Oak Grove Coburn High School - Oak Leaves Yearbook (Vassalboro, ME)

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OAK LEAVES through her personal ministry. While too refined to be obtrusive, she had a. deep intuitive sense of one's spiritual needs and the sweet sincerity of her concern as well as the strength of her own perfect faith have led many young people to decisions that have transformed and beautified their lives. Moon, worn thin to the width of a quill, In the dawn clouds flying, How good to go, light into light, and still Giving light, dying. She went about doing good and in her farseeing wisdom she has made careful provision that the causes she loved may go on through the years to come. Her spirit lives on and although Mrs. Woodman has gone, she is still giving light. There is an old Benediction that seems to have been fully granted in th-e life of Mrs. Woodman, whom to know was to love. May the Grace of God be in our hands, to bring healing and strength. May the Grace of God be in our eyes, to see Him as he is in His beauty and to find Him in our fellows. May the Grace of God be on our lips. May the Grace of 'God glow in our hearts. May the Grace of God make our lives gracious. May Peace and Sweetness, Comfort and Delight outshine from us, that all who touch us may touch in us the Gracious Jesus. no4.,' AQ, 4

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STILL GIVING LIGHT Smiling bravely and pressing forward with the urge that for years has been the wonder of all who have known her zeal for doing good, Mrs. Wood- man attended to each accustomed task on the morning of May 22. She had turned to her desk with its appeals and was busily writing checks for the causes she loved and supported when her tired heart faltered and in a few minutes her gracious spirit was at rest. The private services on Thursday afternoon were in harmony with her Wishes for simplicity but the thousands of beautiful flowers and the long line of noted p-ersons who mingled with humble folk for two hours before, as they came to express their esteem and love, W-ere silent testimony of the place she held. Born in a home where every luxury could have been provided, Mrs. Woodman was trained from. childhood to put charity before indulgence and throughout her long life she has thought first of the needs of others. While a student at Oak Grove some sixty y-ears ago she was as distinguished for her gentle thoughtfuln-ess and sweet generosity as for her beauty and talents. Later as she mingled in society with the learned and famous, Mrs. Woodman was sought for her social graces but she was also loved for her noble Womanliness and strength of character. While the fortune which belonged to Mrs. Woodman made it possible for her to give abundantly, her generous spirit always Went with each gift whether it were for needy children, a college stadium, a health building in India, or a nurse year after year in her town, a school, or college. Mrs. Woodman herself seldom mentioned any of her benevolences and constantly avoided publicity but it was inevitable that the giver of some of the larger gifts became known. Those who knew Mrs. Woodman most closely, how- ever, realized that while she took pleasure in handsome gifts she found even greater joy in giving of herself. The fruits which her gardener brought were carefully, frugally and skillfully transformed into jars of clear jelly and d-elicious preserves which she herself carried far and wide for the sick. Many a humble person has r-eceived his first hot house flowers from her hand. Time after time when serious illn-ess overshadowed some poor home, a trained nurse was quietly engaged. Needy and worthy students by the dozens have been helped through school and college even though others in whom she had placed confidence had disappointed her. Underpaid teachers have been given the rest and refreshment of a trip abroad, ministers have found their salaries increasedg and the convalescent have found their hos- pital expenses mysteriously paid. Quick to see and respond to the needs of others, Mrs. Woodman never indulged or even spared herself, and her zeal for thoroughness and perfection was indomitable. Mrs. Woodman gave away a fortune in relieving suffering and pro- moting Christian causes but she brought far more lasting blessings to many 5

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OAK LEAVES PERSEPHONE Persephone, Persephone, The sap stirs warm in the maple tree. Now from the clutch of her jealous lover Persephone flies to the arms of her mother. Persephone, Persephone, The buds swell red and the winds are free. Break now the bonds of the ice and snowg Ceres who bore thee long ago- Awaits thy coming, Persephone. Rise from the clinging shadows and bring To the wasted earth the promise of springg Bring happiness back to Earth and thee, So long she has waited, Persephone. Persephone, Persephone, The new sap stirs in the maple tree And broken glass is the river's blueg Earth has been waiting the long night through The buds swell red and the winds are freeg Thy mother is waiting, Persephone. STELLA CARVELL, '34, 5