Mary Baldwin College - Bluestocking Yearbook (Staunton, VA)

Page 25 text:

Prophecy. The sun was slowly sinking below the western horizon, on a bright afternoon in the latter part of May. I sat beneath one of those majestic linden trees whose branches sliade the ten aces of onr school ground. A book was l.ving in my lap — open — but I could not read. My thoughts wandered from subject to subject, dwelling first upon the fond recollec- tion of my school days, which were almost at an end, nnd then I was burlding air castles for the future which seemed so bright before me. At length I fell asleep, but even in my dreams my cla.ssmates were before nie. The great veil of the mysterious and unexplored future was lifted before my wandering eyes. Time had hastened oinvnrd in its ever advancing flight ten long years and I saw the FUTURE of my classmates. As the scene meets my eye, I cry, Where is now the merry party, I remember long ago ? and as if in answer to my eager question, there appears in the distant background, at first dimly outlined and then growing more distinct, these words. They ha -e ' jll dispersed and wandered, far awa -, far away. At:d. oh, how our paths have diverged and rediverged, since as a band of happ ' school girls we dwell beneath the strong, protecting walls of oui ' Alma Mater, Of all in onr class, one alone still lives — a life of single blessedness — in the town wlieie the old Hchool stands, while the o Z fr Mary, having studied in a medical school, is now caring for the sick in a New York hospital. In a moment the scene changes, I am borne to a little town in Southern Mississippi. A fair haired woman, of about thirty years is leaning over a gate, looking wistfully down a path, which leads from it. I can see only her profile and as I gaze upon the picture, a fine looking man rides up. As he jumps from his horse and as he imprints a kiss upon her forehead, I hear the word Sharp escape from his lips. I startle at the name of my old chum and fellow in mischief, as I prepare to speak the scene fades from my view and I am borne to a far off land. In a monastery, among a group of sisters, engaged in singing, I see two faces which catch and hold my attention. I trace in those faces, tiiough changed by time, a resemblance to those of the Kninia and Mary of years ago and as the singing ceases, their thoughts, too, seem to wander back to their school days and as they talk of days gone by and changes since those days, I learn that Besse is winning fame upon the stage — rivaled only by Patti. Scarcely had my mind grasped one ot those strange scenes before another was thrust before me In a large western city, I see Permele deli ' ering an address upon Woman ' s Right, ai:d as my thoughts fiy back to the time when she labored so faithful iy o ' er, The boy stood on the burning deck,