The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-07-20
aussr 1stSnaess.
How much did il weigh ?"
ssIs Il Dossible -

"ls It possible Z"
" neverl You don't say it,"
Thousands Of times has the question been
asked; and thousands Of times has IL been
wondered at and II never'd."
And what commodity is 1t great" at ten
pounds and marvel at thirteen? Don't
mind the Price current, for it isn't there.
1t was something bundled in q flannel
blanket the blanket securely pinned and
knotted at the corners-the something in
active state Of unrest" The steelyards
had been called into requisition, and its
Bonded iron was indeed "hooks to hang
hope upon" Tho little bundle was swung
up; the weight clicked along the bar.
That's the notch! Eight aud half!'
Eight and half Of what? Why, of-hu.
manity. By the memory Of Malthus, there's
baby IN the blanket! So there is-a lit.
tie voter, or, if not that, as Shakespeare
says, "a child" Something that may cut
figure in the world, break heads or hearts
have great name, and be a man or
woman. Eight pounds and half Of hero
or heroine, monster or minister. Piety
or patriotism by the pound. Beauty and
baseness by the blanketful. Queer meas.
urement, isn't it? But there are queerer
still.
Time wears on apace with US all, and the
something in the blanket, too. He is boy
Of Ave. He stands erect as God made him,
''that be may look as writer finely says.
; ''upon the stars" They are talking again,
but the steelyards hang undisturbed in the
cellar way. No use for them now. But
theyare talking aud we ara listening
s-sTall ofhis age, isn'the? He looks over
the table like . man; the "high chair" was
put away months ago T.
Tall, is he? Three feet aud an inch
high, and this is tie altitude Of humanity
Weight is out Of tho question: estimates
~ ynn to height. Am6ition is but another
mans fof altitude, ani success synonym
for .'getting higher" The boy is man !;
the man clid6S rostrrms to get higher |;
thrones to get big h&fa Monuments 20 up /;
shouts 20 up; favoritcs 60 up to court !;
conquerers 60 up to CORY Height, height,
everywhere height. Six feet Of glory six
feet two of honor and dignity. Queer again
don't you think so !?
By-and-by-melancholy trio-the form
is bent little, and there goes an inch or
two from stature. He or she is looking at
Surely it is not grave they look at. Eyes
k'OW Oiu, auu tlcy UcuU IOWST 10 see.
To see? What can there be to see, we
wonderl
BY and by they weary, and throw them.
selves upon the bosom Of the dusty mother
ofus all. They sleep-sleep, but not dream
Where is your altitude now-your noun.
tains, monuments and thrones? Men take
up the sleeper carefully and slowly, as i,
were treasure, and so it is-a treasure oil
dust. The old estimate is resumed: Weight
has come again it's q dead weight" moth.
ing more.
Aud this would DO queer, too, if only il
we're not sad.
But they were talking again: "She had
three names, hadn't shee Indeed, car
remember but two"
And two words-two breaths Of air
two murmurs, are all that is left of whal
was once q man or woman.
Years elapse, and age Is talking again
"Thcre was-was-I cannot remember thu
name now well, well it's what we are oil
coming to-" and the old man signs sadly.
The last syllable Of all has died on the
lip, is eraced from the memory, ripples no,
on the still and silent airs lost not 9
murmur of it fingers in the Fearful hollow
of the human ear ''Pah, how the dust
fies!' Dust, do you say? Listen, and
we will whisper just . word; that dust
warm once, loved once, beauty once.
sImperous Cesar dead. dead and turned to clay,
Might stop q hole to keep tbs wind away,
On! that the earth. which kept the world in awe.
Should patch wall to expel the winters Jaw"
B. F. TAYLOR.