The Florida agriculturist., 1889-01-16

nor contributions"
"Much obleeged to We, Mr.. Editur, I'll
tell her, and Sarah'll be right down glad to
know it, fur she's nightly sot on writin', +"
said the old man, as he left the Office.
"There Is true genius in log cabin"
said Allen, gazing at the manuscript.
"Tbere is modesty associated whit. What
contrast between the modest little coun-
try girl, and the ambitious Miss Hopkins or
Toney Barnes. For her there is bright
future, for them nothing but envy, jealousy
and grumbling at hard-hearted editors. But
who would have thought that so many peo-
pie were turning their attention to litera-
ture and journalism. l supposed these to
be avOcations which were demanding follow
ers, but instead the professions are over
crowded. 1t seems as If the whole world
was going into literature. People living in
the most remote parts of the earth seem to
have caught the inspiration to write.''
Toney Barnes at this moment entered
with the freedom of a popular author whose
services were indispensable to his publisher,
and throwing himself carelessly on q chair,
saidI
"Wen, Mr. Gray, I've got something
grand this time. 1t beats Poes Raven"
Fame and fortune are within your grasp,
thens"
"Well, I've got it. The great success Of
Poe's Raven was that nobody could ever I'M
derstand it. Now I've got something here
that can't be half so well understood as the
Raven"
Allen had read several of his productions
that were superior to the Raven on those
grounds. In fact, all of Mr.. Barnes poetic
effusions were difficult of solution.
"Just let me read this to you," said Toney.
am XyQrv huoxy-1oauo it-1p
"No, no, no; it's not long, and will read
fast"
"Go ahead, then"
Toney read:
"Once in a deep, dark, lonely swamp, await
ing, all alone,
While the dew of even damp lsyupon the
stone"
"Did the dew lay only upon the stoness"
the editor asked.
ooh, no-wait and you will see how 1t all
comes out,n and he contiuedi
"The night was dark the sun was down,
Ana all around me rose
Ten thousand fancied gobblins bold
Ten thousand mortal foes
Alone searched tho forest DER,
Alone I search ed tho forest wild,
When suddenly hoard u cry
Proceeding from some wandering child.
For hours searched vainly on,
For hours searched the forest round,
When suddenly horrid ghost
Arose bleeding from the ground.
Its head was eyeless hair on fire,
Blood dripping from the sockets down.
On this horrid thing cast glance,
And then fell senSeless to the ground"
"Now, sir" cried Toney, triumphantly,
"can you tell me what's in that poeml"
"No, sir. / give it up, nor do thinb
there's man living that can," Allen up-
hesitatlngly answered.
sThat speaks well for 1t" said Toney, with
wild ecstatic laugh. "This poem will
give me wealth and fame How much will
you give me for itf''
cat present do not feel able to buy it."
"Oh, you might make big profit on it.
"Yes, but am not able to purchase II"
"Who do you think coulda"
"The Harpers might"
"Ill send it to them by the very next
MAIL" said Toney, quite enthusiastically
Allen never knew what the fate Of this
weird unnatural poem was Though he has
been constant reader of Harper's period
icals from that day down to tho present, he
has never seen it in any Of them.
Next day the editor was hard at work IN
his Office when Mr.. Strong entered. That
look of distrust and uneasineSs on Mr..
Strongs face was deepening.
swell, Gray, they ar tellin' some hard
yarns on ye," said Mr. Strong, leaning on
the back of chair.
"What do they tell2" Allen asked.
"They say as how yer gwine back on me
an gwine to support Tom Simmons"
EWbO told Mr. EtTOn Q11p