The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-08-16
WRESTLING IN HEAVEN.

just walt llll Ilc reason L We given
Why say sha'nt care for the music
Unless there is whistling in heaven;
Then you'll think ii no very great wonder,
Nor so strange nor SO bold Il conceit
That unless there's a boy there a-whistling
Its music will not be complete.
1t was late in the autumn of'40;
We had come from our far Eastern home
Just in season to build Us a cabin,
Ere the cold of the winter should come;
And we lived all the while in our wagon,
That husband was clearing the place
Where the house was to stand and the clearing
And building it took many days.
So that our heads were scarce sheltered
In under its roof, when our store
Ofprovisions was almost exhausted,
And husband must journey for more;
And the nearest place where we could get them
Was vet such distance away,
That it forced him from home to be absent
At least Il whole night and day.
You see, we'd but two or three neighbors,
And the nearest was more than mile,
And we hadn't found time yet to know them,
For we had been busy the while;
And the man who had helped at the raising
Just stad till the job was We'll done;
And as soon as his money was paid him,
Had shouldered his ak and had gone.
Well. husband just kissed me and started.
| could hardly suppress a deep groan
At the thought of remaining with baby
So long in the house all alone;
For, my dear, was childish and timid,
And drawer ones mig ht well have feared,
For the wild wolf was often heard bowling,
And sayages sometimes appeared.
But smothered my grief and my terror
hllsh hon of on
And then in my arms | took Josey,
And all the day long sat and cried,
As thought of the long dreary hours
When the darkness Of night should fall,
And was so utterly helpless,
With no one in reach of my call.
And when the night came with its terrors,
To hide ev'ry ray of light
| hung up quilt by the window.
And almost dead with alright,
] kneeled by the side of the cradle,
Scarce daring to draw full breath,
Lest the baby should wake, and lis crying
Should bring us a horrible death.
There knelt until late in the evening,
And scarcely an inch had | stirred,
When suddenly, far in the distance,
A sound a. of whistling | heard.
] started up, dreadfully frightenened,
For fear twas an Indians call;
Ard then very soon | remembered
The red man neer whistles ut all.
And when was sure twas q white man,
thought, were he coming for Ill,
He'd surely approach with more caution
Would come without warning and still
Then the sound coming nearer and nearer,
Took the form of tune, light and gay,
and l knew needn't fear evil
From one who could whistle that way
-. --~,, l,oorJ roI,4y.o,,s ovr-oaob;or
Then came peculiar dull thump
As if some one was heavily striking
An AK on the top Of stump;
And then, in another brief moment,
There came a light tap on the door,
When quickly undid the fast'nings,
And in stepped boy, and before
There was either question or answer,
Or either had time to speak
| just threw my glad arms around him,
And gave him a kiss on the cheek,
Then ! started back, al my boldness,
But he only smiled at my fright,
As he said TIM your neighbours boy, Flick,
Come to tarry with you through the night
1--WE saw your husband 20 eastward,
And made up our minds where he'd gone
And said 10 the rest of our people,
That woman is there all alone,
And venture shes awfully lonesome,
And though she may have no great fear,
] think she would feel bit safer
If only boy were but near
$50 taking my ak on my shoulder,
For fear that a savage might stray
Across my path, and need scalping,
started right down this way;
And coming IN sight Of the cabin,
And thinkin. 10 save you alarm,
| whistled a tune just TO show you
didn't intend any harm.
"And so here ! am, ut your service;
But il YOU don't want me to stay,
Why. all YOU need do is 10 say so,
And shoul'drng my AK III away"
I dropped i'm a chair end near tainted
just nj thought of his leaving me then.
And his eye gave a knowing bright twinkle
As Ae said u guess III remain"
And then Just sat there and told him
How terribly frightened I'd been
How his face to me was the most welcome
OF any | ever had seen:
And then lay down with the baby,
And slept all the blessed night through,
For felt was safe from all danger
Near so brave a young fellow and true.
So. now. my dear friend. do you wonder,
Since such a good reason I've given,
Why think 1t the sweetest % music
And wish To bear whlstiing la Aeayeng
Yes. often I've said 80 in earnest,
And now what I've said repeat
That upI..Ss there's boy there a-whiSulng.