The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1868-06-24
From The, h, Atlantic Monthly,
, The Wife.

. as n lS The Wife. giae iiH1
,gfsS inY Jons @. wngrrisR. 'ssi :,
"a From schoohand bali and rout abe caiao,
The city's Fair pale daughter,
To drink tho vino of mouptaiu air 49,
'S@sBeside the Bearca,np Water. !
! Her step greS 'afmer on the b,lls ';'H
That watch our homciteads over;
), On seheck and lip, from suinmerields, ~ J
She caught The bloom Of clover. (
Por henlth comes, sparkling In the streams
From ccol Chocorus stealing,
There's iron In our Northern winds,
onrPinesfare trees ot'healing.S !
Sho sat beneath the broad .armed. .clmsv
% That skirt the moving meadow,
3 And dwa.chedtn the gentle west wind weave
Tho grass with shine and shadow. "a
< Beside her, frous the summer heat,
To sharesher grateful screening,
? With forehead barred, the farmer stood,
aai Upon his pitchfork leaning. r'~
q Framed iu It's damp, dark locks, his face
~ Had nothing mean or commou--0tsi3
Strong smanly trus, the tenderness l,gI
And pride beloved Of woman. -
She looked up,, glowing with the health a
4 The country air had brought her,
And iaaghisg. said !: Yon lack wife,
sg Your mother lacks q daughter. ~ ~ -
~Te@ @cad your Srcck aud bake your broad
Gsa do not need a lndyy =; 7sFasc8s@
DO sure among these brown old homes o.,
"N Is some ono waiting ready
",Some fair, swect eirl, With skillful hand
- And cheerful heart for treasure, 81 - %
Who meyer played with ivory keys, e. .l.
OR danced the polka's measure" 4 ssf
He bend his black bross 20 a frown, ., x i.
lie cot his white teeth tightly,
8 ~'Tis vel" he said, !" for one like you
.sd To.ehoose for me SO lightly trHsis
isYou think, because my Ne Is rude, nav
- II take no note Of sweetness; fs 80
tell you love has naught 10 do ., ...s q.
VIA nieetncss OF anAsoetness.
Itself its best excuse, Il asks y .....
- teNo leave Of pride or fashion,
: WSten silken zone or homespun frock la,t
|. lIttstits with throbs Of passion aaeits1 as
!, :, Yoa think. me dsaf and blind; syoa, bring
~. Your wiaab,g grAees hither O .rr,l, "A
As free as if from cra4ie-tisne
s5ts' 'wsitwo hsd ptaycd together. ~" 'a'' -
sYou tempt me with your laughing eyes,
1,. Your cheek of supdowa's blushes, ,.'.'n
A motion as Of waving grain, ,-s ID.
music as Of tbrushes. ......
The plaything Of our summer sport,
The spells You weave around me,
5r You eaunot no your will undo, ha717t"
), Nor leave me as you found me. staF -.
y 4You go as Lightly as yoa came, m - 9
Your life Is we'll WITHOUT me; .s.t .ri
What care you that these bills will close
Sge bikc prison walls about me? s~"-
No mood IN taino 20 seek a wife,
q eSi Or daughter for'my mothers; -~T fEa
Who loves you loses in that loyo s EE
AllPower to love another! 80 -s.-
az dare you pity or your seorn, ........s.r
With pride, your own exceeding: ....
fling my heart into your lap ~ '''''''
81 Without q word Of ploading." '-eH1s.
!. Sac looked up from the waving grass sfF
So arehly, yet.so tenderj Ss -rs,vT 7s
"Apd " give you fnine," she said, ...-
fsa"Whi you forgive the iender7 '''' s
'~Eor focK nor tan can hide tho man; .
Aud see you not, my farmer, r'EhA
How weak and fond a woman waits 7f'
Behind this silken armor? ...,s-s s ,
@I lore yopJ on that love alone, y ST.. 4.
And not my worth, pfesuming, .,..sl,.
3 Win yos not trust fnf sum nor fruis
b The true IN May day rnorninga" 5'.''
Alone the .bangbird overhead, ~ e '1aN
81 "a Hls hair swung cradle straining, lsEE
Looked down 70 500 loves miracle . ...s
=, The giving that Is gaining. = ID ,,r,. !,
And 20 the Garner found a wife, .. ,.rg q
His mother found q daughter;
There looks ne happicr home than hers
. soa pleasant Beareamp Water. tg,' ~
Flowers springto blossom where she walk.
The caseful ways of .dutyy a.gs s. g.
Our bard, stiff limos Of life with her
Are ffowning curves of beauty.
Our homes are cheerier for her sake,
hsl Our door1ysfds brighter blooming, -
And ell sbout the social air - q -
Is sweeter for her coming. ..... q