Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-03-04
PHRYNE'S HUSBAND.


| stool ut cvc wncn tho sun went down, by Il
grave where woman lies,
Who lured mems souls TO the shores of sin with
the light of her waniou eyes.
Who sang the song that the Siren SsDs on the
treacherouS Lurley height,
Whose face fair "a a summer day, and
whose heart was as black as night.
Yet = blossom fain would pluck to-day from tho
garden above her dust;
Not the languorous lily Of soulless sin nor the
bio d. Icd rose of lust;
But Il sweet white blossom of holy love that grew
in the one green spot
In the arid desert of phryne's life where all was
parchcd and hot
In the summer, when the meadows were aglow
with blue and red,
Joe, the Ostler of the Maepic, and fair Annie
Smith were we'd
Plump was Annie, plump and pretty, with cheek
as fair as snow
He was anything but handsome, was the Magpies 5
Ostler, Joe.
But he won the winsome lasse. They cottage
and COW.
And her ma,ronhood sat lightly on the village
beauty'S brow.
Sped the months and came baby-suc n blue
eyed baby boy.
ice was working in the stables when they told
him of his joy.
He was Iubbin: down the horses, and he gave
them then and there
All special feed of clover, just in honor of the
her;
II had been his great ambition and he told tho
horses So
That the fates ;7culd seni baby who might bear
the name ofJoc
Little Joe. the child. was rhristencd. and, like
babies, grew apace
He d his mothers {, cs of azure and his athers
honest face.
Swift tho happy years went over, Yeas Of blue
and cloudlcss SKY;
Love was lord OF that small cottage, and the tcEi
.csts passed :h"ln by,
Passed them by for years then swiftly burst in
fury Ger their hou.c.
Down the lane by Annie'S coltagc CHANGED a gem
teman t. roam:
Thrice he came and saw her sitting by the win
dow with her child,
Aud he nodded 10 the baby, aGd tho baby laughc
and smiled.
So al last it grow TO know him-lttlo jos was
nearly four;
lie would call the pretty "scmpun" as lie pas.ci
the open door,
And enc day he .an and caught him and in child'.;
play pulled him in.
Aid the baby .Ioe had praycd for brought about
Twas the same old wrctche', stnry that for ages
hards have sung:
Twas woman veal; and ton and villains
tempting tongue;
Twas picture dcftly painted for silly cre2-
lures eyes
OF the Batylouian wonders and The Joy that in
them lies.
trnie listened and was tempted, she was tempted
al! she fell,
A the angels from the heavens 10 the black ost
d, p,!I, cf he'll.
She WAS promised wealth aud Splcndor and Ii o
% guilty slotli.
yellow gold for child aud huShand-aud the wo.
man lift them b tn
Home one exc cam" Joe, the tstler, with cherry
cry of Wife"
Finding that which blurred forever all the story
Of his life.
SEc bad lett silly letter--through the cruel
srIswl he spet
Tnen he sought the lonely bedroom, Joined his
horny hands and knelt.
"Evw, o Lord /. O God forgive her, for she amt
to blame :" he cried
For owt Ia seen her trouble, and gone away
and died
Why. q wcrch like hcr--God bless her-'twasn't
likely IS she'd rest
With that bonny head for ever Ostler's rag
gcd vest.
1t was kind o her to bear me all this long and
happy time.
So for my sake please TO bless her, though You
count her deed a crime:
If so be don't pray proper Lord, forgive me, for
You see
l can talk alright to 'osscs, but I'm nervous like
with Thee I"
Nc'er line came to the cottage from the woman
who hnd flown;
Joe, the baby, dicd that winter, and the man was
left alone
Ne'cr bitter word he uttered. but in silence
kissed the rod,
Saving what he told his horses saving what he
t,!d his God
Far away in mighty LoEdon rose the wanton into
fame
n. baop p1c bo,, ID elo
pered in her shame.
Quick from lord to lord sho fitted. higher still
each prize she won.
And her rivals paled bssde her rs the stars beside
the sun.
Next she trod tho stage half naked and she drag
gcd tcmpie down
To the level of market for the woman Of the
town,
And the kisses she had given to poor Ostler Joe
for naught
With their gold and priceless jewels rich and
titled r0ueS bought.
Went tSe years with flying footsteps while her
star was st its height;
Then the darkness came swiftly, and the
cleaning turned to night.
Shattered strength and faded beauty tore the
laure.s from her brow
OF the thousands who had worshipped never one
came near her now.
Broken down in health and fortune, men forget
her very name,
Till the news that she was dying woke the echoes
of her fame;
And the papers in their gossip mentioned how an
actress" lay
Sick to death in humble lodgings. growing weak.
er evory day.
One there was who read the story in 8 far off
country place.
And that night the d. ing woman woke and look
ed upon his face.
Once again the strong arms clasped her that had
clasped her long ago,
Aud the weary head lay pillowed Oh the b.csst of
Ostler Joe.
II the past had he forgiven, all the sorrows and
the shame.