a maid was asked in marriage. wise as fair,

she gave her answer with deep thought and prayer,

expecting, in the holy name of wife,

great work, great pain, and greater joy, in life.

she found such work as brainless slaves might do,

by day and night, long labor, never through;

such pain—no language can her pain reveal;

it had no limit but her power to feel;

such joy—life left in her sad soul’s employ

neither the hope nor memory of joy.

helpless, she died, with one despairing cry,—

“i thought it good; how could i tell the lie?”

and answered nature, merciful and stern,

“i teach by killing; let the others learn.”