Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-08-11
Written for the STANDARD.
THE RAVEN
or the Late Democratic Convention.

" w ""''"b Soiho ehcdinplDg, suddenly
there came stamping,
AS OF numbers proudly tramping, tramping
on with power and might.
Royal company" muttered, tramping on
with power and might
Workers they for truth and right
All, distinctly / remember, it was eer the
bleak December
Came with bitter winds to chill us, to enwrap
the flowers with snow.
Eagerly the hosts came rushing. in their zeal
men almost crushing,
Like fountain full and gushing, gushing
DER to fall below.
Such the ones who do the labor-fgbt the
battles here below
Gain the end, as all men know.
And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of
old fortunes curtain,
Thrilled them, filled them, with forebodings.
lest division, strife, should be,
For they met to make selection of n man
sure of election,
Democratic to perfection, who would urge a
peoples plea
To select man Of wisdom, who would urge
peoples's plea
A Congressional nominee.
Presently their souls grew stronger, dis.
agreeing then no longer,
With strong determination they endeavor
to make choice.
While debating, friend and foeman, sudden.
ly from old Ben Lomond,
Came in tones unheard by no man, words
distinct in loudest voice;
Tones that echoed through the valley-tones
distinct in loudest voice
Words that made all hearts rejoice.
Startling this and unexpected sign
had been detected
Doubtless thought they, owe are dreaming
man grows weary as he waits"
But again the words came ringing: "Creed
F, Bates"-the name seemed bringing
Courage. Victory was clingng to the magic
name of ''Bates."
From one hill top to another, rang the magic
name of "Bates,"
Name prophetic" Greed F. Bates"
Eagerly, all eyes now turning, in their eff.
forts at discerning,
| Whence the voice of cheer and learning,
'spied what they'd meier seen before.
On mountain crest demurely, perched a
stately Raven-surely
Never fowl perched more securely than this
bird on tufted floor
Perched and gazed with wise demeanor, on
the green and tufted-
Perched and gazed, and nothing more
And this ebony bird beguiling, all these
brave souls into smiling,
Straightway shouts of joy and gladness,
passing zephyrs onward bore.
Prophet" said they, "wise, undaunted, tell
us in this spot enchanted,
For our hearts with donbts are haunted, tell
us truly, we implore,
Answer us in truth and candor, tell us
tell us, we implore,
And We'll trust thee evermore
"Is there, can there be a better name tc
whom we would be debtor,
Lives nobler man to fetter with the honors
weld outpour?
Could we find in all the nation, should we
search without cessation,
Truer man to fill the staton?" Swift the
breezes answer bore;
Breezes from Ben Lomond's summit, to al
ears the answer bore
Said the Raven, "Nevermore. ,
Much they marveled this ungainly fowl t.
hear discourse so plainly, e..
Though relief this answer gave them, woult
their confidence restore?
"Prophet," said they, "Seer one query, tt
your perch in yonder arie,
One more question, e'er you weary, tell u
pray, from wisdom's store,
reply we fain would gather out of all you
wisdom's store
Answer this and nothing more
"Tell us" said they, "e'er our parting, e'e
the suns last rays are darting,
Through the foliage, homeward startin!
tired feet to cottage door,
Could we find beneath the heavens, stronge
man to beat Clay Evans,
Whitesides, any man the foe sends, than thi
patriot we adore?
Than this young and gallant chieftain al
true democrats adorep
; Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore.
And the Raven, never fitting, still is sitting
still is sitting.
On the lofty height above us-on the glis
tening emerald floor, @
: And his eyes have all the seemingi Of
prophet that is dreaming,
OF the victory brightly cleaning, whel
, election day is DER
! Creed F. Bates. our standard bearer, whel
election day is DER,
Bless the Raven evefmore
: JOSEPHINE B,
McMinnvills, August 6, 1888.