第 6 节
作者:大热      更新:2022-11-23 12:13      字数:9322
  look; and wait Watching the three children at their play。
  But   they   always   shrank   away   from   her   When   she   strove   to   comfort
  their   alarms; And   their   grave;   cold   silence   to   beguile:   Even   little   Olga's
  baby…smile Quivered into tears when in her arms。
  I   could   never   chide   them:     for   I   saw   How   their   mother's   memory
  grew  more   deep   In   their  hearts。     Each night   I had   to   tell   Stories   of   her
  whom I loved so well When a child; to send them off to sleep。
  But   Sir   ArthurOh;   this   was   too   hard!   …   He;   who   had   been   always
  stern and sad In my lady's time; seemed to rejoice Each day more; and I
  could hear his voice Even; sounding younger and more glad。
  He might perhaps have blamed them; but his wife Never failed to take
  the children's part: She would stay him with her pleading tone; Saying she
  would strive; and strive alone; Till she gained each little wayward heart。
  And she strove indeed; and seemed to be Always waiting for their love;
  in vain; Yet; when May had most her mother's look; Then the lady's calm;
  cold accents shook With some memory of reproachful pain。
  Little May would never call her Mother: So; one day; the lady; bending
  low;    Kissed     her  golden     curls;   and   softly   said;   〃Sweet     one;   call  me
  Margaret; instead; … Your dear mother used to call me so。〃
  She was gentle; kind; and patient too; Yet in vain:                the children held
  apart。 Ah;   their   mother's   gentle   memory   dwelt   Near   them;   and   her   little
  orphans felt She had the first claim upon their heart。
  So three years passed; then the war broke out; And a rumour seemed to
  spread and rise; First we guessed what sorrow must befall; Then all doubt
  fled; for we read it all In the depths of her despairing eyes。
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  Yes; Sir Arthur had been called away To that scene of slaughter; fear;
  and   strife;  …  Now  he seemed   to know  with double pain; The  cold;   bitter
  gulf that must remain To divide his children from his wife。
  Nearer came the day he was to sail; Deeper grew the coming woe and
  fear; When; one night; the children at my knee Knelt to say their evening
  prayer to me; I looked up and saw Sir Arthur near。
  There     they  knelt   with   folded    hands;   and    said  Low;    soft  words    in
  stammering   accents   sweet;   In   the   firelight   shone   their   golden   hair   And
  white robes:       my  darlings looked   so   fair; With   their  little bare  and   rosy
  feet!
  There he waited till their low 〃Amen;〃 Stopped the rosy lips raised for
  〃Good night!〃 … Drew them with a fond clasp; close and near; As he bade
  them stay with him; and hear Something that would make his heart more
  light。
  Little Olga   crept   into   his   arms; Arthur   leant   upon his   shoulder;   May
  Knelt beside him; with her earnest eyes Lifted up in patient; calm surprise
  … I can almost hear his words to…day。
  〃Years   ago;   my  children;   years   ago; When   your   mother   was   a   child;
  she came From her northern home; and here she met Love for love; and
  comfort for regret; In one early friend;you know her name。
  〃And this frienda few years oldergave Such fond care; such love;
  that day by day The new home grew happy; joy complete; Studies easier;
  and play more sweet; While all childish sorrows passed away。
  〃And your motherfragile; like my May … Leant on this deep love;
  nor leant in vain。 For this friend (strong; generous; noble heart!) Gave the
  sweet; and took the bitter part; … Brought her all the joy; and kept the pain。
  〃Years passed on; and then I saw them first: It was hard to say which
  was most fair; Your sweet mother's bright and blushing face; Or the graver
  Margaret's stately grace; Golden locks; or braided raven hair。
  〃Then   it   happened;   by   a   strange;   sad   fate;   One   thought   entered   into
  each young soul: Joy for oneif for the other pain; Loss for oneif for the
  other gain: One must lose; and one possess the whole。
  〃And      so  thisthiswhat     they    cared    forcame     And    belonged      to
