The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Life's Story, In Poetry. Other Poems

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: A Life's Story, In Poetry. Other Poems

Author: Dennison Woodcock

Release date: August 18, 2021 [eBook #66080]

Most recently updated: October 18, 2024

Language: English

Credits: Elizabeth Dejean

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LIFE'S STORY, IN POETRY. OTHER POEMS ***

A Life's Story and Other Poems

By Dennison Woodcock

Contents

A LIFE'S STORY

DIADAMA

TO LEONA

JESSIE BY THE FOUNTAIN

DEHEWAMIS

THE RUMSELLER'S SOLILOQUY

WRIGHTS

CAUTION TO BOYS, or THE SILLY FLY

THE RUINED HOME.

IN FAVOR of WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE

CHRISTMAS

A Life's Story,

In Poetry.

Other Poems

By Dennison Woodcock

Wrights, Penna

Written at

The Age of Ninety One.

Chas. O. Laymon, Printer,

Port Allegany, Penna.

1908

A LIFE'S STORY

From One to Ninety-One

* * * *

(By Dennison Woodcock)

* * * *

Borne down by weight of ninety years

My limbs have weaker grown;

'Mid joy and grief. 'mid smiles and tears

How quick the years have flown.

I look 'way back, a distant view,

To years of long ago.

I asked my brother if he knew

What caused the winds to blow.

My brother answered me with ease,

As if prepared to know;

It is those slim and lofty trees

That make the wind to blow.

I looked and saw the lofty pines

Waving to and fro;

They were full proof within my mind

They were what made it blow.

When I felt the chilling breeze,

The snowflakes whizzing round;

I felt a grudge against those trees.

And wished they were cut down.

But a wee bit of a child

Knew naught of nature's laws;

My mind was often running wild

And took effect for cause.

Saw water gushing from a mill,

Heard a fluttering sound;

As we went riding up the hill,

The saw went up and down.

It remained a mystery still,

The thing I could not know;

How water running through a mill

Could make the saw to go.

A bush had lopped into a stream,

Was bobbing up and down;

I thought that I had solved the theme

The truth there I had found.

I went and fixed a limber stick,

A saw attached also;

It run on water from the creek,

The saw it would not go.

I went there to recruit my skill,

Saw pitman, crank and wheel;

Then I went home and built a mill,

With saw of tempered steel.

When I built that little mill

I something more than played;

It helped to point mechanic skill.

It helped to learn a trade.

To Boston went to learn a trade,

It was the iron founder's,

Many patterns there I made,

And learned to use the pounders.

Pattern-making was a trade,

Was often in demand;

When I wished a casting made,

The shape it came to hand.

When I was fifteen years of age

I started for the west;

Sometimes I rode upon the stage,

Sometimes got off to rest.

When I came to Clinton's Ditch

I went on board a boat;

My mind was raised to highest pitch.

So many things to note.

A query how two boats could pass,

With lines from boat to shore;

The horses stopped, the line it sunk,

The boat went passing o'er.

It was a mystery to me,

How boats went through the locks:

But then I soon began to see,

When in between the rocks.

The boat was run into the lock,

The gates were closed below;

The boat it bumped against the rock,

Water began to flow.

Soon that spacious flume was full.

The gates above were swung;

The hoses then began to pull,

The boat it moved along.

We ate and drank within the boat,

Was seeming much like home;

We passing many towns of note,

Looking for more to come.

No railroads running then that way.

No, none in all the land;

Riding sixty miles a day

Was then thought something grand.

Rochester, near Sandy Ridge,

Where roaring falls there be,

Canal it crosses on a bridge,

Across the Genessee.

In a race the water ran,

The falls so high and steep;

Where Sammy Patch, that foolish man

There made his fatal leap.

I left the boat and took to land,

A trip of eighty miles;

Where my friends had made a stand

Far in the Western wilds.

Now the West has taken flight

Three thousand miles or more;

Thru valleys bright, o'er mount'ns high

Unto the western shore.

For a shop I built a shed

And covered it with bark;

I worked until the day had fled,

From morning until dark.

I built for me a turning lathe,

Made bedsteads, tables, chairs;

I built a bureau for my ma

And sometimes did repairs.

I found plenty of work to do

To keep me from all harm,

And when my father wanted me

I helped him on the farm.

A seventeen laid out a frame,

A building for a school;

Where a youth might learn to read

If he was not a fool.

