The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-04-23


al vale of Idlegrass.
MI The streets flowed out and narrowed
M down to footpaths winding through
N The heart of nature, old as time, but
ever fresh and new.
# Behind the hills before, the sea rolled
with its changing lights
The white sails foated DER the deep.
J. the white clouds DER the heights.
Against the horizons verge the ships
glowed in the sunsets fame,
u And day and night the fishing boats from
Concord went and came =
A staid, still, sober town beloved by all
the fishing fleets,
With open doors of welcome found
along its breezy streets.
The men fished in the bay or titled their
farms beneath the hills,
j., The women ruled at home to suit their
~ own sweet, sovereign wills.
Semiramis, the deacon's girl, at Con-
cord born and bred.
Returned from College with some new
ideas in her head.
Her graduation essay read upon COM
mencement day
Gave indications of the part Semiramis
would play.
The world, for many thousand years had
suffered dreadful things,
Because the thrones designed for queens
had been usurped by kings.
A revolution was at hand, and womans
skill and grace
Would supersede the rule of man and
lead the human race.
And having for full half hour this line
of thought pursued
She brought her dainty foot down square
and struck an attitude.
The preacher, who, for forty years, had
borne upon his soul
The little parish by the sea, passed to
the heavenly goal
One Sabbath morning from the manse,
y and left daughter there,
\Griselda, gentle as the light, and like q
lily fair.
Beside her widowed mothers heart she
took her fathers place,
md when another preacher came, with
youthful style and face,
In self-forgetfulness she gave her SYM
---Pathy and prayer
To all the bright young pastor did, and
praised him everywhere.
The people saw, but said no more than
other folk would say:
"Griselda and our preacher here will
make match some day."
They met in chambers of the sick, at
feasts and social teas,
And after week-night meetings talked
beneath the maple trees.
He sought her counsel in his work when
troubled and perplexed,
Preserved the diamonds of her thought
to grace his Sunday text,
And drew her kindly judgment forth on
all he wrote and read -
1t must have been fancy, but the fish
ermen all said
Good luck and pleasant weather always
followed on the day
John Allen and Griselda joined their
fleets upon the bay.
Semiramis stepped from the cars one
breezy morn in June,
The good old deacon did not know she
would be home so soon.
With baggage laden, and dog behind
her and before,
John Allen met her as he left the fair
Griselda's door,
And with that grace and gallantry, the
Concord preachers charm,
He offered his assistance, and he prof
fered her his arm.
"The sun of women's day." she said,
sis breaking through the fogs;
l thank you for your kindness, sir, and I
went on with her dogs.
John Allen stood and watched her form
with wonder in his eyes,
Till admiration overcame his feelings
of surprise.
The spirit breathing through her words, ..
to freedoms soul attuned,
Was rich in qualities of power that con- r
quer though they wound.
And when SemiramiS had reached her !
fathers door, and saw
John Allen standing on the street, as !
constituent and awe
Upon his face, she felt success her fu- !
ture work would crown.
And knew the sun of woman's day
would tighten Concord town.
One Sabbath morning as he passed to 6
feed with heavenly bread
His little flock, John Allen saw posted S
"Call," which read =
'On Thursday evening next, at eight, q
in old Memorial Hall,
\ public meeting will be held, come, B
ladies, at my call,
Your interests will be there discussed. g
and future triumphs planned,
'emiramis McDougall," signed and n
written by her hand.