Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/332

 HENRY W. ELLSWORTH. Henry William Ellsworth, a grandson of Oliver Ellsworth, formerly Chief Jus- tice of the Federal Supreme Court, and son of Henry L. Ellsworth, late Commissioner of Patents of the United States, was born at Windsor, Connecticut, in the year 1814. He graduated at Yale College in 1834, and removed to Indiana in 1835, to reside permanently. In 1844 he was appointed by President Polk Minister of the United States to Sweden and Norway, and remained in Europe from the fall of 1845 to 1850, discharging the duties of the mission. On his return from Europe, Mr. Ells- worth was retained by Benjamin F. Morse as leading counsel in various suits, involv- ing the validity of his telegraph patents. During his residence in Europe, Mr. E. was a constant contributor to the Knickerbocker Magazine. While in Sweden, and from his family, he wrote the lines, "To an Absent Wife," which have been widely cir- culated, both in this country and in England. His " Cholera King," which has enjoyed almost equal popularity, was written at a later date, and first appeared in the Knick- erhocker. Mr. Ellsworth is now a citizen of Indianapolis. TO AN ABSENT WIFE. Shall we meet again together As in happy days of old, — Where around our winter fireside, Many merry tales were told ? Where the yule-log sparkled brightly, And still brighter every eye, As we recked not of the tempest. In its wild wrath shouting by ? Shall we meet again together, On the green and sunny plain. With the tall grass round us waving. And the billowy ripened grain, — Where we scared the timid rabbit. And the speckled prairie hen, — From the morning till the twilight, Shall we wander there again ? Shall we hear once more together The soft ripple of that stream, Whose tones were wont to gladden us Like the music of a dream ? Where, in forest paths, we lingered. Or with arm in arm stole on, Till the silver stars had faded. And the witching moonhght gone ? Shall we meet again, sweet mother, With that dear one by our side. Whom our hearts have loved to cherish. In the fullness of their pride; Whom we oft have watched together, In each sunny hour of glee. While we blessed the glorious Giver, That such gentle ones could be? Shall we weep again together, For the loved and early gone. As with noiseless step we linger, Near each dear, sepulchral stone ; — Watching long till evening draweth Her dark pall ai'ound their bed, (316)