The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-04-17


the heir
1t had been his great ambition, and he told
the horses so,
That the Fates would send baby who might
bear the name of Joe.
Little Joe the child was chrstened, and like
babies grew apace,
He'd his mothers eyes of azure and his faith
er's honest face
Swift the happy years went over, years Of
blue and cloudlcss shy;
Love was lord of that small cottage, and the
tempests passed them by.
Passed them by for years, tnen swiftly burst
IN fury DER their home;
Down the lane by Annie's cottage chanced a
gentleman to roam
Thrice he came and saw her sitting by the
window with her child.
And he nodded to the baby, and the baby
laughed and smiled.
So at last 1t grew TO know him-littIe Joe was
nearly four;
He would call the pretty gemplun" as he
passed the open door,
And one day he ran and csught him. and in
chlld's play pulled him in,
And the baby Joe had prayed for brought
about the mothers sin.
Twas the same old wretched story that for
ages bards have sung:
Twas woman weak and wanton and q vii
lain's tempting tongue;
Twas picture deftly painted for a silly
creatures eyes
or the Babylnnian wonders and the joy that
in them lies.
Annie listened and was tempted; she was
tempted and she fell,
AS the angels FELL from heaven to the black
ost depths of hell;
She was promised wealth and splendor and a
life OF guilty slOth,
Yellow gold for child and husband-and the
woman LETT .hcm both.
Home one eve came Joe the 'ostler with a
CHEEKY cry of "Wife"
story Of his life
She had left silly letter--through the cruel
scrawl he spclt;
Then he sought the lonely bedroom, Joined
his horny hands and kneIt.
"Now. o Lord, o God, forgive her, for she
amt to h!ame!" he cried;
For / owt ia seen her trouble, and "a gone
away and died.
Why, a lass like her--God bless her!-twasn't
likely as she'd rest
With that bouny head forever on 'ostler's
ragged vest.
at was kind o. her to bear me all this long
and happy time,
So for my sake Cleasc to bless her,
Though you count her deed crime;
II so be don't pray proper. Lord, forgive
me, for you see
can talk all right to osses, but I'm nervous
like with thee"
Meier line came to the cottage from the
woman who had flown;
Joe, tie baby, died that winter, and the man
was left alone.
Ne'er a bitter word he uttered, but in silence
kissed the rod.
Saving what he told his horses; saving what
he told his God.
Far away in mighty London rose the woman
into fame,
For her beauty won mems homage, and she
prospered in her shame;
Quick from lord to lord she lifted, higher
stlll each prize she won,
And her rivals paled beside her as the stars
beside the sun,
Next she made the stage her market. and she
dragged Arts temple down
To the level of II show-pace for the outcasts
Of the town.
And the kisses she had given to poor 'Ostler
Joe for naught
With their gold and costly jewels rich and
Titled lovers bought
Went the years with flying footsteps while
her star was at its height,
Then the darkness came ON swiftly, and the
cleaning turned to night
Shattered strength and faded beauty tore the
laurels from her brow;
OF the thousands who had worshipped never
one came near her now.
Broken down in health and fortune, men for
got her veIy name,
ill 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
weaker every day,
one there was who read the story IN n far-oG
coua.ry place,
And that night the dying woman woke and
looked upon his face.
Once again the strong arms clasped her that
had ,lnsupd her Iour uao
And the wearied head lay pil!Owed on the
breast OF 'Ostlcr Joe.
Al the past had he forgotten, all the sorrow
and the shame;
lie had found her sick and lonely, and his
wife he now could claim.
Since the grand folks whn had known her
one aud ail had SUNK away,
lie cOuld ciaSp his long! lost darling, and no
man would SAY him nay.
In his arms death found her lying, in his arms
her splrit fled;
And lls tears came down in torrents as he
knru beside the dead.
Never once his love had fHltered through her
haze, unhdllUwed lie;
And thG sloue above her ashes Gears the
honofud name oil wife.
That's the blossom Ifain would pluck to-day
from ne garden above her dust;
Not the languOr0us lily ot SOLiiess sin nor tho
hood-rcd rose OF lust;
Bat sweet white blossom VI lUly love tlaf
grow Ia the one green spot
In the aria desert OF PhTyps's life, whore az
Nss pa-c-le1 z,S net