"Executive" once more broke the silence, by proceeding to review the extenuating circumstances connected with the young man's offence, and then, with a magnanimity that endeared him to us all, and which might with profit be emulated by others who are in authority, he assumed that divine prerogative which subordinates justice to mercy, and granted the youth- a free and unconditional pardon! CHAPTER II. WHEN but a youth, I developed a love for poetry, and passed many pleasant hours in reading selections from Cowper, Goldsmith, Byron, Young, Longfellow, Bryant, Willis, and others; likewise the complete works of Milton, which had a peculiar charm for me after I became familiar with his style of expression. The study of such grand productions naturally awakened a desire for imitation; but with the exception of a very few quite early effusions, I made no attempt at versification till later in life; when during an occasional respite, if some subject of special interest came up, I fell to scribbling in verse for the lack of something better to do. Those productions, with one or two exceptions, were not published; and to relieve the dryness of what may be, to some, a prosy volume, and also with the hope that an occasional reader may be interested or amused thereby, I have selected a few of them on a variety of subjects, with which to make up a brief chapter or two. THE CHAMPION. In days of yore, a line of kings They forged the sword of carnage to But can the Foe of Humankind, View undismayed, such calm repose? "Dost see the treasure being heaped That howe'er blest their peaceful days, Still better times than they have seen, Await their turn to Wisdom's ways!" The word passed out, unrest was sown Throughout the borders of that land; "Give us a change!" they stoutly cry: And tumult rose on every hand. The ruler who, with scepter mild, Had guided them with tender care, Was soon dethroned, and quick they gave The "Prince of Promises" the chair. Wherefore these idle men, With downcast eye and clouded brow? Whence comes this wail of want and woe? Why in the furrow rusts the plow? Where's flown the spindle's lively whirr, The sound of wheel and forge and loom? A "Change" has come! the sun has set! And murmurs greet the gathering gloom! From out the surging crowd there speaks A voice, by want and wait made bold: "My brethren, we have been deceived! By promise false we have been sold! Rise! rise! and in your might cast off These chains which bind us to our lot! We'll walk this earth again, free men! And live to see these wrongs forgot!" "Hear treason! treason!" minions shout, To their new ruler on his throne: "Away to prison with the dog, We'll crush dissension as it's sown!"The sun seeks shelter from a cloud, The song-bird's note of joy is sealed; All Nature mourns this son of toil, As hirelings drag him from the field. * * |