Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-08-13
Rosebuds-..For shep. ;,

hSOScUuUS-''EO Or SneD.
OF six little children the Muse comes 10 sing,
All perched meath cherry tree late in the spring,
So late the red cherries are temptingly ripe
All yes, too, there's Papa with paper and pipe,
"a Southerner sitting at land in ken
OF a landscape so gorgeous, an angelic pen
Deep-dipped in the blue of the great vaat above.
Star-tippod, deity pointed from quill Of a dove
May sketch on heavens canvas ethereal views,
Rejecting the mountain caps, fluffy in hues
Ccrulean and rosy. Exatedly grand
Sits nature i'll emerald, her majesty fann'd
BY the signing of reeds from nral heights,
Sad-toned as the cadence OF mountain-wild spries;
While ripping of brookct and elin-like streams,
Blend minsrelsy tending 10 sweetest of dreams.
But the Muse now seems elfsh away from her text
The theme is forhcoming-pray do not be vext.
One moment she paused, in deep reverence to bend,
Glad homage to pay mans highest, best friend
To Nature, whose hoariness in noble old trees
Grimly mocks finite man in his brief span of ease,
Whose counsels speak wisest in oceans stern roar
eve ebb and we flow whilst thou, man. art no more!
Well, under the cherry tree whom do we see:
Mamma dear Grandma and cousin Susie,
And, if we mistake not friend too, is there,
Just prompting the Muse from ber improvised chair
On the rocks-all too close 10 the hornets and bees
Which, unmndful of honey-dew buzz near the trees
Only peep once again, we spy yet another,
The Chicks call dear uncle, whom Mamma names
Brother
Best Grandma, how tenderiy pcnsiye she seems-
Her six little nestlings, as fairy-le dreams,
Sporting gracefully here one moment in glee,
Then up and away gamboling far OH the lea.
Wit, humming- lghtncssl these sprcs seem 10
wing,
Ox-eyed daisies and margurtes from meadow to bring
While their musical laughter from moor and from Glen'
Echos silvery tnkngs through forest and fen
But hark ye! thrilling voice, planvc with dread,
Dusky urchin in tatters-"Poor Shep mos is dead.
FIN him clos down by de gate, in de dirt,
barly able to toat hisso'f hom, he so hurt.
De steer done cotch him, way up i'll dc ie,
Done gore him 10 def gin dc fence wild his heel.
NO, his horn-dat is wha' wer gwinc 10 say,
An poor shep he jes groan, while fetch him dis way
All up in heap, 'cawse he he'y-y mars john,
De dorg tho he kno' wer fetchin' him hom'-
Jes see he is dyin', an he crep hom to die
Jes seem like he mus say TO we alls goodbye
See six little children all kneeling around,
Grefstricken DER Shep az he lay on the ground.
"Bar'ly" able indeed his paw to extend
To each and 10 all whom he knows as his friend
Torn, bleeding, exhausted, yet blinking his eye
At sound OF the sobs-for the children all cry
Charlie, tho eldest springs first TO his feet,
81 know shep will jump at a bite of good meat"
We'll try him says Jnl.s naughty Jinks, whose de-
light
Is to tumble down ladders. trap doors and to fright
Precious Willie, the youngest of all this sweet brood
The three-year-old darling, as fair as he's sood
Marie weeps in silence, gently stroking Shops head
While "Gipsy," the beauty, brings water and bread
SI-year Aida, the brightest, says nought,
Glides slowly away rs tho lost in deep thought
Then back again softly, with sorrowing STEP
Tiny hands tightly casping fresh rosebuds-for Shep
Is all that she whispers-those soes eyes in hue
Like dark, relvcty pansies o'eradcn with dew.
My darling, sweet "kindchen, no gift from the gods
Could seem half so rare as these delicate buds,
Thy hearts tender offering purer voice could not find
laurel should thee child thoughtful and kind
The snowflake is purer than lilies, they say;
Then the snowflake thine emblem to symbol this day.
When roses thy infant mind garlsnds for Shep,
The noble old dog who, at sound ofthy step,
Surely lifts UP his head wags his tail and then-seep
While six little children their vigil still keeps.
Scraphs, VIC call thee from portals above,
Take tribute, memorial, from chlds wealth flove
To place side by side loyal tribute 10 him,
Mans faithfulest friend be his eye bright or dim
Great heart true as steel. no pathos too deep
For thee who keeps watch and guard while sleep
And waking we know thee so patient and wise,
We too learn endurance from depths in thine eyes,
Where soul seems reflected in lessons not found
In script, or in man. search all The world ronnd
A r ST.