: Plet: A Christmas Tale of the Wasatch by Lambourne Alfred - Christmas poetry; Frontier and pioneer life Poetry; Miners Poetry; Wasatch Range (Utah and Idaho) Poetry

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"'Twas this way," here her face he downward drew, "We found it well to cut your name in two. Yes, darling, in those days that now are fled We Pretty called you, 'Pletty' your lips said. As Pretty were you, 'Pletty' you became, And soon would answer to no other name. But in good time the 'Pletty' came to 'Plet,' The name we christened you I half forget. This hair of brown was then all golden curls, Ere you had grown most naughty of all girls. Before this time, when you all care repay, With wicked guiles that turn my old head gray."

Then Plet indulged in charming smile and pout-- That she was "papa's darling" none could doubt. She was his all upon life's pilgrimage, A golden letter saved from vanished page, The promised solace of his closing years, A hope that came from out a time of tears: Of children born to him the first and last, The image of her well-loved mother passed.

Such Plet--whose noble, sympathetic heart Had others caused to live a better part; A petticoated, pranksome, daring scamp, The dainty hoyden of a mining camp.

PART SECOND.

Jo was pure-minded. He possessed a force That kept him always from the low and coarse; If ugly vice and sin upon him frowned, With head erect he firmly held his ground. When siren Pleasure spread her silken net He was not caught, nor made a conscience debt. They found he was not of their kind--those men, Who sought the brothel, drink-shop, gambling-den. No goody-goody--it was known at length His action came from courage and from strength, And those who make a test were sure to find His virtues were not of the meaner kind, They came from purity and clean desires. Not lack of passions strong, nor manly fires.

'Twas on a bright and noble summer day, When fast the winter snow-drifts ebbed away; The cloudless sky was like a crystal dome, When Plet and father stood within "Our Home." All nature blended in one vast, grand hymn What time their nags came o'er the hollow's rim. We saw them coming from our perch on high-- How quick the love-light sprang in poor Jo's eye!-- We hastened downward, Jo well on before, And met them ere they reached the cabin door. Their nags were hitched beneath a mighty spruce-- One grizzled, storm-worn arm stretched out for use-- And then--Oh! great, indeed, was Plet's delight, When first she gazed upon the Babel height! No less the gloom, the aged savageness, Impressed her fancy than the gorgeous dress, Brief summer lends to that high altitude Between the fierce assaults of winter rude. The solitude upon her senses wrought, Each novel sight some exclamation brought! We showed her "Dead Man's Corner," where was found A hapless miner dead and wrapped around With the same chilly shroud as on the day, The ridge he tried--by snow was swept away. Yet this--although it brought a pretty sigh-- But for a moment put her gay mood by. The wonders of "Our Home" the girl beguiled And made her buoyant as a happy child.

Then came a banquet. After that steep ride-- Plet's skill equestrienne none in camp denied-- What better than a tempting dish of fruit,-- So true the wild our mood did try and suit. The visit to "Our Home" was timely sure, Those strawberries were fit for epicure. Among the creviced rocks the plants were spread, The just ripe berries hanging rich and red; And these were gathered. At their friendly board, In every cheer and rich abundance stored, We often sat. So now we gave our mite, Their many pleasant favors to requite. And yet to our desires how poor and mean, How all inadequate the gift did seem. And then came out--they seemed to think it sport-- Our two tin plates, it was our only sort. But Plet's deft fingers quick transition made, With fresh green leaves in starry pattern laid-- And while she praised the wild fruit's luscious taste We thought how she our rustic dwelling graced.

The life of the prospector--lonely 'tis! No venture free from daily hazard his, But one of steady, hard, and daring toil He must meet danger, nor from care recoil; To unforeseen and sudden risks exposed, No cease from vigil keen his labors knows. And sudden wealth of all his thoughts the theme, He works, too, in a sort of waking dream. Thus the impressions he from nature drew Results in good and manly impulse true. Ah! one thing seemed to me exceeding plain-- The sequel showed my fear was not in vain-- That Fate had set for this young pair a trap! Why, any townish, high-bred, polished chap Had thought himself in fortune all the while Could he have shared that day and Plet's sweet smile; And weighing this--depend upon't 'twas so,-- Think what it was for lonely, honest Jo! His blue eyes sparkled, one could easy trace The happy thoughts upon his sunburnt face. Did it mean joy, or would it bring regret-- Might Jo rue sometimes that he e'er saw Plet? That he had nobly served them, that is true, They kept the thought nor gratitude outgrew; He'd striven hard their lives to save, and still-- No matter how full strong his hope or will, How rich his manly love might prove or pure-- This fact remained, my Jo was very poor. What right had he to think of such a mate, One far above him in this world's estate? But he was worthy of her, free from blame, Though Fortune played the lad a niggard game! In spite of every drawback, this I knew, And hoped the jade would sometime play him true; For poor or no poor, I could only feel The chance was good if she but turned her wheel.

Now there's a picture I can ne'er forget; After these years I seem to see it yet: The figures you can guess were Plet and Jo, With background made of rocks, and lake, and snow; The girl half leaned upon a granite block, Her roguish smile my poor Jo seemed to mock, Part pity, part enjoyment, I believe-- What silly stuff I did in my head weave-- And Jo, in timid and in bashful way-- 'Twas like a scene I once saw in a play, Offered a bunch of flowers. And his face, As he bent forward, not without grace, Glowed with confusion and with passion new As his strong heart and his strong brain were true. I'd better stop; I grow nonsensical.-- A monster ledge served both for pedestal, Jo in his earth-stained garments, heavy boot, Plet in her jaunty hat and riding suit. Did I admire them so? Why so it seems, And even an old man has his need of dreams. A charming picture--so I think, at least, That couple standing where the wave released Fell down the mossy rocks in sparkling foam, The wild flowers growing from the moist, rich loam, And from the sun and pines mosaic shed O'er Plet's fair form and Jo's uncovered head. A landscape setting, beautiful and grand! The purple epilobiums in Jo's hand-- Frail, tender blossoms, delicate and sweet, How strange to see them in that wild retreat!-- Were fitting emblems, in their sudden birth, To soft enwrap and gladden the cold earth, Of that sweet office a true love fulfils, Whose wondrous budding all the being thrills-- Of that enchantment grown between those two, The fond desire their hearts together drew!

After that day to Jo there came a change,-- Not that I thought the fact so very strange-- For love had come, oh! that was plain to see, And from the first I felt 'twas a decree. I knew Jo found a heart that Plet had lost, And only feared their love might be ill-crossed. Perhaps the boy was not without his hopes The eve that Plet returned adown the slopes. Now he abstracted grew and walked alone, To fits of silent reverie was prone. That he had been a talker don't constrain, Jo never was a glib-tongued rattle-brain. For hours in silence to his work he'd stick, Wielding the heavy hammer or the pick; And I'll confess that I myself kept still. No time to talk much, holding to the drill. But at those times that we'd a moment quit, And pass a word to cheer us up a bit, I noticed that his speech was but to ask Concerning work--some detail of our task. And evenings, too, as moody as a churl He'd sit and watch his pipe-smoke upward curl. Sometimes his gaze on vacancy he'd fix,-- And well I knew the young god played his tricks,-- And if I spoke, some thought wished to impart, 'Twas all unheard, or answered with a start. What all this meant--who could mistake the sign? 'Twas plain to see as three times three are nine.

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