The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-06
Yet there WIS a. marble SORROW

! Yet there was q, marble sorrow
| In each still face. chiseled deep,
Something more than tears could
weep.
Let him restl-it is not often
That his soul hath known repose;
Let him rest!-they rest but seldom
Whose successes challenge foes.
He was weary-Worn with watching;
His life crown of power hath pressed
oft on temples sadly aching
/ Toll. bells at the capitali
! Bells of the land, toll.
SOD out your grief with brazen lungs
/ The girl poet grew up shy and sensi-
! tive. She was sad and out of tune
/ with her surroundings. She loved the
1 beautiful things of life, but they were
| out OF her reach. Her companions
could not appreciate her poetic nature
nor comprehend her melancholy moods.
1 She in turn. gazed at her gay girl
friends with her deep-blue, dreamy
eyes unable to enter into their merri-
ment. So Sarah was called queer
and, when, in moments of confidence
she revealed to others what. to her
imagination, was truth, what to the
coarser mind had no existence, there
were those who thought the girl I'M
balanced. So modest was she, so
quietly did she work. that when, at
the age of IS, she began to send her
verses to the News, people were
amazed and doubted the genuineness
of the poetry But few rare souls
recognized a budding genius, and the
! shrinking girl was encouraged to con-
tinue her flight. Fame spread abroad
the story of the Lily of the Valley"
1t came to the ears of DR.. Williamson,
a surgeon in the army, stationed here
under General Cennor. He sought the
gentle poet and a beautiful love was
inspired in two hearts which We're
united in marriage in 1867, in spite of
! much adverse criticism by the friends
of both parties. During their court
ship, in 1866 a trio of the doctor S
| friends and the poets admirers col
lected and published a few of Miss
CarmichaeFs choicest poems. The col
! lection is quite incomplete, but every
number is a gem, and it is unfortunate
! that the little book is out of print for
all lovers of true poetry should have
! access to it
/ The union of DIR. Williamson and the
poet was ideal. On one side was the
fondest love and deepest appreciation
on the other was rare genius and
grateful affection. Surely sympathy
and inspiring love will cause the wings
of genius to soar to heights undreamed
of in the old hard conditions So her
! friends thought. But, alasi The two
souls had been united only a year when
a dark shadow fell upon their happy
home. The poet-Wife became insane
But if genius did not grow, the
strength of love was tested and not
found wanting In these days of
changing affection it is comforting to
know 10 occin
been exalted and enduring. For
twenty years-indeed, until death
called him, the devoted husband cher
ished his poor wife, refusing to send
her from his side. trying everything
that might restore the once brilliant
mind. hoping against hope, patiently
bearing his loss, loving to the end.
Mrs. Williamson is still living in Salt
Lake city in the house occupied by
her husband and herself after their
wedding journey to Ohio and short
sojourn in California. In this house
Dr. Williamson died a few years ago.
In the parlor hangs his portrait which
the casual observer might think the
picture of Byron. There is the same
perfect head and beautiful eyes. Into
the sweet pensive poet-face of his
bride whose painting hangs on the
wall opposite, these clear eyes seem
" NC SdZIuS.
After DR.. Williamson's death there
was found next to his sad heart where
he had carried it for twenty years,
the last poem written by his gifted
wife-"Down by the River How like
a prophecy was this last pathetic APP
pealI
Down by the river,
The dark flowing river,
That flows to eternity's sea,
Kneel to the Giver,
To God, the good Giver,
And pray for my venture and me!
Cold. is it? Dark it is,
flushed as my heart it is
Swift flowing river, sublime.
Many ships fail on it,
Still as they sail on it
Strange crooked river of time!
Down by the riverside,
Wreck-covered riverside,
Pray for my venture and me!
Pray for US! Pray for us!
Solemnly say for US,
God guide thee safe to the sea. q"
Strong is the river tide,
Rough is the riverside
Pray for my venture and me!
LILLE r. PARDEE