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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
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 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
JAMES A. GARFIELD. 
 
o 
 
 VEF^ THE JHILL 
 
 TO TJHE 
 
 w 
 
 HUE jHOUSE 
 
 BY 
 
 MRS. E. W. ALLDERDICE. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 DENIS ON &'' COMPANY, 
 37 Park Row, New York, 
 
 ,■8 ?i ; 
 71 
 
T 
 
 \ 
 
 KJ \ 
 
 
 Copyright, i88x. 
 
 By Denison & Company, 
 
 All rights reserved. 
 
DEDICATED 
 
 TO 
 
 THE HONORED MOTHER 
 
 OF 
 
 PRESIDENT GARFIELD. 
 
PREFATORY NOTE, 
 
 '^^O doubt my readers will remember the 
 J^f touching incident of Inauguration Day, 
 when, after his speech, which awoke a throb of 
 sympathy and j^atriotism throughout the length 
 and breadth of the land, the President turned to 
 his venerable, white-haired mother, who sat im- 
 mediately behind him on the platform, and, 
 bending his head, kissed her tenderly as though 
 in loving gratitude for the care and guardianship, 
 which had finally brought him this crowning 
 honor. His action, and the feelings it aroused, 
 moved me to transcribe this little Poem as a 
 tribute of the admiration we must all feel for a 
 mother who realized the great responsibility 
 devolving upon her, and who through manifold 
 trials so nobly sustained her trust. 
 
 E. AV. A. 
 
Over the Hill to the 
 White House, 
 
 HE way was steep and riiggea 
 And the hill-side hard to climb, 
 
 But at last the summit greets me 
 In the steady march of time. 
 
 Three score and ten have vanished 
 Along the track of years, 
 
 Some have been bright and happy, 
 And many filled with tears. 
 
8 OVER THE HILL TO 
 
 I mind me of tlie winter 
 
 Full fifty years gone by, 
 When my husband kissed and blessed me, 
 
 Then laid him down to die. 
 
 We had loved and wedded early 
 In our happy time of youth. 
 
 And were help-meets for each other 
 In very deed and truth. 
 
 We had struggled on together, 
 
 And the toil seemed sweet and light. 
 
 When we sat and watched the gloamin' 
 Till it deepened into night. 
 
 While the stars came out by thousands 
 
 In the summer evening sky, 
 And we talked about the PoAver 
 
 Which had placed them thus on high. 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE. 
 
 My days were never lonely, 
 
 And my nights were never long ; 
 
 For I woke at early dawning, 
 
 With the lark's clear matin song. 
 
 I loved the blessed sunlight. 
 And the cool, refreshing rain, 
 
 Which bud and blossom prayed for, 
 And never prayed in ^^ain. 
 
 God granted all our wishes 
 When he sent our eldest boy. 
 
 The love-light of oiu' cottage, 
 Our crowning sheaf of joy. 
 
 I scarcely missed the sun-shine, 
 Or the star-lit summer skies, 
 
 My sunshine lay beside me. 
 My stars were baby's eyes. 
 
10 OVER THE HILL TO 
 
 The cares my darling brought me, 
 Were a mother's toil of love ; 
 
 He seemed an angel lent me 
 
 From the Heavenly coui'ts above. 
 
 I prayed for strength to help me 
 
 In my training of a man, 
 To mould and guide his nature 
 
 As a mother only can. 
 
 It seemed so strange that mothers 
 This duty dared to shirk, 
 
 Surely a soul to care for, 
 Is woman^s noblest work ! 
 
 But there came another shortly, 
 And another followed still ; 
 
 And feeble human nature 
 
 Crushed down God-given will. 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE. 11 
 
 These treasures all were welcome, 
 But my house of flesh was weak, 
 
 And the cunning youngsters knew it, 
 Before they learned to speak. 
 
 My high resolves soon vanished. 
 My prayers grew faint and low ; 
 
 I went drifting through the shallows. 
 Where many mothers go. 
 
 And then the last was given. 
 
 Another sturdy son ; 
 I had prayed so for a daughter, 
 
 But God still granted none. 
 
 My grief broke out in sobbing. 
 That I felt was wrong to do ; 
 
 And my husband said, " This baby 
 May be son and daughter, too ; 
 
12 OVER THE HILL TO 
 
 " God knoweth best, my darling, 
 So trust Him to the end ; 
 
 You will find in the hereafter, 
 He chastens as a friend. " 
 
 The blessed little children. 
 They bring their love along, 
 
 It enfolds them as a bla,nket, 
 And gladdens like a song. 
 
 My tiny disappointment 
 Became my crowning joy : 
 
 The longed-for daughter could not 
 Have been dearer than my boy. 
 
