am an woman , and do not fear your anger . what I tr ’ ” you will , shall y to find Florence s child . “ ” And ? then almost fiercely . ” I f n t I wi ll! you do o acknowledge it , I u — hope yo will thrive o n air . I a K t e have the cott ge in ent , and h two thousand ” pounds left me by my father , she said , with a resolution that showed the subj ect had been well studied and finally decided . The old man was plainly troubled , but was much too S H e ’ proud to how it . abruptly left the room , leaving i ‘ s n s n . o his si ter posse sio Locked in his room , he br ke n o n a s i to a storm of tears . Fl re ce was de d , and perhap her i was e o e —a s des ch ld aliv s m where waif , po sibly ti t u H e t e. cursed the man who had robbed him of his n H child , rati g arriet vehemently for raising the ghost of a dreadful past . Y s E ounge t son of an nglish nobleman , and having to A e commercial instincts , he had come m rica and suc d d H cee e . W in winning a fortune hen his sister , arriet ‘ E Gore , was widowed , she had left her home in ngland to preside over the home of her brother , a widower , with C one hild , a petted daughter , indulged in every caprice s R . W t H save one hen her singing ma er , onald eath , won h er by his soft voice and seductive manner his suit was e ' r fused in a way that left no doubt as to its finality . ’ Then followed the elopement and the father s refusal of r eco ci li ati o n all overtures toward . When , a year later , e at news cam th Florence was dying, he swore he would

74 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

n r T never see her child o its beggarly father . his hap o n pened ﬁve years ago, and so far as was shown the n sur face he was still untouched and unforgivi g. That Christmas eve he retired witho ut again seeing H i s hi s . sister , who he knew meant to be troublesome sleep was broken , and in the early morning his light slum ber was disturbed by a plaintive child ’ s voice singing the “ ” — Old Noel greeting the same that Florence used to u sing in her pretty quaint way , o tside his bedroom door h H e as a reminder of C ristmas gifts . started up , for the voice was like hers , but instantly dismissed the thought . The a s voice was p s ing sweet , and now he was able to dis ti ngu i sh the words and the imperfect pronunciation of a n i H e s t he very you g ch ld . aro e and peered through cur The tains , for the voice seemed to be under his window . e was O ld dear old Christmas gre ting stirring his hard , heart . H e wished he might see the child , if only to ﬂing it fo r n a u n some silver and bid it go away, the so g woke e s — H e pl a ant memories albeit , they were sadly sweet . listened again to the strangely familiar voice

N — N — N — N oel oel oel oel . The B - aby Quist was born to day , I n C a ity far away . ’ H e wi v wu v tame a message of peace an , ’ ’ ” Om F d Fader Who dwells above .

H e s Th . e li tened , rapt child was beginning the second “ A man t e verse , message of tind dood will to , then , ’ m em ber i n a t he g his f ther s instructions . to repeat ﬁrst e e l i vers only, he Obedi nt y started it aga n. 75 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

’ What in God s name did it mean ? The o ld man could H bear it no longer . astily dressing, he descended to the library and rang for the butler . who appeared, amazed at the early summons .

James , he commanded , admit that singing child . H e n h er e must be cold . Just bri g him , and , James , wait ’ I ll t he — a minute . see little beggar alone no need to ” M r s say anything to . Gore . H James admitted the shivering child , and old oward n I t Grafton stared , as if confro ted by a ghost . was as if ff Florence stood before him . with the di erence that the The apparition was a little boy . hair , the perfect com n The c an plexion , all belo ged to Florence . resemblan e r e d— — H e e . g nay , frightened him . was dumb The boy spoke timidly, as if to an ogre of doubtful temper . “ ’ ’ I s you de 0 1 gem lem ” Old ? What gentleman ﬁercely . ’ ’ ” l m l m Mr e e . R O g Grafton ? piped onald . ” M Who ? y name is Grafton . are you I R H ” is onald Grafton eath , introduced the boy, with ’ Florence s voice and smile . ’ The O ld man s face grew white as he stared . “ I t is dot a le ter for you in my potet , indicating the latter by a proud little pat . R a ’ onald h nded him the packet , and the man s hand H e ac closed over it mechanically . had sworn that the cursed beggar ’ s son should never be acknowledged by The him , and now he knew that he was beaten . beauti ful child before him was his grandchild, and the letter

. n undoubtedly co tained proof of it . For the next few minutes he was almost frenzied with 76 B Y AMERI CAN A UTH ORS

- H the three fold struggle between himself , ate and Love . H e lanc strode ﬁercely about the room , and presently , g

. ! ing toward the child , saw that he was crying God Per A u h haps he was hungry . thousand memories of his da g n n H R e ter rushed over him , drowni g, slayi g ate and H e C venge . caught the hild in his arms and kissed him a H . e passionately , subjug ted by love and remorse rang ’ furiously for James , giving orders for the child s break A ” “ fast to be served . fter which , he said , bring him ” back to me . H e le tried to collect his senses , and was at length ab n to master the conte ts of the package . “ ’

M r s . I m James , he shouted , send Gore to me ; ” upset . H i s sister entered the room , her sweet , old face wet with tears . “ ’ ’ H I m u I oward , s re heard a child s voice singing ‘ ’ N n I t oel under our windows this morni g . was the same greeting that we sang when we were children down in K W ’ ?” dear , old ent . on t you have the grounds searched “ N H ’ o H . e s need to search the grounds , arriet here , n a havi g his bre kfast he confessed . “ ” T 1t ? Ar e H ? hen you heard , too you ill , oward N H o . e he roared waddled about the room , ashamed to confess his weakness , and then made full surrender to his sister . “ ’ H a I m rriet , whipped . S ubdued , ashamed, but relieved of the tension of he h n hatred , thrust the papers in her and , tryi g to speak u l bu t br sque y , failing, for his voice shook under the load o f l g adness in his heart . “ ‘ R a ead that , and presently James will bring you 72 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

H e o and Christmas present. hurried from the ro m , pausing in the doorway to speak , showed a face happy , if somewhat sheepish . “ ’ I don t want to hear anything about it afterward . >k a: a: >k a:

She her read the papers , and bowed head in humble A m thanksgiving . door opened , and Ja es entered , lead As m ing the child . she opened her ar s to him the silence was broken by a peal from the chimes of a nearby church , “ ” a and the song was , Peace on e rth , good will to men . T n he she turned to James , giving him a quick, per

o . emptory order , and he hurried from the ro m T C s aking the hild in her frail , old arm , she crossed b all her the into the presence of brother . “

H o . oward , we cann t accept this gift gratuitously ’ ’ r God s messenger , in the form of the boy s father , b ought H e him to us , and we must not let him die alone . has ns u s to made the sacriﬁce , and it remai for lighten the burden of the remnant of his life by allowing h i m to see hi his c ld . “W ?” ell mildly . I have already order ed Jame s to have the grounds ” searched for the man , she answered , resolutely . “ ’ ’ ” I v e the r phoned ga dener to ﬁnd him , he rejoined , s with exceeding meekne s . And still the joy bells pealed forth their anthem of ” Peace on earth, good will to men .

SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

’ And thought p r aps quinine would be

Just the proper thing for me . When pa came home to tea he said H I ’d e guessed better go to bed .

And you ask what I got last year ? S Why, anta Claus never came near ; ’ H e went to Jakey s , just next door, ’ And that s what made me feel s o sore ; ’ ’ Cause Jakey wasn t good at all ; ’ H e s just the baddest boy all fall ’ The teacher says he s just so bad She so had to cry, she felt sad .

O ! ’ , pshaw it ain t no use for me To I be as good as can be , ’ I Cause last year was awful good , Bu t Jake got presents while I cut wood ; ’ ’ H e b Ned was avin fun , raisin Old , ’ While I was usually bein put to bed ; This year I ’m goin’ to let Santa see H o w awful bad a boy can be . B Y AMERI CAN A UTH ORS

E T E A ER N A E U P I T D EA WH N H C V G V S D .

BY B M ELLE IDDLETON .

