The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-06-14
THE DEATH or A POET.

THB DEATH or q POET.
 The humorous poet, A. W. Kelly. nationally knosn as PArmeaas Mis-" died ot consumption m Franklin. Ky, last week He was native of Schenee- tady, \. f.. and a, the time of hts death had Astaiaed hs forsy-sin.h year. in 1871, William Kelly. the posss father. pur- chased . farm in Sumnes county, Tea. nessee. "pAsm snss Mix" ., that time employed on the Schenectady .sks,. soon followed hts father to his rural retreat Several years later. young Kelly ven, 10 Franklin, Ky, where he remained until his friends laid him to res, in Green Lawn cemetery. He wrote many keauti. ful poems productions which w,,hou, credit. are nov floating around on the ceaseless wave of the press. For many years he was regular contributor to the New York A<vss,y, and appeared oc. easioaaily in the Cssfs,y Asess,s< His blending of hsmos and pa,hos was woadesful-a a tear of Joy. tear of sad ness. He was as gentle as A child. aa generous as . smile of forgiveness. h his pure soui there luFksd no enmity. For yean the writer of these poor re- marks which fall % short of their aim like the arrow aimed at the sky, bu, which falls on the ground-was associ- aied with A. w. Kelly. No companion ship could have been closer, though one was a man winning q reputation, the other an uncouth boy. oee night while the two friends lay on the straw where the wheat had been threshed, Kelly, after gazing in,ently ., the stAss remarked:
 l" Do you ever think oi dying f''
 "Yes, think oi Il daily"
 "Tha, star has suggested to me lev words that oanno, dismiss. Here they arc
 The usia Of tune moves ever by the tofab. W:,a trafini eyes we see the ,sass reesds. Ouf siaitea reached. ~e leap the stssiess
 EiSpui
 The train moves on with andiminishsd speed.
 Why do you remain here when you have the ability 10 do better r'
 '' Ah. you don, knos," said he. [" My life IS wrecked. While lay on the sands of Andersonville prison, a bright picture Of a beautiful girl would dance before me. l saw the face in the blue sky ,; saw |, in the giorious flag ths, brought rel,ef. When l went home to dear old Schenectady, pressed that face to my bosom, fel, that heart beat, psessed the warm. glowing lips of that picture. believed that she loved me--don't repeat this while am alive bat she did not, os fl she did, her soul turned toward money instead of devotion. One night we were sanding near an old church. Suddenly she said
 "'l don't love you like you think do.'
 "i looked up at the tower and wished ,ha, i, nigh, fall on me.
 eoidiy dropped the hand that night
 I'd give my life so hold ones more.
 And shut from ost my soul the light That eheefsd my reckless way before
 No, q word was lost by the eager listener, and nov, though years have flown, he can zee the pale, handsome face, and hsas the thrilling voice sf that fascinssing man.
 "Shostjy afterwards" he consisued, z my nothes died. l sss aIose with the cofsn that held the dear form. sas as the head, gazing on the aoble brow ] had % often kisssd. Looking up, ssw the giri sissisg at the foot oi the coffin. Our syes met, but VI spoke not word l looked down, asd when ! again looked up. she vas gose- That vas the lsss time l ever ssw her; the last time 1 ever wiil see her. A lew days aster this incident, she married wealthy mas."
 He passed away without . struggle. Consumption did its work with gentle hasd.