Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-04-17
IT 10 TNFW SFRIFS] CHARIESTOWN JEFFERSON COUNTY, ".
POETICAL.
For the Virginia Free Pres.
A LAMENT.

dead Draw the sombre curtain-close the Diino
nd leave me alone with the silent clay
Millions have gone before but left behind
Euou oh 20 people the wide world to-day;
Millions will follow but ages will ma
Humanity flowing the old old way, -
AndIthis cold inanimate form of my wife
Was but small drop in the Ocean oil Lie.
An, the bumblest who die leave some to mourn,
Some to follow tearfully to the tomb,
Some poor, crushed spirits left bleeding and torn,
Some 70 sigh over Humanity's doom.
Some faithful broken hearts left all ioriorn,
some 20 be Overwhelmed in sorrowful gloom
The dread bolt passed our home has long taen It's
way;
met her long ago. lisping child,
I wooed her as such and when she was grown
She olung with woman's affection, mild,
Yet strong in love, TO me, whom she bad known
As boy and man with his early and wild
Ambition, tempered BY love, ere II had iiown
Out to the tricky world, without ITS hep-meel
70 smooth Its rough points with home Affection
sweet.
We sat together in the village choir
We walked together in the mellow helds;
We ate together by the birchen fire;
We talked together where the elm tree shields
Her fathers rustic gate, and that good sire
Would hasten our parting.-Ah love yields
Nsucb, but sweet m emores 70 those in dire need -
But now we part at the Fathers gate indeed!
drop nv hot tears on her marble face;
7 whisper her name in her senseless ear;
I lift the coin from her eye but cannot trace
A single CLEAN of recognition there;
| kiss her cold lips and then embrace
The babe at her side so tiny and tair:-
Oh man If hell contained such Innocence as tins,
'Twould change its dark shades into bright realms
of bliss
The little bud dropped and died with the flower,
And we will strew their leaves beneath the cold
sod,
There 10 rest until Resurrection's hour -
But their perfumes arose to join their Cod
Let him never say he has felt tho power
And dread effects Of Deaths chastening ROD
Who has buried father or mother,
Who has buried a sister or brother,
Who has buried his offspring, from infancy
To manhood and womanhood, or his friend
And all who were close 20 him unless he
Has buried a Wife :-ah! then let him lend
His sympathetic ear to my mysery
As DER this cold corse Doaningly benz
All blood kin are or should be near and dedr-
Man and wife are one-'tis lying here.
Man and wife are one lit Is even so =
The thought bathes my heart like healing balm
When we are welded we must even know
That one must go before; but oh ! how calm
Nv sorrow becomes and gentle glow
or Hope lights DER me, as with folded palm
And bended knee bow humbly to Him,
And rejoice thus as my bedimmed eyes swim
In glistnipg tears Father, Son and Holy Ghos
Thy WILL and not mine, hath even been done:
This earthly wife to me is earthly lost,
But We II meet above when my race is run,
And until that time from yon golden coast,
Rendered radiant by the glory and sun
OF Thy countenance, will e'er feel the bright
Hope, comfort and JOY from her celestial light,
AsI know Thy Word hath unto US said
"Man and wife are one," OH comforting thought
This earthly tabernacle lies here, dead;
But the soul, which is all, was gladly caught
By waiting seraphim, who quickly sped 81
To Thy Kingdom therewith-my anguish tough.
At the parting-now It's gone from whence 'twa
given;
Man and wife are one-ther, Father, I'm in Hea
ven!,
Washington, d. c., March, 1875. c.