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104
HONORIA.
Write this in sunbeams on Honoria's tomb,
And be her dust forever consecrate:—
And be her dust forever consecrate:—
“Daughter of Helpfulness, she ever strove
By numerous acts of secret charity
And words of cheerful import to incline
All suffering souls to lean on heavenly things.
Her gifts were lowly, but her heart outran
Her gifts. She had no vaunt of self, no pride
In deeds conspicuous, no ambitious flights
To achieve in place, or wealth, or praise. She lived
That others might be happy, and deserve
The happiness they gained. Benevolence
With her went hand in hand with Wisdom;
Never Want turned hopeless from her door,
But inwardly resolved henceforth to struggle
Into higher aims.”
By numerous acts of secret charity
And words of cheerful import to incline
All suffering souls to lean on heavenly things.
Her gifts were lowly, but her heart outran
Her gifts. She had no vaunt of self, no pride
In deeds conspicuous, no ambitious flights
To achieve in place, or wealth, or praise. She lived
That others might be happy, and deserve
The happiness they gained. Benevolence
With her went hand in hand with Wisdom;
Never Want turned hopeless from her door,
But inwardly resolved henceforth to struggle
Into higher aims.”
Hark, how the blithe birds
Chant about her grave! No requiem fitter
To embalm in song the harmonious beauty
Of a gentle life sacred to Helpfulness
And Human Love.
105
To embalm in song the harmonious beauty
Of a gentle life sacred to Helpfulness
And Human Love.
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