Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 109, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1910 — Old Favorites [ARTICLE]

Old Favorites

The Arab’s Farewell to Hie Steed. My beautiful,'my beautiful! that standest meekly by, With thy proudly-arched and glossy neck, and dark and fiery eye! Fret not to roam the desert now with all thy winged speed; I may not mount on thee again! thou’rt sold, my Arab steed! Fret not with that impatleht hoof, snuff not the breezy wind; The farther that thou fllest now so far am I behind; The stranger hath thy bridle rein, thy master hath his gold; Fleet-limbed and beautiful, farewell! thou’rt sold, my steed, thou’rt sold! Farewell! Those free, up tired limbs full many a mile must roam. To reach the chill and wintry clime that clouds the stranger's home; Some, other hand, less kind, must now thy corn and bed prepare; That silky mane I braided once must be another’s care. Only in sleep shall I behold that dark eye glancing bright— Only in sleep shall hear again that 4 step so firm and light; And when I raise my dreaming arms to check qr cheer thy speed Then must I startling wake, to feel thou’rt sold, my Arab steed! Ah! rudely then, unseen my me, some cruel hand may chide, Till foam-wreaths lie, like crested wave, along thy panting side, And the rich blood that’s in thee swells, in thy indignant pain. Till careless eyes that on thee gaze may count each starting vein! Will they ill use thee?—if I thought—but no—it can not be; Thou art so swift, yet easy curbed, so gentle, yet so free; And yet if haply, when thou’rt gone, this lonely heart should yearn, Can the hand that casts thee from It now, command thee to return? Return!—Alas! my Arab steed! what will thy master do. When thou, that wast his all of Joy hast vanished from hts view? When the dim distance greets mine eyes, and through the gathering tears Thy bright form for a moment, like , the false mirage, appears 1 ? \ Slow and unmounted will I roam, with wearied foot, alone, Where, with fleet step and Joyous bound, thou oft hast borne me on; , And sitting down by the green well, Til pause, and sadly think, ’Twas here he bowed his glossy neck when last I saw him drink. When last I saw thee drink! Away! the fevered dream is o’er! I could not live a day, and know that we should meet ho more; They tempted me, my beautiful! for hunker’s power is strong— They tempted me, my beautiful! bpt I have loved too long. Who said that I had given thee up? Who said-that thou wert.sold? •Thr false.! -Ms false, my Arab steed! . I fling them back their gold! Thus—thus I leap upon thy back, and scour the distant plains! Away! Who overtakes us now may claim thee for his pains. —Mrs. Norton.