Thomas Moore was a romantic, en-
ergetic poet born in Ireland in 1779. He
made his living by writing poetry and by
traveling up and down the Emerald Isle
reciting his verse.
He wasn't rich by any means, but he
lived comfortably.
Came the day when Thomas met a beau-
tiful, black-haired lass by the name of Bes-
sie Dyke, and he fell hopelessly in love with
her. Happily, she returned the sentiment.
So they married and took up residence
in the modest little cottage Thomas owned.
They were as happy as could be, even
though Thomas often had to leave his bride
behind and take to the road for a series of
poetry recitals. But each time he returned,
Bessie was waiting at the open door of the
cottage with a warm hug and a tender kiss
and a royal welcome home.
But then it happened. Thomas came
home from a series of engagements to find
the windows of the cottage shuttered and
the door barred from the inside. Bewildered,
he knocked on the door and clawed at the
shutters, but there was no answer.
Finally, a neighbor came out to tell
Thomas that Bessie no longer wanted to see
him, that she wanted to be left alone.
Why? The question rang in his mind and
sounded from his lips. Why? Why?
After a long time the neighbor told
Thomas the story. In his absence, Bessie
had been stricken with small pox, and her
once-beautiful face was now ugly, scarred
and ravaged by the dreadful disease.
by
COMMISSIONER
ROBERT E. THOMSON
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18
The War Cry | FEBRUARY 2014