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Poem
March 29, 1884
Fair Play
Sainte Genevieve, Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri
What is this article about?
A narrative poem about two messengers sent to ring church bells for a maiden's wedding and death, but servants mix the orders, causing discordant chimes at the bridal that convey unexpected wisdom.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THE WISE BELLS.
On a sunny Sabbath morning,
Forth two messengers were sped,
That the bells be set a-ringing;
One to say, in chime and singing,
A fair maiden is to wed;
One to say, with knell and moaning,
A fair maiden is dead.
By mischance the stupid servants
Went not whither they were bade;
But each where was not the other.
One said: "Ring the bells right glad
For a bridal!" Said the other:
"For the dead ring slow and sad."
So it chanced that at the bridal
All turned pale to hear the bell;
While the gladsome wedding chiming
Mid the dirge discordant fell;
But the age's hearing, whispered:
"In the chimes and in the knells,
Wisdom, more than man could teach ye,
Did you speak to-day, O bells!"
-Millie C. Pomeroy, in The Continent.
On a sunny Sabbath morning,
Forth two messengers were sped,
That the bells be set a-ringing;
One to say, in chime and singing,
A fair maiden is to wed;
One to say, with knell and moaning,
A fair maiden is dead.
By mischance the stupid servants
Went not whither they were bade;
But each where was not the other.
One said: "Ring the bells right glad
For a bridal!" Said the other:
"For the dead ring slow and sad."
So it chanced that at the bridal
All turned pale to hear the bell;
While the gladsome wedding chiming
Mid the dirge discordant fell;
But the age's hearing, whispered:
"In the chimes and in the knells,
Wisdom, more than man could teach ye,
Did you speak to-day, O bells!"
-Millie C. Pomeroy, in The Continent.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Death Mourning
Marriage Celebration
What keywords are associated?
Wise Bells
Wedding Bells
Funeral Knell
Servants Mistake
Moral Wisdom
What entities or persons were involved?
Millie C. Pomeroy, In The Continent.
Poem Details
Title
The Wise Bells.
Author
Millie C. Pomeroy, In The Continent.
Key Lines
"In The Chimes And In The Knells,
Wisdom, More Than Man Could Teach Ye,
Did You Speak To Day, O Bells!"