 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
THE FOUR SISTERS.
We were four sisters, fair and free,
We blossomed like the flowers;
We knelt at one kind Mother's knee,
And made her wishes ours.
We drank from one pure sacred fount,
The precious draughts of life;
We climbed the same old solemn mount,
Which raises above strife.
We feasted at one banquet still,
When toiling hours were done;
Our labours had one common will,
Our pleasures all were one.
We blossomed like the flowers;
We knelt at one kind Mother's knee,
And made her wishes ours.
We drank from one pure sacred fount,
The precious draughts of life;
We climbed the same old solemn mount,
Which raises above strife.
We feasted at one banquet still,
When toiling hours were done;
Our labours had one common will,
Our pleasures all were one.
We were four sisters, free and fair,
One glorious home we had;
We breathed the same large liberal air,
One sunshine made us glad.
Our joys and sorrows too we shared,
Together learnt each art;
In storm and calm alike we fared,
And had no thoughts apart.
We fashioned ever with one tool,
And with one vision saw;
We sat as pupils in one school,
Where honour was the law.
One glorious home we had;
We breathed the same large liberal air,
One sunshine made us glad.
Our joys and sorrows too we shared,
Together learnt each art;
In storm and calm alike we fared,
And had no thoughts apart.
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And with one vision saw;
We sat as pupils in one school,
Where honour was the law.
We were four sisters tried and true,
In triumph and in care;
The load one sister had to rue,
The other sisters bare.
Swept on the same advancing swell,
We suffered the same cross;
The gain of each to all befell,
And one was every loss.
And if we quarreled, just by chance,
Or differed in our ends;
It needed but a word or glance
And we were faster friends.
In triumph and in care;
The load one sister had to rue,
The other sisters bare.
Swept on the same advancing swell,
We suffered the same cross;
The gain of each to all befell,
And one was every loss.
And if we quarreled, just by chance,
Or differed in our ends;
It needed but a word or glance
And we were faster friends.
We were four sisters, true and tried,
And one was passing sweet;
Who with us had the world defied,
Or witched unto our feet.
The youngest of our gracious band,
One by the holiest vow,
She gave us long her willing hand;
Where is that sister now?
Has she but strayed a little while,
By foolish fancies tost,
Soon to return with brighter smile;
Or is our sister lost?
And one was passing sweet;
Who with us had the world defied,
Or witched unto our feet.
The youngest of our gracious band,
One by the holiest vow,
She gave us long her willing hand;
Where is that sister now?
Has she but strayed a little while,
By foolish fancies tost,
Soon to return with brighter smile;
Or is our sister lost?
We were four sisters, one in hope,
Though wayward Erin seem;
We saw the same grand future ope,
The same brave banner gleam.
Our strife is but a fleeting wind,
Though friends may falsely plot;
We have a thousand links that bind,
And parted we are not.
Ah, though the shadows heavy lie,
And traitors pitfalls set,
No force can break our tender tie;
We are four sisters yet.
Though wayward Erin seem;
We saw the same grand future ope,
The same brave banner gleam.
Our strife is but a fleeting wind,
Though friends may falsely plot;
We have a thousand links that bind,
And parted we are not.
Ah, though the shadows heavy lie,
And traitors pitfalls set,
No force can break our tender tie;
We are four sisters yet.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |