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 | An idyl of work |  |
Not always to be here among the looms,—
Scarcely a girl she knew expected that;
Means to one end their labor was,—to put
Gold nest-eggs in the bank, or to redeem
A mortgaged homestead, or to pay the way
Through classic years at some academy;
More commonly to lay a dowry by
For future housekeeping.
But Esther's thought
Was none of these; unshaped and vague it lay,—
A hope to spend herself for worthy ends.
Aliens were in her childhood's home. No past
Could be revived for her, and all her heart
Went forth into the Future's harvest-field,
A Ruth who never of a Boaz dreamed.
Whatever work came, whoso crossed her path,
Lonely as this pale stranger, wheresoe'er
She saw herself a need, there should be home,
Business, and family. She raised her eyes,
As her soul said Amen to this resolve,
And saw Ruth languidly peruse her face
Through mists of thought; who murmured, “Read aloud.”
Scarcely a girl she knew expected that;
Means to one end their labor was,—to put
Gold nest-eggs in the bank, or to redeem
A mortgaged homestead, or to pay the way
Through classic years at some academy;
More commonly to lay a dowry by
For future housekeeping.
But Esther's thought
35
A hope to spend herself for worthy ends.
Aliens were in her childhood's home. No past
Could be revived for her, and all her heart
Went forth into the Future's harvest-field,
A Ruth who never of a Boaz dreamed.
Whatever work came, whoso crossed her path,
Lonely as this pale stranger, wheresoe'er
She saw herself a need, there should be home,
Business, and family. She raised her eyes,
As her soul said Amen to this resolve,
And saw Ruth languidly peruse her face
Through mists of thought; who murmured, “Read aloud.”
| An idyl of work | |