?” SARAH , what was that

W N ? I . hat do you mean, athan heard nothing Listen ! Listen ! ” The sound of a dragging chain accompanied by the soft The thud of bare feet came distinctly to their ears . cold ’ sweat stood on Nathan s brow ; he was a brave man . but to be awakened in the middle of the night to the music Of clanking chains was a strain on his courage . Nathan and Sarah Kingston had a short time before accepted the position of caretakers of the old H umphrey The house by the sea . owner had frankly told them it had o f the reputation being haunted , but they were poor and the salary offered seemed to them a princely o ne and sen S sible , practical arah hooted at the idea of ghosts and gob N ’ lins . athan , too, was unimaginative and Sarah s word was his law . The old house stood on a point of land projecting into the sea , three sides surrounded by water , the ground sloped S away until it was level with the water at high tide . teps Th hewn from the solid rock led to the beach . e house was built by a man known as Mat the Smuggler about the 1 2 I t m year 1 8 . co nsisted of six rooms built from im ense logs ; underneath was a series of caverns connecting with a

81 SH ORT STORI ES AND POEMS

The e passage extending to the water . smuggl r carried on s his business unmole ted for years , using the cavern to hide away his goods , but one day he disappeared . E H Shortly afterward Captain lijah u mphrey , master of M s t the arie , a small ve sel trading up and down the coas appeared before the notary o f the village with a deed to n ab the house on the Point , sig ed by the smuggler . whose sence he explained by saying he had gone abroad to live . I t was rumored that the Captain knew more than anyone excepting the smuggler about the di sposition o f the contra band goods .

Captain H umphrey brought his wife and little boy, also n m an o e servant , a who had formerly been mate on his H fisher fo ll' nt to . e vessel , to the Poi live soon gave the to understand that he wanted none of their company Soon gruesom e tales were afloat about awful happenings ’ s at the smuggler old home ; shrieks , moans and heart n n re di g cries were heard , also strange lights were noticed A a at the entrance to the cav ern . bout a year after he c me there to live Captain H umphrey was found dead in the T his cave . here was a look of fear on his face , eye balls protruded and on neck and throat were ten blue The f . marks as o ten bony fingers , thumbs to the front wife fled from the house , leaving it in the care of the ser The vant . weird tales increased until the fishermen

th . avoided e place , even pulling miles out to sea to keep from catching a glimpse of the Point . The H umphrey family tried intermittently to occupy the house, but in each instance the departure was sudden and f u no ccu i ed r t . the house was . left p or in the ca e of servan s Every death occurri ng in the family afterward was vio

‘ lent and always accompanied by the same signs ; o n the

82 B Y AMERI CAN face a look of horror and o n t the pr int of bo ny ﬁngers , thumbs to the front . nd N Sarah a athan occupied the lower rooms , the upper n he ones being closed and barred . O t outside o f the

a s t ai r wa - o f ne house , leading to the upper story, was y sto , from which the wooden bani sters had long since crumbled away ; directly underneath was a p assage and steps lead t e a ing to h c vern , the door opening from the porch They had been in Charge a week when one night they n s f c n Th were awake ed by the noi e o lanki g chain . e foot s a i C steps de cended the stone st irs , the cl nk , lank of the chain as it struck each step keeping time to the soft thud T e e of bare feet . lay quite still ; in fact , th ir v ry \ hey r s u b eathing eemed s spended in order not to lose a sound . The t the bo tom was reached , chain rattled over the plank ﬂOo r o f the porch , then down the steps leading t o the The — . s cavern sounds grew fainter and fainter cea ed , n w as n e m n f o l the the air re t by a wild , d o iacal shriek , w — T lo ed by a dull thud and silence . his was more terrify a s s e ing than the nightm re ound , but it was at length brok n n a Sa who s n u by the u d unted rah , pra g p and ran to the and dresser , lighted a candle , turning toward the bed , said : s e e w ho tr n ﬁrmly Come , we will is yi g to frighte n us . R c r s he n e eiving no answe , be t over the still form o f her u and h e had a n h sband found f i ted . She applied r est o r a ti ves his s , but when at last he opened eye it was only t o n close them again and drop i to a deep sleep , as of one r h s a tho oughly ex au ted . S rah slept no more that night ; she was s ure some one wanted to scare them away in order t o obtain the s it uation on accou nt of the generous

N the s u n as n an o f When athan awoke w shi ing d, 83 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

an l course , the occurrences of the night took on entire y ff h di erent character when viewed in the broad lig t of day, S ’ so he was his old , phlegmatic self and listened to arah s explanation of t he causes of the disturbance and accepted

her view of the matter . Th ey went about their daily duties as usual , but when

a . n and night came , inste d of retiri g , they put out the light w m h sat fully dressed , waiting for hat ig t happen , but

nothing happened , there were no sounds other than those n N atural to the night . athan succeeded in staying awake a until shortly fter midnight , when , overcome by the dark s S ne s and the soothing quiet , he dropped asleep , but arah The never closed her eyes . next night she divided into N watches , athan taking the ﬁrst ; this program was car e ried out for a week , but everything remained qui t and Nathan began to believe the whole occurrence had been a ﬁgment of the imagination and to argu e in favor of u n I t disturbed slumber . is true he slept in his chair , but S this was not comfortable , for arah had seen to its selec

tion , and the back was high and straight , without pad or As cushion . usual , he was worsted in his argument and

so settled himself in his uncomfortable chair for a nap . H e had slept he knew not how long when he was aware o f the ringing of a tiny bell ; the sound was so faint that it blended in wi th his dreams ; he was fully awakened by Of The the hand his wife on his arm . sound at first came n a from high above the treetops , floati g nearer nd nearer ; . The « then ceased , only to begin again higher up . atmos her e f p appeared to be mu fled , as in a dense fog, but the tone O f the ringing was insistent and persistent ; there was n S o escaping from it . arah quietly opened the kitchen ' bu t was doo r , there nothing to be seen on the po rch and 84 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS nothing to be heard ; but the moment she t e-entered the room the sound was again distinct . The next night the same thing happened ; then for sev s A eral night silence . gain they were awakened by the sound of a rising storm ; the wind sobbed and moaned and shrieked as though all the powers of darkness had entered into it , and the thunder of the angry sea against the rocks below filled the erstwhile quiet room until it seemed as if the Moloch of Vengeance were assisting the legions of Gehenna to uproot the very rock upon which The the house was built . chaos of sounds would die away

‘ li ear tr endi n n sw o o do wn to a faint , g moa , only to p again, T louder than before . hey tried the fastenings to see if e N t n all were secur and a han , steppi g to the outer door, 10 ! opened a small crevice , when all was quiet and tran ’ ni n quil as a midsummer ght s dream . O entering the room to acquaint his wife ‘ with what he had discovered l his voice was ost in the shriek of the demon wind . T hus night after night their rest was disturbed , until S h arah , t ough staunch and brave , began to think that the spirits o f evil had been let loose and were united to drive them from their stronghold ; but always with the return of day she convinced herself anew that the whole dis t u r bance was caused by the means of some human agency

‘ and her lips would set in a determined line and she wo u ld vow to solve the mystery . The phantom footsteps had not again been heard until one bright , moonlight night two months after their ar rival , when they were again awakened by the clank of n the chain on the sto e stairway . Sarah quickly arose and N T s hurried outside , followed by athan . here lay the stair no plainly Visible, but absolutely empty ; but there was 85 SH OR T STOR I ES AND POEMS

I t diminuti on of the noise of the dragging chain . ap h h the par ently came down step by step . W en it reac ed t t the bot om , instead of turning oward door leading to th e i t and e cav , kept on around the house down the steps h d so the li leading to the b e ach . Sara walke near gob n Chain ~ bearer that had there been a real chain sh e would t d o n i t The f e bu t have s eppe . . footsteps never alter d , ’ kept o n to the water s edge ; then there was a splash and A la and the s silence . round them y the moonlight him n a T meri g se . hey turned as with one impulse and looked ’ ’ N and each in the other s face , athan s pale and distorted ’ t H e Sa his knees all of a remble . clutched at rah s sleeve “ e a : T i s and , in a voice hoars with emotion , s id his the work of the devil ; there i s no use trying to fight agains t i m ” h ; we must go away . S t the arah stood perfec ly still , gazing intently out over u moonlit waters , as tho gh there she would find a solution I t to the mystery . seemed long to the impatient man before she withdrew her gaze and fastened it upon his T n ntn s face . here was in her eyes an i te ess of purpo e e he h e which mad him shudder , for knew t er was no hope o of altering her res lve , whatever it might be . “ N n I l o u t i t I atha , sha l find what all means before l ” eave. As i t s as o f she fin shed here was the fainte t breath , a sigh borne. past on the night wind . The was next evening oppressive, and about nine ’ The o clock they noticed the signs of a coming storm . darkness was occasionally li t by vivid electric flashes ; ea ch moment the pressure became heavier unti l breathing di fii cu lt At e —n a grew . last the storm brok o t a ph ntom t m h l s Th e n . e empest this ti e , but a real war of t e eme t 86

SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

o f t he had come to the end human endurance; the foo steps ceased and the chain fell away with a crash that woke the echoes of the old cave , which swooped down upon them, only to die away to a soft murmur , then

