The Conge - A Poem by Kate O' Flaherty Chopin

Kate O'Flaherty Chopin
Sacred Heart Alumna, St. Louis - Class of 1898

The Congé – 1867

The Congé is past and the frolic and fun

Was over, before it seemed scarcely begun;

For with playing and romping and teasing away,

The quick fleeting hours soon filled up the day.

But the morning was not to amusement devoted

For Madam to all of her “Brights” had allotted

The task (this displayed a heart ever trusting)

Of arranging and breaking and mending and dusting,

Her chemical tools, which of delicate make

We could easily handle and --- easily break.

There was Lizzie who thought with importance of air

That we could do nothing if she was not there,

And Frank --- thinking much, and speaking but little

Who handled with safety tools e’en the most brittle

While Katie O’F, poor unfortunate lass

Broke implements stoutest as though they were glass.

But this war of destruction, thanks, soon was to cease

And the room and its contents left happily in peace.

For kind Madam Hamilton, with due form and state,

Announced the dinner no longer could wait,

And arranging the girls with artistical taste,

Led the way to the hall without trouble or haste.

But ye Fates! On arriving I found ‘twas my doom

For what I presume of more benches or room,

To sit between Lizzie and Nina my cousin

Who seemed to have appetites due to a dozen,

And gave me scarce time to breathe or to think

With asking for butter --- the bread ---or a drink.

But between these demands which indeed were not few,

I found time to admire an arrangement or two

Of the garlands of flowers and pigs a la fry

Which in every direction were greeting the eye.

But all these howe’er beautiful sink into nought,

In considering the fun which the afternoon brought;

For through cellar and basement and garret so high,

We tumbled and tossed in the game of “I spy.”

Now into the barn yard --- the loft or the stable,

Hiding in every place ---any place that we were able;

And thrown into ecstasies of foolish delight

At not being found or at seeking aright.

But at length Madam M. with mysterious air,

Comes whispering that the girls must prepare

To enter a room, shut out from all light,

To see a strange thing ___ a most wonderful sight;

Which sight we soon found was a new source of pleasure

Got up by “our Madam” whose mind is a treasure,

Ever teeming with jewels of science and fun,

And in whom we all think sets and rises the sun.

‘Twas a strange magic lantern which displayed a queer sight

Of devils in every conceivable plight.

Of hills and volcanoes; St. Peter’s at Rome;

Of Pantheons at Paris --- or a neat cottage home.

Of monkies and tigers and elephants rare ---

All displayed with precision and mentioned with care.

When, at the best part we are told we must leave;

For fear that the already fast fading light

Would leave us in fear at the coming of night.

And as I reluctantly arose to obey,

Though my reason said “homeward” my heard bade me stay.

So greatly put out --- nearly ready to cry,

I kissed my companions --- bade Madam good bye ---

And secretly knowing I’d no time to waste

Turned my steps towards home with all possible haste.

                                                      Written in 1867 By Kate O’Flaherty

Kate O'Flaherty Chopin, Sacred Heart Alumna to be Honored in her Hometown - St. Louis, MO

Bust of Kate Chopin by Sculptor  Jaye Gregory 

March 11, 2012 ~  Today in St. Louis, Missouri, the Central West End Association will unveil the bust of Kate Chopin to be on display at the Writers' Corner in the city (the intersection of Euclid and McPherson).  

Catherine (Kate) O'Flaherty was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 8, 1850.  Her father Thomas had imigrated from Ireland and was killed in a railroad accident when Kate was a young girl leaving her to be raised by her mother, Eliza Farris O'Flaherty of St. Louis and her mother's family who were of French decent. She was very close to her great-grandmother Victoria Verdon Charleville who spoke only french and taught Kate the art of story telling.  Kate's great-grandmother died at age 82 in 1863. Shortly thereafter her half-brother George O'Flaherty died at the age of 23 of typhoid fever. He had been serving in the Civil War as a Confederate soldier. Her grandmother Athenise Charleville Faris died at age 89 in 1893 thus outliving both Kate's mother and husband.  

The many strong woman who influenced young Kate also included the Relgious of the Sacred Heart.  Kate attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis from 1855 - 1868.  She graduated with a blue ribbon and was a Child of Mary.  While a student at the Academy one of her teachers Mother O'Meara encouraged Kate to write.  She wrote a poem The Congé – 1867 which made reference to both Mothers' Hamilton and O'Meara, as well as, one of her best friends Kitty Geresche who later entered the Society of the Sacred Heart.

As a young girl Kate found that writing was a great way to express her feelings and as a young widow she again found writing to be therapeutic.  Her family doctor encouraged Kate to write as a means of therapy and financial support.  

To learn more about Kate Chopin, click here  - Kate Chopin International Society.

Catherine O'Flaherty Chopin
1850 -1904