Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-04-06
THE HOLLY BRANCE
BROWNIE. -

| The following poem, founded on an iuciden
a daughter OF Mrs L. Virginia French. The yonb;
poetess Is said 10 be rarely, radiantly beautiful
and almost as gifted as her mother.
This Is dt served compliment, from the New Or
leans inns. 10 the youngest daughter of Mrs
French, whom nature has lavishly endowed with in
petit in figure, with face classic in outline eve:
OF that deepy-tinted gray Of which poets love tc
sing, ana manner with bit Of pretty playfulness
very charming. 1t has Ueen the writer's foTtune
II hold the brldleren of her horse for moment In
adjusted. Could Morris's melodies have sJSeeteT
J more musical ring than the echo of her horses
noO1SF MIS-. french has one other daughter, well
known In tine literary world as 'Bl lndne who is
also SAID 10 be very charming and accomplished
II. L. B.
,, Yes. shall be shot at dawn" as you say:
My life shall pass with the rising day,
All for this dead and scentIess branch
Ihls thorny and withered holly spray.
You do not believe-We, it matters not;
Many have died for as small thing
glance, smile, or lock of love,
Or tear like the dews OF spring.
This is the lex of France; you see
That the flush of the scarlet fruit is fled
Nothing now but withered branch,
Like tender trust that Is crushed and dead
have kept it long on my heart-why rot?
1rI doWn with longing and yearntng hate;
The bullets at dawn shall scarcely feel,
For vengeance is mine; they will come too late
You want my story of life-ahl well,
My life that has seemed such weary way
10 my tired heart, that was only gloom
. Mnen others around me we're glad and gay.
anere are many wronged come here to dwell,
Whose wrongs led down to the deeps of crime;
lis little know, but it's hard to tell.
| shai! ever remember that Christmas Eve.
with It's rosy glow and its golden light
And the holly branch. with its glistening green,
And Its thorn. that was flung to me that night
Deep Swallowed over with Hex sprays,
And saw look down from a easement old
falry face with Its saucy gaze.
She stood, framed In by the easement dim.
her shoulders Ike snow-flakes. were white and
And sweeping back with halo's light
l saw ths gieam Of her golden hair.
Twas vision OF ioy-entranced stood
Locking up through the leaves that danced.
TIL she, with nod and an elfn laugh,
cast down upon me this holly branch.
She sat all day at her work. alone
weaving the threads of the fllmy lace
A1d I under the sweep OF her sunny hair
We often met was happy then
Happier still when knew her mine
when the good old priest his blessing gave
AS we welded were at the holy shrine.
We went to Paris. Twas early spring
When we left our cot and the vines behind
our SSn, nome ION was under the dreaTy caves
was very poor but gave her ali,
MY lie was hers and my SOUL meant
To be great one day-fOF labored hard
Ana she my fairy. she seemed content
She would sit at the window (he saw here there,
10 Watcn, she said, for my coming home
Would twlne her white arms about my neck
ana muInur-'LOnely? I'm dJJDdlS Alone
| was often away-on the stage each night,
Pla5lng the part of prince a hend;
In my nome, and parting my love from me,
Was the shadow that came between"
Twas late one night when reached nv roopn
After the play OF The Bridal MOrn'-
The lamp still burned-her work still there
But the fairy light OF my life was g0nel
know no more. I've been wandering long
God! Will this darkness have never an endP
VIII the daWnfng bring me the light crave?
VIII death bring peace, do you say, my friend?
The war broke out. and We rushed to arms;
met him there in the royal rank
When the cheers went up and the sabers cIashed
And swords blushcd red with the blood they drank:
Side by side, as we fought one day
DE was my colonel-perhaps you know
me nate In my heart grew dark as death
You don't understand Il? Twas even so.
me hate In my heart grew stronger than L
tnought or my fairy, and all my woe
VI the wrong he had wrought In his careless DrIda
ana the branch In my bosom that stung me so.
We Misunderstanding mid smoke and fire
de ordered surrender shot him down
DE was my COLONEL laughed to see
The death-dews dampen his locks of brown
After that?-nothing We failed, think
But he lay on the field there cold and stark;
I GU wonder holly branch caused 1t all
sui the thorns prick deep-they have left their /
mark! W W
WE'LL have fought long in the ranks of Franc
ma snail be shot when the night is fled;
5ut, Oury my 1leX-Iust here-on my heart;
lis OF little value-yOu see II Is dead!
FOREST HOME, TENN