Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-12-26
GRACE PAIGE.
A Letter Written to the
Missing Girl by
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX
The Letter Clipped From The
New York Journal

The New York Journal published
Dec. 10. letter and poem from Ella
Wheeler Wilcox dedicated to Miss
Lois Grace Paige, a young lady who
mysteriously disappeared from this
city about year ago and not the
faintest trace Of her whereabouts has
been discovered by her friends, al
though no effort has been spared to
locate her. The letter Of Ella Wheel.
er Wilcox is as follows:
l have been asked by a despairing
mother and loving friends to make an
effort to find Lois Grace Paige, who
disappeared from her nome in a Ver-
mont village year ago.
/ am informed that Miss Paige was
interested in my work, and the friends
who addressed me think she would
read anything to which my name was
attached If living, and the article
should fall under her notice.
A man writes me: "My last de-
spairing hope lies in you.
II know that if you wrote poem
In which her name, Lois Grace, would
figure, with an appeal frorn her moth.
er and enough of the actual facts t.
let her know for whom intended, she
would come back. Life is so short, a
mothers devotion SO dear-shame and
Fdisgrace of so small Importance when
compared to the everlasting universe
and time-and l know that your pen
can picture this reality and cause this
girl to reflect and understand that all
is forgiven.
"As for me, if she were among the
lowest of the low, l would still love
the girl"
cannot write poem Of this kind
my muse never has known bow to
go about personal theme OF such a
nature.
l can make this appeal to Lois
Grace, hoping it may reach her eyes
and her heart
Love and forgiveness await her If
she will return.
The world grows more merciful TO
erring women as it grows older and
learns there is no sex in sin. The old
laws which caused parents to kill the
fatted calf for the prodlgal 500 and to
shut the door in the face Of the re-
pentant prodigal daughter are modl.
fed by the growing spirit of liberal
and humane thought.
There was man it was said one time
Who went astray in his youthful prime.
Can the brain keep cool and the heart keep
When the blood like river is running riot
And boys will be boys, the old folks say,
And the man is the better who's had his day,
The sinner reformed and the preacher told
OF The prodigal son who came back to the
And Christian people threw open the door
With a warmer welcome than ever before
Wealth and honor were his to command, !,
And a spotless woman gave him, her hand
| And the world Strewed their pathway VIII
blossoms abloom.
Crying God bless lady and God bless groom
There was maidan who went astray
| In the golden dawn of her life's young day
She had more passion and heart than head
And il She followed blind'y where fond Love
| And Love is ever a dangerous guide
To wander at will by young girls side
The woman repented and turned from sin
But no door opened to let her in.
| The preacher prayed that she might be Tor
given,
But told her to look for mercy-,in heaven
| For this is the law Of the world we know
That the woman is stoned, while the mar
may go.
A brave man welded her after ALL
But the world said. trownng, We shall mo-
call"
+ Lois Garce, these verses do not
apply to your case. Come home ano
receive the forgiveness and love
awaiting you.
ELLA WHEEL ER WILCOX.