Runaway Jim

    Scene: Western plain. New England family moving to son’s ranch, who ran away in early boyhood.                                                                    Time: about 1853. Son on way to meet them.

A flash of light, in dead of night!

A rifle crack! and in his track

     The youth fell dead.

A treach’rous hand unloosed his band;

Removed his gold, then , with a cold

     And harsh laugh fled.

In early morn a covered train

     Moved slowly up the trail, and found

     The handsome lad upon the ground,

With naught in sight but stretch of plain.

“Poor boy, poor boy, some mother’s joy.”

Then pick and spade and shoal grave made;

     No song, no prayer.

“His name? I’ll look; thar’s this here book;

A bible too, jes look it through.”

     “Ha! a lock of hair.”

The sound of bible, lock of hair,

     Went to a woman pale and sick

     Who lay upon an unkempt tick,

Companion of the tall man there.

“Bible?” said she, “quick, let me see!

My little one, you know was gone

     That very day.

What, small and worn? Back pages torn?

My eyes are dim, but – God! He’s Jim

     Our runaway!”

The shriek which rent to morning air

     Pierced deeper than the leaden ball;

     A gasp, a cry, and then they all

Knelt on the plains in grateful prayer.

Dec. 10, 1890

Pub. in Conn.

Valley Ad,