Changing to demoniacal laughter , race back and forth overhead and ﬁnally die away to a sigh so low as to b e

. The e come inaudible . absolute silence which follow d lasted for only a second, but it seemed to the two listen The ers that centuries passed as they stood there waiting . next sound which came to them was a grating, grinding noise , like rock rubbing against rock, and a new atmos pher e rushed upon them ; this was icy cold and corrupt as f T o a newly opened vault . here appeared a faint gleam of light , no bigger than a pin point , which grew and grew until it was as large as the headlight of a loco r I t motive ; in color it was an unearthly g een . would I n shrink, cower and almost go out , then ﬂare up again . a far corner there sat a ghoulish something, which had

Once been a human being, but was now nothing but a ghastly skeleton ; around the ankles was locked a rusty

t o . ne chain, fastened a staple in the floor O bony arm n o n was outstretched , the fi ger po inting to a spot the S wall . arah walked toward the place indicated , but just as she put out her hand to touch the stone the green efi u l ’ u t gence flickered and went o . Sarah s hand had been within an i nch of the spot and without perceptible pause o she c ntinued to reach forward , but it came in contact with nothing ; she stretched her arm to its full length o still n thing. For the first time her iron nerve was on

the point of giving way, but she controlled the terror h nd which seized her and , putting her a into her pocket, m found a atch and lighted the candle, which she had con 88 B Y AMERI CAN A UTH ORS

ti nu ed holding in her hand . When they became accus to med to the change from the inky blackness they fo u nd themselves standing at the foot of the steps leading above . n Mechanically they started up and , on openi g the door , found the sun shining brightly , only a slight crispness in the air suggesting the storm of the night before .

They turned with one impulse and looked at each other . N ’ athan s hair was as white as the driven snow , but with the exception of a great pallor Sarah seemed none the worse for her horrible experience . O n entering the kitchen they found Godfrey H umphrey

- and his servant , who was a great grandson of the former M S mate of the arie . arah related everything that had e happened sinc their arrival , from the first sound of the chain on the stone steps to the torturing experience of the night before . Godfrey expressed profound emotion, m st e but little surprise, as he had long connected the y rions deaths in his family with the disappearance of the smuggler . S arah volunteered to go again into the cave with them , but Nathan declared nothing would ever again induce him to set foot in the hideous place . The n next morning, after providi g themselves with a plentiful supply of torches , they started upon their The search . opening made by the Sliding stone was T found . his stone had been hewn out by the smuggler to exactly fit the aperture and was swung by an ingenious mechanism to move smoothly into place ; the secret apart ‘ ment was used, of course, for greater security in case of search . The skeleton sat in the corner , but instead of pointing w ith bony finger to the spot on the wall, the arms hung 89 SH OR T STORI ES AN D POEMS

s to limply by the sides . Sarah seemed by some in tinct s d pick out the loose stone , as it eeme to her compani o ns ’ an a e It a to ex ct counterpart of the oth rs . was now e sy I n x e e . a bo nlarge the op ning nside was ir on , which took the Combined str ength of the three to move from its long

h I n. e was . hiding place . With eager haste t lid removed

. h s o side were diamonds and ot er precious tones , als gold n coins from every cou try in the world . The wealth for which he had bartered hi s sou l had a H escaped the hands of Capt in umphrey . As they finished the examination all three turned to i T r ward the horrific figure h the corner . he e sat the

. no t skeleton of the smuggler , who in life had hesitated to rob and plunder and who in turn had been plundered of e the life , and whose restless spirit had walk d earth for t to n i u hi s more . han a century in order bri g retr b tio n to murderer . T hey turned with one impulse and left the sepulchre , closing the opening and leaving the bones of the murdered man to moulder quietly to dust and his soul to go at the appointed time be fore Ju dge of the quick dead . B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

H I E F THE H ASE TH E C F O C .

KRABER . By C . L .

e (I ncident tru . ! A RED deer lay in his bed hungry, H idden among the fallen, yellow leaves ;

“ n a - H e was tryi g to sleep under scrub oak tree, H i s feeble thought alert to know , H o w s to get needed re t and strength for the morrow, And his share of the tasteful Sheaves ; T here was no other with a better right, ’

i . o Since his sires good cla ms of l ng ago.

What had he done in all his life that trouble Should come to him again and agai n ? T n here was no pillowi g his tired head , hi s e n For weary body no r al resti g place. The u bitter plag e of his life was a dreadful fear always , T was hat a real , vital pain . And , then, to his quick ear came a startling sound “ For ! he must be th e Chief of the Chase !

The i ke s - u prairie ch c ns , with their tuft like wings p

raised , S a howing scarlet ﬂush in their necks , T - so heir far away booming crow , or appearing near , As they proudly strutted about . 9 1 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

Ma y have been heard in the burned prairie grass . r a O seen as far lively moving gr y specks . ’ Bu t hushed in wild nature s ﬁeld , their story, co u ld n o t With their own eyes , now be left out .

The wild geese on their path in air, fo r From lake and river to wheat ﬁelds food , in fright, S S pread wings upward again , gathering fresh peed, H n n t o urryi g back, not cari g stay , saw s When they the di cordance of things on land, And h soug t their native element in ﬂight . T heir notes of deep feeling and provocation,

Went out over all , and far away .

The keen eyes of the great hawk Were witnesses H e had bu t one object in his mind Up in wide circles soaring sunward ; The w t o deed belo was too much for him stand . The quails saw him and hovered closer, Bu t they were safe , he had no care for their kind ; U p there where he was , in a purer atmosphere, And so near a more peaceful land .

T heir faces at their holes , squirrels high and safe,

Looked on little chipmunk in despair, ' “ And i To with their express ve signs come up higher, H e soon had a better location . Th e woodsy creatures all along the scene that day H h i n eld their breat much fear and care . They were waiting for the spell to pass that would relieve And clear the situation . 92 B Y AMERI CAN A UTH ORS

n There was somethi g like a low and gentle murmuring, I n the purest morning air ; h I t was not alone the cattle , alf awake , ll * d A so listless , chewing cud for foo , n Pictures of patie t creatures , for the breakfast,

The man with the axe had to prepare . the t I n a way common all coun ry over, And everywhere well understood ;

Th e expected , happy fellow soon appeared , ’ As if he hadn t a single care . n n H e soon had i creased vibratio s in the air,

That was music very good to hear . “ H the e loved his neighbor as himself, just across

H e made all outdoors aware . S u ng and whistled , so miles around

K . new how and where he stood , particularly Clear

H e whistled while he cut dow n through The dried and fragrant grasses in the sample heap , And while he kept in tune to the measures he beat, I n n o n n u is n swi gi g the axe above his head , Made noise enou gh to exasperate in that country A nything awake or asleep . “ ” The deer got wind of him somewhere, and his pres

ence there , All the wild ones would have said . * I t is interesting to see cattle chewi ngt hei r cuds ; they s I t do it when quiet and apparently half a leep . is a lump o f food which they seem to swallow and bring up from their throats or stomachs , to Chew at leisure , breath sweet le meanwhi . 93 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

The l - n m an o t we l favored , you g , with u delay . N ear a barn , climbed up on a stack of hay . No n time was lost in cutti g it , to feed the stock,

‘ ’ With a keen- bladed woodsman s axe Bu t e e s he n h he was n rv d up to other ounds , for soo ear d ’ The notes of a deerhound s bay , b Following the trail of a deer close y , h i N c s . early done for , desperate in s tra k

H i s hanging tongu e and glazing eye B was etokened his fate , if help not quickly near ; Bu t e s let his tired f et could not top to him think , e For the near r approach of the hound, All o u t h friends of sig t , The d ay might as well have been darkest night

For the driven deer .

And his fright was so great that hi s speed as e at e a W less and l ss ev ry onw rd bound . H e saw n the swi g of the axe in the air, A nd h a and into the y , on the stack the man, And he remembered what his parents had told A e - bout the te th of the red mouthed brute, ’ Who n no was leavi g chance for the deer s escape , As s forward he almo t blindly ran . ’ Wh no t a ? Ti s n y alw ys not k own , The S Great pirit responded , there could be no dispute .

s n - e Pa si g on by the stack, the loud voic d hound went, More eager at the sight o f the deer ; The a d o m an foe n the deer, cl se to the , And the watchdogs waiting their time of alarm, 94

SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

so Like unto the many set in their craven part, H e lost in sight of the prize , And slunk a long way back to comrades like himself, l With downcast eyes and drooping tai .

