Now: A Poem

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246 IMPROVEMEhT ERA.

Wisconsin, and was later elected as a "free soiler" to Congress, serving from December 6, 1849, till March 3, 1853. He was the first anti-slavery man from the northwest who served in Congress. He was elected by the legislature of Wisconsin a senator from that state for six years from March 4, 1855, taking his seat in the United States Senate on Tuesday, December 4, of that year. During this period he served as a Republican, succeeding Senator Isaac P. Walker. In 1861, he was a member of the peace congress, and in 1865 was appointed governor of Utah in which capacity he served until December 21, 1869, failing health having forced him to resign. He died on his way home, at Omaha, Nebraska, January 14, 1870. On December 20, 1867, Secretary Amos Reed was succeeded by Edwin F. Higgins of Michigan. He took the oath of office on January 23, 1868, and in the early part of the following year was acting governor in the absence of Mr. Durkee. In this capacity, he addressed a very creditable message to the eighteenth annual session of the legislature which began January 11, 1869. S. A. Mann, of Nevada, succeeded as secretary in May, 1869, he having been appointed to the office April 27. He became the acting governor upon the death of Governor Durkee. The leading historical incidents of Governor Durkee's administration will be mentioned in our next chapter.

NOW.

"Don't wait until tomorrow To twine wreaths around my brow; If flowers are to cheer me, Let me know their beauties now! Don't wait until tomorrow, Or ask the Why or How Don't wait until I'm coffined. But bestow your roses now." John A. Joyce.