Choice Specimens of American Literature, and Literary Reader Part 70

[Footnote 104: Born in Indiana. Gave up the practice of the law to become Secretary and Aide-de-camp to President Lincoln. Served briefly in the Rebellion war with the rank of Colonel, and was afterward Secretary of Legation at Paris and Madrid, and for some months, Charge d'Affaires at Vienna. Subsequently applied himself to literature and journalism.]

=_Joaquin Miller._=[105]

From "Songs of the Sierras."

=_432._= THE FUTURE OF CALIFORNIA.

Dared I but say a prophecy, As sang the holy men of old, Of rock-built cities yet to be Along those shining sh.o.r.es of gold, Crowding athirst into the sea, What wondrous marvels might be told!

Enough to know that empire here Shall burn her brightest, loftiest star; Here art and eloquence shall reign, As o'er the wolf-reared realm of old; Here learn'd and famous from afar, To pay their n.o.ble court, shall come, And shall not seek or see in vain, But look on all, with wonder dumb.

Afar the bright Sierras lie, A swaying line of snowy white, A fringe of heaven hung in sight Against the blue base of the sky.

I look along each gaping gorge, I near a thousand sounding strokes, Like giants rending giant oaks, Or brawny Vulcan at his forge; I see pick-axes flash and shine, And great wheels whirling in a mine.

Here winds a thick and yellow thread, A moss'd and silver stream instead; And trout that leap'd its rippled tide Have turn'd upon their sides and died.

Lo! when the last pick in the mine Is rusting red with idleness, And rot yon cabins in the mould, And wheels no more croak in distress, And tall pines rea.s.sert command, Sweet bards along this sunset sh.o.r.e Their mellow melodies will pour; Will charm as charmers very wise, Will strike the harp with master-hand, Will sound unto the vaulted skies The valor of these men of old-- The mighty men of 'Forty-nine; Will sweetly sing and proudly say, Long, long agone, there was a day When there were giants in the land.

[Footnote 105: Cincinnatus Heine Miller, commonly known by his a.s.sumed name of Joaquin Miller. Born in Indiana, but was taken when very young to Oregon. After a wild career in Oregon and California, he at length studied for the law. His poetry, like his life, is of an eccentric cast.]

=_Joel Chandler Harris,[106] 1846-._=

=_433._= "AGNES."

She has a tender, winning way, And walks the earth with gentle grace, And roses with the lily play Amid the beauties of her face.

When'er she tunes her voice to sing, The song-birds list, with anxious looks, For it combines the notes of spring With all the music of the brooks.

Her merry laughter, soft and low, Is as the chimes of silver bells,-- That like sweet anthems float, and flow Through woodland groves and bosky dells,

And when the violets see her eyes, They flush and glow--with love and shame, They meekly droop with sad surprise, As though unworthy of the name.

But still they bloom where'er she throws Her dainty glance and smiles so sweet.

And e'en amid stern winter's snows The daisies spring beneath her feet.

She wears a crown of Purity, Full set with woman's brightest gem,-- A wreath of maiden modesty, And Virtue is the diadem.

And when the pansies bloom again, And spring and summer intertwine.

Great joys will fall on me like rain, For she will be for ever mine!

[Footnote 106: A native of Georgia; is deemed one of the best of the younger poets of the South.]