Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-07-02
MRS, CHARLToN's POEM.

10 Lauies, anu TroI. sawyer, OF Osh
ssh, to Our Sister Normals.
MRS. CHARLToN'S POEM.
IT'S calm midsummer eve,
And the west is all aglow.
Blushing like lovely maid
At the smiles her lovers throw,
For the royal leod of day
Like lover warm and bold
Fingers his farewell TO say,
Turns again beyond the thres hold.
Backward throws In sportive mood
Tender kisses. chances bright,
Smiles again on hill and wood
Ere he says his last good night.
fingers till the evening star
Hangs her dainty lamp, on high,
Till the silver crescent moon,
Bids him on his journey fly,
Saying" faithful watch I'll keep
Ger each sylvan. fair retreat,
Till your journey quickly speed
You returning, morn shall greet,
Rouse with kisses from her bed
Within the open doorway
gracious woman stands.
With placid face and gentle,
And open outstretched hands,
In tender accents calling s..s.
Her children from their play,
Come in. come in my darlings
1t is the close of day,
The roses in the garden
Their silken petals close.
And slender, stately lilies,
Bend now In sweet repose; M
Each birding, in the home nest
With head beneath its wing,
Is wrapt in quiet slumber
Nor longer wakes to sing.
Come in, come in my darlings
The day is well nigh done,
Come in, from lawn and meadow,
Leave your frofic and yonr fun
Andnow they troop about her,
And Chamber on her knee,
And prattle altogether
And tell in childish plee
OF all their games and pleasure,
And wonder. il the morrow
Will bring them newer treasure
Or only rain and sorrow
She speeds the nights undressing,
And hears the oft told tales
With words of soft caressing
And love that never fails.
The while she maketh ready
To rest from earthly care.
She leads their thoughts to Heaven
And Him who heareth prayer.
And when, upon the pillow,
Each restless head is still,
She prays the Heavenly Father
That each may know his will,
And faithfully performing.
Grow in beauty day by day;
For whatever may befall us
In life's uneven way,
There is no treasure richer.
Than pure heart andefted:
There 10 no honor greater,
Than toping child.
An older group of children
Round their mother cling tonight;
They have come from fields of labor,
From the worlds aggressive fight.
They have fought and won in battle
They have waited, hope deferred,
But mid the noise and tum1lt
Her loving voice was heard;
And now they gather round her,
Her treasure and her pride,
For tits their time OF resting,
With their armor laid aside.
Their hours were months of LABOR,
Their day year Of care,
In schoolroom or in Office
They have wrought their equal share.
Some hearts lie weary laden,
Some live on higher plane,
Some faces turned towsrd Eden,
Show labor not in vain
They bring their well earned treasure
To meet the mothers gaze,
And tread with pride and pleasure
The old familiar ways;
They tell with mirth and laughter
The story of their youth
or struggle and disaster
In searching after truth,
How every soul with trembling
Drew near the Final Ex.''
That part of Normal training
Arranged the soul to yex.
How some went forward bravely
And Others following mute,
Would fain have left the dry land
And ta'en the aeGter route.
They tell of weary wanderings
In learning's winding maze,
OF the CLEAN of wisdom's jewel,
Which for every effort pays;
Aud 30 they speed the evening,
With asking and replying.
Beneath the mirthfnl seeming
Is an undertone of signing,
For the past hath deeper sorrows,
Which the lips may not repeat,
And in the household circle
There is many vacant seat.
There were lives of brilliant promise,
Flashed and vanished like flame.
And our hearts are crushed within us
At the mention of q name.
We can give them only silence,
Where they lie in peaceful sleep,
Each beside some cleaning headstone
For his own will pause and weep.
Let us not our courage lessen
Lingering longer by grave.
Duty bids us as we press on
Ever more BE brave be braye'N
We will leave our griefs unspoken.
Buried are they in the past,
Trust betrayed and promise broken,
Never shall our joy o'ercast.
Be their record closed forever,
Till upon the farther side,
Opened mid the leaves of healing
We shall find the balm applied.
Now the stately Alma Mater,
With her years and honors crowned,
Bids us rest while from labor,
Joying in her peace profound.
Here our inward strength renewing
As we wait little while,
Every thought of i'll esehewing
We may at the future smile.
On the Mothers breast reposing
As she questions OF the past,
She shall whisper words OF wisdom
Which Will all our needs outlast.
Vain these massive halls Of science
Builded of the solid stone.
Vain each modern new appliance
Toinyentise genius known,
Vain this macs of wealth and learning
Ii we look at these alone
Not the beauty of the landscape.
Not the buildings size or name.
Not the roll OF honored teachers
Giyea Normal school its fame;
But the spirit there indwelling.
Flowing forth for human need.
Is by its influence inspiring
Men to worthy thought and deed.
Not the fund by Regents guarded,
De the income small or great.
Not the souls, who pay tuition
Prove her value TO the State:
Bnt her worth is in her children,
Estimate il ye who can,
He her value shows most justly
Who himself is most a man.
Ye who now her name inherit
Let Il be your constant aim
Fifty to show forth her merit,
Add new lustre to her name.
Go forth, then. to win her honor
Only, as We honor self
Living for the good % others.
Not for worldly power or pclf.
Glrd yourselves for noble conquest.
Clothe your souls anew with might,
Honor self ana Alma Mater
Standing firmly for the right