PS 2134 .312 P6 Copy 1 5MS OF^ J DAHO F=»FRlOE, SO OEN-r©- Poeros of Idal^o HY r^. p. cJol|n50R -^-'^^G)(^^>^^-- UITH NOTES BY THE PUBLISHER. —^-^sG)^^^^-^ IS!).") si(;nal ,J()ij printing hot sk WEl.sEH, IDAHO. -p T publl^l^e/^ h\o{ e. In the latter part of July ot last year, 1 was encamped toi a feu days, with several pood gentlemen, near the North Star mine on the headwaters of Rapid river, and Mr. Johnson arriving one even- ing, those of the party who t)ossessed the proper vein in their natures gradually turned the social channel into a "feast of reason and a How of soul." '-Dickens in Camp'" would have biouglu a verj- meek feeling to Bret Harte could he have been present. During the great variety of literai-y research and (criticism which was indulged in. Mr. Johnson favored the company with a rendition ot of the second poem in this volume— "The Home of the Moun taineer." There, with true natuie in all her vastness and giandeur spread out beneath us, ( we were at an altitude of about 8,000 feet i with the green forests stretching away for miles, with mountain '•turrets reaching to the sky" above us, it was easy to appreciate the impulses which inspired the lines. Having myself just repeated some lines of Bryant which I gieatly admire: "All dim in haze the mountains lay. With dimmer vales between. And rivers glimmered on their way By forests faintly seen." Andbcing immediately followed by Mr. Johnson, 1 was deeply struck with the favorable nianner in which his lines comi)ared with Bryant's; and with the "visible forms" of natuie on all sides, his words carried siich an inexpressible beauty that on the si)ur of the moment I proi)osed to him that 1 publish a volume of his poems. This explanation of how this little work came to be printed and ottered for sale is perhaps unnecessary, but it will serve the pui- pose sufficiently well for an introductory. Mr. Johnson has been accused of plagiarism, but 1 fail to recog- nize, in looking over his poetry, anything coming under that head. Some of the verses, herein, contain a vein of underlying sentiment that fully entitles them to preservance. Others are of a much shallower character, but are mostly connected with some incident, or reminiscence of this se<;tion, which will cause the volume to be a pleasant souvenir in the years to come. It is true that its pro ductlon necessitated the risk of a few dollars on an enterprise the fate of which might be considered doubtful, and at a time when dollais are not to be risked without some hesitancy, but on the whole 1 think it is well timed. It is trusted that it will meet a sutti- cient degree of favoi' with the |)ublic to at least guarantee the sales. Kespectfully. Weiser. Maicli 1. im,. R. K. L(K'K\VO(H). 3 2) ^ "^ r Poems of Idaho. Sunset at Rapid River. Slow the orb of day's declining. In his golden beauty dressed, While the fleecy clouds at evening Linger in the glowing west. Painted by the sun's bright pencils. In their radiant beauty shine; Pencils tipped with golden sunbeams. Wielded by a hand divine. In the vales the twilight lingers. On the hills the sober gray: While upon the mountain's summit. Still the golden sunbeams play. Slowly fade those scenes of glory. With the sun's last golden ray; While the mountains, grand and hoary Kiss the lingering beams of day. On the hill the twilight gathers. Darkness shrouds the y alleys now: While the gray a moment glimmers. On the rugged mountain's brow. Softly fall the shades of evening, Over mountain, hill and plain; While the gloom that round us gathers, Whispers night has come again. 4 POKMS OF IDAHO. The Home of the Mountaineer. |No one who has Ijehehl the niuje.-tic inuiiiitain uraiult-iii' N'urthern Washiiiiu^ton County can tiiil to appieeiate the hea\ity the foUowingr lines. | Aome sing of life in cities fair, Some sing of homes in valleys green. Some sing of pleasures on the beach. Where wealth and gayeties are seen. Hut I will sing of grandest scenes That ever met the human eye. Of forests green, of crystal streams, Of turrets reaching to the sky. (Jive me the grand old mountain range. Their lofty summits crowned with snow. Their canyons weird, grand and strange. Through which the crystal fountains flow. Their evergreen, their shady groves. The feathered songsters' loved retreat. The fiowers of every hue that blows And sweetly nestles at their feet. I could not live in vales below: The wild and weird scenes so rife That cluster round those peaks of snow Are interwoven with my life. The lordly elk, the timid deer. That graze upon the foliage there. The eagle, bird that knows no fear. With freedom cleaves the mountain air. Far up among those rocky peaks The mountain goat, with fearless trea-l, From crag to crag, with nimble feet, Leaps free, with neither fear oiidread. Amidst those craggy snow-crowned peaks. That glisten in the morning air, A home the fearless eagle seeks. And safely builds his eyrie there. l'()K>!S OK IDAHO I know the meaning now of Tell, Who rushed ^vith oulst retched arms to gre His mountain hom(\ where freedom dwells. Nor fears the tread of t\ i-anls' fi-ei. And when my work of life siudl cease. And I on earth no more shall dwell. May I fore\t r re.st in peace Amidst those scenes I love so well. The Seven Devils — Eeview of the Oamp. (This poetru:-try in not K'ven tis meriting- a pltu-e. as jxietic literature, with the two precediuji: produt-tiona, but for tiie object it Huiy accomplish of inipies.sinf^ the unfamiliar leader with the magnitude of the Seven Devil:-^ copper fields.] Once more the Devil takes a tramp Around the Seven Devil camp. To note improvement that's been made In miners' work of every grade: To see tlie ore shining bright, That toiling men have brought to liiihl: To hear the news of every kind About the Seven Devil mines; And then report to men of sense The facts, which are our best defence. Against the cur who roams about And swears the mines are all played out. Then sneaks about, devcjid of shame. To jump some working miner's claim: Before the public then parade The great discovery he has made. With such a thieving, lazy pup The Devil yet will settle up. With pen and paper in our hand We start to view the promised land. From Snake River toward the east. Without the fear of man or beast, We move along the rough divide And note the mines on every side. POKMS OK IDAITO. The first dcNelopiiKMil that's seen Is made upon the River Queen; Red copper oxides here abound lioth on the top and under irround; And when their tunnel strikes the mine In depth they will their fortunes find. And then, in justice, they can claim The mine is worthy of its name. Both up and down this rapid stream Can many other mines be seen. Towards t])e north the lime peak stands. A noted point within the land; Around its face a group of mines Alread}' found, and more to find: And ore rich can there be seen. Where miners will their fortunes g-lean. The next development we find Is on the Charley Leithstrom mine: The Cranky is the name. I believe That from its owners it received. Gray copper ore here we trace. With silver mixed to help the case. And here we may as well declare No lazy crank is working there. Across the gulch the Box mine lays. Rich copper g:lance the mine displays. The IJttle Rock, the next we find. Will surely prove a paying mine. Still moving: east along the route We note the name of Silver Sprout. A mine where little work is done Y(4 showing croppings number one. We climb the ridge and on its crest We find the Golden Eagle's nest: And here the ore brought to light Would charm a mining expert's sight: Tlie eggs we find are sj)rinkled through Witli silver, gold and copper too. .\s iMch MS any in the land. I. el those denv the facts who can: POKXrs OK IDAHO. And as they sink tlu- sliafl below The miin' will in its richne-s grow. Another ledge upon the ground Where Chloride ore has been found. Is well defined and ten feel wide. Free milling silver ore beside. On the same ground and cl( se about. The old :SI()U ledge is cropping out. These lodrs will prove the Eagle's nest The great bonanza of the West. l>ut eastward still we hold our course. In search of this great mineral source. Joining the (Jolden Eagle mine Toward the east the prospect's fine. The Northern Hell is looking fair. Its croppings stand up in the air. AViih Peacock ore and copper glance. The owners stand a splendid chance To glean their fortunes from the mine. To last them through all coming time. Again \ve climb the mountain side. And on a small but rough divide The ClifT mine stands, with Peacock ore. Gray copper, too. they have in store. Across the gulch, toward the east. The Hannibal our vision feasts; With Peacock ore and copper glance. And gold its value to enhance. And silver, too, with them are found. Improving as they sink it down. Then if you think this not enough. Step down and view the Silver P>lurt". Below the Oliff^^ mine, near the road. You'll find this mammoth silver lode. The croppings stand above the ground. Where copper gray, and silver's found: A million tons in sight, will pay For smelting in an early day. Here many other mines an> claimed. No work vet done upon the same. I'OKMS OK IDAHO. lUil ci()|)piiiirs good on all we find. Which iiidicale a paying mine. We move along tlie wagon road And note the forests grand and good. With timber here to work the mines. l-'or ages yet of coming time. On Tvockwood Saddle now we stand .\nd gaze upon the promised land. Then liigher up the hill we climb To catch a view of all the mines. Here we behold a grand displa}', And naught obscures our visual ray: Hut all around on ever}- side. From lofty peak t ) low divide, IMie mines in groups of two or more Dazzle our eye with glittei-ing ore. Far to the south and to the east, On mineral wealth our vision feasts. The Mountain King, Alaska too. 'LMie CJleveland and Maud S. will do. The Sampson, Belmont, Mountain Queen, And C'oppin- Crescent there is seen. The great Blue Jacket next we find, Wliich proves a well developed mine. The r.egal Tender on the west May yet turn out one of the best: While on the south does Helena Her treasures to our sight display. Still onward, south, the Ella mine Beside tln^ Fireside there we find. Then turning east and up the creek. The mines loom up both fast and thick. The grand Decora, in her pride. The Arkansaw close by her side. On wiiich development has shown .\ mine we all would like to own. To these we add, without regret, The mine they call the Calumet. Across the creek, and up the hill, The old French ledge is booming still: POEMS OF IDAHO. ! Rich both in gold and silver too, With tons of ore there in view. Still further up this grand divide, And on the south, or Bear creek side, We see the Allen silver mine: The ore proves of tlie richest kind. And in the Placer Basin, too, Are many mines both good and true. But here again, with glad surprise. We turn to view with eager eyes, The mines developed to the west. And all along ihe mountain's crest. The Ijookout and the Lockwood, too, Pomeroy and Circle C. will do; The Dora's bright, rich ore we see, To this a lady holds the ke3\ The Anaconda comes into view, And Young America is there too. The Tussle, Crown, and Hidden Treasure, Are rich in ore, bt^yt nd measure Estella May, Last Chance and Ophir, Grand prospects to their owners offer. Virginia next, and then Bill Nye, New Moon and little Nelly Bly. The Copper Key, it will unlock The treasures in the mountain rock. The Wedge mine, next, and Standard there. And Bodie. all are looking fair. The South Peacock next comes to view. And here the ore would charm a Jew. And ore found within the mine Is gold and copper both combined. And samples found here, not a few. With wire gold pierced through and through. The mine will prove one of the best Developed in the growing West. But as our work has scarce begun We'll leave this mine and hasten on. The Old Peacock, a noted mine. Is known almost in everv clime. 10 FOE^fS OF IDAHO. Tons upon Ions of ore lay There basking in the sun's bright ray: Just such a sight we've never seen, l)f copper mines it is the queen. It makes the Devil laugh to think What wealth they'll find when down ihey sink'. When opened up in splendid style This mine will make the owners smile. And furnish work for laboring men. Till many generations end. Around this claim a group of mines, Almost of every size and kind. Are owned by men of nerve and pluck, Who will their hidden wealth unlock. The North Peacock, and Bad<:er. too, l^lack Garnet. Steamboat, Idaho; There's West Peacock, and Statehood, too. With Confidence our faith renew; And Copperopolis, how grand, AVith Silveropolis at hand; And Hazel, Laura, Victoria Will not our confidence betray. The Tamarack is sure to win. The St. Louis is coming in. The Wiggins, and the Memphis there. While brightly shines the Morning Star. The Evening iStar is not yet set, But shines with brilliant rays, you bet. The Edith, Ellen, and Climax;' The great White Monument comes next, There's copper liere, and silver too. With free gold sprinkled through and through. At free gold, here, one single glance Would make a Wall Street broker dance: He'd try to lock the whole thing up, And rob the world, the thieving pup! Calamity Jane we see at last— AVe hope the calamit,y has passed. There's East Climax and Hellen Blazes; The Boston's wealth we cannot measure. POEMS OF IDAHO. 11 The Emma, and the Humboldt, there, And Pocahontas looking- fair. The Gem of this great mountain range. The Chieftain, Hecla and Exchange, The Tiger. Crown Point, Copper King, We need not here their praises sing. Eureka, Dublin, and the Whale. And California cannot fail. Salubria. Cougar, AHiance. We see them all here at a glance. And many more we have not named. May yet prove mines of wealth and fame; zVnd hundreds more tliat are not .yet found Whose croppings shine on vacant ground. Awaiting prospectors there to trace The rich ore to its hiding place, And locate mines, and fortunes glean From mineral ledges yet unseen. The country rock throughout, we find, Is granite, porphyry and lime. Now and then the slate appears But on the whole is rather scarce. No better formation can be found For mineral wealth beneath the ground. The water here, and wood suppl}- Will last till generations die. A wagon road, good and "substanch," From Weiser to the Huntley ranch. From here the Klienschmidt road we find Complete up ro the Peacock mine; And teams more plentv. hauling ore, Than they have ever been before. Men scarcely yet preceive the good Derived from this new wagon road. "Twill help to pierce this mountain belt, And show the world our mineral wealth. And men of sense will come and see, Then spread the news from sea to sea. That here in Idaho they find The largest and the richest mines P0EM8 OF IDAHO. That ever yet on earth was seen B3' any living human being: And when the world these facts shall knoW; Thousands will come to Idaho, To build up homes, their means invest, And live and prosper in the West. West of the Peacock, close at hand. The embryotic city stands; And men of means, who here invest, Will prove their judgment of the best. Helena is the city's name, The village soon will rise to fame; Equal, if not surpass, the best Of mining cities in the West. We saw one woman in our round. The first. I believe, within the town; We hope that many more \vill come To help adorn our mountain home As mothers, daughters, sisters, wife, To add a charm to mountain life. Although we're told by men of old, They taught the world to sin, Without their aid love's star would fade. And life would not be worth a pin. Shame on the man, whose sordid soul. Within his heart could find The will and power to teach the world, Such nonsense as divine. But here it may as well be known. That this great camp is not alone; From Peacock mine we take a run Nine miles toward the rising sun; Here we behold the Sommers camp, That richly pays us for our tramp; The royal metals here we find. Are gold and silver both combined; The ledges on this great divide Will measure two to six feefwide. 