LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 PS- 31 1 i- 
 
 ®|itjj. ®qp|t5#lxi 
 
 Shelf. ...S/.^C^ 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
THE 
 
 RHAPSODY 
 
 . . OF A 
 
 RUINED HOME 
 
 / 
 
 BY WESLEY VANDERCOOK. 
 
 
 
 published by 
 
 Wesley Vandercook, 
 
 346 s. dearborn street, 
 
 CHICAGO. 
 
 .\ 
 
rS3 
 
 \\^ 
 
 >Jl^ 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 189I, 
 BY WESIyKY VANDERCOOK, 
 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 
 
 PRESS OF 
 THE CRESCENT PRINTING CO. 
 CHICAGO 
 
CONTKNTS. 
 
 THK RHAPSODY OF A RUINED HOME- 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction - . . . _ 7 
 
 Preface 
 
 9 
 
 I. Childhood - - - - 15 
 
 II. Youth-Man - - - - - 32 
 
 III. Courtship _ . . . 5^ 
 
 IV. The Home - .- - - - 104 
 V. Discovery - - - - 113 
 
 VI. Ivament . . . . _ j^^ 
 
 VII. Heaven Clouds - - - - 141 
 
 VIII. Confirmation . . . _ 162 
 
 IX. Divorce ----- 1^3 
 
 X. Lower Hell, or place of S-U-T. - - 203 
 
 Summary ----- 209 
 
 A TRIP TO HEAVEN AND CHII^DREN'S HEAVEN. 
 
 Part I. Heaven - - - - - 210 
 
 Part II. Children's Heaven - - - 216 
 
. . . "I had rather be a toad and live upon 
 the vapour of a dungeon, than keep a corner in the 
 thing I love for others uses." . . . 
 
 Shakesj^eare. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THE greatest wrong that man can do to man 
 Has roused the mind of wronged from former happy cahn. 
 Maybe the villian's friends would have for say insane, 
 And for a fact their acts have left their awful stain 
 And though the wronged mind may with its visions roam, 
 This, here recorded, wholly from villian's acts have grown — 
 To roam, and yet to hold by that which was the real. 
 And though unbalanced, with nought but fact and truth will deal. 
 Not for advantage gained in all that's of its page. 
 Not for gain of plaudit from critic or from sage. 
 But if the mind is lost, and told of in this verse. 
 The proof will be in truth that is in it dispersed; 
 And not with flowery freedom of well and rational mind 
 Do seek to write up this with untruth to make it sell. 
 Maybe that proof will suffice for a backwood's county court, 
 Which of this country's kind for ought but truth resort. 
 When man who of this kind would have it other way, 
 If it be so, the wronged one has nought for bribe to pay; 
 Ivet that be as it is, I know, and am defiant. 
 
—8— 
 
 when that rascally lawyer who had me for his client 
 
 Had robbed me of all on earth to m3' poor heart held dear, 
 
 Yet in this country's court he was to me a peer, 
 
 Not any hope of right against this lawyer fiend; 
 
 No friend with cry of hold! there has enough been done — 
 
 Wife, children, home, all taken, enough with this begun, 
 
 Hold then your hand from act that is to God so vile. 
 
 Stain not with perjury, bribery, to honored name defile; 
 
 No cry of stop, no brotherhood to do a promised act — 
 
 No helping hand to stop a lie with truth and ample fact. 
 
 What oaths were those were made within the mystic five 
 
 When promises sought to claim, against great wrongs to strive ? 
 
 What shame is in the souls of all who drank from mystic cup. 
 
 What sorrow to be told if all that's sworn must gulp; 
 
 To gulp in other world, at throne of Him who was called 
 
 As witness to the words with cup of death's sweet gall. 
 
 Will He, as they, think nought because not famed with wronged? 
 
 Will lack of fame dispose of words, of dismal midnight gong. 
 
 With that I hold my peace, of oaths I could but sue, 
 
 Let God with that now deal, let devil's have their due; 
 
 L,et those who held their hand to help a brother's sorrow 
 
 In this world live their time, not hope for heaven's morrow. 
 
 Though that that's here engraved will look absurd as facts. 
 
 And all may be a dream, born of a mind distract; 
 
 So much the worse for those who would not keep an oath 
 
 With injured brother sworn, who, wrongs have crazed forsooth. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 A STORY of childhood's early days 
 With verses few, for pleasant praise 
 To thus begin, that all may tell 
 Those happy thoughts will sorrow quell. 
 
 With youthful hours of happy play 
 And nought of wrong to bring dismay; 
 But thought of it, sad heart to still, 
 And hope from it, my soul it drilled. 
 
 Then with approach to later life. 
 Before the fate with sinful wife; 
 Thus for a step with manhood gained 
 To time of horror, when honor stained. 
 
 Thus to the story that I'm to write 
 Of sorrow black as darkest night 
 That is with day 'twas all despair, 
 Sweet sleep that brought the angel pair, 
 
The task, though great, is well impressed 
 On memory's page to aid success; 
 The pen, though slow, to thoughts convey, 
 Gives mind the time to past survey. 
 
 Survey in parts, that which was wrong, 
 
 A subject poor for any song; 
 
 Survey a field of bitter weeds, 
 
 No lack for truth, no lie will need. 
 
 Survey a second field of flowers 
 With memory had of sweetest hours; 
 Survey with hope, by heaven endowed 
 Of sweetest love, with brightest cloud. 
 
 Two fields that are so wide in space. 
 As heaven and hell— but one disgraced; 
 Disgrace of which the one in hell 
 The worse, and which must never tell. 
 
 With night was sweetest heaven's dreams; 
 With heaven beauties maybe was seemed ; 
 Yet for a fact embrace was had 
 Jhough man may say that mind was mad, 
 
But with the truth will stay and tell 
 Of happy hours in insane spell, 
 Of bliss enjoyed with two ^!*4w) were made 
 "By God in heaven— 'tw a o th i o I played. 
 
 Two made for me, as angel told: 
 
 Not to another will they be sold. 
 
 Two born in heaven, no sin have known, 
 
 Who are of God for me alone. 
 
 These as reward for deeds on earth, 
 With heaven for home in heaven had birth, 
 An angel's promise that for my time, 
 The day depart to seek heaven's clime. 
 
 They will prepare sweet home for me; 
 It was they who said: "We wait for thee. 
 For we were made, to thee possess; 
 With thee to live and thee caress." 
 
 From heaven dream to earth again, 
 Await my time, must yet remain 
 In other fields, a work to do; 
 The angel said not work to rue. 
 
— 12 — 
 
 The other field to be surveyed, 
 Within it now our camp array ; 
 A field, though full of bitter weeds, 
 Can not add shame to sorrow's seed. 
 
 A field to enter, a world to brave 
 With burdened soul for sorrow saved; 
 A field of danger, of greatest chance, 
 Expose, deprave, though death menace. 
 
 Thus to the task will be applied 
 Thoughts of the past, not side by side; 
 Awake in hell, asleep in heaven; 
 The home of earth, from it was driven. 
 
 That which will come, with heaven reached 
 Have not a fear though God beseech 
 With angel's promise, on mind is burned 
 A work for which to earth returned. 
 
 Of those who read may there be some 
 With sympathy, and thus begin 
 To blameless hold the burdened heart 
 For later acts, to tertee- its part. 
 
—13— 
 
 AU others would, if they could know 
 A sorrow like this breast can show — 
 Crazed with remorse by blackest sin, 
 Insane would be, must task begin. 
 
 If man will think of his own home 
 That from his work of life has grown. 
 Of children whom he loved to meet. 
 They who his coming always greet. 
 
 Then will he think how it would be 
 If a noted man his wife to see 
 Must drive him from that home of his, 
 Would he not then do worse than this. 
 
 Or, if he would, walk out and say 
 Kind sir, my all to take you may; 
 Don't mind expense, you to enjoy. 
 And I will work to keep your toy. 
 
 Let him blame me, for that I do 
 
 To him alone for pardon sue. 
 
 The other man who home would hold, 
 
 Let him not blame for this that's told. 
 
THE RHAPSODY OF A RUINED HOME. 
 
 CHILDHOOD. 
 
 yHR brightest hours of life 
 * Are with the child, 
 lu pleasant sport will strive 
 Time to beguile. 
 
 Each day is for itself 
 
 Such happy ways. 
 And pleasant thoughts of elf — 
 
 Of evil, nay. 
 
 If work should be its sport, 
 
 Toil, that is joy; 
 To mischief will resort 
 
 And good alloy. 
 
 Alloy to strengthen thought 
 
 It can not hide, 
 The mischief count for nought 
 
 But pleasant chide. 
 
 Kach night with all forget 
 Sweet rest will come; 
 
 Dream more happiness begot 
 With heaven won. 
 
■i6- 
 
 Heaven, yes if known in life 
 
 In childhood's dream, 
 Even heaven's best may rifle, 
 
 Or heaven demean. 
 
 Though dreams be joys on earth 
 
 As wished by day, 
 It is thus heaven thoughts have birth 
 
 As place for play. 
 
 Sweet hope so born to live 
 
 In infant years. 
 Such blessing nature gives 
 
 To offset tears. 
 
 From dreams that are sublime 
 
 Sweet child to wake, 
 Would happy world decline 
 
 If choice could take. 
 
 Choice with the dream to stay 
 
 Or mother greet, 
 From dreamlands shore sweet play 
 
 Awake to weep. 
 
 To weep in mother's arms, 
 
 Earth's sweetest place; 
 Dreams for it had more charms, 
 
 Would heaven grace. 
 
■17- 
 
 And angells have for mates 
 
 Such pretty ones, 
 Sweet ways such rapid rate, 
 
 To soar, not run. 
 
 Those hills the child would climb 
 
 When wide awake; 
 Those rivulets would cross 
 
 For glory's sake. 
 
 In dreamland high peaks obtain 
 
 With swiftest soar; 
 Wide rivers cross before 
 
 The thought is o'er. 
 
 Earth, child, such haste to sleep; 
 
 Playmates to find. 
 'Tmust make the angels weep 
 
 Such heights to climb. 
 
 When infant soul ascends, 
 
 "Sweet body rest;" 
 From world desires to wend 
 
 With heavens best. 
 
 And only when fast asleep, 
 
 To heaven dreamed; 
 When soul was new would weep. 
 
 From heaven redeemed. 
 
■i8— 
 
 If God would only keep 
 
 The infant soul, 
 When only sin would reap — 
 
 Make hell its goal; 
 
 What sorrow 'twould defeat 
 In worlds below! 
 
 What happy hearts would beat- 
 Not sorrow know. 
 
 Not we who know the best 
 Must thank for dreams; 
 
 Sweet blessings are our rest 
 If hearts be clean. 
 
 This one without the sins 
 
 Blessed, we are told; 
 When happy dreams begin, 
 
 Then dreams are gold. 
 
 So peaceful is its sweet rest, 
 
 No care to hold; 
 So merciful the Savior blessed 
 
 These of his fold. 
 
 From dreams again awake 
 
 More days to know 
 On earth, may heaven make. 
 
 If good be sown. 
 
—19— 
 
 While days are coming fast 
 
 Mind too must gain 
 Child thoughts too sweet to last, 
 
 Yet good remain. 
 
 Possession — thought acquired, 
 
 Toys to it come; 
 Things that are most desired 
 
 For them they run. 
 
 Then with the thought to keep 
 
 That which is gained; 
 For loss of toys must weep— 
 
 Begin heart pain. 
 
 Each day like one before 
 
 Though years are few; 
 New toys at times adore 
 
 New sports pursue. 
 
 With usefulness to teach 
 
 In gradual way, 
 Youth's life in time will reach, 
 
 And brighter day. 
 
 Yes, happy hours abide 
 
 With school as task , 
 In mind through life to hide, 
 
 'Twill ever last. 
 
— 20 — 
 
 This time of life is best 
 When time has passed; 
 
 Sweet thought of it is rest 
 From hardship's mask. 
 
 Yet hours of rest are joys 
 From school to steal, 
 
 And run in fields with boys — 
 Hard rest, yet real. 
 
 Rest, climbing cliffs and trees; 
 
 Rest pulling oars; 
 Rest wading creeks, to knees; 
 
 Sweet rest out-doors. 
 
 Nought sweeter than this rest, 
 
 But rest from it; 
 Each night in happy nest 
 
 From play sweet rest to get. 
 
 With it new mind is trained 
 
 To look ahead, 
 Happy holiday to obtain, 
 
 School books not dread. 
 
 Thus brighter hours before 
 
 In brighter day, 
 Air castles in sport out-door. 
 
 Real castles they. 
 
To make the plan for them 
 
 Youth's architect, 
 Plans that will make good men 
 
 All to respect. 
 
 Plans now for store in pen, 
 
 Pins are their coin; 
 Mud pies and cakes-;-for them 
 would purloin . 
 
 A" 
 Purloin, oh no! just take 
 
 When no one's near, 
 Imagination make — 
 
 Pins, coin so dear. 
 
 What wonder things to buy 
 
 In vacant pen; 
 The merchant need not cry 
 
 Or wares defend. 
 
 Pen store in orchard stands 
 
 Fruit thickly lay, 
 For apples no demand, 
 
 Bananas they. 
 
 No thought or word complained 
 
 Of fraud with them; 
 Sour fruit, sweet orange vain - 
 
 On apple stem. *. 
 
— 22 — 
 
 Who says not heaven gained 
 When children sleep, 
 
 With mira<de power obtained 
 Not thought that's deep. 
 
 When of these things in play 
 
 Such wonders see 
 Sour apples do not stay, 
 
 Sweet fruit they be. 
 
 If man this power had 
 
 For change to suit, 
 What burdened hearts be glad 
 
 With sweetened fruit. 
 
 What happy homes in crowd 
 
 And room so small, 
 If mind could field endow 
 
 And pleasant hall. 
 
 Endow with happy mind 
 
 As children do, 
 Heaven power will need to find 
 
 Like soul that's new. 
 
 What wonder things possess, 
 
 Not of that seen 
 If mind of man invest 
 
 Ivike Ijills of green. 
 
-23- 
 
 Wliat fields and countries grand 
 Would travel through; 
 
 What oceans cross, and lands, 
 Coach, vessels new. 
 
 What wonder things would do — 
 
 Applause obtain — 
 If simple thought pursued 
 
 Could good detain. 
 
 Poor man of fate — not faith — 
 If heaven would gain. 
 
 Can you not see the way, 
 With God remain. 
 
 And grasp the thought as proof, 
 Though power be lost; 
 
 The child beneath your roof 
 Has without cost. 
 
 Not power endowed with birth 
 But Heaven's remains, 
 
 Must live for bodies' worth — 
 Not Heaven detain. 
 
 Man though lost in dream 
 
 Must task pursue, 
 Task again to seem, 
 
 Day dreams not rue. 
 
—24— 
 
 Yet as a child to gain 
 
 We kuow to think. 
 With latent power remains 
 
 Sweet thoughts to drink. 
 
 Now back to wonder store 
 
 With mind begin 
 To step, o'er top the door; 
 
 What noise within ? 
 
 That which they say, a thought 
 
 Must enter in 
 From verse of stray it brought 
 
 Almost a sin. 
 
 While men thought to regain 
 
 The children's way, 
 They, busy ones, be men; 
 
 We drink, they say. 
 
 We drink — must do as men — 
 
 With water sweet; 
 Sweet with molasses strained. 
 
 One pin a drink. 
 
 Oh, play be on a spree! 
 
 Poor pen, alas! 
 Just you and me, we three, 
 
 Broke Mama's glass. 
 
25- 
 
 Now hush, don't tell the thought, 
 
 You must not know; 
 From new set Mama bought 
 
 Let's have a show. 
 
 A show! Oh, now hurrah! 
 
 How quick forgn^t 
 The ha}^ mow all en route, 
 
 The glass was not. 
 
 And now let me be clown 
 
 To tell the joke. 
 You jump and tumble down. 
 
 Swing high with rope. 
 
 Such cry as they can make 
 
 Performers all, 
 Or from the girls to take 
 
 Pins if they call. 
 
 Pla}^ on, dear boys, nor staj' 
 
 A thought to give, 
 The time you have now got 
 
 Worth that to live. 
 
 Worth life to live this age 
 
 That all will tell, 
 Rich man, or yet will sage 
 
 It's memory sell. 
 
—26— 
 
 Companionship is then 
 
 A word with chime, 
 Friendship that is with them, 
 
 With man sublime. 
 
 Through life to hold the heart 
 
 With close embrace, 
 In world!^ though wide apart 
 
 Sweet thoughts of face. 
 
 Could youtli see that be)^ond 
 
 High ft5TtTme^wall, 
 From o'er its top sweet sound 
 
 Not heed its call. 
 
 Nor search its side for door 
 
 To make escape, 
 But linger with thought before 
 
 Would change estate. 
 
 Not man that's gone ahead 
 
 Can stop his pace, 
 The door, though he should dread, 
 
 To it will race. 
 
 Alas, that now Youth sees, 
 
 Put spurs to steed; 
 And hasten, though not a need 
 
 For greater speed. 
 
—27— 
 
 Good name of horse he rides, 
 
 Base in its lope, 
 A name to long abide; 
 Oh, thanlfful "hope! " 
 
 Hope carried to the sill 
 When Youth alights, 
 
 Faith governed all the will 
 To future's light. 
 
 Sleek charger of the past 
 
 Has served its time, 
 Can in the future rest 
 
 From toil sublime. 
 
 The happiest days of youth 
 
 Are at its end, 
 With brightest hours of hope 
 
 Begin the man. 
 
 The flickering light at close 
 
 Gives brighter ray 
 And dreams of youth exposed 
 
 Begin the day. 
 
 The past will have its charm 
 
 For life that's real. 
 When time has with its arms 
 
 Impressed its seal. 
 
—28— 
 
 The charm will quickly mass 
 
 With view before, 
 Not man will cry alas, 
 
 At future's door. 
 
 The door within a wall 
 
 Defies all scale, 
 When future made the call 
 
 To promises' sale. 
 
 For future castles bright 
 
 Make highest bid, 
 For only that that's right 
 
 While sin is hid. 
 
 From view of future's door. 
 
 But that that's good 
 For those that look before 
 
 No evil would. 
 
 Green groves with castles high, 
 Bright flowers bloom. 
 
 All charm that catch the eye 
 In future's room. 
 
 Sweet face of all that's seen 
 
 With fairy wand, 
 Looks to'ards the wall between 
 
 Youth and the man. 
 
—29— 
 
 And though the scene may change 
 
 With hopeful dream 
 New views come in the range; 
 
 'Twill brighter seem. 
 
 No thought of scene so grand 
 
 Which moves apace, 
 As made by fairy's wand — 
 
 The real ^disgrace. 
 
 From youth to man with change 
 
 Of dreaming time, 
 From night to day new strange 
 
 Day dreams sublime. 
 
 The doorway entered now 
 
 With jeweled latch, 
 With transformation bow 
 
 Pull string attached. 
 
 A string that hangs for all 
 
 From side that's past, 
 Not way to make recall 
 
 From side that's last. 
 
 Bright heart that stands within 
 
 The door now past, 
 New life must now begin 
 
 For latch is fast. 
 
— 30— 
 
 Not all that man may win 
 
 On side now gained 
 Can latch-string reach; within 
 
 Must man remain. 
 
 The brightness that he found 
 
 In future space 
 Was beauty all around; 
 
 Not yet disgrace. 
 
 From door near which he stands 
 
 Grand is the view; 
 Paved streets by castles wind 
 
 Way to the new. 
 
 The new — what will it be? 
 
 Which road to take ? 
 Not end of one can see 
 
 'Round future's lake. 
 
 Will chance help to the best 
 
 If youth go blind ? 
 Why then were made the rest 
 
 If not good destined ? 
 
 The roads, why they are there 
 
 To lead away 
 To future, each with staii*!^ 
 
 To wrong delay. 
 
-31- 
 
 That search, for heart that's good 
 
 May gain the best, 
 By paths will lead through wood 
 
 To place of rest. 
 
 Rest — when the man has grown 
 
 With years of gain ; 
 Rest from the harvest sown. 
 
 Though sin may stain. 
 
 Rest while the crop matures 
 
 If good or bad; 
 Seed sown will be secured 
 
 With harvest had. 
 
 Of that will say with page 
 
 With this before, 
 And here would hold the rage 
 
 At future's door. 
 
 Now that the man's within 
 
 New life to live, 
 Nought to him is of sin 
 
 All good would give. 
 
 Will tell of that beyond 
 
 Youths past dispersed 
 With chime of other sound 
 
 With other verse. 
 
II. 
 
 YOUTHMAM. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Now stands the youth on man's side of the wall 
 In hesitating wait for future's call, 
 Though quick is hope to set the mind at work 
 For youth who has no thought to duty shrink, 
 And while in dream of life that's new to him 
 With thoughts of good in worlds that is of sin. 
 What brightness comes within the view of one 
 Who has the tasks of wicked world begun. 
 What castles high to be where nought exists. 
 What beauty palace, open fields consist, 
 Such parks of bloom as man may never see 
 Surround the lawns with flowering bnsh and tree 
 And lake of water clear with shaded shore 
 That swans of purest white gracefully glide o'er. 
 Such place companions love for pleasant talk 
 When through the winding way they drive or walk, 
 With path of flowers sweet for border shade 
 Each step to gain more beauty view of glade, 
 Or gazing onward through the open space 
 Where circle track exists for practice race 
 And thoughts bring forth the swift and noble steed 
 
-33— 
 
 That youth would mount to quicken future's speed, 
 
 Or spot near lake where lawn refuse to stay 
 
 A leveled place for pleasure game — croquet, 
 
 For whiling time of rest as had in dream 
 
 With sweet companions near 'twill sweeter seem ; 
 
 Though mind may make in thought a Heaven here 
 
 God's nature made youth's thoughts of future cheer, 
 
 Though it be remnant o^ the soul begun 
 
 Air castle building wanes with youth as run. 
 
 The nature Gods, with heaven made for souls 
 
 For them as they could know, not then withhold 
 
 But love he had that caused the thoughts for place 
 
 For them to dwell. Though Heaven, for them to grace 
 
 His nature gave to man who Heaven's dream 
 
 As they would have for these who angles seem. 
 
 Like God so man must love that of the real, 
 
 To think of beauty when with earth angels deal, 
 
 For though they build with only wish and thought 
 
 An;i though the Heaven had is but that dream has brought 
 
 'Tis made for home of one that is or would be gained 
 
 And never thought of one who would the Heaven stain. 
 
 Again, as God has planned for new soul made on earth 
 
 When called to join with body new in birth. 
 
 How sweet the babe that's formed by nature's plan 
 
 Where never thought that sin to enter can, 
 
 And with the man who gives his heart in love 
 
 Where it has gone " yet wise " and think of dove, 
 
—34— 
 
 No thought of power made to change the white 
 
 From pure (as was at first) to dark of blackest night. 
 
 As God does love all souls so sweet with birth 
 
 To make the Heaven bright for those of worth 
 
 And as he drops those who in their sins invest 
 
 Leave them for hell to be the devil's guest, 
 
 So does the man with one who gains his heart 
 
 Prepare her home in fact, no thought to part. 
 
 How quick if virtue stray and herd with sin 
 
 How quick God's nature shows in soul of him. 
 
 As God would let the one of sin depart 
 
 So man will tear a wanton from his heart. 
 
 All this the youth in dream of hope escapes 
 
 With never thought that sin can ever rape 
 
 The dreams of bliss that future has in store 
 
 Are his; in happy thought be evermore 
 
 And never thought to think that one he gaines 
 
 Will be the one to sin, and others stain. 
 
 Oh happy youth, who lets the future shine 
 
 With thought of angel face and grace to chime, 
 
 Oh happy time, when dream can Heaven bring 
 
 With sweet companion, hear an angel sing; 
 
 Build then your heaven on earth, a time you may 
 
 If angel gained in virtue white may stay; 
 
 But if by lowest birth you could not guess 
 
 Then will with time be virtue in request; 
 
 The heaven make by you may be in fact. 
 
-35- 
 
 And though in it you dwell, hell your coutact. 
 
 How noble then is thought of future life 
 
 To make the mind of man think "angel " wife, 
 
 When thought is had at first before a sin 
 
 At early time of life would angel win ; 
 
 Then as the youth enjoys the dreams to come 
 
 Will for the lines of this with memory bring 
 
 Be as the star that's gone to shine no more 
 
 When lost in space beyond his heaven door. 
 
 When youth is wise with dreams of castles air 
 
 His task to do if he would be their heir 
 
 With strife in life for home to be obtained 
 
 Not leave to chance for castles never rain ; 
 
 Though work is named by man as bitter toil 
 
 And though at time it may appear as foil 
 
 Yet will with strife be gained a step advance, 
 
 That changes toil to name of affluence; 
 
 With it as title gained with dreams the while 
 
 Will labor be as play for fortune's smile. 
 
 Again will nature aid with thoughts of joy, 
 
 When less is gained then dream in youth's employ 
 
 And higher castles had in thought as man begun. 
 
 Have changed to cottage plan to meet the riches won. 
 
 With no regret of loss for any of the grand 
 
 And not a thought to mourn for loss of palaces planned; 
 
 But sweeter is the hope of cottage to be had 
 
 While planning is the man in earth's sublimest glad 
 
-36- 
 
 Though never to complete as formed at first in mind; 
 With beaut}' not in world can he its equal find 
 When in his heart complete, its rooms of shining bright 
 And flowers around to bloom constautl}' day and night. 
 'Tis ever thus that man will think to make His home 
 Before an angel gained and while he dwells alone; 
 With thought of happy home within his heaven here 
 Of sorrow never think, of trouble never fear. 
 
 Youthful man with his ambition, 
 Not a thought to hold the past, 
 Disappointed not with failure. 
 Not a thought to gain so fast, 
 Not discouraged, pushing onward, 
 Dream by night of future riches, 
 Rise with sun now having rested, 
 Riches come with dreams of day, 
 Road as taken, not rejected. 
 Past that gone can not retrace, 
 Pushing onward, bright in hope. 
 Second day, as day to come, 
 Days of future, search of future 
 Fortune gathered by the roadway, 
 Solely gathered by the roadway, 
 Roadwa}' to the future leading, 
 I^eading to the haven sought for. 
 
-37— 
 
 Thoughts of castles, not the high ones, 
 Not the castles of the entrance, 
 Entrance through the wall of manhood, 
 Days of travel, loss of brightness, 
 Not of hope for objects real. 
 Mind contented, plans successful. 
 Values make the castles cottage, 
 Gain of fortune, gain of knowledge, 
 Thought compares to make the real, 
 Compares with objects. Those are wanted 
 Values real obtained by labor, 
 Work that's done at time of travel. 
 Working ever, gain in plenty, 
 Loss in hope, in dream of future — 
 Not the dreams the work that's gaining, 
 Labor constant, onward ever, 
 Often led to by-paths tempting. 
 Often found with distant danger. 
 Danger in a by-path roadway. 
 Danger lurking in the hedges 
 Often pluck the flowers of pleasure; 
 Pleasant task to stop the travel. 
 Often pleasure's rest for better 
 Mind releaved of task in struggle. 
 Soul and heart oft fed for better 
 Harm not done in by-path's roadway; 
 Losses gain for future caution, 
 
-38- 
 
 Krrors lessen hurt of losses, 
 Heart the gainer in the pleasures, 
 Soul not caring, satisfaction, 
 Sin abhorred by soul's companion. 
 Heart and soul are brothers real, 
 Body happy — fate bequeathed that 
 Make up not against each other, 
 Sin abhorred or be abandoned 
 Not hard struggle for procedure. 
 For the good that's in the pathway 
 Hope in starting dreams of day ; 
 Hope now strengthened with the gain. 
 Gain of objects heart's desire, 
 Pleasant pleasure, can obtain. 
 Pleasant now the hope of future. 
 Future seeming not the nearer, 
 Yet of future which is gained, 
 Brightened by experience plenty; 
 Castles sought at first of splendor. 
 Now the thought of home for future, 
 Sweet the search of every by-path, 
 Sweet the thought of home to plan, 
 Beauty grows in nature's woodland, 
 Grand the forest to remodel, 
 Spot that chosen bright with nature, 
 Tempting place for rest from travel, 
 Tempting will be when the man 
 
-39— 
 
 Ian 
 
 With his nature-changing ph 
 Burn the brushwood, cut the thistle, 
 Trim the forest, cut the scrubs, 
 Plough the garden, tile the marshes, 
 Smoothe the whole to scatter seed, 
 Seed the lo\Vland, seed the high. 
 Set in grove the evergreen. 
 Plant the vines, the fruiting bushes, 
 Trees of plenty, of every kind, 
 Trees that are of climate know^ 
 Trees for fruiting, trees for flowers. 
 Trees of shade to hold the vines, 
 Arrange in bowers more for beauty, 
 Fruit trees planted mixed with others, 
 Bushes fruiting, more of flowers 
 Vlmimto suit to catch the eye, 
 Sit beneath the shade of cherry, 
 Pick the berry, pick the currant, 
 Hang the basket on the apple. 
 Rasp and black of berries plenty, 
 Fill the baskets, fill the boxes. 
 Work of pleasure, work for hours. 
 Fruit that's later, harvest coming, 
 Vine abundant loaded each year. 
 Trees are laden, limbs dependent 
 Props to hold the golden load. 
 Sweetest toil that of the storeing, 
 
— 40— 
 
 Pleasure work the fruit procuring, 
 Glad the task for fruit trees careing, 
 Happy paiu while rose bush tending, 
 Happy thought the thorn is stinging, 
 Prick oifset with thoughts of bloom. 
 Sweet perfume of bushes flowering. 
 Sweeter still the work of cutting, 
 Happy maids the youthman's neighbors, 
 Happy friends to gather flowers. 
 Gather roses more than all flowers, 
 Maidens gather baskets, scissors 
 Though not of the bush depriving, 
 Thoughts of room as ornamenting, 
 Bright the table, sweeter bread, 
 Bright with blooming flowers all summer. 
 Appetites are made the better 
 For the gathering of the roses. 
 Gathering berries, fruits or flowers, 
 Lost the youthman, lost in pleasure. 
 Cottage grown midst, trees of forest 
 Grown in beauty with surrounding. 
 Grown in heart, soul inspiring, 
 Cottage real, not one of magic, 
 Not of the air, of future's door, 
 Not a castle of a day dream 
 But beauty cottage for the man 
 fill completed, all as perfect, 
 
—41— 
 
 Planned by youthman of his mind, 
 Lonesome young man in his heaven, 
 Lonesome when his heart consulted. 
 When consulted, then awakened. 
 Born a blessing, heart is gladdened 
 With the thought sweet one possessing, 
 Soul and heart rejoice in common, 
 Body urge, mind now awakened, 
 Happy time to seek companion, 
 With the home now all completed, 
 In the midst of growing orchard. 
 Bordered with the blooming flowers, 
 Of the border with the hedges, 
 Flowers that mingle with the trees, 
 Thoughts of flower, the sweeter are 
 Ever blooming rose must be; 
 Sweeter rose and ever blooming, 
 Angel must be fairest creature. 
 Not companion of the young man, 
 Not the maid that's surely virtuous, 
 Not the beauties known in childhood, 
 Foolish young man seek the stranger. 
 Seek the beauty, greatest danger, 
 Thinking of a fair companion, 
 Thought of sweet companion greeting. 
 Of the home now made to share, 
 With sweetest one, a fairer creature. 
 
—42- 
 
 Share, and yet would give to her 
 Home, field, orchard, all possessing, 
 To she who will the cottage grace; 
 Maidens passing, maidens coming. 
 Maidens wishing would possess 
 Those with riches, family pride. 
 Great in virtue, beauty plenty, 
 Krror of the young man's life. 
 Should have married virtue knowing, 
 Known from childhood's happy day, 
 Known in family, known in virtue, 
 Virtue that with them would stay; 
 Playmates came to him in plenty. 
 Came to youthman in his garden. 
 Came but left him in his garden. 
 Maidens came to gather flowers, 
 Came with baskets, came in carriage, 
 Gathered roses in their baskets. 
 Other flowers with the roses 
 Maidens gathered in their baskets. 
 One that came, one that was farest 
 Came with youthman in a bower. 
 Space that's walled with evergreens, 
 Covered with the climbing roses — 
 Roses climbing covered trees, 
 Covered bower of evergreens. 
 Rustic seat within the bower, 
 
-43— 
 
 Place of rest for garden worker, 
 Place of refuge for the lovers, 
 Place for maid and youthful worker, 
 Rest from labor picking flowers, 
 Pleasant rest from pleasant labor. 
 Rest beneath the climbing roses; 
 Sweetest walls for lovers' bower, 
 Sweet perfumes for love in refuge 
 From without, no eye could see them — 
 Evergreens to close together, 
 From above the One not heed them, 
 Others could not reach the top — 
 Top that's covered with the roses. 
 Entrance forced between the bushes, 
 Only known to maid and lover, 
 Not be known to those without. 
 Sweet the hours of rest together 
 Had the maid and youthful lover. 
 Foolish youth thought maid too forward 
 In the bower in the orchard. 
 Maid who virtue still possesses. 
 After man had years of trouble 
 That that might had been avoided 
 Could the youth have known where differ 
 Sweet affections and not virtue, 
 Yet when later on in journey 
 Blindly does as shown hereafter. 
 
-44- 
 
 Blindly chooses with affection, 
 Chooses from a lower people, 
 People who no virtue care for, 
 Chooses one not her respected, 
 Fairest one of hidden bower, 
 Beauty with good family honor, 
 Beauty with .inherit virtue. 
 Chooses coming hell through heaven— 
 Not the heaven, heaven remaining 
 Would not give for public reading, 
 lyove not for a public greeting. 
 Love that's pure, from virtue coming, 
 Held in lover's breast as secret, 
 Ivove of wanton for the reading, 
 Love that's gold will give the meeting. 
 For the public will the common 
 Give the public of the wanton, 
 Yet will tell as lover saw it. 
 Tell of people who are rustic, 
 Tell with blindness as was had. 
 Love with one by nature wanton. 
 Not of one who knows not virtue 
 As the man of trouble knows her, 
 Heart though yearning, soul inspiring, 
 Body needing, thought to haste, 
 Yet the youthman lingered daily 
 Hoping ever, hoping always, 
 
—45— 
 
 Not despairing, toil a pleasure 
 While he waits his love to meet, 
 Now in palace, now in ballroom, 
 Now in journey distant land. 
 Many maidens, beauty plenty, 
 Wisdom ever, beauty graced, 
 Stop in cottage, roof with thatch, 
 Night on journey distant prairie, 
 Heaven not this made by people 
 Thought the youthman, now the traveler 
 Did not think of fair one dwelling 
 In the cottage with the thatched roof, 
 Patched-up cottage, mud at sill, 
 Swine predominating place, 
 Not a place for angel raising, 
 Raising angels with the swine. 
 Virtue taught companion teacher. 
 Maiden, swine are of a nature 
 Like the birds, they are of feather, 
 Home a scab to blooming prairie; 
 People learned to till the soil. 
 Not as others, not of culture. 
 Rustic ways to outside world, 
 Travel worn with journey lengthened. 
 Knowledge of the distant cottage 
 Gained at former inn of rest, 
 Strove to gain this inn of plenty, 
 
-46- 
 
 Failed for time through distant glimmer, 
 From the open cottage doorway, 
 From the many village windows, 
 Light a beacon for the traveler. 
 Guiding footsteps in the pathway 
 To the cottage place of rest; 
 Now within the humble doorway. 
 Now before the dusty heater, 
 Air of evening cool in springtime, 
 Doors wide open— custom ancient. 
 People healthy, air for daytime 
 Not so night time, air rejected. 
 Room of rest not ventilated, 
 Guest not priviledged to avoid it — 
 Must abide by custom rustic, 
 Such as known to cottage people; 
 Of the prairie village inn 
 Woman pleasant, wife of keeper, 
 Kindly heated— wrong not thought of, 
 Welcome stranger to our hearth, 
 Welcome to our table humble, 
 Welcome to such fare as we have, 
 Kindly was the man the keeper, 
 Pleasant words for pleasant rest. 
 Much to tell of prairie swine herd, 
 Breed of chicken, eggs the freshest. 
 Cows are plenty, milk the sweetest. 
 
—47- 
 
 For the traveler cream that's pure, 
 Table sitting for the traveler, 
 Family supped before the sunset, 
 Supped on food though humble, plenty, 
 Weary traveler, supper ready, 
 Now draw up to that before you. 
 Blessings asked, obliging landlord 
 Not request of hungry traveler. 
 Thankful though for food on board — 
 Board of plenty, food substantial, 
 Sat the traveler, hungry guest, 
 Bread — salt-risiug — was the sweeter, 
 Thoughts of home food years before, 
 This with eggs that's fresh inviting. 
 Sweet the milk with cream as mixture, 
 Cream as pure b}'^ him rejected; 
 Hardly had begun his supper 
 When a virgin stood in doorway, 
 Sweetest vision for the young man, 
 Stood in doorway with the milk pail, 
 Stood the maiden of the prairie. 
 Of Iowa's golden land, *" 
 
 Visions yes of heaven thought he — 
 Thought the youthful traveler, 
 Not the maiden's timid entrance, 
 Not the simple prairie habit, 
 Not the look toward traveler seated, 
 
-48- 
 
 Brightest thought of heaven visions» 
 
 Beauty here for youthful man, 
 
 Face and form with shimering ringlets, 
 
 Curls of nature — not of hot iron, 
 
 Cheeks of roses, color nature's, 
 
 Chimes of sweetness, voice of beauty, 
 
 Thought the man forgot the supper. 
 
 Thought he who was now in search of. 
 
 Beauty though like this not thought of. 
 
 Object of his present travel. 
 
 Beauty for a wife would find. 
 
 Not a thought of prairie beauty 
 
 As one having blackest soul, 
 
 Not a thought of skin deep beauty 
 
 With the simple prairie maid. 
 
 But had thought a wife to find 
 
 In the place beyond the prairie. 
 
 City of the eastward river. 
 
 Stop at wayside for refreshments. 
 
 Stop at night for journey weary 
 
 At the prairie village inn, 
 
 Near it church for all the people — 
 
 Church for people of the prairie, 
 
 Sabbath-day comes with next sunrise, 
 
 Sudden thought of youthful traveler, 
 
 Thought to rest in prairie village, 
 
 Thought to tarry for the Monday, 
 
—49— 
 
 Not a thought of distant city, 
 Not a thought of haste to reach it, 
 Truth to tell of youthful traveler 
 Not a thought of any place now 
 But the home of prairie maid. 
 Evening passed in inn of village, 
 Door now closed for nights that's chilly, 
 Heat in stove from fuel of corncob, 
 Heat when fire is fed by maiden, 
 Fed from out the corncob basket 
 Held in hand of prairie maid, 
 Sweet the face when dust from basket 
 Catch the fire from top where entered, 
 Light from flash of cobs that's dusty. 
 Flash that brightens face of maid. 
 Early night when spoke the landlord. 
 Spoke of rest for all that's virtuous 
 At the time of country's custom 
 Sought their cots from day of toil, 
 Room for traveler, that of entrance. 
 Read the bible, read the chapter, 
 Sweet the custom of religion. 
 Prayers then given to the maker. 
 Prayers for home and for the prairie, 
 Prayers of thanks for food and garments. 
 Prayers for people, neighbors round them, 
 Hands to shake before withdrawing. 
 
-50— 
 
 Shake with wishes good for traveler, 
 Hand of landlord, hand of mother, 
 Hand of prairie maid, the beauty. 
 Mind awake, with sleeping body, 
 Sweet the dream of beauty maid. 
 Thought in dream of her in cottage. 
 Cottage in the grove the orchard, 
 Cottage near the prairie city, 
 Happy dream of home prepared, 
 Happy dream of maid as in it. 
 Early morning early call, 
 Guest in room of breakfast table, 
 Early rise from pleasant dream, 
 Rise to greet the object of it. 
 Sweet the movements of the maid 
 While she sets the breakfast table. 
 Sweet the words she spoke at times 
 While o'er kitchen stove reclining. 
 Sweet the fragrant smell of ham 
 With the eggs now frying near it. 
 Sweeter all the food of table 
 Cooked by beauty prairie maid, 
 Though it be a day of rest. 
 Not a thought of home that's later, 
 Breakfast over then the sunrise, 
 Habit formed by prairie farmer. 
 Early feed and early milking, 
 
■51- 
 
 Cows that's milked before the sunrise, 
 Milked by landlord in the morning, 
 Milked by milkmaid in the evening, 
 Maid that now prepares the breakfast, 
 Youthful traveler watches movements, 
 Watches maid now at the table, 
 Now at stove o'er food that's frying, 
 Slowly gaining words from maiden, 
 Slowly gaining new acquaintance, 
 Kach desiring each to question. 
 Thinking words with which to speak. 
 Thinking words for the replying; 
 Now at table sits the traveler. 
 Stands the maid to do the waiting, 
 Then with blessing as in evening. 
 Blessings on the humble food. 
 Blessings lengthened in the morning. 
 Not the longer family prayer. 
 Not the bible chapter reading, 
 End the blessing, come the eating. 
 Comes the custom landlord's questions. 
 Not refusal for the landlord, 
 Answers given, questions lengthened, 
 Answers given past requiring, 
 For the fare the entertainment 
 Answers given to the landlord. 
 Sire of beauty prairie maid. 
 
-52— 
 
 Youthful traveler now has told all, 
 Told of home prepared near city, 
 Told of orchard, and the garden 
 With the groves, the flowering roses, 
 Told of rooms so large and airy, 
 Even told of beds of wardrobe. 
 Carpets, kitchen, told of cellar, 
 Gladly told of all possessions. 
 Told in answer to the questions. 
 Silently the maiden listens- 
 Listens to the youthful traveler. 
 Sweetly smiles to answered questions, 
 Further questions from the father, 
 Questions as to youth's intentions, 
 Asking of his future travel. 
 Of the place, his destination. 
 Answers gave as had intended 
 To the sire of prairie maid, 
 Answer to his many questions 
 Gave for ear of one that's waiting, 
 Telling of intended journey 
 To the city of the river. 
 Not of search of life's companion. 
 Not ot one to grace the cottage, 
 Listened beauty prairie maid. 
 Listened to all that's related. 
 Not with smiles nor yet with gladness, 
 
—53— 
 
 Listened while the tears had started, 
 Tears not noticed by the father, 
 Neither noticed by the mother, 
 Maid had noticed youth had seen them, 
 Slowly walked into the kitchen, 
 Walked the maid to drive the tears back; 
 Thus the landlord spoke to traveler, 
 Spoke to youthman as a father, 
 Spoke not thinking of his daughter, 
 Why go farther, sayeth the landlord, 
 Why not tarry in our village, 
 Here the coal mine to be opened. 
 Here the railroad now is building, 
 When the church hour has been ended 
 Go with me to see the wonder, 
 See the homes at edge of village, 
 See the roofs— new enterprise— 
 With the hotel to be opened 
 Even with the morning's sun. 
 When poor fare such as I give you 
 Need not do for travelers, 
 Thus the landlord, kindly man, 
 Talks the wishes of his guest, 
 Talks him to obey his heart. 
 Gives excuse for change of plan, 
 No need to see the wonder shaft. 
 No need to see the railroad grade. 
 
—54— 
 
 But would make glad the heart of maid, 
 Would see the smile behind the tears, 
 He will remain, the heart that spoke 
 Near the cottage in the cornlet, 
 In new hotel, pride of the village, 
 Thus the youthman tells intention 
 At the table of the breakfast, 
 Will abandon further journey 
 And will tarry in the village, 
 In the new prairie city, 
 When the maid hears that that's spoken 
 Smiles the beauty of the prairie, 
 Brightest smiles that speak of gladness, 
 Youth is quick to note her pleasure, 
 Food for hope of his intention 
 For the pleasure of his heart. 
 Maiden's smiles make happy traveler. 
 Smiles of maids make happy world, 
 Breakfast over work in kitchen. 
 Guest acquainted, gain of freedom — 
 Freedom for the talk to maid 
 While in kitchen washing dishes, 
 Talk that's pleasant to the traveler, 
 Talk of village, talk of people, 
 Then of church with talk of preacher. 
 Talk of choir, of which the leader 
 Is the beauty of the thatched inn, 
 
-55— 
 
 Plays the organ, leads the singing 
 Does the maid who does the milking; 
 Anxious youth for hour of meeting 
 At the church this Sabbath day, 
 Anxious to hear voice of maiden 
 In the song, the sacred hymn, 
 Voice so sweet in work of kitchen, 
 Anxious he to worship that day, 
 Worship God and prairie maid, 
 Heart fast going out to maiden, 
 Would not hold it, seek to loose it, 
 Loss of heart his journey object. 
 Loose his heart and gain the beauty, 
 Happy man as happy that day. 
 Thought of that his dream would teach, 
 Thinking of his home in orchard. 
 Thinking of his loneliness, 
 Hope now for the prairie maid 
 In his home at edge of city, 
 In his rooms so high and airy. 
 In his kitchen, in his orchard, 
 In his door with welcome for him 
 When from labor come at night. 
 Now the church hour, pleasant time. 
 Come the people from the prairie, 
 Come the people from the village, 
 Many wagons hitched in churchyard, 
 
-56- 
 
 Many more stand in the street, 
 Hands to shake each other greeting, 
 Friends who meet at country church, 
 Tell of corn, tell of the cattle, 
 Talk of cobs as used for fuel, 
 Now of coal mine soon to open. 
 Better coal than cobs for heat. 
 Talk of railroad, of the grading. 
 Of hotel now to be opened, 
 Happy village expectation, 
 Happy thought of future wealth, 
 Speaking some of time for ease 
 When the railroad is completed, 
 Only thought of others coming, 
 Wealth to bring for them that's here, 
 Only talk of them as serving 
 These the people of the village. 
 Not a thought of disposing, 
 Not a thought of overreaching 
 By new-comers, they the boomers, 
 For the growing prairie village. 
 Not a thought that they will labor 
 For the coming, merchant, railroad. 
 Not a thought but that the money 
 Paid by them to bring the railroad. 
 Bring for them who paid the money, 
 Not bring masters they to serve; 
 
-57— 
 
 Now the singing of the church choir 
 Opens service, calls the talkers, 
 Singing of the prairie maid 
 With the wonder prairie choir, 
 Wonder singing charms the hearers, 
 Not the sweet voice can discern 
 In the terror sounds emersion, 
 Drowned the voice of prairie maid 
 In the discord, sin of praise. 
 Yet the youth is more enraptured 
 With the beauty prairie maid 
 When he hears her play the organ, 
 Lead the wonder choir in song, 
 See the people who admire her, 
 For her talent at the organ, 
 See the queen of all the village 
 Leader of the country choir, 
 Queen she is of all for beauty 
 Of the country or the city. 
 Happy way of country people 
 Place the belle in front of pulpit, 
 Place for organ front of all, 
 Thoughtful deacon who arranged it, 
 Placed the beauty front of preacher, 
 Byes to front, not for the sermon. 
 To the front for sight of beauty, 
 Sermon preached with voice of thunder. 
 
-58- 
 
 Voice be heard beyond the village 
 To remind the lingering sinners 
 Of the holy Sabbath day; 
 Sermon loud not heard by young man 
 vSilently he worships fair god, 
 Often maid and often traveler 
 Raise their eyes up towards each other, 
 Talk in action, talk with glances 
 Do the traveler and the maid, 
 When the thunder voice is silent 
 Then the singing to begin. 
 Glad and thankful man the traveler, 
 Verse alone sings prairie maid, 
 vSweetest voice of sweetest singer, 
 Sings alone and plays the organ, 
 Harsh the sound when others join in, 
 Harsher still the next verse singer. 
 Bearded farmer, lungs of bull, 
 Sings with voice to beat the preacher. 
 Sings the bass man of the choir; 
 This the end of morning service, 
 Worship for the prairie people, 
 Not the end of it for traveler, 
 Worship of the fairest god, 
 Not to stop his worship of her 
 But to leave her at the door. 
 Pleasant ways have prairie people. 
 
-59— 
 
 Talk before and after meeting, 
 Give each other pleasant greeting, 
 Many strangers come on that day, 
 Come to boom the prairie city, 
 Come the smithy, come mechanic, 
 Come the builders with their tools, 
 Merchant, banker and the gambler 
 Come to boom old prairie village, 
 To surprise the sleepy people, 
 Come on train to end of new track 
 Then in wagons over prairie. 
 Some with tents, for time a shelter 
 While the house, the home is building. 
 Now the landlord takes the young man, 
 Takes him from the maid, his daughter. 
 Walks with him through growing village 
 To the shaft, the future coal mine. 
 Then to railroad the embankment. 
 To hotel but now completed. 
 In the door, into the guest room. 
 Up to register now open. 
 Enter now the name of young man, 
 Name that's first of all to come. 
 Room assigned for time of future 
 One that's pleasant to the young man. 
 Looking toward the thatched roof cottage, 
 Looking toward the home of loved one 
 
Out upon the growing village — 
 
 Village yet with streets but few, 
 
 Prairie wide for growing city, 
 
 City now would prairie claim, 
 
 Young man useful as surveyor, 
 
 Stakes to set for lots and streets. 
 
 Early morning, Monday morning, 
 
 Would begin the task to do. 
 
 Set the stakes for booming citj- . 
 
 Set the stakes beyond the village 
 
 Out to railroad, out to coal mine, 
 
 Set the stakes and do the platting, 
 
 Plats for people, lots to choose from, 
 
 Plats for record, publication, 
 
 Work for month, then work for six weeks. 
 
 Work for young man near the maiden. 
 
 Near the home of prairie maid, 
 
 Sweet the task to do so near her. 
 
 Hasten now unto the maiden, 
 
 Hasten to relate the contract. 
 
 Contract to lay out the city, 
 
 Made upon the Sabbath day, 
 
 Work from God on Sabbath day; 
 
 Thought the man and thought the maid 
 
 Glad to be so near together. 
 
 Then they speak of evening coming — 
 
 Of the evening each one thinking, 
 
— 6i- 
 
 When alone in room, the front one, 
 Maid to meet the young man stranger, 
 Meet the young man, meet her lover. 
 Meet to tell of love that's quick. 
 Yes, the evening has come quickly, 
 Come for lovers , meet with greeting 
 Smiles the maid of glossy ringlets. 
 Belle and beauty of the village, 
 Meeting, yet no word is spoken, 
 Bold the young man to so sudden, 
 Bold to kiss the lips so rosy, 
 Bolder yet to clasp the beauty 
 To his breast in heat of passion. 
 Not the maid that will resist him. 
 Not the bashful maid so willing, 
 Not a word but lets him kiss her — 
 Kiss her on her rosy lips; 
 Sweet the kissing Sunday evening. 
 Sweetest kiss from prairie maid, 
 Sweeter with the kiss embracing, 
 Heaven gained with Sabbath day, 
 In the room beneath the thatched roof, 
 Kissing fair god sweetest pleasure; 
 Not a word with mouth is spoken 
 When the lips with kiss are closed, 
 Not a sound is heard in talking 
 When the hearts must do the speaking. 
 
-62— 
 
 Not a thing to gain the secret 
 
 When with kiss such sweets secure, 
 
 Happy young man, happy maid. 
 
 So quick to know to love each other, 
 
 Sweeter kiss, the kiss of stranger, 
 
 When with love that is of pure, 
 
 Pure the beauty of the prairie. 
 
 Thought the young man guest of day 
 
 Thought not of her not a moment 
 
 As too forward with a stranger, 
 
 lyove so strengthened for the fair god 
 
 Not be broken by her kisses, 
 
 Not be broken why he blessed her, 
 
 Blessed her, though fair god she be, 
 
 Blessed yet worshiped while he kissed her 
 
 While he pressed her to his breast, 
 
 Not a thought of kiss opposing. 
 
 Not a thought but sweetest kissing 
 
 Have the lovers of a day, 
 
 Day of worship for each other. 
 
 Still the worship for the young man — 
 
 Worship stroking glossy curls. 
 
 Stop the kissing for the worship, 
 
 Stop the worship for the kissing. 
 
 Not a word the time is spoken 
 
 During worship, during kissing. 
 
 During stroking of the curls, 
 
-63- 
 
 Words not needed, arms enfolding 
 Sweetest form that now embracing, 
 Sweetest way with kissing greeting, 
 Kisses made love long to stay. 
 
Ill 
 
 COURTSHIP. 
 
 WITH love for maiden gaining 
 Her love with it obtaining, 
 
 With labor had 
 
 The man was glad 
 For gain of time in claiming 
 The hand in holy marriage 
 Of belle of prairie village, 
 
 And gain a bride 
 
 For promised ride 
 In new and waiting carriage. 
 
 How happy with the wooing 
 When heat with love is bleeding, 
 
 And every night 
 
 The pretty sight 
 Of beauty maid in waiting 
 At gate of humble cottage 
 To make the stronger bondage; 
 
 Must go within 
 
 For sweet begin 
 With belle of prairie village, 
 
-65- 
 
 Sweet way for lovers greeting 
 Begins with kiss the meeting 
 
 Before the seat 
 
 For tete-a-tete, 
 Or for the sweetest singing 
 Through greeting kiss obtaining, 
 Bliss had while thus remaining 
 
 As standing up 
 
 The sweets to sup 
 Delights with bliss that's gaining. 
 
 With moments for adoring, 
 For look at lovely darling, 
 
 Lips separate 
 
 For the relate 
 Of words to aid the wooing, 
 No less of the embracing 
 With gazing or with kissing; 
 
 Pure ecstasy 
 
 These lovers see 
 While both are joy inviting. 
 
 So sweetly time is passing, 
 Soft glossy curls caressing. 
 
 Or feel of them 
 
 On back of hand 
 When used in gentle pressing; 
 
-66— 
 
 For gaining sweet celestial 
 Pretending to be playful 
 With slightest move 
 The soul to soothe 
 In calm repose delightful. 
 
 With end of joy approaching 
 Bright eyes in love are closing, 
 
 Delicious thrill 
 
 The bodies fill 
 While hearts in bliss are melting, 
 Enraptured now with kissing 
 No pleasure to be missing; 
 
 Acme delight 
 
 Are souls in flight 
 With nature's greatest blessing. 
 
 Oh, joyful mellow feeling 
 When hearts are gently stealing! 
 
 A taste of sweet 
 
 And be discreet 
 For love with virtue dealing, 
 Divine triumph alluring. 
 Delight of heaven revealing 
 
 And make it sin 
 
 More sweets to win 
 With passions now eftusing. 
 
-67- 
 
 The air with sweet perfumes 
 Now filling all the room 
 
 To kiss assist 
 
 No flowers exist, 
 Increasing blissful boon, 
 With view of humble walls 
 Now forming grandest hall 
 
 Could souls escape; 
 
 Of heaven relate 
 It's sweets be bitter gall. 
 
 Harsh sounds in street are making 
 Sweet music forms have taken ; 
 
 May be 'tis so 
 
 Souls heaven know, 
 When with such bliss awakened 
 Though later joy obtaining 
 No pleasure ever gaining 
 
 On sweet of kiss 
 
 First love the bliss 
 When had with love remaining. 
 
 (A part of this chapter as first written.) 
 That long embrace was sweetest dream, 
 
 The one to greet his call, 
 Lips melting and soul saving seemed 
 
 Sweet kiss against the wall. 
 
The air grew sweet without perfume 
 
 The soul to bathe in bliss, 
 Poor soul quicked breathed to more secure, 
 
 Sweet smell of greeting kiss. 
 
 What place is this the soul is in, 
 What blooming flowers are these, 
 
 What music sweet in all the mind. 
 What feeling gives such ease? 
 
 If man could hold through life such sweet, 
 
 From it would not depart. 
 But would remain his soul to steep 
 
 Till death gave soul a start. 
 
 Then if he wake in heaven above, 
 
 What cry be his lament, 
 To find the pleasures with his love, 
 
 With parting soul not sent. 
 
 Though heaven be as heaven is, 
 
 Take soul from sweet embrace. 
 From such as is this earthly bliss 
 
 The world will be the sweetest place. 
 
 Oh, blissful boon, first love to taste. 
 
 Delights of life to gain; 
 Sublime and melting love to haste 
 
 Two with it would remain. 
 
Remain as standing, not to move, 
 
 To haste the melting love, 
 Voluptous hearts and souls to soothe 
 
 As cooing of the doves. 
 
 While now the heart is melting fast, 
 
 Sweets added to the kiss, 
 The dream of pleasure too good to last, 
 
 Exceeding all that's bliss. 
 
 Not all the world could stop the hearts, 
 Together melt, together flow. 
 
 Not heaven or hell could take apart 
 This kiss of love that's here below. 
 
 Sweet nature made delight of life, 
 All bliss these two have seen, 
 
 Delights excelled who would not strive 
 Such melting love to wean. 
 
 The kiss is o'er the wall relieved, 
 
 The lovers take the lounge. 
 Not any harm thought one deceived 
 
 With kiss love's secret found. 
 
 At first they sat in silent bliss 
 
 Each looking at its mate, 
 To think of nought but sweetest kiss 
 
 And wish for kiss to take. 
 
— 70— 
 
 Then when he spoke in softest way 
 
 Affectionate words to form, 
 Of love his soul must have it say 
 
 Voluptous thoughts are born. 
 
 My darling girl my love for you 
 
 By man was ne'er excelled, 
 My sweetest one your love I sue 
 
 All other love expell. 
 
 Oh, will you be for life my bride ? 
 
 Oh, will you be my wife ? 
 No other thing that is beside, 
 
 Will love you all my life. 
 
 My cottage new is simply grand, 
 With pleasant groves for shade. 
 
 Flowering trees in orchard stand. 
 Of bloom the place is made. 
 
 The cottage rooms with walls so bright, 
 
 New carpets on the floors, 
 New furniture, both dark and light, 
 
 Gold knobs upon the doors. 
 
 The stables, with the horse and cow, 
 Of chickens you may guess. 
 
 He even told of pigs and sow — 
 So proud of all possessed, 
 
-71- 
 
 A carriage new will not be used 
 
 Until it meets his bride, 
 And in it to the cottage ride 
 
 With his loved one by his side. 
 
 All that I have to you will give, 
 
 Bright jewels I will buy, 
 And now for you will only live, 
 
 My darling, hear my cry ! 
 
 It is that I wish her sweet reply, 
 
 My love to you I give. 
 You know I love, you know my sigh, 
 
 For you I only live. 
 
 Here is my hand, with it my heart. 
 
 You have them fairly won. 
 Not one shall ever make us part 
 
 l/ove with such bliss begun. 
 
 Oh, happy thought of future near ! 
 
 Not any thought of harm, 
 Not any thought of danger here, 
 
 Not any thing but charm. 
 
 Delightful dreams of future sweet. 
 
 That hour it was arranged. 
 Delightful thoughts those hearts to meet 
 
 The night they were engaged. 
 
—72— 
 
 The contract sealed with other kiss, 
 While on the lounge they play, 
 
 Sweet talk that added to the bliss 
 And love still held its sway. 
 
 The fair one knew too well her charms 
 
 While on the seat reclined; 
 With tempting smile inviting arms 
 
 Gave youth sweet thoughts sublime. 
 
 One pretty foot had found the seat 
 
 With bending knee to grace. 
 Made heart of youth to rapid beat, 
 
 His soul was now bedazed. 
 
 Thus was the man now won and held 
 
 By charms voluptous grace. 
 Could not resist his heart to weld 
 
 Though soul at first amazed. 
 
 Amazed at freedom in the start 
 
 While it was lost in dream, 
 Could not from sweets like this depart, 
 
 This heaven or heaven demeaned. 
 
 Though death would frighten if it appeared 
 
 This soul to take away, 
 For body attached is held too dear, 
 
 It would with body stay. 
 
—73— 
 
 Yet was its nature for heaven bound 
 
 In time to gain its home, 
 The soul on earth had heaven found, 
 
 'TwouJd with such sweetness roam; 
 
 Could not resisit the tempting bliss 
 
 The foot upon the seat, 
 And quickly sought the mouth to kiss, 
 
 Must reach beyond the feet. 
 
 The one small foot had kept its place 
 
 Looked pretty on the floor. 
 Thus was arranged to beauty "s caste 
 
 With youth a"^heaven's door. 
 
 The youthful soul was stronger now, 
 
 Then body mind controlled. 
 The soul would teach the body how 
 
 To be in heaven enrolled. 
 
 It was thus the soul its heaven would reach, 
 
 Would carry body through, 
 It was thus the soul would body teach 
 
 Heaven's ways on earth to do. 
 
 Not long the struggle for the right 
 
 When soul o'er body reigned, 
 Not long had body and soul to fight 
 
 Before the soul submission claimed. 
 
—74— 
 
 The front of lounge was neatly filled 
 With that would heaven make, 
 
 The mouth to reach, its sweets distill. 
 The youth must reach to take. 
 
 The space so narrow that behind 
 
 The beauty as she lay. 
 To gain the lips was long incline 
 
 O'er graceful bended knee. 
 
 Up to the rosy lips would roam 
 
 To reach the tempting sweet, 
 Such cushions for the bliss to come, 
 
 Such arms and kiss to greet. 
 
 With lips together was all that held 
 
 Their souls within their case, 
 Both kiss with bliss their mouths to fill. 
 
 No kiss then their escape, 
 
 The battle hard was closely fought. 
 
 Soul's pleasure sweets desire. 
 Joined mouthes in kiss for what they sought 
 
 The body's heart to fire. 
 
 The weakened minds no strength to think 
 
 Must act as souls will teach, 
 lyips not removed such sweets to drink 
 
 For sweetest- bliss must kiss to reach. 
 
—75— 
 
 Now came the struggle, sad to tell, 
 Souls to their strength resort, 
 
 The fairest heart sought to rebel 
 And virtue fought to hold the fort. 
 
 Though virtue late to join the fray, 
 Freph strength against the worn, 
 
 It was wrong in virtue so long to stay 
 And then the weakened forces storm, 
 
 A sin to hold the right of way 
 
 Such as this virtue gained, 
 A sin to stop, the sin waylay. 
 
 To stop such sin is virtue stiained, 
 
 Oh, Virtue ! such as you for shame 
 
 To hold the soul's desire, 
 For later day poor soul to main 
 
 With blacker sin conspire. 
 
 Your awful deed will sure profane, 
 Your title known as virtue's worth, 
 
 Your later acts are darkest stain, 
 
 To see not need to search your birth. 
 
 You stopped the act— the soul's desire, 
 Though hearts laughed you to scorn. 
 
 You held the hands that would conspire 
 The soul's desire to warm. 
 
-76- 
 
 Poor souls were lost, had not a fear, 
 With kiss they held their own, 
 
 Commissioned hearts as would appear, 
 Knew nought of virtue's storm. 
 
 Nor did they wake from sleep of bliss 
 Though battle so hotly fought, 
 
 Nor did they think of aught but kiss, 
 Supposed the hearts were rightly taught, 
 
 Not knowing of objection made 
 
 They acted most sublime, 
 The youth on fairest cushion stayed 
 
 And caring nought for time. 
 
 Quick were pulsations of the heart 
 
 Now speeding in the fray. 
 Bach soul as willing does its part 
 
 Think not the hearts to stay. 
 
 Thus they combat for sweets to sip 
 
 In this battle on the seat, 
 The soul attending to the lips 
 ■ Combating hearts each other meet. 
 
 The hands and arms with act of truce, 
 
 Have left the battle field, 
 Joined other forces, would reduce 
 
 Bliss that the hearts would steal. 
 
■77- 
 
 Now that the combat is at its best, 
 
 The air as perfumed flowers. 
 The souls have gained with heaven's rest, 
 
 Sweet smell of heaven's bowers. 
 
 No thought to them of bondage had 
 
 In body's prison bars. 
 Not but this bliss to make them glad 
 
 If thought of wish be wish for hours. 
 
 Hours, yes, their nature was to gain, 
 Such happiness in which to bathe. 
 
 With it not hours but would remain 
 Years, ages, all other life would waive. 
 
 Oh, souls on earth, have you a mind. 
 Have you a thought your own ? 
 
 To know of this these two could find 
 If rebel hearts you could have won. 
 
 Can you whose souls have had their way 
 Such tempting sweets procured. 
 
 Would you desire such bliss to stay. 
 Such taste of heaven to be secured. 
 
 Such perfumes, where no flowers exist 
 
 As greet souls, half escaped 
 Such taste if not of heaven, what is 
 
 Such sweets, these souls would take ? 
 
-78- 
 
 Oh, blissful thought from earth to flee 
 And carry mind from sweeter theme, 
 
 To hope a heaven is sure to be 
 
 Not thought of heaven on earth as seemed. 
 
 Not seemed! Oh, no, it could not be 
 
 Such happiness as this to feel, 
 Not that of earth could feel or see 
 
 Except as heaven with souls do deal. 
 
 The -world too small for breathing, 
 For soul's expanded meeting, 
 
 Give birth to thought 
 
 Of beauty caught, 
 Way out in space the greeting 
 To tell with song of fairy 
 Whose beauty is the glory 
 
 Of all the stars 
 
 Excell by far 
 O'er angels gains the victory. 
 
 JUST ONE BEHIND THE SUN. 
 
 I have found the brightest pearl 
 In all that's space 
 In any world. 
 
—79 ' 
 
 She is by far the sweetest girl 
 
 In all that's space 
 
 In any world; 
 Her head is hid in pretty curls, 
 
 The sweetest girl, 
 
 The brightest pearl, 
 The sweetest girl, my pearl. 
 
 It was 'way out in space I ran 
 
 To catch my love. 
 
 To catch my lady, 
 'Way out around behind the sun 
 
 To catch my love. 
 
 To catch my lady, 
 Now that she's caught a kiss is won, 
 
 Behind the sun 
 
 In space I run 
 Behind the sun just one. 
 
 Bright angels wept when she would come 
 
 Behind a world 
 
 From pretty girl, 
 To hide from beauty they would run 
 
 Behind a world 
 
 From pretty girl; 
 For cure of eyes with look at sun 
 
 Bright angels run 
 
 When she would come; 
 Yes, from my beauty angel run. 
 
Of all the world's the sweetest one 
 
 The prairie belle 
 
 All space to tell 
 Where e'er she soared her beauty won, 
 
 The prairie belle 
 
 All space to tell 
 Until from space as though in scorn 
 
 Her beauty won 
 
 The sweetest one, 
 The prize for love earth beauty won. 
 
 Oh, that I had her for my own. 
 
 She is most dear, 
 
 She is the peer; 
 She would be harvest for heart seed sown, 
 
 She is most dear, 
 
 She is the peer; 
 Darling, why have you from me flown, 
 
 Heart seed sown 
 
 For my own, 
 A heart that's for my own. 
 
 Come back, come back, my heart will break 
 
 My only love, 
 
 My darling, 
 Come back to space that God has made. 
 
 My only love, 
 
 My darling, 
 
-8i— 
 
 To space that love can worship in, 
 
 That God has made; 
 
 My heart will break, 
 Oh, God, my heart will break ! 
 
 Why now I've caught her in the ring, 
 
 In Saturn's ring; 
 
 She is the pearl, 
 A diamond set, one that sings, 
 
 In Saturn's ring. 
 
 She is the pearl, 
 A diamond set, in Saturn's ring, 
 
 One that can sing, 
 
 Her in the ring. 
 Yes, caught her in the ring. 
 
 Oh, yes I've caught her with the ring, 
 
 My only one, 
 
 My beauty girl. 
 From Jupiter I made the spring, 
 
 My only one, 
 
 My beauty girl, 
 From Jupiter to Saturn's rings 
 
 I make the spring, 
 
 Her with the ring. 
 Yes, caught her with the ring. 
 
—82— 
 
 Exquisite sweet that's over, 
 Alluring souls to lower 
 
 With lightest fall 
 
 To body call 
 From glorious blissful soar. 
 With love's delight infused 
 Enraptured souls amused ^^J 
 
 With heaven confi»e4 
 
 The soul's concern 
 Celestial sweets profuse. 
 
 This welcome so delicious, 
 My darling damsel precious, 
 
 And evening yet 
 
 (Though end regret) 
 For precious sweeter kisses, 
 Hear warble softest singing, 
 Melodious mellow ringing, 
 
 Divine the charm 
 
 The hearts' alarm 
 With merry voice so winning. 
 
 In pleading for the singing 
 A kiss for the beginning, 
 
 Then angel hear 
 
 The girl so dear 
 With voice for heaven bringing 
 
-83- 
 
 ft 
 
 Sweet singing with the courting, 
 To hasten love is gaining, 
 
 Yes, song to aid 
 
 And not afraid 
 With warble with the wooing. 
 
 THE SONG. 
 HE 
 Sweet one, God loves us, of that we are sure. 
 Bringing our meeting with love that is pure, 
 Nor will he part me from you darling, Jewel, 
 No one but devils could do act so cruel." 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 "Ever to love, each to caress. 
 What have we done such blessings to gain 
 That now so happy with each others love." 
 
 She. 
 
 God must have loved us, to blessings bestow 
 Fate could not make it without him I know, 
 That we together have come for the bliss 
 When by not meeting great happiness miss." — Cho. 
 
—84— 
 
 He. 
 
 Sweetly the hours have passed, most precious girl, 
 Thinking of angel face, hid in its curls, 
 Pleasant hours wishing, for evening to come. 
 When for the greeting, to sweetest girl run." — Clio. 
 
 She. 
 J^ife is so pleasant, with love such as ours, 
 Time is the sweetest, with each evening hour; 
 My heart is yearning through all of the day, 
 Your love the greeting, for it ever pray." — Cho. 
 
 HE. 
 Darling, to leave you for but a few days. 
 Then to return with sweet one to stay. 
 You are the angel to brighten my life, 
 Ever will happy be with you for wife." — Cho. 
 
 She. 
 IvOve, do not leave me, my heart it will break. 
 Stay here to greet me, oh, stay for my sake; 
 Not now or ever, no never to part. 
 Or if you leave me 'twill break my poor heart!" — Cho. 
 
 He. 
 Sweetest one, darling girl, you to desert 
 Never can, never will, while on the earth, 
 Nor can I leave you for long at a time, 
 Happy day it will be when you are mine." — Cho, 
 
-85- 
 
 She. 
 
 Then prove your love for me, promise to stay, 
 Or take me, love, with you if you go away; 
 Love, hear my pleading and ne'er from me roam, 
 Then wedded we will be, God bless our home." — Cho. 
 
 Together. 
 
 Let it be, loving we, hasten the day 
 
 Wedded we, now will be; for it we pray 
 
 Ever to happy be, ever to love; 
 
 Blessings ^m our home will see, from God above. — Cho. 
 
 To tell of all the evening, 
 Of oft the kiss repeating, 
 
 With sweetest words 
 
 Was ever heard 
 While on the lounge was sitting; 
 To tell the evening of each day. 
 The pleasant rides and simple play 
 
 Would overdo 
 
 The chapter woe, 
 Renew the tears that often stray. 
 
—86- 
 
 The love was told by man to maid, 
 Without the sin could never fade, 
 
 But stronger grew 
 
 To-day of view; 
 Of sin that then the love waylaid. 
 By every way that could be thought, 
 With kindest acts her love was sought, 
 
 And building home 
 
 With work of roam ; 
 Against the fate for years he fought. 
 
 May be his warning was the dream 
 At time that love the sweetest seemed, 
 
 As it was had 
 
 No part was sad, 
 But how true virtue would esteem 
 As soul would have its nature thought, 
 A maiden's love be to it brought 
 
 In purity 
 
 With chastity. 
 Affection stay its love be sought. 
 
 The night of day from carriage ride, 
 The evening time with maid abide. 
 
 And gathered flowers 
 
 Of pleasant hours, 
 In play arrange in wreaths for bride; 
 
-87- 
 
 Upon the floor the flowers lay 
 The lovers seated with them stay. 
 
 Oh, happy time 
 
 With hearts to chime, 
 With kisses had for each boquet. 
 
 The dream to show how love obtained 
 With beauty seen, no kiss to stain, 
 
 Yet captivate 
 
 Enchanting fate 
 The soul as anxious would remain; 
 No thought of ever kissing maid 
 But only thought the flowers to raid, 
 
 That she had held 
 
 To cause the spell 
 And flowers obtained would love be paid. 
 
 With dream of her I now relate 
 As soul would have for later fate. 
 
 And not as bold 
 
 With all that's told 
 But modesty dreams indicate; 
 With all that's past to cause the end 
 Surprise the soul though love defends 
 
 To tell of here 
 
 And have appear 
 How true love pure to virtue bends. 
 
—88— 
 
 THE DREAM. 
 Oh, blissful dreaui 
 Of flowers so sweet, 
 Your beauty seeuis 
 To be complete. 
 
 Arranged in pile 
 Around the feet 
 Of angel mild, 
 It is complete. 
 
 Yet angel sweet 
 Would from without 
 The pile at feet 
 Confusion rout. 
 
 Confusion that is 
 At its best, 
 That is for this 
 Would let it rest. 
 
 While angel dear 
 Would rearrange, 
 Just one in here 
 Would not look strange. 
 
 With hand so small 
 To clasp the flowers. 
 Bright eyes to call 
 Them to the bower. 
 
-89- 
 
 And see effect 
 Last sprig has made, 
 One more elect 
 Near feet is laid. 
 
 When all is done 
 For each boquet, 
 Confusion from 
 Perfection may. 
 
 Each bunch to tie 
 With ribbon blue, 
 Each one will vie 
 For beaut}' sue. 
 
 Will sue to gain 
 Her face to meet, 
 To gain is vain 
 Her kiss to greet. 
 
 A kiss that will 
 Its sweet perfume, 
 A kiss so still 
 'Tis blissful boon. 
 
 Oh, flowers so sweet, 
 Why is it you 
 Her lips will meet 
 As now you do ? 
 
You are perfumed 
 With nature's best, 
 Why then consume 
 From us the rest ? 
 
 Purloin you do 
 A bible line 
 'Twas not for you, 
 For man destined. 
 
 That he who has 
 To him will give, 
 From one alas 
 That needs to live. 
 
 Oh, happy flowers, 
 
 To thus receive 
 
 I'roni mouth that's bower 
 
 It's sweets relieve. 
 
 Yet that you take 
 Is charity, 
 To angel lake 
 Sweet purity. 
 
 A lake within, 
 The heart around, 
 Sweets in it swim — 
 Sweets all around. 
 
—91— 
 
 And yet the gain 
 From out the sonl 
 Can not remain ; 
 Heart overflows. 
 
 Sweet charity, 
 Dear flowers it is; 
 Sweet rareity 
 Relief to kiss. 
 
 Yet will I sigh 
 Sweet smell of bliss, 
 Perfume belie 
 It is her kiss. 
 
 Oh, naughty flowers, 
 To thus deceive 
 My soul devour 
 Your make believe. 
 
 To have me think 
 That you owned this 
 Perfume I drink. 
 It was her kiss. 
 
 That you purloined. 
 Sweets to you strange 
 Did 30U design 
 To heart derange. 
 
—92— 
 
 From near her feet 
 Where first you lay 
 Your equals meet, 
 Could you not stay. 
 
 Not so, your pride 
 Too great for you, 
 Your beauty hide 
 Make you adieu. 
 
 You had no show 
 While there you lay, 
 Of that you know 
 And would not stay. 
 
 Oh, naughty flowers, 
 To be so vain ! 
 Her feet your bower 
 You did profane. 
 
 How sensitive 
 To beauty's face. 
 Relative ^ 
 
 You were disgraced. 
 
 No wonder you 
 Should think to see 
 To bid adieu 
 To beauty's feet. 
 
—93— 
 
 Or wonder be 
 You could exist 
 And live to see 
 What beauty is ! 
 
 When thrown so near 
 Those feet so small 
 The wonder be 
 You lived at all. 
 
 Your beauty sure 
 Was far excelled 
 Though you procured 
 A sweeter smell. 
 
 Why don't you know 
 Your beauty gained 
 While you were low 
 With beauty lain. 
 
 A prize become 
 For where you were 
 Not value on 
 For what you are. 
 
 To think that you 
 Would seek to hide. 
 And beauty rue 
 Could not abide. 
 
—94— 
 
 And yet will fill 
 Your cup with bliss 
 Of sweets distilled 
 From beauty's kiss. 
 
 Thus will you strive 
 From sweets retain, 
 From perfumed hive 
 More sweets to gain. 
 
 Yet dearest flowers 
 'Twas not enough, 
 More sweets devour. 
 My heart engulf. 
 
 That you must feel 
 Those hands so neat, 
 Arrange to steal 
 My soul to greet. 
 
 The sweetest bliss 
 That you had gained 
 And now the kiss 
 You had to stain. 
 
 My heart deranged 
 Had failed to feel. 
 Now you arrange 
 My soul to steal; 
 
—95— 
 
 Yet must you add 
 That then you were 
 To all you had; 
 Oh, my dispair ! 
 
 Why could you not 
 With strength you own 
 Have clustered, y^^<!' 
 Leave hands alone. 
 
 Oh, selfish flower, 
 To take the kiss, 
 To make perfume 
 Enough for this ! 
 
 Then to abstract 
 ^T-^cr-y^ With feet so small 
 To have contact 
 With them at all. 
 
 And now alas, 
 Those hands obtain. 
 Give you caress, 
 They should disdain. 
 
 For all that's told 
 Of you beware. 
 Those hands to hold 
 Should have a care . 
 
You sure profane 
 A beauty which 
 There is no name; 
 They are bewitched. 
 
 Ye gods, what now 
 Is this I see ! 
 These flowers endowed 
 Such place to be. 
 
 My heart, my soul, 
 Both lost to sense. 
 What now can hold 
 This new dispense. 
 
 Oh, God, look down ! 
 To you I pray; 
 Can this be ground 
 On which I stay ? 
 
 Must I then bear 
 A scene like this — 
 Be mortal stare; 
 What sin is this ? 
 
 Help, help, I pray ! 
 Give me more power, 
 Or must I stay 
 Endure an hour ? 
 
—97— 
 
 Must I remain 
 To see that's here 
 Sweet place defamed, 
 Sweets bought so dear ? 
 
 How could she be 
 So careless of 
 Her chastity, 
 This one of love ? 
 
 To place these flowers 
 From earth obtained, 
 In place so sweet, 
 Sweet breast defame. 
 
 'Twas heaven's retreat 
 On earth bestowed 
 That breast to meet 
 'Tis sin most bold. 
 
 But now of them 
 Was all esteem 
 They were endowed 
 With sweetest dreams. 
 
 My senses could 
 But then endure. 
 Their sweetness would 
 More sweets procure. 
 
—98— 
 
 Must they profane 
 A breast so pure, 
 Because they came 
 Through heaven's door ? 
 
 From feet to lips 
 By hands were raised, 
 From angel sips 
 Sweets that amaze. 
 
 By hands so fair. 
 So small withall 
 Could not compare 
 With hands at all, 
 
 How bold to rest, 
 Oh, flowers so vain, 
 In such sweet nest 
 It to defame ! 
 
 The sparkling drops 
 In which you dressed, 
 You would adopt 
 With all the rest. 
 
 With laugh of scorn 
 You seem alive, 
 You'd be forlorn 
 From thiefts deprived. 
 
-99- 
 
 That sparkling twinkle 
 That's in the drops 
 Upon your heads 
 Would twinkle not. 
 
 But she had looked 
 Upon them when 
 They t*M»r lustre took 
 As sparkling gem. 
 
 Those eyes so bright, 
 That kiss so sweet, 
 With hands so slight, 
 Such pretty feet. 
 
 They you endowed 
 With beauty rare 
 Such as no flowers 
 By nature wear. 
 
 That all is told 
 Of these sweet flowers 
 I would be bold 
 And them devour. 
 
 My beauty maid 
 What have you hid ? 
 Those flowers to raid, 
 Or for them bid ? 
 
Ob, give them me^ 
 Then let me die; 
 Oh, can't you see 
 My blissful sigh ? 
 
 For them will give 
 A heart now crazed, 
 A soul thatswith 
 The flowers bedazed. 
 
 Hear then my prayer. 
 My pretty one, 
 Are you aware 
 That which is done ? 
 
 A ruined heart, 
 
 A soul that's wrecked. 
 
 Unless you part 
 
 That you're bedecked. 
 
 Those flowers to gain 
 For them I live, 
 fC js^ them obtain 
 
 My all will gftMi.^' ^ 
 
 Why now this maid. 
 This angel sweet, 
 This that she said 
 'Tis you I greet. 
 
My God, 'tis true, 
 My ears have heard 
 What; would I rue — 
 Would have deferred. 
 
 See now she stauds 
 With arms beseech, 
 I comprehend 
 She love would teach. 
 
 It is heaven come down 
 This sweetest bliss. 
 My head goes round; 
 Oh, God, that kiss ! 
 
 And now to bid 
 My head to bower 
 Where flowers were hid; 
 Why, heaven's sour ! 
 
 Bare arms enfold 
 And draw me near; 
 My heart, my soul, 
 What is it here ? 
 
 Not earth this bliss 
 Nor heaven above, 
 Sweet pleasure this, 
 'Tis sweetest love. 
 
Why, how is this ? 
 Now I awake, 
 Where is that kiss 
 That now I'd take ? 
 
 Oh, that I could 
 While in my dream, 
 If God but would 
 As wedded seem. 
 
 If love would hold me 
 In her arms. 
 My heart, my soul, 
 Enrapttwed with charms. 
 
 Then let me sleep 
 My life away, 
 In that love deep 
 Where I would stay. 
 
 And never wake 
 Nor heaven array, 
 If she'll not take 
 Her arms away. 
 
 But sleeping would 
 Through time to come 
 If her I could 
 That sweetest one. 
 
[OS- 
 
 It cannot be, 
 'Tis not my fate, 
 Eternity 
 Must be awake. 
 
 Awake forsooth 
 In heaven or hell, 
 It is the truth— 
 Not I that tell. 
 
 If but she be 
 Where I have gone, 
 Where I can see 
 Her of my song. 
 
 Then heaven 'twill be 
 Though hell it is, 
 If I can see her 
 And the kiss. 
 
IV. 
 
 THE HOMK. 
 
 Within the cottage new in grove of forest oak, 
 
 Surrounded by the orchard with narrow rippling brook, 
 
 The orchard with the fruit trees— among them shrubs that flowers, 
 
 Shade trees are in the orchard, even fruit trees forming bowers, 
 
 Surrounded with the fruiting groves, the work of years that's past, 
 
 Surrounded by the flowering bush, the work made pleasant task, 
 
 Surrounded, yes, with nature's aid, and thoughts of pleasant life. 
 
 Dwells he of whom our story tells, dwells with his prairie wife. 
 
 No woman in the world is loved more than this one he gained 
 
 With love that of it's greatness would true to her remain 
 
 In peace and comfort plenty, with all his heart desires. 
 
 With all that God has given him, as asked for in his prayers ; 
 
 For all he now is thankful and for future's look of gladness 
 
 If brighter future can be, no thought of future sadness. 
 
 The orchard, place of pleasure ; sweet labor building home 
 
 In place of rest from other task, of future work to roam, 
 
 To travel as a duty, with work though not a task; 
 
 Sweet place as now prepared, for days with work of rest 
 
 With home that's pleasant gained, must roam for bread of life, 
 
 For bread for many children, gifts from his God and wife, 
 
 Bright children that God sent him, to share his place of rest. 
 
 Bright children are comfort to him, now make his home the best ; 
 
 The best— not better could be, with plenty of the earth. 
 
 Bright home with flowering orchard rejoice with every birth. 
 
 Rejoice with flowering bushes, rejoice the man at work, 
 
 Rejoice and labor harder, from duty never shirk. 
 
 The happy hours of all that's here, his blessing God bestows 
 
 The happiness in cottage home in oak and hickory grove. 
 
— ro5— 
 
 with plenty and with kindly love, as each that's in it know. 
 
 What pleasures are in labor — that caring for the trees 
 
 With holidays and half days, time gained to him bequeathed, 
 
 Reward for nights of travel, for time at home to gain. 
 
 To beautify the home with time, with work that will remain, 
 
 With loved ones in the cottage, the cottage in the trees. 
 
 Kind acts for cheer with work of hours, kind words for labor wreaths 
 
 With the trimming of the orchard and planting of the rose, 
 
 The planting and resetting, arrange for coming groves ; 
 
 Sweet work with thought of future, to beautify the home 
 
 Gives pleasant thought with beauty gained for days of task to roam, 
 
 Gladdened while at his work with children's voices ringing, 
 
 Gladdened by the dearest voice while she at work is singing, 
 
 Though constant and with sweetest sound the air with music filled 
 
 By others who their homes have made, musicians by nature drilled 
 
 Homes in the growing trees and vines and homes among the flowers , 
 
 Homes for the singing multitudes, sweet sounds for labor's hours, 
 
 Sing they to cheer, and thus repay, the man who labors near. 
 
 Sing songs so sweet to man of whom they have no thought of fear ; 
 
 Yet while they sing they labor to with building pretty nest. 
 
 And as the man so with the birds at labor work of rest. 
 
 Not less the man, then is the birds, as happy with the task 
 
 In that they do by nature called, no master need to ask. 
 
 To ask, to order, nor yet instruct, in anything they do ; 
 
 Both man and birds have nature's gift for work to never rue. 
 
 The man oft recognizing rights of those who lend the song, 
 
 When in the trees or in the bush a hidden nest is found. 
 
 And often when a tree to trim— a limb would take away 
 
 If nest among offending leaves that limb would always stay ; 
 
 Thus would the man respect the rights of those who sing for him, 
 
 Respect the choice of place they picked, protect their home, their 
 
 limb ; 
 How they would beg when nesir the nest he at his task would be ! 
 
— io6 — 
 
 How they would strive to let him know of danger they could see ! 
 
 Or, if he heeded not their sign of chirrup when in grief 
 
 How they would think to coax away and even would deceive, 
 
 Or often when with danger close no fear of life or wing 
 
 Would think to frighten him away, with peak of bill to sting ! 
 
 Yet did the man respect their claim, was gladdened with their fight. 
 
 He knew the nature made for them and God gave them their rights. 
 
 Did God give man the nature that the birds have shown to him ? 
 
 Did he give man the right to fight, protect his home from sin ? 
 
 Did God give man the right to hold a home with labor bought ? 
 
 May man who worked a life to build with life a home has wrought, 
 
 Has he a right, has he a claim, to children of his own, 
 
 Or can another man proclaim, your children must you disown? 
 
 Can other man come in and drive him from his home and stay ? 
 
 Can other man come in and claim his wife and with her lay ? 
 
 God gave the man the nature strong that he gave to birds that fly. 
 
 God gave the man the nature that in fight for home may die, 
 
 Yet that the man is humble with his fellows whom he knows, 
 
 Is it that he is thought as nought when he would keep his own ? 
 
 Yes God is God lor him as well as those in greatness known. 
 
 Yet he is God to humble man and those in greatness grown. 
 
 Man made the claim the right he had to hold the home of his. 
 
 Yet other man, by public held: as right in all he did, 
 
 Has driven him from home he had, has robbed him of his wife. 
 
 Has driven him from children loved, to mourn the rest of life. 
 
 With broken heart life's tasks pursue alone as was decreed. 
 
 Oh, saddened heart, that cannot stay with work among the trees ! 
 
 Now robbed of them by wicked act, that were his heart's delight. 
 
 Why now of thought of them he loved, comes thoughts for them to 
 
 fight- 
 Poor wounded soul, your present task you will ruin with your grief ; 
 Except the few who know the wrong not others will believe 
 That man will stand such act as you have borne and yet will live. 
 
-I07- 
 
 This stray from chapter of the home was caused by lesson shown 
 By nature through the birds who, for the loss of home will mourn, 
 Yes, mourn for nests destroyed at times, nests not with young as yet. 
 How greater must the mourning be, when little birds they get ! 
 Oh, happy birds, can make your fight, for that by nature right. 
 But man may not his children claim when against him riches fight. 
 Not claim the home for which he toiled his years both day and night. 
 The wanderings of the mind of man great wrongs the soul awake. 
 Now back with work among the flowers and guard against the fate. 
 Cut dead limbs off, watch close the bush, not harm the singers' nest, 
 For they he loves as much or more than the trees in which they rest. 
 While trimming thus the bush and tree, accumulating brush. 
 Six boys to carry brush to pile, six voices could not hush. 
 Six voices loudly call in play, while they sweet task pursue. 
 Not knowing they are laboring with work the man would do. 
 Not laboring with the loaded cart, while pushing up the hill. 
 Not laboring, but are piling brush, yet working with a will ; 
 The fun of it was when a night should with it darkness bring, 
 The fun of it was for the thought of dance around the ring. 
 To dance with whoop would bring a blush to warrior with its sound 
 To soul of warrior boys had said lay under neighboring mound ; 
 Yes, dance around the pile of brush when brightened with the fire 
 I<it now on darkened night that's come, for fun of boys and sire ; 
 Thus was the work of happy home made pleasant as of play 
 For man and boys, who while at work, no work would fun delay. 
 Example of the labor gained, from boys with fun in mind 
 Was had while setting evergreens, for walls of house plant kind, 
 The trench now dug for ring of plants, rich earth in cart to bring— 
 The trees when grown would be a wall for children circus ring. 
 The happy man who knew the time when trees had grown to wall 
 Would be at time when boys would be to other pleasures called. 
 Such sweet deception made play of work, from children was the gain , 
 Deception that would not be known— effect of work remain, 
 
■io8— 
 
 Deception though the opposite at happy Christmas time 
 
 When children of this cottage home were sure to wishes find ; 
 
 Thus would the home of labor gain, for beauty to increase, 
 
 For man and boys who work for fun— from work they never cease. 
 
 Such work of pleasure as they had, the home to be the winner. 
 
 Brought further joy when sweetest voice would call them in to 
 
 dinner- 
 Yes, sweetest voice as yet to hear, the man knew not of failing, 
 For he who loved with all his heart — with love of constant gaining:, 
 With love that could not see a wrong in her who was the dearest ; 
 He thought her soul as heaven bound and not of hell as nearest. 
 The happy ones when now around the table they are seated 
 And laughter of six boys with fun, their words not be repeated. 
 Fun told by sire by one as bold to have a joke on father 
 Would always bring the laughter loud, a smile from dearest mother. 
 The food the best to be procured, the fruit from trees at home. 
 The butter, cream, eggs, chickens, truck enough with them alone — 
 Enough with them should be the pride of mother to the boj'S 
 To set a meal in whole obtained from home was oft her joy ; 
 And not a lack for finest taste the wines from vault procure, 
 Sweet wines from cherry, berry bush, from currant and from vines. 
 All grown within the hedges trimmed, within earth heaven's lines. 
 With all that's told of pleasant home, all this could not have been 
 Except of love within the gates, except without the sin. 
 'Tis not the food that's sweeter made by being raised at home, 
 The fruit of every kind as raised, not food and fruit alone 
 And not the butter, eggs and cream, have to depend on self, 
 Nor yet the flowers, bouquets and wreaths on table and on shelf, 
 Or buds of rose around the plate of sire who loves them so ; 
 No, not all these the sweetness gave the food at home to grow, 
 But it was that and that alone that man would ever hold 
 That love of one of virtue's self, that which could not be sold, 
 Or if it be another way and virtue not a part 
 
— 109 — 
 
 Will home be sweet, with food that's raised, at home of virtue's mart? 
 Of virtue's mart it could not be, for that which is for sale 
 Is not from one who virtue holds but sin is her regale ; 
 A sin that changed the sweetest food, to bitterness— to gall— 
 A sin so black not man who could remain and to it fall. 
 To fall ! Mv God! where would it be that lower place than hell 
 When man is down with sorrow made by wives who honor sell 
 When wives who virtue never had and shame held for a time. 
 When they their children's honor sell and stoop to lowest crime, 
 When they will hold until.the man has made for them a home, 
 And then conspire in sin to fall and leave that man to mourn. 
 To perjury will they resort to save a villan's fame, 
 Though not a thought of act to save the honor of her name. 
 Oh, man who loves in such a way to trust in whole a wife 
 To give her home and all you have, all you have gained in life, 
 Then when in years vou are advanced, too late to make amends, 
 What will you do for bed and board, where later days to end ? 
 You thought your love so great would touch a heart though to you 
 cold, 
 
 You thought not mortal could repay such kindness as is told 
 With ought but kindness in return, with love you worked to keep, 
 With love when lost you worked away not knowing sin that's deep. 
 The dinner had while clouds have broke and rain in torrents fall, 
 No thought of gloomy time is here with sheltered work to call, 
 The boys have toys that are to mend, a cart or wagon wheel. 
 The mending left for work in barn ; maybe this work is real, 
 Yet will six boys work with a will when gaining time of sire 
 Means wagon mended for nutting time, the setting of a tire, 
 Thus by the pleasant ways to make an object for the toil 
 Was one day gained from travel work, six days of work in soil. 
 For when one day of all the week a boy has object in it 
 He would do work to hesitate— most men would not begin it • 
 Thus, with six boys who fun can see while working for the home 
 
Was six days' work a day a week and five days left to roam, 
 Six days a week, with acres few, kept home so bright and neat 
 And gained in beauty until the home had been so near complete. 
 Complete it was when trouble came and threatened utter ruin. 
 The man had thought to speculate— the winners now are suing, 
 To settle which all may you take, except the home and trees. 
 A lawyer hired to settle it with terms and with decrees ; 
 The debt as settled by lawyer great, his work now to be paid, 
 Was work for man who hired him, a month's work for each day 
 Yet no complaint was made by him ; he paid all of the fee. 
 How now was it the lawyer did of that we wait to see, 
 To see how man who took a fee to save the home of client. 
 To see how he has ruined him, and then of his defiance. 
 Oh, that the horror coming now would keep from out the soul. 
 Until with thoughts of pleasant life, of happiest home is told. 
 Oh, that God had not destined for man to suffer so, 
 For sin that others pleasures was, great sins for man to know ! 
 Oh, that the world would change its laws— not have the wronged dis- 
 graced. 
 While man who does the wrong to him is raised to honored place ! 
 Oh, that the oaths of secret halls as made when God is called 
 Apply to small against the great, as great against the small ! 
 Again with, oh, must not admit, the justice not obtained 
 By one that's wronged against a fiend who is a lawyer famed. 
 One more attempt to keep with home as was before the sin. 
 One more attempt to tell thejoy ot home as had within— 
 Within its walls in evening time before the open fire. 
 Around the hearth with haopy talk until they would retire 
 With happy talk or reading loud a story for the boys, 
 Or play at times a game of chance as had with Christmas toys. 
 And often would in frolic run the boys against the sire, 
 Or rolling on the carpet fun quick to the father tire, 
 Or when an evening from the school the drawing lessons done 
 
The practice of cartoons of dad was always pleasant fun 
 And now with children gone to rest an hour with sweetest wife, 
 Who, until the giant came, was joy of pleasant life ; 
 Such pleasant talk in pleasant house, such thoughts of happy home, 
 With certain knowledge that the boys would men in honor grow ; 
 Such plans for them to start in life when schooling should be done. 
 In business establish them —would start them every one 
 With funds that saved from labor done while they were yet at school. 
 So much a month, so much a year, so much at least a rule. 
 The bank account already had as start for all that's planned, 
 What would have been reward if now not virtue in demand, 
 Enough at least to do for him who is of six the eldest one, 
 Kight years before the schooling done, nine years and others' share 
 begun, 
 
 Four years now gone without a loss of time upon the road. 
 And part of it with greater pay— the more would have to hoard; 
 Then with the gain of fruit that's raised, the vine the greatest help. 
 What could not these two have done if sin had kept away ? 
 Right here the hardest is of all to think of debts now made, 
 With bank account all that is gone, and years for debts not paid ; 
 Right here the hardest is of all to think of suppers grand 
 For lawyer fiend, odd fellow friends, champagnes the best of brands ; 
 Right here the hardest is of all. to think of hardships had 
 By man two years in mountain camp with coarse and common food, 
 With gain all sent to her at home to help the boys' account. 
 With gain of labor hardest work for lawyer's midnight fount ; 
 Part of the hardest that's to tell is of the waste of time; 
 A year had saved since lawyer hired, good start in bank to find. 
 Five years are now as with it passed, no cent to help the .sons. 
 But debts for other years to come, with work upon the run. 
 Seven years in all enslaved his client this lawyer fiend designed, 
 Seven years for him have served in all with ruin to remind, 
 With all the years of work as shown, have added savings past 
 By robbing him of home and all that was within his grasp— 
 
— 112 
 
 Of home, of children, honor gained, of health and happiness. 
 
 Of mind that's nearly been bereft as shown by this within. 
 
 The seven years of service had and forty more were gone, 
 
 The work of life for pleasant home, was client not the wronged. 
 
 To men, may be all women too, such wickedness relate, 
 
 Great honor be the villain's due, this lawyer of the state. 
 
 The foulest part of all of it is that the man so wronged 
 
 Is one to bear all the disgrace ; not woman friend is found, 
 
 They bow to him whose dirty acts has ruined more than one, 
 
 They bow to him of all these facts, to all his vices come, 
 
 His honored family — for such they are — for deeds the father done, 
 
 What honor for a maiden's share, sweet one through life to bear ! 
 
 Oh, now again I run away from chapter of the home, 
 
 Of it will quit— attempt no more, from it will ever roam, 
 
 How will it be one chapter more, before the fate to tell, 
 
 Discovery of it relate before the crazy spell. 
 
 To try and see if it can tell and hold the mind to task. 
 
 Discovery of sin and hell, to try and then to ask, 
 
 Or if as failure it shall be as in this chapter home 
 
 Remember that the soul must see the hell in which it roams. 
 
 Poor soul, so anxious to have its say, as was in sorrow had, 
 
 The heart and soul would be relieved to tell the sin so bad. 
 
 Their day at last for wrongs to tell, of sin the lowest type. 
 
 Their day to have with those in sin with memory of it ripe, 
 
 To tell a task without offense to.kindly readers mind, 
 
 To tell in way not need defence, the vulgar ones define, 
 
 Yet with the claim if in it fail, with words of strongest kind— 
 
 Not words with strength in language are, define it words say nay, 
 
 And fairer words as well to use, no vulgar ones are known 
 
 As rank enough to tell the shame, of wickedness that's sown, 
 
 As sown by her, the prairie flower, the blooming village belle 
 
 With giant lav/yer of the state with name of lower hell. 
 
 Yes, giant lawyer of the state, his partner in the senate. 
 
 The two the firm this client h^d, for it a life's lament. 
 
V. 
 
 DISCOVERY. 
 
 N the darkness or with moonlight 
 Many nights from train that's late, 
 In the darkness, in the starlight, 
 In the storm and to the fate, 
 Many nights with fear of meeting. 
 Often bitter tears would shed ; 
 Nearer home the harder weeping, 
 lyOve not greeting — sin instead; 
 Often at the gateway stopping, 
 Often to the flowers resort 
 While for courage for the knocking. 
 Though the heart could make report, 
 Often to the Maker pleading 
 For the love that is so cruel. 
 Praying Him to soften greeting 
 With His blessing for the fuel, 
 Praying longer for the changing 
 Of the heart that is so cold, 
 Pleading long for new arranging. 
 Not the greeting of the scold. 
 Oh, the heartaches that were making 
 While the years were passing by, 
 And the cruel words were grating 
 
-114- 
 
 On the soul to love would fly. 
 
 Ob, the many nights of pleading 
 
 To the sin that love had hid 
 
 With the heart for love was bleeding ; 
 
 Cruel words those give instead. 
 
 Heart of steel, of bitter hatred. 
 
 Sin had made it so to be, 
 
 Heart that with black sin had mated 
 
 Could not pure love constant see, 
 
 Honor lost, with God deserted, 
 
 What expect from one that's sold ? 
 
 To the devil acts reported, 
 
 For the devil is a scold. 
 
 Now, without the courage needed. 
 
 Meekly at the door to knock, 
 
 For the waking, then the pleading 
 
 That she will the door unlock, 
 
 While the heart keeps up the knocking 
 
 Breath that's held that sounds may hear, 
 
 While the wind the trees are rocking, 
 
 Meekly stands the man in fear, 
 
 Tears now dried while seeking courage, 
 
 Prayers that's told without a hope. 
 
 Fear that's heightened with the knowledge 
 
 Though of sin in darkness grope; 
 
 No, not sin, for it the naming 
 
 Only cruel, hatred grown; 
 
—115— 
 
 Not the sin the years was claiming, 
 
 Only loss of love was sown, 
 
 Only loss of love he thought it, 
 
 Man whose love had never waned, 
 
 Could not know of sin that brought it, 
 
 Could not see the awful stain. 
 
 Hark the voice that knock has wakened ! 
 
 Hear the cry: Who comes so late ? 
 
 If the man could be mistaken, 
 
 If but God could change the fate, 
 
 If the words that should be cheerful 
 
 Could be heard with sweeter sound. 
 
 Not the wicked ones so fearful 
 
 That the saddened soul had found, 
 
 If but now he could be dreaming. 
 
 Then awake for greeting smile, 
 
 Find an hour of sleep as seeming 
 
 Bitter years in sleep the while. 
 
 Oh, the joy for time of waking 
 
 From a dream so fearful black ! 
 
 Oh, the sorrowed heart now aching, 
 
 Real not dream to it distract. 
 
 Where the mercy God of heaven. 
 
 Where the promised answered prayer 
 
 With an angel's heart as raven. 
 
 With her changed to Satan's heiress. 
 
 When the knocking has awakened. 
 
— ii6— 
 
 Voices frightened with the sound, 
 Nor one voice that answered, quaking, 
 But of voices two had found. 
 Bolder now the man who waited 
 For the turning of the key, 
 Knowing not the sin was mated. 
 Through the door he could not see, 
 But the pleading for the gaining. 
 Entrance to the house was his; 
 As before with long remaining, 
 Gained the meeting — not the kiss, 
 Long remaining when departing, 
 One who had the kiss before. 
 Then the door and the unlocking. 
 But no love for him in store; 
 Many nights with awful wording 
 Was the bolt left in its place, 
 Many nights when sin was herding 
 They were making the disgrace. 
 Many nights when love was pleading 
 For his rights to enter in, 
 Many nights with heart was bleeding 
 When within was blackest sin; 
 Now again came the refusing 
 Bolt to hold the door secure. 
 And the drink of it accusing 
 Though from it was ever pure, 
 
—117— 
 
 "You are drunk and can not enter, 
 
 I will not unlock the door, 
 
 You can go to barn for shelter 
 
 Or I will for help implore. ' ' 
 
 "No, no, darling, do not drive me 
 
 From my home so late at night, 
 
 I am weary with the walking — 
 
 Try this once to do the right ; 
 
 Do not, darling, keep me waiting 
 
 But unlock the door for me, 
 
 Sick and weary, wet with raining. 
 
 Let me in and you will see." 
 
 " Go you will and cease your rating 
 
 Or will call for help to come. 
 
 You they soon will be arresting. 
 
 You who are a drunken bum." 
 
 " Oh, my darling, think of children. 
 
 Those who in the attic sleep, 
 
 Change your way our home to brighten, 
 
 Do not keep me out to weep." 
 
 ' ' Go at once or I will hasten 
 
 To the neighbors for their aid, 
 
 Tell how drunk you come so often. 
 
 How of you I am afraid, 
 
 I will tell of how you struck me 
 
 And for nought that I have done. 
 
 And will tell of how you curse me 
 
-ii8— 
 
 When to them I had to run." 
 Then the cry for help to hurry 
 Least I kill her with the blows, 
 Oh, the cry that was my worry, 
 Cries my sorrowed heart can show. 
 " Do not, dearest; stop your calling, 
 Go I will if you will cease, 
 Yes, will go though rain is falling, 
 Cease the calling, darling, please." 
 Then when turning for departure 
 What the terror laugh to hear. 
 Can it be the hardened creature 
 Of her God had lost all fear ? 
 Imitating man while laughing. 
 Then in voice her own to say 
 Words I heard in silent speaking 
 " Hush, or hell will be to pay." 
 Love so strong to hide the guilty 
 Could not think the awful fact; 
 Love that covered blackest fraility, 
 Even when the voice attract. 
 With the memory of her beauty, 
 With the thought of children grown, 
 Never thinking her as guilty, 
 Of her virtue would have sworn, 
 Even on the night of voices 
 When the two were heard within; 
 
—119- 
 
 For his going two rejoices, 
 Yet no thought of hellish sin, 
 Had he met when with returning 
 Through the rain to city near, 
 Even when his soul was burning 
 When with evidence so clear. 
 Had he met, had any stopped him 
 With the tale of what was done. 
 Never listen not of her sin, 
 From their words he would have run, 
 Only was it grief returning 
 To the place from which it came, 
 Only grief for love was yearning, 
 Ivove that ever was the same, 
 Never thought of truth to enter 
 In the heart with love so full, 
 Never thought of sin for center 
 In the heart that was so cruel; 
 With the walking back to city. 
 Ever praying for the home, 
 Looking to his God for pity, 
 For the hoping heart was torn. 
 Wending to the cot in attic. 
 Placed for nights with home denied, 
 When with sorrow nearly frantic. 
 Many nights all night he cried; 
 Or with thinking of the loved ones 
 
■I20— 
 
 And the love now lost to him, 
 Thinking ways to make her love come 
 From the hate — her only sin, 
 Thinking ways for gain of riches 
 For the change of cottage plan, 
 For a new and modern carriage, 
 Marble walks in place of sand. 
 With the carriage span the sleekest 
 And a servant for the reins, 
 Thonght the man of wife the sweetest, 
 Take him to and from the trains 
 When with riches love returning 
 As he thought the love would do. 
 Only of the love concerning 
 Never of the sin that grew. 
 Other times by day returning 
 To the home among the trees. 
 Though his heart was ever yearning 
 With the hatred he could see, 
 Constant work among the flowers. 
 Gaining freedom from the frown, 
 Work arranging beauty bowers, 
 Pleasant work to sorrow drown, 
 When at night from longer resting 
 From the labor of the run, 
 Thinking words of love or jesting. 
 For the evening now begun, 
 
That the night at home remaining, 
 With the little ones so dear, 
 And the hatred by detaining 
 Every moment though in fear; 
 Now that children are retiring 
 With a book at ease appear. 
 Fearing that she was conspiring, 
 Holding back a starting tear, 
 Now alone without a warning 
 Came the spitting in his face, 
 Call of names, his birth reflecting, 
 Names to tell her own disgrace. 
 When he knew that wrong was making. 
 When his eyes had seen the sin, 
 That the schooldays' fatal evenings, 
 Oldest child from home had been 
 With the one at home would woman 
 Milder be with evening come ? 
 With the one at home the poor man 
 Might remain with night begun; 
 Oldest child four nights departed, 
 Nights for meeting other men, 
 Nights the four was husband routed. 
 Came the saints and lawyers then, 
 Saddened life of man who secret 
 Kept the sorrow in his breast, 
 Kept from others of the frequent 
 
Thoughts of horror for his guest; 
 
 God now seeing all the terror 
 
 Of the soul the sin had made, 
 
 And of knowing the dishonor 
 
 Of the fallen one — the jade. 
 
 God of heaven heard the praying, 
 
 Read the heart and knew the soul, 
 
 Sent His mercy yet in staying 
 
 And in mercy came the goal. 
 
 Came the night from home was driven, 
 
 Came to aid the man in sorrow. 
 
 Sent his blessing freely given, 
 
 Sent to brighten years of sorrow; 
 
 Blessings came to man in attic 
 
 For the rest of aching heart. 
 
 Came the night with sorrow frantic. 
 
 Came the blessing for its part, 
 
 Surely God must know the future. 
 
 Knowing of the night to come; 
 
 Night the next would meet the creature, 
 
 Meet the terror sin did bring. 
 
 Soon asleep and in the glory 
 
 Is the soul with freedom gained. 
 
 Body rest in world of worry. 
 
 Soul for time will heaven clain;. 
 
 Knowing of its sameness ever, 
 
 Though all troubles are forgot, 
 
—123— 
 
 Fearing thoughts are from it severed, 
 Ouly pleasure it has brought. 
 Fearing thoughts are from it severed, 
 Or of danger it would know. 
 When through forest ending never 
 Soul would deeper in it go. 
 Thinking only of the beauty, 
 Step another brought to view, 
 Thinking only as though duty 
 Called it where more pleasures grew. 
 Soul that in the world was lonely 
 With its millions to be met, 
 No companion for the homely 
 Its departure none regret. 
 Now alone in heaven's lane, 
 Thinking not to others meet. 
 Neither lonely with the gain, 
 Heaven's beauty more would seek. 
 Though with wonder glory gained. 
 Beauty forest — heaven's park, 
 What the distant color stain 
 Or of music where the lark ? 
 Guiding soul to gain the view 
 Onward in the forest depths 
 To where charming flowers grew 
 Or where crystal streams have met. 
 With the showering falls below, 
 
■124— 
 
 Dripping, pouring, running, twining, 
 Foaming, struggling, swiftly flow, 
 Skipping, quivering, roaming, spinning. 
 And with racing bounding show 
 Constant hurrying, joyful shocking, 
 Heaven's work for soul to know. 
 Even thundering with the bubbling 
 While striving o'er the golden rocks, 
 Music sounding, chimes with plumping, 
 Sweetest quaking, lest a shock 
 With the battle harder growing; 
 By returning gaining ground, 
 Short delaying, quick advancing, 
 Constant boiling all around, 
 Then with rising swiftly speeding, 
 Tossing, whirling, gushing glee, 
 Heaving, dashing, toiling, dancing. 
 Beauty sight for soul to see 
 Heaven's waters playful prancing. 
 Sun rays shining o'er the spray. 
 Then the color and the sparkling. 
 Glittering rays for drops that stray 
 O'er the waters diamond sparkling. 
 Oh, the color beauty shower 
 Where the heaven streams have met, 
 Radient colors forming flowers, 
 Milder rays for the floweret. 
 
—125- 
 
 Flowering rainbow, twinkling show 
 With the fall of charm divine, 
 Brilliant sights in heaven grow 
 For souls in heaven is all sublime. 
 Worldly thoughts of worldly nature. 
 Gathering gems from glittering shore, 
 Those with wonder tints so pure 
 To be chosen from the store. • 
 But when chosen conies the lesson 
 With the next one gathered in 
 Which the beauty prize have won, 
 And with it the store begin. 
 Having cast the last before 
 In the crystal stream below 
 As not worthy of adore. 
 Placed with one whose colors flow. 
 Thus it is in heaven ever 
 Moments come bring further joy, 
 Wishes had for jewels gathered 
 Each one chosen brightest toy. 
 Each one gaining with its beauty 
 Over all was had before, 
 Leaving former one as misty 
 Last one chosen for adore. 
 Holding to the last as relic 
 When attracted by the flowers. 
 Thought to pluck one, nature's tropic, 
 
■126— 
 
 And its sweet perfume devour. 
 Near its place and in its shadow 
 Bloomed another beauty gained; 
 When its fragrant bliss to swallow 
 I^eft desire of first to wane. 
 Then the thought to pluck tor quaffing, 
 Making sweeter heaven stay, 
 Kneeling while with joy was laughing. 
 Thinking to secure the prey. 
 When the fragrance overcoming 
 Drowns the senses with delight, 
 Having kneeled and now reclining 
 All other bliss has taken flight. 
 Other joys that was forgotten, 
 Beauty gem so quickly dropped, 
 Paradise as though to heighten 
 With perfumes that soul has got. 
 Soul that's now intoxicated 
 Lying low upon the ground 
 Enrapted in bliss, the soul is fated 
 In sweet revel, delightful bourn. 
 Enchantment here beyond the heaven, 
 Troubles none to be forgot. 
 But the bliss from mind is driven 
 With the calm delightful plot. 
 Heaven's latent passion feeling, 
 Delightful tranquil, bliss divine. 
 
— 127" 
 
 Subtle perfume heart is stealing, 
 Ambrosia to inhale is mine. 
 Enchantment was with mind in glory, 
 Free from body's weakened cell; 
 Where are words to tell the story 
 Of heaven's esthetic heavenly spell ? 
 For soul's welcome glad reception, 
 Not with wine and terror drunk, 
 But with quaffing with immersion 
 Soul in sweetest perfumes sunk; 
 And no sins result the payment 
 With the suffering in the head, 
 Bliss that's here in heaven's raiment 
 Its delight will never dread. 
 Wake in gladness from enchantment 
 When the heaven breeze had changed, 
 Blowing perfumes were impending 
 From the soul with it deranged. 
 Wafting perfumes opiated 
 From the soul from bliss retired, 
 From the bliss was dedicated 
 Newly born from heaven higher. 
 What to please with new delight. 
 What to charm, what to allure ? 
 Never sorrow with the flight, 
 Never nought but pleasure pure. 
 See the glittering color vision 
 
— 128— 
 
 On the hill so nearly gained, 
 Of the shades may be a million, 
 Giving flowers such beauty stain. 
 How so quickly through the forest 
 Past the grandure that was between. 
 Yet so quickly it the contest 
 To the place of beauty seen; 
 When the secret of the hollow 
 O'er the flowers that beauty hide, 
 Entrance to the heaven grotto 
 Where the radient hues abide; 
 Entrance to the heaven grotto, 
 Walls of diamonds for its sides, 
 Constant change of tints its motto, 
 Every hue that o'er it glides; 
 Here the colors sport in gladness, 
 Here their mellow shades emit, 
 Leaving pretty flowers in sadness 
 With enchantment of the nymph. 
 Quick the thought of soul to enter 
 For the deeper dazzle scene, 
 Quick the steps glide to the center 
 Of the grotto's blissful gleam. 
 In the cave of crystal diamonds, 
 In the place of birth for tints, 
 Can it be for soul as amends 
 Were the flowers of rainbow hints ? 
 
—129 — 
 
 Rainbow o'er the falls of heaven, 
 O'er the radient crystal rocks, 
 Are your rapture hues to lessen, 
 Wonder of this tinted shock ? 
 Was your beauty the preparing 
 Of the soul for entrance here, 
 When in wonder at you looking 
 Laughter were your waters clear. 
 Laughing at the soul with knowing 
 This that it would have to see. 
 Heaven's beauties always growing, 
 Stop, oh, through eternity. 
 Stop, oh God of my believing, 
 You will from my reach depart ! 
 Stop, my God, my mind relieving 
 Or your greatness break my heart ! 
 Stop the thought of constant gaining 
 Of the bliss my soul has found. 
 Let delights at times be waning 
 Lest with rapture soul be wound. 
 Now within the cave of colors. 
 In the glittering vision bright, 
 What for gain when viewing others 
 If more beauty with the sight ? 
 But that soul was made immortal. 
 But that'setri- was left behind, 
 Here great danger at the portal, 
 
—ISO- 
 
 Heaven entered death to find. 
 Death with joy the soul expanding, 
 Constant in its bliss to gain, 
 Quick delights that's here imparted, 
 Death the blessed soul would claim. 
 Here to pray for bliss to lessen, 
 Here to hope for loss of joy, 
 God, my Father, here your Benison 
 Now the feel of sad bestow; 
 Give me fear and give me worry, 
 Let me have the soothe of pain, 
 Oh, my God, let me be wanting, 
 I/Ct me see that to disdain ! 
 Not the thought was had in heaven, 
 Not the thought to be so sad, 
 But a thought with body craven, 
 Elysian limits to make it glad. 
 Bathed in radient tints now raining 
 From the walls of cave sublime, 
 Rain to fall on object straining, 
 Hues the soul of souls to find. 
 For their beauty real gave feeling 
 With the rapture thrill intense, 
 Tints with life for soul is dealing, 
 With their kisses bliss condense. 
 When for moment spot attracting 
 Eyes of soul from whence were sent 
 
—131— 
 
 Tints as made in place of breeding, 
 Each to come more beauty lent. 
 Kach to come with race for gaining 
 Heart of soul with love to greet, 
 Each with pleasant strife was claiming, 
 Place where heaven jewels meet. 
 Real the cheerful feel and charming 
 In the struggle with the hues. 
 Real delight of joys alarming 
 With the foaming graceful views. 
 More then seen in heaven's way 
 When its beauties claim the eye. 
 Soul to gain the bliss to stay, 
 Bliss to gain the soul defy. 
 What the sound the merry warble ? 
 Where the angels' song to win ? 
 Thoughts that from the tints unable 
 Them to leave would be a sin ; 
 Yet the voices sweet and mirthful 
 Wake the soul from color dream, 
 Yet the song of angels gleeful 
 Giving charms that sweeter seem. 
 Hasten to the mouth of grotto. 
 Hasten to the heaven wood. 
 What to make the thoughts of presto, 
 Was it thought that nothing could ? 
 God of heaven, now your limit, 
 
—132- 
 
 Let it be with these to greet, 
 Let it be with these for summit 
 If the angels I may meet. 
 Why they come as though the grotto 
 Was the place of thf ir desire, 
 Where to hide earth feel of want too, 
 From their beauty would retire; 
 Hide from beauty angel women, 
 Two with charms exceeding thought, 
 Were they for more bliss the omen. 
 Ne'er on earth was beauty taught; 
 Held to place of grotto's entrance. 
 Held as chained to diamond floor, 
 Soul that is with love in a trance, 
 God give them me — give me no more. 
 Now that they see the man that's come, 
 Sweetest smiles with welcome glad, 
 Simply stop them, quickly run; 
 Joy, oil joy with bliss is had. 
 First with wonder look together, 
 Then at man they stood before, 
 Then another look as voucher 
 That a real man blocked the door. 
 Now the man with smile of greeting, 
 Arms extended would implore, 
 Quickly both the angels meeting 
 Where the heart on earth so sore ? 
 
■133— 
 
 With two angelv^ — fairest creatures, 
 Pressed with love so quickly had, 
 Sweetest bodies, beauty features, 
 With embrace of inau was glad, 
 With their shining silt en tresses 
 Falling o'er his arms to meet, 
 Every fiber love distresses 
 With desire of love to greet. 
 Soon with angel eyes as laughing 
 As when raised at first to his, 
 From the shoulder where were quaffing 
 Kach with rapture gaining bliss. 
 Then when one would look up shyly 
 Quiok was he with gaining kiss. 
 When the other angel mildly 
 Seemed to wonder at their bliss. 
 Soul of man then quickly changing 
 From the one would hold the lips 
 For the other's kiss obtaining. 
 Angel mouthes may necter sip; 
 Now that both have gained the secret 
 Sweet the battle for the place; 
 Oh ! and oh ! as gained in duet. 
 Heaven love without disgrace. 
 With an arm for each was holding, 
 Slowly walk into the cave. 
 Beauty heads in laughter throwing 
 
■134— 
 
 While in wonder colors lave. 
 Man that saw the colors glisten 
 When within the cave alone 
 Knew not of the beauty given 
 As when angels they adorn. 
 At the moment of the rapture 
 Of the sweetest kiss e'er had, 
 Must the body come to capture, 
 Must the soul return ? Too sad ? 
 What to greet a soul from heaven, 
 What the wickedness to meet ? 
 Sin of lowest hell that's given, 
 What the angel here to greet. 
 Came the day that came the letter. 
 Came to tell the cause of past. 
 Critic chose for book the better, 
 Letter that dissolved the mask, 
 Letter asking for the meeting 
 For the ride in shades of night. 
 For the ride and for the greeting. 
 Many who beheld the sight. 
 
 ^w 
 
VI. 
 
 LAMENT. 
 
 AlyAS, that I should have remained to see the day. 
 Living with hell now in my wounded breast; 
 Alas, that shame this night has come to stay, 
 Stains it to leave upon my happy nest ! 
 Alas, that God should so have answered prayers, 
 Letting such sorrow into a hoping heart ! 
 Alas again, that virtue held as wares 
 Should welcome shame and with the virtue part ! 
 My God, my God, what is it now that's done? 
 You can not mend, your power here is lost; 
 Did prayers made so earnest always run 
 Away in space, let virtue be the cost? 
 Run from me now, my God, I can but cry, 
 Leave me the hell and let the devil stay; 
 I must have help; oh God, you would not try — 
 Not help though prayers I never failed to say ! 
 Go from me now before you hear me rave, 
 Drove to the deed by you though God you are, 
 And w^ith this sorrow which you might have saved 
 Reward for one who trusted you with prayer; 
 Leave me my trouble with the devil's sin 
 In hell to stay to serve him who will help. 
 Not you who will so let a wrong begin 
 
—136— 
 
 Gaiu hold of soul who greatest wrongs have felt. 
 
 When all my life was given you in hope 
 
 Into this hell you guide my trusting steps. 
 
 From heaven on earth receive the awful stroke, 
 
 Entire the change — no part can now except; 
 
 Where now my home, where now my pleasant groves ? 
 
 Here with them yet at time of raising moon, 
 
 All — every tree, each bush, and hear my woes; 
 
 To greet the sorrow of the parting soon, 
 
 Hear now, dear devil, to you my first appeal, 
 
 At last your aid I crave in my despair. 
 
 Vain was my call to God who let you steal. 
 
 Exhorting him to help lost love repair 
 
 Your servant's souls, no check upon their deeds. 
 
 Oh, Devil, take and guide me as you will, 
 
 Unless you help I never can succeed; 
 
 Do not refuse — let soul for service drill. 
 
 Oh, take me now and trust for promised acts, 
 
 Not let me stay until dark deeds are done. 
 
 Entire to you — heart, body, soul distract. 
 
 With willing mind, oh, Devil, let me come ! 
 
 Hear, hear, again my plea for all your aid, 
 
 And trust for deeds that will be surely done, 
 
 Trust to the honor you have till now waylaid. 
 
 Have not a fear, your servant will become 
 
 All here possessed of any there remains. 
 
 Vale of remorse at least is all my own. 
 
—137— 
 
 Encourage now — of heaven I am bereft, 
 Yearn now my soul on rolls of hell be known; 
 Onward to push, each day to conquer good, 
 Young though in sin will hasten to the work, 
 Daring will rush, as now is understood; 
 Oh, Satan, bless where soul of evil lurks. 
 Not manor God can stop my rapid pace 
 Except that death may come to overpower, 
 God may thus cheat you in the coming race, 
 Opposing me in all, except in sorrow 
 Descending now to every wicked deed, 
 Hell's will to do, revenge that's to be gained. 
 Adieu, heaven, thoughts from you I now secede, 
 Vanish all hope, for soul now to be stained. 
 Enter all evil, the change is now as made, 
 Murdcx if need be to gain from hell the praise, 
 Efforts all given to gain the devil grade, 
 Ruin to follow, the angels to amaze. 
 Compete will I in hellish acts to come, 
 Years let them be, the'lists have now my name; 
 Opposed by heaven, the place am running from, 
 Neglected though when it for home was claimed, 
 Object will be while seeking for revenge, 
 Uncommon ways to do the sinners' wrong, 
 Revenge would gain to good and evil strange, 
 Contented not with vice of common throng, 
 Jlell now a word that's sweet for me to speak, 
 
-138— 
 
 In heaven place on earth the greeting comes, 
 Let darkened deeds be for my soul to greet, 
 Damned now with thought of work to be begun. 
 Remorse now had a life that's wasted run, 
 Energy renewed for days that's mortal stay, 
 Neglect no chance to gain the hellish fun; 
 Now groves and flowers you and your cooling shade, 
 Oh, pleasant nooks no more to use your seats ! 
 What promise made for planting you with spade ? 
 Affections were before the sin sublime, 
 Narrate the past to tell the love you had, 
 Delights were gained when you were in my mind. 
 Laborious joys, for heart that now is sad. 
 Emotions grand that came as you had growth. 
 Triumph complete with flowers and later fruit. 
 Transmitting good as each of you had worth, 
 Happiness mine while beauty you recruit. 
 Endowed with promise of your parent tree. 
 Delights from setting for the promise made, 
 Esteemed for all the sweets you gave to me, 
 Valued ever though you each winter fade, 
 Infused by you with gaining love of home, 
 Lamenting loss of love beneath the roof. 
 Trusting to you for pleasant thoughts alone. 
 Appalled when now at last of sin the proof. 
 Knowing now the sin that caused the sorrow. 
 Exclaim my soul blind love not to have seen ; 
 
•139- 
 
 Yoked thus with sin, no hope for brighter morrow, 
 Outcast my heart, now from the love is weaned. 
 Unhappy man in orchard with my woes, 
 Trees, bushes, vines, oh, that I might with you stay, 
 Here with you now amidst your pleasant groves. 
 All that you are my work of life has made, 
 This night depart from you who were my hope, 
 Yielding for me if God had given rights, 
 Owned as you are by her who in sin gropes. 
 Unfair to take and than to honor blight. 
 Made to my wife who was the prairie flower 
 And now is held by one of blackest sin; 
 Yes, gift of love to angel for her dower. 
 Not meant for home for wanton dwelling in. 
 Others I loved and from them now must part, 
 Their voices sweet though now are still at night, 
 Dear birds, adieu, to you who had my heart. 
 In house the sin, here you can hold your right, 
 Stay then and wait for day of my return; 
 God sent me out — the devil now my friend. 
 Repair he will for soul his hell may burn, 
 And greeting give when on them can depend, 
 Concealed amidst the trees with shade of night, 
 Engulfed in sorrow with shock of knowing wrong, 
 O'ercome at last with grief I thought to fight. 
 Useless the struggle, the sorrow was too strong, 
 Relief the tears dispairing heart that feels, 
 
-I40- 
 
 Controlled at first when soul with anger held; 
 Help now, oh God, must I so quickly yield, 
 In hell I am, in evil would excel. 
 Lamenting now with tears I cannot hold, 
 Disgrace that's come, heart-break it brought along, 
 Impure the one to who my life had sold. 
 Nuptials were mine, then came the vulgar throng, 
 Hear, hear, my God ! help, help, or I will die ! 
 Embrace me now and hold me to your breast. 
 Aching my heart, my head appears to fly. 
 Vision must be, that comes to me in rest. 
 Escape had thought and sought the apple bower, 
 Nature that called from many hours of sorrow, 
 Adieu to grief within the tent of flowers. 
 Melodious sounds the throbs held for the morrow, 
 Exploring heaven now reached with sweetest dream, 
 Neglected not when angels, women seem. 
 
 ^w 
 
VII. 
 
 HEAVEN— CI.OUD 3. 
 
 1 A /HAT beauty place is this, 
 
 * '' Of sweetest bliss ? 
 
 What shining sun not to oppress 
 
 Whose rays caress 
 With gentle shade to sweetly thrill 
 
 Beneath the leaves 
 
 And flowering wreaths 
 Such charming calm and soothing feel 
 That through the soul sublimely steals ? 
 
 Sweet heaven place now gained, 
 
 For soul it claimed, 
 Though happy soul to be amazed — 
 
 To be so dazed 
 With view of grandure to excel, 
 
 With heaven found 
 
 Now all around 
 Above the sky and heaven shades 
 As seen from earth must be they fade. 
 
—142— 
 
 If nought but these that's passing clouds, 
 
 With tints so loud, 
 And blended with the milder hues. 
 
 The lightest blue, 
 When soaring in their midst would seem 
 
 The bliss sublime 
 
 In sweetest clime, 
 Alone these heaven vailes would be 
 All heaven if nought but them could see. 
 
 So beautiful their wonder rolls 
 
 In lighter scrolls, 
 Whose edges fringe with shaded tints 
 
 Of sun rays hint. 
 Within the loosely folded waves 
 
 With color gained 
 
 With deeper stain 
 To show the spiral as a place 
 Of beauty shades and form of grace. 
 
 With overlapping one of waves 
 
 A movement gave. 
 May be the angels shaking lace 
 
 In heaven's place; 
 Now throwing out the golden dust 
 
 That edges show 
 
 From place below. 
 And on the top of roll of waves 
 That catch the rays and in them lave. 
 
—143— 
 
 Not grander nor yet more sublime 
 
 Though it is in chime, 
 The one of hill and valley form, 
 
 For it are born 
 Sweet thoughts of place for pleasant roam, 
 
 Or rapid glide 
 
 There to abide 
 No thought of soul as free to go 
 Where ought of beauty more would know. 
 
 But sitting in the place as found 
 
 Still on the ground, 
 As though not daring yet to stir; 
 
 Sweet dream defer; 
 The soul though knowing of its own, 
 
 Of heaven gained 
 
 Would now remain 
 With sorrow, shame, " that was " forgot, 
 Yet would remain in heaven stop. 
 
 No thought of death as having come 
 
 With heaven won. 
 Though pleasant distant faintest fell, 
 
 Of body real. 
 As laying in the bower of flowers, 
 
 Of apple frame 
 
 That roses claim 
 With body breathing sweet perfume, 
 The soul has gone to heaven's room. 
 
—144— 
 
 The beauty clouds with constant change 
 
 And rearrange, 
 Would hold a soul as newly come 
 
 If it begun 
 With viewing of their passing show, 
 
 To gaze on them — 
 
 To look in them 
 As watching for unrolling schroU, 
 Expecting wonders from its folds. 
 
 Wonders from the color drifts 
 
 Of heaven gifts, 
 To see a snow of every hue 
 
 And flakes of blue 
 When deepest fold has glided out; 
 
 What grandness gained, 
 
 What heaven lane. 
 When edges of the ends arise 
 To catch the rays, bedaze the eyes ? 
 
 With deepest blue below in fold 
 
 The ends of gold; 
 Thus is the lane of heaven formed, 
 
 Not color storm, 
 And soul that's watching gladly cheers; 
 
 The show as had 
 
 That made it glad. 
 Yes, glad with beauty colors formed 
 And not a simple color storm. 
 
—145— 
 
 And like in this was ever gained — 
 
 This heaven lane, 
 New beauty comes for thoughts of bliss 
 
 The soul to kiss, 
 Not disappointment as known on earth 
 
 With sorrow had 
 
 And thoughts of bad, 
 But sweetest beauty for surprise 
 That greets the soul with angel eyes. 
 
 With thought of color flakes to fall 
 
 From beauty wall, 
 The eye descends to heaven ground 
 
 With look around 
 O'er grandure far excelling thought 
 
 Of body mind 
 
 Of worldy kind, 
 Imagination nor sweet dream 
 This blissful beauty could not be seem. 
 
 No, no, not seem, but heaven real, 
 
 For soul to feel 
 The j oys of earth as most superb ; 
 
 Bxtol the word, 
 Then multiply with glorious glare, 
 
 Magnificent 
 
 And merriment — 
 Yet will it lack the pleasure gained 
 What soul would not in heaven remain. 
 
-146- 
 
 Another peep at pleasures had 
 
 By soul so glad, 
 With view of sparkling clouds divine 
 
 In colors shine, 
 Bedecked with beauty soothing hallow 
 
 As seen by day 
 
 With color ray 
 Delights in shadows luminous 
 Enraptured, calm, luxurious. 
 
 The change of clouds as now to globes 
 
 With radient robes. 
 Revolving flowery waving blades. 
 
 Each other shade; 
 And shading each its tint impart 
 
 On brighter one 
 
 Inviting sun; 
 Thus elegant this glistening change 
 While constant flashing blades arrange. 
 
 Each lovely globe with dazzle shade 
 
 To change — not fade, 
 The angel eye can not return 
 
 At every turn 
 Of color claimed by globe distinct 
 
 From other cloud 
 
 Not color loud 
 But charming tints and charming hues, 
 Delightful scene and cheerful views. 
 
—147— 
 
 Bright globes revolving now in pairs 
 
 With constant flare, 
 Not blinding as on earth the sun 
 
 Whose colors run 
 Though each have color of its own. 
 
 As all the blades 
 
 Of every shade, 
 Then while they turn the facing side, 
 Infused the hues, together glide. 
 
 Alluring, pure spheroid prolate 
 
 Without a mate, 
 A gently gliding amethyst, 
 
 Not blades with this 
 But smoothe as brilliant violet blue 
 
 In heaven sky 
 
 To globes defy; 
 Oh, rapturous pleasing ecstasy. 
 This holy thrilling grand display. 
 
 This sparkling, winning, lustrous sphere 
 
 Now gliding near, 
 A friendly pair — refulgant globes. 
 
 Sublime geodes, 
 With surfaces of diamond depths 
 
 Whose charming hues 
 
 Delights subdue — 
 Subdue with more divine delight 
 With heaven's heaven holy sight. 
 
-148— 
 
 Delights of heaven views elate, 
 
 Joys exquisite, 
 As though the soul with it was sad, 
 
 Delightful mad. 
 Must such display for it excel, 
 
 Sublime select 
 
 In glad collect 
 To raise the soul above divine, 
 Prevent attempt to world define. 
 
 The thought that comes with sphere's approach 
 
 Globes' space encroach. 
 With gentle glide serene confide, 
 
 Revolving slide 
 Between the globes whose diamond hues 
 
 Whose glistening caves 
 
 Resplendant waves. 
 The soul observing wonder scene, 
 Exquisite fear of coming gleam. 
 
 Oh, now if sphere would make abode 
 
 Between the globes. 
 And resting with revolving pair 
 
 Together glare, 
 Exchanging hues transporting tints, 
 
 Display divine 
 
 Harmony kind, 
 Again the thought has better fate. 
 The sphere around the globes rotate . 
 
—149— 
 
 Revolves each globe in beauty grown 
 
 Sublime alone, 
 Revolve again around its mate — 
 
 The charm narrate, 
 With spheriod passing in between, 
 
 Imparting hues 
 
 Superb diffuse, 
 Then over globe around the mate 
 Resplendant radiant figure eight. 
 
 Before the sphere had found its place, 
 
 The globes to grace, 
 Above from higher heaven appeared 
 
 Transparent clear, 
 Cylindrical elleptric ring 
 
 With tinted lace 
 
 O'er all its face 
 To help excel the glorious scene. 
 The wonder grandeur to demean. 
 
 Exalted sphere harmonious race 
 
 To soul bedaze, 
 The brilliant ring surrounded all, 
 
 Knchanting fall; 
 Divine the triumph bliss display 
 
 With colors gained 
 
 Transparent stained, 
 While sphere with globes of every tinge, 
 Impart to rings' embelished fringe. 
 
■I50— 
 
 With narrative of rings compact, 
 
 Not lovely lack 
 On earth a simple bubble soap; 
 
 Can only hope 
 That body rings as like in show 
 
 To tints bedeck 
 
 With constant wreck, 
 And wrecked to greater hues bestow 
 Resplendant rapture beauty grow. 
 
 Thus were the changing tints of sphere 
 
 With globes so near 
 Absorbed by ring with gain of charm, 
 
 Sublime adorn, 
 As halo circle delight improve 
 
 Not with compete 
 
 But to complete 
 The gleaming glistening brilliant bliss. 
 Caress to gladden celestial kiss. 
 
 What words to tell of that to form 
 
 In place was born, 
 To fill the glorious space around 
 
 From sk3^ to ground, 
 Aurora Borealis shamed, 
 
 New heaven this 
 
 Exceeding bliss. 
 Sensations undescribed remain 
 In mind of soul from body sane. 
 
—151— 
 
 With all as formed in heaven sky 
 
 Descriptions lie, 
 Such glorious wonders that I saw, 
 
 Kcstatic awe, 
 With all these radient tinted hues 
 
 As under tent 
 
 Heaven's heaven lent. 
 With floor of heaven to be told 
 As other dreams for saddened soul. 
 
 Delights divine, display define, 
 
 The scene is mine. 
 With wondrous, with harmonous crash, 
 
 With merry flash 
 The heaven scene in glad explode. 
 
 Gems fill the sky 
 
 And diamonds fly, 
 Bedeck the air the glistening ground 
 With precious stones and diamonds found. 
 
 The wish of soul for color storm 
 
 At first was born, 
 No thought of gems with flashing rays 
 
 For heaven's stay. 
 No thought of higher heaven cloud 
 
 To gently burst, 
 
 Its gems disburse 
 And not a thought to think as now 
 Of heaven rainbow tell of how? 
 
—152— 
 
 As with the rainbow of the earth 
 
 The heavens girth, 
 As in its beauty to the cloud 
 
 Or eartnly shroud. 
 So is this heaven heaven's bow 
 
 To all that's told 
 
 To beauty hold, 
 When with its wondrous glad delight 
 Of lustrous glorious holy light. 
 
 It greets the soul of mortal man 
 
 To rapture fan — 
 Such rapture had with body held 
 
 Would either weld 
 The soul to mortal case entire 
 
 Or would expand 
 
 To comprehend 
 Commodious space for thrilling joy, 
 Burst mortal bands leaves its alloy. 
 
 Not with the body eye could see 
 
 The glittering glee, 
 Refulgant lustrous glittering flare 
 
 Not eye to stare 
 But with the angel eye improved 
 
 When mortals sleep 
 
 Not body weak, 
 Luxurious gentle tranquil joy 
 For soul to greet without alloy. 
 
■153- 
 
 Oh, band of heaven's heaven sky, 
 
 Your beauty why 
 Could not the scholar have described ! 
 
 Not ignorance bribe 
 Where words of beauty all that's known 
 
 Must call to aid 
 
 To make the raid 
 For lines that mind of man can grasp 
 And yet not simple mind need ask. 
 
 The rain of diamonds, precious stones, 
 
 Were not alone 
 But every beautious gem was for 
 
 Storm meteor; 
 Not gems or earth that's known to tell 
 
 Esthetic sight 
 
 Aerolite 
 Ameliorate sun for display 
 With beauty color for each ray. 
 
 Effulgent, brilliant, circumfuse, 
 
 Bvoke difnse, 
 Kach gem each ray to emulate, 
 
 Meliorate; 
 Even now it is a paradox 
 
 Or apologue 
 
 Through heaven broad — 
 Yes, heaven broad and every way 
 All space as filled with color rays. 
 
—154— 
 
 If mind of man can comprehend 
 
 The elysium, 
 Its beautious splendor in the air, 
 
 Paralax so fair, 
 It would constrain the soul's acme. 
 
 Its say accute 
 
 From absolute 
 Could not as think accessory 
 Nor actuate with thought agree. 
 
 But claim the soul its mineret 
 
 Not to regret, 
 Should hold its say expatiate 
 
 The better fate 
 To gain in advocate of man 
 
 For all as told 
 
 To have it sold 
 And not to tell of coalesce. 
 Expatiate would be deceive. 
 
 Affluxion to coalesce 
 
 In armistice, 
 Each band as bright agglutinate 
 
 As though cognate 
 To thus cohese to osculate 
 
 While colors run 
 
 As though in fun 
 And merge with mellow to evince 
 For soul of mortal wonder glimpse. 
 
—155- 
 
 Kach color band as annulose 
 
 For greater joy, 
 And each with gradual deeper dye 
 
 At center lie ; 
 Bach band as rope in form appear 
 
 Each strand a hue 
 
 Attention sue, 
 Each strand as sinuous as it glows 
 While twisting with the band it flows. 
 
 The vaulted baldric now enfused 
 
 Each part profuse, 
 A band of running, twisting rays 
 
 Harmony stays, 
 Alternate bands if such there be 
 
 With braided row 
 
 Opposing go, 
 The beautious color tints entwine 
 In swiftly passing hues sublime. 
 
 Then to eclipse the grandeur made, 
 
 Divine to raid. 
 The twisting, racing, passing beams 
 
 Rejoicing gleam 
 Meet with the sylvan kissing rays 
 
 As cloak adorn 
 
 Is halo^born 
 To sparkle brightly in its place 
 While winking at the glimmering race. 
 
-156- 
 
 The halo vaulted o'er the belt, 
 
 Its beauty felt 
 With semi-circle open down 
 
 To form around, 
 And concave mirror catching rays 
 
 From back of bow 
 
 Its glory show — 
 Its glory, yes, to glory grown 
 As glory is in heaven known. 
 
 O'er halos and o'er vaulted bow, 
 
 New clouds to glow — 
 Yes, new in beauty and in form 
 
 As of the storm. 
 To tell of all would be no end 
 
 With changes come 
 
 In constant run 
 And leaving them for other view 
 For every thing in heaven new. 
 
 Abide to tell of ease effused 
 
 The bliss diffused 
 By mellow shades that clouds bestow 
 
 To soul below, 
 Though tranquil be the soul in bliss 
 
 With whitest rays 
 
 In brightest day, 
 Not thinking of increased delight 
 With tinted beauty wave in flight. 
 
—157— 
 
 Sublime the palmy calm caress 
 
 As though to bless 
 The soul from rapture to relieve, 
 
 Oh, glad achieve ! 
 Bright shadow clouds their hues impart 
 
 To heaven flowers. 
 
 Celestial bowers, 
 The soul inhales as benison 
 Perfumes from fairest flowers come. 
 
 Rejoice with soothing thrill extreme 
 
 From bliss redeemed, 
 To lave serene in shades conceived 
 
 Acme achieved, 
 Enhanced, enriched, meliorate, 
 
 Delight exalt 
 
 From heaven vault. 
 Emerge from bliss to paradise. 
 Exquisite raptured soul to rise. 
 
 To rise from ground or heaven floor 
 
 No thought to soar. 
 Though soul refreshed with shades of storm. 
 
 New blessing born" 
 With thought to walk in heaven place 
 
 Though in the nude 
 
 Beatitude 
 Extreme the bliss with shame as left 
 If sins have been of them bereft. 
 
-158- 
 
 To tell of all iu heaven had 
 
 With task am glad, 
 Defer for volume soon to come 
 
 With it begun; 
 For volume with no sorrow known 
 
 With clouds to girth 
 
 Then angels birth, 
 In beauty cones, sweet voices sing 
 And of the joy sweet angels bring. 
 
 Describe the heaven floor in parts, 
 
 The clouds as start; 
 Describe the flowers, the wood and lawn 
 
 And heaven morn, 
 With tell of rivers, lakes and falls 
 
 In memory had 
 
 No part of sad. 
 Of beauty walks and pleasant way 
 How souls in heaven happy stay. 
 
 How happy with their wanderings 
 
 Their bliss to bring. 
 While climbing hill and walking dale 
 
 Delights prevail, 
 Without a thought of weary limb. 
 
 Though pleasant home 
 
 To rest from roam, 
 Yes, pleasant home if pleasant be 
 Each heaven soul will ever see. 
 
—159— 
 
 Even as the soul returned to tell 
 
 Of place to dwell 
 Where with two angels beauty grace 
 
 His dwelling place; 
 Two, who the guardian angel said, 
 
 Were made for him — 
 
 Would wait for him, 
 Prepare the palace, garden grand 
 For coming soul in heaven land. 
 
 Two angels pure his soul to greet, 
 
 Fair fairies sweet, 
 With beauty forms divine to see, 
 
 Oh, happy me ! 
 The nights with them a month of day 
 
 In heaven's way 
 
 Elysium gay. 
 At least a year with heaven known 
 In youth and strength as angel grown. 
 
 With night as had that of the last, 
 
 Heaven year as past 
 When guardian angel did proclaim 
 
 That soul remain 
 With body prison on earth a time, 
 
 A work to do 
 
 Not work to rue; 
 Though angel failed to name the task 
 Soul had no thought of it to ask. 
 
— i6o— 
 
 While thus the soul with angel mates 
 
 lu blissful state, 
 At times the guardian angel came 
 
 The soul to claim, 
 To take away from fairest two, 
 
 From heaven home 
 
 Abroad to roam, 
 To guide the soul in place to show 
 Through hell and vulgar place below. 
 
 Through place of torture known as hell 
 
 Of it to tell 
 With volume thought to follow one 
 
 Of heaven known 
 As it was seen with journey through 
 
 With angel guide, 
 
 To all confide 
 To show the grandeur of the place 
 And dungeon halls the grands disgrace. 
 
 Yet lower down in space with guide 
 
 As angels ride 
 To home of vulgar nasty souls, 
 
 Their proper goal. 
 The most will tell with baptist wrong 
 
 And have it o'er 
 
 In heart a sore, 
 Then let it heal with pleasant days 
 And sorrowed souls have happier stay. 
 
-i6i- 
 
 The part with this be short and brief 
 
 Of vulgar grief; 
 Then chapter ten be torn from book 
 
 With but a look, 
 And word that's used of nasty kind — 
 
 Extreme profame 
 
 The place to name 
 May not with public gain a hold 
 For decency in filth to roll. 
 
VIII. 
 
 CONFORMATION. 
 
 nWAKE with the sorrow, 
 ** The sin in my heart, 
 Awake in the orchard 
 From heaven to part, 
 Awake with the shame, 
 The shroud o'er my home 
 Await for the morrow 
 And suffer alone. 
 
 With suns rays of morning 
 As seen through the flowers, 
 With sun rays as calling 
 From sweet heaven bowers, 
 
 While soul was in heaven 
 Poor body was weak, 
 With night air upon it 
 The fever to seek. 
 The fever and trouble 
 With loss of the home, 
 From sweet bowers parted 
 Now fated to roam. 
 
-i63- 
 
 Wild now with the anguish 
 The trouble has made, 
 With cry to the Maker, 
 Deep sorrow to wade. 
 
 The beauty of orchard, 
 The love of the flowers, 
 Resort of the past 
 For happiest hours. 
 
 With memory of heaven. 
 With fever on brain, 
 The orchard and flowers 
 Heaven beauty have gained. 
 
 The lawns of the mower 
 As made for the hay, 
 Become blooming flowers 
 As though there to stay. 
 
 Bright colors of heaven, 
 Of rainbow and storm, 
 Are brought for the trees — 
 The orchard adorn. 
 
 Kach leaf, limb and blossom. 
 Bright tints to them bring, 
 Each apple as half grown 
 As gold have become. 
 
—1 64 — 
 
 Flowers that are now blooming 
 Such hues to impart, 
 Perfumes have to rapture 
 The poor broken heart. 
 
 The birds sweetly singing 
 In beauty have gained, 
 Heaven hues for their plumage 
 With memory stained; 
 Yes, birds sweetly singing 
 If sweet sounds can be 
 As heard while in heaven 
 From birds in the trees . 
 
 Oh, woman so hardened 
 As lost to all shame, 
 The act not forgiven 
 Nor act of the blame 
 For man who had loved her 
 Her home had prepared 
 When sickened with sorrow 
 Her sin his despair. 
 
 Now weakened with sorrow, 
 Denied at the home 
 But loaded in wagon 
 Away from it bourn 
 
-i65- 
 
 And taken to strangers — 
 To hospital near, 
 In charge of the sisters — 
 Earth women so dear, 
 In charge of physician — 
 Heart-break could not cure 
 Though kindest attention 
 From sisters so pure. 
 
 The fever soon broken 
 Though sorrow remains, 
 The mind as affected 
 Its hell to detain. 
 
 Detained while awakened 
 May be as insane, 
 In heaven while sleeping 
 With bliss to remain. 
 
 How great was the contrast 
 
 Of hell had by day 
 
 With mind at night conquered 
 
 In glory to stay — 
 
 In glory with angels. 
 
 The two were for me 
 
 My home that in heaven 
 
 No shame there to see. 
 
— 166— 
 
 Divine is their beauty 
 With cunning to lure, 
 Enamored with culture 
 Of angels so pure. 
 
 Though nude as intended 
 No shame ever known, 
 So blessed in elysium 
 With purity grown. 
 
 Such sweetness for mortal, 
 For soul born in sin. 
 Such blessings with beauty 
 In heaven begin. 
 
 As sylph slender fairies 
 With fairest ot forms 
 In dignity nature's 
 Sweet smiles to conform . 
 
 Connate from the maker, 
 Cognate if it be, 
 Cohere for reception. 
 Ornate they to me. 
 
 As constant devoted 
 In all things agree, 
 As constant together 
 Devoted we three. 
 
— 167 — 
 
 Sweet kiss the soul greeted, 
 Sweet nectar from lips, 
 Espoused as in heaven, 
 Its nector to sip. 
 
 Enfused as ennobled, 
 In ecstasy held, 
 Delight of exalted 
 With virtue to weld. 
 
 Awake with the sorrow, 
 The third time to-day, 
 With drugs yet as dreaming, 
 Not heaven array 
 Though memory of it 
 Is dim as compared 
 With dreams had in heaven 
 With angels so fair. 
 
 The third time awakened, 
 Revenge to obtain 
 As dimly remembered 
 And freedom as gained 
 From stairway — the back one, 
 To street softly steal, 
 Then office of lawyer 
 For justice appeal. 
 
— 168— 
 
 Appeal with revolver 
 With aim at the heart, 
 To send to its Maker 
 The soul with sin dark, 
 But justice against me 
 So soon in the start 
 The bullet must miss him — 
 Iveave me in his power. 
 
 In power of giant 
 No mercy with him, 
 To wreck happy homes — 
 Immerse them in sin 
 His object in living, 
 In life all his aim, 
 To ruin the virtue — 
 Repay with ill fame. 
 
