The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1904-11-05
A Pleasant Incident.

A Pleasant Incident.
One Saturday afternoon recently when
the deep. still beauty of perfect October
weather, pervndcd all the landscape,
your correspondent was agrccably sur
prisrd by visit from two young literary
pilgrims. They came on horseback, and
aighting at my door. made known their
erlund in modest dcferential tones. One
had read with deep interest, 50 she said,
the story which lately appeared i'll the
Cecil Wing entitled The Little Bru-
nrttc." And Gcnevieve had told Helen
about the romantic story of the young
volunteer who went from Port Deposit
to the Union Army and came back minus
Dwcethcar. Gould | tell them if it
were true. or only II creation of the uu-
thor'S ina gnntiOn?' And | could not
tell them. | suggested that they write
to- Mr.. Racine and ask him about the
identity of the Gne armed hero, and his
sweetheart. | knew Il number of young
men who went to the Union Army from
Port Deposit and vicinity but | could not
recall one who returned without an
arm. None of them locked much the
worse for the wear and tear of army
life: in fact. all We're better looking
,,.L,n tl,,,. ,.,atu,',ttl ilnn y.ltnn tlnv ln-
parted for the scene OF carnage. They
were mostly mere callow youmthS when
they enlisted, and they returned brown
ed and bearded men. |, myself. would
like to know whether the story is found
ed Hn fact or is fiction pure and simple.
viii the author kindly cmlightcn lis
through the columns Of the Wing: by
''uS' | mean Grncvirvc. Helen and my
self. But we are not the only ones in
trrr>tcd in these sketches and rpmimiS
crnSrS of long ago. | have received Sev-
cIal letters from gr-timc friends of Cc-
eli county's only true poetcSS. Emma
Alice Brown. One came from II true,
>taunch life long friend Of her whose
home is now in far off Oregon. De
sonuiity and romantic early history are
| contained in this letter. He. too. had
read Little Brunette" and marycled
that he had never known aught before
Of this Southern lover. whose pen name
by the way. WAS Paul De We're" His
real name | have forgotten. The young
ladies. who came to see me. were also
deeply interested in the Little Brunette
| and her history. and one part of their
crrand WINS to inquire if II volume of her
poems could be found in any library in
any nearby city? ! WIS obliged TO tell
| them that her poems. worthy as they are
| to be placed beside those of Mrs. He
| mans and Browning. have never been
published in book form. Strange that
! her sons do not thus honor and pcrpctu
| ate the name of their talented mother
The letter from Oregon. to which |
have referred. contained Il poem. which
George ID. Prcntis~, then in the height
| of his fame. had written upon the fly
leaf of book. Little Dorritt." which
| he had presented to Little Brunette.
| can not forbcar to quote it
| Fair Alice: yes I'll call thee fair:
For thou art beautiful to me-
| can not rhyme with Campbell'~ care,
con not sing with Byron'% glee.
| 'ut gladly do | tax" for thee
My harp from pff the willow tree.
Could | but hope that eyes like thine
BY rhymes like mine could ere he won,
| I'd labor til another sun
Aye til seven times seven their course
had run.
| As was for Lahan'S daughter done
But since 50 sweet so dear prize.
Was nrcr designed for one like me
I'll only ask that when thy eyes
These simple lines shall chance to see
Thnu'lt think of him. the Bard
Who took for thee, his harp from off
the willow tree
PricntiS$ WAS then Il nran in the prime
of life. and Little Brunette" an innocent
| little country girl in her teens. No Won
der he felt that such II prize was not for
| him. y. {. SHIPPERS.
Colora. October %. 1904.