Page:All quiet along the Potomac and other poems.djvu/136

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13 HESTER S JEWELS.

��HESTER S JEWELS.

" TF I only were rich," I sighed softly, 1 " To give to the suffering poor ; Or wise, to be teaching somebody ; Or strong, helpful work to endure,

" I then could show love to the Master,

Far better than idling here now : Being stupid, and poor, and a woman What work can I do, Lord, and how?"

There s Hester with basket and trowel !

" Stop ! Where are you going, my dear ?" A slight little, poorly-clad maiden

At the call turned about and drew near.

Her small sober face dimpled over

As she answered, " I thought I would go

To the wood for the red partridge-berries, And lichens, and mosses for Jo

"Jo Campbell; you know she is failing

Has grown far too weary and weak To go, as she used to each autumn, Her green winter-garden to seek.

" So I thought I would like to surprise her,

And show her the Lord she loves well Remembers her still in her weakness, And so sends me down to the dell.

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