--Eliza G. D. Powell

I have been thinking all the day,

What there is that I can say

To little friends so far away?

Perhaps you'd like to have me tell

To you, to dolly, and Mabel,

A story ina simple rhyme,

About my little girlhood's time:

One pleasant Sabbath Day in June

When Robin red breast was in tune;

And Lucy called with pleasant greeting

To take Eliza out to meeting;

Mama was pleased, and quickly dressed

Me up, in what she called my best:

A muslin frock with broidery round;

With plaited sash my waist she bound;

Then pantalettes and stockings neat,

And red moroccos for my feet.

I seem to see my mother's eye,

As smilingly she said "Good Bye."

Our way was down a rolling hill,

(Save birds and bell the day was still,)

We crossed the bridge, where, on the river,

I watched the morning sunbeams quiver.

At length in open space of green,

The old, old Meeting House was seen.

Within I saw Strange things and new,

But felt at ease when in the pew,-

So like a room, -exactly square,

With seats around the center chair.

The seats on hinges you could raise,

To stand in prayer or singing praise.

They made a fearful clatter when

Good Dr. Dana said – Amen.

There was a gallery for the few

Who did not own a lower pew;

A tithing man sat with the boys,

To watch them if they made a noise.

O'er Dr. Dana and his book,

A large box hung upon a hook,-

A Sounding Board to make more clear

His voice, that distant ones might hear.

I was afraid that it would fall,-

So large the box, the hook so small.

Before a seat that was so high

It. seemed to me to reach the sky,

A man with a large green bag in hand,

Came and with singers took his stand.

Afterwards I learned to know

He had a bass-viol and a bow;

For when the bow across the string

He drew, the others joined to sing.

It seemed to me the time delayed,

While Dr. Dana preached and prayed;

For not a word I understood.-

I wonder now if I was good,

And sat quite still, as children should?

I hope this story-letter pleases

The little ones I call my nieces;

And that they will describe to me

The pleasant things they chance to see.

This poem gives a pleasant picture of going to church in the early eighteen hundreds where the girls wore pantalets and a good description of the first South Church.  Dr. Dana was minister at the South Church from 1764 to 1827. The poem was written for the celebration of the last church service in the old South Church. The next service was in the new building at the end of the South Green. The first and the last verses are original but have been omitted from most other copies of this poem.

Dr Dana's Meeting House    Grandfather Bowen