And as from one tract to another with anxious heart And hope the deer circled back , To his home in the pathless woods , where his mates I n fear and faith timidly stood , T o n hanks to the man the stack , Bu t more to the curs that hated the lead of the pack, An ff n a ectio ate union led again , B y Supreme trust in Superior good .

There was stamping of delicate feet and grace ful limbs

Were posed at success achieved . The buck and the does , and the beautiful , spotted fawn Were in spirit grateful indeed ; E ’ very one s petition went to the clear skies , W here record was made and strain relieved . “ ’ Poor things , they knew Who noticed the sparrow s ” fall , n h A d not ing could their courage impede .

T ouched the spirits vibrant , ready and willing chord , ff Where e ort was not made in vain . H ushed the beseechings , where brave hearts and stead

fast souls , Among old forest trees conferred ; W hen to the lowly , in animate nature I s freely given courageous strain ,

‘ The intuitive blendings respond as peal o f bells, T o weakness of beast and bird . 96 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

Was it at all strange that somewhere near, A beautiful plan o f rare design was made ? And call it not unkind that a thoughtless lad ‘ O r co mm an canines should spoil a chase ; Bu t t , rather, delight in their earnes demonstratio ns ,

As supernatural aid . Large benedictions to commonest things ’ D e e ir ct, by more than nature s saving grac .

I no t i n m ndeed, may there have been any pleasant A “ ” closet here and there, ” And the doors of the forests gently Closed For a while of hushed and thoughtfu l season ;

While mute accents breathed out above, ’ O n the wildness o f nature s spirit-laden air ; o f From gratitude beast and birds, “ ” Fo r the open reward for very best reason .

97 SH ORT STORI ES AND POEMS

T AT H TA A RO COMI NG O W C COM G W.

S KE M By TH OMA WIC RSH A .

A a u n u t the head of navig tion , o t o P get Sound. o u hu o r o w s i o r Where y can nt: deer bear ; r , w m sail ;

Where you can catch ﬁsh from a shrimp to a whale .

(Cho rus !

’ W o i n the z d and e re g ng , going, goi g, from bliz ar the snow ; ’ Yes r to T m , we re going, going, going the e watch aco a grow !

’ There s where the tide and all the railroads will meet ; Where the Chinook winds kill the frost and the sleet ; ’ ’ There s where the storms and blizzards don t come near ;

Where the roses bloom, and lawns are green throughout

the year . (Chorus !

’ We re going, going, going, from the blizzard and the snow ; Y ’ es . T we re going, going, going, there to watch acoma grow ! 98

SH OR T STORI ES AND ‘ POEMS

THE URT H E AT CO OUS C .

T OM S K E M By H A WIC RSHA .

‘ B F E we o t t o n T mas E OR g tha splendid, y u g ho cat Th f e court house was full o mice and rats , And - they were digging , all round the court house walls ; ’ And n w t ld T o there is none left o hear o homas squalls .

Yo u the fﬁ and ! h may abuse judges , o cers all t at; Bu t curst be he who shall abuse o u r Thomas cat ! ’ — Thomas went courtin o ne night told Stenso he had a

snap . I n Th m —m d the alley omas et his rival y, but they ha a scrap !

Thomas so on saw it was no time for fun o r joke ; ’ Th T n Th s e rival licked homas, and o e o f omas legs wa “ ” bro ke ’ F r tenso T di d h o weeks . Jailer S homas leg bat e and

bind, And again we had as goo d a Thomas cat as yo u could

’ T e i n While homas leg was sore and y t rags, and H e lay in jail thinking, made some brags T u t hat when he got o again, and was good and well, s t T m s— h He wa going o give that other ho a well, e ’ wo u ldn t tell. me B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

When Thomas was well and ro amed the co urt-ho u se ’ o er , N0 mice or rats came in at any court-house doo r ; And n - if a stray o e did get into court house or jail , u T —h k O r homas got him e never was no wn to fail .

T ake warning, all mice and big, stray rats, ’ ’ Fo r T s your lives sake don t mix with homas cat . Bu t poor o ld Thomas is getting o ld and gray ; ’ H e lays himself o n Jailer Lincoln s bed and sleeps all

T o to o o ld to c o r so we set hi m h mas is atch rats mice,

free, And m t h the rats and mice ca e round o o ld a jubilee. All the boys in the court-house gave Thomas their last love ; — ’ The jailers gave hi m chlorofo rm no w he s catchi ng rats

1 0 1 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

E I EE TH Y H I D WH N S C L .

T M K M By HO AS WIC ERSHA .

I sw le i th c i WHEN see the eet litt ma d, y h ld , I kno w t o be thy Paladi n was my mistake ; Bu t when she gives me that childish smile I I kiss her , but on thee no pity will take .

I Si h kiss her, yes , kiss her, and never heave a g ; l v n e I See For youth and childish o e O her fac . ’ Yet sh e has her e s a n i e e , moth r ch ngi g, brill ant y T hat once ﬂashed friendship to poor me .

Thy family loves thee ; that t o thee I will impart ; ’ An I d won t envy thee thy happy life or pleasant lot . T I hough ungrateful you are , know in my heart I ’d I hate them if thought they loved thee not .

I me think thou playedst a cruel , Judas part ; My conﬁdence is broken ; o u r friendship is no more ; But thy poisoned dagger did not reach my heart M erely made me a stranger , not welcome at thy door .

’ Cu r s d be the eve I met thee at that park ; Bu t I oh , dreamed not how thou wouldst make it end, T two ill , months later, you stabbed me in the dark, And o f cut the very heartstrings your friend .

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SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

MI NER I I BERI THE AMERI CAN S N S A.

B OH N E y J W . K LLY .

FORTY strapping miners o With sh vel, pick and drill, Were ripping up Siberia F m to rom ountain peak rill .

They broke into the treasures B w elo the frozen mold, o o ld I c Where the h ary, e King H ad hi s o stored virgin g ld .

Th ey drained the icy marshes,

With mineral laden deep, And t e tore away h hillsides, h e was W er silver asleep .

’ They wakened up the echoes I n ff o f the e orts their lives , Till they met the native daughters And had fo r s a desire wive .

O nce married and settled , T fo r heir lust gold had ﬂown, And no w the hoary I ce King H ds the n ol treasure all alo e. I 0 4 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

N ME I RATE SONG OF A O P .

H N E By JO W. K LLY .

I WI SH I N were back in ome, ’ s Where everything s o ﬂeet, And the girl with the sunny hair

Cheers with a smile so sweet.

(Cho rus . !

I wish I were a thumb -nail Upon her ﬁnger -tips ; Every time she ’ d brush her ’ I d o touch her r sy lips .

I - love this can goods girl, Who lives in the Arctic town ; ’ ’ Fo r her I d steal Aurora s shield

i - To make her a wedd ng gown.

f Come all ye knights o the seas,

D t so _ rink o my lady fair, ’ r - I m N Fo to day away for golden o me, h To the girl with t e sunny hair .

1 0 5 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

ARCTI C SEASO NS.

B OH N E y J W . K LLY .

J UNE .

mor ni ng o r evening Bounds the d ay ; ’ As the sun goes round The s now melts away .

The streams have awakened ’ From Winter s sleep,

‘ And down rocky gorges The e torr nts leap.

The plains ar e mantled a s n With gr sse gree ,

SEP MBE TE R .

Lower sinks the su n Toward the hori zon ! ' ’ ﬂo w r s Faded are the , And the birds are gone .

red

SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

MAUD BO NNEY .

B OH N K y J W . ELLY .

M B PRETTY aud onney lives out in the West, Beyond the sunset in the land O f the blest And never was nurtured a maid more fair ’ I n this land where God s granaries bear;

Pretty Maud Bonney lives o u t in the West ; A ‘ girl of the country, above all the rest ; Th ere the men are all true and ﬁne And their women all are divine .

M B o u t Pretty aud onney lives in the West, A right merry heart has she in her breast, ’ A- O f throb with thoughts innocence, that s shed ’ c d Like a halo about the lear one s hea .

M B o u t Pretty aud onney lives in the West , Beyond the sunset in the land O f the blest ; ’ ’ ThO I m D f Ma the last of ecember, she the ﬁrst o y, I love her dearly every hour Of the day .

1 0 8 1 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

E H AD O F TH E R TH S OW OCK .

M . . BY I . SOLEY

I Lead me to the Rock that is higher than . Ps alms TH E pleasures O f earth are all blended with gloom ; Their radiance is quenched by the shroud and the tomb ; B watchest - n lest Father , who with all seei g eye, R I Lead me to the ock that is higher than .

