Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-04-17
. Our Free Lunch.
The WIFE.
by john G. WHITTIER.


-, The cty''s fair, pale daughter,
Io drink the wlne OF mountain fair..N
=" Beside.the Bhrcamp Water
Her step sres frner on the hills
mat watch our homcsteads over.
On cheek nplcs lip. from sumlscr fields, -
She caught the bloom Of clover.
For health comes sparkling in the streams
From cool Chacorna stealing,
Theses iron in our Northern winds
Our pines are trees OF healing.
She sat beneath the broad armed elms
That skirt the moving meadow,
And watched the gentle west wind weave
The grass with shine and shallow.
Beside her. from the summer heat.
TO share her gra. eful screening,
With forehead barei, the farmer stood,
Upon his pitchfork leaning.
Framed in its damp dark locks, his face
had nothing mean or common.
strong, mani y. true, the tenderness
And pride beloved OF woman.
She looked up, glowing with the health
The country air had brought her,
And, laughing, said: you lack q wife,
Your mother lacks daughter,
ITO mend your frock and bake your bresd
You do not need o lady:
Be sure, among those brown old homes
lssone one waiting ready
''Some fair, sweet girl, with skillful hand
And cheerful heart for treasure,
no never played with ivory keys,
Or danced the p0kas measure.
He bent his black brows t, a frown.
tie set his white teeth tightly;
lis we'll he said, for one like you
10 choose for me 50 lightly:
"Y9u think, because my life is ruds,
take no note of sweetness;
tell you love hts nausht TO do
with meetness or unmcetness,
Itself it's best excuse, it asks
y leave OF pride or fashion.
hen silken zone or homes pun frock
1t .tils with throbs OF passion.
"Iou think me deaf and blind you bring
our winning graces hlther
As free rs II from cradle tine
We two hai played together.
"You tempt me with your laughing eyes,
ouT cheek OF sundOTns btusheg;
motion as of waving grain,
music as Of thrushes.
The playthinS Of your summer sport,
The spells You weave around me
You cannot OF your will undo,
Nor leave me rs you found me.
"Tou go as lightly as you came,
our life is we'll without me;
hat care You that these hills will eloee
'No mood is mine to seek wife,
Or daughter for my mother:
Who loves you loses in that love
All power to love another!
Il dare your pity or your scorn
With pride your own exceeding;
fling my heart into your lap
lthout q word of plea ing
She looked uron the waving grass
so aTchiy, Ian1ar
And give you mine, she said,
Nv Ill you tors i've the lender"
''Nor frock nor tan can hide the man;
And see you OF, my farmer,
How weak and fonda woman waits
Behind this silken armor?"
Il love you; on that love alone.
Ana not my worth. presumins,
VIII yoa not trust for summer fruit
The tree in May-day biooming?"
Alc'ne the hangbird overhead,
HIS halr-sWung cradle straining,
Looked down 10 see loves miracle
The giving that Is gaining.
And go the farmer found wife,
His mother found Il daughter;
There looks 10 happier home than hers
On pleasant Bearcalnp Water.
Flower. spring to blossom where she walks
The careful ways IF duty;
Our harl. stiff lines OF life, with her,
Are lowing curves OF beauty.
Our homes are cheericr for her sake,
Our door-yardS brighter blooming,
And all about the social air
Is sWeeter for her coming.