  1859= ——. Mrs. Dandridge was born in Copenhagen, when her father, Honorable Henry Bedinger, was minister to Denmark. In 1877 she was married to Mr. Stephen Dandridge of Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Her first name, Danske, is the pretty Danish word for Dane, and is pronounced in two syllables. WORKS.Joy, and other Poems. Mrs. Dandridge’s poems are as dainty and airy as if the elves themselves had led her to their bowers and discovered to her their secrets; and this is truly what her poetic sense has done, for the poet is a seer and singer of the secrets of nature. THE SPIRIT AND THE WOOD SPARROW.(From Joy, and other Poems. ’Twas long ago: The place was very fair; And from a cloud of snow A spirit of the air Dropped to the earth below. It was a spot by man untrod, Just where I think is only known to God. The spirit, for a while, Because of beauty freshly made Could only smile; Then grew the smiling to a song, And as he sang he played Upon a moonbeam-wired cithole Shaped like a soul. There was no ear Or far or near, Save one small sparrow of the wood, That song to hear. This, in a bosky tree, Heard all, and understood As much as a small sparrow could By sympathy. ’Twas a fair sight That morn of Spring, When on the lonely height, Then through the air took flight Still lilting on the wing. And the shy bird, Who all had heard, Straightway began To practice o’er the lovely strain; Again, again; Though indistinct and blurred, He tried each word, Until he caught the last far sounds that fell Like the faint tinkles of a fairy bell. Now when I hear that song, Which has no earthly tone, My soul is carried with the strain along To the everlasting Throne; To bow in thankfulness and prayer, And gain fresh faith, and love, and patience, there. FOOTNOTE: |
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