H HELEN MAUD MERRILL. ELEN MAUD MERRILL was born May 5th, 1865, in Bangor. Maine. Six years of her life, from 1881 to 1887, were passed in Bucksport, Maine. For nearly two years past she has resided in her native city. At an early age Miss Merrill evinced a talent for writing, but none of her productions appeared in print until 1882, since which time she has contributed articles, both in prose and poetry, to the newspaper press. Her humorous sketches, under the nom de plume of "Samantha Spriggins," have attracted considerable notice and favorable comment. In 1885, she wrote and forwarded to the widow of the deceased a poem on the death of General Grant, receiving from Mrs. Grant a letter of grateful commendations. She has written and read several poems for G. A. R. anniversaries and entertainments in Maine, which were always well received. In a recently published work, "Poets of Maine," Miss Merrill received a flattering notice, and "The Angel in the Stone" was selected for insertion as a type of her original and graceful style of versification. She intends to publish a selection of her poems in book form at no distant date. Personally Miss Merrill is about medium height, graceful in form and prepossessing in appearance. She is an easy, pleasing, and withal a fluent conversationalist. She will have a brilliant future in her chosen profession. BY THE RIVER. J. W. D. By the dark and silent river, Where the rippling waves are ever Being drawn by mystic forces To the ocean far away; In the twilight, brooding tender, There I watched the fading splendor Of the the opal-tinted sunset, Making glad the dying day. Naught to mar the wondrous beauty, And I thought: Life would be heaven |