The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-15
ITO be C0l.tiauedl
THE BARD OF SHANTY HILL.
4 FeunsytysHis Poctess Describes Her
Many Admirers.

| 4tahA EtuhAAEtte-
just as the public was beginning TO
wonder whether Mrs. Sarah Ann Kel-
| ley, the bard of Shanty Hin, had per
manently retired from public life TO
| punish Congressman Joe Scranton Tor the
| alleged ofiense of writing her an anony-
nous letter asking her hand in mar
| riage. she resumed her old role of ap-
| plicant for the vacant position of ma
tioual bard. She had hoped that the
| painful loss which the country suffered
| 10y not having inauguTated her As poet
| laureate in time for the presidents we'd
ding would inspire congress to prompter
action than has been forthcoming. but
| someone told her that congress was
only waiting for the wedding To come
of before enacting her appointment
and pension, in order that she might bc
| spared the extraordinary task of writ
| ing poem 10 order-a task which al
ways floors true genius like that OF Ten
| nyson aud Mrs. Kelley. The ilatterv of
this suggestion pleased Mrs. Kelley very
much. and soon after the wedding she
| renewed her poetic pursuits with deter
mination 10 convince congress that she
was worthy of the honor.
The bard's latest production is en-
titled ''Wedded TO NJ Profession" and
describes the men who nave sought her
hand in marriage The first stanZa is
as follows:
As am roaming through the wilderness, the
wilderness OF life.
l am travelling all alone. though many sought
me Tor wife;
A handsome doctor aud a lawyer, ana gen
eral very brave.
Did seek To WOO and win me. the answer.
Mo- l gave.
Ia "a 81 -
poetry in these lines; there could not be
more. Those who knew the parties con
! cerned corroborate the statement that
the general was very brave. She seems
10 describe him still further in these
| lines:
man who had been sought Tor governor did
To win The bard of shanty Hin, no poet e'er
stood higher;
| And last not least my hand was sought by
the friend OF gen Grant
| Yet, with all these brilliant offers, the bard
was disenchant.
After this no one can doubt the bard's
single-hearted devotion to the cause of
| literature. Should they do so, their
| doubts would be dissipated by the fol-
| lowing inspiring outburst:
| Let me write the nations ballads, while here
earth roam,
| I'd sing to drown the groans OF all my dis
| consulate lovers moan.
| The bard doth not run la the race for mar
| riage
For was sought to ride in hardship, with
| 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 a man
named Hymer, who was the friend OF
1 .s,.,l-nr, In, 81 - 4
| stanza. She tenders him the following
touching tribute of sympathy:
| Kind Mr. Hymer, good-by; I'll sing your
| praises when you die,
| Because you are a hero ana 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 tenderiy
| loved Grant.
The concluding rhyme OF this stanza
savors of 4 glorious Indifference to the
trammels Of ordinary yersification, such
as only the greatest bards can safely in
dulge in. The readiness with which
Mrs. Kelley inclines to celebrate the
memory of departed heroes furnishes
renewed proof of her fitness for the ex-
alted position she seeks. After telling
how her
Father stood guard for Grant the night be-
| Lee said = ii light you neVcrmOre-'
| Father now sleeps, in his glory, forever, ever
more.
she concludes with the following eyi-
dence of her devotion To the memory of
those who best deserve embalming ia
the realms of literature.
] ann hoping, am praying, it may be my lot
To sing each departed hero vino hath record
| without blot;
| Yes, welded to my profession, to WOO the
| muse, my lot.
There can be no doubt after this as
to the destiny of Mrs. Kelley's applica-
ton HoneSdate, Pc. Cor IN Pttiadek-
yhid Times.