Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-23

only ene. and in that was compelled to
make Bridges rhyme with religious in
order TO get the proper sentiment into
tho lines. They did not satisfy my fine
critical instincts; 30, in the afternoon.
hunted up my grandmother's scrap book
and purloined a poem which, with . few
sligh4 alterations, would At the case Of
Mrs Bridges or Of almost anybody else.
I sent these verses TO the Leader, at
taching only the initiAls Fl. f.
They were printed ON the day Of the
funeral. and were generally admitted
To be the most gratifying feature Of the
occasion. They were the talk of the
town. and many women who had
made things very uncomfortable for
Mrs Bridges during her life were at
.fected 20 tears by this poetic catalogue
OF her virtues Wren they felt these
attacks of emotion coming on they
called upon Rev. Harold Fenders,n and
wept on his shoulder because they at
trihuted the verses to him.
He was . modest and truthful man.
and at first he fatty denied the author
ship Of this little gem. but the women
wouldn't believe him. There stood his
initials In cold type as signature 10 the
poem. and the verses breathed forth all
the tenderness and good will which
characterized this man. Possibly they
might have been written by some re-
mote ancestor who had transmitted his
peculiar virtues 20 henderson Tho
paper from which copied them was
yellow with age. At any rate, Fender
Son was 50 persistently accused Of their
authorship that 1T last he only shook
his head and smiled when they were
mentioned. Meanwhile got out Of
town Bridges kept my secret well; I
was NO. suspected.
Doubtless Rev. Mr.. Henderson sup
s>c>ed that the obituary poem would
soon be forgotten, but IL wasn't. IL
made such an impression upon some of
the chronic invaIids Of the town that
they were inpatient to have an afsec-
tionsfe tribute 81 that sort written
about themselves Meantime the es-
sr-m In which his flock land especially
the eve lambs thereof held Mr..
Henderson bad been doubled by the
recognition Of his literary genius Is
bad never been suspected before. and
no wonder. for he was the most unro-
mantle. practical. matter-of-facs man
that I ever met. Instead Of writing
obituary poetry for q bereaved family,
a vas his Way to call and assure him
sclf that the children had enough 20
eat. and somebcdy to wash their faces
In the morning. But after this dishon-
est effort Of mine 20 console Mr.. Bridges
with ink. the women discovered new
evidences Of poetic temperament In
their beloved pastor every day. Some
Of them wrote verses 10 him. and asked
his spinicn Of their efforts with such
fistterinw confidence In his literary rood
taste THAT he cousd not nnd IL ia his
heart ~ withhold praise, for the
f,isssv ct which he asked forgiveness
nightly. The columns ~ the Leader
wer- crowded with Lines % IL T."
.sSsnnz.. q HF !" ssrsosxhrs on con
srmnsassnx the genius - II. r" and
ether ouspourin9s ef the soul Mr.
Feusa~rson could rot qnsts poetry IN
MS sermons without being suspected of
having written ~ ard ia general way
D. paid The penalty u genius - TIE
x.nics waieh bal stsisn firm M
9rrrxsssother's ssrsp ss<tk
Ahssas tsres saezz1As after shs desta