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

And he's been better done by p'raps
than he'd Jared with me-"
"You don't remember, do you Tom, the
name the people bore2"
Griselda said. "Well," Tom replied
Its thirty years or more
Since that great storm, and names some
howrun through my mind like sand''
'DoI/ trouble, Tom,' Criselda said.
~ j leaving, shook his hand.
Gfd y hcord town had won fame for
! quiet sober ways,
But strange disorders grew to be the
rule in these new days.
The women lost that homage long the
birthright of the fair,
Fol standing in mans place they shared
mis- ruder manners there.
John Aliens church was rent in twain,
interpretations strange
| fEa gave the Word, whose voice was
clear against the favored change.
Men lost their faith, the Bible closed,
and ceased to work or pray.
Their preachers method with a part
explained all truth away.
The young men missing in the home
the mothers love and light
Had sought the tavern for their cheer
and gamboled through the night.
disputes arose, blow followed blow,
then came shock to all,
For Fred McDougall had been stabbed
in low tavern brawl.
He was the deacon's only son they
brought him home half dead
John Allen and Semiramis were watch
ing by his bed
AS to the room Griselda came and heard
with them the strong,
Wild cry of delirious voice-"Semir-
amis was wrong p
The signs of inward grief o'erAowed the
watching sisters eyes,
John Aliens face assumed a look, half
sorrow, half surprise,
And when Griselda left the room he fol-
lowed down the stair,
Askas>her walked ugh Concord
NJ ct. There was troubled air
IN all his movements, silence sealed his
his lips, the people gazed
Unkindly on the preacher they had late.
ly loved and praised.
A burden weighed upon his heart,
cloud obscured his fame.
ave cannot change Gods order with
out loss, am to blame"
AT length he said and from a heart
serene, unmoved, at rest,
Griselda answered, "That is truth, Gods
ways are always best.'
A,btef note from the Hermit Gray in
haste the preacher read,
Late, one September afternoon, the
lines within it said:
q JJcohh Allen, since my loss I've watched |
the weather signs, and know
A storm is near at hand like that of
thirty years ago.
Tomorrow let no boat sail forth from
shore upon the bay.
Arise, and sprea AL the news abroad, your
friend. the Hermit Gray"
A breeze was blowing then inland, the
sun set round and red,
The sea birds fastening to the shore
flew screaming overhead.
Out on the street John Allen passed
and toll from door to door,
Tomorrow brings fearful storm, let
no boat leave the Shore"
some doubted, some believed, and not
few were heard to saw
John Allen has been acting strange
his mind is>gwing way"
5utefcolQm Mitchell said the storm of
~ THY years ago
lad all the signs around them then, the
breeze and sunset glow,
'he birds in focks flew high and far to
inland moor and fen,
! cold. black mist rose from the sea as
it was rising then.
II night John Allen swift as horse could
bear him round the coast
ped with the news until it reached the
farthest fishing port.
he morning came, the sky was clear
above, the sunrise red,
ONE thought to venture on the bay,
but a deep sense of dread,
hat indescribable strange calm, known
often times before
he widest storm along the coast, kept
every boat ashore.
t noon breeze sprang up, the sky
was overcast with gloom,
cross the bay massive wave, with b..
low, deep, hollow boom {
oiled 10 the shore and scattered far "
and wide the fishing fleets, a
nd flung the white foam of its spray
across the Concord streets. +
he rain came down in floods, the t