The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-10-05
AN OLD MANS STORY.
FOR the p1oNEEn PRESS.

xOh 4o6 x1ONhEls fhESS.
You were harsh with Jernie to-day, Joe,
And you filed her eyes with tears,
You struck blow at her heart strinrs $50 g
That will leave its mark for years.
i Yes, mon are thoughtless and cruel, III
Though strong to lead and control,
And tho hands should be tender that fetter
A woman's sensitive soul.
: had passed the Romance of youth, Joe,
When won my fair. young bride.
And my wisdom had quite forgotten Il
The dreams of life's sweet spring.tide,
Twas wrapped In plans for the future,
Winning riches, houses and lands.
And chilled the joyous creature
Whose fate lay In my hsnds.
How could know that her young no
Was building Its castles, too?
That the spell Of her Rirlish fancy
Its glamour DER me threw?
And each word Of rebuke I uttered
,,! Strnck keen on her wifeIy pride.
Faded aud withered and died.
For Ihad mans ono model.
Sne must learn my mothers ways
Aud all my life had heard, ZOO.
There was naught 10 harmful Is praise.
That the lying breath of dattery,
Spoke In its subtle thrill,
And father and mother looked on. Joe,
While I taught my wife their viii.
So q year went by unheeded
And Katie was growing old.
There were tiny lines on her forehead,
That q tale OF suff' ring told.
Little dreamed had carved them
With my ceaseless words OF blame;
That her burden OF cherries labor
Was crushing her slender frame.
One morning, how we'll remember.
Something was left undoae.
Mother WAS hurt and offended,
Father was sullen and glum.
said there was never more quiet
Nor comfort for my life.
And the saddest day in my hist'ry
Was that which made her my wife.
Then up to the field hastened,
But the day was dismal and chill,
And tho lonesome wind Of the autumn
Swept keen DER the crest of the hill.
My heart 1t was filed with angsx
As I turned the sodden loan.
II will be obeyed," muttered,
And master Of my home!"
But still as I trod the furrow .,
I thought Of her winsome way,
And the wealth of love she lavishe.
On me, so old and gray;
OF the heavy weight IT labor
That lay on her shoulders frail,
How her eyes were sad aud hopeless
And her cheek was thin and pale.
The blackbirds chauted above me
A requiem in the trees,
And breath Of dim foreboding
Came shivering on the breeze.
And at last my heart relented;
Yielding TO loves fond way
left my pillow In tho furrow
And homeward went my way.
"Katie!" called in the kitchen,
And katie" called in the hall,
But a cricket chirped in answer
Slowly. aud that was all
Only the pipe of biacKbird
And the solemn cav of crow
And the scream Of 8 locomotive
In the village down below.
Across the field hastened
With echoing ANXIOUS cry
When caught on Haunting briar
fragment smote my eye.
Only dainty ribbon
Which had bound golden tire
A bit Of snow-white ribbon
And scrap of crimson dress.
Then presence stood beside me
And chilled my very breath,
Numbing my throbbinR pulses,
Fer the presence it was Deathl
Blindly its lead followed,
In my heart one fierce, mad prayer
As u pun OF pearly vapor
Rose up In the murky air.
She stood where the rocks doomed
Over the rack below,
Her clasped hands raised to heaven.
Her blue eyes wild with woe.
Trembling, sinking, swaying,
heard her frenzied cry,
Aud caugnr her to my bosom
As the train went laundering by.
Oh! wondrous love OF woman.
Undimmed by sorrow or pain,
Ready to ope death portals
10 free me from my chains.
Clasped in my arms, bore her
Back to our nome, forlorn.
And there, in tho hush of twilight,
Our little child was born.
God reigns! In this far, dim future,
Perhaps there is peace for mo.
Her face all tender, iorgiviug,
In heaven, at last, may see.
Through years of lonely waiting
reap what have sown.
Yes, Joe; It's your mothers story,
whose life paid for your own.
SARAH D. HOB