I h ft know t at o crossing my pathway below , M e oving sadly along , roll d ep rivers of woe ; Yet unterrible with fear , will their margins draw nigh, n 1 With my feet o the Rock that is higher than .

When on shelterless heads beat the pitiless rain, ’ And O er pestilence stalks the desert like plain, I will safely repose , while the tempest sweeps by, I R I n the shade Of the ock that is higher than .

I no When wearily roam where clear waters burst, M n fo r y to gue and my heart well nigh failing thirst, I will haste where is found an unfailing supply T e R I o th great smitten ock that is higher than . 1 0 9 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

I know when an oasis blooming is found , ’ - B d Where fountains and palm trees like lim s aboun , That verdure is fed and those wells nourished by H R I idden springs in the ock that is higher than .

The summit is not gloomy, rugged and bare, For the sunshine o f H eaven rests eter nally there ; " ’ My ﬂight with the unwearied eagle s shall vie . TO R h I the top Of the ock that is igher than .

The armies of Satan will surely prevail Should I stay on the plain when their arrows assail ; Bu t he powerless t spirits of darkness pass by, I t R 1 While cling o the ock that is higher than .

’ Thank God for dread shipwreck o n life s stormy wave T hat the last earthly hope died , except Of a grave ; Fo r i s k k the wild b llow brea ing and hiding the s y , Washed me safe o n the Rock that i s higher than I

o r s o ne o ﬁnd how F the inking here t safety, blest The deeper the anguish , thrice sweeter the rest . T des ar i n si n- d s hen haste, ye p g, bur dene o ne , try The o f R h n shade the ock that is hig er tha I .

And o u o when y have f und it a covert secure, A fortress , which will through all ages endure, Y u o then will forever cease , wondering why I O f R a I thus sing the ock that is higher th n .

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SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

O f all the prayers that have to H eaven ascended, ’ Go d s lo ve has answered not ; e O f all the goodn ss and the mercy blended, u SO richly in o r lot .

Thou hast all there ; how o ft our feet have wandered ’ Fr o m du ty s path away ; H o w many gifts our careless hands have squandered ’ Upon the world s broad way .

H w besi de ‘ u s r o we have drank from streams ushing, To ﬁnd them Marah still ; ’ And u left life s river brightly, freely g shing ’ From Calvary s hallowed hill .

” Farewell Old Year ! and has thy last hour taken I ts everlasting ﬂight ? As from a tree, the latest leaf is shaken B y the autumnal blight .

Passed o n before ; your faithful reco rd surely Might wake foreboding fears B efore the judge you stand , the empanelled jury O f u r o departed years .

Before his august throne we see you gathering ; Yo u ' guilty , guilty , cry ; The voice Of justice , with a frown all withering, ” I s S o u , inner , y must di e. n a B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

’ u B t now, the Pleader s voice is heard, ascending, We have no hope beside ; “ ” - H e lifts his nail scarred hands , our cause defending, “ I ” An B . d cries ehold, died

M Justice and ercy wreathed in smiles , embracing, With rising faith we see ; T h heir voices chime, all clouds and shadows c asing,

LO ! . those condemned, are free

T hen, though the volumes , which the years are holding, Their heavy burden bring ; T hough each successive page in turn unfolding, Be marred and stained with sin ,

H i s We can before presence stand unfearing, S tand , when our cause is tried,

For this , the glorious truth , our spirits cheering, The Gr eat R edeemer i d d e .

1 1 3 SH OR T STORI ES A‘ND POEMS

I SH ES FOR TH E NEW YEAR W .

I M . BY S . . OLEY

’ i to From life s glow ng east its lengthening west , S I hall wish for thee all that the world deems blest , ’ Na y , but take life s cup , with its golden rim , O f H i m Lift it up with strong hands faith to , And ask it ﬁlled to the very brim

With a draught , though it may its lustre dim , ’ With a mixture H i s hand from life s grapes hath pressed ; H i s e Such as to wisdom and love s ems best .

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SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

I s - more than duty Love constrains us still . I n o f s H i s songs triumph angel laud name , H av n H i . e e shouts hosannas , ringing with s fame Gi ve us this day o u r daily bread and make U s a truly th nkful while we thus partake . Thi s day is all that Thou each day wilt give ; D a n y after day , depe dent thus we live. O u r Th lives , a debt we pay at y demand ;

D a Th h . ily we need y helping, ealing hand B a h re d still from eaven we pray thee , Father, give ; n A d draughts Of living water while we live . ’ F v o u r fo r Who orgi e sins , Jesus sake , died

U s t o H e . redeem , when was cruciﬁed O u r w sins as scarlet , ashed , become as snow ; D b s e t that would sink us cancelled thus , we know ,

As f . we the a ﬂicted , destitute , befriend

W e Th t o . beg y mercy may us , extend ’ v ! e kno s t Forgi e , O Lord giv what thou w we want ;

u r . O peace and pardon , thou alone canst grant D b s t o T e tor hee , we ever must remain ; L ead us t o live s o that t o die will gain s U heaven , as kings and priests , to reign . ’ o fo r o u r s fo r d N t akes , Jesus sake we plea ;

I nto H i s arms we ﬂy in every need . Tem ptati on here o n earth will soon be past ;

’ ’ ’ B u t i n Ch r i s t s strength we o er co m e at last . D l v S e i er us , dear aviour , and still give

U s power t o conquer evil while we live . F m S ’ O ! ro atan s wiles and snares , , set us free i T n T E v l hou canst destroy ; we lean o hee . F o r sin and Satan both shall be destroyed ;

Thi ne all the power in heaven and earth employed .

1 1 6 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

I s tw o ? it for us , worlds , such conﬂicts waged h D ’ ’ T e Prince Of arkness , gainst heaven s King gaged ? K m H ingdo Of eaven we pray to come, it will

Th e . earth at last , with all its glory ﬁll P w t o K o er and all glory its ing belong, An d angel choirs ascribe the same in song. Th e Saviour comes ! Th e time is drawing near ; t ! Glory o Go d ere long H e will appear . Forev er be H i s glorious name adored ! Am en ! H osanna ! Blessed be the Lord !

1 1 7 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

JESS AND I .

A BY R S. . . . WADE

’ ’ Twas sometime in March Of the year sixty - s i x O r r s o may be twelve months o later, U I o t nless have g my Old dates in a mix, Th e time when the lightning played o ne Of its tricks And split o u r Old shanty and scattered the bricks R educing the timbers t o kindling and sticks ; We could no t be in a more desperate ﬁx

Unless in a volcanic crater .

Th e h o u ouse , y remember, the spring we moved there

Was hardly j ust what we expected , Th e studding and bricks in the walls were all bare An d things were quite sadly neglected .

I t was at the best just a regular fright , Th e inside was perfectly fearful , We thought if we changed the soft - brick tint t o white ’ Twould look j ust a wee bit more cheerful .

Th e s hacki e t o o dingy Old we thought was small , ’ And hence we d increase its dimension , ’ We d do it that spring and no t wait till the fall

TO build us a little extension .

r O u cash account then was a little bit shy , ’ And borrow we just wouldn t try it , nd A imported lumber was dreadfully high , ’ SO high that we j ust couldn t buy it .

1 1 8

SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

And no w we have s kirmished and cleared up the way And come t o the time Of the story When two jolly urchins took part in a play T n hat might have bee tragic and go ry .

’ I d been t o the m ill and was o n my way back ’ And stopped as I passed Uncle Jesse s ; I n b u t la ! sho uld have gone o , a s and alack ' I o n co n ss s . w up , the gu ilty fe e

Er e o s I e m l ng Jes and w re absorbed in a ga e, The m arbles were ﬂying and popping, Bu t o n o r s am whether we w we lost was the e, r eeke no t n t We d and thought o Of s topping.

Bu t s as s o r I h omething w aid done , forget w at, And s m e Jes like a tiger sprang at , H e go t the true range and he measured the s po t n h s A d like a brave urc in he pat m e .

no I I cannot tell w, forgot long ago , I s o r Just whether tood went sprawling , I m o u B u t this re ember, as well y may know, hi I wanted t o give m a mauling .

he as o n T game w then up and the victory w , Th s e story wa suddenly ended ,

t And I w as clean ﬁnished and ready t o r u n s el ff And deeply and or y o ended .

1 2 0 B Y AMERI CAN A UTH ORS

I jumped o n the wagon and hurried away et Quite fearful that Jess would y get me, And did no t go back there for many a day

Till care had quite s orely beset me .

I a And no w will lead yo u a g y little dance,

Somewhat in the style Of carousers , A s nd call t o your memory an Old pair Of pant , ’

r o u s . O if y prefer, call em trouser

Perhaps yo u remember that John had gone wes t n fo r n o r A d stayed a wi ter summer, And n o t s whe he g back he was pretty well dre sed, n A d we thought that John was a hummer.

And h ne Jo n was a hummer in more ways than o , Bu t little we precious fools knew it, When we saw the surface we thought we were done B u t n Joh could see clean through and through it.

’ John s wardrobe included a vest and some pants T I hat thought decidedly fetching, I o u t thought they would wear , without any chance, r Without either shrinking o s tretching .

Bu t i t o - just l ke the bank accounts we have day, A to ccording my way Of thinking , Those fetching Old pants had a funny Old way f n n O most i conveniently shri king .

1 2 1 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

Fo r some unknown reason they grew less and les s , ’ Perhaps twas the tailor that made them ; ; t o o t h t John found them small and he swapped em o Je s s , I f ’ ’ John couldn t wear them he d trade them .

Bu t o u t as Jess soon found he w in the same b o x , T ant w o u ld hose p s hear nothing Of stopping, T t o t o o f s hey shrank till they came the p his ocks, T t o o f r hen Jess was ready o swapping .

And t o me Jess in his trouble came straightway , I O h I told him , , yes , would buy them, ’ I n didn t know what ki d Of ﬁt it would be , B u t I still would take them and try them .

T hose funny Old trousers the shorter they grew , S omewhat as a man drinking cider, h Grew j ust a bit thicker when measured straight throug , T t o hey seemed grow wider and wider .

’ I o t o ld g my trousers and stowed em away , ’ ’ I s stowed em and almo t forgot em , And put o n the shrinkers s o brave and s o gay ’ ’ And ' t u r ned em up chic at the bottom

Yo u have an Old photograph hidden away Concealed from my nephews and ni eces That shows the Old trousers that I thought s o gay

And crosswise t h e j olly Old creases .

I ! !

SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

O ne Spring Emma Kelly appeared o n the scene And I somehow it came that met her, no t n I thought her quite fair and over ninetee , ’ n I h r A d somehow co uldn t forget e .

I s SO o ver went and enjoyed her mile, An I d while in the house was wooing, Jus t outside the yard there beside the wood-pile

Some very Odd things had been doing .

Fo r Jess was o u t there and w as no t s awing woo d r s o No r whistling o singing gaily , B u t with a stern look that fo reboded no good H e cut him a solid shi llaly

And o u t in the woods w ith a dangerou s lo ok H t o e stood near the road waylay me , ’ ’ m t k H e d get me at last and he d bring e o boo , ’ ’ I d settle the bill o r he d slay me .

as I ﬁnished my call and w going away, fo r Was mounted and ready riding, When U ncle Jess called me and came o u t t o say

That Jess was o u t there and in hiding .

H e told me the rest in a voice plain and clear And no with suggestion Of honey , Then said in a voice that was rather severe “ ’ ” Why haven t yo u paid him his m oney ? 1 2 4 B Y AMER I CAN A UTH ORS

Th e thing w as s o boldly and suddenly sprung I That was just half way dumbfounded . fo r My nerves a moment were half way unstrung,

I feared that Jess had m e surrounded .

s w a I told Uncle Jes in a straightforward y , I Bu t no t with much snap did say it, I That Jess must apologize ere would pay , ’

no I d . And then , and sooner, pay it

I s And then could see the wild storm in the skie , Th e I dear man was mad and knew it ,

\ H e as I said , saw there was ﬁre in his eyes “ ” no do l Well, w sir, he never will it

I n t substance he plainly proceeded o say, I o u no t o u like y and will desert y , Y ’ ou d better go home by a roundabout way, H ’ I e s mad and fear he will hurt yo u .

h I w as t o o Just t en anxious g in a rush , ’ Fo r I didn t want a good baiting, And glanced quite uneasily down at the brush

Where Jess and his club were in waiting .

I n an t th e r k ew Old road running o no theast, n Just then any road was worth tryi g , I tightened the rein and I spurred up the beast n s I A d down through the wood went ﬂying. 1 2 5 SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

When Uncle Jess brought me t o book fo r the bill And d n score me for havi g delayed it , To save me from getting another good grill I ’ I didn t wait long till paid it .

I t n t hi k it was Fa her delivered the cash , ’ I n I i t well k ow that didn t take , That would have been baring my head t o the lash r o O daring a fellow t break it .

’ T s here come a sad day into every one s life , ’ U h e s nless a wee bit celestial , T o f n n hat leads into ways conte tio and strife , r O ways a wee bit more terrestrial .

I thi nk my bent toward th ose d ev i ous ways M l a t ust a w ys have been qui e potential , And o ft wh e n I t h i nk Of my bloody forays I t t seems o have been pestilential .

M fo r th e R y story is done , sequel ask eese , F o r n t n d he k ew the hi g nee ed righting , And he volunteered t o negotiat e peace I O r Jess and would have died ﬁghting .

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SH ORT STORI ES AND POEMS

h o f a o O , bring me the friends the long g day , The friends that were true and co nﬁdi ng ; Sweet memories o f them in a fadeless array Abide in my heart and I hi d them to stay ; h f n t O , theirs is the friendship that ades o away , ’ Th e an friendship that s true d abiding .

h me s o O , bring the loved ones that then were near, Whose warm and affectionate greeting I o n n tenderest cadences fell the ear,

R elieved every sorrow and dried every tear, Whose greeting s o dear we shall never more hear

Till hearts shall have ceased from their beating .

TH NI H E G T.

’ ’ T M h t -ﬁve was early in arc in the year six , y , To r S be mo e exact , the ﬁrst unday , I yoked up the oxen and started t o drive To CO Oper and thought that if I was alive And no t a I did get lost or bre k down , would strive To cover the distance and may be arrive n Some time in the evening o Monday .

No t sooner than o ne and no t later than two ’ I started northeast O er the prairie ; Th n e mud was quite deep and the roads were all ew, Th e wet places many , the dry places few , The I to o oxen were leary , somewhat so, , n t My whistling was chic but the ring was o true, I to I tried be brave but felt pretty blue, n I to A d vainly tried be merry .

1 2 8 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH OR S

Th e road ran northeast t o the house where Sam Shanks ’ H ad moved by the year sixty- seven ;

Then north through the lane , then northeast near the bank f o f o r O streams without culverts stone Of planks , t o Where mud struck the oxen half way the ﬂanks , Then north by the church that stands ﬁrst in the ranks

O f places that point us t o heaven .

To me it was only a church by the way , NO more than a peach o r an apple ; A place t o forget in an hour o r a day ; n n I SO whistli g a tu e as tried to be gay, I turned from the graves where departed ones lay And dreamed no t h o w Often o u r footsteps would stray ’ I n i n s n Ma winter s wild storm or blo somi g y, r Back t o o u dear Blackwater Chapel .

- I traveled along at a time killing pace , All o f thought celerity scorning, I o r ﬁgured but little with time with space, Fo r there was no need t o make much o f a race ’ To get before dark t o To m Si t li ngt o n s place t Where I was o stop till the morning .

R ight here I presume it is proper t o state — The oxen o u r Old To m and Jerry Were pokey and slow and they went such a gait That it w as my sad and unfortunate fate TO reach the To m Sitlington farmhouse s o late T s hat darknes was over the prairie .

1 2 9 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

The Si tli n t o ns I ll g , then , remember full we , “

Lived south Of the road quite a distance , ‘ Twas I almost a quarter, cannot just tell , And j ust by the road there meandered pell mell A branch that long after a long rainy s pell

When ram m unusual quantities fell , F o n s lowed in surprising per istence .

The o ff I as t k road that turned there , that w o ta e, s as o n W a plain the nose your face , sir ; I s aw the house plainly , knew they were awake , Th e — n lights were all burning , this tale is o fake I T ’ knew it was om s , there could be no mistake , ’ Yet spite Of all this , sir, and this takes the cake , I knowingly , willfully made such a break D o n S . rove by the itlington place , sir

The as sky w all murky , the clouds growing The wind was just howling and wailing ;

A leaky Old overcoat covered my back, ’ t o no t I d nothing eat , a bite Of hard tack , B u t giving the oxen a pretty sharp whack I t ried t o decide as I followed the track ’ r H o w soon twould be raining o hailing .

Yo u probably think I should stop and explain This very unique situation ; n i n I fear expla ation will all be vain , Y u I o likely will think that hardly was sane , I therefore will give yo u in words that ar e plain

A still more unique explanation . 1 30

SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

And said we were there and we there would remain T ill daylight was come , if it rained let it rai n , B u t there we would camp and be merry .