When I was eighteen years of age,

Somewhat inclined to roam;

Then I unto old Swanzey went,

My old and native home.

The same good man was teaching there

I visited the district school

Saw those I used to know;

That taught me year ago.

To Athol factory I went,

Was looking for employ;

'Twas by good luck there I was sent,

For I was just the boy.

We had a first-rate boarding place,

It was a lucky chance;

The factory girls were boarding there

We often had a dance.

Five long months we labored there,

Till finished was the task;

When I went to draw my pay

They paid more than I asked.

I worked on houses, barns and mill,

And helped to build a church;

'Twa long I work'd and labored there,

Refrained from spending much.

I of old Swanzey took a view,

Her rivers, brooks and fountains;

Bid old Monadnock last adieu

From top of the Green Mountains.

My father needed all I earned

In payment on his land;

Huge piles of timber there he burned

to get it off his hand.

Still kept working for my father,

A revenue to bring,

Making buckets in the winter

And sugar in the spring.

So we made a pile of sugar,

Enough to sweeten many throats;

Helping Nathan log a fallow,

To sow a field of oats.

I worked at different kinds of work,

I worked at making chairs,

And I also made two cutters,

And sometimes did repairs.

When twenty-two in Hallsport bought

A lot, 'twas rough and new;

To me an interesting spot,

So pleasing to my view.

A limpid stream was running there,

'Till make machinery whirl;

Here I'll build a dwelling fair

For that prospective girl.

I from there to Whitesville went,

Worked for Joseph Cory;

A house for Matthew Wilson built,

Here I'll tell a story.

He had a daughter young and fair,

Just budding into bloom;

She was a lively helper there,

The sunshine of her home.

I felt my heartstrings give a start,

They snapped like burning twine;

And so she stole away my heart

And gave me hers for mine.

So Colonel Matthew Wilson, 'Squire,

Gave me a loving bride;

New life's vicissitudes to share,

A helpmeet by my side.

Worked forty days to buy two stoves

To warm our little fold;

To boil potatoes, bake our loaves,

And drive away the cold.

I undertook to build a house,

Was often gee's and haw'd;

The season it was very dry,

My logs they were not sawed.

No circular mills in that day

Were run by water's flow,

The upright saw went "yerk te yerk"

As Paddie's toad did go.

I built a shanty snug and warm,

It was inside the frame;

It shielded us from cold and storm

And from the snow and rain.

When the spring and summer came

And my logs were sawed;

'Twas then that I enclosed the frame,

Had rooms more long and broad.

The upper rooms a dwelling were,

The lower room a shop;

There I made machinery purr,

Could make it go or stop.

A Western fever seized my brain,

It was in forty-four;

So we wandered south and west

Three thousand miles or more.

We did not find that favored spot.

That o'er productive soil;

Where peace and plenty was our lot,

And pleasures banished toil.

So we came home and went to work.

It strengthens limb and wind;

The idleness of lazy shirk

Will prove a constant grind.

Built a machine for turning bowls,

It turned them smooth and round;

It seemed to prove a turning point,

It turned me out of town.

For bowl timber grew very scarce,

Hard work finding any;

So we left our Hallsport home

For wilds of Pennsylvania.

And so we built us there a shop,

Brother Nathan and I,

And there we climb'd the mout'n top,

Whose summits pierced the sky.

We cut down trees and sawed of blocks,

And made them nearly round.

And then we cleared away a path

And saw them rolling down.

Typhoid fever siezed my wife,

My brother lost a child;

So trouble seemed to hedge us round

Here in the forest wild.

Our dear mother came to see us,

Here she took sick and died;

It seem'd that fate was bound to treens

At length we stemmed the tide.

He thought he saw a greater charm

On Alleghany's hill,

With cows and horses on a farm,

The fruitful soil to till.

And so I bought my brother out

And ran the work alone,

Was in my prime then, strong and stout,

I much hard work have done.

And so my neighbors bro't the blocks,

The turning I would do;

With skill and labor earned the rocks

And helped my neighbors too.

I built for me a larger shop

With greater water power;

It served to make machinery hop

Almost every hour.

We bought a new carding machine,

David Wilson and I;

It showed I was not very keen,

The business had gone by.

They sold their wool to ship away,

Came back already made;

If you hire a maid today

A greater price is paid.

Other machinery in the shop

Employed my time in full;

So I could make my business whop

Without the aid of wool.