 He filled my inmost being 
 
 With a love so strong and deep, 
 
 That it quite enthralled my senses, 
 And wrapped my soul in sleep. 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE. 13 
 
 I could not see, my liusband 
 
 Was failing day by day, 
 That tlie ang;el on the threshold 
 
 Was calling him away. 
 
 He was very still and patient. 
 
 He made no moan nor sigh, 
 Bnt he put his house in order, 
 
 And then laid him down to die. 
 
 And so I learned the meaning 
 Of that bitter word " alone, " 
 
 My children shrieked with sorrow, 
 But my heart seemed turned to stone. 
 
 Kind friends soon came about me, 
 But I cared not what they said ; 
 
 The living crowded on me. 
 
 When my heart was with the dead. 
 
14 OVER THE HILL TO 
 
 They mourned my sad bereavement, 
 And said, '^ It was a shame 
 
 That the babe was in the cradle ; 
 What a pity tliat he came ; 
 
 The other boys might lielp me, 
 But he seemed a weakly mite ; 
 
 'Twould be better if the good Lord 
 Were to take him out of sight. " 
 
 Back from deej) wells of sorrow. 
 Came the spirit of my youth. 
 
 And I spake out in my anguish. 
 Some bitter words of ti'uth : 
 
 " My last God-given treasure 
 
 Should be my care through life ; 
 
 I would atone as mother. 
 
 For my negligence as wife. " 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE. 15 
 
 I asked them not for ]3ity, 
 
 I was richer far than tiiey ; 
 The angel left my children, 
 
 When he bore my love away. 
 
 So they took offence and left me ; 
 
 And I prayed with heart and might, 
 That God would stand beside me. 
 
 And guide my plans aright. 
 
 They were troubled years that followed, 
 But I struggled on with ho^De. 
 
 Looking forward to the mountain, 
 And not backward down the slope ;- 
 
 My boys were l^rave and loving. 
 And we fairly barred the door 
 
 Against the wolves of famine. 
 That forever track the poor. 
 
16 OVER THE HILL TO 
 
 We loved each other better, 
 For the trials that we shared, 
 
 And amid our many crosses. 
 We never once despaired. 
 
 My elder boys were workers. 
 And had no troubled dreams, 
 
 But my baby thought and pondered, 
 Over many Avondrous schemes. 
 
 " He would grow to manhood shortly, 
 And would make himself a name; 
 
 I should see it bright emblazoned, 
 On the fairest sci'oll of fame ; 
 
 I should have a queenly palace, 
 And should live in pride and state, 
 
 It was coming in the future. 
 He would wrestle it from fate. 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE. H 
 
 Loud his brothers huighed and taunted, 
 
 But he bore it with a smile, 
 Brought his books and read and |)()ndered. 
 
 Planning deeply all the while. 
 
 Presently they called him '' laggard," 
 Said he " shirked his share of toil,'' 
 
 Said he was " a thriftless scholar, 
 And had better till the soil.'' 
 
 Lauo-hed to scorn his learned phrases. 
 Called him '' milk-sop " to his face. 
 
 But he bore it like a martyr, 
 
 Patiently, with Christ-like grace. 
 
 Read to them the old-time stor}', 
 Record from Egyptian lands, 
 
 Where a nation rose to power, 
 
 Throu^di a youno^er brother's hands. 
 
18 OVER THE HILL TO 
 
 Then he kissed me, bade God bless me, 
 Laid his books aside with care, 
 
 And went out amid the toilers. 
 Working well as any there. 
 
 Back again, when evening shadows, 
 
 Fell upon the bars of gold 
 And athwart the purple twilight, 
 
 Down the veil of darkness rolled. 
 
 He came blithely ; all the love-light 
 
 Of his blessed happy heart 
 Making bright my tiny cottage^ 
 
 For we could not live aj)art. 
 
 Came to greet me, clasp me fondly. 
 Show me with a look of pride. 
 
 The iirst earnings of his boyhood. 
 Came to place them at my side. 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE. 
 
 19 
 
 All he gave me, speaking softly, 
 " Of the mansion he would own, 
 
 Whe]'e 1 should be honored mistress, 
 Where I should not be alone. 
 
 But should live among the noble, 
 Gifted, great, in all the land." 
 
 And his brothers laughed out loudly 
 At his palace made of sand. 
 
 Far into the midnight darkness, 
 
 I could see his candle shine, 
 Knew he worked, and planned and studied 
 
 For this lordly home of mine. 
 
 Then I wondered not that Mary 
 Pondered o'er her God-child's fate, 
 
 Walked forever in his shadow. 
 
