MAN. CORELLI C. W. SIMPSON. A We are puppets, Man in his pride, and Beauty fair in her flower; Do we move ourselves, or are moved by an unseen hand at a game That pushes us off from the board, and others ever succeed? Ah yet, we cannot be kind to each other here for an hour; We whisper, and hint, and chuckle, and grin at a brother's shame; However we brave it out, we men are a little breed. - Ibid. -Ibid. Love that hath us in the net Even so. Ah, no! no! MONG the charming residences which make Bangor the favorite city of homes in the Pine Tree State, that over which Mrs. Corelli C. W. Simpson presides with graceful hospitality is well known and delightful. To this happy wife and mother, in a home which gives pleasure to all her friends, the poetic gift is the crowning happiness of her life. Mrs. Simpson was one of twin daughters born to Capt. Francis Dighton Williams in Taunton, Mass., February 20, 1837. She is justifiably proud of the best New England ancestry on her father's side and also that of her mother, Corelli Caswell. Her grandfather, Cyrus Caswell, who was a lover of music, gave to his daughter the Italian name Corelli, from an air he was fond of playing on his violin. She handed it down by giving to her twin daughters the names Corelli and Salome. So much alike were these little sisters that they were designated, even in the family, by their pink and blue ribbons, and in maturer life the resemblance is still remarkable. Corelli C. Williams was thoroughly educated in schools both public and private, chiefly the Bristol Academy and Taunton High School. After visiting Bangor, Me., she opened the first kindergarten known in that city in 1864. A hearty lover of children, cheerful, sympathetic and unwearied in her efforts, she became at once very popular, and it is not strange that A. L. Simpson, a member of the Penobscot bar and at that time a widower, as he led his little Gertrude daily to the kindergarten teacher, should perceive her rare qualities and covet the happiness of leading the teacher herself to preside over his home. They were married September 20, 1865. In December, 1866, the little Gertrude welcomed a sister Maude, and the family circle was complete on May 22, 1872, upon the advent of a son, Howard Williams, at present a law student in his father's office. Mrs. Simpson has written her poems in moments of inspiration and not as a serious task. Overflowing with enthusiasm and ardor, she finds in verse the natural expression of her feelings. Her writings have appeared in various popular periodicals, and are always warmly received. A few years ago a fair for the benefit of the Young Men's Christian Association was held in Bangor, and she was applied to for something saleable. The result was a Tête-à-Tête Cook Book, a gem of culinary art, the most of its delicious recipes being original with her, and this dainty work had an immense sale. She has since had a second copyrighted edition published. She has absolutely perfect health, and walks frequently five or six IMMORTALITY. O dear spirit half-lost -De Profundis. - Morte d' Arthar. SLANDER. Soiling another will never make one's self clean. - The Grandmother. miles for the pleasure of the exercise, “not knowing,” as she says, "what it is to be tired.” During her spare moments she is engaged upon a work entitled “Leaflets of Artists,” which comprises sketches of the lives of artists by eminent writers. F. L. M. A fairer picture ne'er was seen, This little mimic king and queen. "Not introduced!" Screams her mamma, And leads her off to Grandpapa. High, higher up the mountain side, Far, farther o'er the ocean's tide, Down, deeper through the valley's lane, Wild, searching reckless o'er the plain, Dear sisters sigh, astonished, sad; What motive rules this willful lad?" “He will be lost,'' groans stern papa. “Let him search on,” says grandmama. CONTENT. While waiting for the Lily, We lose the sweet Mayflower; While longing for the sunshine, The beauties of the shower. While dreading distant thunder, We miss the bird's sweet song; While fearing all life's evils, We blind our eyes with wrong. She dreams, and wakes, and dreams anew, In grandma's arms, to grandma's ear. We wait and long; we fear and dread; 'Though ten years 'lapse 'tween that and this, The same sweet lips unite to kiss. Birds listen, wondering what they mean; “I'll be thy king; thou'lt be my queen.” This picture's touched with higher aim, ENDEAVOR. Like skyward sparks our souls aspire, To fall as drops the sand. Morn finds 'mong clouds each heart's desire; At eve we grope on land. We've failed our highest to attain, Shall we then cease to try again ? SONNET. Alike to things both near and far, With gleeful, prattling shout, To nurse's cap or distant star The babe's wee hands stretch out. From striving shall the babe desist Because the moon meets not his fist? Dear friend, in leafy, balmy days of June tune. How grew that tree with deep-set root ? By reaching towards the sun. Though