Lost poem by famous poet

[HutSiteDigger]

This is a poem that I found pinned in a 19th century medical book.. The poem is by Samuel Francis Smith (author of My Country, 'Tis of Thee") called "Sowing and Reaping"A poem read before the National Sunday School Convention... It was it was cut out of a page of another 19th century medical book (the back of the poem is got writing from a book) and thinking it came off that book I bought the book (the books were made and published in the 1880s) but did not find the poem listed in the book. So someone found this poem out of a medical book in the 19th century then cut it out and pinned it into another medical book then someone signed out?

The signature is J.M. Dodge (in pencil).. I have researched the heck out of this poem and can not find this poem listed anywhere by Samuel Francis Smith!! All his poems come up with 1,000s of searches on the net and the poem is also not listed in any poem book by him. I have contacted a few poetry clubs and none of them have been able too help me! One told me it is possible that someone back then made a error and never published this poem too the Library of Congress where all his poems are and this one is not in there...

There is another poem written by Smith "Sowing and Reaping" you can find online but it is not this exact poem.. Also if you do try and research this I asked a question on YahooAnswers that may come up in the search.

Just alittle puzzled why this was pinned in a book so hidden and signed by someone.. I know it is not unusual too find things pinned in a book but this was pinned in there so good as if someone was trying too hide it.

Probably won't be able too get much help but if you do I would surely be thankful. 3rd photo is back of paper the poem is on.

Here is how the poem starts out: From homes that kiss the mountain slope, Or cluster by the rolling sea, Cling to the hill, or bless the vale,
Spread through thee land's immensity, The children sweet hosannas sing One King of Kings, one Lord of Lords; ... etc

 

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[Breezie]

My guess on why it was pinned to the book: Someone was reading this poem outdoors for some occasion (funeral?,) and didn't want it to blow away/out of the book. Breezie

 

[HutSiteDigger]

My guess on why it was pinned to the book: Someone was reading this poem outdoors for some occasion (funeral?,) and didn't want it to blow away/out of the book. Breezie

There are so many questions I have on this... like why would someone sign it like that? and why can I not find this exact poem out of all his poems because each poem he wrote you can search and get 1,000 up to 10,000+ hits on the poem but not this one and the Library Of Congress doesn't have it and they told me by phone that they have every poem he wrote and published but not this one? I am puzzled and not a poetry expert. (and even the poetry experts are clueless)

 

[Breezie]

Hut, Maybe Samuel Francis Smith didn't write the poem, and his name at the bottom was a typo-error. I think J.M. Dodge wrote the poem, which is why he signed it. Just my thoughts. . ..Breezie

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Yah I had that checked out too... If you look @ the first photo it say's

By: S.F. Smith D.D. (in print) (that is how Smith printed his name before the poems)

J.M. Dodge signed the piece of paper (poem) on the side in pencil...

When I had a poetry expert read the poem he was shocked about how well written it was and told me without a doubt Smith wrote this poem and then told me to contact the Library Of Congress which I did. They wanted me too send them this for them too look @ but I am just afraid they would not give it back to me?

I was able too find out Smith did attended the National Sunday School convention (which is now named something else) but did not mention him reading a poem.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

It could be possible that another famous poet wrote this and Smith just read it and not wrote it though! So lot of questions! But it does say "By S.F. Smith D.D" meaning he wrote it! is what I was told.

 

[Breezie]

It could be possible that another famous poet wrote this and Smith just read it and not wrote it though! So lot of questions! But it does say "By S.F. Smith D.D" meaning he wrote it! is what I was told.

Is this poem written like all of his others? If your poetry expert thinks he wrote it, then he probably did. I'd send a 'copy' of it to the LOC to see what they think.

This probably has nothing to do with anything, but I did find it interesting about the J.M. Dodge lodge 'poetry.'

Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen's Magazine - Google Books

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Holy Cow Breezie you are awesome!! oh my.. I was told by one of the poetry experts in this club i went too one night that they thought they recognized the name "J.M. Dodge" on a poem they read at one point in their life and of course searching for just J.M. Dodge turned up too much research for me. What you found is the J.M. Dodge I am looking for and that EXACT time period!!! Really awesome now I have something too work with on J.M. Dodge!!

