The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-08-23

caught
His bundle. waved his hand and went his
way.
The poet graphically depicts Annie's
struggle to maintain herself and chill
dren with the means secured from the
sale of fisherman's supplies her hus-
band had provided. But Annie'S efforts
met with i'll success and the early death
of the little siclxly child added another
burden and heartache to the many cares
that she had not the strength to bear.
The tender solicitude of Philip, his
sending of the little ones to school,
their love for him. and the answer to
Annies dream all were but incidents
leading UP to the betrothal of Philip
and Annie. although some mysterious
influence caused Annie to delay the
marriage for some time.
During all these years Enoch had
been living with two shipwrecled COM
panions upon an island described as an
Eden Gf righteousness" nothwith-
standing which they dwell with eternal
summer iil-Content," for they lUnged FOR
home and family and watched daily for
some passing sail Enochs two COM
panions died and after long years of
waiting he was taken on board a pass
ing vessel and carried to his old home
place in England.
With a pathos and tenderness hardly
equaled the poet describes Enoch at the
place where Philip and Annie are liv-
ing and there the exile views the happy
family. sees his wife, his boy and girl.
Philip and Philips son. Pausing awhile
ne looked in on their happiness and
resolved never TO let any Of the happy
circle know that he was alive
He therefore turning softly like a thief
Lest the harsh shingie should crate under
foot
And feeling all along the garden wall
Lest he should swoon and tumble and be
found,
Crept to the gate and opened it, and
AS lightly as sick mans chamber door
Behind him. and came out upon the waste.
And there he would have knelt, but that
Were feeble. so that falling prone he dug
His fingers into the wet earth and pray'd,
Too hard to bear! Why did they take me
o; God Almighty; blessed Savior Thou.
Uphold me, Father, in my loneliness
4 little longer! Aid me. give me strength
Not to tell her, never to let her know
My children too! l must not speak to
these:
They know me not should betray my
Never. No fathers kiss for me-the girl,
So like her mother, and the boy, my son..
After this prayer for strength Enoch
never faltered in his purpose to keep
his secret until death, and Scorning aims
he worked until the last. when ne well
coined death as a gracious messenger.
Not even Miriam Lanes appeal to him
to see his children could swerve him
from his set purpose. The poem closes
with his answer to Miriam Lane:
woman. disturb me not now at the last.
But let me hold my purpose till die.
Sit down again; mark me and understand,
While I have power to speak. I charge
When you shall see her. tell her that
died
Blessing her. praying for her. loving her
Save for the bar between us-loving her
AS when she laid her head beside my own.
Ill a.. 7
So ike her mother. that my latest breath
Was spent in blessing her and praying for
her.
And tell my son that I died blessing him.
And say to Philip that blest him too;
He never meant us anything but good.
But If my children care to see me dead.
Who hardly knew me living. let them
I am their father: but she must not come
For my dead face would vex her after life
And now there is but one of all my blood
Who will embrace me In the world 10 be;
This hair is his: she cut IL of and gave II
And ] have borne II with me all these
And thought to bear it with me to my
But now my mind is changed. for shall
My babe in bliss; wherefore. when am
Take: give her this. for it may comfort
It will moreover be a token to her
That / am he.
Then the third night after this
While Enoch slumbered motionless and
And Miriam watch'd and dozed at inter-
walls,
| There came so loud calling of the sea
| That all the houses in the haven rang
He woke, he rose, he spread mis- arms
Crying with loud voice. "a SAIL sail.
1 am saved" and so fell back and spoke
SO passed the strong heroic soul away.
| And when they buried him the little port
| Had seldom seen costlier funeral
oh, what tenderness, what beauty and
pathos in these closing lines. Our blind
/ ing eyes bear testimony TO the power
of the poet who can touch our hottest
| and most hallOwed feelings. No manly
/ soul or tender woman heart can read the
/ poem without recognizing the genius Of
the man who can SO gently. so tenderly,
i touch the higher and better nature.
| Methinks TO have heard the poet render
/ the last few lines with his own voice
We're greater than to bask in the favor
of a stated monarchs whims.
Enoch Arden will long hold a place in
| the hearts Of neutrality-suspicious. tongues.
| Its simple beauty. touching pathos
deep as tears" make the poem a mas
| terpiece of thought and composition
| The recent death OF TennysOn has left
a void in English literature that will be
felt for some time and he who aspires
| to the laureateship will need to laok
| we'll to his laurels. The close of his life
was a beautiful example OF his faith
| and trust in God. We see him at that
supreme moment a "silver-haired min
strel touching nelodious keys playing
and singing in the twilight within sound
of the note OF the sea There he lin
| gers late; the curfew bell has tolIed
| and the darkness closes round. till at
last that tender voice is silent and he
| softly moves unto his rest" for he has
| answered the lone clear call" "crost
the bar" and met his pilot face to
| face "REN ARDYS"