The Washington herald., 1909-02-28
HER HISTORY.


Found dead. you say2' and ask me
for her history" Why, my friend, each
day. each hour. I weave a new one.
only know she was fair and sweet as the
dawn Of the May tide. Into her sweet
soul came wild hopes and ambitious
thoughts. that left no vithering tracks.
but sped as even as the shadow OF an
eagles wings darkens q sun-bright val
ley Life IN her heart made music, her
soul. ike one who sleeps into an April
morning and is awakened by melody and
light to the sound Of rhythmS sweater
than the Tuirth Of brooks. But she drove
through the sea OF life when the wind
was the widest. and into her soul came
trouble and wonder. came the strain at
her heart strings. while the yellow bios
SONS Of springtine were lying round her
feet ere spring IN her heart had grown
.nto winter. with It's black boughs and
Wild music:
Lying in wait foT her scul frail and tender
Crouched Al the blaze q Us Tirsinal s1lendsr-
You ask me FOR her history" Was not
Paul voted mad. my friend, and Socrates
doomed 10 die? Was it not sa5 that he.
VINO nT0EklaL NV u IL EC 4LUL4 -lCLAEAl NAl
chained upon the cold rock and tortured
the while by vulture tearing at his.
heart2
Under the light q ,hs tzpers IS lying
One whom keen anguish made rsady fo- dying
know that she was gifted; that she
was a woman. and laid her sweet heart
bare in her frank trust and honesty Of
purpose. Her soul heard the music Of
which thousands OF years ard hundreds
Of languages have never lost the cadence
and the tune. The music that ravishes
alike the sovereign on the throne and
the peasant beneath the hawthorn tree,
that stirs the blood OF the poor and dull
as Of the gifted and noble; that gladdens
the wise and good. and heavenwaTd leads
the hearts Of earth's most waywaTd.
All about her she had this wonderful glory
The strain Ersx muts and broken her story
Was she good; vas she fair. you ask?
I only know the blossom OF her nature.
The bulb enshrouds the lily. and within
the most unsightly form may folded lie
the white wings Of an angel. and I love
10 think OF her as one whose lightest
word the angels heard unrebuking, whose
sweet soul turned from impGrity ike
blossom that closes at the approach of
night.
So you and I. my friend. viii put white
roses in her hair: her forehead looks 50
much Ike saints. bearing the mark Of
thOTns How heavy droOp tire white lids
over her sweet blue eyes. as lilies Ioll
against the swell OF waves.
The sweet-browed nuns VIII chant the
Gloria" for her. and their notes viii
make a golden ladder for her soul to 20
up into Gods presence.
wearioi and sad, Ike tired little child
Lonsns so- oool satsrs whers f1EgTs bioSs0I4 vild
Found deadr' Ike q chased dove that
Gains its painting under green forest
boughs. Life was unmasked 20 her, and
joy Knocked her Ike a garland twined
round drained wine cup; Ike a bird
borne over an abyss on one bruised wing.
Do you net think then. my friend. that
the white angels standing in Gods pres
ence lean on their harps and weep?
Let Us speak only kind words u hsr story,
God made bez woman. that vas her glo-y.
Death cTept near where she kneit IN devotion
Frozen on ieT feaiu-ys their noGrnful cmotion.
So now we fold her hands and leave her
with God. Ny friend. she sleeps. as the
marble sleeps in unsuliied vhiteness on
the tomb. taking no taint from the foul
thing it covers. How ike a pale saint
she looks with the cruciAx betwixt her
palms
Under the light q the tapers lies sleeping
One whose sweet Scrl was Whitsaed b. weeping.
Come. angels. unlock the prison doors
and let her soul go free Listenl Dost
thou not hear a sound Of many wings hIl-
ing the air and the voice OF a sweet Ma
donna chanting a cradle hymn2 Look,
ny friend: dost thou not see her in her
death robes point with her white, stiiI
finger 70 q pictured bridal2
Ask not the history Of that clay respondent,
Whe-e sed TIE sweet SOL that Is shining ssrsndant
ALLIE SHARPE BALCH.
February %. 1903. Is7s Euclid street.
Lillian Russelrs next seasons play Is
to be called ''Ths Widows Mite"
Henry Arthur Jones has gone TO Alge-