THREE AND ONE. Shall use it awhile as a thing of pleasure, And she who is loved as a sweet friend only 19 Shall strive through pity to heal the wound. And after a time, when she's hushed its grieving, She shall take it, with all its wounds and scars, And hide it away in her breast, believing "Tis the richest treasure under the stars. But the three walk on o'er the sunlit meadows, And dream all life is a summer land; And they pass by one who sits in the shadows, And so we all, while the days are flitting, The vows we vow with a fond "Forever," Those that we love may the soonest fail us; ELLA WHEELER. WHY. Why do I love you? I don't know! Do you? You do! That's downright treason Not always, let me tell you, sir, Love practiced such excess of prudence; "Twas once his custom to explain The why and wherefore to his students. And how to solve each puzzling case Why foolish mortals love at all, Why we two hold each other dearest, How long 'twill last, and where 'twill end, You'd like to know, you precious querist? You never will! I'll tell you that, Yet still maintain my first assertion: Ah, why do I love you? If I knew, I would not tell you-no, no, never! For souls like yours were made to seek, And mine to hide, you see, forever. A WOMAN'S QUESTION. There's little, sir, you don't find out, But since that little makes life pleasant, I think I'll keep it secret still, And so keep you, too, for the present. MARY T. LATHROP. 21 A WOMAN'S QUESTION. Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing Ever made by the hand above A woman's heart and a woman's life, And a woman's wonderful love? Do you know you have asked for this priceless thing As a child might ask for a toy? Demanding what others have died to win, With the reckless dash of a boy. You have written my lesson of duty out; Now stand at the bar of my woman's soul, You require your mutton shall always be hot, I require your heart shall be true as God's stars, You require a cook for your mutton and beef; I require a far better thing. A seamstress you're wanting, for stockings and shirts; I look for a man, and a king. A king for a beautiful realm called home, I am fair and young, but the rose will fade Is your heart an ocean, so strong and deep A loving woman finds heaven or hell I require all things that are grand and true, If you give this all, I would stake my life If you cannot do this, a laundress and cook But a woman's heart and a woman's life ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. THE HEART SKEIN. 23 THE HEART SKEIN. Slip, yes, slip your skein, my Kitty, Now you drop your eyes completely, Ah, the rosebud fingers flitting Swift about the colored ball! How my heart beats time while sitting! Still I try to bear it all. Kitty, do you know or care 'Tis my heart you're winding there? Kitty, I am in a vision, All the world to mist doth die; Only in an air Elysian Little fairy fingers fly. Surely, if they flit too near, I shall catch and kiss them dear. |