Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-05-24
"A TROPICAL INCIDENT.
ny d. T. suILLAprn.

Noon in the tropics. The sripht sun
cleans from the empyrean,
Pouring his scorching arrows down
Upon the palpitat.ng town,
AUD, meath his illuminating beams,
Ihe brow with tidal moisture streams.
Urging retreat to the cool shade
BY the wide, dark yeranda made,
Ur where the Jalousie excludes
The fiery heats assailing broods.
The trade winds DER the foliage sweep
IN kindness from the plying deep,
Tempering. by their grateful sway,
The SUMS inexorable ray,
Waking the harp-strings of the trees.
To dim, mysterious melodies,
Or whisperipgs of outward cheer.
whose gentle cadence fills the ear
The shril notes of the kiskndee
Glad the funercal tamarind tree.
The orange burdencth the breeze
With pcrfume-breatning ecstacies.
The mangrove glows with brighter sbinc
Inc water-lemon, on Its vine,
Peepb 'twixt Its leaves, with golden eyc
Coquetting with the lime hard by,
Ant AND therelway, like sentient things,
Inc plantains wave their sombre wings:
The mountains cabbage tree, DER head.
The cocoa-palm with spectral spread,
Echo the breezes' Joyous feet,
Az on they move with motion fleet,
While, through their coronalH of green,
The baflicd sunshine aifts between,
Within the cool yeranda's sbrine.-
O,erhung with many graceful vine,
which Haunted emerald fringcs fair,
In playful dalliance with the air.
Two little children sat at play,
Shut from the fervid heat away,
Laughing and screaming with the gl,e
OF equalizing infancy:
This golden -iocked and white and fair.
The other black, with crinkied hair.
NO difference felt in that young hour.
Ere caste and prejudice have power,
Ana all the moments, as they lee,
Are given to blissful unity.
At length, grown wear~ ,.,,
0nspp a happy 1tT tSoasb' eaRef'' ;.ni to share,
Opened wide al; the bright blue eyes
A wat lear convenient shelf,
an or urn revealed itself,
moist with the exuding dew,
Ihat gently percolated through!
And then, On the yeranda floor,
Their childish sports began once more,
But silently as little mice
They carried out their new device,
The mothcrs-mistress and her maid
Sat In the ialousie's cool shade,
And. from the sudden silence deep,
Deemed that the children were asleep,
When, stepping quietly outside,
A curious picture they deserted.
There little Ebony sat upright,
Ills features beaming with delight.
While DER hiuI stood Miss Golden Locks,
with one Of her most costly frocks,
sonked with the waters lavish flow,
Bathing the negro checks and brow:
SO deep intent she did not catch
The sound OF the uplifted latch,
Nor heed. with note of ear or eye,
The gentle footsteps drawing nigh
What are you doing, baby dear?"
The mother cried; when, bright and clear,
The blue eyes turned to meet her own,
And in disappointed tone
Parting the hair that hid her sight
She said: 81 tried to make him white,
But oh, the black is baked on so,
ne'er Gun wash 1t off, know"
Then gave sigh of childish pain
To think her effort was in vain.
The mother of the little child
OF snowy brow and features mild
Then told her how the good God set
This Jewel in its garb of let;
But better far than whitest skin,
Was purity of soul within.
And graveiy little Golden Hair
Received the lesson uttered there
With softened gaze and thoughtful mien,
Amid the tropics gold and green.
YOUTHS Companion.