 | A thousand more verses |  |
37
THE LONG LENT-TIDE.
She sat in the parlor, a maiden once more—
Uncrimped, and unrouged, and ungloved:
But her sweet face a frown of anxiety wore,
As she gazed at the man that she loved.
“Oh what can I do to my soul to be true?”
She was murmuring, over and o'er,
“So's to suffer in ways for the dear Lenten days,
That I never have suffered before?
Uncrimped, and unrouged, and ungloved:
But her sweet face a frown of anxiety wore,
As she gazed at the man that she loved.
“Oh what can I do to my soul to be true?”
She was murmuring, over and o'er,
“So's to suffer in ways for the dear Lenten days,
That I never have suffered before?
“I have banished the sweetmeats that shortened the day—
All the gems of the palate I shun:
And my pearls and my diamonds cower away,
From the light of the lamps and the sun.
And the thrill-haunted halls and the plays and the balls
And the opera's voices of flame,
Are as nothing to me: or at most they must be
On the doubly-locked door, just a name!
All the gems of the palate I shun:
And my pearls and my diamonds cower away,
From the light of the lamps and the sun.
38
And the opera's voices of flame,
Are as nothing to me: or at most they must be
On the doubly-locked door, just a name!
But I do not as yet feel that I have attained
What the spirit of sacrifice meant;
That my soul in its fights with my body has gained
All the discipline offered by Lent.
I depend upon you: tell me something to do
That of sacrifice true is a part!”—
'Twas the maiden's request, of the man she loved best,
And the one she had robbed of his heart.
What the spirit of sacrifice meant;
That my soul in its fights with my body has gained
All the discipline offered by Lent.
I depend upon you: tell me something to do
That of sacrifice true is a part!”—
'Twas the maiden's request, of the man she loved best,
And the one she had robbed of his heart.
Then he smiling said, “That which you love best, my dear,
Excepting your family ties,
You should fling from your life for a week and a year,
If on wings of the soul you would rise.”
And she said, “That is YOU! and 'tis only my due,
That you go, till the sad time is spent!
If you love me, dear, now help me keep the strange vow!”
And with heart bowed in sadness, he went.
Excepting your family ties,
39
If on wings of the soul you would rise.”
And she said, “That is YOU! and 'tis only my due,
That you go, till the sad time is spent!
If you love me, dear, now help me keep the strange vow!”
And with heart bowed in sadness, he went.
| A thousand more verses | |