The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-05-04
IMMORTALITY.
BY JOSEPH JEFF fIn,-D y.
Richmond Times -DiSpatch.


Richmond Times Dispatch.
The New York 1'riJunc OF April 10Th
through the courtesy OF Mr.. +, g. Benedict,
printed the lines that follow. written by
Joseph Jefferson. the veteran actor. who
has just died, on Immortality This
unpretentious bit of verse expresses con-
viction that it's author cherished. with
steadfast faith, all his days. Mr.. Bene-
dict writes to the Tribune:
lone day last summer, when MIR. JET
fersOn and Mr. Cleveland were taking
luncheon on board the Oneida, in Buz-
yards Bay, the conversation drlftcd to
the subject Of future life. Mr.. Jefferson
expressed himself as very grateful for
having had more than his share Of the
Joys of this life, and as being prepared to
meet at any moment, the common fate
of all He said he had lately been scrib-
bling some doggerel' on the subject, and
he recited his lines to us. | asked him
for a copy of them, which he said he did
not possess, but he promised to send me
one. In February reminded him of his
promise. and received a signed copy of
the verses. which he entitled Immortal
ity' 1t seems as though these lines con-
struct Il beautiful bridge between faith
and reason.
Two caterpillars crawling on a leaf,
Ry some strange accident in contact
came,
| Their conversation, passing all belief,
Was that same argument the very
same,
That has been proed and conned from
man to man.
Yea. ever since this world began.
The ugly creatures,
Deaf and dumb and blind
Devoid of features
That adOrn mankind,
Were vain enough. in dull and wordy
strife.
To speculate upon future life.
The first was optimistic, full OF hope;
The second, quite dyspeptic. seemed t'
NOPE.
Said number one Il am sure OF our sal
vatiOn.
Said number two: Il am sure OF ou1
damnatiOn;
Our ugly forms alone would seal Ou1
fates
And bar our entrance through the gol
den gates.
Suppose that death should take us un
tlNHTeS.
How could we climb the golden stairs?
If maidens shun us as they pass us by,
Would angels bid us welcome in the sky
wonder what great crimes we have
committed,
That leave us so forlorn and so unpitied
Perhaps we've been ungrateful unfor
giving;
'Tis plain to ME that life's not worth th
living"
Come. come. cheer up" the jovial worn
replied,
l"Let's take a look upon the other side;
Suppose we cannot fly like moths o
millers,
Are we to blame for being caterpillars?
VIII that same God that doomed II
crawl the earth
A prev to every bird that's given birth
Forgive our captor as he eats and sings
And damn poor US because we have no
wings?
Ii we can't skim the air like owl or bat
\ worm will turn for a that.
They argued through the summer: au
tumn nigh,
The ugly things composed themselves t
die:
And so to make their funeral quite com
plete.
Each wrapped him in his little windin:
sheet.
The tangled web encompassed them ful
soon.
Each for his coffin made him a cocoon.
All through the winters chilling bias
they lay.
Dead to the world-aye dead as human
clay.
l.o. spring comes forth with all be
warmth and love:
She brings sweet justice from the realm
above;
She breaks the chrysalis. she resurrect
the dead;
Two butterflies ascend. encircling he
head
And in this emblem shall forever be
\ sign of Immortality.