West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-11-28


giving birth to poem. The second
stsnzs came easier. What bothered I'M,
most was the rhyme. / think, TO thu
best Of my recollection, that tbs second
lnstalment consumed half hour of in.
tense thought. was better satisfied
than with the first stanza, because knew
It was truer. Here It is just as read Il
tp Nellie
his comb is as red as ruddy wine,
His breast is shining sheen;
hut MS carcass is safe from me and mine.
We can't pick his wishbone clean.
The muse was rather skittish at the
third stanLa. coa&ed her with pibe
of tobacco, the fumes of which made Mel.
lie cough, and 1 persuaded her TO 90 20
bed. The clock struck H. The wind
ratified the window frame and began Ia
thihk that poets earned their MONEY.
i almost fell asleep over this stanza.
Whlie hboriously constructing il there
came picture to ME Of the old farm
house in the Catskills, the table groaninh
with it's weight Of good things. II oc.
CURED to me just here that / was doing
the groaning now. When finished, after
many interlineations and corrections, IL
NNtNA - AbAiNWNs
There was time long, long ago,
Nhen deprived OF his feathery vest
seized MS leg IN my strong right hand,
And disSectcd his meaty breast.
by this time had got into the spirit
OF my Undertaking. t'he ilhcs ran on
the end Of my pen as smoothly as water
runs of ducks back With conf
dent smile finished the last verse.
The next morning had TO till up the
hole IN ten cent piece with soap and
ashes IN order to- deceive the toll-taker at
the elevated railroad station. An the
way down town | read and rcread the
alleged poem, trying to perfect it, When
l arrived In New York hesitated before
the Dig newspaper offices, afraid to 90
IN. At last | managed tD pluck up
courage ehdugh io g6 up stairs, Whefg
contrary to my expectations, L was kindly
received and was told that my poem
would be read, and if it possessed sufli-
cient merit it would be printed. Twas
encouraging, to be sure, out what was |
going to do in the meantime for the
turkey3
The day was spent In the usual wav
tunniha around looking for lob ana
nnding none. / managed, however, 10
earn fifty cents by carrying some coal.
IL hurt my pride TO do it, but the faces
Of the children rose before me, and |
would almost have committed murder
just then.
with a heavy heart / started to walk
over the bfldae Just after sunset 1he
wind blew cold from the northeast, aud |
buttoned my coat close 90 my chin. 1t
was starlit night. The great towers
ioomed up above me like entrances 80
ionie gigantic temple. The river rushed
and swirled below, and reflected in silver
CLEANS the light from the electric lamps.
| could sec the little waves capped with
toam' It was fascinating sight, and /
'elt strangely drawn toward the river.
For time ] forgot the babies and Nellie.
Behind me was the great, roaring CITY.
with It's thousands uf men and
women struggling for existence. /
had been trsmpled under foot in the
crush. Why should return and renew
the battlc2 As brooded over the river.
;hEled 10 the marrow by the searching
wind, the water seemed to bcckon mo
It's shifting currents whispered "Cume;h
its shadowy, cleaning riffs, its miniature
malestroms seemed TO my excited fancy
10 say: "IIere's rcst for Won. Wpjl
Dear you away to dreamland, where hun.
ger and pain and sorrow are drowned in
he ncpenthe OF eternal rest"
In this state Of partial unconsciousncss
| began to climb up the railing TO reach
inc roadway below, when u policeman
touched me on the shoulder and told me
% "moyc ON did move ON. but In a
Iazed, uncertain way, until I reached
.ne Brooklyn entrance. Here the crowd
rom the cars was pouring out in tho
street like a torrent and in the crush I
was hustled about and at last stumbled
INTO the arms Of stout man muflcd in
an old army ovcrcoat. lie held me away
from him by my arms. Then ic shook
me and said
What's tho matter with you, Toni
Ye amt drunk, be yc2"
There was something familiar IN tie
voice, and looking up / saw the homely
lace OF Sam Jones. Of ShlHdaSen. beror
ne. Then came another shake, and this
time ] came 20 myself aoain.
''By George. sam, I'm glad to sec
YOU" ! stamucrcd
owen, lots 20 an get sometbin' 10
warm you mp. You're near froze. man. "
Tiawed and melted by steaning cup
OF coffee, ! told Sam all the sorrowfnl
story. How the children would be wait
ing at the station for me expecting the
turkey ] had fooli'hlr promised them and
my inability To- procure it. ] was inter.