My shop was helping me to build,

In paying for my land;

Was helping be to buy my bread,

A helper still in hand.

My wife and I we built a house,

We made it snug and warm;

To shield us from the chilling blast

And from the pelting storm.

We realized a long desire;

But ah! A blighting joke,

My shop was wrapped in flaming fire

And all went up in smoke.

The burning shop it knocked me out.

Gave me a sideway toss;

Was on the down-hill side of life.

Could not retrieve my loss.

I then worked out at hard days work

On houses, barns and mill,

All to supply our needed wants,

Our stomachs to keep still.

They built the railroad here at last,

After much surveying,

So they cheaply rushed it past

After much delaying.

It caused the lumberman to hump

And low the hemlocks laid,

And left us nothing but the stump

Of sombre hemlock shade.

They laid bare the lofty hills,

And the valleys also;

They rushed the logs into the mill,

From there away they go;

I built for me another shop

With lathes and a buzz-saw;

'Twas there I worked ant mending sleds

The hemlock logs to draw.

In the spring when sledding flees,

Still worked to earn the rocks;

I neckyokes turned and whiffletrees,

And also lever stocks.

Lumbermen gone, the farmer comes,

He works with care and toil;

He burns the brush, blows out the stumps,

Draws money from the soil.

He crowds the forest up the hill,

It yields to his desire;

He makes his pastures broader still,

All with the help of fire.

At the little hamlet Wrights,

The farmers come to get their mail.

And to buy at prices right

The many things for sale.

Where once I heard the wild bird sing,

In forest dark and drear,

Now I hear the church bells ring

In tones so loud and clear.

While the lumber wagon ploughing

Through mud holes deep and wide,

Now merry parties for an outing,

In automobiles glide.

Now I'll turn back on memory's page

And note things of my time;

The uplifting of the age,

And evolution's climb.

The Erie Canal was building

When I was three years old;

Unnumbered boats it has floated

And brought in piles of toll.

A barge canal they are building,

State of New York is growing rich;

Compared with the new the old one

Was but a little ditch.

Then th' next thing comes th' railroad.

Of almost boundless worth;

Its iron bands are now reaching

Almost around the earth.

They have tunnel'd the lofty mount'ns

Clear through from side to side;

And bridged the gushing fountains,

That trains may smoothly glide.

The north unto the south are bound,

And gridironed all the land,

From the Missouri's turbid mouth

To Lake Superior's sand.

The telephone and telegraph,

They give a rising start;

Are helping people talk and laugh

A hundred miles apart.

With lightning speed th' news is hurl'd

On many wires is sped;

Yesterday's news from all the world

In morning papers read.

Then came the mower and the reaper,

The farmer's great delight,

Have driven the scythe and the sickle

Almost away from sight.

With the help of machinery,

Much of his work is done;

With help of steam and good horse power

Machinery is run.

Agricultural colleges

In almost every state;

They are lifting up the farmers

From a low drudging fate.

They've tapped the earth for oil and gas

Houses to light and warm;

That cheerfulness may reign within,

While outside howls the storm.

Then came the Wheeler and the Singer

Others that worked complete;

Helps the woman's tired fingers

While sewing with her feet.

The type-setter, wonderful thing,

New one, under the sun;

Whole lines it will together fling,

From melted metal run.

I am here with loving friends,

Kind neighbors all around;

I wait to see what will turn up

Until I am turned down.

DIADAMA

* * * *

(Dennison Woodcock.)

* * * *

Diadama, Diadama

Precious name so dear to me;

No other girl in Allegany

Thrills my loving heart like thee.

Fairer than the blushing flowers

Gentle as the turtle dove,

Bear me on ye heavenly powers

To the bosom of my love.

Thus sang a youth by love invaded,

Who felt the sting of Cupid's dart;

In riper years his boy-love faded,

He sought not to win her heart.

In memory lingers every feature,

Fair as in the days of yore,

Yet he knows that once loved creature

Mortal eyes can see no more.

In the giddy dance they mingle,

As in years so long gone by;

How it makes his heart strings tingle

When he meets her smiling eye.

In the schoolroom he is with her,

Learning lessons by her side,

Often wondering if ever

She will be his loving bride.

That face, alas! He'll see it never,

Those ruby lips no longer red,

Those sparkling eyes are closed forever,

And every pleasing charm has fled.

Soon the memory and remembered,

Although once in youthful prime

Will no longer make a riffle

On the ceaseless tide of time.

