 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
THE TWIN SISTERS.
They grew together side by side,
Two branches of one tree—
They grew together in their pride
And promise, fair and free;
Their arms were strong, their shelter wide—
As far as eye could see—
Where all who loved them might abide,
Though faithless friends should flee.
Two branches of one tree—
They grew together in their pride
And promise, fair and free;
Their arms were strong, their shelter wide—
As far as eye could see—
Where all who loved them might abide,
Though faithless friends should flee.
They toiled together in the shade,
Through lonely hours and loss;
They saw around them systems fade,
And heard the tempest toss;
While each bore out what either bade,
And rights refined from dross;
Though one stretched out the justice blade,
The other held the Cross.
Through lonely hours and loss;
They saw around them systems fade,
And heard the tempest toss;
While each bore out what either bade,
And rights refined from dross;
Though one stretched out the justice blade,
The other held the Cross.
They bled together, and the years
Waxed fruitful with their blood;
And the two fountains of their tears
Flowed in one healing flood,
Which cleansed the State from guilty fears,
Till it re-christened stood,
And gave the Church for pining years
A message glad and good.
Waxed fruitful with their blood;
And the two fountains of their tears
Flowed in one healing flood,
88
Till it re-christened stood,
And gave the Church for pining years
A message glad and good.
They sang together in their joy,
And from horizons bright
Took the same hope that could not cloy,
And drew a common might—
Rose out of forces that destroy,
To one more holy height;
They purged each other from alloy,
And shared each other's light.
And from horizons bright
Took the same hope that could not cloy,
And drew a common might—
Rose out of forces that destroy,
To one more holy height;
They purged each other from alloy,
And shared each other's light.
And still together now they stand,
Twin sisters free and fair,
Hand solemnly yet joined in hand,
As at the altar stair;
Bound in a sacred nuptial band,
They breathe no different air,
And have one blessing for the land,
A God-united pair.
Twin sisters free and fair,
Hand solemnly yet joined in hand,
As at the altar stair;
Bound in a sacred nuptial band,
They breathe no different air,
And have one blessing for the land,
A God-united pair.
They live together, and they will
No less together fall;
The shadow, that the one may kill,
Must be the other's pall;
Parted they cannot linger still,
If fate should either call;
And woe, that brings them mortal ill,
Dooms country, Crown, and all.
No less together fall;
The shadow, that the one may kill,
Must be the other's pall;
Parted they cannot linger still,
If fate should either call;
And woe, that brings them mortal ill,
Dooms country, Crown, and all.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |