107 LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. MRS. ANNIE MARIA CLARK. BORN: STILL RIVER, MASS., SEPT. 21, 1835. MRS. CLARK has written two volumes of prose-Light from the Cross and Olive Lor|ing's Mission, both of which have been highly praised. Her poems have appeared in many prominent periodicals. She now resides in the beautiful and historic old town of Lancaster, Mass. 1 CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS. A kiss for your thoughts, Sister Alice," I heard little Charlie say, As we sat 'mid the twilight in silence And Alice said, speaking softly, My fancies have wandered afar, To Bethlehem, where the wise men came, Came thoughts of the watching shepherds When the angels stood all around them In the midnight, calm and still, To live here and labor to save us, JOHN LAWRENCE CLARK. BORN: STILL RIVER, MASS., Nov. 30, 1871. THE subject of this sketch is the son of Mrs. Annie Clark, whose name appears on this same page. Although quite a young man, John has written several poems of merit that have received publication. BALLAD OF ST. VALENTINE. I really hope 'tis so, For 'twould pain me much to know They were ordinary trotters of the marsh. And laugh and sneer at pretty Bridget That's but another reason Why in this summer season She is a friend very pleasant unto me. Should you be cast awhile On the shore of Erin's Isle, Young ladies of a certain high-toned And the people looked askance Would you say those people kept the But I will moralize, Which is something I despise, Though of course 'tis appropriate at times: And now I'll have to close, And go to writing prose, Which is not as interesting as these rhymes. 108 LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. JAMES ARTHUR EDGERTON. BORN: PLANTSVILLE, O., JAN. 30, 1869. RECEIVING the degree of A. B. at the age of eighteen, Arthur then went to Michigan, where he became associate editor of a state historical and biographical encyclopedia, with headquarters at Kalamazoo; and later was managing editor of the Evening Herald JAMES ARTHUR EDGERTON. at the same place. In 1888 he became connected with the Marietta Register of Ohio, with which he is still at work. His first publication of poems was made in 1889, which is a work that has been liberally noticed by the American press, and has received a fair circulation. BIRTH OF A DAY. Once, when over the north Proclaimed that it was June, She was the youngest babe Night's spotless, gemmed skirts, The jeweled stars looked down And paling shrank, abashed. As neath an ashen veil, The night grew old and died. The smile of day grew bright, From off the flowery fields, The still earth answering smiled. Supreme as any King That ruled in days of Eld, Upon a shifting throne Whose feet stood on the hills, The young queen ruled alone. The ancient Sun rose up And crowned the new-born day. With dark-hued light and deep He gilded as he rose All the wood-crowned heights; And with a softer glow The verdured, grass-clad slopes. With kindly eye he looked, Far in the blushing east, Looked down on Nature's face And straightway she grew glad; The moving shadows crept 4 1 MRS. SARAH A. THOMAS. BORN: HOULTON, MAINE. REARED in an atmosphere of literature, it has been the ruling passion of her life. Her father was a man of high mental culture, brilliant in conversation, and a fine reader of prose and poetry. She commenced to write poetry at the age of ten, and shortly afterward several short stories, which were never published. In 1872 Mrs. Thomas contributed to a New York Magazine entitled For Everybody; since then she has contributed to the leading periodicals of America, including the Waverly Not even thy touch shall wake one thrill; So still I'll lie some day. And thou shalt weep, and all fond names Shall cross thy lips I may not hear, And yet, ah! yet, thoul't be as dear, (For love shall live, tho' lips are still, As now thou art, that day. And I shall come and fill thy dreams I could not feel my joy complete; So we shall meet some day. IN AN AUTOGRAPH ALBUM. Long as you live may friends be true, Not fickle, though they number few; Much rather would we never know Their love, than have them colder grow; For as we near the other shore, We always need our friends the more. Yet Heaven has in store, I know, A DREAM. In the gathering twilight calm and gray, For rest is not for me. Then I fly to a fair, Elysian land I rise on the wings of the silent night I awake to find it only a dream; Only to lay my poor, weary head On some faithful breast and whisper my pain, Only to know that life holds for me Of the future and read my own dreary lot, Only to know one heart beats for me- That I in my loneliness am not forgot. Only to drink from Lethe's still stream And feel its sweet calm o'er my worn senses creep; Only to lie with cold folded hands, Never again to wake or to weep. Only to know that heaven will be mine LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. TO MY HUSBAND. Twelve years of sunshine, and of storms Were there no landmarks by the way. I would not call to memory now The sorrows of those vanished years: Of all that made life seem most dear, It seems that those who love are doomed Our love with years had colder grown: NELLIE LINN. BORN: MINONK, ILL., FEB. 26, 1861. THIS lady has written quite extensively for the local press, and has published a little pamphlet of Temperance Poems and Other Recitations. She is a little below the medium height, with auburn hair and blue eyes, and has a wide circle of admirers; she now resides in Liberty, Nebraska. LIFE'S MORNING. My heart is light, from sorrow free; The present mine! I'm happy now! Gay thoughts of joy doth fill my heart; -- That wait for me adown the road: For joy was mine in days of past. WANTED. Men of honor, men of might; EXTRACT. I'm nothing but an outcast, |