The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1862-11-29
MvLlTTLE WIFK.


ssEzzs sG nv. LlTELE WIFE. asanlj "a ,s :
David WiDgate, tie author Of the fol.
owing poem, il new star in English lite.
rstsye, lately risen from tbs obseurisy al
the Lasarkshirs coal mines. He has Ia
bored as collier since his childhood, ca
gerly availiDg binsslf. - the mean tins, d
every stray CLEAN Of knowledge and beauty
that penetrated 70 the gloomy pits where b
toiled. 80. ~. 50 esg.assa@sss sls aa
In the preface to his recently Published
volume of poems, he, however, quite is.
norss any additional claim to pablic ap-
probation on the score Of his position in
life. "Shsll l tell you," he writes, "ths,
have no learning? The book itself will
tell you that. ShslpI whine, and say to my
critic, Have mercy on ms think Of my
position in ffe!' No, indeed. On tbe
contrary, say weigh the book alone. Ny
peculiar circu instances, Git they Be pscu-
lisr,) have no right to 20 in with it. II
have sung badly, or thought slllily, let it BE-
no excuse for me that am, and have been.
q collier since my ninth year. Probably
the fact of my being collier should have
been suppressed altogether but II any
body wishes to, know what, Lam, the infor-
nation is here for, him. If the book has
any merit apart from whatever that fac,
may suggest, it may live; il not, it de.
serves to die. If o, gronndless vanity has
given birth to, and sustained my long.
cherished dream Of something better than
the pit, do not, hesitate to tell me %. Il
may serve to convince ne that am in my
proper place, and teach me to be content
God save me from that charity which re.
Trains from calling me blockhead because
nv face Is covered with coal gun"
No wonder that the bonny wife OF slch 9
man s'trusts to the future md him." o1sa
Ny little wife has two merry black eyes,
sweet little, dear little daisy Jane, ~ - q
And nfry young lads always deen'd her prize, toi
And blam'd the kind creature causing them pain
They all knew her pretty,
And some thought her witty,
But Of sound she wss fapltlsss and free
( Il Because the fair scoGer . JIlBE8 43I
ts5S -k141sg-
And secretly CHERISHED anection for me. sAgts
My little wife has cheef-dimplins smi'e.
sweet little, dear little, nly-brow'd lane. 4
A bIithe buoy ant nature that cares not for toll,
So how could the poor lads from loving refrain2
g In spite Of her sco,niDs, fsa* MIMI
they wood night and morning. = y Tfree, >
'The Lwld little creature" they cried. :"is heart
Nor dream'c that she weeping,
while others werssleepins.' flsI " 81
or bopelessly cherished affection for mo. a.. % "
Nv little wife weekly 70 tho church c,ne. sfsf ogr
Sweet little, dear little. msllow-voiced Jane,
where !, filled With equal devotional fame slo..
Would glance At her fair FACE again and again.
Not wholly devotion,
dim, nameess thrill, Ger nysenses would nee, -
~ Hasr.a 70 behold s her ~, gs8aTs3v ~
Ny little wife often round the church hin. :,
Sweet little, dear little, neat-footsd Jane, =
| Walked slowly and lonely, and thoughtful. until
The afternoon bell chmd scall s'ss 10 plain,
And nothing seem'd swee'er
70 me than 70 meet her, i. ase,, HI III ~, h
And tell her what weather twas likely tsbs, 4 arS
Ny heart the while glowing, ,s>iti .if 2
rhe sefash wish growing, - SsiA 3'itsf'
That oil her affections were centred in me. 4ga 81
Ny little wife once, tits strange but tits true1
Sweet little, dear little, lovs-troublsd Jane,
So deeply absorbed in her day-dreamiag grew, a9si
The bell chimd and csas Jet she heard not its straia
And ], walking near her, 5s te-
. MAY love ever cheer her, sl1iI iss asssss3'
whs thinks a. such wandering Of sin void and ires)
s4rove bard - persuade her, i ,,sI .s1iz -.
That be who had made her, ss3 IS =,
HAD destined her heart-iove for no one but mo.
| My little wifs-wsll, perhaps thia was wrong
| Sweet little, dear little, warm-heartsA Jane
Sat on the hillside till her shadow grew long,
Nor tired OF the preacher that thus could detain.
| - Targuel 70 neatly, isy4 s. 38ast SIS
And proved 20 completely,
That none ont poor Andrew her husband could b.
| She smil'd when blessed her, sags q
And bush'd when kissed her, s.t
And own'd that she oy'd and would wed none bat me
| Ny little wife 10 not always quite sure.a Sea
sweet little, dear little, hestt-cheefine Jane. saa
| that JOY will mot tarry where people are Door.
INT only where wealth and her satflites reign. a
In each baby-treasurs
| She nnds new pleasure; - s.. 81 IN,
II purse and demand should BY chance disagree. y
She smiles, bravsly hunming, =
| bstser times corning"
And trrsts in good health, in the future, and me!