JESSIE ADELINE COLE. BORN: SANDWICH, ILL., MARCH 17, 1862. IN 1885 Miss Cole published a volume of poems, an edition which was quickly subscribed for by her many friends and admirers. Miss Cole has traveled extensively, and has visited most HOW IT WAS. He won a prize for his good penmanship; NOT FOR WOMAN. The pen is not for woman."-HAWTHORNE. I read those six words and then got awful mad. The pen is not for woman? Really, that's too bad! I deemed the scoundrel meant the pen with which to write And truly, I was vexed enough then and there to fight. [I did, But, with a second thought I saw, I, of course The meaning true which there lies partly masked or hid: [screens The word "pen," you see, the meaning mostly It is the penitentiary the author really means. Now, should I meet Nathaniel, why, I would greet him thus: [not for us. You're surely in the right, sir, the pen" is JESSIE ADELINE COLE. of the larger cities of the United States. She hopes soon to publish another volume of several hundred pieces under the title of Poems of Sentiment and Humor. NEVER BE ASHAMED OF HAVING Never be ashamed of having loved; You can sigh and wish you had waited. A woman may not ask a man To give to her his heart and hand; Her acts and eyes do all they can To help his heart to understand. To be by her love-flame ignited, I loved him and it caused me pain. IT NEVER HAS BEEN. Oh, it never has been since Time began, That a woman whose heart is broken in twain, By the downfallen castle built on a man, Has with Time forgotten and loved again! Her hope does not die tho' she's forsaken; Her heart sinks down as in water a stone. Now she sees that love to the ragman taken; "Tis a garment outgrown-'tis a garment outgrown. Unbroken soil rich grain cannot produce, But ground that's broken or plowed in fall. Frozen, then thawed, is of great use, And thus it is with human hearts all. Heart goes down and brings up the soul To help where it alone once had spoken; It surely seems strange, but it grows more whole, For having been broken - for having been broken. Yes, supernal, boundless, undecayed, By the down-fallen castle built on a man, 252 LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. SAMUEL GARBORG. BORN IN NORWAY, MARCH 16, 1857. IN his youth Mr. Garborg became a sailor, finally coming to America; and later attended the academy of Iowa college. Since that time he has taught school in several states and with The past to us relates, The present indicates, That man, through toil and thought, And many a battle fought, Will steadily attain To righteous, rightful reign; To virtue, purity, And just security. The future, then, a stream Will be- oh, happy dream! Of sweet tranquility, Whose blessed reality Will make old earth rejoice, Of glory, in the throng With heavenly joys complete And universal fame Will glorify God's name. KISSING THE ROD. All hail the power of Mighty God! Who whirleth past us in a cloud Of smoke, and fire and rumbling loud; Yet is about and underneath, In lion's tooth as flowery wreath; Who is in sunshine and the calm, In tempest as in springtime's balm; Who rideth on the mighty storms, Yet lingers 'round the weakest forms; He by whose mighty outstretched hand Is held the fate of all the lands: Yet careth for the small and great, E'en for the worms that on him wait; He in whose ever active brain Resounds the most majestic strain Who gave to all things living, breath, MY FAIRY LAND. It has such vast extension,- Transversed by silver streams, With music sweet would solace My soul and swell its dreams. 254 LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. MARY. Long years ago---'tis vain to tell -- We parted by the river; I whispered then a fond farewell- And though I've wandered far away, They tell me she is still the same, I sigh to think long years may come 'Tis said the hearts that deepest love It knows but one love long and deep- And now whate'er my hapless fate, FLORA LEE. Oh, Flora Lee! Sweet Flora Lee! Beside the blue and moonlit sea, Which bids the loneliest heart rejoice. Ah! who could view so fair a breast And feel his heart from love was free? Where is the maid who is more blest Than pretty, brown-eyed Flora Lee? But we have parted --- still the past Must always fresh and glad ning seem; And may we meet again at last To live once more our blissful dream. But I must bid her now farewell And wander o'er the dark blue sea, Yet may some guardian angel dwell Forever near sweet Flora Lee. THE WITHERED LEAF. Though withered and faded, And now all alone, By silent grief shaded, Its beauty all gone; Yet 'round it is clinging A love which decay, Though still vainly wringing, Can ne'er take away. 'Tis first of the treasures That to me are left, It brings back the pleasures Of which I'm bereft; And though it may wither, Yet while it is near I'll cherish no other With Love's sacred tear. IF I HAD KNOWN. If I had known those sunny smiles Could ever prove untrue; If I had known those fragile wiles Were false and borrowed, too; I would not weep to think that I Had bowed before thy throne, Nor would I draw one parting sigh If I had only known. If I had known those soft brown eyes, I would not flee from those I love, Nor longer would I vainly rove If I had only known. If I had known that siren voice If I had known thou couldst rejoice And of thy cheek's false glow; STANZAS FOR MUSIC. My weary heart its grief exiles, LOCAL AND NATIONAL POETS OF AMERICA. JENIZA MARSHALL. BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA, MARCH 24, 1864. EMIGRATING to Kansas with her parents in 1877, Miss Marshall taught school at the age of sixteen, which occupation she steadily follow JENIZA MARSHALL. ed until 1888. Her poems have appeared extensively in the local press. Miss Marshall is now a resident of Lyndon, Kansas. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL WORLD. O, this is a beautiful world! I was thinking of that this morning, And the soft wind kissed my forehead O, this is a beautiful world, And if some of us cling to it overmuch, I hope we may be forgiven, 255 And I wondered if they would know, It were well they could play forever In this sunny meadow land. O, this is a beautiful world, I thought to myself, to live in; And if some of us cling to it overmuch, I hope we may be forgiven. THE STEP ON THE STAIR. There's a feeble step on the stair, I hear, As it sounds through the silent room, And a shadow falls, a feeling of fear, When I realize that the end draws near, And he's only a step from the tomb. I stood in the chamber of death to-day, Where a mother lay white and still; There was nothing left but a casket of clay, But my heart was full when they bore it away To the sepulcher under the hill. For I thought, were it father or mother of mine, What an empty home there would be; One break in the flow of a life's sunshine, A sadder tone to the midnight chime, And a sorrowful day to me. A quiet room and a vacant chair In one corner, all alone, The ghost of a step on the silent stair, One less in the circle at family prayer, One more at the great white throne. THE PICTURE ON THE WALL. They had told me she was dead,— The little one whose portrait hangs on the wall, A face to follow one till the shadows of life grow tall With the lapse of years, and the twilight begins to fall. A baby, face and a baby's shapely head, brown: And glancing at him and her I fancied in their eyes shone The ghost of a tear, and it brought the mist to my own. EXTRACT. No more is heard the sound of booming cannon, That dreadful din, the bellowing of war. |