St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-02-21
THE SISTERS.


implication Of this poem To those outside it /
proper TO say that the sequel refers to the cas-,
OF Matilda Orcsch. ten years OF age who ha,
her entire scalp torn from her head by her hal
being caught by revolving shaft. Her sistc
Emma ixo years older. voluntarily submitte,
10 have piece OF skin, eight by five and one
half inches cut from her side, to graft upon he
sisters head, bit to keep the skin alive until
1t should adhere it was left attached by . mar
row strip TO Emma's body, and the two wer
bound together, remaining thus for four days
In Pagan Rome az read the legend right.
In early dawn OF Messianic light.
Two sisters dweit. Twin-born, they grew.
So like to like. that next 20 kin scarce knew
One from the other. In air. in form, in voice,
In color. stature eye, nor hair, was choice
So dwelt these sisters. matched in ey'ry grace
No less than stature. color, form and face,
And equal matched in love-cach seemed to
share
With each, each thrill Of joy, each heart-throb
cloud or care.
Thus sped their lives. till one. the story heard
That told o: life eternal-the cherished word
That since myriad millions has been given
Anchor OF hope and faith, the hope Of Heaven
She was condemned, but ere the fell decree
Consigned her to the beasts, she asked to see
Her sister. Entwinng arm in arm they camo
To the arena Bat which: Who! Which one!
The name:
The herald vainly asked; "'T,s me-" said one,
"'tisI L;
] am the one that is condemned to die"
NO, no. tits me, it's me-" the other said
"My sister, here, would suffer in my stead"
Who stall be umpire in the strange dispute.
Where love claims sacrifice, and self is mute!
Pecring far upward in the azure sky,
A floating spcck is thrown upon the eye;
Nearer It comes. and soon appears dove,
Messenger OF hope. emblem OF faith and love.
Its forward course is stayed and circiing round.
II seeks resting place upon the ground
Comes near, and hovers DER the sisters dight
Holding debate on which one to alight.
The choice is made-the painting bird finds rest
Upon the hand for which il was in quest.
A hoarse shout rcnds the air: "'Tis she! It's
size,
Let none dispute the fateful augury-
The oovc mute witness. doth the truth declare
The gods are umpire 'twixt tn accusing pair
Let her fair form TO bowling beasts be borne,
And I. esh from limb, and limb from limb be
corn
Yet pause: What message doth the voy'gcur
bring.
What fate's concealed beneath her faithful
wing:
The herald shall the silent scrip unroll.
And read the con ents Of the fateful scroll
A new regime-a io;her CIsars named;
Henccforth the new faith may abide In peace,
And bloody persecution hence doth cease"
Dispersed in rage the disappointed throng,
While converts joined in joyful praise and song;
The sisters breathed their holy love anew,
And twinng arm in arm with grateful hearts
withdrew.
Change We the scene upon another staxa
ss,~.lH l..,A Il
Here is no dread Of persecution grim
No beasts ferocious rend the Quivering limb;
Yet tyrant commerce claims her coig1e Of
greed
In mine and shaft her countless victims bleed
Her engines rend the flesh and grind the bone
And wrench from tender youth kind natures
by suffering for her, no less grandly brave
Is she who yields her tender flesh, to mend
A sisters hurt-her blood with hers to blend
II the patrician may her gucrdon claim,
The humble heroine holds an equal fame.
Few dramas have pathos more intense
Than this We write the day and night suspense
Where lie the sisters. boundcn side by side,
Awaiting issue OF thing untried
Not twins by birth, yet new born twins are
they
Their mingling blood m arks later natal day
The cords that bind them are their matrice
mold
A love thus nurtured never can grow cold
s. b. McCracken. in Detroit Free Press.