The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-01-15
JEM's LAST RIDE.

HlEh DER the snow-oapped peaks OF blue the
stars are out tonight,
AND the silver crescent-moon hangs low. ]
watched it. on my right,
Moving above the pine-tops tall, bright and
While listened to the tales you told Of peril
and escape.
Then, mingled with your voices low, heard
the rumblinF sound
OF wheels adOwn the farther slope, that
sought the level ground;
And, suddenly, from memories that never
Flashed out, once more. the day when last I
rode with English Jem.
Twas here, in Wild Montana, I took my hero's
From Butte to Deer Lodge, foor-in-hand, he
drove the mountain stage;
And many a time in sun or storm, safe
mounted at his side,
whiled away with pleasant talk the long
days weary ride.
Jem's faithful steeds had served him long, of
One sought n vain for trace Of blows upon
the glossy hide;
And TO each low command he spoke the
leaders nervous ear
Bent eager. as a lover waits his mistress
voice 20 hear.
With ringing crack the leatnern whip, that
Kept time for many a rapid mile to English
And Yet despite his smile, he seemed a
with not one soul to claim him kin on this
side of the sea.
But after had known him long, one mellow
He told me Of his English Rose. who withered
And how. within the ohurchyard green. he
With her sweet babe, bughted bud, upon
her frozen breast.
81 could not stay" he said, where she had
The very hedFe-rose that she loved, could
not look upOni
could not hear the mavis sing, or see the
And every little daisy-bank seemed but my
darlings gravel
''Yet somehow-why, 1 can not tell-but
seemed to bring her with me, too, that once
had been so dearl
love these mountain submits, where the
world is in the sky,
For she is in IL; too-my lovel-and so bring
her nigh"
Next week, I rode with Jem again. The coach
was full, that day,
And there were little children there, that
pleased us with their play.
A sweet-fRced mother brought her pair Of
rosy brghteyed girls,
And boy like one left at home, with stlken,
yellow curls.
We took fresh horses at Girard's, and IS he
A vicious pair they seemed to mel heard
s'You always want good horses, Jeml Now
you shall have your wayI
Try these new beauties; for we sold your old
team yesterday!
Ger clean. cut limb and sloping flank, srched
marked Jem run his Praotioed eye, though
not n word he said;
Yet, as he clambered TO his seat, and took the
Isaw a look upon his face it had not worn
before.
The hostler open flung the gates. Nov,
Tempest, show your PAGER
He cried. And with a careless hand he struck
the leaders face.
The horse, beneath the sportlve blow, reared
And. with mis- panic-stricken mates, to a mad
gallop sprung!
we Numbered through the gate, and out upon
the stony road;
From side to side the great coach lurched,
with all its priceless loadl
Some cried aloud for help. and some, with
terror frozen tongue,
Chung, bruised and faint in every limb, the
weaker to the strongl
And men, who oft had looked on death.
unbanched, by flood or field,
when every nerve. to do and dare, by agony
was steeled,
Now moancd aloud, or CRASHED their teeth in
helpless rage,
TO die, at whim Of maddened brutes, like
VerEnin IN a cage!
Too we'll, alasi too we'll knew the awful way
went;
The little stretch OF level road, and then the
steep descent;
The boiling stream that seethed and roared
far down the rocky ridge,
with death, like old HoratiuS, grim waiting
at the bridge!
But, suddenly, above the din, voice rang
loud and clearl
We knew 10 well. the drivers VOice-withOut
one note of fear!
Some strong. swift angels lips might thrill
with such clarion cry;
The voice of one who put for aye all earthly
passion by.
@stinl for your lives, and listenI See yon
farmhouse by the way,
And piled along the hsld in front the shocks
God help me turn my horses therei And
when give the word,
who Israel heard"
within, the coach was stint It's strange, but
shall / forget the fields, that day, the color
OF the sky,
sweet perfume of the hay,
The bObolink, that in the grass would sing
his life away
One breathless moment brldged the space
that lay between, and then
Jem drew upon the straining reins, with all
the strength OF tenl
''Hold fast the babesr' More close olasped
"Let every nerve be steady nowl" and Jump
for life" he cried.
Saved, every soull OIL dizzy-sweet life
rushed IN every vein,
To us, who from that fragrant bed rose up to
hope againi
But, 'Inid the smiles and grateful tears that
mingled on each cheek
a sudden, questioning horror grew, that
none would dare to speak,
Too soon the answer struck our earsl One
moments hollow roar
or flying hoofs upon the bridge--an awful
crash that tore
The very air in twain-and then, through ali
the world, grown still,
] only heard the oobolink go singing ut his
Will
was the FIRST man down the cliff There's
little left TO tell
We found him lying, breathing yet and con-
sciOus, where he fell.
The question IN his eager eyes I answered
with n word
SAFER Then he smiled and whispered low
some words 1 scarcely heard.
We would have raised him, but his lips grew
white with agony.
"Not yeti It will be over soonl' he whis-
pered. wait with mel
Thon-lower-smiling still: cit Is my Last
ride, friends; but
Have done my duty, and God knows do not
fear to die"
BE closed his eyes. We watched his life slip,
Ike an ebbiug tide,
Far out upon the Infinite, where all our
hopes abide.
He spoke but once again, a name not meant
for mortal ears
''My Roser She must have heard that call
amid the singing spheresi
Mary a. =. StdnSbttTp, IN ". Y. Independent.
@S
nETECVUTUE "AUO