New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-16

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The cherished homes YOU left oehhd'
And read with eyes of clearer love
The meaning that TO us Is olind'
OF that dark day when YOU went down,
OF Georges Bank, with every SAT-
whiie we were safe within the town.
In that Wild February gale
The love of John Wentworth aud his prond
cousin winch forms the subject of one OF the many
racy legends of the historical town OF PORTSMOUTH
,s related with remarkable dramatic effect. afford
ing conclusive proof of the rare capacity oi 'nc
writer in that kind of composition -
&" She shall marry Inc yet" he smiline SAID
Smiling and under his hreath-but red a.. ,..,
As flame his dark cheek glOwed and pale hie purheu
In his passionate eye as he sWuty t"ruoo
Ont of the sunshine iuto the shade
ont of the sunshine she had made
But moment bcfure-this girl with race
Whose very fIOwn had winsome grace,
They used To swear IN that Old. old time.
when her beauty was In Its wonderful prime
When her laughing eyes Of golden brown,
Were the toast aud rage oil Portsmouth Town.
or uampshre's Portsmouth. there by the sea.
Where Tie wcntworths ruled and held in fee
Half the country side al rock and shore.
For hundred and hity years OF more
:" She shah marry me yeti" Twas the wentworth
That rose up then in that turbulent flood
The Wentworth purpose that under MS breath
Would hold 10 lts passionate will till death.
" Che shall marry me YETI" And down he strobe
Across the pathway, across the ROAD. -, ,.
With firm. quick sep. and IN, quick heath
To work his Will aud To play bis part
And difficult part # was TO play,
For tho Wentworth blood ran either way
Ills mothers blood that held bun tied
by Eiusman bonds on either side
But AS mothers blood leaves stronger trace
Than fathers blood In n turbulent race,
Ii may have been that his wiliul way
Had the stronger current 20 move anu sway
Atail events. az the months wore on
And no adings came from h-r oons, , sonn'
To the beautiful toast Of Portsmouth town,
The Wentworth temper rose up To GROWN
The passionate Wentworth love in her breast.
And six months after her laughing scorn
OF her dark-eyed sutton, suing forlorn,
She stood by his side one Autumn day.
A beautiful bride: he had won his wayi
But the gossips said that bride never wore
In Portsmouth town such look before
After tho lapse of years John Wentworth
eturms 10 the ancestral seat and hnds that he has
been defrauded of his bride by stratagem OF his
rival The trcacherous pretender. however died III
good time and the injured lover obtained justice III
tho sequel -
dead man lies IN solemn state:
Aud peerng al the linen and plate
Down stairs the nelglbOrs. under their breath,
Talk OF tnc sick man. and his death;
or the widows prospects; and one moro bold
The Wentworth mansion across the way
Will have mistress hne and gay.
But ere IA mouth had passed Of the year
All the seamstresses tar and near,
In aud out OF Portsmouth town,
Mere sewing fast NJ "A weddinggown
or brocaded satin. foreign and rare.
For dame Frances Atkinson To wear
And sh.mci'' cret. tho Wentwortas their Pride
All the Wentworth kin in Hampshire State
This haste was uusreaIly; she'd ohly 10 wst
In her widows weeds year and a day,
Aud not a gossip could cay her nay.
Then mp she spoke. this wilful dame
sconfuly spoke with tongue OF naine
Seven years have served the Wentworth pridei
Seven years wirh Wentworth courage lied
To the world with my smiling face.
To find az the end-nO sovereign grace
To save my soul. but a curse alone.
The curse OF lie that shained my own!
Cheated and trcked seven weary years.
Won 10y lie-nO lying tears
Have 10 waste, no time To wait
On the man who died seven years too late y
Scared and shocked the weutworths stared
At this reckless dame, whose passion dared
TO caei at tue dead uAn. scarcely cold
In his fresh-turn-d grave. these accusals bold.
Scared aud shocked. but never word
OF ban or blame was ever beard
From their hps again. aud come the day
When my Lady Wentworth hue ana gay
Reigned ia tue Wentworth mansion there.
MOI a gossip IN Portsmouth out spoke her fair.
But under their brcaths, when twilight fell.
Under their breaths they would sometimes tell
The old old story Of signal and sign,
The candle fame, aud the kerchief fine:
Aud under tHeir breaths would cr0ax fear
That NY LADY had lent bat too willing an car
To the evil whispered against the dead.
The doubtful tale suddenly sped
From mouth TO mouth, whils Tor yea or nay,
Helpless and dumb the dead man lay.
Bot never upOn my lady's face.
Never "A doubt showed sign OF trace
As she Looked the curious gOssips down
In the little world OF Portsmouth town
Never doubt from year to year.
Never "a doubt, and never a fcar
For whatever the truth Of the troubled past,
lfy Iaoy had come 10 her Orn at idSfi
This is certainly "salt and bitter, and good" as
the ancient seaport in which the scene is land and
produces n bracng reaction against the effcminate
ittles which form large part of the pretentious
sickly poetry of the day.
m upI HcTOE L with