The Irish standard., 1886-09-04
Welded TO POETRY.
The Bard of shanty Hill Describes Her
Numerous Admirers.

WEDDEO ~ FOE nIs
The Bard of Shanty Hill Describes Her
Numerous Admirers.
lHonesdale (Pa.) Cor. Philadelphia News1
just as the public was beginning to Won
der whether Mrs. Sarah Ann Kelley, the
Bard Of Shanty Hill, had permanently re-
tired from public lite to punish Congress
man Joe Scranton for the alleged offense
her hand in marriage, she resumed her old
role of applicant for the vacant position OF
National bard. She had hoped that the
painful loss which the country suffered by
not having inaugurated her as poet lau-
reate in time for the Presidents wedding
would inspire Congress to prompter action
than has been forthcoming, but some one
told her that Congress was only waiting
for the wedding to come off before enact
ing her appointment and pension, in order
that she might be spared the extraordinary
task Of writing poem to order--a task
which always floors true genius like that
Of Tennyson and Mrs. Kelley. The fattery
Of this suggestion pleased Mrs Kelley very
much and soon after the wedding she re-
newed her poetic pursuits, with renewed
determination to convince Congress that
she was worthy Of the honor.
The Bard's latest production is entitled
"'Wedded to My Profsssion," and de-
scribes the men who have sought her
hand in marriage. Tie first stanza is as
follows:
GAS I am roaming through the wilderness,
the wilderness Of life.
am travelling all alone, though many sought
me for e wife;
A handsome doctor and lawyer, and Gen
eral very brave,
Did seek to WOO and win me, the answer
moi gave"
There is as much truth as there is poetry
Those who know the parties concerned
corroborate tho statement that tho Gener-
81 was very brave. She seems to describe
him still further in these lines:
"a man who had been sought for Governor
did aspire
To win the Bard Of Shapty Hill, no poet e'er
stood higher;
And last, not least my hand was sought. by
the friend Of General Grant.
Yet with all these brilliant offers. the Bard
was disenchant.''
After this no one can doubt the Bard's
single hearted devotion to tho cause of
literature. Should they DO SO, their doubts
would DO dissipated by the following in
spring outburst:
'Let me write the Nations ballads, while here
on earth roam,
I'd sing TO drown the groans OF all my discon.
ISOLATE lovers moan;
The Bard doth not run in the race for mar
rage,
salary and free carriage
There are indeed few women who would
consent thus to sing to drown the groans
Of disappointed love. But Mrs. Kelley is
not hard-hearted. One of her suitors seems
to have been man named Hymer who
was the friend Of General Grant, spoken of
in the second stanxa. She tenders him the
following touching tribute of sympathy:
''Ktnd Mr.. Hymer goodbye; TIL sing your
praises when you die,
Because you are hero and the friend Of
Grant, is why;
No doubt you're an honest man; like to
think well as can
OF you, because my father very tenderly
loved Grant"
The concluding rhyme of this stanza
sayors Of glorious Indifference to the
trammels Of ordinary versiication, such as
only the greatest bards can safely indulge
in. The readiness with which Mrs. Kelley
inclines 60 celebrate the memory Of depart
eel HEROES furnishes renewed proof Of her
fitness for the exalted position she seeks.
After telling how her
"Father stood guard for Grant the night be-
fore
Lee sad: III fight you nevermore
Father now sleeps in his glory, forever, ever.
more"
she concludes with the following evidence
of her devotion to the memory of those
who best deserve enbalming in the realms
of literature:
" an hoping, am praying, it may be my lot
TO sing each departed hero. who hath record
without blot;
Yes, welded to my profession, TO WOO tho
muse my lott
There can be no doubt after this as to the
destiny of Mrs. Kslley's application.