Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-06-14
For the SPECTATOR,
Poetic GleanIngs.
FOURTH PAPER.

Poetic GleanIngs.
FOURTH PAPER.
s. In this paper it is proposed to write
something respecting the eminent ser
vices of Mrs. Margaret E. Sangster, as
a writer of religious verse and prose.
This distinguished lady is not at pres
ent a resident of Virginia, yet for years
her home was in our State, and she
cherished most lively interest in the
happiness Of our people.
| Quite early in life her talent for Wri-
ting was discerned, and at school gained
the highest prizes for her excellence in
composition. While in her sixteenth
year, she translated in verse a French
volume of poetic sketches, which was
published, and attracted considerable
local interest in the city of Brooklyn,
then her home.
For several years past, Mrs. Sangster
was an associate Editor upon the staff
of the Christian at Work, one of the
most widely known of the New York
religious weeklies. About year since
she was offered a similar position upon
the enitorial staff of the Christian m
teUigencer, denominatiolal weekly,
devoted to the interests of the Reformed
(Dutch) Church, of which she is MEM
ber. This sphere of service being more
| congenial to her tastes, she accepted.
Her fine abilities have added greatly
to the attractions of that sterling old
journal, one of the very best of its kind.
Her poetic powers have gained high
reputation for Mrs. Sangster, as a writer
OF sacred lyrics, adapted to special occa-
sions.
Wordsworth tells his readers that he
gave soul to inanimate objects -
ITO every natural form. rock. fruit, or flower,
Even the loose stones that cover the highway
gave moral life; saw them feel,
Or linked them to some feeling"
Mrs Sangster, in pleasing measure,
possesses kindred power, and has writ
ten out some very pretty lessons, as the
| reader will soon rerceive. Though thus
richly endowed with poetic gifts, her
published books are mainly prose. In
this department of literary work, no
living writers of our acquaintance excel
her in utile cum dulce,-the useful with
the aesthetic. And her chosed mission,
seemingly. is to the young ladies of our
beautiful land,
Two of the books, "May Stanhope"
and Hours with Girls" are replete
with the best of counsels, touching
everything of duty at home or mingling
In society. These books, published by
the American Tract Society, are excep-
tionally useful in aiding young ladies
to adopt proper views of life, and per-
sonal usefulness.
Intelligent mothers will find every
daughter imbued with the spirit and
wisdom of these books, to be accom-
plished in the happiest sense of the
word, ready to wait at the feet of Jesus,
or wisely engage in useful duties of the
passing hour. If this should meet the
eye of any such, in quest of some book
that is up with the times and meets
some of the mCst pressing questions of
social life in our day, let not these moth
ers fail to examine Mrs. Sangster's
"HOurs with Girls"
In May Stanhope," p. PIG, the read
er viii find the poem that Mrs. Sangster
likes best of all her verses. Tt is called
1.-THE Three Baskets" HAVING His
posed Of the Maiden,s Basket, with its
mingling end5 Of worsted, and beads
that glitter silver bright, and poets idyl,
read amid the leaves and flowers, she
takes up the Mothers Basket, some
thing larger, with its little aprons, little
dresses, and every size of little stock
ings, always needing one stitch more,
and moralizes very touchingly about
mothers heart. What she says about
the Grandmother's Basket, which is the
third and last, is now repeated
Berthas basket! Grandma Bertha; for the
years have run their way,
And 1t seems. in looking backward, 1t was only
yesterday
That the maiden trimmed rn IiuI,tlu hat tho
matron had her cares;
Age slips on 80 gently, gently, like an angel
unawares.
scintillance of steel
CLEAN the needles, smooth with flashing Off
the toe or round the heel;
Leisure days have found the lady, but her face
is deeply lined.
And her heart is as temple, where are hall
lowed memories shrined.
AS along the dusty high-road rise the mile
stones one by one,
Telling here and there the distance, until the
way is done,
80 a woman's basket marks her journey o'er
the path Of life,
Working dearest work for others whether she
be maid or wife.
1AO pOcLl LlOSI interesting To your
correspondent is 1.-THE Transplanted
Flower" 1t has never been published,
but was prepared for the us of two friends
while their hearts were broken by the
death of their first born, whom Jesus
saw fit to call away to Himself. 1t is
with their consent it now appears, and
1t is with the hope, its sweet words may
find other hearts to comfort, among your
esteemed readers:-
All in one fair enclosure
We had tiny flower.
With loving care we tended 1t,
And watched it hour by hour.
And In the morning sunshine
And in the evening dew,
To sweeter bloom and fairer form,
Our bud of beauty grew:
All, WE'LL in other gardens
There might such plants be sown,
But never one SO rich in grace,
So white as this our own.
Might never wind of Autumn,
Or breath of frost unkind,
Might never aught to break or mar
Our bud of beauty find,-
So praying, 10! the Master
Reached forth His wounded hand,
Behold" he said, at shall be safe,
Where saints and angels stand"