Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-02-26
THE BATHER.
By XARIFFA.

Warm from her waist her girdle she unwound,
And cast Il down on tie lnsenate IT,
! The copse and cove and deep secluded vale
She scgutinized with keen though tlmid eyes,
and stood with ear intent TO catch each sur
OF leaf. or tWig, or birdwing fustling theTe-
Her startled heart beat quicker even 10 hear
The wild bee WOO the blossom win hyinn
ar hidden insect break rs lance OF sound
Against It's oblurate silence. Then she smiled
At her own fears amused, and knew hefseH
Gods own image by that hidden pool
Then from is bonds her woadrous halr she zoos
Hair gllJtering like spun glass, and bright a
though
Shot full Of golden arrows. Down below
Her supple waist the soft and shlmmering COLI
Rolled IN their ght abundance, goldener
Than was the golden wonder Jason sought.
Her fair hands then. like white doves in net,
4 moment fut-ered mid The shining threads,
As with a deXtrous touch, she higher laid
The cleaning tresses on her shapey head,
Beyond the reach OF rudely amorous waves.
Then from her throat her light robe she UnclasIs
ed.
And dropped il downward with blush that rose
The higher as the garment lower fell.
Then she east off the sandals from her feet
Aud paused upon the brink OF that blue lake;
A sight too fair for either gels or men;
An Eve untempted in her Paradise.
TIE waters into which heT young eyes looked
Gave back her image with so true truth,
she blUshed 10 look hut blushing looked again,
As maidens 10 their mirrors often return
With bashful bodneSs once again 70 gaze
Upon the crystal page that renders back
Themselves unto themselves until their eyes
Confess their love for their own loyelness.
Her rounded cheeks in each (which had grown.
with sudden bossOmng. a fresh rei rose,
She hid an inst ant IN her dimplcd hands,
1nen met her pink palNs up above her head,
And whelmed her white shape m the welcoming
wave
Around each lithesOme limb the waters twined,
Ana with her lucent raiment rObed her form;
And, as her hesitating bosom sank
To the caresses OF bewildcrel waves,
The foamy pearls from their foreheads gave
For her fair hIow, and shOwered In her hair
The eysnesCent dAmonds II tbs deep
Thus dallying with the circdmfucnt tide,
Her lOvelness half hidden, half revealed,
An Undne with a soul; she plunged aud rose,
Whilst the white graces of her rounded arms,
She braided with the blue Of wandering waves,
And saw the shoulders OF the blllONs Weld
Before the even strokes OF her small hands,
And laughed 20 see aud held her crimson mouth
Above the crest OF each advancing surge
Like red blossom pendent o'er pool
TIL done with the inyigoratlng play,
once more she gained the bank, aud once again
Saw her twin image in the waters born.
From the translucent wave each beauty grew
To strange perfection. Never statue wrought
By cunning art to fGllness Of all grace,
And kissed 20 life 10y love, could fairer seem
Than she who stood upon tnat grassy slope,
80 fresh, SO human, so immaculate!
out from the dusky cloisters OF the wood.
The nun-ike winds stole with sanity step,
And dried the bright drops from her painting
form,
Az she with hurried hands once more let down
The golden drapery OF her glorious hair,
Tha. fei about her like some royal cloak
Dropped from sunsets rare and radiant loom.