Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-09-20


II have broke one circle Of my sphere,
Let some one with straigh. finger trace it out.
"And no procession in these fFty years
Has marched the streets with aught Ike kingly
tread,
But on the summit of St Joseph-s spire
stood erect and waved welcome-fiag,
With ecanty reetng-place beneath my feet,
And the wild breezes clutching at my beard.
10 took some nerve to stand 40 near to heaven
And fling abroad its colors. Try 1t, priest.
"But am old; most OF my manhood's fire
Is choked in cold white ashes; and nv nerves
Irembe in every zephyr like the leaves.
What can do?-the flag must not be missed
From the cathedral summit. I've no son,
Or ne should bear the banner, or my curse.
have daughter: she shall wave the nagl
sAnd this Is how my girl shall wave the dag.
Ten suitors has she; and the valiant one
VINO, strong OF heart and will, climb that perch,
ana do what so many time have done,
Shall shake her hand from mine at his descent.
Speak up, Vienna adsi and recollect
How much of loveliness faint heart e'er won.n
Then there was a clamor in the caIlow breasts
OF the Vienna youth; for she was far
The sweetest blossom of that city's vines.
Many youngsters eye climbed furtively
Where the frail epire-tip trembed in the breeze,
Then wandered to tn cot wherein she dwet.
But none spoke mp, till Gabriel Petersheim,
Whose ear this proclamation strange had reached,
Came rushing through the crowd, and boldly said:
II am your daughters sutton, and the one
She truly loves: but carce can gain a smile
Until win her fathers heart as well:
And you, old man, have frowned on me. and said
was too young, too frivolous, too wild,
And had not manhood worthy of her hand.
Mark me tomorrow as / mount yon epire
And mention, when bring the fau to YOU.
Whether twas ever waved more gloriously."
And thus the old man answered: "Climb your
way:
And il eeneeful breeze should push you of.
And break that raw and somewhat worthless neck,
can not greatly mourn: but climb your way,
And you shall have the girl If you succeed"
High on the giddy pinnacle next day
Waited the youth; but not till evenings sun
Marched from the western gates, that tardy king
Rode past the church And though Young Gabriel's
nerves
He pleased the peoples and the monarch's eye,
And flashed deeper thrill OF love through one
Who turned her sweet face Sften up to him,
And whose true heart GOOD with him on the tower.
Now, when 10 Ringy pageant all had passed,
lie 70 Cd .sp the flag, andwith proud smiles
And llouder heart prepared him to descend.
But the small trap-door through which he had
5atl by some rivals hand been barredl and he.
With but hand-breadths space where he might
Was left alone to live there, or die.
Guessing The truth, or shadow of the truth.
He smiled at first. and said: swell, let them voice
Their jealousy ty such paltry trckl
They laughed an hcur; my laugh win longer bel
] heir joke will soon be dead. and / released
But an hour, and two others, slowly came,
And then he mnrmureI "This is no boys sport:
It'll silent signal, which means 'Deathi''
BE shouted, but no answer came to him,
Not even an echo, on that lofty perch.
lie waved his hands in mute entreaty, but
The darkness crept between him and his friends.
A half-hour seemed an age. and stiIl he chung.
He looked down at the myriad city lights.
fke ST NM n oxvlfo rekx
And prayed: "Oh, blessed city of my birth.
In which full many love- and one o;er-wen,
Or should not be feebly clinging here.
IL there not 'mcngst those thousands one kind
heart
To help me? or must come back to you
Crashing my way through gIim, I'm: timely death?n
Rich sounds CT mirth came faiEtIy-but no help.
Another hour went by, and still he clunc
He braced himself against the rising breeze
And wrapped the flag around his shvering form,
And thus he prayed INTO the merry winds
~Oh. breeze, yOu bear no tales of truer love
Than can give you at this lonely height
Tell but my danger to the heart serve
And she viii never rest till / am free gp
The winds pressed hard against him as he clung.
And well.nigh wrenched him from that scanty
hold,
Eat made no answer to the piteous plea
Hour after hour went by, and still he held
Weak dizzy, reeling-t0 his narrow perch.
IL was clear and Queenly summer night.
And every star seemed hanging from the sky,
AS 1were bending down 10 look at him.
And TINS he prayed 90 the far-ehininn stars:
.Ohs million worlds, peopled perhaps like this,
Can you not see me, clingIng helpless here2
Can you not fash message TO some eve.
Or throw your influence on some friendly brain
To rescue me p A million sweet-eypd stars
Gave smiles 70 the beseecher. but no help.
And 60 the long procession Of the night
Marched slowly By, and eath scarce hour was
BIZ the great clock beneath: and sin he clune
Unto the fEail pfeeerver OF hslife.
And held not for his life. but for his love
Held while the Spiseful breezes wrenched NJ him
Held while the chills OF midnight crept through
While hope and Fear made HIM their battle
And rayaged fercely through his heart nna brain.
He moaned. he wept. he prayed again; he
prayed
Grown desperate and half raving in his woe
To everything IN earth. or air. or sky
To the fair streets, now still and eilenf grown.
TO the cold roofs, now stretched tWixt him and
70 The dun dumb, distant huns that needless slept
TO the white clouds that slowly futtered,past:
10 hle lost mother y the sky above
And then he prayed 20 God
About thai time
The maiden dreamed she saw her lover faint
ClinRinE for iIles and with scream uprose.
And rushed - he old sections yielding door,
Granting no peace 70 him until he lDn
10 ind TIE kEnth, and give the Dor release.
An houR ere snnrise he cane feea,lv down.
6rasIlng he nag, and claiming hie fair prize.
g. ynes xzsek e y.n ooon,n eirll
Bis eye1 wsze sanktn. and his kntllne hair
NAFemNa wAA1R ~ NnoN SOON fke Distant Alps