The Irish standard., 1888-06-16

flu sights at the Ol0 AOuse
"He says 'twes spirits" SAID IoDy.
.sDoubtless it was; bus the sparl1ss no
drank before leaving town"
Thar,s others who,ve seen strange
sights up thar, Mr.. Gray" returned iopS'
after few moments pause.
"There is some deep mystery ABOUT tne
house and people who live there, but Wnen
once understood you will find nothing SUI
1,ernatural about it. Why do people mere
Object to talking about that old house on Inc
hill?D ..,
uCos It's haunted" said Toby, with q
shudder. nan' it drives people away from
the Pint. Every body says it it hadn,t
been fur that old house on the hill VEGA
had boom here long age"
Allen dismissed Toby for the DAY, locked
the Office and went to his clearinghouse
his mind full of the strange mystery u
which he could learn so little.
Next day Toney Barnes entered Win a
smile on his face, and bundle OF nlahu-
script under his arm. With an air OF I'LL
umph, he said: 49,.
Hist let me read you what I've got
here.' .,
"I am pressed for time, Mr.. Barnes,"
n1eaded the editor. stLeave it and let me
read it at my leisure"
ooh, no. it will not take long, " replied
Toney, with a commanding smile.
s:But YOU don't intend reading all that to
me?n
cit WON'T take long,
envy time is very precious now. Every
hour 1 lose this morning must be taken
from my sleep tonight"
Tt was useless to cxpostulate. country
editor San not, like the city editor, seno a
clerk &C Office boy to talk with the amoltlous
author who is bold enough to invade MS
sanctunl. He usually is so unfortunate as
to be acquainted with the literary asplrAnt,
and escape from personal interview is 1t.-
possible. Toney Barnes was certain the
editor would not discover the beauty II his
poetry unless the author read it himself,
and gave it the proper evolutionary enlbel~
llshments. It was no use to argue that no
could not read it to every body, aud that
newspaper poetry is to be read and not
| heard he was determined, and Allen was
| forced to listen
nThere are several pieces here" said the
| poet, with cruel smile. "I4et me see which
will read first.''
Allen had no choice, and at last the author
seemed to have found one that suited for
beginning, and, spreading it out on his knee,
said:
81 will now read you something on
| spring"
A spring poem usually makes the ex-
| perienced editor desperate Country cd
! itors, especially, have IL horror OF spring
poetry. But Toney, like all other poets'
| having no regard for other peoples nerves,
| began:
| "ThOse beauteOuS, sunny days nave COILS,
| The gladdest OF the year,
! When verdant nature strews the earth
With wild abundant cheer.
| Remain, oh lovely days. remain
| With all your plentcous peace,
! And MAY your roses and cauilztoWeIs
| And song birds never cease
elbow do you like thatE" asked &oney,
| with a triumphant smile.
Determined to assert his right as a critic,
| Allen rubbed his aching brow Tor mo-
ment and answered:
ssIt seems to me, Mr.. Barnes, that You
! might be charged with plagiarism i'll these
| Enes.''
"Whcre?"
<sWhen you say
sThose beauteous sunny days have come,
The gladdest OF the year
One can net help thinking Of tie familiar
lines
THE melancholy days have come,
The saddest OF the year;
"What other place." asked 1oney, bis
face growing very red
".Remain, oh lovely days, remain might
be thought by some to have been stolen
from Return, oh holy dove return"
"But it's not, sir,'' interrupted Toney.
81 am the author Of those verses myself,
and Watts and nobody else can claim en-.
"Watts is not likely to trouble himself
about it, but you know, Mr.. Barnes, that
| poets must avoid any thing that savors OF
| plagiarism"
II guess you are right" said the poet,
| feeling that he was a. prosecuted mao.
| "There is another point where the: critics
| might attack you,'' said Allen
| SWhere?'' asked Toney. beginning to
| shrink himself.
! "In the next to the last line there is an
| homogeneous association Of roses and caulr
| flowers.''
ssIt is blending Of the beautiful and
practical"
! Crosses are beautiful and cabbage useful,
| it is true but there seems 10 be az incoD'
| gruity in their association that might sub
| ject you to criticism. Besides, one blooms
| i'll the spring, and the other usually ma
| lures in autumn"
| s;Well, if you think that piece won't do.
| I'll read you one on the brooillel.' said the
author.
| There was no escape, and Allen told h!m
to proceed.
"Lauyhing, bupbl1ng, bright and clear,
| Cushing dimpling little brock,
! Gurgling, nurmuring, sad to hear,
How YOU tempt me from my book;
Dashng sparkling ever on
Skipping, jumping, still you so,
| Laughing, bubbling, gushing, dimpling,
Flashing: whispering, grooming, simperng,
| Gurgl;ng murmuring, still you go.'
SHOW d'you like that?" the poet asked,
giving the editor a precarious look.
| esThat's better.''
"D'vou really think 500"
| Yes-decidedly."
"Wcll, suppose you use 1hat?"
every WE'LL" and, without further read
| + HB|;;||25!L. !. .
Za1{,::il 90