The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-08-31
ON THE BORDER.
. An1rcossrAxcE rrs1nonr woorsos.


ABTtCoxsTANcE KENMORE woOLsOs -
Esther o Esther, say where are we riding?
mine;
The grass of the prairie seems gliding, green
Away like long serpents beyond the straight
The hSrss's h0Ofs keep; is his head to the west
II Isee but his feet. on. listen. and hear y
The very grass growing, the very air glowing
For John may be riding hard, hard in our rear
After US after u.s. swift as the wind ia
Over die plains. Yes-tbe children had gone
Away % a neighbOris the wealth Of the Indies
rdiFfve iust @ know they are safei they have
This Eflke-ips go light nnat my wrists are an
'Tis nothing; don't turn. but keep listening,
Isnsusbl eoming aIterf That horrible lauehter-
The redskins are laughing Esther the fear
Is numsing my heart-for yOu see that fierce old
The oaiei on the right with the scalps at his
such look he lust gave usi 1 felt the swim cold
Al over my bOdy-though icebergs might melt
Beneath this red sun, the sun Of the prairies.
Don't cry, Gear the redskins won't stand it.
My baby cried 50 when poor baby died-oh,
IL NOW lam glad he Is under the sod,
IN his green little grave in the garden. The 9TH
Had gone to a neighbor's-oh. what wiz John
When he fndsthebouse empty. no voice butpOor
Poor. bedriddon mother-to answer On.
prayi-
Pray, Esther, pray, as we ride. that he may
z Come after aJomein his rage, for II one,
one OF as, Esther, must die, II we're best for
The children oh, yes, dear-it should not be
But maybe he'll rally the neighbors-I pray it,;
avsro fxa md dataE Ee HON NOT
'Gainst fifty Comancbesi And then, though l
There's nc no aim Ike Johns But. dear heart. 1
They'll use us for cover-they'n put us between
To keep of the bullets-our bodies for shield
Fen that than their revels is better, though
Yes, devils of redskinsi Twas never revealed
Why God made the Injuns; wild cat is kinder,
grizzly more human Say dear, do you
The children are safe? My eyes have grown
Pm tied SO, head downward; it's over the
brink ...
OF a red gulf hang but don't mind me; keep
Those small bits Of cloth when the redskins
.t. don't watch; . r.......
AL g0nel Then my hair, hcre-keep dropping II
You think on the tall grass its curled ends
might catch,
And hang for John knows it-knows every hair
of il. a. .H| Hr"rr.. H.H.H l-
Poor, dear, old John-how proud did feel
When he said that il was prettyl took such
good care Of it
After, and now the poor curls may reveal
That we have been here. Tan you catch the
1--WE could but bend thenl The prairie's so
wide
The horses leap over broad spaces. They cover
Our track, dear. They're stOpping-they'ye
seen us. they hide. .H .r- HrE
All signs Of our passing; their swift, crafty fin
gers
BEND back our bent grassesl OGodl is there no
Hope forus, hope for us? How the day lingers-
Seems though the unwilling TO 90,
And leave us here galloping over the prairie
Alone with the devilish Comanchesl My heart
Is breaking, dear, breaking Is that the ground
shaking n
Behind u.s. or only my pulses They start.
They wheel to the south-I feel the horse turn
ing
That Old chief is startled-I see him look back
Why, dear, there's life in you yet-YOu are burn
One look, for Gods sake, only Onel Its the
track
The track, that's the thing-can they find It, or
keep it?
WHAT On
The lett, the oak-opening? Thereg But the
But R3Rff saRft9T @aE Soath!s 9Fns God we're savedohn
-Appletons' Journal for September.