 That none had been present 
 Would have been for best, 
 My soul then be numbered 
 With those of the blest. 
 
 From sorrow departed, 
 From sins that were his, 
 With soul then as willing 
 To stay with its bliss. 
 
-169- 
 
 Again with the sisters 
 The hospital gained 
 With aid of a stranger, 
 To be there detained 
 Until with the sorrow 
 The drugs should engraft 
 The soul with the body 
 Not from it bereft, 
 
 That night — now the fourth one, 
 With heaven obtained. 
 Both angels as ever 
 Their sweetness remain. 
 Sweet kisses for greeting, 
 Perfumes with the bliss. 
 Sweet smell of their bodies 
 Was had with their kiss. 
 
 Bach beauty as willing 
 Its sister to take, 
 To kiss, one, the other 
 Would give for her sake, 
 Then give as in gladness 
 For kisses they had 
 By kissing each other, 
 Make soul of man glad. 
 
— lyo— 
 
 Each one as of person 
 Perfumes part of self, 
 The blonde of the tube rose, 
 The beautiful elf, 
 Brunette, rose geranium, 
 To fascinate soul, 
 Of love from the mortal 
 Both equally hold. 
 
 For perfumes imparted 
 Were given their names, 
 Sweet blonde is the rose. 
 Geranium remains. 
 So pleased were the angels — 
 No name had before — 
 Embrace to show gladness, 
 More kisses bestow. 
 
 Then playfully running 
 With laughter and glee, 
 So graceful the angels, 
 Such charms had to see, 
 With voices the sweetest, 
 With eyes sparkling bright. 
 As smiling so pretty. 
 Enraptured with sight. 
 
—171— 
 
 To catch one such pleasure, 
 So sweet the repay, 
 With both then embracing 
 With laughter so gay. 
 In ecstasy mortal 
 With cuddle so. close, 
 While bodies sweet meeting, 
 No trouble with clothes. 
 
 Elated and joyful, 
 Elysium here, 
 As dream is in Heaven 
 No shame to bring fear. 
 
 Oh, sweetest of heaven, 
 Such bliss now obtained 
 For soul of the mortal 
 Would wish to remain, 
 When coming from vilest 
 That's known upon earth 
 To heaven with purest 
 The angels to girth. 
 
 Awakened as mortal. 
 Again with the sin. 
 The drugs for their duty 
 Hold sorrow \vithin; 
 
— 172 — 
 
 Oh, sisters of mercy, 
 Such kindness to me 
 When coming from angels 
 On earth to meet thee. 
 
 Your kindness to soften 
 The anger was had, 
 To teach me forgiveness 
 For all of the bad; 
 Receiving the lost one, 
 On night that she came. 
 With welcome and kindness, 
 Forgetting ill fame. 
 
 Then with her in carriage 
 With darkness to hide, 
 The kisses forgiveness 
 As had with the ride. 
 
 Forgive and forget 
 With promised reform 
 Was sworn by the guilty 
 With love newly born. 
 While riding the mile 
 To end of the track. 
 With home that is further 
 Alone to go back. 
 
—173- 
 
 " Ola, darling, dou't leave me, 
 But take me with you, 
 Your leaving the sinning 
 My health will renew. 
 No drugs of the doctor 
 When soul is the weak 
 Are needed as aiding, 
 But love it would greet." 
 
 ' ' No, no, ' ' she insisted, 
 ' ' To hospital go. 
 Then come to your welcome 
 When well you have grown; 
 The car now is coming. 
 Adieu for a time, 
 Remember I love. 
 Your love to be mine." 
 
 With kiss at the parting. 
 Again with the hand, 
 As car is now starting 
 In carriage to vStand; 
 Then she turning homeward 
 With smile to bestow; 
 Now am I returning 
 To hospital ? no ! 
 
—174— 
 
 But quickly alighting 
 At street further down, 
 For walk to the cottage 
 My life work had found. 
 
 Arriving and praying 
 While walking the way, 
 Yes, praying for courage 
 With loved one to stay. 
 
 Though now at the gateway 
 With heart that is weak, 
 And wanting in courage 
 With woman to speak. 
 When her, was opposing, 
 And knowing of old, 
 Would door now be opened 
 Or love become cold ? 
 
 Then seeking the bower 
 Of roses and tree. 
 More prayers to make 
 For her and for me. 
 
 "Oh, God, will you help her 
 That she may reform ! 
 Bring her to repentance 
 
—175— 
 
 With goodness conform; 
 And God hear my prayers 
 To have me forgive 
 In heart as in word 
 While with her I live; 
 Oh, hear me, my Savior, 
 My thanks to receive, 
 And make me repentant 
 Her oath to believe.'' 
 
 Refreshed with the praying 
 
 And stay with the flowers, 
 
 With heart newly strengthened 
 
 By praying an hour, 
 
 With footsteps as quickened 
 
 Now walk to the door. 
 
 To knock with new courage 
 
 Expect love restored. 
 
 So quickly the answer 
 By her yet awake, 
 *' Who knocks, what is wanted, 
 Why come here so late? " 
 " It is I, sweetest darling. 
 It is I, am returning, 
 I could not go from you. 
 With heart for you yearning." 
 
— 176 — 
 
 " You should not come here, 
 I think you insane, 
 And fear now to greet you, 
 For coming your blame." 
 
 My God, the suspicion 
 That comes to my mind, 
 To think her now guilty 
 And man with her find. 
 
 With quickness in thinking 
 To do that was best, 
 " M}' darling, the orchard 
 To see will be rest." 
 
 ' ' Then on your returning 
 The door will unlock." 
 She said it so glady. 
 The worst was the shock. 
 
 With sin then was dealing. 
 
 To strategy fall. 
 
 And rapidly running 
 
 Around to front hall; 
 
 The front door was opened, 
 
 Just standing ajar, 
 
 A light that was gleaming. 
 
 Not seen from afar, 
 
—177—. 
 
 With step then in silence 
 iVnd softly to steal 
 O'er porch to the portal — 
 Heart beats now to feel. 
 
 Then when at the entrance, 
 Was standing so near 
 To push door wide open 
 With no thought of fear. 
 
 My God, what to witness ! 
 What way to reform ! 
 The giant was dressing 
 In hall to perform 
 With woman in whiteness 
 As clothed for the night; 
 At last not a doubt left 
 Of her way of right. 
 
 "At last I have caught you. 
 No need to deny. 
 At last have discovered, 
 Now where you defy ? ' ' 
 
 Then quickly he grabbed me. 
 As quick was my call 
 Of "murder "and "help, help!'' 
 Till -stunned with the fall. 
 
-lyS— 
 
 Then while he would search me, 
 No gun was possessed , 
 With warning to lay still 
 Or take his caress. 
 
 His gun It was pointed 
 To aid in the threat, 
 No need for the warning 
 Nor yet for the fret. 
 
 With sorrow and weakness 
 In power of giant, 
 His gun as a warning 
 If I show defiance. 
 
 Then while I was waking 
 From stun of the blow, 
 The lawyer was dressing, 
 Not yet though to go. 
 
 But order was given 
 For me to arise. 
 The great room to enter 
 To meet more surprise. 
 
 Then spoke the great lawyer 
 In home that was mine, 
 ' ' What are your intentions, 
 
—179— 
 
 To us them define. 
 And say if exposing 
 You will to the world 
 Of that now discovered 
 You say now unfurl ? ' ' 
 
 ' * My say is a short one 
 
 Of what I will do, 
 
 From here you must take her, 
 
 Divorce I pursue. 
 
 Then spoke up the harlot, 
 Must have her own say, 
 " This place is in my name 
 And here I will stay." 
 
 To follow the lawyer, 
 
 Gave law for my use, 
 
 " You know I must kill you 
 
 If this you refuse, 
 
 Swear now you will never 
 
 Your life to redeem. 
 
 No matter what happens 
 
 Between you and me. 
 
 This night that has happened 
 
 The world must not see, 
 
 Arise to the bible, 
 
 Place on it your hand, 
 
■i8o— 
 
 The oath in your owu way 
 Or life I demand." 
 
 " To swear that, I will not, 
 For life that is mine, 
 Kill then if you want to 
 And add to your crime, 
 It will be a mercy 
 To end my distress, 
 It will be a blessing 
 To put me at rest. ' ' 
 
 " My God, man," he answered, 
 ' ' What is it you do ? 
 Your oath, I demand it, 
 Or I must end you." 
 
 Then unto his mistress 
 He asked "will it be 
 A suicide happened 
 If his soul I make free ? " 
 
 Reply, oh, the sweetest 
 
 From her of his heart, 
 
 " Will swear that he purposed 
 
 From earth to depart; 
 
 I will and am willing 
 
 That you quickly end 
 
— i8i— 
 
 A life that is vilest 
 And give me amend." 
 
 Now seated in rocker 
 Near table in center, 
 And weakened; excited — 
 May be was demented — 
 With tears freely flowing, 
 So eas}' they come 
 Since sin was discovered 
 Have they freely run. 
 
 The giant was standing 
 As though watching door, 
 Revolver was handy 
 For further implore, 
 When raising and aiming 
 With look of intent 
 A step nearer coming, 
 To kill surely meant. 
 
 When quickly repenting. 
 Would have him forbear, 
 With hands both extended 
 And cry, " I will swear." 
 
 He lowered revolver 
 When thinking to stand, 
 
-l82— 
 
 And reaching the bible 
 For placing of hand, 
 But weakened and wearied 
 Fell back in the seat, 
 When women assisting 
 Condition to meet 
 
 Placed bible of family 
 To nearer my hand. 
 Then reaching as sitting 
 Obeyed the demand. 
 
 With oath as completed 
 The giant must ask, 
 If oath was intended 
 For bonified mask. 
 
 " I have no intention 
 To tell of that here, 
 Divorce will be granted, 
 Without it no fear." 
 
 The woman was angered, 
 Now rose for an act, 
 To gain the revolver, 
 Make secret a fact. 
 
-i83- 
 
 But giant rejected, 
 Kept hold of the gun, 
 Would not let her have it, 
 Believed he had won. 
 
 Appointed advisor. 
 Himself for my good, 
 ' ' Get out of the country 
 As quick as you can, 
 Or if I shall meet you 
 On street night or day 
 Will kill you for certain. 
 Defense for my say." 
 
 Then quickly departing, 
 The lawyer back way. 
 Myself from the gateway 
 No longer would stay. 
 As time was the summer 
 The hospital gained 
 For air of the chambers 
 Doors opened remained. 
 
 The sisters attending 
 Was thoughtful of care, 
 Had placed drug for sleeping 
 Near cot on a chair, 
 
•i84- 
 
 Then quick with the drinking 
 And quick with the prayer, 
 Sweet sleep and the rapture 
 To heaven repair. 
 
 What wonder, what beauty, 
 
 The place now to find ! 
 
 Why this is my garden. 
 
 The flowers my kind, 
 
 My trees, the magnolia 
 
 So graceful and high 
 
 With flowers white and purple, 
 
 I thought they had died . 
 
 Red bud and horse chestnut, 
 Elms, linden and birch, 
 The poplar and maple, 
 With dogwood, high beech. 
 Here ash that are flowering; 
 Near willow, catalpa ; 
 My tulip tree growing 
 Near pine, yew and larch. 
 All flowering or budding 
 With season as one. 
 These trees that I planted 
 For pleasure and fun, 
 And many more with them 
 The names have forgot, 
 
■i85- 
 
 Such beauty arrangement 
 Their growth has begot. 
 
 In places the shrubs 
 So many I had, 
 All flowering together, 
 Oh, now I am glad ! 
 The roses are scattered 
 With trees and the shrubs, 
 Here every kind growing 
 With flowers or buds; 
 Not only those growing 
 At home on the earth 
 But all that I planted 
 Here having new birth. 
 
 Look now, see the garden, 
 Oh, is it not grand ? 
 Arranged as I wanted 
 And growing as planned. 
 With walks that are pretty 
 In lawn, and so neat 
 With borders all blooming- 
 My flowers so sweet. 
 
 The flora of daisies, 
 Of marigold, thyme, 
 In border of violets. 
 
-i86— 
 
 Description decline; 
 Ice plant and the lilies, 
 Larkspur with the pink, 
 The catch-fly and astors 
 Near tulips and pansies, 
 The vine, morning glory 
 
 On evergreen trees, 
 
 And hedges for climbing 
 
 Magnificent these ! 
 
 And oh, here my tube rose 
 
 With geranium bed, 
 
 To name all a chapter 
 
 Or volume be had. 
 
 So grand now my garden, 
 So charming to see, 
 All blooming together] 
 With shrubs and with trees. 
 
 And here is my lake 
 With fountain in midst, 
 Ravine with the dam, 
 The bridge of rustic. 
 All as I had planned 
 In my dreams for the home- 
 For day of the future, 
 With cease of the roam- 
 
■i87- 
 
 Why, what is the palace 
 Now standing in rear ? 
 What beautiful building — 
 How came it in here ? 
 My thoughts when with riches 
 Improvement to make, 
 The field was my pasture, 
 Such beauty to take 
 With all the surroundings, 
 As thought when at task 
 With flowers and bushes — 
 Not more can I ask. 
 
 Why, there are my darlings, 
 Geranium and Rose, 
 Near doorway of palace. 
 My home they have chose ; 
 Now walking through flowers 
 And coming this way, 
 Oh, won't it be fun 
 In bower to staj% 
 And give them surpsise 
 When near me they come ! 
 Oh, won't it be charming 
 To see them both run ! 
 What rapture, what music ! 
 Why, 'tis their sweet voices 
 
While coming with singing 
 My soul now rejoices. 
 
 THE SONG. 
 Tune, "Sweet Home" 
 
 We wait in heaven, our heavenly home, 
 We wait for thee, for whom we were made. 
 Preparing the home for when you may come. 
 With beauty preparing our heavenly home. 
 Home, home, sweet, sweet home. 
 Preparing for loved one in glory a home. 
 
 With longing for day, one brightest for us, 
 With watching and waiting, our happiest time. 
 With thinking of you who are coming to us, 
 Preparing for him for whom we were made; 
 Home, home, sweet, sweet home. 
 Preparing for loved one in glory a home. 
 
 Oh, come to us, darling ! oh, come to your joy ! 
 Delay not with anguish in body below. 
 But come for reward, yes, come to your glory. 
 Come and remain in your heavenly home. 
 Home, home, sweet, sweet home, 
 Come then our loved one to glor}^ your home. 
 
■189 — 
 
 Your angels are calling; oh, can you not hear ? 
 With songs we are calling for you whom we love, 
 For you who alone of all that may be, 
 Yes, calling to come to your heaven sweet home. 
 Home, home, sweet, sweet home, 
 Calling you, loved one, to glory your home. 
 
 '* Geranium, Rose, 
 Now that time I caught you ; 
 How sweetly you sing, 
 I could not but stop you 
 For kisses you bring. 
 No, not both together; 
 There, Rose, you must wait 
 Though I don't know whether 
 Yours first I should take; 
 The first one to catch me — ' ' 
 Such fun as we had. 
 With kisses embracing 
 And all of us glad. 
 
 The palace forgotten 
 With greeting so sweet. 
 Bright birds that are singing 
 Where angels can meet 
 
-igo — 
 
 With air sweet perfume 
 Each bush with its flowers, 
 Each tree now in blossom, 
 With vines over bowers. 
 The lawn soft as velvet, 
 So pleasant to feet 
 Or sweeter for resting 
 Sweet bodies to meet; 
 The air is elixer 
 For angels to breathe, 
 Cloud-tinted reflection 
 More beauty bequeathed, 
 With angels so graceful 
 On lawns' softest place, 
 Sweet smell of their bodies. 
 Still sweeter embrace, 
 With laughter and kissing, 
 With rolling and play. 
 Such blessing possessing 
 In heaven would stay, 
 Then while we were singing 
 Or running in play 
 Perfumes for our breathing 
 With birds sweetest lay; 
 The clouds with their kisses 
 The angels to greet. 
 Loaned tints to enrapture 
 
—191— 
 
 With changes so sweet, 
 With colors for bodies, 
 With colors for flowers; 
 Oh, clouds with such beauty 
 Above heaven's bowers. 
 
 To tell of the rapture 
 My soul now possessed 
 The pen though not memory 
 Refuses address; 
 To tell of the sweetest 
 Of bodies to meet, 
 With cuddle so closely 
 Such bliss here to greet; 
 If heaven be gained 
 On earth with the fair 
 Then what is this pleasure 
 With heaven's sweet pair ? 
 
 ^W 
 
IX. 
 
 DIVORCK. 
 
 now delightful is the gaining 
 *^ Of the freedom from the sining, 
 Though the sinners do the winning 
 They had won from the beginning. 
 
 Not a show for the applying, 
 Wronged against a lawyer trying; 
 When the lawyer does the buying 
 Wronged's attorney no denying. 
 
 Yet with freedom am rejoicing 
 Though defendants did divorcing, 
 For divorce I did the sighing, 
 With divorce will do defying. 
 
 The decree is that remaining 
 Their defense from this containing. 
 And my writing advertising 
 Leave their friends to do the buying. 
 
 I have done my share of crying, 
 Never harm with their denying 
 Nor my work with their defying, 
 For their say now am I sighing. 
 
■193- 
 
 Will the lawyer do arresting, 
 Help to gain that here investing 
 Where the lack of interesting 
 Help the truth in its progressing ? 
 
 Will they bring a suit for telling ? 
 Let me have a chance for selling, 
 Show defense as had for suing. 
 For divorce I was pursuing. 
 
 Will I stop my cry with writing. 
 When for home and children fighting ? 
 Will the Baptists do my preaching 
 While their doings I am teaching ? 
 
 Will my work on their religion, 
 That my pen is now completing, 
 Bring the sinners to their fountain ? 
 With the chapters there containing. 
 
 May be others not yet Christians 
 Will be told of in exposing, 
 If they have not had immersion 
 I will aid them with confession. 
 
 Yet for me no curses needed 
 For their church may be am weeding, 
 Of the few who do the sinning 
 With the sisters they are winning. 
 
-194— 
 
 Now to leave surprise that's coming 
 For more men and women cunning, 
 Many families do the crying 
 Who my wrongs have been denying. 
 
 Some have said my day was coming, 
 For it must I do the running, 
 Some expected more of gunning 
 But for that I was too cunning. 
 
 L/Ct them live to hear my preaching, 
 Being sinners hear my teaching, 
 While I live their sin defying 
 And will live to do their writing. 
 
 Never mind the books not selling, 
 I will work to pay for printing. 
 Give them free as pay for reading, 
 Tell how Baptists are proceeding. 
 
 Fifty years of life for sinners. 
 All my savings, they the winners, 
 Fifty more if God is willing 
 Work exposing all the sinning. 
 
 Did they stop my ruin beginning 
 When my wife from me was winning ? 
 Did they think that I was willing 
 Home and children go with sinning ? 
 
—195— 
 
 Did they stop with all the ruin 
 What the debts that now are suing, 
 When of children, home and money 
 They had robbed me ? Oh, how funny 
 
 Funny ! yes, without my doing, 
 With the writing now am wooing, 
 Funny ! yes, of it am laughing, 
 Joke their own — they do the quafifiug. 
 
 Not a thought of writing taking, 
 Not a thought of money making. 
 Only tell of sin their seeking. 
 Not expecting public greeting. 
 
 Lawyer great the senate gaining, 
 Gets the clients his obtaining. 
 Keeps a partner so defiant 
 For the ruining of his clients. 
 
 He who saved when with poor aiming 
 When revenge with gun was gaining. 
 He is known without the naming, 
 Stopped his partner with his claiming. 
 
 He who told how woman seeking 
 Met his giant partner frequent — 
 In back office had their meeting 
 When the devil saw the greeting. 
 
■196— 
 
 Yet with knowing of the ruin 
 That his partner was pursuing. 
 Though his client prompt!}- paying 
 When for services was praying. 
 
 Notwithstanding giant's doings 
 With a client's wife a wooing, 
 Noted lawyer backs the sinner, 
 For his aid as senate winner. 
 
 Now returning to beginning 
 For a work of honor pledging, 
 For a word on masons staying 
 When for aid a brother's praying. 
 
 Though no money was delaying. 
 For their services was paying. 
 Never begging for the working 
 Where excuse for all the shirking. 
 
 Not a lawyer for the trying, 
 For divorce I was applying, 
 Not one for the giant's defying, 
 File the bill for all my crying. 
 
 Brother lawyer he the sinner, 
 IvEwyer brother sure the winner, 
 Mason brothers' waive the swearing, 
 E)ven these the cross were wearing. 
 
—197— 
 
 Waive their pleSge before offending, 
 Break their oath with vile descending, 
 Stand with sin their oaths defaulting, 
 Sworn to aid their brother's calling. 
 
 With the loss of home as staring. 
 With the loss of children wearing, 
 With the loss of health appearing, 
 Even mind the loss a fearing. 
 
 If not trouble with the sinning. 
 Where the masons' oath beginning, 
 If not trouble with this brother. 
 What the trouble, oaths to bother. 
 
 Work of life to lose appearing, 
 L,oss of children worse the fearing, 
 Loss of home as being certain, 
 Ivoss of honor with their working. 
 
 Masons' oaths should change their wording. 
 Not the iron clad ones of girding, 
 Swear protection for their fellow, 
 Not opposed great odd-fellow. 
 
 When a lodge forgetting pledges, 
 Where the grand lodge with their wages, 
 What result investigated, 
 Brother's wrongs to be debated. 
 
—198— 
 
 Of the wrongs that he was feeling, 
 Of the manner of his greeting, 
 Of the way he was defeated, 
 For the help that he was pleading. 
 
 But the giant's high position 
 And his money and condition, 
 Would consider of his honor, 
 Leave the brother wronged to wonder. 
 
 As the country's laws for weaker 
 When the weaker is the seeker, 
 All the laws are for the greater. 
 With the giant's partner maker. 
 
 So with pledges of the templar, 
 If the weaker one remember 
 That the oaths make no exception. 
 Yet they give him cool reception. 
 
 Force him in the hands of villians, 
 Wrongs be done him they are willing, 
 Not a hand to raise as helping, 
 When in trouble not his making. 
 
 Leave him with a lawyer scurvy, 
 Took the money for his worry, 
 Sold his client at the trial 
 As intended all the whil^, 
 
—199— 
 
 Hired lawyer yet another, 
 Hired to watch his villain brother; 
 Where was he ou day of trial ? 
 Where was he that little while. 
 
 Not with me as was agreed, 
 Not with me in time of need, 
 But with me for all the fee 
 Though no court room did he see. 
 
 Where were witnesses from sheriff, 
 Where subpoenas for their worth ? 
 What to stop subpoenas made ? 
 Did the giant make a raid ? 
 
 Let the cross bifl have its way, 
 They the victors of the day, 
 Though with freedom have I gained 
 Not of that can I complain. 
 
 REJOICING. 
 
 At last their work is done 
 For her and me, 
 
 With evil they began, 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
The fun they had for years, 
 
 I did not see, 
 The fun one night appears; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 Five years at least it run, 
 
 All that agree; 
 When months I knew was one; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 Oh, happy day at last, 
 
 With this decree. 
 Divorce from sin of past; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 From robbery and wrong 
 
 They did to me; 
 Oh, happy is my song, 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 No more to sleep in barn, 
 
 The last degree. 
 Or in the bowers of farm; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 No more to beg reform 
 
 From evil deeds, 
 No gun for his disarm ; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
No more to weep all night 
 
 Among the trees, 
 No praying wrongs to right; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 No more to take the scorn 
 
 With spit on me. 
 To call me vulgar son; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 A year has nearly passed 
 
 For referee. 
 All be who know I ask; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 Oh, prairie flower belle 
 
 Of low degree. 
 Alone now have your hell; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 So fast was you with love 
 
 That Sunday eve 
 When I would call you dove; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 As you with me begun 
 
 Sweet purity, 
 To others with it run ; 
 
 Thank God, I am free, 
 
When tiiany with you sta}-, 
 
 Where raret}'^, 
 When many with you play; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 Oh, virtue, such as this, 
 
 A fie to thee, 
 Shame to such virtue kiss; 
 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
 So glad that all is past 
 Twixt her and me, 
 
 Heart mended now at last; 
 Thank God, I am free ! 
 
X. 
 
 LOWER HELL, OR PLACE OF " S-U-T. 
 
 THE God who made for me my heaven home 
 ^ Gave me the angels pure sweet place to grace. 
 Must have prepared the place for those to mourn 
 Who drove me from my earth home gave the hell in place. 
 
 Of, how an angel with me journeyed through 
 When both with hollowed ball as one enclosed, 
 By it protected from the filth and spew, 
 Will leave for volume of the church exposed. 
 
 Will leave as it is written, lengthened page. 
 Too much for volume of their spoils remains. 
 Will leave for help to show my awful rage. 
 With terror wrongs the awful page contains. 
 
