The Portland daily press., 1871-06-26
POETRY.
oThe Beautiful snow.o

As We sit by our saLcium WINDOW, ola VIII
ter is sending out his sentinels, preparatory 10
taking possession of his kingdom The niue
white ieeces.
.FalI as silent and still
As siow II ikeS on the MIL
Aud we are r. minded OF that most exquisite
and toncbins piece entitled the caption of this
article. The ,eader may have read it before,
bat il will bear hnndred readings, and new
bcauies will be discovered on each pernsal
Al exchanges says: 1T was written by ceie-
brated lawyer of New York city a few years
ago. and suggested by Il poor fallen creature
coming into his office for aims, all covered
with snow: cold, hungry aud despairing. As
she entered holding no her emaciattd hands,
aud askipe for belp, she said: There ia moth
i,s pure about me but the beautiful snow!
Saizipg the theme, be produced poem that
will stamp his name with Immortality, as one
of the most touching and beautiful in our Ian
guage. 1t has been the means of saving some,
it may strike the shaft of remorse deep in the
hearts of others, and cause them to seek virtue,
instead OF the glitterirg pleasures of vice."
Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow
Filling the sky aud the earth belowi
Over the house-iops, over the Streets
Over The heads OF the people you meet.
Dancing,
Flirting,
Stunning along;
Beautiful snow! it can do 20 wrong,
Flying to kiss a fair ladys cheek,
Cinging to lips in a frolicksOme freak,
Beautiful suow from the heaven above,
Pure as an angel. gentle as love!
Obi the snow the beautiful snow!
How the fakes gather and laugh they go!
wnirliug about in their maddening fun.
1t plays in its glee with every one.
Laughing,
Hurrying by!
1t lights on the face and it sparkles the eve,
And the dogs with bark and bound
Snap at the crystals that eddy around ....
The town is alive and its heart in glow,
To welcome the coming Of beautiful snow!
How wild the crowd goes swaying along,
Hailing each other with humor and song!
How the gay sledges IKE mereors flash by,
Bright tor a moment then lost to the eyes
Swinging,
Dancing they go,
Over the crust of the beautiful snow;
Snow SO pule when it tails from the sky,
To be trampled in mud by the crowd rushing by,
To be trampd and track'd by the thousands Of e ct
Till it blends with the fifth the horrible street.
Once was pure as the snow-but fell
Fell like the sncw- fakes rom heaven to hell
Fell to be tramp'd as filth in the street,
Fell to be scofed, to be spit on and beat;
Pleading,
Cursing.
Dreading to die,
Selling my soul to whoever would buy,
Dealing ia shame for mUrsel OF bread,
Hating the living and fearing the dead;
Merciiul God! have fallen SO low?
And yet was once like the beautiful snow;
Once was air as the beautiful snow;
With an eye like cry stall, a heat like It's glow
Once wa loved for my innocent grace,
Flattered and sought Tor the charms OF my faceI
Father
Mother,
Sister, all
Col and myself I've lost by my fall;
The veriest wretch that goes shiyerng by
Will make make wide swoop lest wander too nigh
For of all that's on OF about me know
There is nothing that's pure but the beautiful snow
How strsnge it should be that the beautiful snow
Should fall on snner with nowhere to go!
How strange 1t would be when the night comes again
Ii the snow and the ice strike my desperate braiD
Painting,
Freezing,
Dying-alone;
100 wicked Tor prayer, too weak for my moan
10 De heard in the streets of the crazy town,
Gone mai IN its joy OF the coming down:
re lie and to die in nv terrible Vice.
With a bed and shroud of the beautiful snow