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

tread,
But on the summit of St Josephs spire
stood erect and waved q welcome-fag,
With scanty Festing-place beneath my feet
And the wild breezes cutching at my beard.
IL took some nerve TO stand 50 near to heaven
And fling abroad its col0re. Try 1t, priest.
sBut am old; most OF my manhood's fire
Is choked in cold white ashes; and INV nerves
Iremble In every zephyr like the leaves.
What can do?-the flag must not be missed
From the cathedral summit. I've no son,
OF ne should bear the banner, or my curse.
have daughter: she shall wave the fiagl
.And this is how my girl shall wave the flag.
Ten snitors has she; and the valiant
VINO, strong of heart and WILL climb that perch
And DO what 50 many time have done,
Shall shake her hand from mine at his descent.
Speak up, Vienna lads and recollect
how much OF loneliness faint heart e'er wOn.o
Then there was clamor in the callow 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 spire-tp trembled in the breeze,
But none spoke up. tin Gabriel Petersheim.
Whose ear this proclamation strange had reached,
Came rushing through the crowd, and boldly said:
IT am your daughters sutton, and the one
She truly loves; but scarce can gain a smile
Until win her fathers heart as WE'LL
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
And mention, when bring the fag to you,
Whether twas ever waved more gloriously."
And thus the old man answered: "Climb your
way:
And IL seneefu 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 evening'ss
had sl.nAA
Rode past the church. And though Young Gabriel's
nerves
He pleased the peoples and the Eonarchs 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 &c Ringy pageant all had passed,
lie 20 Cd .sp the flag, andwith proud smiles
And ~ ouder heart prepared him to descend.
but the small trap-door through which he had
lad by some rivals hand been barredl and he,
With but handbreadth's space where he might
cling
Was left alone to live there, orto die.
GUESSING The truth, or shadow of the truth.
He smiled at first. and said. ssWcll. let them voice
Their jealousy Ey snch paitry trick!
They laughed an hcnr; my laugh win longer bel
I heir joke will soon be dead. and released
But an hour, and two others. slowly came.
And then he murmuresl: .sThis il no boys sport:
1t is silent signal, which means sDeathi'
he shouted, but no answer came to him.
Not even an echo, on that lofty perch.
He waved his hands in mute entreaty, but
The darkness crept between him and his friends.
A half-hour seemed an age. and stiIl lie chung.
He looked down at the myriad city lights,
Twinkling like stars upon q owlier sky,
And prayed: "Oh, blessed city of my birth.
In which full many love, and one o'er-weu,
Is there not 'mongst those thousands one kind
To help me? or must come back to you
Crashing my way through g'im, un:imely death9"
Rich sounds CT mirth came fElEtly-but no help
Another hour went by, and still he chung.
He braced himself against the rising breeze.
And wrapped the flag around his shivering form,
And thus he prayed INTO the merry winds:
~Oh, breeze you bear no tales of fruer love
Ihan can give you at this lonely height
Tell but my danger to the heart serve,
And she win never rest till / am free |"
The winds pressed hard against him as he clunx.
And well.nigh wrenched him from that scanty
hold.
Rui made no answer to the piteous plea
Hour after hour went by, and still he held
Weak, dizzy. reeling-to his narrow perch.
II was clear and queenly summer night
And every star seemed hanging from the sky.
AS 'twere bending down to look at him
And thus ne PRAYED g chg far-shining stars:
.eOh, million worlds, peopled perhaps like this,
Tan you not see me, clinging helpless here2
Can you not fash message 70 some eye.
IrtGuuly
To rescue me % million sweeteyedI stars
Gave smiles 10 the beseecher. but no help.
And 90 the long procession Of the night
Marched slowly By, and cath scarce hour was
hailed
BY the great clock beneath: and SIN he clung
Unto the fran preserver OF his life.
And held. not for his life. bat for his love
Held while the spiseful breezes wreuched at him
Held while the ehils OF midnight crept through
While Hope and Fear made him their hatt,a-
ground.
And rsvsged hercely through his heart ana brain.
he moaned. he wept. he prayed again; be
prayed
Grown desperate and half ravfng in his woe
To everything in earth. or air. or sky:
To the fair streets, now still and silent grown.
To the cold ROOFS now stretched stWixt him ana
70 the dumb. distant hills that needless sleDt.
To the white clouds that slowly 1uttered.pass:
To bis lost mother IN the sky above;
And then he prayed 70 God.
Abouf tha1 time
The maiden dreanaed she saw her lover. faint
ClinGing for lifes and with scream pprOse.
And rushed 20 the old eext0n'e yielding door.
Granting no peace to him until be ron
TO IND Tie nuths and give the boy release.
An houx ere EunFlse he came fees,ly down.
GkaGfimN The Nan. and ciaimlnH IL tafE prize.
But what wreck To win bloonpsnw Qfft
His cheeks we're wxsnkled arc III yellow hue.
Els eyes wezr euxen. and his xnflmR hnr
klf<meo white - SnOW upon fLe distant Alps