Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-15
The CDusilP-IiRht.
OOhn r. Morris. in Charlotte IN. c
ObserYer)

OOhn II. Morris. i'm Charlotte On. CD
Observer
ION the evening Of May 9Th, this year,
lsS5, the author was sitting, with Mr.. A.
c. Weisiger. of Richmond. Va. and other
commercial travellers. in the writing room
of the Hotel Chquola. Anderson, s. c..
when, resulting from a storm without,
the electric lights were suddenly extin-
suiSned and Ihe hosiery was In total
darkness. until there were brought seve-
raj lighted tallow candles one Of these
candles was placed on a table where the
writer sat. and by its feeble rays the fol-
lowing lines. with the exception Of five
stanZas. were written.-Author)
Two sweethearts by old candle courted:
Then hddler's bow DER strings disported
And bride, attired in snowy white.
stood blushing in the candle-light
The bow, long limp; the fiddle broken;
The bride, in mystic land unspOken;
Her dreamy bliss outlined 10 sight
In dreaminess of candle-light.
When memories old do sometimes cast
Some furtiVe tenderness DER past
The bridal veil and shroud delight
To tangle in the candle-light.
As floats some smile DER sleeping face
Whore floating tears have left their trace.
So side by side. hope and its blight
Float softly through the candle-light.
IT'S needless that here disguise
That hopes that ne'er did realize.
In bold delusiOn's strength and might,
Stood haughtily DER candle-light.
For oft from stream. or ball and bat.
/. by old candle. musng. sat,
And saw my life upborne. despite
The meek rebuke of candle-light.
Since am gray to me II seems
~ a. q, inf
To shut me off from gloTys height.
More dazzling than the candle-light.
At last. ambition is but sin
Where duty seldom stOops 10 win,
Unminding self 10 move Alright.
Moekly. as moves the candle-light.
Yet there were times of other meaning
When near old candle 1 was'leaning.
When thought took no ambitious flight
High DER the soft Of candle-light.
All why should this light dsdain,
or olden candle e'er complain,
Since love comes out my boyhOOd bright.
Comes creeping through this candle-light?
OFT with old candle trimmed and lit,
| on low. rustic stool would sit
While pocket trinltets. brought 10 sight,
| sorted by the candle-lght.
It's light. from mantel 10 the door,
Crept softly DER the spOtless floor.
SO sleek from scrubbing that its white
Blinked neatly through the candle-light.
7 watched two pictures. quaint and small
In blue and red stuck on the wall:
one boy with drum and one with kite
Two happy boys in candle-hght.
Since then I've stood where rapturous
hush
Ger canvas slept. from famous brush.
Where Rembrandts dream-ideal sight
Slept tendery as candle-light--
Yet where some theme may now expand.
In shade and light. from artists hand
l. critic now. may say: Ills bright
Needs mellOwness Of candle-light"
Else say. perchance. as critic frigd.
His lines. both here and there are rigid;
No subtle blend Of day and night
As gleam and gloom in candle-light.'
The critics mind rejects as art
The prints reprinted on my heart
The pretty boys with drum and kite,
In blue and red, in candle-light.
Yet scheme Of art from foreign land,
From mastery Of master hand.
Was less than boys. than drum ana KITE
In blue and red. in candle-lght
Though priceless stones in coquette's hair
Flame DER the banquets scented air,
ne'er have seen so pretty sight
As mother In the candle-ight.
When 7 her thanks for chores did earn
And sought some dingy leaf to learn,
ia SIT there. silent. IN the night
And study by the candle-NSht'
Then She my mother, drawing near,
Would all my simple lessons hear;
with head on lap, I'd there recite
TO mother in the candle-light.
"Come now my son. It's time for bed:
Then Keep him, Christ" my mother
said.
Rrlna back. O God. some boyhood night
-. he coz a Iii