The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-23
JANE REED.
A PENNSYLVANIA BALLAD.

iii could forget" she said, "forget, and be-
We see so dull at the time, and, looking
back, so plain:
There's quiet that's worse think, than
many q spoken strife.
And it's wrong that one mistake should
change the whole OF life.
.There's John, forever the same, so steady
sober, and mild:
He never storms as a man, who never, cried
as child:
Perhaps my ways are harsh, but II he
would seem to care,
There'd be fewer swallowed words and q
lighter load TO bear.
"Here. Cher,y,-she's found me out, the
calf raised in the spring,
And q likely heifer she's grown, the fool
ish soft eyed thing!
Just the even color like, without dap
pie or speck.-
Oh. Cherry !-bend down your head and
let me cry on your neck!
"The poor dumb beast she is, shelnever
can know nor tell,
And il seems to do me good, the very
shame ofthe spell:
So old woman and hard, and Joel so old
q man.
But the thoughts of the old go on as the
thoughts Of the young began!
ats guessing that wastes the heart, far
worst than the surest fate;
III knew he had thought of Inc, / could
quietly work md wait;
And then when either, at last, on bed OF
Why. one might speak the truth, and the
other hear and die"
She leaned on the heifer's neck; the dry
leaves fell from the boughs.
And over the sweet late grass OF the mead
Ow strayed the cows:
The golden dOdder meShed the cardinal
flower by the rill;
There was autumn haze In the air, and
sunlight low on the hill.
"I'ye somehow missed my time," she said
to herself, and sighed:
what girls are free 10 hope, q steady wo-
man must hide
But the need outstays the chance: it
makes me cry and laugh,
To think that the only thing can Talk 10
now is II calf"
A step came down from the hill: she did
not turn or rise;
There was something in her heart that saw
without the eyes,
She heard the foot delay, as doubling TO
stay or 90:
steruly answered, NO"
She lifted her head as she spake: their
eyes Il moment met,
And her heart repeated words, "IfI could
only forget!
He turned a little away, but her lowered
eyes could see
His hand, as he picked the bark from the
trunk of a hickory tree.
"Why can't we be friendly, Jane?" his
words came strange and slow;
"You seem to bear grudge solong and so
long ago!
You were gay and free with the rest, but
always so shy of me
That before my freedom came. l.saw that
ii couldn't be-
"Joelr' was all she cried, as their glances
And a sudden rose efaced her pallor of age
and pain.
He picked at the hickory bark: ats a
curious thing TO say;
But I'm lonely since Phebe died and the
girls are married away.
"That's why these thoughts came back
I'm "A little too old for pride,
And never could understand how love
should bC all one side:
'TwouId answer itself, | thought, and time
would show me how;
But il didn't come SO, then, and 1t doesn' I
seem SO now!
"Joel. il came so, then!'-and her voice
was thick with tears:
"a hone for single day, and bitter
shame tor years."
He snapped the ribbon OF bark; he turned
from the hickory tree:
"Jane, look me once in the face, and say
that you thought OF me-!
She looked, and feebly laughed: It's n
comfort to know the truth,
Though the chance was thrown away III
the blind mistake OF youth"
"And greater comfort, Jane, he SAID,
with a tender smile,
"To find the chance you have lost, and
keep il n little while"
She rose as he Spake the words: the pet
ted lreifer thrust
Her muzZlc between the twain, with an
animals strange miStruSt:
But over the creatures neck he drew her
To his breast:
"a horse is never so old but ii pulls with
another BEST!
ats enough TO know" she said; "to re-
member and not forget"
"Nay, nay: for the rest of life well pay
each Others debit!
She had no will TO resist, so kindly was
she drawn,
And She sadly said at last, But what will
become of John?"
-Baydrd Taylor, in Aprti atlantic