 Watched him early, watched him late. 
 
20 OVER THE HILL TO 
 
 Felt within her bosom glowing, 
 All the glory and the pride, 
 
 Of his wondrous earthly mission, 
 Though she knew not aught beside. 
 
 And I wondered if this angel. 
 Who had lain so near my heart 
 
 Might become a Christ^s evangel, 
 One who chose the better part. 
 
 He revered things good and holy. 
 
 Joined the throng who knelt in prayer, 
 
 Grew in strength, increased in stature, 
 Did what any man could dare. 
 
 Then I listened, weeping softly, 
 With a mingled fear and joy. 
 
 When I heard him pray in meeting. 
 And I knew it was my boy. 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE. 21 
 
 Wider, farther, crept the story, 
 Of the widow's youngest son, 
 
 And men praised him for his courage. 
 For the victory nobly won. 
 
 He had battled long and bravely, 
 'Gainst an adverse wind and tide, 
 
 But his cry was " on and upward," 
 And he heeded nought beside. 
 
 Many summers came and vanished, 
 He had won his scroll of fame. 
 
 And his college halls resounded 
 With the echo of his name. 
 
 Then the love of early manhood, 
 Thrilled him to his finger tips, 
 
 And I heard the '' old, old story," 
 From my cherished darling's lips. 
 
22 OVER THE HILL TO 
 
 Half in gladness, half in sorrow, 
 
 Sat I, listening to the tale, 
 Feeling all at once the knowledge, 
 
 I was passing down the vale; 
 
 Feeling that my spring had vanished, 
 And my summer lost its Vjloom, 
 
 And with autumn's fruitful harvest, 
 I would ripen for the tomb. 
 
 So I loved my gentle daughter, 
 Loved her for the joy she brought. 
 
 And we harmonized together, 
 
 Care of him our constant thought. 
 
 Very strong and true, she loved him, 
 Side by side they climbed the height. 
 
 But within, my heart, I whispered 
 'Twas to me he owed his might. 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE. 23 
 
 Mine the hand that fed and nourished 
 All the good within his soul, 
 
 I had trained his noble spirit, 
 She might help him to its goal. 
 
 Soon the Nation called for soldiers, 
 And I ])uckled on his sword, 
 
 Though my spirit groaned and fainted. 
 And my tears like torrents poured. 
 
 Prayed I to the God of battles, 
 Prayed ^vith special trustful faith. 
 
 And my earnest prayer was answered 
 As the blessed scripture saith, 
 
 " Ask in faith, and nothing doubting, 
 God will answer. He will hear; 
 
 Perfi-ct love," the Saviour tells us, 
 "Casteth out all shade of fear. '■ 
 
24 OVER THE HILL TO 
 
 Tiien the State wliicli loved him dearly 
 Sent him to protect her name, 
 
 And I thought that now my baby, 
 Had attained his highest fame. 
 
 But to-day I sat behind him. 
 
 While the Nation hailed him chief. 
 
 And the roll of human greatness, 
 Has unclosed its final leaf. 
 
 " Surely now," I thought within me 
 " He'll forget me in J lis pride ; " 
 
 But the speech was scarcely over. 
 When I found him at my side. 
 
 Low he bent his head to kiss me, 
 Whispered soft within my ear, 
 
 "I have won the station for you. 
 Bless me quickly, mother dear," 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE. 25 
 
 Now I live within the mansion, 
 That he promised years before^ 
 
 And I see the great and gifted, 
 Crowd within its open dooi', 
 
 And I pray God's choicest blessings 
 May sustain liim where he stands, 
 
 Make him wiser than the rulers 
 Of less favored foreio^n lands. 
 
 Give him wisdom, give him foresight. 
 To descry the Nation's needs. 
 
 So that men may follow gladly. 
 Where his Christian courage leads. 
 
 Let me die while through our country, 
 
 Rings the echo of his name, 
 Lauded for its truth and goodness ; 
 
 That will prove undying fame. 
 
26 OVER THE HILL. 
 
 Back through all the happy summers, 
 Goes my heart in dreams to-night, 
 
 And I stand beside his cradle, 
 In that gray December light; 
 
 When the neighbors looked with pity 
 On the helpless baby there. 
 
 And concluded that my burden 
 Would be more than I could bear. 
 
 Then my husband's admonition. 
 Comes to me from I'ealms above, 
 
 "Trust the Father! when he chastens, 
 He is leading us in love." 
 
 Very softly move the shadows, 
 E-oUs away the tide of years, 
 
 And I wake to find his children. 
 Marvelling at Grandma's tears. 
 
 March 4, 1881.