Page:All quiet along the Potomac and other poems.djvu/311

 THE ROSE OF THE RING. 305

&quot;You wouldn t thought then, as she whimpering stood,

That her life was a happy one, dear; Each spangle a-quiverin over her breast

Seemed to me but a pitiful tear.

&quot; That s the way, Nelly dear, that the Rose of the

Ring Earns her bread. Would you change if you

could?&quot; By the rough farmer s side, with her head on his

breast, Little Nelly, his girlish wife, stood.

&quot;Oh, John ! I believe you see into my heart, For you know without speaking my thought ;

And then you re so patient and tender and good ! Never scolding me well, as you ought.

&quot;I was thinking, dear, how dull home would seem;

How I hated my old gray delaine, And the milk-pail, and dishes, and ironing-board ;

But, John, I won t do so again.

&quot;A heart such as yours, John, a temper so kind,

Are far better than jewels to me ; And the spangles ashine on the glittering skirt

Only tear-drops henceforth I shall see.&quot; 26* U

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