The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-05-24

Established July I, 1859.
VOLUME xxi.
K4LSTR0N',s WIFE.


.sThe sun is bright. the sky is clear,
The wind blows soft and free;
For that the lsrdcr runneth low,
Go thou ashore said she.
rKeep thou the watch, then, wife of mine:
Farewell FAREWELL he cried.
The lake was blue, away he flew, -
Across the waters wide.
The shining hours ran on apace,
Till day was almost done;
Then swift and dark, the angry clouds
Put out the sullen sun.
The fierce winds roared, the tempest beat;
Brave Kalstrom gave moan;
Far up within the lighthouse tower
His young wife watched alone.
Three times his trusty boat he launched,
With strong, determined hands;
And thrice the rude waves hurled it back
Upon the treacherous sands.
But as with straining eyes he gazed,
Clear shining like Il star,
The red rays from the lighthouse tower
Strealned steadily and far!
Day dawned day waned, but DER the lake
Still swept the furious blast.
AL day, all night, young KalstroIn ragged
A lion Gagged at last.
"Now, by yon heayens!' he cried, mot here
Another night I'll tarry;
Come life or death, I'll risk the waves
And bread to Lisa carry!'
Up in the lonely lighthouse tower
Pale Lisa prayed and wept;
While round her lashed by furious winds,
The mad white surges leapt.
o weary watchi o doleful daysI
o pain of heart and limbi
o awful dread, when far away
Upon the world wide rim
She saw little dancing fleck!
Was 1t a bout? A boat?
Dear God, on those wild, bowling waves
What keel might hope to floatY
Swiftly the darksome night came down,
The world was botted out,
When from below her lofty tower
She heard her husbands shout:
"Ho, Lisa! no, a rope a roper
The easement wide she filings;
The cold spray dashes in her face
The boat beneath her swings!
Swiftly the knottcd moose she threw;
Now pull, lass pulll" cried he;
While up his costly freight she drew
Safe from the hungry sea.
Back sped the coil. Beneath his arms
Scarce had he drawn it tight,
When great waves swamped the rocking boat
And sweptit out of sight;
While he clung quivering to the wall.
All bruised and sore bestead
The raging surf beneath his feet,
The binding storm o'erhead!
Then cheerily rang Iisa's voice
through the tumultuous din:
Hold fast, hold fast, my husband brave.
For thou and will win!''
On the taut rope she tugged and strained:
UP, up he climbed and swung,
Whlle to each creyice in the wall
With hands and feet he clung,
Till he could see her soft, dark eyes
Above the window-sill
Ihen came mighty sweeping wind,
ana wrought them grievous ILL
1t tore his strong hands faom the wall.
1t hurled him in the lake;
browning the shrek of wild dismay
From Lisa's lips that brake.
But, swift as thought, her brave young arms
Paid out the lengthening line;
IL ne neld him in the rushing surge
IWas ike hand divine.
Then once. once more that faithful wife
Her heavy task essayed:
IR,llp beside the lighthouse tower
once more the strong man swayed.
ne grasped the window-sill at last
1 y kastroln, veil your eyes,
FOR breathless on the oaken floor
Your peerless Lisa lies.
Nay, ask me not! My lips refuse
10 tell the direful tale,
Lest woman $ check should turn too white.
And feeble hearts should quail
p...L
but on, ye high souls, who have borne
All Pangs for loves sweet sake.
nor shrank beside the cruel rack
The fagot or the stake;
le FAITHFUL ones, who, undismayed.
! FOR love have yielded life.
open your ranks and give her ROOM
Brave kalstrom's drawer wifel
s julia @. r. Dorr, In the Continent