The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-08
DIED OF EMBROlDER.

The Grape hangs gloOrnily beside the door
Where death had never entered i'll before;
And in the darkened house the mother lay,
Who babe farewell to home and friends tha
day;
Her eyes were closed, her face was thin and
white;
Her voicc was pushed, no more to say Good
To the fair Oh llren. weeping down below,
who could not sleep. though past their hour
And stiI the youngest, through her sobbing
'Co3ne Mamma, come, and take me up to
The father sat, his head bowed on his hand,
This sudden blow he scarce could under
stand:
The house was fair and beautiful within,
Each room displayed where tasteful hands
And rich embroideries met one everywhere
On sofa, mantel and on easy chair.
And on the floor by patient fingers wrought,
LuXur ant rugs, small means could not nave
bought;
Each table napkin and each pillow sham
Displayed 4 finely hand-worked monogram;
The childrens dresses, from the eldest do wn,
Whatever texture. color. blue or brown,
Were ail embroidered with devices rare.
And every stitch was laid with choicest care;
How pleasant must il be, when one IS dead,
TO leave 50 many tokens lightly spread
Before the eyes of those We leave behind.
That in our lGbOrS they some comfort ind;
All! does the 2rieying husband sitting there,
Alas: he has in them too late eSpied
The instrument Of her slow suic de;
And now their sight drives him almost insane,
So great the loss aud for such p4ltry gain:
And sitting there be think, how, b. his side,
Night after night she mad her needle piled;
And on her work She SO intent had grown,
JIG felt each day lef; more and more alone;
lie saw each dav how pale ana wan she grew
And yet she 81 twas work that She must DO.
And when he begged hcr stop, to him she
SAD:
THAI these embroideries really must be had.
And since if purchased, all their means
'twoUid take.
The decorations she must surely make:
And when he asked: why need they such
things wear
She turned ava rs though in mute despair,
And on her face was pictured such distress,
'Twouii seem the peril were to life, not
And 50 to her he gave the matter DER.
And On she iabOrcd. weary as before;
EmErOid'ry seemed to him the bare of life.
Because It claimed the whole soul OF his wife:
And now he sits beside his hearth, alone,
Reap.ng from what mistaken views had
And this conviction ever will abide.
That Of embroidery his young wife died.
Beside him at the Office, day by day,
There tolls a man upon the same small pay,
Who's home can not sucn fair adorning
And yet. to him. life seems to bring the most
OF all that dis the soul with truest joy,
Anh lef&.J OF InaJ Wuecn ever GoSh annoy;
His children go to school in plain attire,
And ginning knowledge seems their great de-
sire;
The loving mother has a thought that they
BE inwardly adorned each passing day.
And strives to teach them. with unceasing
care,
To think of what they are, not what they
wear:
And after all her daily duties done,
She gives herself to gladden. every one:
Her happy face adorns their plain abode
More than the danteSt work by hand be-
slowed,
BY guarding health and temper, brains and
eyes,
She makes her home blessed paradise
From which her children shall at length 60
forth
With wisdom that shall beautify the earth.
-NGrp ". Gleason, in Good Housekeeping.