TO LEONA

She gave me a fresh and blooming rosy,

Little maiden fair to see;

Fairer than the blushing posy

Dear Leona gave to me.

An inward radiance impart

Virtue and truth combine;

Let an honest, faithful heart

With outside beauty shine.

JESSIE BY THE FOUNTAIN

* * * *

(Dennison Woodcock.)

* * * *

Jessie by the fountain stood

With pitcher in her hand;

She dipped it in the crystal flood

And gave each thirsty man

Who from the hay fields gathered there,

And standing near the brink,

From a gentle hand so fair

Received the cooling drink.

A smile of joy was in her eye,

A consciousness of good;

She felt a blessing from on high,

Approval of her God.

Water pure is all they need

To drive their thirst away;

So again they all proceed

To work amid the hay.

Then drink of water pure and clear,

From stimulants refrain,

'Twill not with business interfere

Or cause a muddled brain.

Another stands behind the bar,

Rather out of place;

A seared conscience seems to mar

The beauty of her face.

She cares not for children's woes

Or anxious mother's need;

While money to her coffer goes

To gratify her greed.

Men go there their thirst to check

With brandy, rum and gin;

She throws a halter round their necks

Which drags them there again.

Their money gone and senses too,

More thirsty than before;

What do these foolish mortals do

But beg and plead for more.

They stagger out into the street,

With curses on their tongue,

With palsied hands and tangled feet,

A sight for old and young.

Which one is a source of pride

And which a social scar,

Jessie by the fountain side,

Or Greed behind the bar?

DEHEWAMIS

* * * *

(Dennison Woodcock.)

* * * *

Some Senecas once went away

In search of food and game;

They wandered on from day to day,

To little Toby came.

An Indian maiden blithe and gay

Was one among the throng;

Who often cheered them on their way

With loving words and song.

She trod as lightly as the fawn;

Her song the hours beguiled;

Her voice was heard at early dawn

Through the green forest wild.

Her song of joy is hushed and gone,

Nor echoes through the glade;

For death has placed his mark upon

That sprightly Indian maid.

A mother's joy, a father's pride,

They could not save their child;

So the Indian maiden died

Far in the forest wild.

They would not leave her body there,

So far from home away;

But bore it with a zealous care,

Many a weary day.

Come to a spring that met the stream

That passed their happy home;

Buried her by the moonlight gleam

Beneath the starry dome.

They often came to view the spot

Where Dehewamis lay;

Till father, mother, sister, brother,

All had passed away.

The water gushes from the spring,

The lofty maples wave;

The summer birds their carols sing

O'er her lonely grave.

THE RUMSELLER'S SOLILOQUY

I had rum, and gin, and brandy

All made of whiskey, too,

And all arranged so handy

To tempt their thirsty view.

Oh! no they need not talk it,

Those were happy times.

With hand in drunkard's pocket

Hauling out the dimes.

Was I starving others?

Then so let it be;

Those children and the mothers

Did not belong to me.

While lying in the gutter,

A mother's loving son,

Conscience began to mutter

At the deed I'd done.

Then came this consolation

Just in the nick of time;

The law of state and nation

Had legalized the crime.

For I had got my license,

Had paid my license fee;

So the squeemish nonsense

Had no effect on me.

The brewers of the nation

To the constitution go,

To save their occupation

From the prohibition blow,

Wonder if the constitution

Would reinstate me here;

Defend me from invasion

While selling rum and beer.

For temperance is booming,

My license now is dead,

And poverty is coming,

My children cry for bread.

Gambling I've been trying

But could not stand the test;

With all my cheat and lying

I came out second best.

I wish I'd stuck to labor,

Earned my bread by honest toil,

Like my hale and happy neighbor

Who ploughs and tills the soil.

My flesh is made of lager,

My muscles weak and lax;

I cannot turn the auger,

Swing the hammer or the ax.

My children's cries so wounding,

My heart with anguish torn;

My troubles so confounding,

I wish I'd not been born.

The thread of life I'd sever

And lay myself to rest;

But thoughts of the forever

Send trouble to my breast.

Should I meet with retribution

Beyond the bounds of time,

Neither law nor constitution

Would legalize the crime.

WRIGHTS

* * * *

(Dennison Woodcock.)

* * * *

Among the spurs of Allegheny

Lofty hills with wooded heights,

Nestled in the Portage Valley

Is the little hamlet Wrights.

