The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-28
A NEW POET.
The Sweet Siager of Honesdaie. Pa, whs
Would Control Our National Muse.

n NLN BoEIs
The Sweet Siager of Honesdaie, Pa, Who
Would Control Oar National Muse.
Since the observation Of the Sweet
Singer of Michigan, by circumstances
over which the newspapers of the coun-
| try had no control. there has been a
vacancy in the list of American poets
Many have struggled earnestly for the
laurel, but none has gained it.
new aspirant i in the field how
ever, and bids fair to rival Michigan's .
| most original of >ongsterS in some re-
| spects. although it will be useless for her
| friends TO hope for equal fame with one
| whose flights of fancy and graces of
rhythm she may closely initiate but
never surpasS. The Michigan poetess
was the founder of school, and the
later claimant for public recognition
can reasonably expect TO achieve only
that reputation which comes from being
an exponent of an established style Of
| poetic composition.
The lady who is destined to become
famous Is Mrs. Sarah A. Ulrich Kelley,
whose biography is told by her own pen
in manner that requires no explana-
| ton.
! BIOGRAPHY OF THE BARD
| In Rhyme.
/ I'm peaceful cottage by the sea
| a couple dwelt IN harmony
IRE breath Of scandal reached the ear
! or him about his wife ID dear.
/ He was a dreadful msn in War
And faisehood hsi been written afar
by Old Maid, who tried to marry in vain;
| The letter bore tho signature Of an honest
mans name.
| Though the letter was forgery he went out
| Soon as honest man namcs to the stories he
read,
! And declared he would kill his wife either
| Crazed fourteen years and then died: a very
| sad, sad fate
| The cottage was not quite as near to the sea.
| As the Susquehanna River was flowing peace
fully
| Through town of the same name way down
toward the sea.
Dwelt happy couple once, and one Of that
couple WAS me.
Then bereft OF my children for many long
years,
Crazed husband had stolen them because he
That was not fit to bring them up quite
Because of the falsehood the old maid did
write.
Twas my happiness in childhood neighbor to
OF b. G. Kidder, of Starucca an Odd Fellow
Is he:
On account of unpaid pension, I've now made
With respects TO the publisher, The Bard of
Shanty Hill.
The modesty with which Mrs Kelley
employs the sobriquet The Bard of
Shanty Hill must not be misinterpret-
ed. She Is not deficient in pride of
birth, as can be seen by the following
poetical narration entitled The Bard's
Pedigree:
No Poet lived since world began,
Who had less Black Sheep 'mong the CLAM
Zen Noah had one Dark sun, the other two
We find that our Bard's Pedigree is very, very
white.
King David, the Sweet Singer of Israel. had a
foe.
His own Brother Saul did seek His Life, pity,
Later David sang The Praises of His Brother
Saul, who died
In Battle upon High Places; Israers Beauty
David, cried.
The Prophet Joseph had Black Fellows, His
Brethren had Him sold
For twenty pieces of Silver 10 be Slave. so
we've been told;
As He'd been Born to be n Ruler, though long
time first enslaved.
While fulfilling Glorious Destiny Bretbren's
life from famine saved
- Sh ih7A hsth W Atdsi one
Cain did Kin his brother Abel, for which deed
poor Eve did weep;
But God did Comfort her. aud sent another
Son named Seth.
The Bard's Relatives all were Heroes and She
Is Loyal unto Death.
The easy style of this rare gem will
be appreciated. There is nothing Ia
bored about any of her verse She al
ludes to the facility of her accomplish
ment in this confessional tone:
/ thank the Lori that / can write
Without ScV ral Days seclusion quite;
Ten TO Thirty Minutes is all l ask
To write from Three Ia Seven Verse Task
European Poet in his time
Did suffer much comp pSing rhyme;
So hard for hm twas 10 compose.
For several - sN- With Blinds aclose,
And then tc bti "a he two.
Ere TO seclu~iuu bad Atlicu.
But perhaps the chief charm of Mrs.
Kelley's poetry may be termed its conf
Dental air. She takes her readers into
close relations without preliminary flour
ish:
Friends of my youth held very Dear
j had not seen for many n year.
Friends may meet on journey soon
I'm hoping TO start Westward this present
Month of June.
Ii is a source of regret that June is
ern lovers of poetry for their vacation.
II she has really made up her mind to
come here at that time most of the liter
ary people will try hard to be absent.
Were they to meet her thev would no
| doubt enjoy that delightful hulndf which
glimmerS in the appended Refined
Comic Song: :.
| Are you going to the Worlds Exposition
To be held at New Orleans. q?
would really like TO see the Exposition
But haven't the chink for to go.
I've Poem I'd take the Exposition,
Written about The Century Plant;
| expect 10 take the Prize at Exposition,
For my poem all the World would enchant
wish to go TO the Worlds Exposition,
To exhibit a poem that's fine;
Who furnishes the means for Exhibition
III write a Song that's well worth a Mine.
Possibly the reader woqd d relish more
selections from this lady gifted pen,
but a sufficient number and variety
| have been given to show the character
| of her work The ambition which
moves her is commensurate with her
| genius. She aspires to become the poet
laureate of. America, and has filed pc
tition of that purport with the president
| of the United States senate. Clothing
that aspiration in the garb of inspired
verse. she says:
Another Cloudy Morning hath brought a
| Cloudy Day.
Another Bard's reposing at the close of Life's
Ere ascend unto The Heavens. / hope this
| Congress surely will
Declare the National Poet is. The Bard of
| Shanty Hill.
But of her own garb she frankly ad-
mits:
I'll clothe myself with Aspiration
| For my warflrobe's mostly rags.
| Shrcds and Patches are my Station,
nt no Bard this Natioh brag. -,
Still, with right estimate of worldly
] am thinking. am thinking
| OF the days when ! was young.
| ] was the very best of teachers.
| At least my praises 50 were sung.
By A. ". Bullard. euper1nteudent
/ OF Susquehanna County al that time:
was educated most Respondent.
Mrs. Kelley is neither remarkably
handsome nor extremely young. She
has reached the full maturity of WOMAN
hood, is educated most resplendent,
humorous, of good pedigree. and has
unquestionablv very extraordinary
poetic taste The nation needs lau-
reate The hour and the woman are
both ut hand Congress alone can de-
terlnine the vital question of her accept
ance-
Cooped Up in a Coffin.
i In village not far from Boston an
attempt was recently made to reform by
: fright a genial old chap who was SO
strongly lin love with his cups as to
J be habitually full. Friends had labored