Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-06-01
GRETCHEN.


ored man of Dowagiac, Michigan, who had small ad-
vAntages of education AS being the product OF untu-
tored genius and coming from negro they are OF more
than common interest. Those who contend that
ong this people there s capacity for intellectual
culture will be nonplussed at the information that
this young has persisted in making himself IN the
vancement. One il here reminded of the oft-quoted
zines in "Gray's Eegy," Full many gem OF pures1
ray serene, etcl
Morn's banner of mist hung over her shield,
While the broad bronzcd breast of the rpened field
Held up to the reapers its golden store.
And the Clouds that all night in the east had slept,
Turned each to the westward his purple form:
And Mornings golden sandals swept
Nights gift Of pearls from the lilys brow.
Out to the harvest the reaper's went
With Sllarp,ned cradle and busy rake;
While low and timid Gretchen bent
TO gather the grain in their rustng wake.
And they toiled til the mondays arrowy head
Quivered downward fast as the fierce simoons;
Tramplng out, with its nyrla'1 blazing feet,
The fragrant breath OF the clover blooms.
And when the suns bright chariot wheeled,
In its burning track Ger the emerald wood
At the forest spring beside the field.
Said the youth that close by Gretchen stood
"when drst he sickle began to WELD
'Twa. in other lands where rich harvests bow;
have reaped since then in many fed.
Yet found 10 cleaner 80 talr Is thou.
"The silver steps of the morning mist,
As they strike in pearls over land and sea,
Are softer ween, than those lips, love-klssed;
Withhold not their sweetness, the from me-
Then up to modest Gretchen'e cheek
Crept the crimson flush Of her startled pride.
"What worth are the idle words you speak?
They have hattered q ecore of maids beside"
Then he whispered, a. men are won't to WOO,
With earnest look and persuasive word;
And che, maidens are wont to do.
Believed the tempting tale she heard
How he never never had known before
This manhood's love that was pure and strong;
That his heart had learned brighter tunes of yore,
But never this deep and solemn song.
AZ the clouds, with noieelee. march and SLOW
With purple pennone went down the west,
And the sunset tide with amber glow,
Beat up broad waves on each coral crest,
| The light of loves new light arose,
Ip glorious dawn, on Gretchen's heart;
Like that which over the threshold flows,
When they leave the beautiful gates apart.
Said the reaper bold: "Thc eheavee bind
Are precious kisses take from thee"
Said Gretchen: THE dearest spears find,
Tie sweetest caresses thou glvest me-
Said the reaper: 4" Gretchen, for thy fair sake
Said Gretchen: Your love would the desert make
And Eden OF endless bloom to me-"
"If there should be other fields for thee,
And dearer loves meath the futures sun,
The star OF life would go down for me,
And Gretcien's life on earth be dOne'
Then DER her heart swept shade of years,
A looking off through the dark To Be-
Where the night cold with icy tears,
And sad with the mOanS OF the sObbing sea.
But the reaper vowed, as lovers will,
while the stars looked down. and the soft dews wep
A nd tbo vn iUhQ yvifh a
Ut VOWS oft broken and trysts unkept
Norn's banner Of mist hung over the shield,
Sweeping low and white, from the dawns gray short
While the broad, bronzed breast OF the rlpened held
| Held up to the reaper its golden store.
And the clouds, that all night in the east had slept
Turned each to the westward its purple PROV,
| And mornings golden sandles swept
| Nights gift of pearls from the lily's brow.
| Morns banner of mist hangs over her shield,
Like that the last years harvest bore;
! But the reaper chose another field,
Ana b autifnl Gretchen CLEANS no more