Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-05-06
goetry.
The Wife.


FRoN school and ball and route she came,
Tue city's fair, pale daughter,
10 drink the wine of mountain air
Beside the Bcarcamp Water.
Her step grew Ermer on the hills
That watch our homeSteads over;
On cheek and lip, from summer fields,
Shs caught the bloom of clover
For health comes sparkling in the streams
From cool Chicorua stealing,
There IRON IN our northern winds,
Oar pines are trees Of healing
She sat beneath the broad-armed elms
That skirt the moving meadow,
And wat he'd the gentle west wind weave
The grass with shine and shadow
Beside her, from the summer heat
To share her grateful screening.
With forehead barred, the farmer stood.
Upon his pitchlork leaning.
Framed in its damp dark locks, his face
Had nothing meJu or common
Strong. manly. true. the tenderness
And pride beloved Of woman.
She looked up. glowing with the health
The country air had brought her,
And, laughing, sand . You lack wife,
Your mother lacks daughter.
- T. mend your frock and bake your bread
You DO not need 4 lady:
Be sure among these brown old homes
Il some one waiting ready
= Some fair, sweet girl with skiilfuI hand
And cheerful heart for treasure.
Who never played with ivory keys.
Or danced the polka's measure
He bent his black brovs to a frown.
He set his white teeth tightly,
- IIs we'll he said, :. for one like you
To choose for me lightly.
- You think. because my life is rude.
L take no note of sweetness
| tell you l1ve has naught to do
With mcetness or unmeetness
g Itself It's best excuse. it asks
No leave Of pride or fashion
When silken zone or hOmespun frock
1t stirs with throbs of passion
e You think me deafand blind you bring
Your winning graces hither
As free as il from cradle-time
We two had played together
g You tempt me with your laughing eyes,
Your CHEEK of sundown's bushes,
A motion as OF waving grain,
i music as OF thrusIes
Z" The playthins Of your summer sport.
The spells you weave around me.
You cinnOt ut YOU will undo,
Nor leave me as You found me-
20 You e. As lightly as you came,
Your lie is we'll without me
What care YOU that these hills will close
Like pris3n-walls about me?
g No mood is mine to seek wife,
Or daughter for my mother;
Who loves you luscs in that love
All power to love onother,
u d,re your pity OF your scorn.
With pride your own exceeding;
L ding my heart into your lap
Without word Of pie ding"
She looked up from the waving grass
So archly. yet So tender;
'' And Il give you mime che said,
- Will you forgive the lender?
" Nor frock nor tan can hide the man;
And see you not. my farmer,
How weak ana fund woman waits
Behind this silkea armJr?
81 love you on that love alone,
And MT my worth. presuming,
Will you not trust for summer fruit
The tree in May-day blooming?
Allne the hangHir overhead,
Ills hair-swunG cradle straining,
L1pkel OWN q C loves miracle
The giving that is ginning
AMI s. the farmer found wife,
lis IN 'ther found a dtughter
There looks no happier home than hers
On pleasant BeLrcamp Water.
Flowers spring T. blossom where she walks
The careful ways Of duty;
Oar hard, stiff lines Of life with her
Are q Iwlng curves of beauty
Our homes are chccrier for her sake.
Our dIor-yards brighter blooming,
And all about the social air,
j. sveeter for her coming
df'0nfic H0nf6y,,