The Baltimore County union., 1883-05-05
THE BLAoKsMIrH.s STORY.

Well, no Ny wife amt dead, sir, I've lO,t her all
the same;
She len me voluntarily, aud neither was to blaine
It's rather queer story, and ! think you will
agree
When you hear the crcumstanees--'twa rather
rough on me.
She was a soldiers widow. lie was killed at Nal.
vern Hill;
And when 1 married her she seemed to sorrow for
him still;
But brought her 10 Kansas. Inever want to see
better wife than Mary was for Eve bright year.
20 me
Theehnnge Of scene brough, ehoerfuiness, and soon
arosy glow
or happiness warmed Mary's cheeks. and melted
all their snow.
think she loved me somc-I'm bound 10 think
that of her, sir;
And as for mel can't begin to tell how loved
her
Three years ago the baby came. our humble home
20 bless;
And then reckon was nigh to perfect happiness
Twas hers--'twas mine but I've no Ian age 10
explain TO you
How that little giri's weak fingers our hearts to-
gether drew
Once We watched Il through fever, and With each
aasping breath,
Dumb with an awfuI, wOrldIess voc. We waited for
And though I'm not pious man, our souls To-.
gether there
For heaven TO spare our darling went ~ ia voice
lees prayer.
And when the doctor said 'twouII live. our ioy
what words could tell
ClasPed Ia each Others arms, our grateful tears
together fell.
Soinctimes. you see. the shadows fell across our
little nest.
Res naiv ,..l. a..
welcome guest,
Work came to inc plenty, and I kept the anvil
ringing.
Early aid late you'd fnd inc there a hammcring
aud singing:
Love ncsvci my arm to labor and tuned my tongue
10 song.
And though my singing wa,n'i sweet. it was al.
mighty strong.
"ne day a one. armed stranger stopped 10 have ne
nail shoe.
Aud while was a, work We passed IA compliment
or two.
Asked him how be lost his arm. lie said tua.
shct away
A. Malvern IIili. "At Malvern IIm. Did you
know Robert May ?"
That's me I" said he. "You. your' sa.peI.
choking with horrid doubt;
"lf you're a man. just follow me we'll try thi.
mystery out
with dizzy steps lei him TO Mary. God Twas
true
Then the bi,,cre., pang. of misery un,peakable
knew.
Frozen with deadly horror. she stared with eyes Of
stone,
And from her yering lips there broke one wild
departing moan.
Twas he; the husband Of her youth, now risen
from the dead.
But all too la,e-anl with bitter cry her senses
fed.
wha; could be done lie was reported dead. On
his return
lie s,rOve in vain iidings of his absent wife
10 learn.
Twas we'll that he wa innocent, Else Id have
So dead he never would have ria till GabrieI's
trumpet blew.
II was agreed that Mary then betueen Us should
decide,
And each by her decision would sacretlly abide:
No sinner at the judgment scat. waiting eternal
doom,
Could suffer wha, l did while waiting sentence in
that room.
Rigid aud brea,hless there We stood, with nerve.
- tenfs as steel,
While Mary's eyes sought each white face in pi,e.
Gus appeal.
God coald not woinan's duty be lc.. hardly recon
Between her lawful husband ani the father Of her
chill.
All nov my heart was chilled to ice when she knei,
down and said,
Forgive me. John lie is my husband, Here
Alive not dead d.'
raised her tenderly and tried to tell her she was
right,
But somehow in my aching breast the poisone.l
words stuck tight.
"But. John, can't leave baby" what. wife
and child cried I:
Must yield all' All, cruel. better that I should
die.
Think Of the long, sad lonely hours waiting in
gloom for me
No wife TO cheer me with her love-no babe 10
climb my knee.
"Andyet you arc her mother, aud the sacred mother
l. still the Pure'i, ,enderesi tie ,ha, heaven ever
wOyc.
Take her. but promise, Mary-for that will bring
no shame
My little girl shall bear. and learn to lisp her
fathers name! 90
II may be. in life to come. III meet my child and
wife:
Bot yondsr by my cottage gate, We parted for THE
life:
One long hand-clasp from Mary, and my dream of
life was done
One long embrace from baby. and my happine.,
gouei