Set to song, Mason’s poem soothed Civil War soldiers

BY MARK HURWITZ

Caroline Briggs Mason was born in Marblehead in 1823, the daughter of physician Dr. Calvin Briggs and Rebecca Briggs. In the 1830s, Caroline’s father sent her and her sisters to The Bradford Academy, a boarding school in Haverhill. Shortly after graduating from the Bradford Academy, all three sisters ran a private school for girls in Marblehead.

Poems

Caroline’s poem “Do They Miss Me at Home?” was set to music by composer Sidney Martin Grannis in the 1850s and became very popular with the public. Although the poem was originally written about a young girl who missed her family, soldiers fighting in the American

Baker

From P. A6

Civil War later adopted it as they also missed their families back home.

“Do They Miss Me at Home?”

Do they miss me at home, do they miss me?

‘Twould be an assurance most dear

To know that this moment some loved one

Was saying, “Oh, were she but here!”

To know that the group at the fireside

Were thinking of me as I roam, Oh, yes, ‘twould be joy beyond measure

To know that they missed me at home!

When twilight approaches, the season

That ever was sacred to song, and Rich had just finished installing four rocks where water would be flowing betwixt and over them. The woman bursts from the house: “Oh no, Hooper! Feng shui, Hooper! ... It has to be either THREE rocks or FIVE rocks! Feng shui, Hooper!” Hooper shouts back:

“FOUR, lady! Bobby ORR, lady! Doncha know ... NUMBER 4! Bobby ORR, ma’am!”

» 2005. Guy at Bertini’s told of guy who lived with a woman on the second floor of his brother’s house. They’d nicknamed the guy “The Prospector” because the guy lived off the woman, but also because when they called in a plumber to find out why the bathtub drain was plugged, they found it was clogged with sand. The Prospector sent away to some mail-order place in California where there’d been gold mining — they sent you bags of sand you could “pan for gold!” The guy was panning for gold in the bathtub. He’d show off the few flakes he’d accumulated in a glass phial at Thanksgiving and other occasions.

» February 2004. Channel 5 pre-Super Bowl promo, sports guy Mike Lynch talking with Tom Brady. Lynch asks Brady, “What’s your idea of a dream ending?” Brady smiles and a little-boy look comes over him: “I draw ’em up in the dirt.” (schoolyard play-calling)

Bob Baker is a creative and branding resource in Marblehead, author of bar-style memoir, “When Life Was Wow!”

Does someone repeat my name over, And sigh that I tarry so long?

And is there a chord in the music

That’s missed when my voice is away? And a chord in each heart that awaketh Regret at my wearisome stay?

Do they place me a chair near the table

When evening’s home-pleasures are nigh,

And candles are lit in the parlor, And stars in the calm azure sky? And when the good-nights are repeated, Does each the dear memory keep, And think of the absent, and waft me

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD

Announcement for Applications

For (1) Wine Malt Beverage License

Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138

The Town of Marblehead is seeking applications for (1) Town Wine Malt Beverage License pursuant to M.G.L. c.138. Any applicant interested in applying for such Wine Malt Beverage License must submit the fully completed application and forms, together with the requisite application license and filing fees, to Thatcher Kezer Town Administrator Abbot Hall, 188 Washington Street, Marblehead, Massachusetts, on or before April 13, 2023 at 5:00 pm. Applications are available at www.abcc.gov Marblehead Select Board

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD INVITATION TO BID

TOWN-WIDE PAVEMENT MARKINGS

The Town of Marblehead, acting through its Board of Selectmen, will receive sealed bids under MGL c. 30 39M for furnishing and applying pavement markings on Thursday April 6, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. Bids shall be clearly marked in a sealed envelope PAVEMENT MARKING and sent to Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., Marblehead, and received by no later than April 6, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. This is a one-year contract with two option years at the sole discretion of the town. Bidding requirements and Contract Documents may be obtained online at www.marblehead.org procurement page beginning March 22, 2023. The successful bidder will be required to furnish security by payment bond or