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31 Ureciott* Qzxvzl 
 
 BY 
 
 Henry Sylvester Bedaine 
 of illinois 
 
 Commemorating 
 
 The Events op Saturday, July Fifth 
 
 Anno Domini Nineteen Two 
 
 and Other Pleasant 
 
 Impressions 
 
it*.*. 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 CONGRESS, 
 
 Tvvo Copies Reosivfd 
 
 rtoPVRrOHT ENTPY 
 
 CLASS ft^XXc. No 
 
 H- t> <j \* f 
 COPY 3, 
 
 Copyright, 1902 
 
 BY 
 
 Henry Sylvester Bedaine 
 
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 c c c c e 
 
 148 
 
 
TO THAT 
 
 PRECIOUS JEWEL 
 
 THIS 
 
 TOKEN OF ESTEEM 
 
 IS LOVINGLY 
 
 DEDICATED 
 
Preface * Prelude 
 
P R E C 1 O XJ S J EWE L 
 
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 DHIS work has been prepared for the exclu- 
 sive use of one whose life, overflowing 
 
 with the sublime graces of ideal loveliness, has 
 suggested its title. 
 
 But the radiance of these graces transcends 
 the sparkle of the most Precious Jewel ; is 
 more tender than the light of evening's silver 
 stars; is sweeter than the fairest flower that 
 sheds its fragrance in valley or on hillside. 
 
 Is it strange that the living Jewel, the pearl, 
 should be the birthstone of one so Precious ? 
 
 May this beautiful life, this Precious Jewel, 
 whose passing touch has proved an enduring 
 inspiration, long be preserved, a blessing to every 
 one with whom it comes in contact. 
 
 Truly, 
 
 " It is these that are worth the praises of earth, 
 For we find them but once in a while " 
 
 The Author. 
 
 Spring-field, Illinois, 
 
 August 5th, 1902. 
 
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PRECIOUS J i: W IE L 
 
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 'VE traveled o'er this mundane sphere, 
 north, south and east and west; 
 Among the charming scenes of earth, I've 
 
 viewed some of the best — 
 On inland seas, whose waves of green are 
 
 capped with grains of gold, 
 Or 'neath Niagara's mighty flood — a wonder 
 
 to behold. 
 
 I've been in old Missouri, where you always 
 
 must "show me" 
 And where boys "carry" girls to church, in 
 
 sunny Tennessee ; 
 But of all trips ever taken — and some were 
 
 grand ones, too, — 
 The best of my experience permit me to 
 
 review. 
 
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Cbe Crawlers tale 
 
A PRECIOUS J E, W E, L 
 
 ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 DWAS 'way up in "My Michigan/' in 
 ., Clinton county, near 
 
 The rippling brook called Lookingglass because 
 
 it is so clear, 
 That a gentle little pony in the shafts once 
 
 looked so neat, 
 And, neighing, offered us a ride if we would 
 take a seat. 
 
 When thus Miss Mary and myself were started 
 
 on our way, 
 It gave me pleasure to remark, " 'Twill be a 
 
 lovely day." 
 As it had rained for weeks and weeks, till the 
 
 beet fields wouldn't drain, 
 Miss Mary smiled as she replied, "'Twill — 
 
 if it doesn't rain." 
 
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PRECIOUS JEWEL 
 
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 We met a good old lover when we'd passed the 
 bridge a bit. 
 
 He bowed and spoke in charming tones, 
 "It's a nice day, isn't it?" 
 
 As I had been forewarned I held a quite atten- 
 tive ear, 
 
 And heard a softer voice reply, (v) "It always 
 is, ray dear." 
 
 No matter though the skies be black, with 
 
 tempests all about, 
 And sugar beets their feet get wet, till the 
 
 sugar all soaks out ; 
 Though thunders roll and torrents fall from 
 
 darkening clouds above, 
 "The world is full of beauty when the heart is 
 
 full of love." 
 
 ^•J?^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
A PRECIOUS JEWEL 
 
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 Then, as we passed along the road, we spoke 
 
 of Sunday school, 
 And thought it paid good girls and boys to 
 
 mind the Golden Rule. 
 We found the next day's lesson based upon 
 
 "The Manna Sent/' 
 Then talked about the Epworth League, with 
 
 Mary — President. 
 
 We thought the League a worthy move, designed 
 to do much good 
 
 By giving useful work to do and richest mental 
 food; 
 
 In fact, discussed most everything true, laud- 
 able and right, — 
 
 And how high the neighbors' chickens perchance 
 might roost that night. 
 
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A PRECIOUS j E W E I 
 
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 Now, Mary was a schoolma'am, and, ^twas said, 
 
 a good one, too, 
 So T asked her how she managed the unwieldy 
 
 to subdue. 
 [The other teachers whip with sticks, and 
 
 frown, and scold, and fret, 
 Then fail.] Said she, "I rule with love; this 
 
 secret don't forget." 
 
 This love must be an awful thing ; — it terrorizes 
 
 boys; 
 Makes little girls afraid to talk or cause the 
 
 slightest noise; 
 Prompts older folks to quarrel sometimes — 
 
 at least, they tell me so — 
 Don't quote me as authority; I do not claim 
 
 to know. 
 
 4* 4* 4* 4* "4* 4* 4* 4 4* 4* 4* 4* 4 
 
A P R K C 1 O U 8 J E W E L, 
 
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 We came upon a farmer who was raking up 
 
 his hay. 
 I asked him how Miss Mary ruled her school 
 
 in such a way. 
 As his visage filled with sunshine, he exclaimed, 
 
 "I tell ye, sir, — 
 Precious Jewel — they just couldn't — couldn't 
 
 help a lovin her!" 
 
