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

and VOW in solemn tones,
"Semiramis will break her neck some
day with those wild roans. "
Yet when she swept down through the
street, the colts all fire and grace
A smile that almost said amen lit uE
the deacon's face.
Far out upon the mountain road she
drove the span that day
John Allen came from visiting the lone
ly Hermit Gray.
Swift as a flash she wheeled about,
invited him to ride,
And through the streets OF Concord
dashed, the preacher at her side.
The deacon saw them as they passed,
and laughing said, 81 VOW"
Griselda saw them as they passed.
shadow crossed her brow.
A letter came-Griselda broke the seal
with trembling hand,
And eagerly these lines with growing
wonder scanned.
"Griselda greeting, and much JOY; a
word from Hermit Gray:
ohm Allen may be yours and mine,
though in different way.
This secret kept, the time is near when
it will be revealed,
And life and love for you and me their
ripened fruitage yield.
He sought my counsel, | advised the
course he will pursue,
Through winding by-ways new and false
to highways old and true
Wait patiently, and view unmoved the
actors in this play,
The last scene will atone for all-your
friend, the Hermit Gray"
Responsive to the written "call," the
evening being fair,
Both men and women filled the hall,
John Allen in the chair.
Griselda sat, and smiled on each that
entered near the door.
John Allen had not seen her look SO
beautiful before,
He had supposed her heart was panied,
her spirit had been grieved
By all Semiramis had done; he must
have been deceived,
And gathering from Griselda's face an
unexpected power,
He rose, and introduced with grace the
speaker of the hour.
was at her best, her voice
was mellow, clear,
And pleaded for a broadening out of
of woman's narrow sphere.
She simply asked consent to prove this
proposition true,
That woman was mans equal, ard what
he did she could do.
Her speech was the perfection of con-
ciliatory style,
And many seemed inclined to give the
scheme proposed trial.
The plan was this-in any home where
it could be arranged
Without dispute, the places filled by |
man and wife be changed.
The women went forth in the boats and
fished around the bay,
some passed into the fields and wrought
amidst the fragrant hay.
The men took up domestic work with
with zeal and enterprise,
And learned the art of moulding bread
and mixing mince for pies,
APPLIED their skill for public work to
homes minute affairs
n trimming lamps, arranging rooms and
busting down the chairs,
While daily some new witness gave APP
proval to the plan,
till women seemed in every way the
equal of the man.
IF course some critics caustic words
derisively expressed,
While others looked upon the change as
but a passing jest.
! witty Concord poet writing later of
these times,
ent to the Weeky Chronicle this Incl
dent in rhymes
The birds refused TO mate or build in
any Concord tree,
hey parted in fighting mood, and :
met to disagree.
he male bird vowed creations Lord
had planted in his breast
he power to gather and to guard, but /
not to make a nest.
he lady bird said things had changed 7
and flew from limb to limb
henceforth he was her, and Z
likewise she was him.
nd So they futtered fought and flew 4
the whole bright summer long,
nd never built one brooding nest or $
sang a perfect song"
ut this was not a picture of the Con- I
cord womanhooG,
nd men submitted to the change in c
phllosophic mood.
ON Mitchell was an old sea salt, a vein I
of humor ran
j through his nature, and preserved I
the childs heart in the man.
Becky Mitchell chose to change the A