Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-05-01
For The Mississippi Leader.
SARAH.
A Reply to "Hagar'. a Poem Which APP
peared in the Cosmopolitan Maya
zine of November, 1898.
Gfhtsis 2IEI2.


Goesis 2Isl2.
Did not love him long before she came
Did we not plight our vows in gladstone YOUTH
Have not the years but added to their strength,
And taught us, each, to know the others truth"
Have not dared cen death to save his life"
Did he not offer all If | would bare
My breast unto his VOWS? And yet because
so loved Abraham. revcred his God
That all the thrones of earth were but poor pay
To thus betray him, have steadfast stood ?
o! how lOnged when near the Egyptian king
To once more nestle in my husbands arms
And tell him how loved him Vast for this
This cup of anguish, that risked my life
In telling that proud king l scorncd his love?
thought I'd surely die so full OF hate,
Surprise and love commingled was his look
When first he found | was anOther'S, Surely
then
The faith that Abraham had taught me saved
My life and his in that SupremeSt hour
The splendors of a heather court are naught
Compared to all the luxury OF worth,
And JOY, and hope that's comprised in the
thought
I'm Abrdhams, and he is miHe' For who
Fer dared before to claim such promises
i'ih = Nibu its ION dIt justly Ills
That all the nations Of the earth shall be
BleSt far his sake :" Twas tbis that ncrIcd my
heart
Though bleeding in its every throb to prove
My loyalty by giving him my maid.
Who but dOting wife can ever know
The anguish that it cost me To lie awake
My pillow bathed in tearS-and waking feel
That while in agony untold my hours drag by,
h"other's arms encirclcd him; onothers lips
Drank in the nectar OF his burning kiss;
.iHother's heart was beating next his own
While dreams of future bliss around them shOne.
And when he came-the dark Egyptian boy
And she lay helpless in my power, and
Saw how he loved them-O. the bitter pang
TO feel anOther's life had come between
Me and my husband! What an easy thing,
TO bring about seeming natural death;
The babe to follow soon.-But SarahS heart
Would scorn SO low and base an act 10 crush
Even poor handmaiden. Years passed away;
| saw the child supplanting me; and yet
For AbrahamS sake | could not, would not
mourn;
But spent sweet hours in faShioning with grace
The fairy garments that he wore, that
Might know somewhat IA mothers love and he,
\ fathers fondest joy; while she, the maid,
Might thankful be to both for her great bliss.
His lettering baby -steps loved to guide;
His infant prattle delighted heard;
Within our household he the only child,
Caroed as free as any blthesome bird;
Nor want, nor care, nor any unkind thing
Ger his young life a shadow dared to fling.
When Isaac came how din rent far her thoughts
Though born of welded love and child OF whom
The angels often told before his birth;
Though patiently had waited through the years
For this great browning joy, and that reprOach
Of barrenness should he removed; though told
:" was Il Princess by my Gods command,
And all the nations of the earth should be
Blessed through my child''-and Ishmacl now a
boy
Full large enough to grasp its meanng-yet
He sulks As though some wrong had been done
him,
In that my Isaac lives and mocks to see
His fathers fOndneSS for his baby boy,
And all these precious promises. How long,
How long nursed the one delicious thought
That some day, ere died, an angel said
| too should clasp a child my very own,
And through all coming ages thus be known,
Who, who but Sarah had not naughty grown
or this poor duSky maid and her dark SOM
Who, who but Sarah had 50 patient proved,
UIecauSe Of teachings OF her Abraham,
In waiting for the glad fulfllment Of
This glorious prophecy? All would Sc0rn
To prove unworthy OF such destiny
by STOPPING to be jea lOus of my maid;
For her best love with gold and gems was bought,
While of such paltry things scarcely thought.
And yet sometimes my poor, weak woman's
heart
Would almost burst to see their loving looks.
And hear their tender ZONES to their dear boy;
As though no Sarah lived To mourn her lot
And almost feared Jehovah had forgot
His promise To her. q the crucial years
OF outward joy and inward grief and tears
waited for his coming And how now,
With Gods own hallowed seal upon my brow,
Can 1.-THE rife and mOther-lOnger bear
Their scOrnful thruStS" 1t cannot. must not I've
= Sarah the Princess, mother Of long line
OF future kings and queens must bid adeu
To Sarai, barren wife. The debt | owe
PoSterity through this dear child of mine
Must he discharged dare not intercept
'iOd's purposes for all the world His will
Must be my guide; enough for me to know
He leads the way-I in it willing 90.
Away
No longer love, long suffering. can bear
Your unjust taiInts; no longer Duty bids
The mother OF the heir Of promise live
beneath yOnr cruel words. No more
An angel interposes in behalf
H outraged wOmanhoOd and child unborn
But Ia loud trumpet-tones Jehovah calls
. Cast HSsar OUT" Her impiOUs son shall not
Sex with unsrateful hooking ISaac'S lot;
! Hhi@ thy seed is called, the earth is blest-
CAST HAGAR oUT!-aHd pras God for the ret
ELLES +. HEBRON.
5I3 North ST.. jackson, Miss
Gen. II: 10. I6. ID; Hob I'LL