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

 13 HESTER S JEWELS.

��HESTER S JEWELS.

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

&quot; 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?&quot;

There s Hester with basket and trowel !

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

At the call turned about and drew near.

Her small sober face dimpled over

As she answered, &quot; I thought I would go

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

&quot;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.

&quot; 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.

�� �