Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-08-08
ALOcAL POET.
Mrs. Hammond OF Strengs Prairie Issues a
Book of Meritorious Poems.

In Sundays Sentinel is review of
a little volume of poems entitled
"Voices of Nature" by Mrs. Luranah
Hammond of Strongs. Prairie. The
review is very complimentary to Mrs.
Hammond and as the fame of her
genius belongs in part to Wood county
we give below a part of the Review
and one of the poems in the book
which speaks for itself. Mrs. Ham
mond has been frequent visitor to
Grand Rapids in the past where she
still comes occasionally on shopping
expeditions.
"Voices of Nature" is the title of a
modest volume of poems by Mrs.
Luranah Hammond, of Strongs
Prairie, Adams county who sings of
the woods and trees. Dealing with
the themes of every day life, Mrs.
Hammond has touched many chords
of pathos. Her poems, however.
range from those that are grave to the
gay little verses that sparkle with a
pleasant humor.
Fifty poems are contained in the
book which is sent out from a Wiscon-
sin press. Among these are many
that are far above the common place.
Taking the things that belonged to
her life in Wisconsin, Mrs. Hammond
has endowed them with poetic
interest and has built about them a
framework of beautiful thoughts.
Among the poems are "The Old Grist
Mill, Where Fairies Dwell" 1.-THE
Anchor, " ''The Old Farmhouse" ga
Song of Gladness. !" "The Music of the
Brook" and calling the Cows"
These recall the quiet country, the
dreams of childhood and the memories
of youth and home and the summer
time.
The Rev. A. L. Morse has written
an introduction to the book in which
it is told that the author of "Voices
From Nature" came to Wisconsin in
1S47, settling in Evansville, Rock
county. Owing to i'll health the
future poet could not attend school
regularly and she spent much of her
time out of doors. In these child
hood years she learned to love nature.
''Half Forgotten" is a little poem
that is worth quoting:
There's charm for me in dewy morn,
A dewy morn in the summer time,
When robin and thrush sing overhead
Sweet songs like some half-forgotten rhyme.
When through the dew laden branches see
The golden arrows Of sunlight fall,
l seem to stand in the shadows deep
Of cherry trees bending over wall.
And an old farmhouse in the background stands
There's a scent of mint in the morning breeze
And over the wall, in the Towering shrubs.
A constant hum of honey bees.
mite of girl, stand in the dew
And gaze at the fruit high over my head;
Then some one comes and gathers for me
The cherries all dewy, 1ipe and red.
This is all 1 can tell-bul there's something
more
Something intangible. fair and sweet;
There was some one there with loving smile,
And tender story l cannot repeat.
l often think cannot tell it all;
When hear the song of robin and thrush
Ring loud and clear in the dewy morn.
The scene returns with a sudden rush.
Then memory grasps it and tries to hold
The scene till my pen can write it all,
But 1t melts away and see but the house.
And the cherry tree bending over the wall
@, picture sweet of the olden time,
Gene back. pray, and linger awhile,
Till learn the charm of that summer morn.
And the name Of her with the tender smile
"Voices From Nature" by Luranah
Hammond, Strongs Prairie, Wis.