'Tis said the richest rock will run Three thousand dollars to the ton. POEMS OF IDAHO IH While all the ledo^es yet in view, Are rich in gold, and silver too. There's many found that bear rich ore. And plenty room to look for more; From here, northwest for many mile?. Good prospects meet us all the while: With timber plenty, and to spare. With crystal streams and purest air; For life, and health, the world around. No better heritage could be found. But soon, we are told, travelers can find A railroad track laid to the mine: The locomotive's snort we'll hear. We'll greet him with a hearty cheer; We'll load him down with ore bright. And send him on his outward flight; And while he is gone with loads of ore, AVe'll sharp our tools and^dig for more. But here we are compelled to pause. And who will deny we have just cause. To speak of all the wealth that is here. Would take the Devil many a year. "Then tell us not in mournful numbers," Mining is an empty dream; For the millions here that slumbers In these geologic seams; We know bj' miners' picks and shovels And the power of dynamite; With the aid of drills and hammers. These will yet be brought to light. Now some old foggy shakes his head. And will not believe what we have said: We've stated facts, just as they be. If vou don't believe it come and see. 14 I'OE>5S OF IDAird, Love. Love IS but the Howevs of litV That bloom in warm atft'Ctions bowt-rs: It softens care, and tempers strife, And gilds with joy our social hours. Let love depart, then friendship dies, And life is but a dreary waste: Naught else is found beneath the skies To crown with joy the human race. 1 know but one that I could lov^e, With love eternal, firm and true. And. as I hope for heaven above, That one is none else but you. And yet I know the sacred prize To me is lost l>y fate's decree. While on an other beam the eyes That should have oped with love for me. I know that love is laughed to scorn Hy those wlio deem themselves most wise, They think if wealth their homes adorn, 'Twill make this world a paradise. J>ut wealth may glitter in the home Where dwells the monsters, hate and sti'ife. Where love and joy doth never come To lift the cares from man and wife. The love that's true will sun^y live Through all the ages yet to be. What it receives 'twill truly give. Till time unvails eternity. Then lo\e should be our guiding star Through all the changing scenes of life, For only those who truly love, l>y MJiture's law are man and wife. POEMS OF IDAHO. 15 Farewell to Idaho. Oome all ye heroes of tlie laud. We'll sing" of AVesterii life, Ye pioneers who led the van Through danger, toil and strife; Wlio planted freedom's starrv flag. In spite of savage foe, Upon the rugged mountain peaks And plains of Idaho. You saw the land in days of yore, When savage foes were 'round; You heard, through valley, cove and dell. The warwhoop's dismal sound; You've scaled her lofty mountain peaks. You've crossed the torrents arch, You've met the grizzly in his path, The warrior on his march. The W'ild deer bounded from his lair. And sped across the land; The elk. that noblest beast of chase, Were seen on every hand; The cougar's savage growl was heard. The gra}' wolf's dismal howl, The coyote yelping on the plain. Made music for us all. The scene has changed; alas, no more The wild deer scuds the plain. The lordly elk. a sylvan god. With us but few remain; Our savage foeman. once so strong, Is feeble now at best, His star of empire, once so grand. Is setting in the West. We will see no more the trapper's da}% The hunters fame is gone, The game and fur have passed away. No more can they return; 1(5 POEMS OF IDAHO. But ill their stead domestic life Is teemiiifr on the hills, The lowing- herds and tinkling bells. The air with music fills. The civilizing magic wand Has touched the primal pl.iin: Where n amed the savMg(^ beasts of prey Now waves the golden grain; Where stood the dusky warrior's lodge The school house proudly stands, Where rose the savage w.irrior's cry The songs of peace ascend. W^here, in the mountains' solitude. Was heard but nature's song, The miner's pick and anviTs-ring The chorus still prolong; The mountains yield their precious store To beautify the land; While labor, toil and enterprise Is seen on ever^^ hand. While some have reached the golden shore And dwell in fairy land, Some struggle on with hope's bright star Still shining- in the van; While some beneath the churchyard sleep. Some rest in unknown graves. Some met the storm king on the deep, •And sleep beneath the waves. To those who reached the golden shore By the just and honest way. May peace and plenty crown their board. Till life shall pass away; To those who struggle on in hope We give a hearty cheer; To those who sleep in unknown graves We drop a friendly tear. POEMS OF IDAHO. And now farewell to Idalu). Her clear and sparkling- streams. Her mountains robed in purest snow. Her valleys clothed in green; 'Tis fate's decree that I must go. And tu my fate I yield: ril call and see you all ag-ain When fortune turns the wheel. Tliat is the way I used to sing-, But now I've changed my tune, My talJi of leaving- Idaho Was a little bit too soon: Dame Fortune smiled, I've struck it rich. And the best thing- I can do Is change my mind, and settle down. And see the countrv through. To My Mother in the Spirit World, Mother dear, how dark and dreary Seems the rugged path Tve trod. Wandering, homeless and wear}'. Since we lay thee 'neath the sod. There no parting words were spoken In that sad and solemn hour, When life's golden thread was broken; Speech had lost its magic power. In the coffin, pale and silent. Lay the form we loved so well; And we viewed it, with what anguish Human speech can never tell. Slowly moved the sad procession From our home, where joy had fled, To that dark and silent chamber. Where repose the sacred dead. IS I'OKMfS OF IDAHO. Tenderly we lowered the coffin To its place of sacred rest; While the sad farewell was spoken Sorrow reigned in every breast. Though we knew 'twas but the casket That must moulder with the dead, While the jewel, bright and joyous, To a fairer world had fled. Time may dim my mental vision. Age creeps on — my .ycmth is o'er; But mj' sacred love maternal, Lives till time shall be no more. Mother from thy spirit mansion In the beauteous summer land. Guide my footsteps on life's journey. Lead me with thy lovingr hand. Then when death's cold icy fingers Firmly grasps my aching heart, I'll not shrink but bid him welcome, Bid him hurl his fatal dart. Though our lives may be eternal, Death must set the spirit free; And each turn of earth diurnal, Brings me nearer home to thee. Sunset at the Seven Devils. It was evening and the orient sun Into his bed was moving on; The air was cool, a gentle breeze Came whispering through the waving trees; The feathered songsters of the west Were seeking for their place of rest; The lowing herds, their music stills. And sink to rest upon the hills. POEMS OF IDAHO The sun was sinking in tlie west. A golden sliield upon liis breast. A sudden impulse seized my soul: The impulse got beyond control: And in my frenz}' off I lued To climb the rugged mountain side To gaze upon receding day. And watch the goiden sunbeams play In vivid streaks across th(> si?y To paint the clouds that Hoated by. And, oh, I thought those clouds w^n-e blesscfl. They moved so sweetly from the west: In colors gorgeous and grand As ever left a painter's hand. The yellow tinge, the golden hue. The scarlet red, the lovely blue; The silvery gra} , the while, the bhick. No colors did the picture lack. But all in beauty gathered there. Suspended in the evening air. And while those clouds in beauty float. Like fabled fairy's pleasure boat, I gazed ui>on the western skies Bespangled with unnumbered dyes, In admiration and surprise I turned to view the eastern skies. The grand mountain's lofty height Reflected still the beams of lignt: Down at his feet, in sombre mood. The Titans of the forest stood: While up above the timber lines His sunlit brow in beauty shines; That brow that stood serene, sublime, Despite the spoiling hand of time — A monarch, by ages undefiled — Ere man had trod the western wild. But while I gazed the light had fled. And sombre hues had crowned his head. I stood in silent thought profound. Till twilight let her curtains down. POEMS OF IDAHO. And in the eastern sky afar She pinned them with a shining star. Then all was silent, hushed and still, And darkness shrouded plain and hill: And night her sable m.-intle hurled In peace around a sleeping world. In Memory of My Old Saddle Horse, Ourley. Pause stranger, here, with feelings kind. With reverence this ruin scan; It once was clothed with life divine, The noblest, truest friend of man Farewell, old horse, thy race is run. No more on earth thy form is seen; Thy bones lie mouldering in the sun, To feed the flowers and grasses green. None claim exemption from thy lot, Hul all to fate's decree must bow. To sleep in death and be forgot. The fate of all that's living now% As time rolls on, the fair, the brave. Must sleep in death by fate's decree; The king, the monarch and the slave. Must share their humble bed with thee. The vain and haughty sons of men. The proud imperious lords of birth. Must pass away at fate's command, And mingle with their mothes earth. Thus time rolls on an endless chain. While youth and age must pass away; Then why should man be proud and vain. Wlio's life is but a summer's da3^ POEM8 OF IDAHO. 21 Charles Bradlangh, the English Freethinker. I Charles Bi-adlaugh was born in 18:53 and dierl January 30, I.Siil, the following' being written shoitly after. He wa^s a noted member of Parliament and wi-ote the '•Impeachment of the Hoiise of Bruus- wirk." He was a piominent social refonner but vigorous anti- socialist.] Across thf wide ocean a wailing sound comes, A hero has fallen in battle array; Lower the flag to half mast, muffle the drums. For the Champion of Freedom who's passing away. A braver and truer the world hath not known: A foe to oppression, and tyrant's stern might: With his weapons of reason the foe was o'erthrown. Like a giant in the arena, 1. ■ stood in the fight. Long years he has battled for freedom and right: With justice and truth like a bright sword of flame. He stood with his face to the foe in the fight, Never quailing before their false heroeaof fame. No bribery or threats of the foemen could conquer Our chami^ion of justice and truth in the fight; And millions unbound will rejoice that the hero Stood firm in defence of their freedom and right. No monument's needed to mark where he slumbers: His memory's embalmed in the hearts of the world, He'll live in the future through ages unnumbered: His banner of justice can never be furled. Farewell, noble Champion, thy deeds are immortal, They shine like a star on the records of time; The hand of the tyrant can never efi'ace them; Thy life was a struggle, heroic, sublime. Thy name will be honored through ages unnumbered By the champions of fre-dom, truth, justice and ■ light; A beacon to guide us till tyrany slumbers. And freedom shall conquer the world for the right. POEMS OF IDAHO. When truth and justice shall conquer the nations. When tyrany's minions from earth shall be hurled: Thy name shall be honored in every station. Thy deeds, like a rainbow, encircle the world. I'm Growing Old. I'm growing old, I'm growing old, Oh, would J were a boy again, To sit by mother as of old, And listen to the soft refrain That from her sacred lips would fall In melody to bless us all. To hear the lullaby once more That softly like the sunsliine fell Around our lives in days of yore, To tell the household all was well, To soothe the boy's peaceful rest That sweetly slumbered on her breast. Oh mother dear, the years seem long. And life is loosing half its charms; Oh could I hear again thy song And sweetly slumber in th,y arms I Then wake to meet thy loving smile, That soothed and blessed Lhy weary child. To see thy smiles, to hear thy voice, That haunts me still in manhood's prime. Would make my weary soul rejoice; To linger on the verge of time. To listen to the heavenly strain, And live my boyhood o'er again. To hear once more my father's voice. That ever sought our lives to cheer; Whose kindness made our hearts rejoice. Who watched our steps with tender care, Who taught that honor, truth and right Should be our guide both day and night. POEMS OF IDAHO. 2H But they have passed beyond our sight, No more their voices greet our ears. In memory's tablets pure and bright. Their sacred image still appears A beacon light to guide our wdy, Along life's journey day by day. I rften wander back again In memory to my childhood home. In thought I listen to the strain That filled the room from base to dome, With melody and words of cheer. That banished sorrow, hate and fear. Perliaps I'll wander back some day To see the home I dearly prized. Ere fate decreed that I should stray Far from Willamette's sunny skies, To see the graves that hold in trust Father and mother's sacred dust. A Legend of the Seven Devils. iThe following relates to past history of the Seven Devils section and will be leadily under.-tood by those acquainted with the camp's career. At first some hesitancy was felt in inserting it. on account of the delicate references contained, but it is Mr. .Johnson's production not the publisher's. | There were some men of great renown, Came from the north to look around To see if copper could be found. To make a show Sufficient for them to settle down In Idaho. They found a camp they thought would pay: The Seven Devils, so they say; They marked them for their lawful prey. And then began To teach the miners to obey At their command. 4 POEMS OF IDAHO. Tliey thought, as the}- were men of fame. They'd try their little freeze-out game. And keep the camp back all the same, And get their grip Upon the miners' richest claims, Then make them skip. P>ut, strange, no matter how they'd squeeze. The working miner would not freeze. But worked his mine and lived with ease From year to year; And would not bow, these lords to please, fn want or fear. But Yankee Doodle came around; He saw that copper had been found. In heaps and heaps upon the ground, The ore lay: The Yankees thought, with judgment sound. The thing would pay. And now, the northern nabob's fate Is sealed, since Idaho's a state; They stuck their shovels in too late To make it pay. The men of wealth from Yankee state Have come stay. The northern nabobs are no good, They'll hire men to work a road. At wages that would starve a toad, Tliey pay in check. That's worth, if taken by the load, Six bits a peck. Montana take the curses back. And keep the d d. infernal pack, They every noble impulse lack. That makes a man: They labor rob, with worthle^ss checks. Whene'er thev can. POEMS OF IDAHO. A man wlio's deeiiu'd a iiiilli()iiair(\ Who, in makiuii' chan.iic would split a liaiiv And on a railroad bum his fare Is df\ilisli m<-an: And none who believe in acting fair. The curse would screen. And now farewell to all such men. To wish them well, would be a sin. Because the^y never fail to skin T'he poor and weak; The means they use to gain their ends. Would shame a sneak. The World's Needs. The world's in need of men of brain, AVho in th(^ right will ne\er falter; Who honor's record will not stain. Xor bow before tin' mystic altar. Who will not bow b^'fore a throne, Nor tremble at a monarch's nod: Who dare assert his soul's his own. Xor fear the tyrant's chastening rod. Who stands erect in manhood's prime. With justice, like a sword aflame. To drive the tyrant's lying brood, Back to the source from whence it came. Who grasps the truth wherever found. And waves its standard in the air; Who tramples falsehood's minions down. And lifts the weak with tender care. And women true, beside the men. As mothers, daughters, sisters, wife. Should stand his help, and dearest friend Through all the changing scenes of life. I'OKMS OF IDAHO. And tliey should surely undersr-and That he ilth, and love is worth their strife, And never iirasp the deathly hand That fashion reaches for their life. Hnt dress for beauty, e ise and grace, For health, that with the others vie: That love may sliine from every face, That joy may sparkle in the eye. We need the heroine who's true To noblest thoughts that fill the mind: Who scorns dame fashion's tyrant crew. Nor kneels at Mother Grundy's shrine. Who stands erect with love-lit eye To search Dame Nature's secret store: With freedom scan the earth and sky, And wisdom's paths of life explore. If such their banner would unfurl. The brave and true would rally to it, And tyrany from the earth be hurled. Then all would be the better for it. Thd G-rave of the Stranger. I About two years ngo three strang'ei's on their way to Seven Devil.-!, canipe I ou Lick Creek. One ieli ill anl the other two took hiiiitoa house near by, gathered up their outfit, left the locality anil returneJ no ino're. M.-. John-^on wa.s pasBlng- soon after and his .■vttention wa; callel to the stranger, who was dying. Thei-e being no burial gi-juni there they laid the de.ad man to rest out in the hills south of the crossing of Lick Creek. J Pause, traveler, a moment in passing this spot. The mortal remains of a stranger lie here; His name and his memory will soon be forgot, Hy all tile vast millions that people this sphere. Deserted by comrades who should have remained Uy his side in the hour of distress. When lonely and sad he was tortured by pain, A stranger alone in the west. P0P:MS of IDAHO. 'J< But his troubles liave passed and he quietly slee[)S. Alone where the wild flowers bloom; No kindj-ed was near by liis coffin to wet^^) And lay him to rest in his tomb. But the hand of the stranger has laid him away. Where the wild flowers will aiuiually wave; Where tlie wild birds will warble iheir musical lay. While he quietly sleeps in his grave. Farewell to the stranger, and calm be his sleep. No monument marks where his ashes repose; But wild flowers in springtime tiieir vigils will keep, And winter will mantle his tomb with its snows. Oau This Be All. 1 sat one day in thought profound. Alone witiiin a silent room, jM}- mind unruffled by a sound. I strcive in vain to pierce the gloom. That shrouded like a funeral pall. The future destiny of all. It seemed when death my form enfolds. And I of life shall be bereft, No ray of hope could I behold Beyond the borderland of death; But all was dark, no signs appear. The life and hope of man to cheer. While thus in meditative thought. Alone I sat within the room, A ray of light my vision caught, That seemed to pierce the midnight gloom; This ray of radiance seemed to spread Till all the yloom of night had fled. rOEMS OF IDAHO, Within those lucid beams, so bright, A lovely babe, with SLinn.Y curls, Danced in the golden ra\'S of light, * A bud to bloom and bless the world: A mother's love its radiance shed Around this lovely beings liead. The mother's heart-strings seemed to twine Around this little fairy's form; ThH thought alone, within her mind. To shield its tender life from harm; And on life's journey' guard its way From sin and sorrow day by day. I looked again; The mother sat Beside a couch, to weep and moan. For death had nipped the tender flower. Ere it on earth had fully blown; Then all her joys of life had fled, Or withered with her sacred dead. I saw her clasp the lifeless form In sorrow to her aching breast. As though to shield it from all harm, And guard once more its peaceful rest. I gazed upon its funeral pall. And then I asked, Can this be all? 1 looked once more; The picture changed. A lovel.y maid, with beauty rare, In all the nobler graces trained. Was sporting in the balmy air: Her life all love, without a blight; Her step was joyous, quick and light. Around her life the flowers of love By friends and relatives were strewn: The golden sunbeams from above, Fell softly 'round her peaceful home: And all was joy and love and light. Within their home both day and night. POEMS OF IDAHO. "29 I looked again: ^Vith fevered brow Upon a couch the maiden la,y. Wliile lovino- friends surround her now, To watch the life tidf ebb away: Feebler and shorter comes the breath, Till life is swallowed up in death. And then the sobs, and mournful sounds Of grief — hopeless, despairing wail Of broken hearts — and sad despair Rose upward on the evening gale; No star of hope their vision guides Beyond the shore of death's dark tide. I saw them kiss the lips of clay That once had wreathed with jo}' and mirth: I saw them lay the form awa3\ To mingle with its mother earth; I heard their prayers, their wailing call. And then I asked, Can this be all? Again I saw a sprightly youth. Beloved by all within his sphere; A mother's hope of love and truth; A father's pride and faithful care. Along 3'outh's joyous happy road. With aspiraiions high he strode. But ere he reached the noon of life. His sudden death his friends deplore; Disease had checked his manly strife; I saw him fall to rise no more; I saw decay his form enthrall. And then I asked, Can this be all'.'' Again I saw a lovely form; An aged matron, crowned with .years, Her husband's hope in adverse storms; Her childrens" guide in joy and tears; Her life a song of joy and love, As bright as sunbeams from above. ilO POEMS OF IDAHO, lUit lo, the scene is changed: Once more That life of love and jo}' has tied. With millions that have oone before; She sleeps with the unnumbered dead. I heard the orphans' wailing call, And then I asked. Can this be all? Again I saw the man of years, Strong in his love of human kuid; Who lifts the fallen, drys their tears, And helps to make their lives sublime; His life a pleasant murmuring stream. That sparkles in the sun's bright beams. I saw his form of life bereft, No trace of love and joy was there; Pierced through by death's relentless shaft, All melted into viewless air; I saw them fade beyond recall, Again I asked. Can this be all? But while I mused upon the scene, Appeared a lovely vision grand. Across death's dark and turbid stream I saw the flower}' summer land. From those I thought beyond recall, The answer came, It is not all. 1 saw beyond the stream of death. Where friends and relatives had passed; I heard their voices, soft and low; They rose above the waves at last, To tell us death is but ihe door That leads us to the liowery shore. I heard their music's grandest strain. And listened still, with bated breath; I heard the soft and grand refrain That swept across the tide of death, To tell us that life's bud will bloom Beypnd the cold and silent tomb. POKMS OF IDAHO. 31 For love immortal cannot die, Hut still continues to expand; From earth it reaches to the sky. To lead us to the summer land; To meet again our friends above, To dwell in homes of light and love. The grandest man the world has known, Has said, and with his noblest breath: 'I'll hope and believe_in life bejond While love shall kiss the lips of dealh: If love immortal can not die. To kill that hop^ T need not try." For love will hover round the dead, And kiss the very lips • f clay; Will guard with care the lonel}" bed: Till life shall cease and pass away; Ikit love will live in spirit life, Beyond these scenes of earthly strife. It is not all. Not even fate. Could be so cruel in its strife, To rob us of the love and hope That gilds for all another life; Life where all can taste the bliss, A recompense for living this. A Kough Outside No Sign of Depravity. The brightest gems are often found In uncouth dress beneath the ground. And flowers of rarest beauty stand Surrounded by the desert sand. Beneath a rough exterior part May often throb the purest heart: The siren's smile, with winning grace. May shine in beauty from the face. While from within the heart may spring. The slanderer's dart and poisoner's sting 32 P()p:ms ov idaho. A Trip to Eapid River, iTheve is scaroelj' a note.l cainp on the west coast but has its song; and iii 1892, »'hen the copper and gold discovei-ies \ve:e lirst niaiie on Rapid Kiver, it was thougiit that a gieat inish wonl.l immediately follow, as the song- conveys. The i;iolation ot the district has kept the camp back, but theie is time yet i'oi- it to come out. The song give.; a very giaphic idea of a paity of western mineis hastening in to a new discovery, and the experiences they undergo.] It was on the twenty-fifth of March, eighteen hundred and ninety-two, There met in Council Valley a jolly mining crew: Thre^^ of them from the Webfoot State, the other three, we know, Had lived for many years within the State of Idaho. chorus: You hear of Rapid River! You take the golden fever I Got a pretty girl at home? Go right away and leave her; Saddle up your old cay use, and through the valley go it"; ^ And if you strike a good thing let everybody know it. We were bound for Rapid River, we scarcely had a dime: It was just before the rush began, the weather was sublime: Hut now the snow is melting fast, the mud is to our knees; Ik'fore we reached the camp that night I thought we'd surely freeze. Chorus:— Y^ou hear of Rapid River, etc. We reached the Salmon Meadows, the snow was very deep; The Webfooters took a cut-off, which almost made them weep; They'd travelled many hundred miles and at a great expense, And in the Salmon Meadows had to coon a barbed wire fence. Chorus:— You hear of Rapid River, etc. POEMS OF IDAHO. 3H Then down the Salmon Meadows, throug-h mud, ice and snow; The road turned out so very bad we had to travel slow. AVe reached a Mr. Campbell's, a place we all admire: ^Ve found a spot where we could squat and build a small campfire. Chorus: — You hear of Rapid River, etc. Early in the morninii' the earth was white with snow. l)Ut soon the rain began to fail and that was forced to go: The drizzling rain and chilling blasts made every member shiver. I>ut nothing could our zeal surpass; hurrah for Rapid River! Chorus: — You hear of Rapid River, etc. Karly after breakfast we lojided up our train, In disregard of wind and storm we hit the road again; AVe crossed the Little Salmon from east to western side: W(^ crossed Round Yalley on a charge and hit the mountain side. Chorus: — You hear of Rapid RiveV, etc. Before we reached the summit we had a small mishap; Though nothing: very serious, 'twas strange to Webfoot chaps; The snow was four to six feet deep; with all our care and skill. One pack horse slipped upon the trail and tumbled down the hill. Chorus: — You hear of Rapid River, etc. ;U POKMS OF IDAIIO. At lust we crossed tlie suinmit: we did not this regret; For still the rain was falling fast and everything- was wet. AVe reached the Little Salmon, w^e left the snow behind; Here wood and water's plenty, but grass w^e could not find. Chorus: — You hear of Rapid River, etc. Our ponies all seemed restless, they did not like the camp; The grass so short and very scarce, they thought they'd take a tramp; They waked us from our slumbers before the break of day; We had to tie the leaders up and fed them on stake hay. Chorus: — You hear of Rapid River, etc. We packed up in the morning and left that camp with speed; We had to camp quite early, to let our ponies feed: The wind and snow and rain that night made every muscle quiver, Rut still we kept the music up; hurrah for Rapid River: Chorus: — You hear of Rapid River, etc. l)Ut still some distance we must go before we reached the camp. Across the mountain through the snow, ten miles we had to tramp, Hut courage boys, the end is near, and fortune will deliver All those wdio scale the mountain peaks that border Rapid River, Chorus: — You hear of Rapid River, etc. POEMS OF IDAHO. 85 And now we've reached the i^olden shore; the mines are rich, no doubt. A\'('"]l run our tunnels, sink our shafts, and take the ore out, Then wlien we make our fortunes we'll end this toil and strife. We'll go back home, we'll wed our girls, and live a happy life. Chorus: — You hear of Rapid River, etc. Grirls I Cannot Understand. i've liyed in almost every clime. I've seen the various tribes of eartli. I've heard the grand old ocean roar, I've watched the cyclone from its birth, Their history's all at my command, But girls I cannot understand. I've read the history of the world. Of wars that drenched the land in blood; I've seen all nation's flags unfurled. I've studied deep the Word of God, I've seen the rocks along life's strand, But girls I cannot understand. To learn the history of the stars That circles round the orb of da}'. To weigh correct the planet Mars, Or analyze the Sun's bright t-aj, Is play to what I have on hand When girls I try to understand. I cannot tell why Maud or May, Or Lucy greets me on the street With smiles that dim the sun's bright ray. And voice of music, low and sweet: That thoughts of purest love inspire. That almost sets my blood on fire I'OKMS OF IDAHO. Tomorrow comes, we meet a^ain, A frown has settled o'er the face, That chills the blood within my veins. And makes me long for death's embrace That cancels every hope of joy, And brightest dreams of love destroy. Yet I have struggled long and liard To solve this riddle of the fair. Till hope, that promised this reward, Has vanished in the ambient air: So I must yield to fate's command. For girls I cannot understand. The Seven Devil Miner's Bear Fight. One morning in the month of August. Early while the air was cool. High up in the Devil mountains Wandered I in seach of gold. Strolling onward, much delighted With the rugged grandeur there, I in sudden horror sighted Up the hill a grizzly bear. Oil, I had the queerest feeling. Must have turned a little pale, When 1 saw the grizzly demon Sitting on his stubby tail. And I knew he saw the motion That was quickly made by me AYhen I, w'ith a sudden notion. Dodged behind a giant tree. • He my hiding place detected; On he came with giant stride; With his battle flag erected. Thundering down the mountain side POEMS OF IDAHO Wlicn I saw his moiUh wide open, And )iis fiery eye balls glai-e. I Ihoughl the Seven Devil miner's Time had come to sayjiis prayrr. Then I beo-an to scratch the gravel. In a race with danger rife, As 'round and "round the tree we tra\el. He for ,^riib and I for life. While the war was thus progressing. Every nerxe was brought to play. Still my mind was busy guessing Which at last would win the da v. When the bear would seem to leave me. Dismal tlioughts would fill my mind, I knew whe-ii spaci' iu front was widening It was shortening up behind. Then with a superliuman effort On I bounded iu the charge. With despair and desperation Fell upon the bear's rear guard. Then he surprised, and I deliiihted, Bruin thought to change his race. Demoralized and much affrighted, Lowered his flag and left the place. Out of breath and much exhausted. On the battlefield I lay. Satisfied to be the victor. Happy thus to win the day. Slowl,y I drew myself together. On this bloodless battle plain. Gathering up the scattered fragments AVandered back to camp again. Although I'm fond of meat for dinner. I would Avish it understood, That for the Seven Devil miner Grizzly benr meat is no good. rOEMS OF [DAHO. Advice Tor All. The man who in his manhood's prime. Can in such actions pie isiire find, As threshini^ children for no crime, Is but a brute; Although dressed up with feathers fine And jray surtout. His brutal instincts base the swa,y. And rules his actions day by day I Far from his home, 'tis safe to say, Joy lights her lamps, Nor stoops to shed one golden ray Upon such scamps. Around such home, the hell of strife Clouds every golden ray of life, Surrounds with gloom both child and wife As dark as night. So dark that angels curse the life At such a sight. "Tis said, from Heaven— God's dwelling place- His eye can pierce eternal space; He knows tlie thoughts of every race, Of every soul. Then why endow with life and grace Such cursed mould. Whose only joy is being mean, Whose aciions would disgrace a fiend. Who owns no blush of shame, to screen His mean desire That like the monster Polypheme, His soul inspire. Oh mother earth! Take back the dust That thou unfortunately cursed. When on humanity, you thrust Such human mold, To strangle joy at its birth, In snaky folds. ^POEMS OK IDAHO. 8!) Thov live licic but to torture lile. To shroud in gloom both child and wiTc To foster trouble, care and strife, Their aim from birth To make a hell, to toi'ture life Upon the earth. Then take it back, and if thou must Endow again wiih life such dust, .lust make a dog, for then it must Have better sense. And not all love and joy curse At thy expense. Sunrise at Seven Devils. One morning ere the dawn of day Had come to chase the night away, I rose from sleep, with hasty stride To climb ihe rugged mountain side. To view with pride the grand disphiy When Sol should usher in the day. The mcon had sunk behind the hill. And darkness reigned in silence still: No clouds were floating in the air: JUit all was calm, serene and fair. The stars looked down calm and serene Upon a M'orld of evergreen, While all around in sombre shades Stood nature's lovel}' colonades. The giant mountains, crowned with snow, Looked on a sleeping world below^ Far in the east there greets my sight, Faint streakings of the morning light. Slovvl}' changing to silvery gray. The monarch's herald of the day; x\nd as the streaks become more bright Towards the west recedes the night. The stars with all their brilliant fire liefore the monarch's face retire. 