Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-07-23
For the Tribune 4 Telegraph
Fox River Requiem.


to its dark depths, wondering. if its sullcn eur
rent mingled it, sluggish waters with the might
oceans beautiful blue waves, of deep sweet muir
muring music. 1 sought to read it's history
Of its source. or whittier it poured its waters
could gain no trace, but gazing into its mudd,
basin, read slight record Of its past.
Three strong healthy men were clutching a
its bottom with the vice likegrasp of death, thu.
ANONYMOUSLY holding themselves beneath tn,
waves till the vail was sundered and they jour
neyed in that other, better land of which we love
TO think and dream.
One hour ago, they were full of life and glee
the strongest and heartiest of some twenty la
bouring men with whom they were working
As the dinner rang they started with the rest
but thinking, to save a few steps jumped into q
small boat, lying near, really capable of hold.
ing only one person. 1t went down bearing
them on swiftest pinions to their last, long
home.
When the werkmen returned, a floating hat
was all that remained to tell them of the gayest
Of their band, whom they had scarcely missed
tSiAl tHSlA Huliibclsf
Hours Of searching brought to view their life
less forms. With sad hearts the strong, sturdy
men gathered around all that remained of Their
companions. Then came the young wife with
her only child, prattling babe, to gaze upon
the loved forms of the husband and brother, who
that morning left ne. in all the strength and
beauty of manhood They were her only treas
ures, for she had neither kith nor kin this side
the broad Atlantics waves. They had come
from Breton's Isle to make for themselves a
home, TO be all their own, of which there should
be no Lord to bid them come and 60.
No painters pencil could even delineate the
anguish of that hour, nay more than hour, hours
and days; and days shall be braided into years,
and years shall come and go,long ere the wound
ed heart can rest, for it owneth not the truth
"To die is gain. Ills it gain that she should be
thrown upon the cold unfeelng world ,ohat is
his gain compared TO her iossl Oh, poor wo-
man, my pen hath no power to portray the ag-
ony Of thy stricken heart.
The other one--His loved ones arc far away
in merria England. There his wife and chill,
dren are toiling for their daily bread suffering
poverty, yet happy in the hope that they may
soon come to him in the far distant West. God
help them as the long expected letter carries to
the sad tidings.of his DEATH
There is another, too, watching and waiting
for the ''white winged messenger to tell of the
safety and prosperity of her hearts idol; fol
when merry Christmas come again, she was to
have been his bride. Long will she wait, fol
the only survivor Of tine hapless three-the wife
of the broiher-knew nothing of their plighted
troth.
Years fly on-River,thy victims are forgotten
save BY those few stricken ones.
Thou hast wooed to thy breast many gay
ligla hearted band, and snowy sails have spread
to the breeze upon thy bosom; steamer ha:
Piowed thy scarce rippled surface, but thou ar
growing hungry, "another victim, /" is thy call
Wait she is coming young fair sacrifice, her fax
en- locks waving in the breeze, her light, airy
steps almost scorning to touch earth's burning
surface, for it is the scorching summer time
There, she stands upon log looking dow
into thy face-she is coming to thy outstretchet
arms.
Her last frightened cry rings out on the still
Sabbath air; with flying feet her companions
hasten to the paternal roof to carry the sad ii
dings; swiftly the moments fly, one half houl
hour has passed, wH no help come. They are
come, and, soon the inanimate form is drawn
from thy waiery embrace, alas! too late, too late
In vain the agonized father calls upon his los
darling; not even a mothers tender caress car
win her back to earth's joys and sorrows; loved
brothers and sisters mingle childhood S low plain
tive wall with the weeping parents.
1t is in vain. Thou, dark river, hast robbed
earth of her fairest flowers, for youth is evel
fair
Thus much have I read of thy history, though
all is darkness when gaze.
Some one is coming, an old man stands by
my side Daughter, viii you go with mel
turned quickly to view the questioner. There
was SO much benevolence, in every feature sucf
sweet gentle smile upon his countenance, tina
fearlessly replied, will 60. The smile lef
his face, his eye grew dim and sad, as he said
'syou do not know me,or you would fly from my
presence
do know you have long wished for you
presence, | answered Think you fear mans
commonly termed, greatest enemy fear the'
not, oh! Death. Come let,us away, l long to ex
plore tue unknown regions of the mysterious
future, to which. you alone have power to ADM
me.
Daughter not now cannot take you now,bu
look, see you that man with firm proud ste
coming hither, for him come. In one hou
from now he will have lifted the veil that divide
the present, from the-To come.
Spare, OH spare him; wife and children vii
await his coming, at the evening hour, and kin
friends, brothers, sisters and neighbors will Id
ten for his footstep in the house of God, wher
often his voice is heard singing praise to III
Maker-Let me go in his stead. shall. be mi'
sed only in the home circle, who will watch II
my coming feet,yet sorrow not when they kno'
! roam in the spiEit land, far from earth's tria
and cares. l riH go, you shah not stop me, her
in this stream / viii lay me down and sleeI
then wake in my eternal home. lie must liy'
mother earth's sons have need Of him.
Daughter stay, his hour is come, no sacrifc
can avail; cen now he is rushing swiftly to b
doom. He passed us and then l heard voc'
bidding him beware, for the rivers bed was dee
and treacherous-
Death turned to me and said, your work is n
yet done. labor on fearlessIy and trusting
think not because clouds are Ger you way, tn
you may sit idly down andipray, for me to con
to ycur relief. Not till yonr work is done Il
end Of your creation fulfilled, then, and not t
then, will your Maker call you hence. Thir
not that by swapping the brittle cord of life, v,
viii become member Of world unclouded
a single shadow, can only give your mind
Il fairer dress. 1t is for you to make it worthy