Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1912 — Poem by Mrs. Draper. [ARTICLE]

Poem by Mrs. Draper.

The Carroll County CitizenTimes of last week contained the .following mention of Mrs. H. M. Draper, an old-time resident of Remington: The following poem w'as written by Mrs. Helen Mary Draper, a sis-ter-in-law of Mfs. SJylvia RichardSiOn of this city. 'Mrs. Draper died in Ames, Okla., Dec. 30, , while visiting her daughter, Mrs. E. E. Yeoman. Fiftytwo years ago in this city, she became the wife of William Draper, whose death occurred three years ago last October. Mrs. Draper was a cultured and intellectuall woman. She was of a literary turn of imind, and in her earlier life had been a regular contributor to several magazines. She also wrote several poems of which the following one is 'reproduced as being appropriate at the time of her death: The Flower of the Resurrection You have heard of tihe wonderful flower that grows In that far away sacred land, Where the feet of our Lord once pressed the sod, Or toiled through its burning sand. On the low green bush in the fertile plain Near Jordan’s turbulent flow, This little white flower blooms and fades, This “Rose of Jerico.” Though withered and dead it may seem to be, No matter how long it'has lain, \\ hen placed in the water its leaves expahd And blossom to life again. The tall white lilies of Easter time Are bending in beauty today, Oer many an altar o’er many a shrine. In many a cloister gray. They fleck the board at the rich fnan’s, feast. They brighten the homes of the poor, We have placed them in waxen ’hands, alas! IThat clasp our own no more. Yes, dear are the lilies of Easter time, • , And sweet is their fragrant breath, Whether clasped in the hands of the (happy bride, Or soothing the couch of death. But dearer still for the hope it brings 1 Is this little dry flower to me, This “Flower of Mary,” this shrivelled rose ■ From a land far over the sea, For closed in its withered and folded leaves Is a type of the gladsome hour When the dust that was - mine, though long asileep, 'Shall awaken to life once more. Then dearer than any flower that grows In garden, or field, or bower, Is this! “Flower of Mary,” this “Jerico Rose,” This resurrection flower.