Hi Sher..I too, have a fascination with this cemetary...I just got back from there yesterday...so much history! Years ago, I wrote a tribute to Louise The Unfortunate...I took it to Natchez this past week to lay on her grave...as a tribute...ever since I heard of her years ago..I felt compelled to do this...finally, I had the opportunity...I hope you don't mind that I post my poem..it seemed like a fitting remembrance for such a faded rose...thanks! Your photo's are outstanding !!
THE BALLAD OF LOUISE
ONE STEPSWEPT DAY SHE CAME TO TOWN,
TO MARRY A MAN SHE DIDN'T KNOW.
THE YEAR WAS 18 & 75 WITH ALL BELONGINGS IN TOW..
BUT HE WASN'T THERE TO MEET HER, SHE STOOD ON THE TRACKS ALONE.
WITH NO ONE THERE TO GREET HER,
THOUSAND MILES FROM HOME..
HER SWEET SOUL CRIED A BITTER TEAR FOR A MAN SHE NEVER KNEW.
SHE WENT ON TO MAKE A LIVING ..BUT FOUND THAT JOBS WERE FEW..
SHE TRIED HER HAND AT LAUNDRY , BUT AS A PAUPER SHE WAS PAID.
PENNILESS AND HUNGRY, ON TIRED FEET SHE SWAYED.
WHEN ALONG CAME DAPPER DAN LE BARRE,
HIS 'LADIES' WERE WELL KNOWN.
HE SAW LOUISE, BEGGED HER 'PLEASE' , TO COME INTO 'HIS HOME'
HAVING NO OTHER CHOICE, TO 'HIS HOME' SHE WENT.
PROSTITUTION TOOK IT'S TOLE ON HER, LOUISE'S HEART WAS SPENT.
THE FLESH GROWS WEAK , AND FADES TO DUST..
WHEN E'RE THE NIGHTS ARE LONG...
AND PRIDE BECOMES A BITTER FRIEND. WHEN ONE IS DONE A WRONG..
YEARS DID COME AND YEARS DID GO...THEN ON ONE WINTER'S DAY...
A FEVER TORE THE TOWN APART ..TOOK LOUISE'S LIFE AWAY.
NO SACRED GROUND TO LAY HER HEAD ..NO GROUND TO SLEEP AT ALL...
WHEN A PREACHER WITH A HEART OF GOLD ,
BOUGHT LOUISE'S 'ETERNAL STALL ...'
HER GRAVE REMAINS ON NATCHEZ HILL, AMID THE RICH AND FIT,
GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN,
'LOUISE--THE UNFORTUNATE'.
Written by:Kelly Dickinson
