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She wondered at his tarrying, He was not wont to stay;'Mid hunger, pain and watching, The moments waned away.
Sadly crouching by the embers, Her famished children lay;And she longed to gaze upon them, As her spirit passed away.
But the embers were too feeble, She could not see each face,So she clasped her arms around them— 'Twas their mother's last embrace.
They loosed him from his prison, As a felon from his chain;Though his strength was hunger bitten, He sought his home again.
Just as her spirit linger'd On Time's receding shore,She heard his welcome footstep On the threshold of the door.
He was faint and spirit-broken, But, rousing from despair,He clasped her icy fingers, As she breathed her dying prayer.
