Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-04-02

A Vision.
lwntssn for the original night Of tho ssnsc
Club. South Paris. By En. Agnes L. Morton,
While eadea!oring 10 decide upon what sabtec
For my poem scheduled for this Monday night
" thoushfs seemed % taie Wosful night
Whore hstead Of sunshine, there Was chaos an'
nighk
Caused by this terrible war now at hand
Which We al believe for right has been planned
And the vision which now VIII relate
had at home, not asleep, but awake.
nv eyelids were closed, I Was al alone
And In sort Of dreamlAnd ! seemed 70 roam
In my thoughts % they wandered along
There was nothing at Al that resembled song.
With surroundings everywhere In pitiabk
And f.l Ss = he sys could distinctly see
The thing seemed gaining In insens,tyi
Every one from everywhere appeared to m,
Unsn the tnrong In mammoth proportions grew
Tho rich. the poor, the halt, the blind.
All net together. eager 70 hnd
A haven of refuge. just place 70 stay
whore thsy could rest blt on their sorrowfu
Thus onward shsy hurried In rapid pace.
With agony depicted upon every facei
The fAlling shadows were oh. 30 grayi
Is seemed the whole world In darkness lAyi
Behind the throng was the csnnon's roar
Each blast sounding louder than the one before
From the artillery guns was continual hrel
While above their heads, higher and higher
Countless bombs from ships In mid-aif
Fell 10 earth. causing blank despsiri
To escape ths terrible battles fray.
To The hillside the throng seemed vending its
way.
sorrow va the common 10. Of al. ~,
Grief was % deep. they spoke not at all
But hurriedly wandered In eager quest
Not for comfort, but just TO rest.
And 90 this throng went surGing 6y
While the world In shadows dark Old nei
I, alone, stood watch Ing them al.
The rich. the poor. the great. the small.
shared their sorrows. for well knew
Everyone had burdens too!
Many were old, and full Of care
with figures bent, and whitened hair.
And dear little facos which looked Into mtne
Seemed utterly bcreft Of childhood time!
Steadily onward though somewhat slow,
They seemed 70 ascend from the valley below,
Where shrapnel shells fell thick and fast
And cannonB doomed with terrible blast!
While watching, began to wish. then pray
For little light upon the way
To guide the soldiers to do Gods viii,
And 10 help the travellers up the hill.
Ny gaze In the distance far. far away
Was rewarded In time, for saw . bright ray :,
Which though small at hrss. grew brilliant and
And then knew. God had given NJ nghti
To sunsrine humanity the gleam from afar
Was nkened by them to the bright Morning
And though their hearts schsd with misery un-
This wonderful light to them did unfold
Tho Old Sweet Story. and all knew then and
there
With their suffering. and agony, they could go
To the siver Of all this wonderful light
Symbolic Of Heaven, where there is NO night.
Obi their sad, sad faoesi can sec them still
As they Wearily toiled In quest Of the HILL
But 90 steadily. brightly grew the Light
Shadows soon vanished, and gloom took its
flight.
Gazing afar on the horizon clear
I soon discerned the Hill top neari
T'wss oh. such wonderful sight to me
Surprising al my expectancy.
The glowing rays pervading each heart
Oerspread the whole world, Into every part
While steps Of the toilers lighter grew,
For they had seen the Hin top. tool
To the valley, then, looked with dreadi
But all heard was the silent tread
OF vast, vast army marching along
Whose oices soon resounded In soDgl
Victory Victory rent the airi
victoryi seemed echoing eyerywherei
And soon from all sides, all could zee
Were soldier boys marching. clad N khakii
And high In the air fearless of foe
The stars and stripes swung 70 and froi
while rays from the hin top hltering through
Frightened the colors Of the rcd, white and blue'
While stood anxiously watching them all.
! family heard bugle call,
Ny aching heart them exultant grew,
For my soldier boys were coming tool
Though victory made the soldiers glad
The fsces Of al, to me, looked sadi
For Q righteous cause they had done their best
And IKE the travellers, they needed rest.
80 all together In . mighty throng
By the glorious ray they wandered on.
Everyone seemed seeking relief,
For every head was bowed with grief.