MARY.
255
Could ease the aching anguish of my heart;
And when he found he could not comfort me,
He ceased to speak, and held my hand in his,
Blaming himself in silence; so we sat
Together, feeling we had left behind us
The little Eden of our happy thoughts,
Where we had lived so long, like our first parents
Cast out by disobedience; when we heard
A knock, and George looked in with anxious face
That brightened when he saw that I was there:
His was a cheerful honest face, that seemed
To have a comfort in its very look;
Not then alone, but many an aftertime
Only to see him lightened half our cares,
And if he found us anxious, still he left us,
Sometimes we scarce knew why, with happier hearts;
His was a hopeful, generous, kindly nature,
That ever turned things to their brightest side;
Or made one for them out of its own sunshine,
He did not, like my other brothers, rest
Content with wishing well to us, but left
No way untried to bring my father round;
But all in vain, yet still he cheered us, saying,
The good time would not fail to come at last;
Before he left he brought us all his savings,
They were no use, he said, to him at sea,
And all things were a help to new beginners—
Oh, sir! you are a Sailor like my brother,
You have a kind heart, I am sure, like his,
To listen as you do; he went away,
And when he found he could not comfort me,
He ceased to speak, and held my hand in his,
Blaming himself in silence; so we sat
Together, feeling we had left behind us
The little Eden of our happy thoughts,
Where we had lived so long, like our first parents
Cast out by disobedience; when we heard
A knock, and George looked in with anxious face
That brightened when he saw that I was there:
His was a cheerful honest face, that seemed
To have a comfort in its very look;
Not then alone, but many an aftertime
Only to see him lightened half our cares,
And if he found us anxious, still he left us,
Sometimes we scarce knew why, with happier hearts;
His was a hopeful, generous, kindly nature,
That ever turned things to their brightest side;
Or made one for them out of its own sunshine,
He did not, like my other brothers, rest
Content with wishing well to us, but left
No way untried to bring my father round;
But all in vain, yet still he cheered us, saying,
The good time would not fail to come at last;
Before he left he brought us all his savings,
They were no use, he said, to him at sea,
And all things were a help to new beginners—
Oh, sir! you are a Sailor like my brother,
You have a kind heart, I am sure, like his,
To listen as you do; he went away,
