The union Democrat., 1868-12-19
THE WIFE.
BIZ J. q. WHITTIER

Prom school, and ball. and rout she came,
The city iair. pale daughter
10 drink the wine Of mppntain air
Beside the Bearcamp Water.
Her step grew frmer on the hills
That watch our homestesds over:
oa eheek aud lip, from Summer fields,
she caught the bloom of clover.
FOR health comes sparkling in the streams
from cool Chocorna stealing
Aueie iron ia our Northern winds,
our pines are tree, Of healing.
che SAT beneath the broad-armed elms
That skirt the moving meadow
Anu watched the gentle west wind weave
A"e grass with shine and shadow.
Beside her. from the Summer heat
To share her grateful screening
".h forehead barred, the farmer stood,
upon his pchfork letning.
Framed in its damp. dark locks. his face
Had nothing mean comm.n-
c'fong fnahiy true, the tenderness
And pride beloved of woman
She looked mp. glowing with the health
The country air had brought her
And laughing said: .sYou lack wife
Ious mother lacks a daughter,
ITO mend your frock and bake your bread
lou d. not need baby;
ne sure among these brown old homes
is SOME one waiting ready
some fair, sweet girl, with skiliful hand
Aud cheerful heart Tor treasure,
Who never played with ivory keys
Or danced the polka's measure {"
He bent his black brows to frowu.
He set h 8 white teeth tightly
IIs WELL" he said, =. for one like you
10 cLoose for ME 50 lightly:
lyon think because my life Is rude,
take TO note of sweetness;
tell you love has naught to do
win meetness or unmeetness.
Itself its best excuse, II asks
No leave of pride or fashion,
when siikeu zoue or homespun frock
II stirs with throbs OF passion.
"You think me deaf and blind you bring
Your winning graces hither
As tree as if from cradle time
We two had played together.
''fou tempt me with your laughing eyes,
Your cheek of sundown bushes
motion AS of waving grain,
music as of thrushes.
The playing Of your Summer sport,
The spells you weave around ME,
You Cannot of your will undo,
Nor leave ME rs you found me-
"You go as lightly as you came
Your life is we'll without IN.
What Care you that these hills will close
Like prison walls about me.
''No mood is mine to seek wife
Or daughter Tor my mother;
Who loves you loses in that love
All power to love another
IL dare your pity or your scorn,
With pride your excredng:
fling my heart into your lap
Without void Of pleading"
She looked up from tho waving grass
So archiy, yet SO tender,
Aud II give you mine" she said,
will you forgive the lender!
''Nor frock nor tan can hide the man
And see You not, my farmer
How weak and fond u woman waits
Behind this silken armor!
~ love you on that love alone,
And not my worth presuming,
Will you not trust for Summer fruit
The tree in May day blooming ?"
Alone the hangbird overheard.
His hair-swung cradle strainng,
Looked down 10 see loves miracle
The giving that is gaining.
And so the farmer found wife.
His mother found daughter
There looks no happier home than hers
oh pleasant Bearcamp Water.
Flowers spring to blossom where she walks
The Cal eiul ways of duty;
Our lard, stiff lines of life with her
Arc IL wing curves Of beauty.
Our homes cheerer for her sake
Our door yards brighter blooming;
And all about, the serial air
lie sweeter for her coming.