Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-01-16

And gladsome WOO your wlnsome mate,
While I tale of love relate,
Of love that fires the human breast,
And robs the soul of quiet rest.
The fairest flower of the vale,
Aphela bloomed- bright, joyous, hale,
Whom signing swains loved and revered;
Whom envious maids both loved and feared;
For in her met each tender charm,
Each winning grace and soft alarm;
Which nature knows or poets feign,
In all fair beautys wide domain.
Soft waving in the balmy air,
Her shining locks of golden hair,
Her placid forehead, high and fair,
Marked wit and learning rich and rare,
Her cheeks, like mild Aurora's bushes,
When first the East she sudden fushes,
Her eyes, soft beaming on the sight,
Like two twin stars of summer.night,
Her lips Of coral, teeth Of pearl,
In sooth, It's Beauty's self girl.
But small avail each outward part,
If goodness dwell not in the heart.
But here Aphelia, too, exceled,
Since with her, wit, beauty, goodness, dwelled.
To beauty wit did lend its charm,
And goodness kept them both from harm.
Of disposition blithe and gay,
And merry as bird in May,
Yet often she with serious thought,
Much pondered on the wretcheds lot
To misery did much kindness show,
And often went for others woe.
Sweet as the notes of Philomel,
Her voice held all in magic spell,
Wherever she went, her winning graces
Made merry hearts, and happy faces
And thus did admiration draw,
From all who heard and all who saw.
These varied charms young Amphrey moved;
These varied charms young Amphrey loved;
And oft resolved the bashful swain
To tell his love, but all in vain.
When sweet Aphelia on him smiled
His face was flushed, his heart beat wild;
His tongue so often wont to thrill,
Now silent quite forgot its skill.
And Amphrey only made advances,
BY heaving sighs and furtive glances
He next essayed the writing art,
To relieve the woes of burden'd heart,
And oft did write, and oft did tear,
Till hspe at last was fat despair.
Aphelia' name upon the page
Enkindld new loves fercer rage,
Unnerved the hand, confused the brain,
And filed the soul with am rous pain.
Of solemn look, and downcast brow,
His former self no longer now
But sad in heart, and panied in mind,
In silence long young Amphrey pined.
This fair green earth, and starlit sky,
Now lost all charms for Amphrey's eye:
For Spring day, and sable night,
Are all alike 10 lovers sight
Nor moons $ pale ray, nor suns bright beam,
Nor singing bird, nor babbling stream,
Nor insect gay upon the wing,
Nor blooming flowers of the Spring,
Nor soothing song of murm ring breeze,
Nor waving, graceful, gay clad trees,
Could WOO young Amphrey from his care
From musing on Aphelia fair.
Earth's beauties passed unnoticed by,
Or noticed, but provoked sigh.
All meaner thingsnow quite forgot,
Aphea sole possessed his thought;
Awake his study, asleep his dream,
A very angel she did seem.
Beneath some beech's quiv' ring shade,
Near purling stream, or hoarse cascade,
In musing lost the livelong day,
He sat and sighed his life away.
And, when the moons bright silv'ry beam
Gay danced upon the trembling stream,
With infrm step, and motions odd,
He melancholy walked abroad.
Or taking refuge in nights gloom,
At last he sought his dreary room;
But found no rest upon his bed,
For troubled heart or weary head.
"Ah wretched me, young Amphrey cries,
''Of what avail my tears and sighs
Since she who only can relieve,
Knows not that despondcnt gricvc.
Perhaps Aphelia would be kind,
IF once she knew lovers mind.
Ye pow rs benign that rule above
0, grant expression to my love-
That may sweet Aphelia tell
The heaving thoughts my bosom swell.
Since tongue cannot my love impart,
And useless is the writing art
o! is there not some other way,
Which forlorn lover may essay.
The tale of old still dwcs in mind,
How lover carved the poplar rind,
And thus by mossy fountain side,
Or where the noisy riv'lets glide;
Or meath the Ash trees cooling shade,
They wooed and won the willing maid.
An inspiration now feel,
New hopes arise, and fresher zeal
All now l have it-happy thought
By some good angel to me brought
The fairest flowers Of the vale
Shall sweetly tell lovers tale
By these fair children of the sun,
Aphelia may be wooed and won.
What tongue and pen did vain essay,
Shall be the work of sweet boquet
And blushing natives of the mead,
A lovers cause shall fitly plead.
At eve to walk Aphelia goes,
Where yon bright river winding flows;
On whose green bank in her pathway,
My offering I will careful lay.
Aphelia, skilled in lovers romance,
Will catch my meaning at glance;
And by her actions quickly show,
Her love or hate. my veal or woe.
Behind this tree where oft I've stood,
I'll stand again in anxious mood,
And Heavens favor will implore,
To bless with love life s future store.
Then come and let me fondly twine;
Written just after sherman's raid