Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-04-18
VIRGINIA FREE PRESS.
POETICAL.
The Original Beautiful Snow" 4"


POETICAL.
The Original Beautiful Snow"
The Omaha Republican gives The following
history Of the origin Of this production, which
the London Spectator has pronounced to he the
finest poem ever written in America" During
the early par. of the war. one dark Saturday
night, in midwinter, there died 10 the Com
mercial Hospital" in Cincinnati, young wo-
mau. over whose head only two-and-twenty
summers had passed. She had once been pos
sessed of an enviable share Of beauty, and had
been, she herself says, fat,ered and sought
for The charms Of the face y but, alas, upon
her fair brow was written that terrible word
prostitute. Olce the pride of respectable pa
rents. her Rrs. wrong step was the small begin
ming Of the same old story over again, which
has been the only life history Of Thousands
Highly educated and accomplished in manners,
she might have shone in the best society. Bat
the evil hour tha! proved her ruin was the door
from childhood, and having spent young life
in disgrace aud shame the poor friendless one
died the melancholy death Of broken-hearted
ou,cast Among her personal effects was
fouod, in manuscript The Beautiful Snow,
which was Immediately carried 70 Enos B.
Reed. a gentleman of culture and literary tastes
who was at that time editor Of The Na'iona'
Union. In the columns Of that paper, on the
morning Of the day following the giTl's death,
tbs poem appeared in print for the first time.
When the paper containing the poem cnmo out
on Sunday morning the body Of ths victim had
no. ye. received burial The attention Of
Thomas Buchanan Read, one Of the first Amer
lean poets. was 50 taken with their stirring
pathos that lie Immediately followed the corpse
10 it. fusl resting place Such ore the plain
facts concerning her whose Beautiful Saow
shnl! long be remembered as one Of The bright
est gems in American literature.
o. the snow, the beautiful snow
Filling the sky and the earth below;
Over the housctops. over the street,
Over the heads Of the people you meet,
Flirting,
Shipping alongi
Beautiful! snow IL can do nothing wrongi
FLYING 70 Kiss fair lady's cheek,
Clinginc 90 lips in d frolcsome freak;
Beautiful snow from heaven above
Pure as an angel, gentle as love!
o. the snow, the beautiful snow
How the flakes gather and laugh as they 60
Whlriing about in their maddening fun
Il plays in its glee with every one
Chasing
Hurryng BY,
II lights on the face, and Il sparkle' in the eye;
+ And playful dogs, with bark and bound,
Snap at thc crystals that eddy around
/ The town is alive, and it. heart in aglow
To welcome the coming of beautiful snow.
How wildly the crowd goes swaying along,
Haing each other with humor and song
/ How the CAV sleds like meteors flash by,
Bright for the moment, then lost TO the eye!
Ringing,
Ds,hlne they go
/ Over the crust of the beautiful snow
SNOW 80 pure, when it falls from the sky,
As 20 make one regret Go see title
TO be tramnled and tracked by the thousand feet
Til il blends with the filth in the horrible street
Once was pure as the snow, but fell
Fell like the snow fakes from heaven to heli
Fell 70 be trampled as filth in the street;
Fell TO be scofed, 70 be spit on and beat;
Cursng,
Selling my soul 10 whoever would buy;
Dealing in shame for morsei OF bread;
Hating the living and fearing the dead
Ncrciiu God Have fallen go low
And ret l was once like the beautiful snow.
Once was fair as tie beautiful snow,
With an eve Ike its crystal heart Ike It's glow
Once was loved for my innocent grace,
Flattered and sought for the charms of the face.
Father,
Sister, all.
God and myself have lost by my fall
The veriest wretch that goes shivering by
. VIII make q wide sweep lestI wander too nigh
For oil that is on or above me know
Thcrc's nothing as pure as the beautiful snow.
How strar re it should be that this beautiful snow
should fall on sinner with nowhere 10 90!
How strangeit should be when night comes again
Il the snow and the ice struck my desperate brain
Freezing,
Too wicked FOR prayer, too weak for moan
+ To be heard in the streets Of the crazy town,
Gone mad in the joy Of the snow coming down;
+ To be and 20 die in my terrible woe,
/ With q bed and a shroud Of the beautiful snow.
Helpless snd foul a. the trampled snow;
Sinner despair not Christ stoopeih low
+ To rescue the soul that is lost in it, sin
And raise il % lie and enjoyment again.
Grooming,
Bleeding
Dying for thee,
TIE Crucfed hung on the accursed tree;
Iii. accents Of mercy fell soft % thine ear
Is there mercy for ne VIII be heed my prayer
O, God, 10 the stream that for sinners did flow,
Wash me, and | shall be whittier than snow.
Rare Memento OF the "Lost Cause."
Willie in Jacksonville this week we were