The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1912-08-02

"Sweetly sings the bird on Dough
Gently flows the stream;
Close your eyes, my baby, now,
Softly sleep and dream"
Suddenly a change came over
the scene. The children began ga
thering round the maiden who
had first wakened the forest with
her echoing call of "Wohelo.n She
was rubbing two sticks together,
and the others were filled with
wonder at her strange action Soon
they were all grathered about her.
Gradually they seemed to under
stand her purpose and then they
sent up a prayer for fire. At the
end OF their prayer there occurred
miracle. Down the woodland
path past the old maple there
came, half running, half flying, a
fairy. She seemed hardly to touch
the ground. Like a bird she came
or rather like an immaterial
spirit. The people parted to make
way for her. She flew to the fire,
chanting:
II fly, I fly from the sky,
Bearing fire from on high"
Then with her wand she touch
ed the finder and it sprang into
flame. With this the fire-bringer
add thetford festival
darted away among the trees,
leaving the people struck with
wonder. The children were the
first to recover their wits. Ir-
reSistably they were drawn to the
new and wonderful thing which
had been given them. They reach
ed for the fire and darted back
when they came too close. Then
they realized that this gift was
like the sun on high, and they ex-
pressed their 10Y in a wild dance
of delight. Then all the people
together sang a hymn of praise
to the God who had sent down
this great boon.
At this moment a hunting horn
was heard in the woods. The men
came marching down the path
Struck with amazement at the
strange sight which met their
eyes, they dropped their game.
Quickly the women explained
what had taken place. Then the
men joined in the hymn OF praise:
"As sparks fly upward toward the
blue,
Our thanks ascend, great God, to
you"
Now the maiden who had first
given to her tribe the hope OF
discovering the bright flame which
now burned before them ran to
the shelter at one side. Soon she
leading by the hand
man who walked with an air Of
authority, like an ancient seer.
What the others saw merely as
a matter for wonder he viewed
with a prophets eye. Quickly his
people massed about him as he
told them of all that the fire there
begun would bring about for the
good of the human race. He told
Of people working and learning
about the hearthstone. He told OF
the invention of machinery driven
by steam. he spoke of electricity
as the light OF the world and a
means whereby all mankind would
be united in close bonds of COM
And he told of the new place that |
should be occupied by woman in
he modern world.
OuT llolCllcI was pICpdIcd 1OI |
/ pessimistic outlook on the great |
uture, and was well pleased when |
he heard the old prophet say:
old tasks may take on new dis
guise,
But in the might OF fire lies
4 guide whose light shall never
fail
Till sun and moon and stars grow
pale.
let men and women still but ask
The fires light and the fires task,
And each new world the flame will
mold
'hall prove a happier than the
old"
At the end OF his speech the old
nan beckoned to his followers.
they ran to the shelters and brot
hence whatever vessels they could
ay hands on. Into each the old
eer placed embers from the fire,
nd with the injunction:
Go then, each one to his dorr;
iuard these flames forever more"
Ie sent them to their homes. To
he music of a stately march they
eft the open semi-circle among
he trees, and the old man and
he beautiful maiden were left
NJ The ftrn With nnp last