Briar Blossoms

By Howard L Swisher

Briar Blossoms is a multi-genre collection of poems, essays, yarns, and observations by one of the most prominent and innovative writers to emerge from Hampshire County, West Virginia. Swisher combines wit, lyrical language, and first rate storytelling in this volume. Originally published in 1899, it is one of only three books he authore

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ellerslie Books
• Release date: Jun 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088143919

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Briar Blossoms

Briar Blossoms

Briar Blossoms

Howard Swisher

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Ellerslie Books

Copyright © 1899 by Howard Swisher

As Briar Blossoms is over 100 years old, it is now in the public domain and may be reprinted with proper attribution to Howard L. Swisher.

First Ellerslie Books Printing, 2023

Contents

A Note to Readers

About the Author

Some Glimpses of Yosemite

The Sleigh Bells

A Lonely Grave

Bohemian Love Song

Despair

Black Man or White

A Little Flirt

Minnehaha

Mammy's Boy

Lottie Doon

The Spring 'Neath the Old Gum Tree

A Song of the Northland

My Rival

In West Virginia

Recollections of an Old Bachelor

Shooting Stars

The Revelation of Harry Sheldon

Noel

Books

A Rondolet

The Mysterious Brooch

Le Feever's Confession

A Song of Today

Selections from Abdiolel

The Lost Child

Them Frogs

The Spring Equinox

Good Night

A Recollection

Poem

The Island of Despair

Reciprocity

The Poet

Requital

A Translation

Medley

A Note to Readers

This printing of Briar Blossoms comes from the original 1899 edition.  No corrections have been made to examples of antiquated spelling.  The final part of the book, which contained writings from an array of Swisher's friends, was not reprinted in this edition.

About the Author

Howard Llewellyn Swisher was born in rural Hampshire County, West Virginia, near the village of Levels, on September 21st, 1870.  By the age of 18, he was teaching at public schools in Hampshire County, but eventually left to take a degree from Fairmont State Normal School, which he followed with a two year teaching stint in Fresno, California.  Swisher then returned to West Virginia and attended West Virginia University, where he was an editor of The Athenaeum, the school's student-run newspaper. 

Once in Morgantown, Swisher opened a book and stationery store, Acme Book Store, which became a successful business venture.  Within a few years he diversified his interests starting first the Main Street Building Company, then the Howard L. Swisher Company, which was followed by the Morgantown Building Association, all of which focused on residential development.  Later he became involved in the Royalty Oil Company, which owned mining rights across the United States.  Swisher owned orchards in Hampshire County, too.  Yet another enterprise, the Swisher Theater, was opened in Morgantown, adding to his vast business holdings.

Swisher often sent articles, essays, and poems to newspapers and other publications around the Northwest while teaching in California.  Once at WVU, he wrote a book of around 600-lines of poetry, which he dedicated to his fellow students.  In 1897, he worked with Hu Maxwell to write History of Hampshire County, West Virginia: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present, which was the first book to offer an in-depth history of the county.  Next came Briar Blossoms, which he published through Acme Publishing Company, another of his businesses.  Swisher also edited The Ghourki, a literary magazine and a collection of his contributions to the publication became the basis for his 1908 Book of Harangues.

Aside from business and writing, Swisher was also active in politics, specifically with the Democratic Party.  In 1900, he was a candidate for State Superintendent of Schools, and two years later he was the Democratic nominee for the West Virginia Senate from District 11.  While he lost, he received more votes in Monongalia County than any Democrat up to that point.  In 1936, he traveled to Philadelphia as a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention that nominated President Franklin D. Roosevelt for a second term.

No stranger to civic involvement, Swisher maintained membership in many organizations and gave his support to the Free Masons, the Elks, and the Morgantown Kiwanis Club.

Swisher married Mary Dering in 1897 and they had one child, Monte.  

Howard Swisher died on August 27th, 1945 from a cerebral hemorrhage and is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Morgantown.

Some Glimpses of Yosemite

"The vulgar know not all the hidden pockets,

Where Nature stows away her lovliness."

     He who has failed to see Yosemite Valley has missed one of life's choice pleasures. Nestled in the heart of the Sierras, lies this scenic wonder, this gigantic assemblage of peaks and canons, overshadowed by the Himalayas alone and not surpassed for ruggedness even by the Andes themselves.

     No railroad leads directly to it; in fact not nearer than fifty miles. At Barenda the main line of the Southern Pacific is left and a branch line carries you to Raymond, a small station among the foothills.

     Two days by stage are necessary to complete the journey to Yosemite. More than 10,000 feet of ascent is necessary to reach the highest peak of the Valley from Raymond.

     The first day we will ascend 8000 feet, only to descend 4000 feet to Wawona to spend the night. This day's drive will not be without its pleasures, especially if the time is spring. Green hills rise all around, crested with a few rude digger pines, white oaks of stunted growth with knotted arms over-shadow the way, while here and there a live oak spreads its intricate branches, with their shining green leaves forming a a hiding place for the shy blue quails that peep at us as we pass.

     Night finds us at Wawona, where is situated a fine hotel for the accommodation of tourists, and a place in itself not lacking attractions, but we are tending to Yosemite and will pass it by unnoticed.

     Twenty-five miles yet intervene between us and the Mecca of our pilgrimage. Wawona is at an elevation of 4000 feet, equal to that of the floor of the Valley, but the stage road leads over a mountain 6000 or 7000 feet in height; hence some climbing is necessary during the second day's travel. The scenery is changed from what we saw yesterday. The scrubby oaks have given way to lofty yellow and sugar pines which, together with the graceful redwood, cast sombre shadows over the roadway.

     The flowers too have changed. We no longer see the fuzzy lupines, the nodding calochortus or the flaming California poppy. Instead, an occasional snow plant raises its accusing countenance dripping blood red, a mountain flag, or the showy flowers of the leatherwood tree are our companions. On we go over a gentle rise or down a steep declivity. There the road hugs close