The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-10-22
DONALDsoNvILIE, LOUISIANA SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1881
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD.


during the alterations which are now being
carried out at the General Postoffice. In a
panel near one of the boxes WIS found q
letter which had been posted exactly fifty
years ago, and which, by some mischance,
had got stuck in the panel instead of finding
its way into the box. The letter was duly
fOrw warded to the person to whom it was
addressed, who, still moro strangely, was
alive, and who received it safely. The wri-
ter, however, had been dead many years.
London Times.
Twas two and seventy years ago,
When " Farmer George" was King,
And all his lands a rareeshow,
With blossoms of the spring
The time when lovers counting 60,
And little birds do sing.
They say that folks are wiser now.
And life has grown completer,
The old days were as sweet, trOw,
Perchance little sweeter.
The birds upon the cherry bough
Have never changed their meter.
AS eager wore the hopes of men.
Their joys, alas as fieeting,
And lovers VOWS as potent then
To set girls hearts a-beating.
AS tender was tho spring time, when
The newborn lambs were bleating.
Some things, thank God, are lingering yet,
And never out of fashion;
The laws Of stately etiquette
Have spared the tender passion,
And sometimes human eyes are wet
With tears Of soft compassion.
So down Times vista, faint and far,
Two lovers we descry;
Apart they stand, some sudden jar
Disturbs their harmony;
A cloud hath passed DER Loves sweet star,
And darkened all the sky.
The youth he watched his true loves face
With angry, scornful glance;
"Adieu," he cried, " "disdainful Grace,
l sail tonight for France,
Some happier man may have my place,
And please you more, perchance."
"Adien, sir l" said the naughty maid,
Your fancy chimes with mine;
pray that when the anchors weighed
The weather may be fine;
Too long methinks you have delayed
To taste the claret Wine!"
And so they part, these silly souls,
With bitter words and sore,
And Times vast ocean moaning rolls
Betwixt them evermore,
And they must starve on niggard doles,
Who teasted heretofore.
I'll die but never doubt him,
To morrow he will break the spell
He knows could not flout hinl."
Then blank, eternal silence fell,
Sho sighed-and lived without him.
Tho bloom of youth departed;
No eyes beheli her secret tears,
Or saw the wound that smarted;
Hers was the patient love that cheers
The sad and broken hearted.
When fifty years had passed away,
Life's pains no more beset her,
This woman, faded, old and gray,
Waits for the Life that's better;
Her maid trips in with silver tray:
MADAM, foreign letter!"
She took it with wondering smile,
Into her wrinkled hand,
She gazed at it little while,
She could not understand.
Twas folded in an ancient style.
The lux was pale and tanned.
What ghost arises from tho past
To scare that fruitful breast}
A dead mans message como st last,
By cruel Fate suppressed
" Dear God J" she cried, while tears foil fast,
"I'ln ready for my rost."
go love, forgive" the letter said,
II can not leave you so,
Write but a word ore fate be sped,
Whether you will or no."
And then tho date the woman read,
Twas fifty years agol
She threw the easement open wide,
This lady most forlorn,
A robin whistled sweet outside,
UDon leafless thorn.
And sang of Love that never died,
And the Resurrection morn.