The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-22
The Poem.
FI.OssIE.

Tell me your story" the lady said.
To the stranger IN rags and with CRAVING
head;
Tell you my story? oh, child, IT'S too long
And iull of tears and fun of wrong;
Your happy eyes would dim at it, grief,
And yet you could give me no relief.
'Sii down. on, thank you not many lips
Say such kind things TO me, and few finger
White as yours are tonch my hard hand
SO gently, so kindly, through all this Land.
How very like are your eyes Of blue
70 a pair of blue eyes that once knew.
"WhOse eyes were they?' | see very well
You would like to hear the tale / could tell.
sit down. I'll try 10 be very brief;
And yet do not knOw-the leaf,
sometimes when caught by "a wandering
a long time falls ere the earth it will find.
"whose eyes were those l spoke Of just
impatient. Just like her-forgive mel how
forget that you are a fine lady. and
But tramp. Yet, l think, were l called TO
should not feel so lonely if you
should look at me then with your eyes of
blue.
! should feel like she were come back from
the dead
To lead me TO light through the valleys dread
"'WhOse eycs'-well, listen:
"A score ago
OF years. out West, in a cabin low
But built by my hands 10 shelter the dear
ones ne'cr more shall meet while wander
We liYed-my wife. my Golden Hair,
And l. Twas a lonely place. but there
Was nv home while dug for gCld-a long
Time falling TO find grain. But strong
As Love was my tireless arm; and wed laid
BY bit before our party had strayed
From the states on search for the shining
dust,
so we weren't yet reduced TO the beggars
crust.
BY and Dy, we found a wash that gave
up glitter from out its wdtery grave.
We followed the stream far up the hill,
And there was the vein, all pockets To I'LL.
But it warn't more bright than my child's
bright hair;
And the miners all brave men and square
No sneaks nor towards nor thieves out there
They called our baby, Golden Hair
20, that warn't the name of our little girl,
But mostly the same; for each little curl
Was golden and silky. The name that we
Called her by was flOssie; so, you see,
There waTn't much difference. Golden Hair,
or FlOssie, the miners didn't care;
And she was both To each Ofus.
The only girl in our small town she was,
And the pet II both women and men,
Well, well,
We found the pocket and all of us fell
on our knees, and blessed the good God for
the gold:
There was plenty for all, and to spare. ! sold
My claim, and started last with my gains.
Tho sun was hot on the summer plains,
And my wife took fever. and dleI by the way.
We watched and tended her night ana day;
But was man. and FlCssie but three
Years old. And truly 10 seemed 10 me
That fate was jealous OF my full share
az Joy In my wife and my golden hair
And my bag of dust; and just when
tad reached MY dreams cality, why,
All ! had must slip from my hand
As through the hour glass filteis the sand
AS though II were but dream indeed.
But / had my child; and l quickened my
speed,
Lest she should catch the fever's heat.
And. like her mother, die at my feet.
Butt took il next. felt IL here
In my heart, and here in NV head. Its scar
Burnt out my sight. But felt on my breast
The sweet life of my child; and | took no
rest,
By day or nlght-riding straight ahead,
TIL my faithful horse fell under me-dead.
felt for my gOld-'twas around my waist;
/ felt for my child-hcr breath could taste
AS she clung To my neck while Keeling ran,
Striving 10 reach some abode of man.
At last fell, with a dizzy brain,
And body racked with an awful pain.
Then all knew, was Flcssie's cry
As the whOOp OF Indians sounded by.
From then was blank, I'LL woke at Last
WITH thongs al my wris,s and my ankles fast.
How long I'd lain there. do not know
The past seemed but a moment ago;
but my limbs were swollen ana like to burst,
And my lips were dry with "A terrible thirst,
NV baby was gone. and first In my mind
Was the thought that had been left behind.
While the Indians had taken my child and
gone
Leaving me there 10 die alone.
But. by the cracking fires bright light.
| saw glad, yet despairlng sight:
In a group beyond the camp fire there
Were a dozen Redskins ana Golden Hair.
They had bound her little wrists and feet
with trnkets that tinklcd IA melody sweet
Enough To charm their savage ear
While Golden Hair danced, with never a fear.
Tn. miners had taught her. the winter before,
More jigs than one on our rough deal floor
And friendly Indians often had come
And sat by the hearth In our cabin home,
And watched the child and played with her
there,
And ali made friends with Golden Hair.
And now she seemed dell GIFTED and they
Much more at the infants innoce mt play.
4 spoke not "A world hardly drew breath,
I,u; prayed for deliyerance from savage death.
BY and by they tired. and then they slept;
And flossie, my baby, lightly crept
Away from her keepers 10 where / was tied,
And nestled closely down by my side.
.clsdg My heart was wet with the tears
The fever had burnt from my eyes. Long
years
Have never erased the touch of her hands
Her baby hands--On my face that night
And The kiss she left u my lips. The i'gat
shone full on her head. whore the shining
strands
seemed like an angels crown. She knew