The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-20
Greniug telegraph
TRRspAY. DECEMBER %. 1861.

ny rHkonoRR r1LroN.

BY THhoDohh TIhION
know tale OF oldcn time,
And this, TO an an idle day,
fashioned into idle rhyme,
And all who care 10 read Il may.
The autumn leaves were all aname,
Al d so, ia Rutumn-timc Of life,
A parson's heart was tinged the same
With holy fire TO we'd wife.
He girt The saddle on his mare,
To 20 the way his heart inclined,
But wore q sober look and air,
As one who had troubled mind.
In riding past the gravey ard gate,
His eyes were Oyerhl ed with tears,
For there he saw the slab Of slate
Where lay his wife OF other years.
She used to say Il wronged the dead
10 wed again above grave;
The words kept running I'm his head,
And much bewildermcnt they gave.
As through the ranks Of golden rod
He wound his way mp Prospcc. Hin,
H. humbly a.ked Almighty God
To grant token Of His will.
The parsons vision cleansed by prayer,
His duty grew as clear as light;
And duty never looks 40 fair
AS seen by pray er.illumined sight.
Already had he fixed his choice;
For every Sunday in the choir
He heard the Widow Churchii's voice,
Until she grew mis- hearts desire.
A woman pure Of soul was she,
BY torrow purified the morc
Whose welded mate was lost at sea,
Now nearly twenty years before.
The parsons passion, uncOnfessed
Like smouldcred heat within him burned,
NJ \. Ht. fNf.Urr
Or haply it bad been returned.
with hazel whip the mare was switched
And CantcTed up the rocky road
And underneath a tree was hitched
At Cap ain ChurChills Old abode.
The dame was busy sitting -four,
Nor heard the conner till he said -
"Be praise 10 that Almighty Power
Who giyeth man bis daily bread"
The widow, caugh. by such guest,
In just her liusey- woolsev gown,
Instead of in her Sunday best,
Dropped bashfully her eyelids down.
Then spake the suitor to her face -
81 have a solemn word to say,
WherttO is need of Heavenly grace.
So, Widow Churchill, let us pray %
Deyouty did the couple kneel--
The parsOn at the rocking chair,
The widow at the spinning %heel-
and this the burden of the prayer.
He mourned for uncommitted sin,
Implored pardon for mankind,
And craved that grace would enter in
And sweetly move the widows mind.
Then rising from his prayerful knees,
81 yearn to take wife, he said,
"And, loving thee-if God shall pleas-
Nor thou refuse, we twain WI vsd ~
The widow starte" With surprise
r N'Oi wen old are women stilD,
Oat answered, lifting not her eyes,
seek TO know the Heavenly will
The Heavenly will was plain indeed,
And pointed to the flOwcry yoke,
For love is not a human need
OF young alone, but aged folk.
While yet the asters were In bloom,
There came throng from far and near,
To wish the joy OF bride and groom,
And eat and drink the wedding-cheer.
That night, beside the bridal.bed
Up spoke the bride in tender tone,
"I have message from the dead,
And time has come to make it known.
"The years are twelve this very day,
Since she whose title now is mine,
The night before she passed away
Bequeathed to me this written line
ITO thee, o friend of all my life
wow, before my strength be spent,
That should he wed another wife,
If thou art she, rest content"
He gazed upon the well-known hand,
Thought backward of the bygOne years,
Thought forward Of the heavenly land,
And answered not word for tears.
A hallowed honeymoon they passed,
And younger grow la sroWing old:
Til sweety fading out at last,
They left the tale that have told.