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Rh " You say so, you ! What private knowledge have you ? " Thus we clashed In sudden steelly war ; and all the while Our placid dolls lay smiling in our laps ; And, like two warring mothers, each would clasp Her waxen babe, and press its face to hers, And say, " You are not frightened, are you, Sweet ? We mean no harm, you know, we're often thus." And in the soft caressing, wrath went out, And heart drew near to heart with clinging hands : There followed then, " Dear, it is your turn now : There is a cavern ; tell me what you see." " I see a silver palace in the sun, With rose-leaf windows, and an emerald floor, Where gossamer fairies ever dance and play, And love, but not too sorely, lest they die." " The simpletons ! to shrink from death or grief : Why, everybody dies and as for grief, When I am old I mean to count my griefs, And say, ' This have I gained, and this, and this,' And hold them jewels, as the Bible says, To give the King."