Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-07-24
4oGtrn.
To This poem is not merely beautiful but gorgeous:
From the Louisville Journal.
THE ALMA PERDHDA, Or LOTT SOUL.

q lnls poem ls not merely Doubtful nut gorgeous.
From the Louisville Journal.
THE ALMA PERDHDA, Or LOyr SOUL.
Br MARY ELLA BAToHELEE.
Far In that cline where gloom is but n song,
Agolden ripple floating like dream,
Through long, bright summers thick with starry blooms
And purpling fruits like tangled jewels gcam
Mid depths Of fragrant foliage curtaining in
The clostercd shades, where vestal roses dwell,
Their buds all stepped in dew SO dark and cold
All pale as pearls within folded she'll.
Yet where the suns enamored kisses fall
So deeply glowing is their vermeil hue
They hang like crimson cups with honey filled,
Or rubies scattered DER for drops fdew.
There lotus-booms unfold their snowy robes
Like nymphs when bending to the bath undrest--
All flushed and sparkling in the trembling waves,
| They rise and fall by wooing airs caressed;
Then softly yielding TO the downward stream,
With hAfelosed eyes they aoat and dream and dream
With fingers sweet as balsam leaves, the wind
| Droops down and nostles where the blossoms STAY
Charming their scented hearts and then dartine off,
! Amerry wanderer, singing on his way;
Sunbeams like draughts ofrch delicious wine
Come rppling down through amber-colorcd clouds
Waking the earth to exultant song;
While fruits and flowers spring out in gittering crowd
Pomegranites with their crimson folded lips
Smile on the joyous birds that idly pass,
Till swooning meath the sweetness Of their notes
They fall TO earth and bleed upon the grass
Magnolia-booms light up the twilight woods,
Their creamy blossoms showering rich around
While orange blossoms fling their crown Of gold
In n"princely largesse' to the waiting ground.
But now, all through the woods a rush of light
Young maidens tripping with their baskets full
0fodor dripping dews, those balmy tears
Which from the ever weeping trees they Gull.
With silver warbng trills and sweetest wiles
| They mock no M nj
Their tresses floating they the wings
Which bear their graceful dancing forms along,
Like shining birds athwart the duslSy air,
They quickly fade into the fragrant glooms,
Their bare arms cleaning, as with scented hands
They put aside the wealth of trailing blooms
Which queenly summer with royal hand
, Has layshcd on this goden-fruted land.
An Indian girl, flushed with the Southern sum-
Stops in the cool ambrosia shades to rest
Her hair like braided shadows wavering down
To whore II babe is smiling on her breast,
= With lips disparted like an opening rose
L BY the unceasing music ofhis heart,
And dark eyes hiding meath their ''silken caves"
Then peeping up with merry, chidishart
His laughing dmples begging for kiss
d, Which she bestows with all a mothers bliss;
Like polished marble where pearl is laid,
His glowing limbs difTuse lambent hue
The warnpth oftropic tints upon his brow
WIN mere ana there the red veins glimmering throu
id The bending rose starts with an angry flush,
To see the deeper rpeness of his cheek
u Rivalling the crimson her slanting Gun.
y As dropping like bud with stem too weak
: To hold its wealth of full.blown sweetness I'M.
He nesties deeper in her grading arms;
rs A tender, weary dove with Auttering sweep
% And languid lids, as if he fain would sleep,
. With cooling notes she soothes the babe to rest,
d Soft raining kisses his shrouded eyes,
Her tones like planning of timid bird
When storms are gathering in the darkened skies,
II Then richly couched upon the velvet moss,
l. His dimplcd shoulders catching all the CLEANS
Which wander through the shadow haunted woods.
She gently leaves him to his rosy dreams
D' And wanders off amid the tangled green
H. To where the crusted balsam drops unseen
Angels Of pity help this thoughtless one
- And fold thy wings above the sleeping child
For drops of mercy ne'er hath bathed his brow
Christ's holy cross ne'er signed him undeRled
And through the deep of the palms
'Iis said strange forms and evil spirits dwell;
Fierce vampire birds who shun the healthfu light
And feed on blood within their loathsome cell.
But whether beasts or some mysterious foe
Had borne the babe into his bloody liar
None ever knew, for not trace was found
save one short tress Of shining, silken hair,
Which lay upon tuft of golden moss,
o"'iuing the brightness with its sunny gloss.
And when with frantic cries of bitter grief
The sorrowing mother sought him everywhere,
Alma Perdida was the only sound
That sadly walled upon the mournful air.
Unbaptzed babe, shut out from Paradise,
Doomed with his ever restless wings to beat
The weary limits of these pathless woods,
His piteous accents pleading, low and sweet
For that dear rite which every soul may claim
''rhe right which givesu peace in Christs own nan
Lost soul, lost soul, his wailing cry
As often wandering to the gates OF Heaven,
He gazes with sad and longing eye
On joys which only to the best are given
While he again must signing pass to earth,
!. His bright wings clouded with the soiling dust
of human sin can never win repose-
The holy calm of well rewarded trust,
Save white-browed Mercy from the spirit shore
Shall gently fold him in her arms once more.
FRASKFoRT, April, 1857.
4