Hamilton and Portage Valley

By right angles, here unite;

Both together make a fairly

Good and level village site.

Limpid streams unto the river

On their way go babbling by;

While the silvery pools, they mirror

Cloudlets floating in the sky.

Growing grain and verdant meadows,

Fields of corn, silos to fill;

Winding streams and waving willows

Orchards on the sloping hill.

Cattle grazing in the pasture

On the hillside fresh and green,

With their coats of silky luster,

Many goats and kids are seen.

There's the schoolhouse at the corner,

Quiet order there appears,

Where the earnest studious learners

Are prepared for future years.

There's the church with lofty steeple,

And the old bell hanging there,

Often rings to call the people

To their sermon, praise and prayer.

Another church they are building,

The foundation they have laid;

May the golden truth be gilding

All the words that there are said.

On the switch the cars are loaded

With potatoes, grain and hay,

So the farmers are commoded

As they ship their goods away.

Hark! we hear the train a-rumbling.

People waiting for a ride;

Four times a day the mail is coming,

All aboard! Away they glide.

There's the store nearby the railroad.,

Business humming every day;

Goods are brought there by the carload

Many teams draw them away.

Another store where the farmer

Buys the tools that he may need;

From a reaper to a hammer,

Groceries with feed and seed.

The factory where they make the cheeses,

Great round cheeses, just the thing

What the most the patron pleases

Is the cash the cheeses bring.

Here the honest, frugal farmers

With the help of care and toil,

Bringing wealth into their garners,

Drawing money from the soil.

Smiles play on the the neighbors' faces,

Accent of fraternal love,

While at many times and places,

Kindly deeds their friendship prove.

CAUTION TO BOYS, or THE SILLY FLY

There was a very silly fly

Buzzing low, then flying high;

Down on paper smooth and fair

Saw some flies were sticking there.

"Those flies must be very weak,

On that paper there to stick..

If I was there I would not stay,

I would rise and fly away."

He lit down on the paper's side,

Flew a circle large and wide,

He thought to give a parting kick,

Found at last the stuff would stick.

He struggled hard to get away,

Found that he was doomed to stay;

'Twas there he sung a doleful lay

Until life had passed away.

A smart young lad would oft repair

Where the smokers gathered there;

Says "I will show you that I can

Smoke as well as any man."

His smoking made him rather sick;

Hove his breakfast very quick;

He smoked a little every day,

Learned to smoke as well as they.

Thought he could quit at any time,

With his feelings in their prime;

Refrained from smoking all one day,

Things were looking dark and gray,

"Those saucy imps they at me stare,

Trouble meets me everywhere,

Conscience whetted to an edge

By promises on memory's page.

Those broken pledges at me stare,

Fiends are floating in the air;

The Devil's got me in his gripe.

Give me, give me back my pipe!"

He, like all others of his stripe,

Lifelong slave unto his pipe,

And like the little, silly fly

Doomed to stick until they die.

THE RUINED HOME.

Behold that house on Pleasant street,

Just let us enter there;

All arrangements so complete,

Appropriate and fair.

Music in Adjoining room

So grateful to the ear;

Fragrant flowers in fullest bloom

And beauty doth appear.

Choice books there on the table lie,

Wisdom for great and small;

The pantry with its full supply;

There're pictures on the wall.

The father comes at closing day,

The mother greets with joy,

The laughing children 'round him play

He pets his toddling boy.

Peace pervades that happy place,

Where all is bright and free;

Its loving inmates go and come,

In sweetest harmony.

Grief has blighted that fair bloom,

The work of cursed rum,

The fetid breath of the saloon

Has to that dwelling come.

A thump is heard against the door,

The children flee away;

They wish to see his face no more

While whiskey rules the day.

The faithful wife opens the door,

The husband staggers in,

He stumbles prostrate on the floor,

Borne down by rum and gin.

While helping him unto his bed—

Oh! who could tell us why—

He clenched his fist and struck her head

And gave a blackened eye.

His bank deposits slip away

To the rumsellers till,

Whose business is from day to day

The drunkards' graves to fill

Piano gone by sheriff's sale,

The music hushed and still;

The mother's sigh, the daughter's wail

Now the apartments fill.

The pictures gone from off the wall,

The carpets from the floor,

To meet necessity's stern call,

Keep hunger from the door.

The daughter's jewels all are gone

Unto the broker's fled;

Her choicest clothing one by one,

To buy their daily bread.

