Poets and Poetry of Indiana
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022020337 From a sleel engraving. MRS. SAKAH T. BOLTON. POETS AND POETRY OF INDIANA A REPRESENTATIVE COLLECTION OF THE POETRY OF INDIANA DURING THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF ITS HISTORY AS TERRITORY AND STATE 1800 TO 1900 COMPILED AND EDITED BY BENJAMIN S. PARKER AND ENOS B. HEINEY WITH PORTRAITS SILVER, BURDETT.AND COMPANY NEW YORK BOSTON CHICAGO Copyright, 1900, By silver, BURDETT AND COMPANY. They learned to sing in Nature's solitude, Among the free wild birds and antlered deer; In the primeval forest and the rude Log cabin of the Western pioneer. * * * * * They loved the whisper of the leaves, the breeze. The rune of rivulets, the trill of birds, And their best songs were echoes caught from these, Voices of Nature set to rhymed words. * * * * H: A few were gifted with transcendent power. As God's evangels sent to loose or bind. Others inherited a lesser dower. But all were fitted for the work assigned Sarah T. Bolton (^adapted). PREFACE. It has been the aim of the compilers and editors of this work to make a representative collection of the poetical writings of Indiana people, native and resident, embracing the century which spans the life of the com- monwealth as Territory and State. The task has not been prosecuted in a narrow, provincial spirit, or with the notion that mere verse can be dignified into poetry and given fame by the partiality of local collectors. It is believed that these selections generally will be found to possess those vital qualities of force, suggestiveness, and beauty which are the essentials of true poetry. At the same time the design of the volume has not per- mitted an adherence to a severely critical standard. A goodly number of the authors represented have won a national reputation, but many names also appear that are only locally known, and some whose memory has faded since our fathers and mothers fell asleep. If these are not all to be ranked among the greater poets, yet they have sung a few songs very sweetly, and have helped to make the honorable literature of the State. A single poem, or its equivalent in two shorter ones, from each of five prominent poets — John Hay, Joaquin VI PREFACE. (Cincinnatus Heine) Miller, Will Wallace Harney, James Newton Mathews, and John James Piatt — has been included in the volume, because of the fact that these authors were born in Indiana, though the work which has redounded so much to their renown has been performed in other States. All the other poets repre- sented have done a portion of their work, at least, while citizens of the State. The editors have felt the delicate nature of their undertaking, and have striven to carry it through with absolute impartiality; yet it is quite probable that they have failed to represent some whose work would entitle them to recognition. Any suggestions that may enable them to correct, in a future edition, the errors of omis- sion or judgment into which they may have fallen will be gratefully received. Meantime, they beg leave to make most cordial acknowledgments to the living authors represented in this volume, and to the friends and relatives of those poets who have passed away, for their full and hearty cooperation ; also to the literary people of the State generally; and to the publishers of copyrighted poems, to whom credit is given in the proper connections, for privileges and favors extended. B. S. P. E. B. H. CONTENTS. POEMS OF PATRIOTISM. VUl CONTENTS. Little Boy Blue D. M.Jordan A Lullaby .... Esther Nelson Karn Little Brown Hands . Mary Hannah Krout " " Fot would you take for Me ? Silas B. McManus Tribute to a Child . Oran K. Parker . A Requiem Robert E. Pretlow Granny's come to our House James Whitcomb Riley Out to Old Aunt Mary's . The Lost Kiss . Come Back, Little Children Cornelia Laws St. John Six Little Feet on the Fender tt It It t( Baby's Serenade George Stout The Patter of Little Feet . Susan E. Wallace The Lost Child . Elizabeth Conwell Wilson POEMS OF HOME. Grandfather Albion Fellows Bacon . A Cottage Portrait Clarence A. Buskirk . Longing for Home . Sarah T. Bolton . Lust ..... Allan Simpson Botsford New England . Henry W. Ellsworth . The Warden of the Stairway Elijah Evan Edwards The Hoosier's Nest . John Finley . The Cottage James B. Martindale . When She Came Home Gavin Payne Deserted .... John N. Taylor . On Crossing the AUeghanies Laura M. Thurston The Green Hills of my Fatherland POEMS OF SENTIMENT. Moonlight on the X,ake Albert Charlton Andrews Compensation . Marie L. Andrews At Seventeen . Granville M. Ballard Robin's-egg Blue Margaret Holmes Bates As we Treasure G. Henri Bogart . Love's Prayer . Mattie Dyer Britls Woman and Artist Alice Williams Brotherton Passing . CONTENTS. IX Kalmia Jeromt C. Burnett Piloted . Emma N. Carleton Bubbles . In the Golden World Isabel Lee M. Louisa Chitwood Chanson . Ida May Davis Hope — Memory it tt (( My Mother's Easy Chair Sidney Dyer Things yet to Be Alfred Ellison To-morrow S. W, Gillilan To Viola in Heaven Jonathan W. Gordon Jimmy's Wooing William Wallace Harney Leander to Hero Benjamin Daveiiport House Viverols David Starr Jordan Rosemary . D. M.Jordan Love's Coming Richard K. Lyon A Fancy . Arthur W. Macy The One that Died Llettie Athon Morrison Do I love Him . Mary E. Nealy The Little Shoe The Old Bouquet Edwin E. Parker A Toast to Brown Eyes Gavin Payne " " Come, go a Piece Alonzo Rice . The Picture that hangs on the Wall Peter Fishe Reed Sabbath Chimes Olive Sanxay Thinking of Her George Stout Mother's Love . W. D. Wallace Mother's Spirit Elizabeth Conwell Wilson POEMS OF NATURE. Morning . Marie L. Andrews The Prophet . Albion F. Bacon . The Snow-Birds R. G. Ball . Midsummer M. E. Banta My Native Woods Bessie Johnson Bellman Dusk The Sweet South Wind Horace P. Biddle Mont Blanc Sarah T. Bolton . CONTENTS. The Summer Storm . Louisa Vickroy Boyd . The Ragged Regiment Alice Williams Brotherton Magnolia . Jerome C. Burnett ti tt Marsh-Mallow . The Clouds Clarence A. Buskirk . The Iron- Weed Kate M. Caplinger The Sweet o' the Year Emma N. Carleton The Wood Thrush . Hannah E. Davis When the Leaves come sailing Down William T. Dennis The West . Amanda L. R. Dufour The Thunderstorm . Julia L. Diimont The Spider Elf John Gibson Dunn To a Ruin Elijah Evan Edwards My Native Stream Jerome Bonaparte Girard The Star and the Sea Jonathan W. Gordon . Mount Ranier . Frank W. Harned The Bonny Brown Quail Lee 0. Harris The Battle of the Winds and the Corn It It The Watermelon Edwin S. Hopkins The Dying Day Ben R. Hyman . Evening at Ardrossan Narcissa Lewis Jenkinson The Wistful Days Robert UnderwoodJohnson Bob White Annie Fellows Johnston White River Josie V. H. Koons Stubble . Mary Hannah Krout Old Brown's Head Jennie G. Kinley The Day's Burial Frances Locke A Pastoral James B. Martindale The Old House Fly James Newton Mathews June Roses Hettie Athon Morrison The Wind Patrol Meredith Nicholson Christmas in the Pines The Bonnie Brown Bird in the Mul berry Tree . Rebecca S. Nichols Apostrophe to the Sun Richard Owen Rainy Days at the Farm William W. Pfrimmer Indian Summer John W. Shockley The March Frosts . Evaleen Stein CONTENTS. XI PAGB The Marshes Evaleen Stein 204 Honeysuckles William B. Vickers 206 To the Ohio River .... Bessie H. Woolford 207 SONGS AND SONNETS. Song of the Sea Robert H. Brewington The Edge of the Woods Jethro C. Culnier In September . The Red Bird in Winter Evening Song . Ida May Davis Affirmation Orpheus Everts Garfield and Lincoln Inspiration Elizabeth E. Foulke (f n Easter Hymn . A Sonnet . Edwin S. Hopkins Grant Benjamin Davenport House Were it but True Revealment An Irish Love Song . Robert UnderwoodJohnson To William W. H. Mc Curdy A Sonnet ...... Freeman E. Miller Wherefore ? Daniel L. Paine . Fragrance . Benjamin S. Parker Midnight Song of the Mocking Bird . Robert E. Pretlow Calling the Cows Herman Rave A Country Scene .... Alonzo Rice To June Renos H. Richards Pan James Whitcomb Riley Genius ...... Olive Sanxay Heart Song Evaleen Stein Nirvana ...... Howard S. Taylor The Wabash Maurice Thompson The Songs vfe Sing . Ollah P. Toph . Song Lew Wallace Kapila ...... My Song Susan E. Wallace Unuttered Poems W. De Witt- Wallace A Harvest Song . Louisa Wickersham Xll CONTENTS. IN DIALECT. Some Way or 'Nother G. Henri Bogart Autumn .... Noah J. Clodfelter The Heavy-sot Man . Richard Lew Dawson- Owed to Turkey Charles Dennis . Wher' the Ole Folks Is . Alfred Ellison Bachelor's Hall John Finley . " ' Dig dem Dan'line Greens ! Mary Hockett Planner To James Whitcomb Riley Willis Wilfred Fowler The Difference . S. W. Gillilan Polly-pods Silas B. McManus it (( The Flicker on the Fence . " " Pap's come back ter Indiany William W. Pfrimnier " " Stirrin' Off . Joseph S. Reed Nothin' to Say . James Whitcomb Riley The Theng Henry W. Taylor MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. Two Views Marie L. Andrews The Old Church Mrs. Albion Fellows Bacon In Quiet Hours Margaret Holmes Bates Only a Dream . Poetry Horace P. Biddle . Quatrains . If I were the Light of the Brightest Star .... Sarah T. Bolton . My Teachers and Hearers Paddle your own Canoe Youth and Age . Ethel Bowman The Lost Hope Louisa V. Boyd . The Immortality of the Soul Albert Fletcher Bridges In His Name . M. Sears Brooks . Vanquished Unawares .... Alice Williams Brotherton On a Fly-leaf of Shakespeare Clarence A. Buskirk .