 | Studies in verse (1865) |  |
That night a message reached the porter's wife,
To come at once in charity and speed
To some poor woman in the hospital
Brought nameless in that forenoon from the street,
Who named her as her only friend in town.
And who in certain hours would be beyond
The reach of friendship: and the porter's wife
Went on the instant, knowing in her mind
That this must be the widow; and her tears
Flowed as she went.
To come at once in charity and speed
To some poor woman in the hospital
Brought nameless in that forenoon from the street,
Who named her as her only friend in town.
And who in certain hours would be beyond
The reach of friendship: and the porter's wife
Went on the instant, knowing in her mind
That this must be the widow; and her tears
Flowed as she went.
But Mary Barton lay
In the last ward; and night was on the place.
And now she moaned a little, now she spake,
But did not know the woman at her side.
After an hour a change possessed her face,
And made her speech impetuous at the last.
In the last ward; and night was on the place.
And now she moaned a little, now she spake,
59
After an hour a change possessed her face,
And made her speech impetuous at the last.
| Studies in verse (1865) | |