Thursday, May 14, 2015

Book of the day: An Order of Worship for the Reformed Church;  Published Philadelphia by S R Fisher & Co in 1867.
Now the book isn't special for its contents which carry instructions for church services, but for an inclusion on page 17.

This book printed in 1867, belonged to Cordelia Knode, of Hagerstown, Maryland. She was a daughter of Israel and Sarah Kuhn Knode, and a great-aunt of Peggy Angel Wood of Chevy Chase and "Woodbyrue" Darnestown-Seneca, Maryland

And,
The Operator Johnstown

Message I
The torrent poured across the plain,
lapped torrents from the hills o'erhead;
"It looks as though true going to rain,"
The laughing operators said;
And then she wired-she loved her joke-
"That reservoir may soon be broke,
You'd better all get out your arks!"
They laughed, forsooth, to hear her larks!
Message II
"There is a flood, and here's your proof
We're telephoning from the roof!
Flee for your lives! The muddy foam
Engulfs already many a home;
The waters at our window-sills-
The dam has broken through the Hills!"
Message III
"This is my last message"-a hush
Along the wire; a sudden rush
Of waters-"Help!" Too late-they've swept
Where 2 brave women dying wept,
And weeping died, if they might save new line
The prey of Condemaugh's wild wave!
New York world.