The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-03-27
BY GEORGE R. SIMS.

where a woman lies Who lured mems souls to the shores of sin win
 the light of her wanton eyes, Who sang the song that the siren sang on he
 treacherous Lurley height, Whose face was as fair a summer day And
 whose heart was as black as night Yet blossom fain would pluck to-day from ina
 garden above her dust Not the languorous lily of soulesS sin nor the
 blood red rose of lust, But sweet white blossom of holy love tha, er4y
 in the one green spot In the arid desert of Phryne'S life wher. all WAS
 parchcd and hot In the summer, when the meadows were aelow
 with blue and red, Joe. the ostler of the Magpe, and fair Annie
 smith were wed. Plump was Annie, plump and pretty, with d cheek
 ds white snow He was anything but handsome was the Maglies
 ostler, Joe. But he won the winsome lass. They d d cottage
 and COW. And her matronhood sat lightly on the Village Sped the months and came baby-such biue.
 eyed baby boy, Joe was working in the stables when they told
 him of his joy. He was rubbing down the horses, and he gave
 them then and there All special feed of clover, just in honor of the
 heir; It 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 apnce, He I'd his mothers eyes of azure and his fathers
 honest face. Swift the happy. years went over, years of blue
 and cloudlesS sky. Love Was lord of that small cottage, and the tem.
 pests passed them by Passed them by for years, then swiftly burst in
  Down the lane by Annies cottage chanced gen
 tleman to roam; Thrice he came and her sitting by the win.
 dow with her child. And he nodded to the baby. and the baby laughed
 and smiled. So at last it grew to know him-litte Joe was
 nearly four; He would call the pretty gempln us he passed And one day he ran and caught him, and the
 child'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 oards nave sung Twas woman weak and wanton and a villains
 tempting tongue Twas picture deftly painted for silly crea- Of the Babylonan 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 blackest
 depths of he'll She was promised wealth and splendor and life
 of guilty sloth Yellow gold for child and husband, and the wo-
 man left them both Home one eve came Joe the ostler with cheery
 cry of "wife." Finding that which blurred forever all the story
 of his life. She had left silly letter-through the cruel
 serawl he spelt Then he sought the lonely bedroom joined his
 horny hands il Now. O, Lord. o God forgive her, for she ain't
 to blamei' he cried: " For owt ta seen her trouble, and agone away -and died.- Why a wench like her-God bless her. 'twasn't
 likely as herd rest With that bonny head forever on q 'ostlers rag
 ged vest " It kind of her to bear me all this blest and
 happy time. So for my sake please to bless her, though you
 count her deed d crime; If so be don't pray proper Lord, forgive me; for can talk all right to 'osses, but I'm nervous like
 with Thee" Neer line came to the cottage from the woman
 who had flown. Joe the baby died that winter, and the man was
 left alone Neer bitter word he uttered. but in silence
 kissed the rod, Saving what he told the horses saving what he
 told his God. Far away in mighty London the woman into
 fame For her beauty won mems homage, and she pros
 pered in her shame; Quick from lord to lord she fitted, higher still
 each prize she won, And her rivals paled beside her the stars beside
 the sun Next she made the stage her market, and she
 dragged arts temple down, To the level of show place for the outcasts of And the kisses she had given to poor Ostler Joe
 for nought With their gold and costly jewels rich and titled
 lovers bought Went the years with flying footsteps while the
 star at its height; Then the darkness came swiftly, and the gloaming turned to night. Shattered strength and faded beauty tore the
 laurels from her brow; Of the thousands who had worshiped never one came near her now. Broken down in health and fortune men forgot
 her very name, Till the news that she was dying woke the echoes And the papers. in their gossip, mentioned how an |" actress lay Sick to death in humble lodgings, growing weaker every day. One there who read the story in far-oH And that night the dying woman woke and looked upon his face. Once again the strong arms clasped her that had clasped her long ago, And the weary head lay pillowed on the breast of
 Ostler Joe. All the past had he forgotten all the sorrow and the shame: He had found her sick and lonely, and his wife he now could claim. Since the grand folks who had known her one and all had slunk away He could clasp his long lost darling and no man would say him nay. In his arms death found her lying, in his arms her spirit fled; And his tears came down in torrents as he knelt beside her dead. Never once his love had fatered through her base, unhallowed life: And the stone above her ashes bears the honored name of wife.
  That's the blossom l fain would pluck to-day from the garden above her dust; Not the languorous lily of soulless sin nor the blood red rose of lust: But a sweet white blossom of holy love that grew