Where the River Test flows softly,
Twixt banks of brightest green,
And Queen Elfrida's convent,
through the arching trees is seen.
Softly she sang her childish thoughts,
As the daisies her small feet pressed;
Softly she touched the fragrant flowers,
Or watched the wild birds nest.
And this is the song the wee maid sang:
"There's never a day without a cloud
Or a joy without a sorrow:
And the sun that sets in the rain tonight
Will shine for me tomorrow."
The preacher prayed inside the church
For a conscience freed from sin,
While the little child in innocence
Caught the heavenly voice within--
"Father I stood by the river
just as the moon went down,
And it lighted the church of Wherewell
As if with a golden crown.
And Father, I saw a vision;
Dost thou think that children may?"
"And what was the vision daughter?
Tell it to me, pray."
Her dark eyes grew more earnest,
While steady and strong was she;
"I saw four boys and a woman
In a vessel upon the sea.
And she was sad and lonely;
And a man that looked like thee
Stood near; and there was sound of weeping,
And the woman looked like me."
"Didst see aught else, my daughter?"
And he thought of the threatening storm
Of church and state and conscience,
And his weary heart grew warm.
For might not his little maiden
Benighted, priest ridden England
Of the rise of a brighter dawn?
Earnest and still that fair child stood,
As Deborah stood of old,
And God's grace shone upon her
While she her vision told.
It came again unto her,
The same foreshadowing truth;
And with a tiny hand extended,
She saw through the bounds of youth.
"Father, I see the vessel,
And many are there, who make
The air resound with prayers
For God and conscience sake."
Scarce eighteen summers now have come and gone,
With each clouds of sunshine on the way;
Life's story glimmers bright with youthful song,
And earnest hours have changed from foolish play.
The little child unto a maiden fair has grown;
A strong souled man has looked into her eyes,
And from her heart her girlhood's song has flown.
While in it's place thoughts strange and sweet arise
Across her sunny pathway
With young love's wooing came
Young John, the stalwart preacher,
With words of sweetest flame.
"Deborah, beloved maiden,
Thou art dear, and unto thee
Give I all my heart; now answer,
Givest thou thine to me?"
Deborah, the gentle maid,
With her eyes of dusky brown,
Answered softly, "John, I love thee"
With her fair face drooping down.
Think ye then that John the preacher
E'er remembered priestly gown,
With that sweet faced maid before him
With her hair of burnished brown?
Nay, for in his arms he gathered
Her love unto his heart;
"God do ill and more to me, love
If I fail to do my part."
Came there then no thought or vision?
Forgotten was the prophesy
Of the sad-eyed lonely woman
Out upon the stormy sea.
A few more years have come and gone
While joy and sadness into life have grown.
We see the blessings of the children five,
We hear the sadness of the widow's moan.
The vision given in the fleeting years long gone,
Seems nearing now it's strange, sad truth to prove.
the woman on the stormy sea forlorn,
In spirit hath no confines to her love.
Ah rare indeed that company
The Lord did send out that day!
Did the little ship The Francis
Sail calmly on it's way?
Sail, stately ship, more proudly;
Thy banners all unfurled;
Thou carry'st wondrous tidings
Unto an unknown world.
Oh, Shawme Lake, by Indians called, how fair!
We greet thee now, unknown to world and fame.
Oh Sandwich! Unto thee we give our love--
For in her longing heart she gave thee name.
Rev. Stephen Bachiler Rev. Stephen Bachiler
Ann Bachiler Theodate Bachiler
John Sanborn Hannah Hussey
Joseph Sanborn Mary Smith
Mary Sanborn Elisha Marston
Jeremiah Prescott Mary Marston
Elisha Prescott Hannah Prescott - Same as on left
Hannah Prescott - same as on right
Mary Edgecomb
Benjamin Perley Philbrick
Lizzie Philbrick
Ray Everett Cotton
Fern Lyndell Cotton - my grandmother
Rev. Stephen Bachiler
Nathaniel Bachiler
Nathaniel Bachiler
Abigail Bachiler
Elizabeth Dearborn
John Garland
Richard Garland
Alice Garland
Richard Hayes
Sydney Hayes
George Hayes
Eva Delphinia Hayes
Linona Alice Yates - my grandmother
