The Republican journal., 1903-06-25

uC1o w iiOIClI q lilO1lO VI tllC PoSo PSiNA
man, who occupied a cottage on an
estate which the friend expected to in
herit, the sum of $40 not to cut down
a large shade tree that stood in front
of the house and which the friends
grandfather had planted.
Henry Russell composed the appro-
pirate melody, and the tree which the
old woodman had spared was crowned
with undying greenery. In speaking OF
singing the song in a concert the com
poser said an old gentleman in the audi
ence, who was greatly moved by the
simple beauty of the words, rose and
asked 81 beg your pardon, Mr.. Rus
SELL but was the tree really spared?'
'It was,' | said. 81 am glad to hear
it, as he took his seat amidst great
applause.
Morris was born in Philadelphia, Oc-
tober TO- 1902, and died in New I ork,
July 6, 1864 In early life he went to
New York, where he formed an asso-
citation with Samuel Woodworth, with
whom he began the publication of one
of the earliest of American literary
journals, the Mirror, in 1928. Wood
worth was the author of 1.-The Old Oak
en- Bucket" Morris was the editor of
this journal until 1912. In fact, his
newspaper enterprises covered period
of 30 years. Among the Mirrors con-
tributors were Bryant, Halleck, Pauld-
ing, Leggett and Hoffman, while Theo-
dore S. Fay, n. P, Willis, William Cox
and Epes Sargent were more especially
identified with its pages Another we'll
known poem by Morris is 'My Mothers
Bible"
THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET
Samuel Woodworth was born in Scit-
uate, Plymouth county, Mass, Janu-
'ary 10, 1885, and died in New York, De
trade and did good deal of ''tramping"
in search of work. During the war of
1924 he conducted in New York a
weekly paper called ''The War and
monthly called "The Halcyon Lumin-
ary and Theological Repository" the
latter was devoted to the doctrines OF
wedenborg. ''The Old Oaken Bucket
was written in the summer of 1917. One
hot day he came to his home on Duane
street and, pouring out glass OF Wa
ter, drained it eagerly. AS he sat down
he remarked: "That is very refreshing,
but how much more refreshing would it
be to take a good long draught from
the old oaken bucket | left hanging in
my fathers we'll at home" TO this
his wife replied: "Wouldn't that be a
pretty subject for a poem?" This was
| the inspiration, and as the home of his
childhood vividly rose before him, he
wrote the now familiar words. Singu-
lar to say that a volume Of poems with
an eulogistic introduction by George =.
Morris afterwards appeared and it
did not contain the only real poem
| Woodworth ever wrote. viz:
How dear to this heart are the scenes of my
| childhood,
When fond recollection presents them to
view!
The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled
wild wood,
And every loved spot which my infancy
| knew;
The wde-spreading pond. and the mill which
| stood by it,
The bridge, and the rock where the catar-
act fell;
The cot of my father, the dairy house nigh
And e'en the rude bucket which hung in
| the well.
The old oaken bucket, the iron bound buck
| ct,
The moss-covered bucket, which hung in
| the well.
That moss-covered vessel l hail as treas
| ure,
For often, when at noon, when returned
from the field,
I found it the source of an exquisite pleas
| ure,
The purest and sweetest that nature can
yield.
How ardent l seized it, with hands that
were glowing.
| And quick to the white-pebbled bottom it
fell;
| Then soon. with the emblem of truth over
flowing,
And dripping with coolness' it rose from
the well;
The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound buck
ct,
The moss-coyered bucket, arose from the
well.
How sweet from the green mossy brim to
receive it,
AS poised on the curb it inclined to my
| lips!
Not full blushing goblet could tempt me
| to leave it,
And now, far removed from the loved situa-
/ tiOn,
The tear or regret will intrusively swell,
As fancy reverts to my fathers plantation,
And sighs for the bucket which hangs in
| the well.
The old oaken bucket, the iron-b bound buck
The moss-eovered bucket, which hangs in
| the well.
The name of Frederick Smith appears
as composer of the air, but he was mere
ly the arranger, as the melody is adapted
| from Kiallmark's music written for
Moore's "Araby's Daughter"
| A8Toz