, 1881-12-25
This wide and cruel world, where is she now?
My poor, unhappy child.'

There then had come to MarEery aud to Giles
Oa this blest eve, full twenty years ago,
a pure snow blossom as their gift from God.
Bertha they calrd her, for the parsons vii
!: Who had most graciousiy youchsaf'd to stand:
As sponsor for the child. But soon ther foun
That Bertha was, by fur, too staid name, -
=: | And held grnyer measure In its sound ::
i ! Than Ger would suit the merry, laughing note
\ Of this gay little singing bird Of theirs -
And so they calrd her !. Birdie,", and the nam
Stuck to her thro' the years, and still she was :
The only tedgltng that wns In tho nest = ~.
Now, In that time, her many household cures
Kept Margery's busy hands and mind at work.
For rents were high. and Giles was at the start,
A good one tho, the land was rich and dry
Aud toll the only capital required. .:::: ~
So Nargery work'd indoors and kept the house
and let the hours SO regulate her work,
Until there CAN'T the one most dearly priz'd, =.
Which brought her husband to his ev'ntng meal
And those sweet after Joys of hearth and home
Which should the labor OF the day requite-.
When. with her knitting, and the latest news =:
tBorroWd from Joe, the Posrmau, but that morn
Joe always had the latest news from,tovn r.:
She drew her little rocker nearthe Hight, :.
It was the happiest moment Of the day.
And Giles, with Birdie pcrch'd upon his knee, :
| And. lying back within his great arm-chalr,
! He watched tho smoke-wreaths curl about his
/ = :*:@ head, = - :.
| Would let his eyes rest loving on her fncc,
For Giles was tired and liked to hear her read, 7
TIL she, becoming conscious OF their gaze, T.: H.
Would lay her paper down, and by his side
! Would quickly kneel, her tender arms entwiu'd
Round both the father and tho child, and SO
Would all their evenings pass. God! those were
The happy days. His sunshine bright was DER
| And In and all about their lives:
-; 40: -: -. -. And time +: I
Went on and Birdie grew apacc, and, as
Most fair she grew, the mothers heart rejoic'd
That Nature had so lavishIy bestow'd - =.
Her gifts upon her.
a Then dark days came, .
Those dark days OF but one year ago, :-~. ..~.
When o'er their peaceful nest shadow fell, .
The swcet-Foiced, handsome, tech'rous bird Of
! prey, ~: ~ =, - :.:' +.
Who, while he sang the mothers fears to rest,
tFor fears she had, tho unexpress'd and vngue)
And lulrd the father with his learning great,
And stories Of strange lands, they both awoke
From out their lotus sleep, to find = d:
Their little bright WIng'd, guileless bird had
flown. >'-t: Il
Few words spake Giles when first he learned
e. the truth: r.
SHOW. huark 70 wolfe, an to my words taak
note, >.~..-'. -. r.. ~: --- :.
For shn!l speak none other till die. :. -.
From this day fourth we live our lives anew,
The lass who bided With US from child
1s dcaa."> And SO the laughter and the light +:
Of all their lives went with her: e !. q ::
i: j: 49,: r: @-.s. ~ *~+
,-:.~- As Margery now. :
Towards her husband and the parson glanced,
And watched tho formers kindly, honest face,
She saw, rs ne Ter before she had perceived. 49,
Beneath the smile tfat now near reach'd bis
eyes, ~. ~
The lines Silent, Eoiceless grief Ind wrought
4 ,-t.r trnfrt.1 1.rA -f$~
Zen Tor TINS strong mans erlet than tor ner
:, own; - Il.
~ sao "as "otnau' n.4o 1ua '1Knt was nst7s
line fAsnt OF woman s weakness, "nicu u oit
In trouble, rs in JOY, her greatest shield.
While he beneath THO stolcs iron mask.
Must all eref's natural outlets ruthless crush.
nd hoinp mar, 1nust ma ,,nto rha 1,nrla :: .
au 49,. -, .,z 49,. ~ h.a...-h,oa e,a.,,
:. ~. 80 eeen -. 80
4 mans emotion NAV his manhood shame. r..
Sosano m. ,r5se and rat a vicar and .'-
oran+a, ,,5sa,,, -. 81 a 40 oo,-1~,orr.
=. . . e'~a.e. "Aa1o . 49, 0se e'.n N1o"
a Ast1enetn 80 1nnnle WHICH nor tlnle, nor aeata
Couid touch the eternal sources OF It's ben0,
To human sotrow did its nature yield.
Could strength so great and sympathy 50 grand =.
That death-that awful aud mysterious test =
Gould sinless face that we from sin might live;
Or could that manhood. pure and undenrd. :
Mans mortal semblance which q God did wear, =
he weaken by the birth or mortal tearss =: ~
As Margery sat, her thoughts divided. half !. " :
Boing with tho present and the past,
The loving husband OF so n1anyyears. '.-7 !:
Who stin, thank God was By her side this eve;
The daughter who. where er she be tonight,
MayGod IN all HIS tenor est mercy Shield,
Ihere came the sound OF singing from without;
Distant as 5ct but borne upon the WIND ~. :
Like sound Of Sabbath bells on summers eve.
A. 'Harkl hark!"": she cried, and then the three
did pause, =, :: - '~- ~
For Giles by this had garner d all his wheat, .:
And still the low, sweet singing nearer grew. .
The night is trenry and cold, ~ -.-> -:
=. and winterwinds do blow, :. .*-: r 49,
And over the lonely and dnrk'nina void .. Il, ::
ruA Anes:oeep mes ~ sao". i.
vas'a s..na-d ".n d .a.- 80 .,,,.. has,e
= And nsheT n bIithesomer Chr1stuas tus. =:
~ Than aughs that's ret had birth. :. - -.
-, .,-:, II 3: :,..
Ana nv %nr.e tne mes's anu sons e.. r.
Remarrhsr the ,ove hat hn. 15red N ,nno no:
=: The loye that was horn tonirht. - =
In your plenteous cheer remember the poor, -
/: And turn not the stranger awny from your coor.
That you OF loftief si1t be- sure. - r.-:.
fe7ee ano sooa-"1tt -, W eastn. a
zIne song was enaeh ana tney Knew IL wen
lug f!l4a8e cuo1A uau uls% eno csaRo4 tutn
f--.uA +II< u.x%-H Hf-