Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-07-07
AN EDITORS WIFE.
TO THE CONVENTION

| walked, with thoughts that were unbent
To note the faces and the moods of those
Who passing, thoughtless, unto ne there lent,
What wakened me from child-life and repose
l doubt II you thiS man would note,
His hat was old, well-worn coat
Just saved him from the wintry blast
That urged pedestrians on so fast
His restless eye saw ev'ry change
That came within his VISIONS range.
lie seemed to put the blast aside
That shook the streets brisk, living tide
smile OF rare and cool disdain
Oft curled his lip, as with chill pain
The warm-clad g man of means !" went by
All shaken with shiveriug sigh.
| learned ere long this man OF toll
That walked disdainfully the soil,
Was one who helped to guide mankind,
To shape and make the public mind
The whole to wonderfully sustain,
By just the exercise of brain
o, wonder not this soul of mine,
Held worship at that mental shrine.
Nor when, in course Of time, there came
To sue my hand d of fame
OF this same type, my destiny
Seemed pointed by a star to me;
Nor that deemed my fate fulfilled,
When my will to him had willed.
o, life sublim e, to humbly share
With newspapers my hero's care!
from dawn till central night my lord
Gave heart and brain with one accord.
To building up with wearing thought,
The columns that for others wrought
Opinions that men never knew,
From out that face brain there grew.
And SO he liyed-and kept his soul,
With printer-boys, well in control
Till years of welded life had torn
My spirit with its slavery worn,
Yhen, ID 'stardly, yet daring feat,)
L boldly sought that dim retreat
The SdnctuDa-Which meier before
Had dared, from out my kitchen shore,
Thus to my lord did [ there wage
A war Of words from living page
Alonzo," thus my lord was named
" My soul find viii not be tanned
Come down, pray you, from your height,
And view our lives true, woful plight.
Two boys-just listen to their shouts +
Must have pants, boots, and roundabouts.
Two girls are coming on the stage,
With wants enough, l will engage.
I've made our garments DER and DER,
Til not coat remaineth more.
Of all we had I've 'made the most
Till there remaineth not the ghost
OF anything that comfort knows.
And see Alonzo, how the SHOWS
Have sprinkled 0 er each raven Grrss
That once grew bright with yoasr caressu'
g Four children, IIilda? Sure you dream
There's only one-his nightly scream
Disturbs the working of my brain,
And gives me most exquisite pain.
| wish, my dear, you'd keep him still,
I'd sooner hear threshing- mill -
go, 'iiddle-sticks' - | cried at last,
(My lord here looked at me aghast,)
8 Have you forgotten Sylvia Jane,
Our first born in the State of Maine?
And Stella Ann, whose curls, you wrote.
Are sunny as the dreams that float
Around the couch of lovely maid
Whose first love-lesson's Just been s4id.s
Or Greeley, born that second June,
Photographed for the TYib1sne?
Or, Abraham, born on the day
That Lincoln first began his sway!
The Screams you hear each night, my dear,
Are only ''caterwaings' drearl
Don't turn from me with that chill look,
AS though paper, pen and book
We're all you cared for in this life
Have you forgotten I'm your wife
country paper in these days
Won't furnish for a house the maize
To make the hoe-cakes-and tits time
You leave awhile your life sublime,
And count yorr children and your pence;
I've trusted long-in Providence -
''Why, Hilda | believe it's true
Your hair IS grey, this be you?
And wrinkles, too, upon your brow?
There DEVILS after copy now!''
''Copy, or not, my DEAR l said,
While in my eyes were tears unshed
For the unwanted tenderness
That unexpected came to bless,
''Just wait we lave not in the house
Enough to bait hungry mouse"
Again Alonzo looked aghast.
And has it come to this, at lasU -
Z" just this l said, sand nothing more.
AonEo looked neer before.
At length he spoke TO me again,
His voice all full of weary pain:
&C Dear wife, it passes all belief,
That have brought to you such greet
And then the hopes dear uilda, where
Those visions that used to share?
Twelve years from out this brain I've wrought,
Twelve years with poverty you veefought.
I've been champion of Truth
In all these ears, but where's our youth,
Our Vigor, where our hopes? l see
At last, wondrous mystery.
How labor meets reward, how gold
Will come to him who hath been sold
70 its embrace, how he who tolls
lor any of earth's drossy spoils
Receives a meet rew@rd-howI
Toiling amid Thoughts mystery,
Have felt my soul exl and and grow,
On what zen my poor DIR, ans beStow-
Will an article indite
t. set that matter moving right!
But, all dear HiiIa, / forgot,
The little household ''jar'' you bro't
Let's see-we a.e in need-'tis true?
Aud can you tell what we're to 90 ~
o, now my time, so long delayed,
Had come, for which I'd sought anu pr,tved
All courage my heart forsook
Alonzo's eye could not brook,
How couiu 7 Gale his lofty mind
How dare l seek his thoughts to bind?
How growing must my soul have grown,
hat could to him our lot BEN oan!
ut, glancing at his coat, saw
His elbow out true text to draw
My courage to the point again,
And give 80 that best of men - such pain.
" Well, since you ask, my dear, say,
That when you wrote the other d.
The article about the land,
The Homestead Law holds at col. and
OF any who would crave the gift
OF home,-there came to me rift
Of light and hope-in this, see
Divinely sent, a mystery'''
Alonzo's thoughts were never slow,
saw his cheek was all aglow.
What leave my hopes of fame :" he ST. q.
Fame will not buy your children bread!,,
What next befell,' 1 scarcely knew.
The sound so shocked me throug Oh and tbro,,gh-