  Margaret:      was   her   own。   But   she   laid   the   gift   aside;   to   take   Pain   and
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  sorrow for your mother's sake; And none knew it but herself alone。
  〃Then   she   travelled   far   away;   and   none   The   strange   mystery   of   her
  absence knew。 Margaret's secret thought was never told: Even your mother
  thought her changed and cold; And for many years I thought so too。
  〃She    was    gone;   and   then   your    mother    took   That   poor    gift  which
  Margaret laid aside: Flower; or toy; or trinket; matters not: What it was had
  better be forgot 。 。 。 It was just then she became my bride。
  〃Now;   I   think   May  knows   the   hope   I   have。 Arthur;   darling;   can   you
  guess the rest? Even my little Olga understands Great gifts can be given
  by little hands; Since of all gifts Love is still the best。
  〃Margaret is my dear and honoured wife; And I hold her so。                    But she
  can claim From your hearts; dear ones; a loving debt I can neither pay; nor
  yet forget: You can give it in your mother's name。
  〃Earth spoils even Love; and here a shade On the purest; noblest heart
  may   fall:   Now   your   mother   dwells   in   perfect   light;   She   will   bless   us;   I
  believe; to…night; … She is happy now; and she knows all。〃
  Next day was farewella day of tears; Yet Sir Arthur; as he rode away;
  And   turned   back   to see  his   lady  stand With   the  children   clinging   to   her
  hand; Looked as if it were a happy day。
  Ah; they loved her soon!           The little one Crept into her arms as to a
  nest; Arthur always with her now; and May Growing nearer to her every
  day:     … … Well; I loved my own dear lady best。
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  VERSE:                    GIVE PLACE
  Starry Crowns of Heaven Set in azure night! Linger yet a little Ere you
  hide your light:… … Nay; let Starlight fade away Heralding the day!
  Snowflakes   pure   and   spotless;   Still;   oh;   still   remain;   Binding   dreary
  winter;  In   your   silver   chain:…   …   Nay;   but   melt   at once   and bring   Radiant
  sunny Spring!
  Blossoms;   gentle   blossoms;   Do   not   wither   yet;   Still   for   you   the   sun
  shines;   Still   the   dews   are   wet: …   …   Nay;   but   fade   and   wither   last;   Fruit
  must come at last!
  Joy;   so   true   and   tender;   Dare   you   not   abide?   Will   you   spread   your
  pinions; Must you leave our side? … Nay; an Angel's shining grace Waits to
  fill your place!
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  VERSE:                    MY WILL
  Since I have no lands or houses; And no hoarded golden store; What
  can I leave those who love me When they see my face no more? Do not
  smile; I am not jesting; Though my words sound gay and light; Listen to
  me; dearest Alice; I will make my Will to…night。
  First for Mabelwho will never Let the dust of future years Dim the
  thought   of   me;   but   keep   it   Brighter   still: perhaps   with   tears。   In   whose
  eyes; whate'er I glance at; Touch; or praise; will always shine; Through a
  strange   and   sacred   radiance;   By   Love's   Charter;   wholly   mine;   She   will
  never lend to others Slenderest link of thought I claim; I will; therefore; to
  her keeping Leave my memory and my name。
  Bertha will do truer service To her kind than I have done; So I leave to
  her young spirit The long Work I have begun。 Well! the threads are tangled;
  broken; And the colours do not blend; She will bend her earnest striving
  Both to finish and amend: And; when it is all completed; Strong with care
  and rich with skill; Just because my hands began it; She will love it better
  still。
  Ruth shall have my dearest token; The one link I dread to break; The
  one duty that I live for; She; when I am gone; will take。 Sacred is the trust
  I leave her; Needing patience; prayer; and tears; I have striven to fulfil it;
  As   she   knowsthese   many   years。   Sometimes   hopeless;   faint;   and   weary
  Yet a blessing shall remain With the task; and Ruth will prize it For my
  many hours of pain。
  What   must