The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-08-23
Original 2oetrg.
ron THE COLtNiilAS.
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

uscK, while alone was slt,Ing, where the dying
nrclght, nittIng,
cast upon the walls ml many trembling,
ghost-like shadow, thin,
While pondcrcd, deeply thinking f,ncy's chain
together linking;
And my soul rs deeply drinking, drinking mel
ody within.
Loot to all save forms OF fancy and my secret
thoughts within
Thinking of what might have been.
As { answer, then, returning, to the thoughts
within me burning,
while sat and sadly listened to tho signing of
the wind;
Ilscned to its mourniul signing, like the voices
Of the dying,
II their lcath-throcs wildly crying, suddenly
above The din,
ln ,voico low and scpulchral, yet distinct above
the DIN,
came the words "it might have been"
And no other word was spoken, in the silence so
unhrpien
II ON. there could hear distinctly but the
dropping of u pin;
ma It nurmonized so truly with my thought
let aud unGuly,
III, suid, there's no one, surely none hut me
I within;
| Was 1t not myself made answer, to my secret
thoughts within?
Spoke the voice, at might have been"
All aid l. politely rising, 'tis some friend, me
| hus surprising.
W11, before me, thus, in secret, hath my cham
Der entered in,
AMI IA mischief thus dclighting, me In secret is
'iiirghting.
But while my lamp am lighting, lighting up
tie gloom herein.
Tell ne by what name TO greet my unknown
Visitor herein.
Spakc the voice, at might have been" "
| MiDid hrc bc"r--nay, thou art beiIg though be.
y1nd all mortal seeing,
Criet J. sorrly vexcd and speaking with hut III
cnccalcd chagrn,
For th lninplight DER all stealing, every dark
eleduuol, revealing,
Provb the gloom " as naught conccnlhg, save
u usual forms therein;
scare cd well each hidden corner, but naught
fng found therein.
Which uld say cit might have been
From n irutlcss search returning, with iusit-
TIA urdor burning
But toncnetrut" the mystery that seemed be.
70 my ken,
With IN heurt all IN fluttcr, close barred cucll
do and shutter,
Andwth inward angry muttrr, then resumed
NY die pen.
Coms, 49, muse, cried defiant, sublcc, give my
idltpen.
said the voice, at might have been
All thought l, with inward terror, ! have mad,
NOS grtcvous error
sim" trpush AL my bolts and bars 1t hath my
chaiJ,sr entered in:
BE 1t irieIi, or foe, or dcyil means ii good, n
meas 1t evil;
It hath Till intent to rrvcl, all my inmos
| 'thnuhts within.
Gucssest my secret sorrow, 50 securely locke,
within"
said the voice. "it might have been
spirit god or bad, most truly, know not, yet
sprisurcly
Shric ke not ion answer, tell me, art thou q
my nerest kin"
Hast thounessagr hast thou token" and whn
meauhc words thOust spoken
inNsilcnc else unbrnken and my private room
hrrciT
What La, thou to tell me, entered through M,
bars al bolts herein?
Answer came, ait might have been.
"spril, cril L. tell me truly; as thou knowes
tell nsurcly,
~ the unemy sad soul luvrth, claims IN sor
row rs Is kin,
Those whoi Fate would roldly sever thus t
dw"iMut forever,
And t. le uitcd never in this world OF strit
ami III
Tell mo nplorr thee, will they meet hcyon
r tins VOID of sin
aid the uc", at might have been,
Al, cried / u anguish hlmdly, now thy word
are mo- unkindly,
= Ana L. se.hy ryi mission her. at last no'
y hcgln;
r II no d.mmSh b,rrit me- oI tn" only solnc
| lett me-
- Thus drpriod Of all n,pcnthc for the pain Al,
strit" willnH
spirit, nm the way thou crmcst | would Il
at pchceythm
e 81 the voice, "it might have been,
nwokr rhos words still ringing in my ear, nm
SADLY irging
All TIA" secrt pain aud sorrow locked my ii
most ouwithn,
While the dytg treli ght, streaming, gave I'll
room gHstly seeming
> Ah! | cried, have been dreaming. here wit
thoughts close shut in,
Hence wtlitlf and that vile dream, hnunth
thought y close shut in,
Draining of what might have hrci
And that yocctill, stil is ringing, stll is eva
# sndly brirIng
Memories m soul hnd" slumh"r her mo-
secret d'pls within,
And when slla WOULD seek tu borrow respite irui
r'rr prcSeh sorrow,
- Ry thoughtsoa brighter morrow, which son
is peace andJ might win
% Then this d,l pm voice Of horror, mocks II
IS =, rest my Sdu would win,