American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-20
AMERICAN AN'TELEGRAPH
TO MY WIFE.
hrsslea ~ absence, on As 4aaiyersary Of oar Mar


r ass-.ft BY MELzAR GARDNER.
rnon Who didst teach my youthful muse TO sing, 's
her new harp and claimed her earliest strain;
Hoyer thou near me on thy spirit wing,
ana VIII wake its melody AGAIN. -t s& +.#.+
Sufeiy 70 thee its sweetest strains belong feH-t
TRy iove-thy truth-thy constancy my song.
Fen from the dawning of my spirits life,
!. NO soul had breathed its sympathy for me;
NO kindly word had cheered ms in the strife
~ And 7 was like gnarled and blighed tree, m
which, planted firmly on the storm-god's path,
Soornh all his fury and defes his wrath S a.I
The world had never loved me- la child --r s.
Cast ON its bosom-found that bosom cold;
~ spurned me- when thought u should have smiled
And when 4 offered love, 1t asked for-soid;
Aaa showed ins---Loye, an articie Of trsde,- 5
And Truth and Friendship waiting to be paid
loathed 1t then, and each day nerved my soul,
AS with year Of strength Its hate to brave;
never bowed me to its base control n
And thus my heart became living grave
Of strong affections. Thou didst set them free,
And all its treasured wealth belongs to thee
It is all thine 0would that 1t were more,
And better worth the sacrifice 1t cost! iAt
Kind niends--thy pleasant home--and all the store
Of love thy life had gathered-these thou Iostl
Each would have shared and each have claimed part
Now, thou hast love for love, and heart for heart
wanderer, then-poor, friendless and alone
No house, no lands, no boarded wealth were mine;
Thou vert my all, and thou vert all my own
All, was rich to win heart like thine
Love that wealth buys with poverty win fail
But truth like thine Is never kept for sale.
"rve given up all loved for thee aloncYo
These were thy words, which memory aye will keep,
When thou with me dds brave the cold worlds frown,
Z And on my bosom sobbed thysef to sleep =
Best pledge of earnest truth, thy yonng hearts fears
And sweetest proof of love, those bridal tears!
Well mightst thou doubt my poor world bark,
To bear thy fortunes DER lfe's stormy sea!
The tempest then howling fierce and dark,
And its wild wrath was terrible to thee;
And but one light shone in the murky sky
Twas Loves bright star--o hope, our destiny
That sad, unbidden fear--'tis past, tits past!
And though there ngreth still that threatning cloud
No shadow on our spirits can 1t cast #73I1a3+7 ta
For there that light, It's powerless to shroud
leans clearer, purer still, as years depart
The bright, continuing sunshine of the heart
Star of our welded life Thy bright'nng raw
Hath never faded from the upper skyl
My spirits darkness thou hast turned to day,
And thy soft beams now light that fearful eyel
For this thank thee, Father who to me
Didst give that light it borrowed from Thee!
Nine circlng seasons now their course have run,
Since my world frozen heart thy love did warm;
Since, when told thee, it was all thine own,-
Home for life's sunshine-shelter from its storm
Thou gentle one, ddst nestle by my side,
And to that heart casped thee my bridel
It doth not seem so long; yet Time hath fed
For there are sweet and ever blooming flowers
Our daughters-come to tell years have sped
Their age, Loves only record Of the hoursi
And since left thee vet another
Wateth his sre's first kiss IT'S thine, MY SON."
am alone--and far from them and thee
Yet have swift-winged thoughti--and to thy home,
When evening shadows fall, haste to see
The smile Of JOY that wateth.till come,
Leaving behind all thoughts that give pain,
To clasp my loved ones TO my heart againi
God keep them, eyer-and if memory page,
When am gone, should bear my humble name,
Or with the record of the passing age
BE linked one act of mine, deserving fame,
Long as that fame heart is treasured in
BE thine the praise, thy love inspired to win
God keep thee, ever, dearesti May no cloud
OF sorrow cast its shadows thy brow
On, IL come, still beaming through its shroud,
May Love and Hope shine beautiful now,
Till, whom the tie that binds our hearts is riven,
1t blendeth with the better light Of heaven
RICHMOND, Va, Dec. 81, 1s41