Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-05-08
For The Mississippi Leader.
SARAH.
A Reply to "Hagar". n Poem Which Ap-
pcarcd i'm the Cosmopolitan Maga-
zine of November, 1893.

zine OF November, 1893.
GENESIS 2l:sla.
Did not love him long before she came ?
Did we not plight our vows in gladsomc 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?
Could not proud PharaOlI's throne have been
my own,
And that mighty monarch'S chosen wife?
Did he not offer all if would bare
My breast unto his VOWS And yet because
| so loved Abraham, Teyered 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 Scorned 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 heather court are naught
Compared to all the luxury of worth,
And JOY and hope that's compasSed in the
thought
Tn d6rahdm'S, and he Is mine For who
Fer dared before to claim such promises
From lsrael's God as now are justly his
That all The nations Of The earth shall be
Biest for his soke," Twas this that ncryed my
heart
Though bleeding in its every throb, to prove
My loyalty by giving him my maid.
Who but a doting wife can ever know
The anguish that ii cost me To lie awake
My pillow bathed in tearS-and waking feel
That while in agony untold my hours drag by,
A"other's arms encirced him; aaotter's lips
Drank in the nectar of his burning kiss
dHother'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 anOthcr'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 Sarah's heart
Would Scorn so low and base an act to crush
Even poor handmaden. Years passed away;
saw the child suppanting me; and yet
For Ahraham'S sake ! could not, would not
mourn
The fairy garments that he worc that
Might know somewhat mothers love; and he,
Ny Abraham, should quaff unto the full
A fathers fondest joy; while she, the maid,
Might thankful be to both for her great bliss.
His tottering baby-StepS loved to guide;
His infant prattle delighted heard;
Within our household lie the only child,
Caroled as free as any blithesome bird;
DER his young life a shadow dared to fling.
When Isaac came how diff 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 harrenness should be removed: though told
IL was a Princess by my Gods command,
And all the nations of the earth should be
Blessed through my chid'-and lshmael now a
boy
Full large enough to grasp its meaning-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 IA child my very own,
And through all coming ages thus be known
Who, who but Sarah had not naughty grown
OF this poor dllSky maid and her dark son?
Who, who but Sarah had so patient proved,
because of teachings of her Abraham,
In waiting for the glad fulhllment of
This glorious prophecy: All would scorn
To prove unworthy of such destiny
By STOPPING to be Jealous 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 tones to their dear boy;
AS though no Sarah lived to mourn her lot
And almost feared Jehovah had forgot
His promise to her. O the crucial years
OF outward joy and inward grief and tears
| waited for his coming And how now,
With Gods own halowed seal upon my brow.
Can 1.-The wif and mOther-lOnger bear
Their scornfu thrusts? 1t cannot. must not he
- Sarah the Princess" mother uf long line
OF future kings and queens must bid adieu
To Sarai barren wife. The debt owe
PoStcrity through this dear child of mine
Must be discharged dare not intercept
Gods purposes for all the world His will
Must be my guide; enough for me to know
lie leads the way-I in it willing go.
Away
No longer love, long-Suffering, can bear
Your unjust taunts; no longer Duty bids
The mother of the heir of promise live
Beneath your cruel words. No omore
An angel nterpoSeS in behalf
OF outraged womanhoOd and child unborn.
But in loud trumpet-toneS Jehovah calls
- Cast HagGr oHt!" Her impiouS son shall not
Vex with ungrateful mocking lsaac'S lot;
h, him thy seed is called, the earth is blest-
CAST HAGAR oUT!-and trust God for the rest!
ELLEN i. HEBRON.
7i3 North ST., Jackson Miss.
= Gen. II: 10, lG, 10; Heb. III.