The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-10-11

MISSISSIPPI POETS.
S~ BY Mrs. Eta HIIen Mills.
Read before The Nineteenth Century Club of Kosciusko1

Would there were sweeter voice
than mine to sing of the bards of
this grand old State of ours, one
who could in fitting tones tell of
the thoughts that have poured
from hearts filled with the music
of spheres. Since to me it has
fallen to write Of those who "have
made us heirs of truth and pure
delight by heavenly lays"
| will endeavor to touch little
upon the work of each poet who
has gained distinction within the
confines OF Mississippi.
TO me it is not surprising that
we have many who express their
thoughts in this most pleasing
form, fer when | consider how
bountiful the great Giver was in
o-stowing upon us land filled
with beauty from the glistening
sands of the mighty Cult to the
grand commonwealth Just orth Of
us, | wonder that more have not
been
''Fired az first sigat
With what the muse imparts."
We boast OF many, however, who
are Gods prophets of the beautiful.
First would | call your attention
to one known by many of you.
His whole life was poem. Liv;
ing for this good he could accom-
plish. he filled the souls of those
around HIM with hope and love.
He has left to us a rich legacy in
his poems, The Enscotidion and
Aunt Peggy.
For years there dwelt among US
one who gave us sweet food of
sweetly uttered knowledge - Be-
ing transplanted from the rigid
climate of New England to where
balmv breezes watt sweet frag.
rance the entire year, she could
but write of this favored land, CIV
inc us such beautiful thoughts we
feel we can'tprize them too highly.
. Being impressed by the changes
wrought bv the introduction of
steam as power, Mrs. Anna I.
Clark indited the following poem
| am sure you will all enjoy it, So
take great pleasure in reaoing it to
you;
Adieu to the Wheel and Loom
Adheu, adieu. old wheel and loom,
Your long. hard task is DER,
And from our tiresides and our homes
Gou'll pass torevermore.
You're done with woman slender hand
And to your pond'rOus beam
Well chain throughout this "Sunny
Land,
The giant power of steam.
But sadly, slowly, put them by
AID with bright tears bedew
These relics of the dark, dark avs
This land has struggled through;
Of lays when wives and mothers prayed
As they turned the busy wheel
And begged of God for loved ones laid
On the field mid clashing steel.
Oft has woman's tear drops dimned
The swiftly flying thread,
As in her heart some picture rose
Of the wounded or the dead,
And while stern want was in her home,
lie lay low in the tomb.
For whom with aching heart and hand.
She piled the wheel and loom.
And jeweled fingers dropped the Lutte,
And cast tho brush away,
While for loved friends and brothers
gone.
They wrought Confederate gray.
Though now bright gems are fla shing
round,
And robes of royal dye,
Lot no one turn with scornful lip
When the homespun passes bv.
And when in song and stored page,
These days are handed down,
Let woman's humble wreath of praise
Hang near the laurel crown.
Then sadly put the old wheel by
'Tis linked with days of gloom
With blood and fears and woman )
tears
Adien, old wheel and loom
Another to whom poetry seemed
the blossom and fragrance of all
human knowledge, human
thoughts, human passions, emo.
tions, language has also left us
some exquisite gems of poetry,
though it was not as writer of
vers. he was best known in our
midst. Sore of the sweetest of
Judge Jasen Niles poem are,
Lines to Young Man on his
21st Birthday" In an Album"
and to Lock of Hair"
One of the widest known of our
State poets was for years a distin-