Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-03-03
MRS. EDWARDS
LOANS POEMS
TWO VOLUMES OF POEMS BY
LOCAL POETS ARE IN THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Destined s'to toll in the rear, too
busy to reach for the help that was

DeSClneQ TO toll IN the rear, too
busy to reach for the help that was
near"
'An hour with a book would have
brought to his mind
The secret that took him a whole
year to find,
The facts that he learned at enor-
NOUS expense
Were all on library shelves to COM
mence.
Alas! for our hero; too busy to read
He was also too busy, it proved, to
succeed.
"We may win without credit, or back
ing or style,
We may win without energy, skill
or smile,
Without patience or aptitude. pur-
pose or wit
We may even succeed if we're lack
ing in grit.
Put take it from me as a mighty
safe hint,
A civilized man cannot win without
print.
Leaves FROM the Almond Tree, ;"
is the title Of small volume of poems
written by Mrs. Frances j. Edwards
of Port Edwards, copy of which has
been loaned to the 7. B. Scott Public
Library. Another little book of poems
written by another prominent woman
of the community, Mrs. Celia K. Glib
son of this city, and published by her
in December, 1920, has also been re-
ceived by the library.
Mrs. Edwards poems, Leaves From
the Almond Tree" as she has called
them, have fallen one by one, begin
ming to drop when in the pride and
vigor of young life the tree stood
among youthful friends and compan-
ions and which as age advanced and
all through the following years till
came the time Of the s'sear and yellow
leaf" more abundant grew, these are
gathered now as a souvenir for many
friends and for the fond recollections-
they may present to the view, and are
placed in this little volume rs Leaves
From the Almond Tree"
Some of Mrs. Edwards poems have
been written from experience in her
life, number of them are expressions
oil Christian faith, and others are
poems of the sea and other forms of
nature. Pleasant pictures of life and
of the world which surrounds US are
to be found in these poems, as we'll
as some sad pictures too. There is
good deal of Christian inspiration to
be gained from Mrs Edwards religi-
Gus poems.
The Evening Wisconsin of Milwau
kee published number of Mrs. Glib
sons poems during the last half Of
the last century and following the re-
auest of the late Reuben G. Thwaites,
for many years Secretary and Super
intendent of the Wisconsin State His
torical Society, complete collection
of her writings has been kept in the
State Historical Library.
In the preface to this latest volume
of Mrs Gibson's poems, Mr.. j. L.
Sturtevant of Wausau says, "Most Of
the poems in this volume were writ
ten as a surcease from the varied and
arduous duties of pioneer clergy
mans wife, her husband the late Rev
erend George Gibson, having been
rector of Episcopal churches in the
diocese of Fond du Lac and the diocese
of Milwaukee in the early days of the
church in this state.
A deep love of flowers is expressed
in Mrs. Gibson's poems. where did
the flowers get their names" is a
short prose sketch of the Greek leg
ends from which came the names Of
many flowers. "a summer Night
Scene,' is the title of a poem which
gives delightfully."- imaginative pic
ture of a carnival of flowers IN her
garden. ''The Night Blooming Cereus,"
describes the unfolding of this beauti-
full and phenomenal blossom, and tells
of the thrilling emotions which one
feels upon observing this worderous
sight.
A number of the poems in this little
volume are poems of nature. sc1ne
others are amusing sketches Of incl
dents which have particularly signi-
ficant thought and lesson to be dis
covered in them.
One of the poems concerns the
Kaiser, another "Ahdawagam," is the
story of the naming of the great rap
ids of the Wisconsin River by the
Indians. "Ahdawagam,' "The Two
Rapids" they called them. Toward
to end of the book are grouped togeth-
er a number of poems which are deep
~ religious in tone.