40 Slowly tlie ^'ray was clianged to red, Till' crown that decks the monarch's head. And while I ga/ed with eager eyes, I saw the day king''s cliariot rise; Above the liills witli Mag unl'urled,' He comes to rouse a sleeping world. Some to renew the strife for gain, Some to a life of toil and pain, Some to misfortune, vice and crime, Some to improve tlie present time B.y scattering sunsliiiie y the minions of wealth, they were forced to surrender The toil of their hands to the robber and knave. Old Egypt, the land that once glittered in splendor. Surpassing in richness the nations of earth. Was doomed to decay, and her wealth to surrender. The moment the usury robbers had birth. And Greece, the fair land of the statesman and hero; The land of the classics, the home of the brave. Was robbed by her tyrants and usury grabbers; Her glory has faded, her sons are enslaved. Old England, still later, her freedom surrendered; Triumphant in war. she invited defeat And slavery and toil to the nation's defenders, When she licensed the robbers of Thr<-ad needle street. Shall Americans, with such examples before them, Still vote for the tyrant, and rivet their chains On the limbs of children, their sons and daughters. Until not a vestige of freedom remains? No! No! Let us rally, like soldiers of freedom; The Knights and farmers have issued the call; Our motto should be, while our banner is waving. •'United we stand, but divided we tall." Then rally, my brothers, let discord depart; In harmony work for the sake of our cause. Like the heros of old we'll unite hand and heart, And the tyrants dethrone with their robber laws. POEMS OF IDAHO. 43 A Eeply to a Critic. What ails you now, you old galoot, With pen and ink lo black my snoot. Because that romance did not suit Your giant mind. To lash my back beyond dispute, You feel inclined. Now I'll explain, so you may know, I aimed at neither friend nor foe; My arrow barbed, I bent my bow, And turned it loose. And in its grand aerial fight, It winged a goose. The bird, it fluttered to the ground. And in a circle flopped around. With broken wing, the game was found Upon the shore; It hissed and hissed, and strutted around. But did no more. The wounded bird was forced to stay Upon the ground from day to day, It could no longer soar away Above the earth. And cive the world a grand display Of noble birth. Just like the bird, some men are found; They soar too high above the ground: Their head gets light, they whirl around, And come to earth, And then by all, the game is found Of little worth. Keep cool, my friend, don't soar too high Bevond the reach of mortal eye; To watch your light I will not try. My vision fails. You're lost to sight within the sky, All but the tail. 44 I'OKMS OK roAiio. Wliy you defy all modern rule. With pen deliberate and cool. To write j'oursell" a natural I'c^ol. I can't make out. You've proved yourself a rich man's tool Beyond a doubt. I hope you'll come to earth again. And with us here awliile remain; I'll try my best to entertain You as a guest. Although I may not all explain, I'll do my best. The Journey of Life. One evening alone, on the the crest of a mountain Away from the sounds of trouble and strife, Keposing awhile, by a beautiful fountain, I thought on the toils and struggles of life. My mind wandered back to the days of my ciiildhood When care was unknown, and pleasure was rife. When jo.y and gladness dispelled every sadness, And I had just started on the journey of life. My mother sat by in tiie twilight of evening. My father had finished the toils of the day, jNly brothers and sisters were laughing and singing In joy and gladness, at innocent play; The clock, in its place on the mantel, was standing As faithful as ever in marking the time; I stood as of yore in the twilight of evening'. And listened again to its silvery chime. The babe in its cr.adle was laughing and cooing; Old puss in the corner was taking his rest; My mother was quietly knitting or sewing. As guardian of youth she was ever the best; The dog on the porth, our faithful companion*. As eager as ever to follow our trail; Heguarded our footsteps when danger surrounded — Old Tige, the hero of many a tale. rOEMS OF IDAHO. • 45 I wandered ag;iiii o'er the scenes of my chihlliood. 1 drank from th<' spriii"' that ^uslied from the liili. Thro" orchard, meadow and iireen. leafy wildwrx d That skirled the banks of the beautiful rill. Again with my youtliful companions I trundled To school, where the teacher presided in state: With a mark of dishonor or a. place in the corner For unlucky scholars arriving- loo late. But time like the tide rolls onward forever. And youth must depart like a beautiful dream: My school days are over, thn cable is severed. My boat is afloat on a turbulent stream; With eager delight the sails kiss the breeze. Whil(^ sailing' in search of some coveted prizf-: While the star of my hope keeps luring me onward. Eluding- my grasp while it dazzels my eyt-s. But still I pursue with courage undaunted. Determined to C(tnquer or fall in the strife: By riches and fame my vision is liaunted, As onward I sail in the journey of life. How few of my hopes ever reaches fruition. They fall, and their rubbish encumbers the around: I le;.rn by experience and knowdedge acquired. 'Tis an ignis fatuus alluring me on. Gaining wisdom by age. no longer I'm troubled By the glitter of wealth, or the bauble of fann : True happiness dwells in the humblest cottage. Where love is the tinder that kindles the flame. But still I move on in the \vorld"s great procession. Engaged in the battle of toil and of strife. Till I meet on the way some cherished cmiianion. To love and join hands in tlie journafH(id at last he seems content To slowly yield liis might and power To men who faced tne fier}' shower: Who scorning danger iaced the fight And conquered by their skill and might. Unfed, the flames no longer rise In fiery billows to the skies, But slowly sank they down to rest Upon the ruin's glowing breast. POEMS OF IDAHO. o9 While upward rises the victors' sliout 'The Hames are checked and dying out." While sadness like a shadow falls Upon the hearts and minds of all, For fifty thousand dollars must Have perished in this holocaust. This wealth consumed is felt by all Throughout the land, both great and small, l^ut then we know what pluck will do. For men of nerve and women too. They'll scorn misfortune's withering blight And rise again to greet the light. With courage true they will recla:m The wealth they lost by fiery flame. Aijo young Salubiia yet will rise Upward to greet the sunny skies. And stand in nature's beauty blessed. The queen within the growing West. Olga. • l^a was a feniale Nihilist who <_'i>inniitteJ suici le rather than MiiKTto the MoMMiw police. 1 Far in the east a monarch reigns, A tyrant who at freedom .scoffs. Of royal blood, pure its claimed. Descended from the Romanotfs. The only reason can be seen Why he should claim supreme command. Is that his ancestors had been Successful robbers in the land. Their tyranny, unmixed and pure, With' true despotic power combined. Held prince and peasant both secure. And ruled them with a rod of iron. But still the outside world moved on. Marking each year with progress made. While Russian sang the same old song. Her monarch plied his same old trade. (10 roKMS OF IDAHO. A few brave heroes gave command To ioiii the bright progressive age; And from the despots free their land. And write their name in history's page Then tyranny, as dark as night, All foaming with despotic rage. Sought by the brutal hand of might To crush all progress they had made. ••Hut freedom's battles once begun," Sung Byron in poetic verse. "Beq\ieathed from bleeding sire to son. Though baffled oft is never crushed." The spark of freedom yet survives. And still eludes the despot's hand: "Tis nourislied. warmed and kept alive Within the Nihilistic clan. Its members scattered o'er the land. Its power in Russia yet unknown. But when it issues its command, The monarch trembles on his vhrone. Within its circle may be seen The aged sire and daring youth; The matron and the maiden fair, Champions of freedom and of truth. Though Russian czars, with iron hand. Had sought lo crush it from its rise. It wields a power in Russian land That despots cannot well despise. Although oppresed by tyrant law's, Tliey yield their lives without regret; Though thousands perish in the cause. Their star will reach its zenith yet. AVhen heroines, with courage frue, Take iheir own lives before the.y yield; Surviving friends should faith renew, Resolve to die or win the field. In Moscow, where the Muscovites In days gone by. their revels held, POEMS OF IDAHO. ()1 Where lived the monarchs of the land, In Russia's ancient capital. The Nihilists a meeting held, Against the tyrants stern decree; Their aim and object none could tell But ihose who knew their history. When nisht h^r sable mantle hung, O'er city, village, plain and hill; When sleep beguih^d the weary throng, And all was silent, hushed and still. A Russian maid, of beauty rare. With dark blue eyes and neatly dressed, With courage brave, to do and dare. Her secret locked within her breast — But nineteen years the hourglass said. Had passed since first she saw the light: A <"hild in age and worldly care, Her step was joyous and light. Along the street in haste she files. All heedless of the gloom of night, Not dreaming that her soft blue eyes No more should see the light. lUit look! her hand's upon the bell: But ere its chimes announce the guest, A hand upon her shoulder fell. That hand announces her arrest. She turned around, with flashing eye: Her only thouiih her friends to screen; She recognized in him, the spy, The tvrant's tool. Solotowchine; A man by every tyrant blessed. A man that freemen could not trust; She knew that he would do his best To doom her to a life accursed. Before her youthful vision rose The dungeon's gloom, the chill prison cell: She knew where Russian prisoners go, When to home and friends they bid fan- well. POEMS OF IDAHO. (^)uick as the lightning's vivid flash. Her pistol caught its deadly aim. And with a loud and deadly crash. The bullet pierced the tyrants brain. He sank to earth without a groan. Without a struggle there expired, While freedom's champion stood alone, l^oth friend and foeman had retired. Her true revolver yet she held Within her firm and deadl}- grasp. Now round her from the midnight's gloom. Her foemen gathered thick and fast. There's no escape from prison chains, A slave she must forever be, To toil m cold Siberian lands. Till death from prison sets her free. Within her grand heroic soul She scorned to be a tyrant's slave; There's freedom from their curst control, Within the cold and silent grave. Hut two alternatives were left; The one she could herself command. By her own hands a sudden death, Or slavery in Siberian lands. She soon decided it was best With life and all its jo\ s to part. The deadly weapon sought her breast, The leaden missile pierced her heart. She drank of life the bitter cup, The crimson current dyed her. b.east; A wail from freedom's shrine went up When lovely Olga sank to rest. Across the foeman's lifeless form The form of freedom's champion lay: Her spirit tied beyond their harm. Into a briglit celestial day. POEMS OF TDAHO. iV-i Her pistol wanied her friends within Of danger to their life and cause, And ere the police gathered in, They all escaped the tyrant's claws. Farewell, Olga! When the despots Tread in Russia is heard no more, And the star t)f freedom rises To illiiuic your native shore; When the angel liands recording Names of those for freedom slain, They will write the name of Olga High upon the scroll of fame. Thought has taught the world a lesson, Life is not with slavery wed; Slaver}' never proved a blessing; Better slumber with the dead: Ere the sacred vestal fires Of freedom lights the Russian sky. Many a martyr must expire. Many a hero bleed and die. But the sacred fires of freedom Burn within the soul; It will yet assume a power Tyrants never can control. "Truth crushed to earth will rise again," So Byron sung in years now past. And tyranny shall 3 et be slain. Or sneak away and die at last. Then when all nations, joined fraternal, Shall scorn to own a tyrant's might. And the star of freedom rises Grandly into perfect light. When the Nihilistic banner Waves in triumph through the air, May angels hands with purest sunbeams Write the name of Olga there. (54 POEMS OK IDAHO. A Moonlight Night in Idaho. Low the shades of night advancing' O'er the mountains crowneri with snow. See the silvery moonbeams dancing O'er the plains of Idaho. Constellation's robed in beaut}'. Bright as diamonds, charm the sight, Radiant as a crown of jewels, Glimering on the brow of night. Not a sound disturbs my musing, All is silent, hushed and still. Save the joyous, gladsome music Rippling from the mountain rill. While I sat alone in silence, Gazing on the grand displa}', Fancy pictured worlds of beauty In the regions far away. Far beyond my feeble vision. In the trackless tields of space. Worlds may float on airy pinions. Freighted with some noble race. Human beings, grand and glorious. May be dwellers on those spheres. Love may reign on them, victorious Over soiTow, hate and tears. Eyes may sparkle on those planets. Lit with love s eternal fires; Ears may drink in grandest music, Filling life with hope's desires. Thoughts like these in rapid transit. Chase each other through my brain. While I sit alone in silence, Gazing on the hills and plain. POEMS OF IDAHO. 05 GHziii<,^ on the lofty mountain's Glittering summit crowned with snow, From whose sides the crystal fountains Cast their rippling rills below. Leaping o'er their beds of pebbles, Dancing in the moonlight beams. Onward through the vales and meadows Glides the mountain's crystal streams. Far below me in the valleys, Dimly seen through forests grand, AVinding like some mighty serpent Is the Payetle's flowery strand. On m}' west, through vales of beauty, Glides the Weiser on its course. Kissing meadows robed in verdure. Rich as any land can boast. (^ther lands may boast of grandeur, Tell us of their crowns of snow. Hut they'll not surpass in splendor, A moonlight night in Idaho. Our Banner. Behold our banner, can it be By traitors hands 'tis now unfurled? Once the proud emblem of the free At which the British lion snarled. Proud eagle of our mountain heights, That once defied the power of kings, And tyrants trembled at tl\y might Till mammon's gold bugs clipped thy wings. Is this the land our fathers won? Is this the flag they loved to greet? Were thej' the sires of those sons That cringe beneath the tyrants' feet? ()() POEMS OF IDAHO- Is this the liag we see unfurled, Now waving o'er a land of slaves? Is freedom's sacred Goddess hurled To death above our fathers' graves? Hark! hear the wails of anguish come, Borne o'er the land on every breeze, While traitors in our nation's halls To foreign Shylocks bend their knees. The sound of revelry is heard, From marble halls and palace homes; No worshiper of mammon heeds The orphan's wail or widow's moan. Go bow the head in abject shame! Go furl the banner of the free! Our boasted freedom's but a name, And gold has won the victory. Then tremble at the tyrant's name Who rules us from beyond the sea. Go work, the gold bugs to maintain, And curse the land that once was free. Unworthy sons of worthy sires. From freedom's temple go, depart. We know the blood of seventy-six Is dry as dust around your heart. Rise! freedom's champions, in our might! Pour forth from every nook and dell. And hurl the traitors out of sight Down in the gulf where Satan fell! The trust you gave into their hands Has been betrayed at every turn; They've bowed the knee at gold's command. And every pledge of justice spurned. No longer follow where they lead, But freedom's flag again unfurl, And hurl them down with lightning speed. No longer they should curse the world. POEMS OF IDAHO. (37 A Vision of the Night. 