RAIN THINGS

                               After the Rain by Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836-1907)
                                                   (One of my favourite authors.)

                              "The rain has ceased.

                                  In my room the sunshine pours  an airy flood;

                                  And on the church's dizzy vane

                                          The ancient cross is bathed in blood.

                                                From out the dripping ivy leaves,

                                               Antiquely carven.

                                                  Gray and high.

                                            A dormer, facing westward

                                              Looks upon the village like an eye.

                                               And now it glimmers.

                                                        In the sun.

                                              A globe of gold.

                                                 A disk.

                                            A speck.

                                                         And in the belfry sits a dove.

                                                          With purple ripples on her neck."

                                Thomas Bailey Aldrich  was born in Portsmouth. Died in Boston.At 16 he worked in his uncle's business office, where he wrote for newspapers and magazines.

                                                      At one point the Aldrich family was very close with the chocolate guru Henry L. Pierce. Just think. All the chocolate you could wish for.

                   He wrote  "Story of a Bad Boy" said to be the forerunner for Twain's "Tom Sawyer".

                                    And "Old Town by the Sea."

                                               Mark  Twain detested Aldrich's wife, Lilian.
                                 Called his friend one of the most sincerest men he ever knew.

                                But couldn't understand why he was married to  "this vacant hellion wife".

                                          "drivelling blatherskite" And other such fun descriptions.

                                 In 1901, Aldrich's oldest son  was diagnosed with TB.

                                            Four years later his son, at 34 years of age, died in Saranac Lake.

                                              The author and his family never returned to Saranac.

               When he died in 1907 his last words were:
                     "In spite of it all, I am going to sleep; put out the lights."
                                               ( "His Life" written by Ferris Greenslet 1908)