The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-12-01
A SPRING POEM.
Why the Editor Of the Monthly
Messenger Accepted It

Elaine Gray. carrying in her hand
the manuscript Of a pocm-the first
fruit Of her literary labor-entered the
editorial sanctum OF the Monthly Mes
scnrcr with fear and trembling 4
yOung man seated n n desk looked up
and smiled aDpr0ciativcly-fo Elaine
was sweet and winsomc a.ad her confu-
sion made her positively charming.
Can ] sec the editor?1 asked the
girl. trying unsucccssfully to seem un-
concerned, rs if such visits were Of
daily occurrence
Il am the editor, at your service"
said the young man. politely. Pray be
seated
You she exclaimed, then checked
herself, and said. with flaming checks:
You see, ] had supposed that editors
Were all old and Wore spectacles- I
don't know what gave me such ridicu-
lous idea. I'm sure"
I'VE sometimes find our preconceivcd
notions are wrong" said Mr.. Horace
Winthrop. when ! was q boy ]
thought that bald head and wart
on the nose were the distinguishing
characteristics OF all doctors, because
thc only one l happened 70 know had
them"
They both laughed, and Elaine was
at her ease again.
do you accept poetry from an un-
known author?' she asked
Very seldom said the editor. I'VE
receive so much verse from authors OF
established reputation that only by
reason Of especial merit can we accept
contributions from unknown authors
am alvays willing II read and pass
Judgment upon manuscripts, however
II have a poem here which ! would
like 70 read TO you" said the girl, pro-
ducin@ her manuscript. You see, II Is
a spring poem"-this last half apollo
geticauy-' I suppose You get
plenty of those. l wrote il while visit
ing in the country last spring. when /
was SO cntLused with the charm of the
place and the season that felt must
offer some tribute-and only verse was
in harmony with my feelings. / read
this 10 a friend the other day, and she
advised me To bring it TO You. 1t prob
ably doesn't amount 10 much, for II Is
so difficult to write poetry, If / could
only express myself as l desire"
That Is a difficult art indeed said
Mr.. Winthrop. Il suppose all poets
have found their finer conceptions too
subtle to transcribe in black and white.
They are like the evanescont charm OF
a beautiful sunset-glorious TO behold,
but hard to describe and soon gone.
VIII you read your poem"
Elaine read in a voice that TO Mr..
Winthrop seemed very sweet, the fol-
lowing:
All day The sunshine. clear and soft,
Iias burn shed earth with golden sheen;
All day the balmy breezes watt
Sweet promises from land of green
AL aay his come tho rapttrous voice
OF Juncfui birds from every tree
It's spriug-au nature doth rejoice
And why not weE
All day the distant uist-wreathed hills
Fave taken yet a Erecaer hue;
Al day the plaCid lake reveals
y cloullc-s heavens ceruleAn blue
All day The brook It's Joy has told
While fastening TO the distant sea.
The world forgcts that II IS old
And why not wes
''AlI day from yonder grassy plain
Has come the lowing OF Tie herd;
Aud softly falls the low refrain
OF insect. Ice and tEneiul bird.
on. why should man alone be sadss
AL shows is happiness but be.
The world Is brght-creatiun's glad
And why not We"
During the reading of the poem Mr.
Winthrop. it Is but true 20 say, paid lit
tie attention to the literary merit Of the
production-he was too busily engaged
in studying the living, breathing poem
before him for that.
1T is very pretty indeed" he said.
''Wil you leave it with me? ! should
like to read it carefully"
Certainly" said Elaine. rising to go.
As the editor opened the door for her,
he said: Il hope you will call again,
Miss --"
Gray" she said.
- Miss Gray, and submit any con-
tributiOns you may have You seem 10
possess talent"
She murmured her thanks, gave him
her sweetest smile and tripped out, very
happy.
''I:y Jove!- was the editors mental
o~~'ama tion when she had gone, that's
a pretty girl Why didn't | think to
talSa- her address? She may not call
again. l guess she win. though, for
she seems TO have the literary fever in
mild form. Let's see-I didn't pay
much attention To her poem-too busy
observing the color of her eyes Some
thing about spring-liLe most of the
rest of them
He read it critically.
Not SO bad WAS his comnapt.