I o t g in the wagon , rolled up in a lump , And n i wondered what ext would b e d o ng. ’ I wouldn t h ave given a tiddle - de- dump

TO . o r send the stocks downward up with a j ump , Fo r I n t o C was beginni g feel like a hump , And guessing the weat her would soon play a trump I m feared it would show us a pretty bad slu p , Fo r t o something appeared be brewing.

I sat up awhile , then lay down on the seat , B u t found it t o o short and too narrow ; I I buttoned my coat and drew up my feet , And I o r s thus made ready for snow for leet , I Well knowing whatever might come should meet , M ust swallow the bitter along with the sweet , B u t s I s wi hed had been just a mite more di creet , ' s W hile ceaselessly , coldly the outheast wind beat t U ntil I was chilled o the marrow .

I' Off At last grew weary and dropped to sleep ,

And left my regrets and complaining. H o w long dear Old Somnus was minded to keep M e wrapt in a slumber s o dreamless and deep That nought could awake me t o worry o r weep I no t I know , but know that felt pretty cheap

O n waking t o ﬁnd it was raining . B Y AME RI CAN A UTH ORS

Sometimes it is best that we do what we d o

At once and not wait for reﬂection , ff I So down from that seat in a j i y ﬂew , ’ o t I G under it quick , twas the best that knew , n Lay down o my side as the rain trickled through ,

While wondering if ever a chap was so blue ,

Then fell into sad retrospection .

I lay there as grumpy as any O ld mule ’ W ithin Uncle Sam s whole dominion , I o f ﬁgured in logic every known school , I - ﬁgured by every logician made rule , And I there as lay with my side in a pool , n h o t o While i wardly although utwardly cool , ’ I I wisely concluded that was a fool ,

And never have changed my Opinion .

I t likely would tire y o u if I should relate Th e thoughts that fought wildly for voicing ; B u t ere I shall close I quite brieﬂy will state T I do t o hat all could was lie there and wait , R eproaching myself and bewailing my fate T l ill morning should come and the c ouds dissipate . ’ I t o Sam S I went precher s , my breakfast ate , The ff co ee , the ham , and the biscuits were great , T hen sadder, some wiser, a little bit late , I w o n ent my way at the same steady gait , B u t with precious little rejoicing . ’

1 0 1 o . , 7, 7

I 33 SH OR T STOR I ES AND POEMS

L MA O D SU CH.

BY E R A S. . . WAD

O h ! a t sumach , de r sumach that s ood by the wood ,

Where prairie and wo od came together , H o w Old shacki e precious the spot where the stood , ’ w Way back in the days hen the people were good, d When people elighted to live as they should , As people could live at this day if they would , Th e days when we had all the fun that we could , h NO matter o w sto rmy the weather .

T To m here bonnie dear wore a white overcoat , My pants were Of j eans bright and yellow ; ’ And S s a am jolly smile alw ys captured the vote , And wit h his red hair was a sure antidote To blues and the like in those dear days remote , Fo r Sam was a jolly go od fellow .

I w ent t o their home and we studied at night ’ And tailed o er the work o f the morning ; F o r Tommy was always s o quick and s o bright ’ ’ H e d capture a thought when twas clear out of sight And no t i n show us dull boys we were the ﬁght, H e c i n leared up the way and he let the light , H e brought down the game and he brought it down a With never moment Of warning. 1 34

SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

" h e - S went w hen the earth was white mantled with s no w, Sh e o went where the rarest and fairest ones g , s So pure and o gentle her spirit .

And B ettie , so quiet , so noble and true, And Emma s o bright and s o clever ; And s Lizzie , o bonnie, with eyes that were blue , ‘ H er t o o beautiful sister who came there once , , O h ! s h e — no t d o was the fairest but this will , ’ r I l Fo this is a story l never tell yo u .

o r . For love for money, no, never

And R R b o obert , dear obert , magniﬁcent y , A b o y wholly given t o duty ; A b o w y in hose heart there was nought Of alloy , t o o Whose whole aim it was disseminate j y , Th e t o t o right build up and the wrong destroy , And t o t o o r never hinder , vex annoy ,

A life unsurpassed in its beauty .

n o f A d William , my best friend all in that day, A t o o o f friend , , all round about him ; o u r We roamed in the wood when spirits were gay, t w We s a side by side hen the rest were at play, ff We walked in a ection that nothing could stay , ’ T e s ill d ath s cruel ummons called William away ,

And lone has the way been without him .

l O h ! jolly o d rollicking , rickety shack , Th e dearest o ld spot o n the planet; h o f t o I T e place all places which look back , Where even the slowest went lickety- whack ;

1 36 B Y AMERI CAN A UTH ORS

’ ’ I d rather tread there though twere long gone t o rack Than dwell at the top o f a sky - scraping stack e Constructed o f marble and granit .

h ! - - O jolly Old weather stained , storm beaten shack , W ith sumach and hazel brush near it ; o n W ith boards up and down and a strip each crack , Though roasting in front while we froze at the back ; T here all was contentment with nothing to lack ,

A thousand sweet memories endear it .

h ! O glad were the days when we knew the old shack , And dear were the hearts that were in it ; Th e D oct or poss essed the desirable knack o T win every heart though his rule was not slack ,

We always pushed forward and never turned back ,

We pulled fo r dear life every minute .

h e D T octor, well posted and sharp as a tack , D etested a sham o r a swindle ; ’ When noon - day was come and we d eaten o u r snack And o u r ﬁnished the hour with racket and clack , And D octor was ready t o summon us back H e took down a stick that he kept o n a rack f And larruped the side o the bonnie Old shack , ' And larruped again with a lickety - whack

- Till in we came lickety brindle .

h ! r i r o ar i n k O p g, racy , delightful Old shac , W here never was envy o r scorning ; N t and o far from threescore now, alas alack, I 37 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

u r Old l O weary burdens we soon sha l unpack, And no o ne o enter the valley whence c mes back,

To s leep till that gloriou s morning .

nd o h ! n m a e A whe we wake , when we wake y w

' U no e v p there where more w shall se er, A fo r o u fo r mong the bright mansions y and me , O ne s h acki e s o dear little , bonnie and wee , s a b o o f With holes in the wall and y full glee ,

A fair little maiden from sorrow set free, And t o dear ones dwell in that home that shall be , T o dwell there forever and ever .

D ear vanished Old sumach and vanishing crowd, H o w tender the ties that then bound us ; A a way from the giddy , the g y and the proud, A way from the learned , the wise and endowed , A ’ way from earth s symphonies swelling and lou d , n We soon shall have ought but the pall and the s hroud ,

With shadow s and darkness around us .

r s a s H o w warm are o u heart and the feelings th t w ell , H o w tender the ties that still bind us ; We ’ ll soon reunite and forever shall dwell o h t o With loved ones redeemed , , glad story tell , And w H i m who d elling with all things doeth well ,

s , Leave shadow and darknes s behind us .

The years that have ﬂed si nce the long ago day

We left the old schoolhouse in sorrow , The friends kind and true that have vani s hed away s o to Like ﬂowers that blossom soon decay, 1 38

SH OR T STORI ES AND P OEMS

Er e long will the winter frosts fall on the head , ’ E r e long shall we hear the grim harvester s tread And s o reap , as a sage has truthfully said , Th e harvest we long have been sowing.

And no I t o w must bring this long scrawl a close , And send it along o r else burn it ; And which would be better the dear only knows ; ’ I I ll s o s guess , though , risk it , forward it goe , o f Away from the land content and repose, s o Where nature her beauty richly bestows , A way from the land where the orange tree grows , The o f o f land the lily , the land the rose , A s way through the poppy ﬁelds , over the snow , To o ld where our sumach friends, half the year froze, The other half dream o f some worse kind o f woes ; I f o ld for your chummies your friendship still glows , And o f ff warmly the tide a ection still ﬂows , Send onward this letter the way the wind blow s ; ’ B u t t o if my good plan you re inclined oppose , And o u if at this letter y turn up your nose , Then wrap the thingup and return ’ 4, 1 , 0 6 .

1 40 B Y AM ERI CAN A UTH OR S

I TH E H O ME O N TH E H LL .

A AD . BY R . . S . W E

’ Yes I , recognize the old home mid the trees

Where cedars and maples are growing, Where o ft I sat watching the birds and the bees

While soft summer breezes were blowing.

Where often I sat w hen the earth was in bloom And o f dreamed the years that were coming, O r pensively lay and inhaled the perfume An d heard the gay grasshopper drumming .

