M KATE VANNAH. ISS LETITIA KATHERINE VANNAH was born in Gardiner, Maine, October 27, 1855. She is the daughter, and only child, of I. G. Vannah and wife, of Gardiner, and is of German and Irish extraction. Her paternal ancestors lived in Saxony, where they bore the name Werner. After passing through the grammar and high schools of her home town, she attended St. Joseph's Academy, at Emmittsburg, (ten miles from Gettysburg,) Md., graduating in 1874, and taking the first medal in English class and in music. She was fond of writing and memorizing poems at a very early age; but her first production of verse of importance was the "Farewell" of her graduating class, written at seventeen. While at Emmittsburg, she wrote in prose and verse for several periodicals; and on returning to Gardiner she began to write often for Boston, New York and Washington newspapers, as well as for those of her own state. She has since been engaged regularly in literary work, having made a specialty of poetry, a volume of which, containing about seventy pieces, she issued under the name of "Verses," in 1883; her principal work, however, has been in music, which, she says, is "the dominant power and pleasure" in her life. After graduation from St. Joseph's, she studied music with Ernst Perabo. She is mistress of the piano and organ. Her musical compositions, "Come-For the Sun is Going Down," "Three Roses," "O Salutaris" "Veni Creator" and "Parting" are most widely known, and have been very popular and remunerative. many years she has contributed musical criticism to several Maine newspapers. Her pen has been most busy, latterly, however, with verse-matter and personal sketches; several of the latter, as well as occasional literary criticisms and poems, having appeared in the Boston Evening Traveller. For Miss Vannah is a person of remarkable variety of accomplishments; besides being versed in English and American literature, and cultured musically, she is a notable French scholar, and a respectable artist. She is throughly interested in life, and with the highest standards of love and duty. In religion she is a Roman Catholic. Those best acquainted with her, however, know her to be first of all a Christian. In friendship her ardor and devotion are remarkable. E. R. C. INDIAN SUMMER. WE saw the happy robins build their nests, Kissed, each, a rose and wore it on his heart Always together-each the other's world. "THE LOOKING-GLASSES." I. THREE death-still pools in a lonely vale- II. And up on the hill, not far away, III. The sun shines warm on the gravestones white Whose soul may be lost forever! RECONCILED. IN no more fitting place could we have met, Each other's eyes, voice, lips-who did so blight And bruise each other's hearts with all Pride's might... . Just the dead body of our friend-warm yet LAST year I knew naught of thee save thy name, Not dreaming of its depths. Love, none knew me— FIRST LOVE. “For God in cursing gives us better gifts than men in benediction."-Aurora Leigh. A HUMAN friend was granted unto me, My blessing came. Blinded, I could not see God's image in my friend. Each came to be The other's god. Nor future nor the past We heeded—we forgot that Death came last: Men oft call love what is to God idolatry. My lover looked within my eyes and swore"No power on earth, nor yet in heaven, should take My love from him. If I at first the shore Of dread eternity should gain, he'd break God's law, and take his life, to share my fate." One heard, who mercifully changed our love to hate. LAST LOVE. Lo! here I stand all trembling and dismayed, Within the still, sweet garden of thy heart. O Love! all is so white, I feel afraid To stir or speak or breathe. No more to part |