'Tis strange that mind, unbound by careless sleep, Roams free o'er time and distance vast, And springs aerial, with a dizz}' leap, Far through the mist- hid chasms of the past. I slept. My mind disdained to stay, Fettered by forms of earthly clay, But rose in majesty sublime. Defying matter, space and time. In thought my spirit form was standing Down by the Olds Ferry landing; The night had fled, the day was bright; No gloomy clouds obscured the light. Toward the west, along the road, A team was moving with its load. The horses were a sorrel span, And driven b.y a lady's hand; Three little children sat beside Their mother in this dusty ride; No male protector there to screen The babes and mother from a fiend That I observed was drawing nigh With hate and meaness in his eye. The fiend was riding in a hack; One horse a bay, the other black. This human fiend his horses goad And passes the lady on the road. Knowing full well his actions must Raise with the wind a cloud of dust To settle like a funeral pall 'Round hor.ses, mother, babes and all. And when the woman with her trust Essayed to pass to shun the dust, « This human fiend his whip would crack And do his best to keep her back; He thought he would of victory boast. But reckoned here without his host. The lady now began to know That she was dealing with a foe, ()8 POEMS OP^ IDAHO. And ignorant brute in human shape. Whose actions would disgrace an ape. Determined not to be outdone Or beat before the race was run, The lady gave her horses rein And like a whirlwind crossed the plain; The fiend that drove the black and bay Could never hope to win the day Against the little sorrel span When driven by a lady's hand; Tho' he with vigor plied the birch They left the demon in the lurch. Forced to the rear, there to remain. He snutfed the dust raised from the plain. So sudden was the fiend's defeat The lady's triumph was complete. The vision all so real seemed. Perhaps, it was not all a dream. An intentional insult to a lady is an insult to every civilized man. The Lonely Grave Bcside the Road. lOn Hornet Creek at the foot of "Peck's Hill," is the lone gravi of Mrs. r. C. Wllkie, which i.s the subject of the following-. | I Stood beside a lonel}^ grave Upon a lonely spot, I thought, above the sod should wave The dear forget-me-not; Or lovely rose, with beauty rare. Each year should bud and bloom To mingle with the balmy air Its delicate perfume, ^olian music filled the air, Borne on the evening breeze, Mild as blest voices giving praise It swept the leafy trees. And while the winds their requiem sang These words came to my ear: "Tread softly round this sacred mound, A mother's sleeping here." POEMS OF IDAHO. ()J) Sleep on, and may Hie sacred sod Rest ligliilv on thy breast, And birds their sweetest music trill Above thy place of rest. And when the spring returns eacli year. And wild tiowers rcnind thee bloom. Then lovely birds sliall wing- the air Above thy lonely tomb. And when all nature's sunk in sleep. And darkness veils the earth, May loN'ing hearts in memory keep This sacred spot of earth. And when the golden beams of morn Lights up thy lone abode. May love protect the lonely grave. The grave beside the road. Autumn. 'Tis Autumn, now the gi Iden sun Is shorn of many a brilliant ray. The leaves are falling one by one. The birds have ceased their tuneful lay Closer the family gather round The blazing fire, their hearts to cheer, The breeze-stirred forests wailing sound Foretells the winter's drawing near. The cruel frosts, with icy breath, The lovely drooping tiowers have slain; We know he's here, we see he's left His footprints on the window pane. Soon shall December's chilling blasts Sweep o'er the land, and drop a tear. For many hopes, too bright to last. Must fade with the departing year. POEMS OF IDAHO. Soon shall the snowy robes of white Be spread upon the plains, And crystal streams, sparkling and bright. Be clasped in icy chains. The Christmas festival is near, And Santa Clans, with gifts and toys. Will soon be here to gladden hearts Of m;iny little girls and boys. y3ut then again, how sad to know That millions in this favored land The joys of Christmas must forego, And bow in want at greed's command. If justice, love and truth could reign, And tyranny from earth be hurled. The poor and v\'eek would be sustained, And honor's banner be unfurled, l^ut selfish greed, and partial laws Becloud the narrow way of life. And give the toiling millions cause To foster trouble, care and strife. Hut then the world sweeps on apace. Redemption seems almost in sight. On freedom's flag the words we trace Are honor, justice, truth and right. My Mother's Hair. A lock of hair, a tiny thing. But oh, what memories round it gather To linger like a passing dream, And glorify the name of mother. A name enshrined in every heart, A name that gilds our childish joy, Embalmed in love on memories chart. Where time nor tide can ne'er destroy. POEMS OF IDAHO. No other liand can sooth the pain. Or bring the balm to childhood sweet; A mother's love will true remain Till hearts forever cease to beat. Often in silent thought I stand Again beside her loving form. Amidst the rocks upon life's strand, And bid defiance to the storm. Deai- mother, art thou living still Beyond this vale of earthly strife. And canst thy loving spirit thrill My being in this lonely life. Come, then, when sorrow's troubled waves Rolls o'er my being dark and deep. Enfold me in thy loving arms, And kiss me, mother, while I sleep. The Israelite's Mule Eide. ■|Thf following- is rt relation of a loi-al incident nilliar to many in the northern part of Wasliingto It was in the month of August. A summer month I believe, When farmers all in Idaho Were gathering in their sheaves Of goldt-n grain to bless the land With nature's bounteous store. And hunger, povery and want To banish from our shore. An Israelite came from the north, Of royal blood, I believe. But of this fact I am not sure. Appearances will deceive. He landed at Salubria, From there he thought to ride To where the miners sturdy strokes Had cleaved the mountain side. POKMS OK IDAHO. He looked around, he found a beast, "Twas gentl(% kind and true, An eight.y -year-old donkey He tliought would take him through; A miglity sum of gold he payed, Then did the mule b stride, And with his whip and spurs outdid John Gilpin's famous ride. At Council Valley, on the route. His royal suite to cheer, He turned his pockets wrong side out And bouglit some lager beer. Then onward still he held his way Till night her mantle spread, Then filled his royal carcass up With milk and went to bed. The poor old donkey could not boast Of any surplus fat, As on his hip, it's very plain, A man could hang his hat l^ut still he popp d the donkey through, And back to town he came, Upon the donkey's hurricane deck He gained a world of fame. King David rode upon a mule. And Christ upon an ass. And here in Idaho we'vi' found Their prototype at last; The only difference I can see Against the ancient rule. In modern times it comes to be The ass should ride the mule. Someliow, I think, the story goes, That since that fearful ride The poor old donkey sought I'epose In death bv suicide. POEMS OF IDAHO He could not bear the keen rebuke; Of honor thus bereft. He sought a deep and shad}- brook And found relief in death. But if the story is untrue. The donkey still survives, I hope they'll turn him on the range And let the hero thrive. But if he takes that trip again For Israelitic gold. May the great God that rules above Have mercy on his soul. The Deserted Husband. Oh Minnie, dear Minnie, when we were made one, Tlie future seemed lovely and fair, No clouds of despair had yet darkened our sun And love filled the ambient air. Chorus: Then Minnie, dear Minnie, come home with me now, The clock on the mantel strikes one, There is no one at home now to milk; the old cow, And I am forever undone. Each morning we woke to the toils of the day, While love lit the path that we trod. No discord was nurtured to darken our wa3% Or anger Love's beautiful God. Chorus: Then Minnie, dear Minnie, come home with me now. The clock on the mantel strikes two, Come quick and my troubles forever dispell, I've made a great mess of this stew. A mantle of snow has now covered the earth To the depth of two feet and a half, And T am sorel}' discouraged, loneh' and sad, 1 feel like a motherless calf. 74 POEMS OF IDAHO. Chorus: Then Minnie, dear Minnie, come home with me now, The clock on the mantel strikes three, No anger shall ruffle my temper again, And with thee I'll ever agree. There is no one at home to get up in the morn And kindle the fire while I snooze; My breeches are ripped, and my shirt is all torn, And the strings are lost out of my shoes. Chorus: Then Minnie, dear Minnie, come home with me now. The clock on the mantel strikes four, I am grieving so much that I am falling away, I am sick, sad, sorrowful and sore. Without you the world is a blank and a curse, And in it no longer f'U ^tay, I'll swallow some poison or get up a muss. And get stabbed or shot in the fray. Chorus: Then Minnie, dear Minnie, come home with me now. The clock on the mantel strikes five, Come quick or I swear b}' a true love's vow You'll see me no more here alive. Come quick to my arms and no longer delay. For "time and the tide wait for none," And when you get here I'll persuade you to stay, Or good-bye to my father's dear son. Chorus; Then Minnie, dear Minnie, come home with me now, The clock on the mantel strikes six. You surely would not after taking the vow Go leave me in such a bad fix. Composed and Sung for Some Little Girls. One morning quite early, I felt rather surl}', I rose from my bed and walked out in the air, The cattle were lowing, the chickens were crowing, All nature seemed beautiful, lovely and fair. POEMS OF IDAHO. 75 The horses were neighing, the kittens were playing, The old cat was mewing to sanction the fun". The dog wagged his tail, the hog grunts approval. Then all join in chorus to welcome the sun. The day king, so hoary, arose in his glory, Sailed over the mountains with banner unfurled, The lark from his nest rose upward to meet him. And warble a song to the king of the world. The pheasants were drumming, the bees were all humming. The lambkins were frol icing over the green, While the music of nature rolled upward and onward. In rapture I gazed on the beautiful scene. The pansies, and poseys, and sweet little roses, Bedecked with the clear crystal dews of the night. Lift their beautiful heads as they rise from their beds To waft sweet perfume to the kmg of the light. The shadows of night in the West were receding Before the advance of the king of the day, While forms without number arose from their slumber, To gaze with delight on the grand display. The clear little streams, kissed by the sun's beams, Came leaping and laughing from mountains so steep. Then onward they glide till they meet with the tide. And are lost to our view in the brine of the deep. Then Neptune, the king of old ocean, commands them. Till kissed by the sun they arise from the main, Then onward they float, like a beautiful boat. Till condensed they descend on mountain and plain. 7() POEMS OF IDAHO. Then earth in liis station receives the libation, And seed time and liarvest is with us again; Thus nature's endea\or rolls onward forever. And thus is the life of our planet sustained. And when I beheld all the beauties of nature. In harmony working- the whole to maintain, Ashamed of my folly, and sad melancholy, I resolved that I'd never be surly again, J)Ut while I was gazing, in wonder amazing, A peal of bright laughter the harmonies blend, A bevy of girls, with their ringlets and curls, Tlie picture completes, and my song's at an end. Seven Devil Song. fCoinposed and sun^ while in camp at the mines. 1 Come all ye bold adventurers And listen to my song About the Seven Devil mines, I will not keep you long; Those mines of wealth thafs lately found Display the ore bright, And millions yet beneath the ground Is bound to see the light. Chorus: Then dig boys, dig, let us the ore find. And open up in handsome style the Seven Devil mines And when you pack your old cayuse, And start to make a raise, And stop upon a grassy plot To let the equine graze. You're liable at any time To meet a rattle bug, Then don't forget the snake bite cure, Corked up in the brown jug. Chorus :^Then dig boys. etc. Then when you reach the Devil mines, All filled with wind and gush. POEMS OF IDAHO. i i Don't mope about and hang your head. You'd make the Dev'ils blush: But shoulder up your pick and pan. And take your shovel too. Then when you strike an ore \ein Just pop the Devils through. Chorus: — Then dig boys, etc. And when the rock becomes so hard You can no longer pick. Don't hang your head and look so sour. You'd make the Devils sick; Hut seize your drill and hammer loo. Put down a four- foot hole. Then charge it well with dynamite. And let the thunder roll. Chorus: — Then dig boys, etc. Then when we're down a hundred feet. With ore on the dump. The money kings will all take hold And make the Devils hump. Then when we sell our mines of wealth. We'll money have to spend. We'll put our plated harness on And visit all our friends. Chorus:— Then dig boys, etc. For when a man has wealthy grown. The past is all forgot, He's honored, petted, loved and praised. Although a drunken sot: And as our wealth accumulates, The ladies all will .^mile. We'll bid the Devils all good-bye, And live in splendid style. Chorus: Then dig boys, let us the ore find. And open upin handsome style the Seven Devil mines Then laugh boys, laugh, we have the ore found. We'll make our pile, we'll live in style. Then pass the lager round. POEMS OF IDAHO. A Vision of the Future. One evening, the last of November, When the Storm King in majestj' rose To welcome in dreary December, With its glittering ice jewels and snows. When the leaves from their stems had departed. And the Howers lay withered and slain, And night, with its mantle of darkness. Had shrouded boih mountain and plain, While careworn and weary, I slumbered, . In peaceful and silent repose. While the moments glide past me unnumbered, A vision of grandeur arose. The form was a beautiful female. Her brow wore the laurels of fame, Her motto was Truth. Love and Duty, And Honor the vision by name. Then slowly arose from the darkness, Arrayed in her garments of light, Came Truth, like an angel of brightness, To honor this vision of night. Then Honor and Truth stood together, And a halo encircled them both, And it spemed that no power could sever This union of Honor and Truth. While thus stood these visions united, A third, robed in garments all bright. Came forth, like an angel of beautj', To illumine the darkness of night. It was Friendship, Love's bosom companion. From Honor and Truth had its birth, And wherever it asserts its dominion. There happiness dwells on the earth. rOEMS OF IDAHO. The fourth was a vision most glorious, It descended from mansions above. And her banner was ever victorious. For this was the vision of Love, Her banner waved over the nations. And peace and contentment had birth. War, with its millions of horrors, And discords were driven from earth. Her's was the reign of a goddess. Descended from heaven above; Her laws filled the hearts of the nations With Honor, Truth, Friendship and Love. Then crime, with its brood of disasters. And misery and want left the world; Happiness dwelt with the nations Wherever Love's banner's unfurled. Then the lion and the lamb lay together. The eagle at peace with the dove, And the nations were governed forever l>y Honor, Truth, Friendship and Love. Then why should we cultivate sorrow. Let's gather the fiowers while they bloi>m. For why should we wait till tomorrow, Whose sun ma^' shine over our tomb. May the hand of fraternity lead us. Ma}' justice and conscience approve All actions that find their endorsement In Honor, Truth, Friendship and Love, My Partner's Snore. 