Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-01-30

In Pagan Rome Gf read the legend right
In early dawn of Messanic light,
Two sisters dwet. Twin-born, they grew,
30 like to like, that next 10 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 ev'ry grace,
No less than stature color form and face
And equal matched in love-each 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 OF 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 Entwining arm in arm they came
TO the arena. But which, WhoY Which one?
The name?
The herald vainly Asked "'Tis me-" said one,
"'tisI /;
] am the one that is condemned to die"
mo, no It's me, tits mel" the other said
my sister, here would suffer in my stead"
Who shall be umpire in the strange dispute,
Where love claims sacrifice, and self is mutoH
Peering far upward in the azure sky,
A floating speck is thrown upon the eye
Nearer 1t comes, and soon appears dove,
Messenger of hope emblem of faith and love.
Its forward course is stayed, and circling round,
1t seeks resting place upon the ground
Comes near and hovers DER the sisters digit,
Holding debate on which one to alight.
The choice is made-the painting bird finds rest,
Upon the hand for which it was in quest.
A hoarse shout rends the air: "'Tis shel tits
she!
Let none dispute the fateful augury-
The dove, mute witness, doth the truth declare
The gods are umpire 'twixt tn accusing pair,
Let her fair form to bowling beasts be borne
And flesh from limb, and limb from limb be
torn"
Yet pause: What message doth the voygeur
bringY
What fates concealed beneath her faithful
wing?
The herald shall the silent scrip unroll,
And read the con ents Of the fateful scroll.
1.-THE legions in the field this day proclaimed
A new regime another Caesars named;
Henceforth 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 twining arm in arm with grateful hearts
withdrew.
Change we the scene upon another stage,
And find the heroine in our modern age.
Here is no dread Of persecution grim
No beasts ferocious rend the quivering limb
Yet tyrant commerce claims her coigne 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
crown.
II Roman maiden would her sister save
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.
If the patrician may her guerdon claim,
The humble heroine holds an equal fame
Few dramas have pathos more intense
Than this we wrte--the day and night suspense
Where lie the sisters, bounden side by side
Awaiting issue of thing untried.
Not twins by birth, yet new born twins are
they
Their minging blood m arks later natal day
The cords that bind them are their matrict
mold
A love thus nurtured never can grow cold.
S. B. McCracken, in Detroit Free Press.