The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-01-23
HOlDEN'S POEM.

Thanks To Judge sehsnck for Bringing IL
to Lixht-soms Rsminscensss.
Allow me through the CAUCASIAN to
return my grateful thanks to the Hon.
ID. Schenck for publishing in the Win
ston Republican the poem Of Home
Above mid the numberless stars OF
the beautiful sky
Judge Schenck is kind enough to say
of il that he considers IL one OF 1.-THE
sweetest gems which has found its way
to the public for many years"
And l also beg to return my many
thanks to you for republish 1t in
the CAUCASIAN OF last week.
Now, Mr.. Editor, ! have something
To say about this little poem II you will
be kind enough to let me do so. When
Joe Holden wrote it | was working In
his fathers printing Office as foreman.
Joe and myself had been associated to-
gether in the printing office for years
AS he grew up. In fact, learned him
how to set type. He always appeared
to think much Of me, and dearly Low.
ed the boy.
One morning he walked into the
printing office, and pulled out OF his
pocket this poem, and asked me TO read
II and tell him what | thought OF it. i
TtAu III ONtT IW1Ct anu SdIu
to him that 81 thought 1t was beauti-
full" But suggested TO him that where
he had "sheen" in two lines together, to
change the last one TO brightness, as it
meant the same thing; That the word
"sheeH" coming in two lines together
did not sound well; but he said "that
would make too many syllables" As
I did not know what syllabicatiOn had
t., A., xxit IA auid mora QhAnf
that. | suggested some other minor
alterations, but he did not adopt
them, and had it published as he had
originally written it. And am truly
glad he did, for might have caused
him to ruin it.
| am now an old man, and have often
sat on the porch at evenings and look
ed"'Mid the numberless stars Of the
beautiful sky" and wondered which
one Joe was in. And | have always
invariably selected the brightest one
I could see, and | still hope, when |
die, that | may be able to get to one
near him.
The Hon. Joseph w. Holden was one
of the greatest young men ever born In
the State. He was one of the finest
speakers ever heard on the stump. A
few years after the war he was can
didatc for the Legislature, as also wa!
the Hon. Bat. Moore, as he was ther
familiarly called. They, with mysel
rs candidate for Superior Court Clerk
and others for various offices, were Il
meet Mt John Lewis JOhnson's, in Mid
die Creek township, to open the cam
paign. We all got there by IL O'Clock
In the morning., and arranged rs to VIII
should speak first and so on.
All the "small fry" were to speal
first, then Hon. Joseph Holden, an,
last, as he was the oldest man, the Hon
Bat. Moore. There was a tremendOu
crowd present. After the "small fry
had gotten through, the Hon. JOSEPH
Holden took the stand, and for on
hour and twenty minutes he Delivers
the greatest speech that had ever bee
made in Wake county. The crowd wen
wild with joy. and every body on tn
ground appeared enthusiastic.
The Hon. b. F. Moore then got W
and though a great man and gran
speaker, it appeared that every bod
had enough of speaking for that day
Mr.. Moore said to me afterwards tina
If he had known that Joe Holden wa
going to make such fine speech, h
would have insisted on his Holden
speaking last. But after awhile a goo
many got interested IN Mr.. Moore
speech and paid him much attention
as Mr.. Moore was one of the ablest an
best speakers in the State.
Yours respectfully,
jim. BUNTING.