The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-01-08
A Days Journey.


Settled In the Pullman ror six hours
journey, prohibited from reading by a
constantly changing focus, veto on out
of door gazing at the risk of aggravat-
ing a dull headache, with coach full OF
passengers ordindire, certainly the out
look and the inlook was unpromising
We iourneyed across the marshes OF
Lynn and Swampscott, through the tun.
nel at witch-renowned Salem, through
Newburyport with its many gabled
houses, in most of which II we can credit
tradition, "George Washington once
slept" In 1776, when the Father VI
his Country was not sleeping he seems
to have been dancing, for there is scarce
ly daughter of the Revolution" who
does not claim that General Washington
once "tripped the light fantastic toe
Nth her great Grandmother.
On we go through Elm shaded lps-
@ch, kissed by the sea- past Amesbury
where memory once showed TO " gray
haired man" the "sweet child face" of
his boyhood's love, on whose grave the
grasses had forty years been growing.
He lived
"To learn in Life's hard School
How rev who go above him
Lament their triumph, and his loss
Like her, because they love him.
On to Berwick, dear to childhood 8
memory for the big piece of sponge cake
which the kind hearted conductor once
gave to the "lttle girl who fed the birds"
On, on, on, with nothing to vary the
dull monotony, till at last the spires and
hills of the Forest City" appeared in
view. just here the porter came in
with lunch, and as the little silver haired
woman for whom it was intended wheel
ed her chair around to make room for the
service of the ebony colorod chef, face
met my gaze, 80 sweet, SO pure, so refin-
ed, that it needed but Raphael inspira-
ton to immortalize it on canvas as an
ideal Madonna. Intuitively | repeated
Mine eyes have seen the glory"
In course of the journey got close to
the mother heart of this rare woman
through Renaissance of the daughter
who died some years ago.
my dear julia" and the soft eyes
grew luminous with unshed tears.
"And you are travelling alone%'
"Quite alone, dear, Ny grand-daugh-
ter saw me aboard the train at Boston, and
my daughter will meet me at Gardiner,
so you see | am quite safe and pleas
ant smile accompanied the words.
After | had resumed my seat, [ could
not get free from the witchery of the
charms of this fascinating and magnetic
woman. The journey was no longer dull
or prosaic. It was filled to repletion
with life, and inspiration.
When the conductor announced in
matter of fact tones "Gardiner next"
somehow his voice sounded tangled and
to sacrilege that he made no allusion to
the fact that Gardiner was the destina-
ton of the sweet faced woman over
whose head instinctively had placed a
nimbus.
From some unseen quarter, forth step
ed gallant Knight OF the 10Th century,
and with chivalric devotion adjusted the
wraps of my lady, and then, Offering her
his arm, escorted her to the carriage ia
waiting. As she passed my chair, and
gave me gentle hand pressure OF adieu
heard her Cavalier say Ia tones of ten
der solicltude. "lean more firmly on my
arm, and let me better support you"
And 80 passed from my sight this rare
md gifted woman, whose life and In
auence are white ideals-a woman whose
zones, low and clear and sweetly blend
ed, have echoed around the world. bear
Ing ever message of cheer, strong,
earnest and helpful. God bless our
Queen of American Women" julia
Ward Howe. Hdllo,oeH Gazette.