 For fully two long seconds then I couldn^t speak 
 
 a word, 
 So Mary introduced a song — a song Fd never 
 
 heard. 
 The anthem was, "My Michigan," and, well, 
 
 the least to say, 
 "Banks of the Wabash" lost its charms with 
 
 "Good Bye, Dolly Gray." 
 
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PRECIOUS J E, WEL 
 
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 My cousin's home we reached ere long, Rosalie 
 
 Hodges' place; 
 For eighteen circuits 'round the sun,. I had not 
 
 seen that face; 
 But that glad smile of sweetness was recalled 
 
 from bygone years — 
 Years checkered well with good and ill, with 
 
 gladness and with tears. 
 
 Oh, when we sever earthly sight, let parting 
 
 give us pain ! 
 Who knows the times or seasons till our hands 
 
 shall clasp again? 
 Will fleeting human nature, dipped in life's 
 
 unceasing stream, 
 Sink 'neath the sea of aeons ere we catch 
 
 another gleam ? 
 
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PRECIOUS J E W E, t. 
 
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 In Mr. and Mrs. Hodges' home were two cute 
 
 little bovs. 
 Whose bright and witty sayings added mirth 
 
 to all its joys. 
 I took the younger on my knees, and asked 
 
 whom he loved best — 
 Mary or me — and his reply accepted as a 
 
 jest. 
 
 In this fair home five hours were spent — no 
 
 better hours could be — 
 And just as we were taking leave, Miss Mary 
 
 said to me: (?) 
 "How handy if you Springfield boys could 
 
 harness up a mule ! " 
 When I was pleased to show her I had studied 
 
 in that school. 
 
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PRECIOUS JEW E, L, 
 
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 And when we passed the cherry trees, say, did 
 
 we take a one? 
 We didn't chop with hatchets like young 
 
 Georgie Washington, 
 Or Carrie Nation, latter-day; but, lest the truth 
 
 be blurred, 
 Don't ask about the ripened fruit, and we'll 
 
 not sav a word. - 
 
 We made the lilies bow their heads while we 
 
 were passing by; 
 But the buggy wouldn't tip at all with wheels 
 
 toward the sky. 
 We plucked the elder blossoms till the shrubs, 
 
 I know, felt vexed; 
 The wild strawberries wondered, too, what could 
 
 be coming next. 
 
precious jewel 
 
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 We visited a mansion on a hill just to the 
 
 right; 
 But couldn't wait for supper on that lovely 
 
 summer night, 
 Though we liked those dear young people, who 
 
 insisted that we stav, 
 For other cousins we must see, and that all in 
 
 one day. 
 
 When we had driven half a mile, upon this 
 thought we "hit:" 
 
 Perhaps we'd better turn around and go back 
 to DeWitt. 
 
 DeWitt is just a lovely place — tall, waving, 
 shady trees, 
 
 Inviting to the traveler as they catch the even- 
 ing breeze. 
 
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PRECIOUS JEWEL 
 
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 While resting on the public square, the people 
 
 all came down 
 And wondered what great personages were 
 
 visiting their town. 
 We called upon the hardware store ; we saw the 
 
 train rush through, 
 And Mary greeted "grandpa," 'cause her 
 
 "grandpa" loved her, too. 
 
 We turned our faces homeward soon; the town 
 
 was lost from sight; 
 I knew her mamma wouldn't scold for being 
 
 out that night — 
 Her escort was so very good (bold vanity 
 
 avows) — 
 Not that; — sweet mothers gentle heart no 
 
 unkind word allows. 
 
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PRE.CIO.V8 JEWEL 
 
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 The, silver stars with tender eyes peered 
 
 through ethereal blue; 
 Earth donned the beauties of the night when 
 
 kissed by twilight dew, 
 And all was silence, rest and peace — each 
 
 weary toiler slept, 
 Save one who waited for her own, and loving 
 
 vigil kept. 
 
 We reached the home — sweet home — at last, 
 
 where greetings were so kind 
 It seemed like painting roses since the trip we 
 
 have in mind. 
 Perhaps the story better close; — if prince or 
 
 king should see 
 The things recorded heretofore, he well might 
 
 envy me. 
 
 4» a 
 
Epilogue 
 
Raping tfye glory 
 
 of <0o6: anb 
 
 t^er ligtjt mas like 
 
 unto a stone most 
 
 Qn5 tfyey s^all be 
 
 IHine, * * * * * 
 
 in tfyat bay wfyen 
 
 3 make up my 
 
4. *V .♦- 
 
 kffiHEN the Master comes for jewels bright, 
 
 lAJI to claim them for His own, 
 
 If chosen to select the best from the richest 
 
 T have known, 
 I might bring them by the hundred to His feet 
 
 and lay them down, 
 But Fd set this Precious Jewel in the center 
 
 of His crown. 
 
 Though angels speak of jasper walls with 
 chalcedony rare; 
 
 With sapphire, topaz, emerald, in rich pro- 
 fusion there ; 
 
 The seventh stone a chrysolyte; the eighth 
 foundation, beryl — 
 
 The City's gates through which we'll pass arc 
 made of living Pearl. 
 
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PRECIOUS JEWEL 
 
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 Cast down your gold of transient worth, in 
 
 which your pride may trust; 
 Resolve your carbon diamonds to their first 
 
 primeval dust — 
 Know thou, mankind, sweet character, 
 
 the one unfailing prize; 
 The only gem you'll carry hence to set in 
 
 vonder skies. 
 
 If you wish a glad example of rare sweetness, 
 
 truth and grace, 
 Exalted wings of cherubims spread o'er its 
 
 holy place, 
 With kindness, love and mercy, pure as dew 
 
 upon the flower, 
 This Precious Jewel you should see on any 
 
 day or hour. 
 
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