Page 21 - 1911 November - To Dragma

18 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

and looked, and listened, that they sang in joyful acknowledgment
of it all, but I have decided that i t is not that. I rather think it
is for the acknowledgment and understanding of the rest of us.

I remember, with what a contented feeling I heard, not many
nights ago, the clatter of the last dinner pail vanish down the road,
and thrust the little rusty key into the pad-lock of my small red
school-house. Then I started down the long stretch of white road
toward the west.

I have never forgotten the sunset of that night. I t was like
something I had never seen before. The purple and gold lights
were gone, but the violet and gray remained. Over in the west,
beyond the range of pointed firs and scraggly pines, was a real
city beautiful. I t rose—palace and tower, and minaret—all of
gray cloud with the violet light over all, and here I will say that
the violet light made every home a palace. A t the end of the
street toward the north was the temple of Parthenonic pillars.
There was a golden light over the temple. The city was very quiet
for the twilight hush was over it, and it was near the evening hour.
There may have been soft music, but I could not hear it. The color
and light of the city would in themselves have been music to finer
ears than mine.

The shadows were coming, and the city was sinking into the
darkness of them, but before it had quite gone away, lights began
to flash upon the grayness—very soft, quiet lights. I wondered
much about them. Had the lamplighters, hoary men, began to
touch the lamps at the palace doors? Perhaps so, but I think not.
I believe that each of the queens had placed a lamp in her window—
a lamp with a little red shade to welcome home the king.

MARY E . CHASE.

The Blue Book of the University of Maine, January, 1907.