Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-02-25

Lost all the others. she lets us devote.
Browning: The Lost Leader.
Fhe paper of, the press at last wa. still;
Outside, the winter wind sank to moan
rhe crew bad left the Office with will,
8ut still the editor sat on alone;
Tired brain and body all but listless grown
With fretting cares and grind at the copy mi
lie loDged for some life fuller, higher far
Than the poor. petty, drudging one he led.
Would suit the fancy running in his head.
Sut worse than work or care was a wild DIRE,
That scourged as with a whip. leaving a sca
Twas that no subject could be ever find
70 rhyme on for the word poem" the Sta
Press ...
Had relegated TO his pros. mind,
70 be read week hence without redress.
\ thousand whirling topics more or less
'hronged In his head, but would not be CO
fined.
he street door opened and 10 walked man
distinguished, genial, white-haired. beard Il
same:
'ip.ily solemn, and to him began
he editor to mourn his grievous shame,
IS well as troubles else without a name.
eated. the man Of fame thus broached plar
My life. told In studied rbvme
From the day OF untainted bliss.
Past the gude-po-i- leading through tim,
To the torw ard empty abyss.
''l began a. an editor. too
4 weckiH not quite your size;
| know all about that cue
The politics. new, and-liess
The gossip. the list and the crew.
"'Tis hard place 10 keep your head.
As found. after Ia lost mine.
NV burning desires all fed
ON fame not waier. but wine.
| asked for the cake not bresd.
And bowed not before the shrine
or the haugbty bringer OF 'sd.':
PersGyenture some word OF mine
tiN hFl QUE vi NV bFHl gtaN lliR ItGs,
And then writing was not nv line.
but the icnd In human disguise
Who most cloudcd my earthly sphere
Was he who would not take the PRIZE
Except 1T u dollar aheAr-
Shocking me TO blaspheming cries.
AFTER all. though. stood 1t well.
Til politics took me in:
Seated me under lis spell
With those Who were In Il to win
Those " no stood IL. and those " no fell,
Il wanted to stand and stood
For Congress. that Mecca OF men
Who don't know for them what's good,
And who Knowing get out again
Few there be OF that hardibood
by wsywsrd decree OF fate.
Whose object no one foresaw.
| passed through the Congress gate
To the House where the jaw is law,
And there I've sat up to date.
II soon caught the run OF things.
Especially OF the 'desr;
! found there were many strings
To pull for the private veal,
That 10 'fy high you don't need wings.
And PLAYED my cards with such skill.
And blufed on an empty hand
That had 10 father each bill
Which roused the ire OF the land.
Willie 1be good oiii. had
Il was classed Congressional craze.
Talked UP and talked dow a at one time
Called smart a. the devir. whose ways
Twas .sid bad outdone in crime.
Then called 4 fiji leader to raise.
But. my hoy. there are always days.
With the statesmar " no hiss a Job.
When thought for the early wsys
Comes back TO bis heart with throb
And blush AT the worlds dispraise
The triumphs are all too mean,
The bafflings come too dear;
The past YOU have aye TO screen
And the future thrills you with fear
Think well as you tread this scene.
THE rewards OF your place are small.
Your subs may be In arrears;
But he gains the triumph OF all
Whose simple course never veers.
And the judgments Of time forestall.
To win blgh name is good.
II YOU don't have to fall too low
In the process. and rise tabooed
rose. and fell. a mere show
OF capricious fortunes mood.
Much better the quiet JOYS
OF an honest journalists life
Than plsgung the world " iih noise
That, at best. means rancor and strife,
And mploy ment the soul decoys.
..In politics I'm success.
As the thougbtless the term define;
Yet only know what mess.
OF the talents by nature mine,
I've made In life's storm and stress.
$50 stick to The pen, Young man,
And don't let your schemes soar high.
First beware of the office-clan,
And cheat not the public eve
Dare TO end as you began.
Il don't very often preach
They say sermons aren't Just nv line
Bot il ever truth enters my speech
It's hen nv tongues loosened with vii
And my soul gets within arms reach.
You can mind the preacher or not
Though ms meaning is fair and clear,
You're Young. and YOUR life Is fraught
With promise none bold too dear
And that many barter and blot.
lone sees the mistakes of years
Crowd up in moments breath
As the end Of his long day nears.
With its twilight shadow OF death.
And the ghost Of his past appears.
Lay hold OF the truth you feel
It's the only real in the world;
That world. with It's heart Of steel
And its -neering lip upeurled.
That still bows to the true and leal."
Sobered he rose and went into the night;
The editor. grown sadly wise, mused on.
The closed door seemed to shut out the worl
blight
And fret and turmoil and self-seeking spaw
nd the old restless longings all were gons
Epnpoh fnr him IN trust the innar liOht