 Will leave for book those of the church to view, 
 With title of the name of lower hell 
 As joined with other title church to rue, 
 Two names that fit together, oh, so well. 
 
 Will leave, but tell another awful fact 
 Of he who first the crime and sin begot, 
 The arch fiend brute whose Satanic act 
 Ranks him with devils, demons, ruffian, sot. 
 
— 204 — 
 
 What must the order, noble in its name, 
 With member, who so nasty in his deeds, 
 Their nobleness must be is in the wane 
 When brothers sow such awful dirty seed. 
 
 He, I. O. O. F.'s, unmentioned body spot. 
 Each body proof of it, the bodies need. 
 Though this their tuber pile they should enrout, 
 With knife of ballot pull the stinking weed. 
 
 Of members joined to other orders sworn, 
 What depth for older one in sin to fall. 
 To leave a brother known in freedom born. 
 Not answer to his terror sorrow call. 
 
 Despair repeats where now your ancient brag 
 Where now the cause of newly gilded halls 
 And where the God, and was the book a rag 
 With oaths forgotten when weaker brother calls ? 
 
 This dirty partner of noble senator, 
 {How noble backing rum of his clients, 
 And breaking mason's oath is violator, 
 And to his oath of office shows defiance, 
 
 As said before he knew his partner's sin 
 With seeing woman often at their place, 
 And when disarmed appeared to enter in 
 Defence of client against the great disgrace. 
 
-205- 
 
 He heard the awful oath of wicked one 
 Thrice stvorn " by God'' before he chose to cease; 
 Deceived to gain the promise from the wronged 
 That dirty man might ever feel at ease.) 
 
 The ofFal of the Democratic side, 
 Their rotten eggs to aid in the endure, 
 When with his presence he with them abide, 
 Each one with eg^ fresh opened for the cure. 
 
 A felon's brother, bars their coat of arms, 
 The brother's crime by far the least of wrong, 
 When ruining homes of clients, where greater harm, 
 Set free the nobler brother, imprison giant strong. 
 
 Who lowest pimp and ill bred mongrel dog 
 Immoral and unclean, profane to see, 
 Unfit to wallow in the sty with hogs, 
 A vagrant imp of Satan all agree. 
 
 Obscene his dastard and inhuman act, 
 Obtaining clients when their wives would reach, 
 With traitor act the dirty awful fact 
 To other clients what nastier object teach. 
 
 Such wickedness for wrecking happy homes 
 The bloated scoundrel with his awful lust 
 Must take to make a happy family mourn 
 And make the clean the lowest ones disgust. 
 
-2a6 — 
 
 Such wickedness the poison viper done 
 For vilest fun was his disgusting act, 
 Imposing on the confidence of one 
 Who trusted him with honor in compact. 
 
 Who trusted him with work of saving home, 
 And paid him well for time of services, 
 To be the one to make his client mourn, 
 And ruin the home reward the premises. 
 
 A man who seeks to do such wicked deeds, 
 To practice law in country such as this, 
 Should be debared, as act provided reads. 
 Not backed by Maker of the law that is. 
 
 In justice to the author as inviting more trouble with 
 his description of the land of " S-U-T, " it being of a 
 character to exclude it from the United States mail, we 
 have forcibly induced him to omit it. The description, 
 however, is well defined, and like in the point to be ob- 
 tained as in his description of heaven, they being con- 
 traries. The reader can form a vivid imagination of the 
 seventy-five verses omitted. 
 
 That all is told, the dirty name remains, 
 For place of filth, for souls with filth corrupt 
 Made up as extract, to all stink contain. 
 Not lower hell but nasty stinking "s-u-t" 
 
— 207 — 
 
 Yes, name made up from all that is impure, 
 Of hemorrhage and matter from a boil, 
 And even then for name must be mature, 
 Be putrified by having further spoil. 
 
 With reeking and repulsive terror stink. 
 As mixed with scabs from itch to sweeter mess, 
 Then will its fluid be a pleasant drink 
 Compared with sound of name so nasty, yes. 
 
 A further proof that God knows all to come 
 When placing souls in bodies of the dust, 
 He must have known the soul for dirty one 
 To place it where the name would cause disgust. 
 
 To place it where its stink would be endured. 
 Where it would take the name of vulgar place, 
 God must have known its filth, and how impure; 
 He must have known to send to proper race. 
 
 May be allowed with words that's bad to tell, 
 To call a fellow name for mother, "slut;" 
 Say to companion that his home is hell 
 But death to say you are a son of "s-u-t." 
 
 Not one so low, to take the epithet 
 As being sired by lowest stinking man, 
 And if companion bid him go to " s-u-t," 
 The lowest man will kill him if he can. 
 
— 2o8— 
 
 How low must be the woman who he meets, 
 What honor gained for lowest of her kind, 
 What smell to leave with any she may greet, 
 Be known by it, the stink to be her sign. 
 
 
SUMMARY. 
 
 God made a man and woman, and placed them on this' 
 
 earth, 
 To them came many children, through heaven's sacred 
 
 birth, 
 And thus a beautiful home was formed, full of happiness 
 
 and mirth, 
 No care, no fear of future came upon that pleasant hearth 
 Until a devil rang his rattles and hissed ' 'a victim's found, " 
 Then was that happy home undone and ruin gathered 
 
 round, 
 And while the devil and his friends with sin the mother 
 
 bound. 
 Blew their hellish trumpets, there was sorrow in the sound, 
 Now that the ruin is complete the world has joined their 
 
 cry, 
 The day is gained, the battle o'er, the devils need not fly. 
 For they by men are honored and women get their need, 
 Odd fellows are protected in all their hellish deeds, 
 Their victim's broken hearted, mother ruined, children 
 
 shamed. 
 Masonic oaths are broken, dishonor is proclaimed. 
 
XI. 
 
 A TRIP TO HEAVEN AND CHILDREN'S HEAVEN. 
 
 HEAVEN. 
 
 SWEET is the heaven dream, 
 Sweeter to angel seem, 
 Bliss in the heaven home^ sleep gives to me, 
 
 Sweet the perfumes to breathe 
 
 With nought of sin to grieve, 
 When from the world I have been made free ; 
 
 Now with the angels play, 
 
 Brightest that heaven array. 
 Glad with the raptures of beauty here g'ained, 
 
 When with the fairest two 
 
 Will love forever woo, 
 vSweetest and purest love never to wane. 
 
 First thought to sorrow call. 
 
 Soul to earth trouble falls, 
 Thoughts of the children who from me were torn. 
 
 If only had them here. 
 
 With those who are so dear, 
 Here with the angel pair to heaven adorn 
 
Ever then would remain 
 
 Nor would the world regain, 
 Facing disgrace, the shame of the sin, 
 
 Here in our heaven home, 
 
 In bliss to ever roam, 
 Happy from trouble — all pleasure begin. 
 
 ' ' What is it that you think ? 
 What sorrow here to drink ? ' ' 
 Sweetly the voices of angels inquire 
 " Of children who I know; 
 Those left in world below 
 Would they were here with me to admire ! " 
 Then came the kisses sweet 
 With their perfumes to greet; 
 Soul of the mortal with heaven obtained 
 " What are the children, pray? 
 Tell of them if you ma}^ 
 Say if in heaven they are to be gained." 
 
 " Why, darlings, don't you know 
 
 Children from earth ma}' go, 
 Here in the heaven with you many dwell — 
 
 They are the little ones, 
 
 Many to Jesus come — 
 Come they to heaven, now of them, pray, tell 
 " Oh, now if we could meet 
 
 Little ones whom- you seek ? 
 
Gladly would welcome them if that we may, 
 Welcome them with their charms, 
 Holding them in our arms, 
 
 Joyfully, cheerfully, with them would play." 
 
 " Then quickly let us roam 
 
 To blessed Jesus' home, 
 You show the way, and now we will go 
 
 Guided by angels sweet, 
 
 With you would Jesus meet 
 That I may thank him for blessings bestowed; 
 " Why, who is Jesus, dear? 
 
 Of Him we may have fear, 
 For you were we made, for you alone, 
 
 With you to heaven come 
 
 Our wish is fully done, 
 With you we would remain, here in our home. 
 
 " Sweet angels, don't you know. 
 Can you not Jesus show. 
 To one who worshiped Him ever below? " 
 " We know no other one 
 Not since we were begun; 
 On you alone would all love bestow," 
 ' ' Then never search for him. 
 Nor can there be a sin. 
 If God (or man) you may never see, 
 
 Though you are work of their 's. 
 
-213- 
 
 Though you are answered prayers, 
 Trust them I never will though gods they be. ' 
 
 Not with the fairest two, 
 
 Man not yet gods to woo, 
 From me the love I hold, for angels mine; 
 
 If deacons of the earth 
 
 And lawyers not of worth 
 Rob me of coarsest wife in world to find, 
 
 What then would happen here, 
 
 If God or man appear, 
 Seeing my angels brig'ht with their perfume ? 
 
 If God will let me stay 
 
 With you alone to play; 
 Their law is my desire. Oh, happy boon. 
 
 ' ' Sweet your caress to me, 
 
 Let it forever be; 
 No search for any one your love to win. 
 
 Here in our happy home. 
 
 Never from it to roam, 
 Will be for me from sorrow redeemed." 
 " So happy now to hear 
 
 You will be ever near 
 To us who love you and ever remain. 
 
 Ever together live 
 
 Sweet pleasure it will give, 
 Happy the day we may you detain. ' * 
 
-2T4— 
 
 Thus while upon the lawn 
 
 With those in heaven born, 
 Reposing while gazing at clouds ever new, 
 
 Soft arms that gently steal, 
 
 Sweet breasts to lightly feel, 
 Heads that enrapture eclipsing the view, 
 
 Often in glad delight 
 
 For kiss in play to fight. 
 With closest cuddle iii holding to place. 
 
 Now with the upper hands 
 
 To form o'er me a band. 
 Their cheeks together with laughter to grace. 
 
 Bliss that is here enfused 
 
 When angels would amuse, 
 Rapturous thrill for soul to be soothed, 
 
 Delights for mortals stay 
 
 When angels o'er him lay, 
 With contest constant of bodies so smoothe, 
 
 Each though in playfulness 
 
 Often each other kiss, 
 Silken and glossy curls fanning my face, 
 
 Then with an arm for each 
 
 When lovely breasts would reach 
 Smothered in chastity's celestial place. 
 
 Resting on velvet lawn. 
 Covered with heaven born. 
 
-215- 
 
 Mellow and palmy when angels allure; 
 
 Elbows on downy bed, 
 
 Hands softly stroking head, 
 Tranquil the pleasure for passions so pure, 
 
 Birds sweetest song to hear. 
 
 No God or man to fear; 
 Perfumes enravishing of sweets distilled, 
 
 Clouds softest tints to glide 
 
 While zephyr breeze abide, 
 Klysium nature for pure love is drilled. 
 
 Enchanting drowsiness 
 
 Coming o'er all of us, 
 vSouls when in heaven so charmingly rest, 
 
 Cheeks added to the bliss, 
 
 Touching with gentle kiss; 
 Surpassing joy fulness, sleep of the blessed. 
 
 What heaven, heaven reached 
 
 Where soul of soul touched, 
 Mingling with children so gleeful and gay. 
 
 What the ecstatic scene, 
 
 Sublime to make serene. 
 When with the angel babes, soul dreaming plays. 
 
PART IT. 
 CHII^DRRN'S HEAVEN. 
 
 Is this the home of heaven's rainbow, that with its 
 halo covers all the land ? Is this the place where fell the 
 hail of jewels, that in this rippling crystal stream and on 
 its shores are strewn the brightest gems, for what is this 
 from soul of man to see ? Is then ambrosia of the real, 
 and fruit transparent, with beauty color tints within to 
 glide and change with charming variation when picked 
 from tree where sweetest flowers surround the glisten- 
 ing balls, to make of them the pistils for the clustering 
 petals; or if as pistils real can fruit when grown have 
 taste more tempting than these that are of longer kind ? 
 Have they give out their tints for ages that now their 
 liquids surpass by far the wines of note in place where 
 what is it from soul when with the body dwells ? Must 
 not these flowers be growing in beds perfumed with 
 heaven's sweetest scent as food to gain upon; that with 
 perfumes not strong but gently gliding waves or radi- 
 ating from the bush or tree to ravish, this that is of 
 soul with gladness, and with charms as though it would 
 seduce this part of soul of man. To let the soul as 
 
—217— 
 
 sleeping in its heaven home awake from heaven dream 
 to world of sin; without it's this not taught of soul 
 to share its shame and sorrow in its sad suffering case . 
 Can those be clouds above or are they clustering rays of 
 beauty tints, the spirits of the heaven clouds that come 
 to show their radient softer beauty colors; or are they 
 ornaments made for dress of clouds of real that the 
 heavens of heaven hold ? Can it be so that all the 
 beauty cloudlets lower down have knowledge of their 
 bein^ — that they so sport in running play, with jumping 
 o'er each other, or gently gliding by when eye that's 
 watching thought to see them join — to be as one — and 
 now to turn for the renewal of the game, each cloudlet 
 coming joins the sport until the sk}- at place the}' hold 
 is filled, each with its own peculiar shade or tint, and 
 gliding in and out where one would chase its mate in 
 winding way through space they find, or crowding by up- 
 setting others if they hold their place and those o'er- 
 turned by hurry of the racing ones must cover them who 
 race with tints and hues, to change their beauty as 
 thought to punish with flood resplendent. 
 
 Now while I look a greater cloud comes from above 
 and covers all with shade from sun, to change their tints 
 
-2l8- 
 
 to milder kind, and then as though with wings enfolds 
 them all until its edges have joined below and drawn at 
 ends to form a ball immense in size, as with its beauty 
 grand; then rolling o'er and o'er in upward flight return- 
 ing with the spirit cloudlets imprisoned, when oh, the 
 joy it gives to see the little gleam.ing cloudlets creepinjj; 
 forth from out the holes they must have made for 
 their escape, and with rejoicing taking up the beauty 
 rays that spilled from off the prison ball to fill its path 
 with rapture light. 
 
 And now the birds must join the lists and claim the 
 eye with beauty far exceeding clouds if that may be. 
 Their plumage formed m beauty graceful rolls or pen- 
 dent mates that trail the heaven air, with show of colors 
 deep within with gradual lighter shade to tips, or tipped 
 with deep, the gentler shade within, and like their hues 
 so are their voices, with thrills of song so soft and gen- 
 tle that though they all may sing at once no harshness 
 with the notes to cause a wish for an}' one to cease that 
 other sweeter ones may be the better heard, but holds 
 the ear for every note, if formed with thought or wish a 
 bird to fill the wish, complete the chord and others com- 
 ing join the song when soul of soul would know but for 
 heir coming a discord would have been. 
 
-219" 
 
 The oue alighting on the lawn to have the 6)^6 be- 
 hold, the mind to think, of softness not as sinking deep 
 in velvet feel alone, but soft as sending pleasure through 
 the soul of soul, exceeding pleasures had on earth, even 
 that by man when fairest maid with gentle stroke of 
 forehead or with pressure of cheek to cheek of his. Oh, 
 bliss, oh, ecstatic gladness comes with sound with sweet- 
 est notes that man e'er heard, to rob the sense from 
 bliss extreme with intoxicating raptures of highest joy 
 that wins the soul of soul from highest heaven to know- 
 ing of the why that heaven is. The love for those that 
 come, for those were wished, for those are now possessed 
 as coming from out the clustering flowers through door 
 of woods " whose beauty must here be passed." Bright 
 children come in play from out the shades of wonder 
 forest, with pleasant pleasure, with happy gleeful laugh- 
 ter, start with running when they see the crystal water of 
 the stream, nor do they stop until with joyful plunge or 
 splash the bath is had. Oh, joy, oh, happy me ! to have 
 the scene of bathing angel children, who bathe for play 
 and sport, where naught unclean can be for need of bath, 
 so pure, so clean that mind of man can not conceive, and 
 now the thought to run with them, to gain the stream, 
 to sport, to feel the water cooling and refreshing, as chil- 
 
— 220 
 
 dren's souls have feeling that they are happier in every 
 change of pleasure of their heaven divine. Delightful 
 bliss the feel that brings the mind to know of pleasure 
 gained, when to the moment of new pleasure thought, 
 was calm charm of ecstasy perfect and never want for 
 pleasure, for change from suffering or from sorrow, a 
 feeling that is unknown at least in children's heaven. 
 What, then, could take its place in this elysium, whose 
 everything that is, to see, to feel, to hear the forms of all 
 the thoughts, the pleasure thrills ? Exceeds that is of 
 heaven home for soul of man ! As heaven home so 
 grand with all its beauty, its perfections of grandeur, 
 even to the sweetest bliss sublime of mates so fair. Ex- 
 ceeds the world where soul is held for time, in sorrow 
 and in sinful suffering body prison. 
 
 The thought to join the angels in their sport has 
 caused this that is from soul of man to move from 
 place of birth. Though with a step of care for glisten- 
 ing gems that looked to wound the feet, a thought not 
 had when seeing angel children swiftly gliding over with 
 out a care when they would reach the crystal stream; and 
 oh, exquisite joy, the soothing feel serene of thrills 
 whose tranquil triumph must show how gems are in this 
 
higher heaven prized, to give such feel, while sparkling 
 color rays enrapt the angel foot and at a time when 
 thon<2,ht of change for better from bliss was had before 
 could not have been. 
 
 The water reached, with ripples reaching o'er the 
 feet, as made by sporting angels who are within. To 
 raise the heaven fell of jewel carpet bliss, to feel sublime 
 acme divine, and bring the know that bliss exceeds all 
 thought of mind. To stop the man in tell of limit for 
 the "I am," with have of end for place that knows no 
 end in good in time, in beauty or in anything that is. 
 
 A thought is had of moment before the thought to 
 move from place of second heaven birth to waters edge, 
 when with a glance to other shore where lay an angel 
 babe asleep. If soul of soul of man can gain this place 
 where bliss increase with moments of its stay, what then 
 must be the place that's gained by dreaming soul of an- 
 gel babe, whose angel body lays upon the lawn in shade 
 of flowers whose beauty colors far exceed the tell with 
 pen in this its higher heaven home ? Oh, God, what are 
 you now to make a thought so far beyond the thought of 
 you before; that now with children's heaven reached, or 
 from the know of higher heaven dreamed by purest 
 
babe, are you even then away from knowing, then be- 
 fore a heavens reached were tho\ights to grasp as 
 mind could think to know ? Back now to that of me, 
 the angels see and call for it to enter in and join the 
 heaven sport, when looking down what to behold re- 
 flected from the rippling mirror but beauty angel child 
 as standing feet to feet with this, what earthly thought 
 of cause must make me look around to see where near 
 me was the child, to lend its beauty to the rippling waves 
 that gave to face reflected, from the wavelets, laughter 
 look as though reflected form could know of wonder 
 had, and laugh to please its causes self from any fear 
 that might have been if soul was soul of child in place of 
 soul of soul of sinful man, with look to know that none 
 were near, but all within the stream except the sleeping 
 babe that lay upon the lawn of the crystal streamlet's 
 other shore. 
 
 The sporting angels must now have had the thought 
 from acts were done, that this of me was newly come, 
 and two sweet angel girls approach and each to take a 
 hand, while all the rest must stand to look, and give the 
 waters rest. Then perfect mirror with the wavelets 
 cease to tell the tale by showing three, the two were 
 
—223— 
 
 them again in all their perfect loveliness, the one 
 between must needs be this; a child with them in size, 
 in beauty and may be in feel sublime, and those within 
 the stream as standing with the water kissing pretty 
 knees, while waiting with their welcome for the one 
 their two would lead to join their lovely sport while they 
 would teach it children's heaven ways, jUvSt then a 
 sound from out the beauty woods that calls the eye to 
 see another group of angles bright, who come to bathe 
 with those now here. The sound of voice so sweet to 
 bring a thought of 3'^ears that's past with sounds were 
 heard when home was pure; the fairest boy, who leads 
 the racing ones, whose voice has brought the thought 
 so sweet to give more joy where highest joy was had. 
 Now that they stop to see, with look at three who stand 
 without the stream, when oh! the cause of memory's joy, 
 tor beauty boy who leads, to cause the break from sweet- 
 est pair that ere it saw, and run to meet, to clasp within 
 its arms — It is my sou! it is my boy! and he to clasp me 
 in his angel arms with cry, papa, papa; to know me in 
 my child disguise — Oh! sweetest kiss! Oh! Lord my God! 
 what bliss to give poor me ; and while we greet the rest 
 must gather round with sweetest smiles, in silence, and 
 to await as though a kiss in turn for further welcome, 
 
-224" 
 
 each one would gladl}^ give. Oh! if with dare to tell of 
 those who came to lead, the fairest two of all the angel 
 girls, and if they who are in sinful world could but be- 
 lieve, what joy would other hearts, which are, possess 
 with me, to know as I of those they loved in place so 
 grand, so far exceeding all that's thought by man; what 
 fact to call a lie, by those who read to say that as we 
 stood — my boy and I — with look in water mirror that 
 e3'es to see, must say of us they are alike in every way; 
 in size, in beauty, in all, in everything. 
 
 Just then what caused my eye to wander to a distant 
 place, for sight that takes me from this heaven's heaven, 
 with rush to place, in wa}- I know not of, but with the 
 thought am there and then to gaze in closeness upon 
 three sleeping angels, my Geranium and my Rose, with 
 one an angel man who is their age in looks, and even 
 as they have beauty whi<3h far excells all known to man 
 on earth. Then thinking to give glad surprise to all 
 when caught within the one, and made to know with 
 the awake from children's heaven to heaven home that 
 he and I are one. 
 
 Though how to be surprised with joy in parts, the 
 parts as perfect each in itself rejoicing when now they 
 
—225— 
 
 are become as one. I can not tell, nor can I think, but 
 that the meeting was truly had, and that it caused the 
 parts so joined to wake as one, to find itself as when the 
 sleep had come, yet in embrace of its far sweeter mates, 
 who must awake with smile and kiss, when horror 
 sounds what must it be to call ''Chicago! " and bring me 
 back to world of sin and sorrow. How could the soul 
 have found the body which while it soared to heaven and 
 higher heaven away, had gone the hundred miles upon 
 the route, if only it could have sought the place where 
 sleep began, to find the train as lost, and with it the 
 sorry body prison; then to return and ever stay with 
 angel pair in never ending bliss. Oh, God, why could 
 not that have been ? But now must quick arise for 
 dressing to be done to meet the crowds within the city's 
 walls, where, of a million, there is not one to give a 
 word for kindly greeting. Though, fresh from heaven 
 just now encased in homeliness that must repel even 
 those who are most humble in their worldly home, here 
 to await in lonesomeness, in sorrow and in shame for time 
 when not a porter gives the call for quick arising; not 
 quick to dress but long to stay at station terminal. With 
 all the joy and gladness that soul can have in heaven, 
 and in children's heaven above 
 
NEARLY READY FOR PUBLICATION. 
 
 THE LAND OF S-U=T 
 
 AND 
 
 THE BAPTIST POOL, 
 
 BY WESLEY VANDERCOOK. 
 
 Chapter i — Micbiight B'easts at the Countrij home. 
 
 2— Palace "i?" on 6th street. 
 
 3 — The Wine Rooms above the Saloon. 
 
 4— Will expect you at the Gate at 9 p. m. 
 
 5 — Night Rides — Meet me in the Ravine. 
 
 6— My Ood! Uow did he Find it Out. 
 
 7 — Leaves from a Wom,an\s Dia?'y. 
 
 8 — The Bearer is all Right, You can Trust Jmn. 
 
 9 — Scenes in a Lawyer's Back Office. 
 JO — A Baptist Sur])rise, ''partly historical.'" 
 1 1 — Looking at the Scientific Works up stairs. 
 12 — Wait Until I Put the Children to Bed. 
 13 — Avoiding Subpcenas, " You go to Washing- 
 ton and I will go to Texas. 
 i/\.— Orand Finale. 
 
oyuuooooooooo 
 
 J npHIS WORK is written without appearance of 
 
 r J^ prejudice, and is entirely founded on facts; 
 
 though more interesting in the city of which it relates, it 
 
 will be of national interest as showing what may be 
 
 be going on in every so-called First Society. 
 
 The last chapter is purely [fiction, inasmuch as it 
 relates of the time to come, placing'the characters of the 
 story in their future homes of hell and s-u-t, and relating 
 their manner of existing. The author taking advantage 
 of his knowledge of the condition of souls of those de- 
 parted who had,^while on earth, committed similar sins. 
 
 BOUND IN CLOTH, GILT TOP, UNCUT EDGES, 
 315 PAGES. PRICE $1.00. 
 
 The book you have now read, if acceptable, is only 
 the St. John of the one to come. If rejected, that has 
 
been done before, as it is made up of the critic's rejected 
 chapters of the one here advertised. 
 
 The sin that drove me from the home 
 And children of my heart, 
 When told may make the sinners mourn, 
 Bring gold, give justice start. 
 
y