standing at the ladder's foot, Its rounds are one by one. By constant striving we shall find Our sheaves and the wherewith to bind. OLD-TIME PICTURES. MYSELF. At play, a boy, just turning eleven Though palace grand or humble cot, FIVE YEAR-OLD PERPLEXITIES. WALTER ALLEN RICE. Oh! pity me, dolly; for dolly, I've done Dear dolly, you know, we were 'bout to take tea; I begged aunt to give me a bit of sweet sauce, fuss." I climbed the first shelf, and while there on my feet, you. WAI ALTER ALLEN RICE was born in Bangor, Me., January 14, 1857, and for a long term of years that city was his home; but latterly his employments have called him to various New England cities, and more recently he has been engaged as a lecturer in the interests of secret society work. This nomadic life naturally has not been favorable to much literary achievement, but nevertheless he has done considerable pen-work since leaving Harvard College in 1877. Much of this has been in the direction of verse, and his poems have appeared in different publications. Whether or not Mr. Rice published anything before he left Harvard, I am unable to say, but during freshman years he devoted himself to verse-making, and in addition to short stories, he prepared the manuscript of a novel, which he soon consigned to oblivion, his reason for not allowing the story to be printed, “That it was written simply for the pleasure of the thing." Having a strong liking for elocution, Mr. Rice took up its study professionally, and on leaving college he gave readings in many of the Maine and New Hampshire towns. In this connection he prepared a course of lecture readings, “Five Evenings With American Authors," which were very favorably received by lovers of good literature, though the young lecturer soon abandoned the field for lack of material support. The authors treated of were Longfellow, Whittier, Lowell, Bret Harte and Mark Twain. Previous to entering Harvard, Mr. Rice graduated from Phillip's Academy at Exeter, N. H., having also been a graduate of the Bangor High School in his eighteenth year. Among other positions he has ably filled is that of proof-reader with the publishing house of Houghton, Mifflin & Co., of Cambridge, Mass. He left Cambridge to engage in lecture work for the Order of the Iron Hall, a vocation giving large opportunity for travel and observation, and one in which success attends him. Mr. Rice was married July 5, 1887, to Miss Lydia A. Chase, of Roxbury, Mass. A man of thoughtful, studious habits, a lecturer of recognized ability and a graceful writer of prose and verse, he is one of whom the future promises much. R. R. But, dolly, I don't mind my fall, or the bumps, It seems as though, dolly, this day has been years. When anything's wrong, mamma says we must run And tell the truth, dolly, 'bout all that we've done; Now shouldn't I feel, dear, more glad than I do? As soon as it happened, I came and told you. Oh, dear! I'm so sorry 'tis broken! But hark! 'tis dark BABYHOOD. EVENING. Sweet Babyland! no myth, no dream. -Babyland. When Titan reins his fiery steed at last O’er seas of flame, and gorgeous fleecy isles, His red-plumed helmet then is proudly cast At Evening's feet whose face is wreathed in smiles. THE HEART'S CONFESSION. When she has closed the golden doors of day, I love to hear her garments’ rustling sound, To feel her eyes meet mine, then turn away While yet her presence seems to linger 'round. How tenderly she wasts the cooling breeze O'er city thronged and pleasure's calm retreat, Where weary mortals seek a moment's ease And greet her coming as a respite sweet. NE'ER subject bowed before the royal throne More proudly than do I acknowledge thee Queen of my heart, that ever had been free Till thy resistless love made it thine own. Whether the splendor of thine eyes alone Conjured the spell, or all thy charms combined, Swaying at thy sweet will the unwilling mind, My being's thrilled anew with nobler aim, Became, at thought of honoring thy name, Grand aspirations, whose bright glories seem To light the pathway up the heights of fame. Above the crib some gentle grandma bends And smooths with loving touch the coverlet; So Evening, with her spangled spread descends, And folds away each burden of regret. As each long sultry day doth reach its close, And fragrant is the air with new-mown hay, How softly down the insects' murmur flows, And blissful quiet steals along the way. LIFE. Laughing, musing, weeping, Each succeeds in turn; Each is in our keeping, All too soon we learn. Weeping, musing, laughing, Life is only this; Tears we're surely quaffing From the cup of bliss. OCTOBER! Why do I this month adore ? long, While jest and laughter kept the night awake, And forfeits not a few we had to take; I thought the time would never come to end, wend, Shadows may be listed, And the spirit roam, When the scenes have shifted In a cloudless home, Where there is no dying, Morning, noon or night, Pleasure never sighing, But eternal light! |