Vultures in human form await

To make this maid their game

Should hunger, want and cruel fate

Crowd out all sense of shame.

Oh! this horrid ghastly wound,

The work of cursed rum;

Oh! can a healing balm be foundation

This side the world to come.

IN FAVOR of WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE

Our fathers thought it was a cause

Well worth their undertaking.

To fight those arbitrary laws

They had no hand in making.

The principle they now ignore,

Since we have been a nation;

Taxing women o'er and o'er,

Debarred from legislation.

Great Britain thought we would not fight

Or dare to show resistance;

They looked to might to make it right

With justice at a distance.

Woman in the background held,

Her soul for wisdom yearning

While her loving heart has swelled

With a desire for learning.

You shall not vote the men declare,

Ye daughters and your mothers.

Then go and set a hellish snare

To trap their sons and brothers.

Because the women do not fight

Use the sword or rifle

Is relegated out of sight

As a useless trifle.

The whiskey ring, her greatest foe

Oft blocks her aspirations;

It dares not let her vote we know

'Twould send it from the nation.

The colleges excluded her;

With minds of small dimension,

They tho't their lofty teachings were

Beyond her comprehension.

The sword of might can't make it right,

The woman's pen is stronger.

Her tongue and pen will tame their might,,

They can't hold our much longer.

She is keeping steady pace

With aspiring brothers,

Winning for herself a place

Among D. D's and others.

Soon her voice will resound

In halls of legislation,

Then love and justice will abound

To purify the nation.

CHRISTMAS

My many friends both large and small

A merry Christmas to you all;

We met to point, a scene we know,

Transpiring many years ago.

On the blest morning bright and fair,

Glad angels singing in the air;

Good will to men this glorious morn

We sing to all a saviour born.

With gratefulness the song prolong,

And echo back the angels' song;

With love to God, good will to men,

We gladly sing the song again.

Although His advent here on earth

It was a meek and lowly birth.

His matchless wisdom still will shine

Adown the ceaseless years of time.

We celebrate the best we can

Kind Heaven's greatest gift to man,

In mem'ry of this gift of heaven,

These many gifts are to be given.

God showed his love to everyone

By giving us his only son,

Let grateful thoughts our glad hearts move,

And celebrate God's precious love.

And let love glow in every heart.

A genial radiance impart;

Make us a heaven here below,

A taste of joy the angels know.

There is no fairer scene on earth,

Than days that mark our Saviour's birth;

The yearly blossoming of love,

While through the holidays we move.

Old and new year, met together,

One with memories, hope in the other;

Reach as we will there sure will come

A ray of joy or cloud of gloom.

The choice is as we may desire,

Can stand on mount or sink in mire;

None can look back on passing year

Not seeing good if he's sincere.

All years are good in heaven's sight,

If we but see them all aright,

So keep a watch and do good deeds,

Chance will come as time proceeds.

Let the old man on nature 'pringe,

Open his door on rusty hinge,

Look on the trees, the fields and dells

Listen to the jingle of sweet sleigh bells.

Behold the rivers, brooks and springs,

Mountains and vales till nature sings.

Let the dear children skip and play,

Enjoy their lives now while they may.

Soon they must themselves prepare

For sterner things and greater care

And when they larger, wiser, grow,

Will help the world to move and go.

Were we ourselves in proper tone,

So like the wireless telephone;

Heavenly music it might bring,

While sweet the angel voices sing.

The Christmas tree so bright and fair,

With many presents hanging there,

Loaded with gifts from top to floor,

May each on have a gift or more.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LIFE'S STORY, IN POETRY. OTHER POEMS ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that:

- • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”

- • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.

- • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.

- • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™

Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

Table of Contents

A Life's Story and Other Poems

Contents

A Life's Story,

In Poetry.

Other Poems

A LIFE'S STORY

From One to Ninety-One

* * * * (By Dennison Woodcock) * * * *

DIADAMA

* * * * (Dennison Woodcock.) * * * *

TO LEONA

JESSIE BY THE FOUNTAIN

* * * * (Dennison Woodcock.) * * * *

DEHEWAMIS

* * * * (Dennison Woodcock.) * * * *

THE RUMSELLER'S SOLILOQUY

WRIGHTS

* * * * (Dennison Woodcock.) * * * *

CAUTION TO BOYS, or THE SILLY FLY

THE RUINED HOME.

IN FAVOR of WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE

CHRISTMAS

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE