HOW SHE FELT 
 
 RSI 
 
 IN PER 
 
 m nn RS 
 
 m 
 
 AND DTHER PQEMB 
 
 MATT. W. ALDERSON. 
 
 Let all thy actions have a motive true ; 
 Inwardly feel and love whate'er you do : 
 Naught but wrong acts e'er cause the blush of shame, 
 And, right yourself, then scorn another's blame. 
 
 
 , MAY 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHO* 1 
 
 BUTTE, MONTANA: 
 
 2 mi^ 
 
 1887. 
 

 , 
 
 1 
 
 Copyright, 1887. 
 By Matt. W. Alderson. 
 
 BUTTE, MONTANA: 
 
 PRESS OP THE MINER PUBLISHING CO. 
 
 SECOND THOUSAND. 
 
HOW SHE FELT IN HER FIRST CORSET. 
 
 T T occurred at Belgrade, where the genial Tom 
 -*- Quaw, 
 
 Gave a party, the first that the town ever saw; 
 The youth and the beauty, the tillers of soil, 
 Attended that night, seeking surcease from toil. 
 
 There were farmers whose hair had a tinge of the 
 
 gray; 
 There were maidens than whom none were ever 
 
 more gay; 
 There were youths who could ride anything that 
 
 wears hair, 
 And matrons whose faces showed lines of dull care. 
 
 Of the ladies who on this occasion took part, 
 Some were dressed in the nobbiest style of the art; 
 And the others, unmindful of fashion's decrees, 
 Were attired to have much more comfort and ease. 
 
HOW SHE FELT IN HER FIRST CORSET. 
 
 There was one blushing damsel, just budding 
 
 sixteen, 
 Whose waist by a corset ne'er encircled had been, 
 But whose mother insisted that on such a night 
 One should find a place there, and the lacing be 
 
 tight. 
 
 So the girl was rigged out as the mother desired, 
 But of dancing 'twas noticed the damsel soon 
 
 tired, 
 "What's the matter?" was asked by some one at 
 
 her side. 
 "I feel just like bucking," the maiden replied. 
 
A LOVER'S VALENTINE. 
 
 SWEETHEART of mine, 
 A valentine, 
 In duty bound, I send thee, 
 And wish that joy, 
 Free from alloy, 
 May evermore attend thee. 
 
 Near, or apart, 
 
 Still may thy heart 
 To mine in friendship nestle; 
 
 For strong and free, 
 
 In love for thee, 
 'Gainst countless foes I'd wrestle. 
 
 Since I am thine, 
 
 Pray -do be mine, 
 My heart prompts me to ask thee; 
 
 Thy charming face, 
 
 And matchless grace, 
 I own have quite possessed me. 
 
TO THOSE WHO HOLD THE GUIDING REINS. 
 
 T HAVE observed a steed, proud-spirited, 
 -^ Lashed by a cruel driver till the sweat 
 Stood out in beaded drops upon his side; 
 And, oftimes, tears have welled up in my eyes 
 As in my mind I've pictured human hearts 
 Lashed thus by cruel words and goaded on. 
 Then when, at other times, the same proud steed 
 Has passed along the street with arched neck, 
 With every motion breathing force and vim, 
 I've noticed kindness held the guiding reins 
 And kept in check the zealous prancer's power. 
 My mind has pictured then, with kindlier glow, 
 A heart ambitious, far too keen to go, 
 Kept by sweet loving words in proper bounds; 
 And deepest gratitude, at such a time, 
 Wells up for those who hold the guiding reins. 
 
HIS FACE IS HIS FORTUNE. 
 
 ci TT IS face is his fortune;'* 
 -*• -*■ Yes, seldom we see 
 One for "tick" importune, 
 As boldly as he. 
 
 Like one who has riches 
 
 Acquired by gift, 
 He laughs at the stitches 
 
 Of gainer by thrift, 
 
 For face is his treasure, 
 And why keep in bank? 
 
 One cannot find pleasure 
 With pocket-book lank. 
 
 So credit he uses 
 
 Where'er it will pass, 
 And always abuses 
 
 The laboring class. 
 
His PACE is his FORTUNE 
 
 But "Cheek* 1 is like iron 
 That's coated with tin, 
 
 It has B nice face on. 
 
 But one rather thin. 
 
TRUE LOVE. 
 
 And little dreaming that its folds 
 No fragrance did enclose: 
 
 Hut so the alter years have shown, 
 And blighted hearts arc found 
 Where once affection reigned supreme, 
 
 And spread its joys around. 
 
 He loved her, but he never thought 
 That love should he expressed, 
 
 And Slights that Caused her keenest pain, 
 He never once redressed; 
 
 To me he often wished he'd been 
 
 To her a better man; 
 But urged to teJI his wife as much, 
 
 He would not brook the plan. 
 
 Oh, ye! on whom some heart depends, 
 
 For all its store of bliss, 
 Withhold not from that tender soul 
 
 The loving word and kiss; 
 But, give expression to your love, 
 
 And make its bliss complete, 
 By giving those within your home 
 
 Unfettered love to greet. 
 
WE'VE CROWN APART IN ALL THESE YEARS. 
 
 T A TE were firm friends in years gone by, 
 
 V V Were classmates at the school, 
 And kept each other company, 
 Against the master's rule. 
 
 For he was righteous and he taught: 
 "No boys with girls shall play!" 
 
 I wonder if he really thought 
 They'd lead us all astray. 
 
 "No messages shall pass between 
 
 The scholars in this school! 
 And, woe to him who first is seen 
 
 To violate this rule!" 
 
 By fear and awe were all oppressed 
 
 And knew not what to do: 
 But I, more bold than all the rest, 
 
 Sent Kate my billets-doux. 
 
 22 ' 
 
WE'VE GROWN APART IN ALL THESE YEARS. 
 
 She answered them, and sweeter notes 
 
 A lover never read; 
 I've often wondered since that time 
 
 They never turned my head. 
 
 And when our daily tasks were o'er, 
 
 Away from school we ran 
 To meet within some leafy dell 
 
 And both our futures plan. 
 
 But now she meets me with reserve, 
 
 No welcome, as of yore; 
 No parting with a warm embrace, 
 
 No kisses at the door. 
 
 Another fellow charms her now; 
 
 She's children pert and tripper 
 And, many a time, upon her knee, 
 
 She spanks them with her slipper, 
 
 28 
 
POLITICAL ECONOMY. 
 
 CHAPTER I— PRODUCTION. 
 
 A youth, not handsome from an outward view, 
 
 Whose features stern belied the mellowness 
 
 That dwelt behind his earnest, steadfast look, 
 
 Delved in his heart upon a summer day 
 
 And found therein a narrow vein of love. 
 
 The prospect pleased, and on development 
 
 He found the mine was rich. For years he worked 
 
 And piled in heaps the ore upon the dump. 
 
 Deep 'neath the mountain ridges of his heart 
 
 He branched out levels on the silvered streak, 
 
 And found almost exhaustless hidden wealth. 
 
 He sought association, and he found 
 
 A friend who brought the skill to treat the ore. 
 
 He wasted not the wealth by labor won, 
 
 But, when refined, he stored the bricks away, 
 
 24 
 
POLITICAL ECONOMY. 
 
 Until within himself there was no space, 
 And he was but a treasure house of love. 
 
 CHAPTER II— EXCHANGE. 
 
 The youth is lost. Behold, on manhood's verge, 
 
 Our hero now. A market for his ware 
 
 He seeks at home in vain. There smallest coins 
 
 Supply the daily needs, and he must seek 
 
 A distant shore, and one to coin his wealth. 
 
 Undauntedly, despite unbroken paths, 
 
 Unheeding storms and floods, he presses on 
 
 To reach her side. An aged man stands guard, 
 
 And yet he marches up the walks unchecked. 
 
 His very boldness awes. A maiden there 
 
 Is pleased with what he brings, and from her heart 
 
 She gladly pays him golden coin therefor. 
 
 She mints her boughten wealth, and later on 
 
 They meet again. They ride the garden gate. 
 
 Proximity, free trade promote exchange. 
 
 She pays him back his own, each coin a kiss. 
 
 The market steady rules, demand is strong,. 
 
 25 
 
POLITICAL ECONOMY, 
 
 Supply exhaustless. 'Tis called a fair exchange, 
 And yet they both are richer made thereby. 
 
 CHAPTER III— CONSUMPTION. 
 
 Beneath her father's roof we see them next, 
 And at the altar plight their faith— each heart 
 By love firm bound, and yet by love left free. 
 The years roll by and for the staff of life 
 They live on love. They need conveniences. 
 And love provides them all. Their luxuries 
 Are daily feasts of love. There are some days 
 When, overcome by care and household toils, 
 Her heart is faint, but when she seeks his side 
 She meets love's sweet caress and cheering kiss, 
 And wonders that her spirits ever drooped. 
 He never leaves her side but with a kiss, 
 And, when they meet again, he clasps her form 
 And plants love's token on her waiting lips. 
 Would'st thou the secret know, of happy homes? 
 'Tis gallantries like these that make them so. 
 At times when prostrate on her bed she lays, 
 
POLITICAL ECONOMY. 
 
 She makes sad inroads on his stock of wealth; 
 
 Still, freely, lavishly he gives it her, 
 
 And wooes her back to health again, thro' love. 
 
 About the hearth a troop of children comes, 
 
 And as he soothes and cheers their restless hearts, 
 
 His garnered wealth, like snow, fast melts away. 
 
 The mine can be depended on no more; 
 
 Old age creeps on apace, and in his heart 
 
 He feels the strained timbers giving 'way. 
 
 He feeds now on the wealth in other days 
 
 Invested where 'twould bring a safe return. 
 
 With tottering steps yet proud he walks the streets, 
 
 And still has smiles for everyone he meets. 
 
 CHAPTER IV— DISTRIBUTION. 
 
 Upon his bed with withered, palsied frame, 
 Behold an aged man! A life well spent 
 Is drawing to a close. About him stand 
 The loved ones of his home. They prop him up 
 As with a halting voice, yet clear, he speaks: 
 "My treasured store of love will soon be yours. 
 Waste not the capital I leave.behind 
 
 27 
 
POLITICAL ECONOMY. 
 
 In shedding bitter tears above my grave; 
 I shall not feel thy love, and if I should, 
 'Twould make me sad to see you weeping there; 
 As thou dost love me, seek and cheer the hearts 
 That find life's road a sad and lonesome way; 
 My dying wish, yes children, my command, 
 Is that you love— yes, love — each oth— er here." 
 He breathes no more. 
 
 The last sad rites performed, 
 The hearts bereaved return with saddened step 
 And enters once again upon life's tasks. 
 The father's dying wish rings in their ears; 
 They check the flow of tears and rise above 
 The grief that bends them low. Love flows again. 
 And on the gates the youths and maidens fair 
 Are gaily swinging back and forth once more, 
 Fresh coinage from the mint is passing now, 
 And, as we walk the streets, upon the air 
 There rings a sound that proves the metal true. 
 
 28