The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-21
From the Boston Globe.l
Alice Dutton Ballou's Poems.

The following poem by Mrs. Alice Dut-
ton Ballou will not be unfamiliar to some
of the readers of the Globe who were for
tunatc enough 10 hear the recitation of it
by its author ut the woman's club, little
more than year ago. / was not one of the
auditors on that occasion, but there were
those present who, carrying away with
them the memory of that recitation, gave
me such impressions of it that few weeks
later, when became acquainted with its
author, one of my first thoughts was to ask
her to read to me her poem, of which l
had heard so much. l shall never forget
that reading. Naturally gifted with artis-
tic and dramatic qualities in an unusual de-
gree, these qualities had been so thorough
ly cultivated, that the result.was that per-
lection OF nature and art, which for the
moment made the poem and the reader so
identical, that the "leagues of land and
leagues of sea" rose like an actual vision
before the listener, and became thereafter
an enforceable memory. My acquaint-
ance with Mrs. Ballou was very brief after
this, for her life, t'ien stricken with incura-
Bile disease, was limited to few months.
But in this briet acquaintance | dis
covered how varied and rich were
her talents and sympathies, and
what a beautiful spirit animated
and inspired both. There are readers " no
will recall that most eloquent narrative in
the February number of the atlantic
Monthly for 1872, called 1.-THE Castleford
Tragedy" This was from Mrs. Ballou's
pen, and partial transcript of what had
come under her own OBJ ervation in the
earlier experience of her southern life. 1t
shows also something of her range of SYM
pathy and earnestness. This sympathy
and earhestness found practical outlet in
the Business woman's mutual benefit asso-
citation, an undertaking which she origina-
ted and organized herself. In her dying
days she commended this work anxiously
to her friends with the hope that it might
be carried ON as che had begun it.
In the little lyric below which | have
been permitted to place within reach of its
many admirers again, there is not only the
subtle grace of the poetic story, but be-
meath the tender passion of this love lay,
the larger meaning of the universal ex-
perience of all life, which within apparent
reach of any vital ends is constantly hidden
to "stand and watt" NORA PERRY.
Stretch between my love and me.
ON my hearth the fire is dead
Heart and hearth are cold" said
and or all the souls that be,
NOT one soul hath need OF me-"
When crossed my chamber floor,
open wide Its closed door,
Passed into the crowded street.
Trod the way with weary feet
No one cared my grief to know,
NO one greved to see Inc go.
onward rolls the solemn river,
SObbiDg, throbbing on forever
Now 1t warns OF oceans wrath,
Now OF demons in my path,
But cry back" IT'S the sea
That divides my love from me!n
Who Will care for threatening rocks,
Ihunders rear or tempest shocks,
When the tempestS all are past
And the land Is gained at last.
Oh, my love, for love OF thee
Who would not brave.any sea
Valleys rise at loves command,
Mountains sink TO level land
Floods are crossed the journeys done,
Toll is DER, the goal is won
Close beside thy castle gate,
Lo my love, stand and wait
listen for his glad reply,
AS through the halls the echoes die,
And hear alone, like voice OF Fate,
The echoes answer-"Stand and Wait :"