Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-08-25
Guerarp.


1he following spicy letter from the
author Of Rock Ne to Sleep" to the
Nele York World, will be perused with
interest by our readers -
Sir; In your paper OF July s5th noticed the
following item of sews contained ia the letter OF
a srscial correspondents at Augusta, Ne:
d" Mrs.. Elizabeth Akers Anen. equally We'll
known as Florence Percy l. at present tdiiari-
ally connected with the Portland Adrerfissr She
j. the author OF Rock Ne 10 Seen Mother "A hicb
poem was written by her while factory girl IN
this state, upon sheet % coarse brown Wrapping
paper Ia which She had brought her uooniime
labor
The careful Particularly % detail visible in thi-
o.t OF news gives il smack OF su;hcnteiiy which
- almost irrcsistbly convincing Ia fact. could
almost believe it M self had not been prev ously
Informed by an equally veracious newspaper
corresPondent th-t wrote the poem by the bedside
Of my dying liule boy, ia Boston when uoder the
heaviest pressure Of misfortune aud poverty. 7
was earning piuched living for him and myself
By doing slop work without a sewing machine.
vas naturally enough surprised NJ th.. for never
lived IA Boston, never did s,opwOrk without
sewing machiue, I never wrote verses al his bell
side, my LITTLE boy never died, and never hal
lizzie boy, Stin did not dispute the sterv. for
consider contradictions a. suggestive Of nl-brecd
ing, and An alternative TO be employed only in
eNTemities. And il Was a. well that lid not for
was presently assured through the same channel
hat wrote The poem out Of the loves, depths Of
poverty and despair, caused BY the desertion Of
iay husband, wiki whom had eloped iron board
~ school, aud Who had repaid my devotion bv
orsakng me next day. Notwithstanding the
Of n
ne fact mat had previously been the idol OF
sPpy home, bis desertion appears to have lei me
utter wretehedness anil imminent danger OF
aviation, under which depressing circumstances
wrote the poem referred tO-a remorseful lament
% the mother whose heart had broken. Thi.
view was hardly less unhappy than the former.
and would have Affected me deeply. excepting thai
never was invited 10 elope irom boarding school.
hever eloped from anyWhere. I never attended
boarding school Ny husband never deserted me.
and never broke my mothers heart But was
drawn away iron the mOarnful contemplation OF
these things by third statement to the effect that
wrote the poem on my death bed in Philadelphia.
IN wretehed hovel, where the rain drilted in
across the miserable bed whereof soon breathed
my last
This was the best story Of the three, because il
vas oonclusive-it pat the unfortunate writer out
u her misery. But just a. I commenced 70 exult
over this contamination, Jersey gentleman, Mr..
Alexander N. W. Ball, found another world 70
conquer. and Published book to prove that
never wrote the poem az all, but that I had stolen
from him. What was I 10 believe? l had AZ
different times. been informed through the news.
papers that Miss Elizabeth Alger or New York
City, another lady OUT West, gentleman some
where else, and blacksmith in Georgia. each
wrote the poem, and eacA had friends to swear 10
Il; and, as though the affair vas not already sur.
aciently bsvildering, here comes voice Of con
vietion from ny own state. declaring through the
B0rld thar wrote the poem myself when was
factory girl in Maine.
This i all very well excepting that never
carried my lunch in coarse brown wrapping
paper" very much preferring a newspaper WhenI
cannot AFFORD a napkin; that should seorn to
write such verses on brown paper, obscured by
custard pie and apple sauce, aud that never WAS
inside a factory In Maine. Like the ulprit in
court, whose case was 20 psthe;iealiy presented
20 the jury 20 touch even himself 20 tears,
mast admit that did not know that had suffered
80 much until informed Of Il BY the sympathetic
newspaper correspondent
For journals and journalists have sincere
respect, and even a family Affection. but what
offence haveI ever committed against that ubiguit-
Gus person, the newspaper esrres pondent that ia
all his flights Of fancy, he Invariably describes
ne as IN the depths Of poverty, distress and dis
E-Aee, and Incapable Of earning a respectable
hylng2 Why does ne not say. sometimes that
wrote the poem in fne residence Murray
Hill, IN palatiHl mansion on Firm avenue IN the
midst OF the rectangalsrity OF Philadelphia % in
: vine clad country seat on the Hu,lsons whv
not insteSh Of calling me paupcr, a disobedient
daughter, discarded wife, a starving sewing
woman, OF a wretehed factory operative, with her
lunch wrapped in coarse brown paper that Is the
unkindesl cue Of an, why not allow me sometimes
20 be favOrite Of fortune. lady Of fashion. or
"A il be not too much troable 20 ask newspaper
correspondent
One Of two thingsis proved By these melancholy
reetas Of ny impeeuniOsty: FOR with all these
and others-denands in ny behalf,on the public
sympathy, have never yet received the fret offer
Of assistance from philanthropists. Either the
advantages Of advertising are over stated or the
children OF this world do not believe in their news
papers.
make this faint protest again 81 the irrepres sible
newspaper correspondent, simply from alingering
nstiset Of self-defenee and not because expect
70 convince him against whom gods and men
contend ia vain.
ELIZABETH AKERs ALLEN
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