Year: 1877

You're surprised that ever should say SO?
Just wait till the reason I've given
Why I say sha'n care for the music,


Unless there is whistling in heaven;
Then you'll think 1t no very great wonder,
Nor SO strange, nor SO bold a conceit,
That unless there's boy there a-whistling,
Its music will not be complete.
1t was late in the autumn of 40;


We had come from our far Eastern home
Just in season to build us q cabin,


Ere the cold of the winter should come;
And we lived all the while in our wagon
That husband was clearing the place
Where the house was to stand; and the clearing
And building it took many days.
So that our heads were scarce sheltered


In under its roof, when our store
OF provisions was almost exhausted,


And husband must journey for more;
And the nearest place where he could get them
Was yet such distance away,
That it forced him from home to be absent
AT least a whole night and a day.
You see, we'd but two or three neighbors,
And the nearest was more than mile,
And we hadn't found time yet to know them,
For we had been busy the while;


Just staid till the job was well done;
And as soon as his money was paid him,
Had ShOuldered his AK and had gone.
WE'LL husband just kissed me and started.


fSs GHnd





So long in the house all alone;
For, my dear, was childish and timid,
And Drawer ones might well have feared,
For the wild wolf was often heard bowling,
And savages sometimes appeared.
But smothered my grief and my terror
Till husband was Off on his ride,
And then in my arms took JOsey,


And all the day long sat and cried,
AS | thought OF the long dreary hours
When the darkness of night should fall,
And was so utterly helpless,


With no one in reach of my call.
And when the night came with it's terrors,
To hide ev'ry ray of light,
I hung up a quilt by the window,


And, almost dead with alright,
l kneeled by the side of the cradle,


Scarce daring to draw full breath,
Lest the baby should wake, and its crying
Should bring us horrible death.
There knelt until late in the evening,
And scarcely an inch had stirred,
When suddenly, far in the distance,
A sound as of whistling heard.
started up, dreadfully frightened,


For fear twas an Indians call;
And then very soon remembered


The red man ne 'er whistles at all.
And when was sure twas white man,
thought, were he coming for ill,
He'd surely approach with more caution
Would come without warning and still.
Then the sounds, coming nearer and nearer,
Took the form OF tune, light and gay,
And knew needn't fear evil


From one who could whistle that way
Very soon heard footsteps approaching,
Then came peculiar dull thump,
AS if some one was heavily striking


An ak in the top of stump;
And then, in another brief moment.
There came light tap on the door,
When quickly undid the fast nings,
And in stepped a boy, and before
There was either question or answer,
Or either had time to speak,
l just threw my glad arms around him,
And gave him kiss on the cheek.
Then l started back, scared at my boldness,
But he only smiled at my fright,
AS he said, I'm your neighbOr's boy, Flick,
Come to tarry with you through the night.
1--WE saw your husband go eastward.
And made up our minds where he'd gone.
And said to the rest of our people,


That woman is there all alone,
And venture she's awfully lonesome,
And though she may have a;, no great fear
If only boy were but near
80, taking my AK on my shoulder,


For fear that a savage might stray
Across my path, and need scalping,


started right down this way;
And coming in sight of the cabin,


And thinking to save you alarm,
l whistled tune, just to show you


didn't intend any harm.
And so am here, at your service;


But if you don't want me to stay,
Why, all you need do is to say So


And shOuld'rng my AK, I'll away
l dropped in chair and near tainted,
Just at thought of his leaving me then,
And his eye gave knowing bright twinkle
AS he said Il guess I'll remain
And then just sat there and told him
How terribly frightened I'd been,
How his face was to me the most welcome
Of any l ever had seen;
And then lay down with the baby,


And slept all the blessed night through,
For felt was save from all danger


Near so brave young fellow and true
So now, my dear friend, do you wonder,
Since such good reason I've given,
Why say sha'n't care for the music


Unless there is whistling in heaven?
Yes, often I've said so in earnest,


And now what I've said 1 repeat
That unless there's boy there a-whistling
Its music will not be complete.
-Hdrper's Magazine for June.