'Tis midnight now, the moon has sunk Behind the western hill, W^hile darkness lets her curtains down And all is hushed and still. rOEMS OF IDAHO. No sounds disturb the stillness now. Darkness in silence rei<;'ns. Sa\e wlien the nitiiit owl's dismal note Echoes o'er hills and plains. Slowly the diowsy god enfolds My senses in his g'rasp, Xill M)rpheus my bun": holds, I (juiet sleep at last. TTow long- I slept, I can not tell, Before the storm began, l)Ut such a dreadful noise before ^Vas never heard by man. It seemed that all the fiends that fell . Were screaming in my ear, They'd burst the brazen doors of hell And all assembled here The d^ep bass voice, the treble sounds. Soprano, too, was there: And every hideous, frightful noise Was floating in the air. 1 thought of all unearthly sounds, Of Milton's hideous fiend. Of noises in air and under ground. That I had heard or seen. 1 thought of Dante's Inferno too, Of Satan's sultry clime, Oi' hell, so graphically described In Pollock's Course of Time. I C(Hild no longer bear the din, I kneeled before the crowd To plead for mercy, I began In accents long and loud. But one tremendous snort there came, I bounded from the rtoor. And found the sounds proceeded from My partner's dreadful snore. POEMS OF IDAHO. SI I'm Sad To Night. I'm sad tonig'ht, my thoughts are filled With home and scenes of yore, T stand again where oft I roamed Willamette's flovvery shore; The broad leavpd maple shades the ground In Nature's svlvan bowers: The grand fir sways before the wind. The land is robed with flowers. I wander on the flowery shore. Beneath the fragrant trees; I hear the bell chimes as of yore. Borne on the evening breeze. The fragrant balm, the maple bloom, The rose in beauty rare, The hawthorn blossom's rich perfume, Scents all the evening air. The birds their sweetest tributes brmg To crown tho-e scenes of joy; The murmuring stream flows sweetly on In gladness, sans alloy; The golden sunbeams from above Fall gently o'er the land, Inspiring all with hope and love Of Nature's lavish hand. As day declines a song of love Floats out upon the air. As soft as sunbeams from above, Inspiring hop(^ and cheer. Once more I see the smilinu- face Light up with hope again; On memory's page 'tis still embalmed. In love it still remains. The golden sun has sunk to rest Behind the western hill. The stars peep out, those scenes to bless: The stream is murmuring still, S2 POEMS OF IDAHO. While o'er these scenes of joy and love. The silvery moonbeams fell; The herds wind slowly home again Across the hazel dell. Farewell Willamette! flowery stream! I've wandered from your side; No more my bounding bark is seen Upon your crystal tide; Slowly the scene fades from my view, A wanderer still I roam; My journey onward I'll pursue Far from my childhood home. Perhaps I'll wander back some day Amidst th(jse scenes of yore. Where once I played, nor thought to stray. Far from your gentle shore; Amidst those scenes but few are left, That still ray thoughts command. They have crossed the mystic stream of death. And dwell in fairer lands. The Eetum of Spring. 'Twas Easter morn, the sun rose bright O'er hills and mountains crowned with snow. That glistening in the morning light. Looked down on quiet vales below. Where life had just began to wake To burst old Winter's icy chains, To scatter flowers of light and love O'er mountain, valley, hill and plain. Soon we shall welcome Spring's return. In all her gorgeous beauty dressed. Her robes of green, her crown of flowers. With dewdrops sparkling on her breast. POEMS OF IDAHO 8H The brilliant robes that Winter wore, The gems that glisten on his breast, Disolves in tears, and with a sigh He yields the empire of the West. To Spring, the royal queen of flowers, Whose presence gilds each flowery bed, AVho brings the mild and gentle showers, Old Winter bows his regal head. With joy all nature smiles to meet The regal queen with all her charms. While Winter sinks beneath her feet, She folds the world within her arms. The merry birds, with songs of love, Rejoice amidst their shady bowers; The rippling rills from prison bound And laughing greet the lovely flowers. The golden beams of sunshine falls On scenes of beauty, far and near. While Nature's voice in music calls, To tell the world that Spring is here. 84 POEMS OF IDAHO. (A comparison.) lln the spring of 1890, after the hard winter when 80 much stock died in Idaho, many of the peoi)le were diwt atistied with tlie countvyand talked of emmigiating-. This poem was written to sh o\v tliein that other places hufi'ere J as bad or won e that winter, and that they woiild not better their condition by emmigrating from the Gem" of the Mountains.] "The cheerful spring' has come again. And flowers cover hill and plain; The grass has come to stay the tide Of death that swept the mountain side. And rioted on hill and plain, Where thousands lay by tamine slain; Late did chilling winds around them blow. While deeper fell the drifting snow; Their food gave out, and all too late We realized their helpless state. Their sufferings were compelled to see, Till death from misery set them free; The noble hors<-, the cow, the sheep, Beneath the snowy mantle sleep, 'Twas man's to be bereft of wealth, 'Twas theirs to starve and suffer death; But man is to blame, not Providence, So reason says, and common sense, We must for helpless stock provide. If they would stem the winter's tide. To trust in Providence, we know, Will not avail in Idaho; And when the wintry snows come back 'Tis best to have a large hay stack; 'Twill save your stock, and banish care. And do more good than song or prayer, And 3'et we hear where e'er we go Men curse the state of Idaho. What this state needs is men of sense, Who take no stock in Providence, POEMS OK IDAHO. ? But, if tliey trust in God, will ti-y To keep tlieir iiay and fodder dry. If we resolve to leave the suite. Pra}' tell us where to emigrate." While thus T mused in thought profound, Sleep kissed my weary eyelids down. And while I slept I had a dream. Or vision, it so real 5-eemed. THE VISION. A voice was heard. I turned my head. A Genii stood beside my bed. A golden light its raidance shed Around the Genii's siately head. A look benevoleni and wise Beamed from out his love-lit eyes; A voice of music, low and sw^eet. Softly my waking senses greet; It bid my dreaming spirit arise And with him ascend the upper skies. At Genii's bidding my mind disdained To stay, by mortal fetters chained, But rose in maj(-sty sublime. Defying matter, space and time; And with the Genii for my guide On wings of thought through space we glid« Our course lay eastward, oh, how strange. We crossed the Rocky Mountain range. And at the Genii's mild command. We paused on Kansas" fairy land; The night had tied, the day was bright, No gloomy clouds obscured the light; The sun w^as shining in the east, Calling the nations to their feast, Where man's industrious hands had spread The festive board, and all were led. Their cities dotted hill and plain; Their valleys filled with waving grain; Their city domes and loft spires. Art's triumph that we all admire, 8() POEMS OF IDAHO, Rose upward, stately, grand and fair, To kiss the sunbeams in the air; The school house, church, and sacred home. Reveled in beauty, spire and dome; The deep-toned church bell's solemn call To praise the Architect of all. For peace and love at Thy command Is showered upon this favored land. Surely, thought I, we'll emmigrate And build a home in Kansas state. But while I though the land was blest. The Genii pointed to the west, "Behold." said he, '"a funeral shroud!" 1 looked, and saw a tiny cloud; No larger than a human hand. Was floating on the western strand; Slowly it moved toward the east. Its color changed, it speed increased. From snowy white, to inky black, It moved along its fatal track. And what was but a speck at best Now shrouds in gloom the glowing west; Moving across the arch of heaven, Onward by lightning's lances driven; The deep toned thuiider's awful roar, Shaking the land from shore to shore; The lowing herds, in mute despair. Scent danger in the troubled air; And strong men gaze, while hopes depart And fear and trembling seize the heart And lovely women's paled cheek. Betrays the fear they dare not speak; And children, too, with fear oppressed. In terror gaze upon the west; And in the thunder's awful tone They recognize the dread cyclone; Sweeping toward them in its wrath. Carrying destruction in its path. Some seek for shelter under ground. While wrecks of homes are scattered round; POEMS OF IDAHO. 87 The gilded dome and loftj' spire, With splinters fill the angry air; The herds caught in the angry tide Are swept to death on ever^^ side; And mangled corpses of human mould, Beneath the ruins, pale and cold; Amidst the cyclone's awful roar Sleep now in deaih to wake no more; Some kne( 1 to pray in mute dispair, Some whirl in terror through the air; Some cry for help, but all in vain, The thunder shakes the hills and plain; The rich, the poor, the fair, the brave Have found alike one common grave. Hut onward sweeps the dread cyclone. Amidst the awful shrieks and groans. The crys for help, the sad depair. The wailing sounds that fill the air; The cities, happy homes and towns. Are piled in wrecks upon the ground; While thousands mourn in plaintive strain, The husbands, wives and children slain. The cyclone came then left the earth. As strange as it's mysterious birth. Then with the Genii for my guide. We walked where 'surged the fearful tide. The Genii, with unerring hand. Points out the desolated land, And said: "Back, but a few short hours. These homes were lovely, crowned with fiowers. That now in heaps of ruin lie. While cries of anguish rend the sky." Observing thus their awful fate, I longed to leave the cyclone state. The Genii waved his magic wand, Again we rose above the land. Glad to ascend the upper air. Beyond such scenes of sad despair. 'Wiiere now?" the Genii camly said, 'Southward," said I. He bowed his head. 88 POEMS OF IDAHO. We l('av(^ the frozen north and "'o Down where the oransv blossoms blow: He waved his wand with ma^ic grace, Onward we glide through fields of space, To where we greet, with glad surprise. The sunny clime and starry skies, To dwell amidst magnoliau bowers. In Florida, the land of flowers. , Here we beheld a lovely scene; (J lad cliildren romping on the green; The air was laden with perfume From orange and magnolia bloom; From schools amidst Arcadian bowers. Came happy children, crowned with flowers: The feathered songsters lovely, fair. With music fill the evening air. The Missis'-ippi. grandest stream That e\er kissed the morning beam; Named by a race, traditions say That long ago have passed aw;iy. Father of Wateis. grand and great: Thy arteries pierce through many a state: While on thy bosom deep and wide, The navies of the world might ride. Alono- thy banks bedecked wilh flowers. Rise cities, towns and lofty towers: Whilf happy homes their love impart. To glad tlie weary pilgrim's heart: Where love and joy have their birth. A heavenly Paradise on earth. "Surely," said I, "the land is fair. Balmy and soft the fragrant air. We'll leave the state of Idaho And settle where oranges grow.'* While ihn< I mused a gentle breeze Swept softly through the fragrant trees: A weird sound by nature given. Inspiring thoughts of home and heaven. Hut to the Genii's practiced eye The signs fortell a cloudy sky. POEMS OF IDAHO. SO Kissed b3' the morning's a^olden beams The vapors rise from lakes and streams, Then moving slowly, grand and strange, I>rift northward lo the snowy range, And meeting ^^'ith the chilh' air Condense and fall in torrents there; The snow disolves, the rains that fell Rush down the murmuring streams to swell: Then moving southward in their might, Till one by one they all unite; A misihty torrent southward swings, Hearing destruction on its wings. The grand Missouri in her pride. Sweeps i)nward like a surging tide. "Wrecking the homes along hf-r strand, Carrying dismay throughout the land. The Mississippi's rolling tide. Fed by the flood from every side, Sweeps onward from the land of snow. Towards the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi's ancient bed No longer holds the angry flood; The levies break, the awful roar. Echoes their doom from shore to shore: Amidst the wrecks and wailing cries. From hill to hill the waters rise, While hundreds, with no hand to save, Sink down to find a watery grave: While horses, cattle, swine and sheep, Lie mouldering in one common heap. V\ here stood the homes crowned with flowers. Amidst the swei-t magnolia bowers, Now desolation shrouds them all In mourning like a funeral pall. Soon. as the water left the land The yellow fever scourge began. And thousands died, while hundreds fled, The brave remained to shroud the dead. And lay them in the cemetery From care, and grief, and sorrow free. 00 POEMS OF IDAHO. TiuMi said the Genii, •"Sjiall we stay?" ••No! nol"' said I. "Awayl away! No matter to what clime we go. We'll leave this land of death and woe." The Genii waved liis wand again. We rose above the hill and plain; ••Westward," siid I, ""A home we'll' seek l^eyond the Rocky Mountain's peak, In California, Golden State, Where dwells the lovely, wise and great: Where never sweeps the dread cyclone, Nor yellow fever's scourge is known; Wliere birds of brilliant plumage sing And spo-'t in one perpetual spring." Across the continent we glide, To San Francisco's golden gate; O'er hill and plain, and mountain range To setile in that favored state, Here we beholl in beauty dressed. The empire city of the West; Her lofty towers and gi ded dome; Her marble halls and palace home, Rivaling in beauty, and in wealth, The halls where Eastern monarchs dwelt. At her feet the noble bay. Calm as a sleeping infant lay; Scarce ruttled by the moi-ning breeze. That siiihed in music through the trees; And by it's weird tones recall "The harp that swept through Tara's hall; Rivaling the notes beyond dispute That trembled from Apollo's lute. Upon its bosom, deep and wide, The ships of every nation ride; And flags of eyery nation rise Upward to greet the sunny skies; And gayly float above the bay From early dawn till close of day. Toward the east, across the bay. POEMS OF IDAHO. 91 Oakland in all her beauty lay, The San Francisco millionaire Has reared his palace dwellincj there. Across the bay. at evening' tide. From business cares the weary glide. Some go with bounding hearts to meet A home of lo\'e, a calm retreat. Where love and joy butli unite To fill their bosom's with delight; With wife and babes awhile to live, A life that love alone can give; While others turn with weary life Towards a home of hate and strife. Where demons at their presence start To rend the weary watcher's heart. And curse the home with hate and strife, Where love and peace should crown each life. How strange it is that men of sense Will to all nature give offence. And never I'-arn through years of strife That love is all there is of life. The love of parents, home and friend. Of wife and child should never end. But brighter grow as time rolls on Toward the golden setting sun. When life shall cease upon the eartli. And death shall bring the second birth: And family ties ao:ain unite Within a world of love and light: Where love and hope, with trembling breath, No more shall kiss the lips of death; Where love eternal reigns supreme. And life's no more a troubled dream. Kut this digression pra.y excuse, The thoughts that filled my mind. My fingers could not well refuse To place them on the line; As much to speak of yet remains 02 POEMS OP IDAHO. I'll to my subject turn aaain. Around the bay the hills arise. In verdure clothed, toward the skies. And tiowers of everj' hue are seen To mingle witli the evergreen; And tropic plants of beauty rare. Fill with perfume the balmy air; No frost to nip them in the bud. Or snows to swell an angry Hood. Here thought I, we'll build a home, And o'er the w^rld no longer roam. But when I came to look around No home for us could here be found. The rich the powerful, and the great. Owned ever}' foot of real estate; To buy the land and build a home Would cost more than we ever owned. While thus I was thinkinghow sad was my fate. Debarred from a home in this beautiful state. The Genii, by way of encouragement, said, "You might live here till you die.on water and bread. The lords of creation have gobbled the soil. And are massing their wealth from the laborer's toil. While millions must, toil both early and late. To add to the wealih of the rich man's estate: While living themselves on the laborer's fare. Which the bosses define as bread, water and air. How strange is the fact as the wealth does increase. That those who produce it enjoy it the least. While the robbt'r and knaxe not a dollar has made. Yet they revel in wealth and recline in the shade." "Another scourge," the Genii said, •'That every laborer must dread. The Chinese horde.