c/ \ XJ77&Ci//My€^' / A McKINLEY ROMANCE By Jllice Banner Jones c^ pl:blished by The Saalfield Publishing Co. AKRON, OHIO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, Two CopiE3 ReceivcD JUN. 3 1901 CoPVRtGHT ENTRV <^ CLASS «>XXo. N». /oS6"7 COPY B. E: .T .<^n^ COPYRIGHT. 1901. ALICE DANNER JONES Canton, O. ^ lifflc hrcc tdk, simply told, Of which cdch word is intc; Its plc'JsiiiM' swctiiii'ss touclxd iiir licart, — // uhiy have cJidnns Jor joii. McKlNLEY IN 1867 B mcKinley Romance ^^o THE little, Dutch city ot Canton, ^^=^ Now, many long years ago, There came a Scotch-Irish attorney ; Scarce more than a hoy, you know. Ouite simple were fixtures ot office ; Some chairs were old-tashioned and quaint. Some law hooks, perhaps, had worn coyers, Some bookshelyes were needing new paint. Mother McKinley In brains he was rich, — not in dollars; ()t ancestry, sturdy, could boast; But the teachings, revered, of his mother, Were the things that were helping him most. She had taught him those lessons, which manhood Can find in no law book or creed; 7'hey came on the echoes from childhood, Giving strength for each purpose and deed. As boy, he had fought for his country; From schoolroom, had gone to the " Ranks;' Nor had left, until voices of Freedom Were mingled with anthems of thanks. On his face there was written the courage To stand for the Right, tho' alone, And the int'rests of little Dutch Canton He blended with int'rests his own. Mrs McKinlev as a Girl In "Y. M, C. A.," church, and council, Was sought the voung lawyer's advice; While work, meaning. most for the city. Was giv^en, without asking price. One night, 'twas the night of a lecture. The banker's fair daughter was there; And with her, from neighboring city, A girl triend as charming and tair. Both maidens were laughing and chatting With lady, much older in years, Who had brought them, when, suddenly, laughter W^as drowned in a tumult of cheers. Down the aisle, Horace Greeley came walking, And the banker's fair daughter espied The earnest-faced, gifted attorney The orator walking beside. \y. ^j^ ■''!« i^^^v^-^-T^^j-ih^''Xiir^j6^'^ss!vt;i'^Ktm'^ Where the Young Attorney Lived Over face came a faint flush of crimson; Blue eves seeming darker in hue, As forward he came, on the platform. With, simply, "Good ev'ning to you." Then, in language so pleasing and fitting, Of speaker he said what was best, That audience cheered as he finished, And "Horace" clapped too, with the rest. The banker's fair daughter turned quickly, To friend who, beside her, then sat, Saying softly: "You have not in Mass'lon, Young man who can do well as that. " Canton, some day, so proudly will own him/' Oh! prophetess, girlish and young. What wisdom foretold you the future Of one whose great deeds were unsung? Home of the Banker s Daughter Did vou listen, that night, to the lecture? Or, shvlv, beneath hat and plume. Did blue eves the lawyer's tace study, 'Neath lamps of the dim-lighted room? Hie banker's fair daughter no lover Could claim, in the man she esteemed; No diamond, no ring ot betrothal, On little gloved finger then gleamed. There were suitors, whose hundreds and thousands Could have added rich wealth to her own; But, in fancies and dreamings of girlhood, Ever, somewhere, the lawyer's face shone. . 'Tis beautifully strange, how, in driftings Of Time, lives are blended by chance; How hearts thrill responsive to glances, Or the touch of a hand in the dance. The banker's fair daughter was winning, The lawyer could "plead" with the best; The arrows ot Cupid were many; Do vou think I need tell vou the rest? To-day, the small cit\- has widened, And silv^ered is vouncr lawyer's hair; Some lines on his brow haye grown deeper. Some turrows are ploughings of care. No longer, in little law office, For clients he waits, as of yore; While, only, on flying trips homeward, Familiar seems sign on the door. For years, his feet have been straying Awav from each old hallowed place; For years, in both cabin and palace. All people have gazed on his face. McKiNLEY AS Congressman As Congressman, Governor, Statesman, 1 he service ot head, heart, and hand He has given; till little Dutch Canton Feels great, in the eyes of the land. Mrs. McKinley, iSS6 Nor, alone, has he honored the homage, And bent to the crownings ot Fame; For the beautiful love ot a woman Has added rich grace to the same. The prophecy, sweet, has heen answered, Of onlv a girl, long ago; Does she ever recall it, 1 wonder. With things that are pleasing to know? For Canton is proud of the lawyer, Who, here, once, his first "cases" tried, In our old-tashioned brick Hall of Justice, And took, from our circles, his bride. McKiNLEY AS President And, to-day, in our Capital's White House, Friend, poorest, feels grasp of his hand; 8 ff ' V J H ^m ^ h^ pgglgggplgl^^jmjy Mrs. McKiNLEV in Inauguration Dress While the banker's tair daughter, who praised him, Is First Lady, now, ot our land. 'M^m^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 788 281 4