Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-08-22
THE coxsrcrrsa LINZ.
tBy Miss Eva B. snowman


The tide of time has aoated away
On its restless bosom of years;
And the sparkling waves that scatter the
spray,
sometimes in anger, sometimes In pisy,
Are life's mingled comforts and fears.
Thus ten long decades have drifted on,
With many storm and calm;
And ship that was launched in the early
dawn
still floats on the pillows night and morn,
with never thought Of harm.
For the ship was carefully built, and manned
With the safest Pilot and crew;
And whenever she sailed far out from land
Where dangers threatened on every hand,
Some helper WAS added anew.
Our church is this beautiful ship, 1t is said,
That has sailed for a hundred years;
Through wind and storm she has oft been led,
With the danger signal far ahead,
But Il Weakened not her fears.
For like bright light that shines so clear,
Came word Of help from willing hand;
And across the waves rang the words OF cheer,
That came and quieted every fear,
And guided her safely TO land
This helper for years has been one of the
crew,
Who has faithfully labored thro ugh many
days;
She Is always given enough to do,
Yet seeks for opportunities, too.
And helps In many ways.
At countless times with some struggle to
meet
Woman has come to the front like a food.
Ready 70 share in the triumph complete,
Her motto being, Never retreat"
And has proved her loyal blood
Thus our beautiful ship with its record true,
Might sometime be lost in the waves and sink,
Were 1t not Tor this busy one OF the crew,
THE Ladies' Circle" who heiped her through;
Ali She's ''the connecting link.
And so while our Church was yet in its prime.
The good " omen met aud willingly planned
To do all they could in the cold winter time,
Or in any season, to earn a bright dime
Aud work with ready hand.
At erst they met In the homes, there 10 sew
Bright pieces of patchwork and other things;
For those were the days OF the sweet long ago,
When they had no chapel to meet in, you
know;
But time. like an eagle, has wings,
Each year showed advancement and work
done we'll:
The ship safely sailed on the bosom of time;
And at last, from things they were able to sell,
The "Circie" helped mostly In buying bell,
Which rang with welcome chime.
The church had desired for many days,
A pretty communion service, tits said;
But it could not easily purchase the trays
And pretty bright cups with silvery rays
To contain the wine and the bread.
But list! when the soft gentle brcexes blew,
Whispering a message they could not forget,
They left response from the hearts "true
blue"
OF the Circle, saying, Wen get it for you;'
And they purchased the silver set.
The Months and the years sped on their way;
Our ship safely sailed through sunshine and
rain;
But 1t needed much help at later day,
As it pIoughed along through the ioaming
spray,
Approaching the harbor again.
The help that was needed came once more,
And the noble work was quickly begun;
For the 'Circle" willingly helped rs before;
Gave thousand dollars it had in store,
And soon our new chapel was done.
The church was prospecting, year by year;
Each season brought a new work to begin;
TIL at last our "Circle" with words of cheer,
Presented the church with a chandelier,
That gave warm welcome within.
And now, when at twilight the church bell
rings,
In bright happy sprngtime, or signing fall,
The same light wrinkles afar, and It brings
The message Of love that the choir sings,
Come in, there's welcome for all"
But the work ceased not, when this task was
done;
The Circle" kept climbing the busy stairs;
Disoharging duties that came, one by one;
Gave four hundred dollars toward labor be-
gun
In making the general repairs.
Years have passed The church still stands
on the hill;
But changes have come as they always do,
And progression, like time, has not stood still,
But has rapidly iourneyed onward, until
Many things have been added anew
A faithful worker the "Circle" has been,
Bringing in many a dollar and dime
And her true, loyal heart will always win
The love of the church and the people, in
Its work on the bright sands Of time,
And now, when the wind whistles soft and
low,
message Of love and devotion IL finds,
That is waited on as the breezes blow,
And many loving thought doth bestow,
In this, "Blest be the tie that binds"
SEAL COVE.
Mrs. C. w. sprague, OF Stockton Springs,