^ fill every town. To press the laborer's wages down So low they scarcely life sustain. While men of M^ealth the profits gain; Yet laborers toil from morn to night, Half clothed, half fed, their lives a blight; No star of hope to them brings cheer. POEMS OF IDAHO. But toil and drudoe from year to year: Slaves to the lords that own the land. The poor obey, the rich command. And still we loud of freedom boast. While thousands grovel in the dust. Compelled by misery, want and cold To kneel before the rich man's gold. And beg the monarchs of the soil To give the poor man leave to toil: WhUe wife and cliild, hungry and cold. Must suffer through tlie greed for gold: While children in the gutter dwell Surrounded by an earthly hell: With every generous thought suppressed. While hiitred rankles in their oreast. Till want, and povery, and crime, Go hand in hand in every clime. How strange it is that selfish greed Will honor, truth and love succeed. And banish from the human heart The love that mercy would impart."' I looked around, on every hand Leagues upon leagues of vacant land, The pride and glory of the West; In Nature's flowery mantle dressed: Awaiting but the hand of toil To cultivate the fertile soil. To crown with joy each toiler's life. And blessings shower on man and wite: Where weary laborers might come And find a peaceful, happy home; And childhood's tender life unfold. More precious than their glittering gold; To drink at joy's happy font. Secure from penury and want. "Surelv. said I. "we'll settle here. And live in peace from year to year. Till nature's mandate bids us rise To claim our home beyond the skies." l>ut here the Genii shook his head; 1)H POEMS OF I1>AH0. "You cannot settle here" he said, "This lan(i is held by men of wealth. Who's thoughts ai-e only that of self. They think the earth for them was made: They claim the sunshine and the shade. They claim the rich and fertle soil, They claim the wealth produced by toil, The.y claim the world, and if they dare, •Would hold the water, earth and air, And make the toiler tribute pay Or cease to live and pass awa.y.*' The genii said, "Take my advice, This is the rich man's paradise. But not the land for those who toil. Yet cannot claim one foot of soil; While proud and imperious lords of birth. Own many leagues of xnother earth: While toilers not a foot can own Whereon to build a happy home; Scarcely enough to lay their head When they are numbered with the dead." While musing on the Genii's words A voice, in accents low, was heard. "Father of Heaven," thus it said, "Give us this day our daily bread, And keep us safe throughout the night Till early morning greets the light." Instead of joining heart and hand To right such wrongs throughout the land. They kneel with reverence and dread, To ask their God for daily bread. While millionaires defy the law. And from the toiling masses draw The wealth that should its blcssini;s shed On all who work for their crust of bread. The law protects them in their might. No matter whether wrong or i-ight. We could not think to settle here. And toil and drudge from year to year , While men of wealth the profits gain POEMS OF IDAHO. And we could scarcely life maintain. A>>ain I was compelled to roam And northward seek our happy home, Tlie Genii waved his wand again; We rose above the land of fame, And moving northward with the gale Along the Sacramento's vale. We noticed here on every hand That angry floods had swept the land. And homes in wrecks and ruins lay On every hand along our way. AVe cross the line at early dawn And land in Southern Oregon; Here, too, the floods had done their part And winter saddened man^' a- heart; Where loss b}' flood and storm was great As any in the Golden State. But onward yet we held our way. Not yet content to stop and stay In any state that we had seen, Though crowned with flow^ers and evergreen. We crossed the Calapooya range, A vision beautiful and si range As ever met a wandere:''s e.ye, Or basked beneath a summer's sky, Lay spread before us. grand, sublime: The valley of the Westera Rhine, The grand Willamette, flower}' stream. I see you often in my dreams. And stand in thought upon your shore To li^e mv boyhood pleasures o'er; To think of friends back in the past. Who's friendship may or may not last: Since fate decreed that I should roam Far from my old VVillameite home. The fact was here beyond dispute. We stood on top of Spencer Butte, The air was cool, and bright the day. And beaut}' stretchwl for leagues away. 0() POEMS OF IDAHO. Northward does grand WillametU^ run. Her waters sparkling in the siin: From every side the rippling rills Leap forth from mountains, plains and hills. To meet and mingle with the stream, ''J\) glisten in the morning beam. As on the placid waters glide To mingle with Columbia's tide: Then onward west thti waters sweep To mingle with the brin.y deep. Toward the east the Cascade range Rise upward, weird, grand and strange; Their summits crowned with purest snow. From whicli Willamette's waters flow, In rippling rills they downward glide. They cleave the rugged mountain side. Swit as the wild dt^er in his flight Till one by one they all unite: Then northward still their motion keep. Their destiny the briny deep Those grand old moimtains long ago. Volcanoes stood with heat aglow^ And from their craters, fiery tides Of lava poured from every side; Downward descends the fiery sheet Till space absorbs the glowing heat;^ A monuTUiMit it stands at last To write the history of the past: In charatuer grand and sublime. Mysterious to the common mind. Hut science u-rasps and holds the key. That shall unlock the mystery. As time rolls on each fiery crest Cools, and the mountains stand at rest: No more volcanic thunders I'oar, Nor down their side the lava pour: ('aim and serene with crowns of snow. They look on fiowery lands below'. On old Willamette's fiowery vale. Where cereal harvests never fail: POEMS OF IDAHO. Gon<;enial to their perfect needs, To ripen and mature their seeds; While grapes in clusters load the vine. For healthy food or rub}' wine; And ripen in the srenial sun Within the State of Oregon. And untold wealth of fruits and flowers Would crown with ioy the farmer's hours If it were not for unjust laws That slight or damn the farmers' cause; And gives to money kings the right To rob the farmer day and night; liy usury that he cannot pay, Though toil and struggle as he ma3% A mortgage presses like a blight Upon his home with dreadful might, Although industrious, kind and brave, The curse will haunt him to his grave: Then minions of the law will come And rob the orphans of their home. Down at our feet behold Eugene, Of Western towns, the stateh' queen; Her business buildings reared of late, Unrivaled by any older state. Broad and commodious are her streets, Which every want of travel meets; Alon2" each side, on every hand. The broad-leafed, shady maple stands; While round each dwelling may be seen The ornamental evergreen : And shrubs of every kind that bloom, To scent the air with rich perfume. Who. surrounded thus with flowers. Within those sweet and shady bowers, Could harbor anger, hate and strife, While all around was love and life. Far to the north the valley lay. Nothing obscures the grand display; No lofty mountain peaks are seen, Hut prairies, flowers and evergreen. OS POEMS OF IDAHO. This lovely valley northward runs Till bounded by the horizon; Towards the West, in sombre hue, The Coast Ranj^^e mountains rise to view: With forests crowned, their vigils keep To guard the valley from the sweep Of ocean storms that howl and roar Along Pacific's rugged shore; Who's angry waves at times arise Like mountains tow< ring to the skies; Lashed into fur}' by the storm They sweep the shore in wild alarm, Filling the air with foam and spray, And s^mtient beings with dismay; It then recedes to come again, But battled, then it seeks the main. The storm has ceased, the- waves are still, The birds their sweetest music trill; The beasts that crouched along the shore Come out and roam the hills once more; But ever from the troubled seas, O'er mountains sweeps the gentle breeze. To cool the air that otherwise Would heat Willamette's sunny skies. The rains in winter time descend. And prove the farmest dearest friend; A fertilizer for the soil To bless the tiller's honest toil; With crops that otherwise would fail. Or reach but half the common scale. And yetf when snows and rains descend. And tropic winds their influence lend. When high upon the moutain side The snows dissolve to swell the tide. They sweep the valle,y far and near. And fill the land with dread and fear; And homes that were the pride of life, I^eloved by children, man and wife. Are swallowed oy the angry flood That sweeps prosperity from the sod. POEMS OF IDAHO. 99 Bat still with all the faults I find. I'd love to seek the Western Rhine, And dwell forever on its shore Amidst the scenes I loved of 3'ore. Hut liere attain we cannot live. We have no cash for land to ^\ye, And by the wise men we are told We'd best not come without the gold To buy a home on which to toil And give the proceeds of the soil To banks, and rings, and corporate thieves. Who's robbing schemes the world deceives. Till toiling millions seem afraid They could not live without their aid, And vote to bind themselves in chains To corporate wealth and worldly gains. And as we do not choose to dwell In bond:»ge in an earthly hell. Our journey is not ended yet; We leave the land with sad regret, As brain and muscle is the store Of capital we have for use, We are not wanted on the shore That knew us in our early youth. We bid the land farewell again, We rise above the flowery plain. Northward we move to trj' our best To find a home or place of rest. Before old age shall dim our sight. Or manhood's sirength and memory blight. Along Willamette's vale we glide. And note the towns on ever}' side, And rural homes on every hand, With beauty crown this favored land. Till citizens with justice boast. The grandest valley on the coast. But here again we must not miss The Oregon metropolis. 100 POEMS OF IDAHO. Poi'llaiid, the city of West, By nature, art and beautV dressed. Here mammoth ships and pleasure boats Upon the Willamette's bi-som float; Here vessels from all ports arrive To bring their foreion merchandise And carry from this port the grain And products of the fertile plains. Far to the East Mount Hood is seen, Down at his feet the evergreen, While up above the timber line His snow-crt)wned brow in beauty shines. Across Columbia's rolling tide Saint Helen stands. Old Mount Hood's bride. A natural bridge, traditions saj', Long ages since has passed a*vay, Where now the Cascade waters roar, Columbia spanned !r.)m shore to shore. But Hood and Helen — man and wife — Engaged in some domestic strife. Saint Helen, calm and sullen stood, And smoke and ashes threw at Hood; With voice of thunder, Hood aroused. The insult hurled back at his spouse; Saint Helen then with vengeance dire Answered Old Hood with tongues of fire; Mount Hood, with voice that shook the w^orld, l^ack at Saint Helen defiance hurled, While from his crest the flames arise, And clouds of smoke obscure the skies; The earth it shook for miles around, And wild beast trembled at the sound, While from their throats the lava streams Like liquid fire spurts and gleams. The natives, seized with wild dismay, In fear and trembling fled away; For such a quarrel was known by none On earth since time his course begun. rOEMS OF IDAHO. 101 And while the earth in terror shook The natural bridge its place forsook. And tumbling down a ruined mass Columbia's waters o'er it pass. And thu<, traditions old have stated, The Cascade rapids were created. And Hood and Helen — man and wife — Stand separate now, divorced for life; Though silent now. calm and serene; Columbia's waters roll between. To Portland now we say good-bye. Eastward on wings of thought we fly, We pause upon the Cascade Range To view the scenery, grand and strange. Far to the West the ocean lay, Held by the rock bound coast at bay; When tempest-tossed it beats upon The western coast of Oregon, Against the western mountain chain The ocean forces beat in vain. But while the scenery charms our view Our eastward cour.'^e we must pursue. With aching heart I bid farewell To home and scenes of yore. The grand Willamette's flowery banks Perhaps I'll see no more. Hut in some other country fall, Or sink beneath some wave. Or in some lonely mountain pass May find a lonely grave. Through Eastern Oregon we move Rut find no home we can approve; Last winter cold, the snow was deep. And many now for fortunes weep; Their flocks and herds by thousands slain. Their bones lie bleaching on the plain; Their loss in stock we truly know. Was ten to one for Idaho. l"'-? POEMS OF IDAHO. We cross Sn;ike River once a.a-aiii, And strind on Idalio's domain; To Weisor City we advance, To view on e more the broad expanse, Tl^ie hills and plains that id e lie W ill yet vast fields of grain supply. And meadows bloom where sagebush stands \Vhen farmers iriigale their land; And fruit of m;>ny kinds will grow And ripen here in Idaho. Upon her hills the stock will graze And fatten here in future days; And Weiser's life.wid not expire Although it's been baptized in fire; Hut like old Egypt's bird of fame, Will fn^m its ashes rise again, And on a firmer basis stand. The pride and glory of tlie land. From Weiser City on we go Across the liills and up Monroe. And thence to Mann Creek, where we fin 1 The ripened fruits of many kmds. And fields of barley, oats and wheat, And meadow grass our vision greet. Through Middle Valley then we strode. And note improvements on the road. Toward the north we ramble still. We stand at last upon a hill. And gazing north in glad surprise Salubria City greets our eyes. It stands upon a ferlile plain. Hedged round by fields of waving grain, Where but a few years back was seen The Indian lodge upon the green. A savage, wild, nomadic race That roamed about from place to place. And camped awhile upon the ground Where forest game and fish abound: Their onl/y, ,|l^pught in life's great race. To scalp a foe or JQJ^iitjlie.jqhii^t?; POEMS OF IDAHO. H'' To be a warrior, brave and true. Envied by all, excelled by lew; To v^^ear the war paint ol;" their race, Or win distinction in the chase. l^ut time strode on, and lo, the change That sprt^ad from plain to mountain range: The warrior from the scene lias fled JJefore the Anglo-Saxon's trcade, The lordly elk that roamed the plain Can never more return again; The cougar, with his savage growl The gray wolf, wth his dismal howl. All slaiii have been, or left the plain For safety in the mountain range; • The black, the brown, the grizzly bear, ^Vith sullen growl forsook his lair. And higher up the mountain side From hunters seeks to save his hide: His doom is sealed, he can't turn back. The deadly rifle's on his track. And but a few more years at least Will end these wild and savage beasts. lUit in their place will then be seen Domestic herds upon the green; The wild cayuse must lea^•e the hill, \\m blooded Slock his place will fill. The antelope, and timid deer. Slowly but surely disappear. Northward toward the grassy hills We note friend Cuddy's flouring mill: And while the seasons move along It sings the same delightful song; It grinds the wheat to make the flour Tlmt gives the farmer strength and power To raise the wheat to grind again, And thus moves on an endless chain. l>ut time flies on. and we must roam Through Idaho to find a home. T'p Little Weiser as we move We find the country still improves: 104 POEMS OF IDAHO. Till Indian Valle.y, rich and fjrand. In tillable and grazing iHnd, Excelled by none, equalled by few. In grandeur bursts upon our view; A rich, and fertile, flowery vale. A land where harvests never fail. Our journey north we still pursue Till Council Valley meeis our view; A rich and fertile land is seen. Bordered wiih hills of evergreen. Upon who's side the herds may graze In spring, summer or autumn days. And when old winter leaves' the land Thp flowers spring up on every hand, And gently waving in the air Inspire thoughts of E len there. Nor far away the mountains rise. In rugued grandeur to the skies. And form a scne that all admire. In