Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-12-03
POGtTU.
For the Spectator.
Mary and I.

Mary and l.
Mary and I, one Summer eve
Strolrd out of town;
We reach a grove, little tird d
And sat us down.
Said she: 'sHow green and fresh the fields
Are looking now
How bright the sky and sweet the air
And then, dear H"
(Taking my hand in hers) ''you know
When you are nigh
A fresher glory decks the field
And lights the sky"
"Mary, you JEST retorted I
(Confus'd at this
But somewhat melted at the thought
Of SO much bliss.
"Cruel you are to mock me thus,
Nay, should | DIE:
Still would the fields be fresh and green
And bright the sky.
Twelve months or so-and from your bro
Would fit its gloom;
And lovelier hues would flush the flowers
Above my tomb"
At this rebuke-her dark ewes iash'd
But not with ire:
A modest blush suffus'd her cheek,
A virgin fire.
"And can it be''-she WHISPERED low
tones suppress'd d.
''That my poor plighted troth would fail
SO weak test P'
''Is God-like love an earthly shoot,
A carnal thing,
A feshly lust..which after death
No raptures bling2'
"Oh no, its ever glorious source
Is from above;
For we are taught in sacred writ
That God is love"
"Then why in scornful skeptic mood
Suggest doubt?
True love Is strong-and heaviest gales
Can weather out"
eff cruel death should Law you low
l might survive;
But not a greater love or higher hope
Could bid me live"
She ceased-in transport was my arm
Thrown round her waist;
In sooth charming attitude,
But not unchaste.
Then half in joke, half serious
/ thus replied;
L OHttIG dIl dUio advocate
On the wrong side"
''If God be love, then love, like God,
Can never change;
If woman's love e er stood the test
'Twere passing strange"
"Once on a time [ lov'd maid
And she was fair,
Our troth was pledg'd, and we were calrd
happy pair"
"Twas in the summer Of my youth,
When life to me
Was full Of joyous hope-and bright
AS bright could be-"
"This maiden was the jewel in the crown
Of all my joys;
There was no music like the sound
OF her sweet voice"
"She lean dor seem'd to lean on me
With sweet trust;
And with thought profound [ lovd
Her from the first"
"And day by day our mutual love
Tenderer grew,
Until we deem d none half so bless'd
As were we two"
''Just in the hey day of these joys
For life has crosses)
Misfortune touch my broad domain
| sutfer'd losses"
Sudden and thick fresh troubles came
10 bear me down;
A few short months-and was left
Without eT0lO71."
Launch on the world without friend
Save my good name,
struggled boldly and soon won
Both wealth and fame"
tsVThOca iD,o ro oboor, 4 NV, Iono1x hrooct
In that sad hour?
Love hghtens labor and to;strength
Adds tenfold pow'r."
DID she whom I had worshippd SO
Cling to me then?
lis sad that true WOman's love
w Ill court such pain"
"Ah, no, too weak to stand-she fell:
Poor thing Of dust
And sold herself soon after to
a Wealthier lust"
IN yonder thatch roof'd cottage, Mary,
Barely in sight
Her head has press widow'd pillow
Many night"
Her drunken, spendthrift, brutal lord,
Soon wasted all,
And did not long survive the shock
Of his doWnfaln
LIS WluoW ana ner orphan pIoou
Are shelter d now
By the free bounty of her once
Neglected H
"But Mary, It's your time to speak,
Mine should be out:
Prove if you cal., that have not,
Some grounds for doubt"
Then Mary said: ST do not think
Ou reason we'll;
1t is not just to punish all
Because one fell"
''Was not Lucretia faithful to
Her maiden VOW?
A thousand others I could name
AS you we'll know"
"Have you forgot the bloody proof
Of Brutus' spouse,
Or learn d to doubt the holy truth
OF Esther's voWs2
s"Where one frail, foolish girl, proves falls
A hundred others
Are sure to make the best OF wives,
And best of mothers"
"What greater outrage could he put
On right divine
Than punish one, to eXpiate
AnOther's sin p
s'Be frank and candid then, dear H
Admit you re wrong,
And let us hasten home tor we
Have staid too long"
Well, Mary, be it as you say,
The point yield,
And leave you in possession of
This hard fought field.
Mary and I return to town;
Twelve months have flown
Mary is now my faithful wife,
But holds her oaon.
YELVERTON.
TAUNTON, Nov. 25th, 1867.
DIES IRE.-Twice within the past twelv
onths the stars have been swept out of Hea
, like sere leaves. Only a few days since
,and eruption of Vesuvius filed the heaven
ith broad fame, and the earth with terror.
early at the same hour an island Of the Spa
b Main went down in the throes of teuib
and all its myriad souls were 9