We gazed at the glorious tints o f the dawn And saw the whole heavens illuming, O r followed the butterﬂy over the lawn And out where the clover was blooming.

Where once a gay apple seed ﬂipped o u t and sped ’ At J . S. s noggin and spat it ; H e t I no t o f said hat hit a hair his head ,

No . wonder, just run and look at it

’ T l - was ate in the winter, eighteen sixty three, O r when early March winds were blowing The year my wild oats grew as high as could be An f d yet never paid o r the sowing .

1 4 1 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

And I no t s am ure that it ever does pay ,

‘ ’ B u t w n hen we are young we don t k o w i t, We se ek fo r the crop we can garner to -day And o w e s o have a g od time hile w w it .

Bu t I t o here am preaching a sermon yo u , ’ E m e I t xcuse , didn t in end it, T o u fo r hat ill would repay y . that pretty view o u s o t o When y were kind as send it .

’T M I was arch , as said , may be earlier still , And I was ﬁfteen and quite merry , The ﬁ rst time I saw that o ld home o n the hill T n o u t o n hen sta ding quite the prairie .

— Th e house was o f logs this is only a gues s

Just such as the writer was born in ,

I o M r . . S. think it was logs , g ask J ,

Like those we sometimes put the corn in .

t o r no Bu logs logs it was there all the same , A n d kept the wee family together, n o f o r o f o r o f A d whether logs , brick frame

I t kept o u t the wind and the weather.

And south o f the house was the o ld roadway th en o f And west the house was the stable , — I ken Th e farming land was well , just dinna , ’ I ’m I v e gone j ust as far as able .

1 42

SH OR T STORI E S AND P OEMS

th e d o u r e We drove in barnyard and unhitche t am , Somewhere there just east o f the stable, And ate a good supper with s ugar and cream ’ l t M r . o d A dear Fleming s table .

Then Newton and I left the poor refugees And t o t h e hied ourselves back wagon , ’ And to w e e then be sure that , wouldn t quit freeze

We took a slight turn at the ﬂago n .

T W 1 11 hat turn at the ﬂagon keep bobbing up , So I will just st op a nd explain it ; T I t e hough yielding in boyhood toyed with h cup , I No t no no t . once , once did drain it

Fo r s t o o Father advi ed me ere it was late _ D I no t n 1 t ear man , meant he should k ow , And under his guidance I kept pretty straight

And managed quite soon t o outgrow it .

’ nd I m o f I A though ashamed the record made, ’T I was only three times consented , ’ I Twas only three times was near the down grade, / ’ - Yet fo r ty three years I v e repented .

’ T l I he was on y three times that tackled t rye , t as t o Ye that w j ust three times o often , I always walked straight but I stepped pretty h igh ! I And stopped ere go t t o my cofﬁn .

I 44 ‘ B Y AMER I CAN A UTH ORS

’ ’ I v e I v e Sometimes been down and sometimes been up , ’ n I v e A d sometimes been pretty frisky , ’ ’ - I v e f B u t since sixty three steered clear o the cup ,

A resolute foeman t o whisky .

I f no t in my youth , then , ah , there is the rub ,

Good people, right there is the question , I t might have come later and raised a hubbub

And been o f much harder digestion .

Perhaps it was well that I journeyed that way n A d saw and escaped dissipation , r I t o Fo rising above it rose there stay,

And live far above all temptation .

’ Perhaps yo u will say as yo u ponder this o er “ I t t o might have been well conceal it , ’ You ve kept your o w n counsel four decades o r more ” What good does it no w t o reveal it ?

o u I Perhaps y are right and perhaps am wro ng, t I no t A any rate will press it , Bu t when we get tripped as we journey along, t o r t I humbles u pride o confess it .

I knew yo u good people would shy at the tale A o ld bout that suspicious ﬂagon , ’ ’ And I v e I ll o t o now explained g back the trail , — h Where were we O , yes , at the wagon . 1 45 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

Old We found an sheepskin , some carpets and traps, Though limited somewhat in number, And yo u may be s ure we were pretty cold chaps f r When ﬁnally ready o slumber .

I n ﬁxing o ur bed o i the Old household tru ck us We did j t the best we were able, Yet s o n stu k up through the middle. there tubb r ly c Th e le an l n g Of o d kitche table .

And s undry sharp corners were under o u r backs And di ver o ld s pots and a kettle, While March winds aforesaid blew in thro u gh the cracks

And constantly tested o u r m ettle .

s I o I lept and I woke and wriggled ab ut, I I slept and dreamed it was snowing , I s hook till I thought that my bones wo uld drop o u t ’ While waiting fo r chanticleer s crowing .

Bu t Newt s oon awoke pretty jolly and gay

And cheered up my spirits all drooping, H i s genial good nature was all in a play

And soon we were laughing and who oping.

Thus gaily we drove all o u r sor row away u s And wished it would nevermore ﬁnd , And then we were o ff at the dawn o f the day

And left the o ld farmhouse behind u s .

SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

TH E O LD D I NNER H O RN .

BY A . R S. . . WADE

O h do o u ? , y recall it , the little tin horn Ah I , well , very well remember ; r When far , far aﬁeld in the meadow o corn , o r With spirit aglee with spirit forlorn , O u r - f labor grew near the fag end o the morn , O f t o o r t o all earthly sounds persuade warn , I t s I tone was the sweetest heard since was born , I n A o r N . pril , in June ovember

O h h s o , glad was the eart and swift were the feet, And blithely o u r spirits were ﬂowing ; Th e forest was gay and the ﬂowers were sweet t o Whenever its welcome tones called us eat ,

When that dear o ld horn we heard b lo wmg.

Sometimes in my m usings I picture the day

When ﬁrst that old horn was set blowing, The bonnie wee girls that came in from their play And t o t he wanted tote new tooter away , T no t s o n no t s o a heir dress moder and eke g y , Th e same girls whose heads are now sprinkled with

Who soon t o their rest will be going .

O r was it before any b ai r ni es had come That olden time home t o make brighter ? ’ Er e M - t o other s Old spinning wheel started hum , 1 48 B Y AMERI CAN AUTH ORS

’ E r e o o f tr uble and toil were the chief life s sum , ’ Er e girlhood gave place to life s weary humdrum , Those years when her burdens were lighter ?

I t may be o u r grandmother brought it along O ne day when she came with her sewing ;

-ﬁeld w ai t ed While in from the hay were a song , Th e o f - - ring the crum crick in merry ping pong , The o f swish the scythe in arms steady and strong ,

From where the haymakers were mowing .

And whence came the money that settled the bill ? O r was the bill paid in hard money ? I t might be that Father rode over the hill Conveying an o ld -fas h 1o ned grist t o the mill And eke t o the store with a hearty good will r Some eggs o a few pounds o f honey .

And when at the eve he came home from the mill And brought home the grist from the milling, H e brought th e o ld horn t o his bride o n the hill A waiting him there with her heart all athrill , D l ressed plainly in insey w ith never a frill , u t f B ready o r co oing and billing.

And fo r n then amuseme t they tested it there,

While standing outside in the gloaming, With hair- raising screeches and heathenish A larming the neighbors and splitting the air, And giving the cattle and horses a scare T k hat sent them s yho o t i ng and roaming . 1 49 SH OR T STORI ES AND POEMS

n u r m t o her es t Go e , gone is o grand other, gone r , Who chided us times without number ;

B u t o r ~ b les s i n fo r chiding g she did the best , ’ h e H S did her whole duty at eaven s behest ,

Sh -at I f B e slumbers rest in the sles o the lest, An i d peaceful a nd sweet s her slumber .

And gone are the couple that sto od by the gate And blew the o ld horn in the gloaming T fo r b ai r ni e hey toiled the s both early and late , l When young in their prime and when o d and sedate , T s m t o hey went at the call , they ub itted fate , And t h s t i r ni e long are e year o the b a s who wait, n A d weary their feet i n their ro aming.

th h And weary e eart and so dreary the day, And lonely the ‘ r o ad we ar e go i ng; And s slowly the feet tread the long, du ty way . The and s i s ﬂowers are dead the fore t gray, The s i s o s h ma mu ic sad , t uch the chord as t ey y, And hushed are the voices for ever and aye

We heard when the o ld ho rn was blo wing.

An n i s the h n i h r h d go e or w t o u alc yo n days , I t s dust with o u r lost ones i s s leeping ; I t h z vanis ed away in the mist and the ha e, I t s d th echoes are ead , buried deep in e maze f ’ i O childhood s sweet land , where we w stfully gaze, ’ s s As fade its fair heights in the s u n dying ray ,

While nought comes t o us but o u r weeping . 1 50