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Here is the full size of the poem

 

[Bramblefind]

Hi - neat find! The text on the back is not from a medical book but is the same as is in this book -

Studies on the Baptismal Question: Including a Review of Dr. ... - Page 78 - Google Books Result
books.google.com/books?id=PENGAAAAYAAJ
David Barnes Ford - 1879 - Baptism
He gives five examples where bapto signifies to temper iron or other metals ; to wit, by dipping them in water. This tempering process can be witnessed daily and ...

My guess is that this book was excerpted in a magazine prior to publication and the Smith poem happened to be printed at the same time. I was thinking possibly "The Sunday School Times" might be a good guess.

I googled a few random phrases from the poem and came across this piece by Smith which incorporates some of the same wording---

The Sunday School Helper - Page 100 - Google Books Result
books.google.com/books?id=szcUAAAAYAAJ
1878 - Sunday school literature
... But clouds and cold and frost in vain Combine against Heaven's high decree ; The reaping in the fields is sure — Seed sown for God its fruit shall see.

 

[mical66]

very neat find,

 

[DCMatt]

I found a small excerpt in Volume 29 1887 of the Sunday School Times. It refers to S. F. Smith making an appearance at the 5th International Sunday School Convention on June 8, 1887 at the Battery D Armory in Chicago. He read the first and last verses of "his celebrated hymn" which "was sung with overwhelming enthusiasm." No mention of any additional reading.

Very cool find, BTW.

DCMatt

 

[DCMatt]

Interesting that Mary Mapes Dodge was a contributing writer to the Sunday School Times in 1887. Her son was James Mapes Dodge. Mary was the author of "Hans Brinker" aka "The Silver Skates" in 1865. That might have put her in the same social circle as S. F. Smith.

Coincidence?

 

[50cent]

history in the making dawg

 

[Breezie]

Interesting that Mary Mapes Dodge was a contributing writer to the Sunday School Times in 1887. Her son was James Mapes Dodge. Mary was the author of "Hans Brinker" aka "The Silver Skates" in 1865. That might have put her in the same social circle as S. F. Smith.

Coincidence?

Matt, I don't think it's a coincidence; I feel all mentioned are involved. Breezie

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Interesting that Mary Mapes Dodge was a contributing writer to the Sunday School Times in 1887. Her son was James Mapes Dodge. Mary was the author of "Hans Brinker" aka "The Silver Skates" in 1865. That might have put her in the same social circle as S. F. Smith.

Coincidence?

I really can't thank you all enough on this! You pulled up info I could not about J.M. Dodge and even a full name. Will def. be hitting the library this week and research the heck outta this! I already had two poetry clubs e-mail me back three times asking if I could photo them a copy of the poem but have yet to figure out exactly what I have other then a unpublished poem that didn't make it's way too the Library Of Congress! Thanks all...

 

[Muddyhandz]

Your searches at the library of congress may come up blank because many poets have several shorts in one volume.
Like the complete works of Samuel Francis Smith which may contain several poems. It would be too much work to enter all that info online.
I don't think J.M. Dodge has much to do with the poem other than being the owner of the book or page and possibly reciting it to a crowd of people.

My opinion on this is that before Mr. Smith published his first book, "Sowing and Reaping" may have appeared first in a literary periodical; Made some alterations to this poem before adding it to his new book.
Many authors and poets first appeared in magazines or a collective works publication before producing a their own book.
This could have been cut out of such a thing.
Looks like a fun research project!
Cheers,
Dave.

 

[woodstock]

I fully agree with you .... before any conclusions can be drawn ... more research is needed . IMHO , Woodstock

Your searches at the library of congress may come up blank because many poets have several shorts in one volume.
Like the complete works of Samuel Francis Smith which may contain several poems. It would be too much work to enter all that info online.
I don't think J.M. Dodge has much to do with the poem other than being the owner of the book or page and possibly reciting it to a crowd of people.

My opinion on this is that before Mr. Smith published his first book, "Sowing and Reaping" may have appeared first in a literary periodical; Made some alterations to this poem before adding it to his new book.
Many authors and poets first appeared in magazines or a collective works publication before producing a their own book.
This could have been cut out of such a thing.
Looks like a fun research project!
Cheers,
Dave.