whom, grand thoughts, such scenes inspire. In Salmon Meadows next we stand, A valley beautiful and grand; Some twenty miles in length, it seems, By shY in wiith, laved by streams Who's sparkling waters laughing course Fed ever from cool mountain source; And leaping' from their rugged sides In liquid streams of beauty glide Down to the flowery vale below To help the vegetation grow. Till led by man's industrious hand It irrigates the fertile land, And by its aid the farmer's blest With health and strength that's of the best. Across the hil's some seven miles The Paj'ette Lake in beaut}' smiles; No grander lake was ever seen, Of Idaho it is the queen; Some twelves miles long by thrae miles wide, No bottom found, though men have tried. POEMS OF IDAHO lOf) Around its shores the evergreen And giant forest trees are seen. The trout within its waters bask, Finer fisli man could not ask; The red, the wliite fish both are there, And furnish sport, to nimrods, rare. In Switzerhmd the hilces are grand As an}' Europe can command, But true it is they'd make no show If they were placed in Idaho. Below the hike a picture grand As ever met the eye, Long Valley stretches to the south Till bounded by the sky; Some sixty miles in length 'tis said, An average twelve miles wide; AVhile limpid streams, cool and bright. Leap forth from every side; The mountains clothed in nature's dress; The hills with richest grass, While through the vale toward the south, The Payette waters pass; And thermal springs, who's mineral wealth The world shall surely know, And thousands come to gain their health In favored Idaho Why should we wander o'er the land, Its merits we should know. We roamed its vales and mountain glens Some thirty years ago. When savage men lay on our track, And many a hero fell; When through the hills and valleys rang The Indian's sayage yell, And many a pioneer has gone W^ho trod the dangerous path, Who's life blood dyed with crimson hues The warrior's fatal shaft. UK) POEMS OF IDAHO. "Look o'er ihe state," the Genii said, ''And see an empire grand. Where millions yet will live in peace And till the fertile land. See the lofty mountain range Where untold millions sleep, W^here future generations will Their golden harvpsls reap. The vast mesa that stretches south. Now known as desert land, By irrigation yet will bloom, Through man's industrious hand; And where the sagebush shades the land The farmers' orchards then will stand, And fruit shall bud and bloom and grow And ripen heie in Idaho." (Then apples, pears and nectarines. And apricots will here be seen, And peaches, prunes, grapes and plums Will bless the land in years to come. All here now to perfection grows. So Duboise says, and Fredie knows!) Five million acres it is claimed Compose the great plateau just named; Watered by streams from every side. Who's waters man will yet divide To quench the thirst of fertile plain. That irrigation will reclaim; And then within a few short years The desert lands will disappear. And in its stead will meadows gr^en And fields of waving grain be seen. But of our agricultural land We'd have the world to understand, 'Tis but a fraction we have named Of sixteen million acres claimed, B3' those who know the history best Of this great empire of the West. POEMS OF IDAHO. lO' If information j'ou would court, Our a,2:ricultural report Will furnish facts correct and true, With fi So the people concluded the Shylocks must go; They voted and prayed for the Reps, overthrow; TheDemos. triumphant, the Reps, in their grave. We would sound the death knell of the robber and knave; The battle was fought: it was a glorious siglu: The Demos, victorious. Ihe Reps, pat to figlit. The people rejoiced that the nation was free; They h;id conquered the tyrants from over the sea; No more will the Shylocks the peoph' oppress: From tlie North to the South: from the F.ast to tlie West; Our laws will b<* fashioned for justice and right. By tlie Demos, who won in that glorious figlit. The Demos, declared they would <:ive us wise laws; The people should prosper in every great cause; The Shylocks and Reps, sliould no longer oppress. But business should boom and the people be blest: Our banner in triumph forever should wave O'er the land of the free, not the home of the slave. But the power of the Shylocks began to unfold; They had blinded the eyes of the Demos, with gold; And the people have learned in sorrow and shame. That the Demos, are Reps, with a different name; They have bound us in chains to a villianous crew. Done just what the Reps, had intended to do. They have stolen our money; have ravished our homes; With the plunder erected to Mammon a throne; They have fashioned a god, like the Hebrews of old, Then bid us bow down to their image of gold. But hark, while triumphant shouts break from their lips. For victory won by the Demos, and Reps., A voice of defiance from mountain and vale, From workshop and hamlet rose up on the gale; From North to South, from East to West, 'Tis a voice that no Shy lock can ever suppress. 120 POEMS OF IDAHO. ■ Tis ihe voice of the people the Demos, have sold: \\\u) refuse to bow down to their image of j^^old; "Tis 1h(^ voice of toilers who've long been oppressed By the Reps, and Demos, at the Shy locks request; l)iit the people have risen in anger and might, l)(4ermined to conquer the land for the right. 'J'hey see the handwriting, 'tis plain on the wall; The Dfinos. and Reps, with the Shy locks must fall: The people are waking from dreams of the past; Tiiey're arousing from slumber to duty at last; And the sun shall not shine on a Shy lock or slave. In the land of the free and the home of the brave. The Bugle Call. Hark, we hear the bugle calling From mountain, hill and plain; Into line the brave are falling, Freeman arise, your rights to maintain Mothers, wake the song of freedom, Let its anthems pierce the skies Till the toiling men and women Slavery's galling chains despise. Long we've groped in mental darkness. And meekly worn the tyrant's chains; Yielding all to fill his coffers. Health and wealth and worldly gains. Though many promises they'd made us Of intentions good and wise. When they wield the power of office They are deaf to all our cries. Then the God of Mammon rules them; Rules them with a rod of iron, Till their conscience, seared, callous, Knows no sacred rights divine. POPULIST POEMS. 121 See the trembling steps of manhood Totter on toward the grave, While behind his offspring lingers. Branded as a rich man's slave. Hear the mother's wail of anguish, Borne upon the evening air, As with trembling steps the3' languish On th(» verge of sad despair. See your mothers, wives and daughters Toil through life, a tyrant's slave. Fill with wealth the rich man's coffers. Fill themselves a pauper's grave. Hear the trembling voice of childhood Plead in vain for food and care: See the withered cheeks of famine. Drenched with sorrow's scalding tear. Men of toil, whai are you doingi Will you still stand idly by"? See those tyrants work your ruin. Hear the famished children's cry? Must we still divide our forces While the tyrants all unite? Weaken thus our last resources While our foemen win the fight? Hark! We hear the shouts of freemen. Herald of the toiler's might! See the star of freedom rising Grandly into perfect light. Our forefathers fought for freedom. Then bequeathed the prize to us; We must now defend her altars And transmit the sacred trust. Let us then uphold our banner. With a courage firm and true; Scorn the men that would dishonor Freedom's grand Red, White and Blue. 133 POEMS OF IDAHO. The Seven Devil Miner's Appeal to the Farmers and Knights. Watchman, tell us of the fight, Is our banner waving high? Will the friends of truth unite In the cause to win or die? Will they bravely face the foe For the right on every field? Like the guards at Waterloo, Die if need, but never yield? Where is Weaver? Where is Streeter? Is Beaumont still in the van? Powderly and many others, Are they doing all they can? In the gathering storm of battle. Will they by our colors stand. To dethrone the robber parties And promote the rights of man? Nail our colors to the mast. Let it kiss the breeze of heaven. By our fathers of the past Was the freeman's banner given. Let no craven hand of 13- rants Soil the banner of the free; Let it wave, let Justice triumph Over land and over sea. Men of honor lead the van, In the cause of truth and right; Let us by our colors stand; Knights and Farmers all unite, Rally, then, ye Knights of Labor; Farmers for your homes unite; Temperance women, men and brothers. Aid us in the coming fight. POPULIST POEMS. 128 Now's the lime the brave one chooses, While the cowards stands aside, • Doubting-, in their abject spirits, Till their Lord is crucified, When the smoke of battle's lifted From the land and o'er the sea. May we see our banners weaving O'er a nation grand and free. Oome All Ye Toiling Millions. Come all ,ye toiling millions that labor for your life To support yourselves and familes — your children and your wife; Come rally to our standard now in this gigantic strife. Then w'e'll go marching to victory. Chorus: Hurrah! Hurrah! Our banner is unfurled. Hurrah' Hurrah! It's waving proudly o'er the world. The tyrants and the robbers from their places will be hurled As we go marching to victory. Come join the brave Alliance, boys, and help the cause along; Our battle is for freedom now, against a giant wrong. We never will give up our homes to such a thieving throng. As we go marching to victory. We're fighting old monopoly and the gigantic trust. They've taken all the corn and oil. left us the cob and husk. But when we get our ballots in you'll hear their bubble burst. As we go marching to victory. 124 POEMS OF IDAHO. The promises thej- made us not one was ever kept, ]iut 'round the tree of liberity the sneakino^ tyrants crept. They sought to blight our heritage while (juietly we slept, But we'll go marching to victory. They gobbled up our greenbacks then issued out their bond. Then made us pay the interest to support the thieving throng. And when we made objection they told us we were wrong, But we'll go marching to victory. The3''ve taken all our land estate and claim it as their own, While husbands, wives and children are left with- out a home. And willing hands to foreign lands in search of work must roam. But we'll so marchiny to victorv. The bankers rob the farmers, and tlie railroads steal the land, And in their cursed robbing schemes tliey both go hand in hand. They think our business is to obey wliile their's is to command. But we'll go marching to victory. We've trusted the Republicans and failed to take a trick; We've leaned upon the Democrats and found a broken stick; We'll try the Knights and Farmers now and then you'll see how quick That we'll go marching to, victory. POPUIJST POEMS. 125 And now we stand united the bosses best look out: With faitli and honor plighted, we'll put them all to rout. And with an honest ballot now we'll put the rascals out As we go marching to victory. The Omaha Platform. Touch nt)t with sacrilegitjus hands, The noblest instrument of all, Tlie platform of the people stands A tower of strength that cannot fall. 'Tis built of timber clear and sound. There's not a crack or knot-hole there; No single plank can there be found That is not honest, just and fair. At Omaha in Ninety-two. Upon our glorious natal day. We built the platform firm and true, And told the world we'd come to stay The North and South together met. Clasped hands across the bloody chasm; Declared the past they would forget. And every wrong should be forgiven. United there the true and brave. Shoulder to shoulder in the fight; The bloody shirt no longer waved, But sunk forever out of sight. Our leader on this platform stood. And told the world our cause was just; Then shall we now desert the good. And trail our banner in the dust. ■2<) POEMS OF IDAHO. To satisfy tliose silver braves Wlio would our solid phalanx break. AVho find the parting? of the ways, l>ut never know which road to take. The most im[)ortant planks of all Is money, transportation and land; To take one out ihe rest will fall, And robber Shy locks rule the land. F^pt tliose who wish to step aside To listen to the g-oldbug's song, To help the plutes our ranks divide, First prove to us our cause is wrong. Till then let us wave our banner high. And to our cause the masses draw. Till shouts of victory rend the sky, And ever}- plank becomes a law. The Modern Ohiirch in Relation to the Poor, L(), it is the Sabbath morning. Hark, what music fills the air? It is the sacred churcli bells calling Sinners to the House of Prayer. See the rich of lofty station. Robed in silks and satins there, See them kneel in adoration While the parson offers prayer. Hear the solemn suplicatiou "Give us this day our daily bread; ' Oh. save this pious congregation, Blessings pour upon each head! POEMS OF IDAHO. 127 The pHVSon ceased his benediction. From their knees the pious rise; Then the deep-toned organ's anthems Rise in i>i'andeur to the skies. Then the parson pleads for sinners, '•Come to Jesus !" is the cry; "See. he suffered deatli and lorture On the cross for you and I." Still my mind ke[>l up the query, Wliere was Jesus while on earth? Did he dwell in costly mansions With the rich of noble birth? Was he robed in silks and satins. Did he scorn the toiling poor? When he entered in the temple On the laborers close the door? How much they all all observe the precepts Jesus tausht them while on earth; When he cursed tlie rich and haughty; Blessed the poor of lowly birth. Jesus taught mankind were brothers; Taught the Fatherhood af God; Taught us justice, love and mercy. While the paths of earth he trod. vScourged he the robbers from the temple; Called the place a den of thieves; IMessed the poor, the weak and lowly; Shunned the doubting Pharisees. Jesus taught a noble Gospel; Fired with love ihe human breast; Taught us that the weak and weary Through Ins mission would find rest. 128 POEMS OF IDAHO. Yet weary still and heavN' laden. Millions toil from xoorn till niiifht; Weeping, praying for the morning That shall usher in the light. Jesus on the cross was braver Than the persecuting Jew, Whf'U he prayed, "Father forgive them For they know not what they do.*' Eighteen hundred years have vanished. Still the money changers dwell In the sacred halls of freedom, Changing Paradise to hell. Crushing noble aspirations; Planting thorns where roses fade; ( Jathering in the fruits of nations, Tlius the Shylocks ply their trade. How long must the people wander Sad and homeless on the land? How long must they yet be plundered Hv this robber Shylock band. N©£><. Fase Tillt^ Pa,i,'e 1 Publisher's Note 2 Sunset oil Rapid River 8 The Home of the Mountaineer 4 Tlie Seven Devils — Review of the Camp o Love 14 Farewell to Irlaho 15 To My Mother in the Spirit World 17 Sunset at Seven Devils 18 In Memory of My Old Saddle Horse, Curley . . . 20 Charles Bradlaugh. the English Freethinker ... 21 Tm Growing Old 22 A Legend of the Seven Devils 23 The World's Needs 25 The Grave of the Stranger 26 Can Tliis B- All 27 A Rough Outside No Sign of Depravity HI A Trip to Rapid River 32 (xirls I Cannot Understand 3o The Seven Devil Miner's Bear Fight 36 Advice for 'All 38 Sunrise at Seven Devils 31) Awake -tl A Replv to a Critic -^3 The Journev of Life 44 Cuddy Floiir 46 Replv to Mono Miner 49 Cuddv Flour No 2 5() If You Love Me Tell Me S( 53 The Murdered Bird— A Victim of Man's Cruelty 54 To the House Fly ~}^ Salubria's Fire •"><> Olga •">•* A Moonlight Night in Idaho '>4 Page Our Banner 05 A Vision of the Ni^'ht (57 The Lonely Grave Beside Die Road 68 Autumn 00 My Mother's Hair 70 Tlie Israelite's Mnle Ride 71 The Desf^rted Husband 78 Composed and Sun^ for Some Little Girls 74 Seven Devil Song 7(> A Vision of the Future 78 My Partner's Snore 71) I'm Sad To-Nif?ht 81 The Return of Spring- 82 The Seven Devil Miner's Dream 84 In Memory of Six Children Ill Catherine Harlan 112 Winston Sheehe^' 1 1 H Ifail and Farewell 114 Tribute to Henry Wheeler. . 115 'Tis Comiuii ! oh 'Tis Coming IK) The Reps, and Demos., the Shy locks and Pops, 117 The Bugle Call 120 The Seven Devil Miner's Appeal to the Farmers and Knights 122 Come All Ye Toiling Millions 123 The Omaha Platform 125 The Modern Church in Relation to the Poor. . . 12(> LIBRARY OF CONGRESS pn 018 597 812 6 #