Classic Poem

It's hard, but I don't wonder at mother —
Many a girl would be quite proud of him,
Older than I — but, loved me from a child.
I only wonder at his faithfulness,
Coming and going those long voyages
After my weak half yes's and half no's,
Taking a hope out to the distant lands,
Bringing his love home in his heart again,
Then coming here, saying to me, " Agnes,
Are you well, sweetheart — happy these long months
That were so long away from you, Agnes? "
(Long! they had passed passionately by me!)
It was so last evening — the old story;
And I — left mother to answer for me,
Whilst I sat wondering how such slow months
Had brought the spring so quickly round again;
The spring and Edward — and oh! all these things
He gave me — these. How I wish he wouldn't give
Me presents; I'm afraid, too, they may make
One reason why — but no, I won't. Mother,
Poor dear mother — she means kindly by me.
Some day I'll tell her — shall I? — about him,
Our hazard meetings and our secret love.
No; she'd only answer, " Marry Edward. "

From him " Dear Agnes, I'm in town again.
Dearest, I pray you let me see you soon.
To-morrow, yes, to-morrow; let it be
To-morrow that we meet somewhere by some
Happy chance. You'll be taking your work back
To Jay's at twelve o'clock; there I shall be
Lounging, or strolling past. We shall not fail
Each other. Each other! what words, Agnes!
And I shall see those beautiful eyes again,
And catch a syllable from the dear lips
That will be bold this time and praise our luck
At meeting; and you, dearest, cease to fret
About our difference, or this secresy. "

I wish, oh! how I wish, but of what use —
He a young lord, and I a needlewoman
What clasp of hearts can bridge our difference?
I think my heart could reach across to him,
But does his love stretch far enough towards me?
To-morrow — in secret, just as it was
Last time. To morrow ove to morrow

Enter EDWARD, a sailor, with violets in his hand, which he offers to AGNES.

" Nay, dear, to-day. Yes, say to-day, Agnes
Let this day be the happy day of days
When you say " Yes" to me. Child, there are years
Behind my love. Give me the little Yes
I've waited for and come to ask of you
Once, twice, and thrice — how many times, Agnes?
Be my sweet love, my little wife, my home,
My fair wind and my sunny port. "

— " Edward,
Cease, cease. Look here — do you see this corner
Of a letter hidden in my bosom?
No! — it's not good enough for you to touch,
But oh! too precious for you to see. I'll
Hide it away. Yes, you may take my hands;
I'll even lean my head against you once,
And once speak out. Edward, there's not a spark
Of love for you in all my being. Oh!
Not love, love as I know it. I pity you.
Never let mother tell you that I love;
Never believe her, Edward, if she says 't.
I was afraid of her. Now go, and don't
Come back to me — oh! never mind the violets,
Lay them down anywhere, only leave me.
Do go Edward. "

— " Yes, I'm going, Agnes.
One word — God bless you, darling, as I do. "

*****

Thank God he's gone, and there's one right thing done,
One honest work in all my web of wrong.
Now for another. Meet you — God! I think
I should have met him but for Edward's love,
That holy, worthless, hated, honoured love.
Now I'll — ah! what shall I do — meet him? no.
But I do love him; why, here's his letter —
The preciousest thing I have, the wickedest,
Dearest, worst lies in my osom nestles
Next my heart — it is my heart. " To-morrow
We shall meet somewhere — shall not fail " — dear words —
" Each other. " Yes, my love.

Well, I suppose
I must write a letter and say — something;
That I can't come — that mother's ill — that I'm
Engaged to Edward — ha! that I won't come,
That he must claim me here for his own wife
If he would see my beautiful eyes again.
No! here's my letter. " This is good-bye
To you from Agnes
, and here's a violet
For you from Agnes. " Sealed with a kiss — there,
There, and there, and there; a thousand kisses,
And a thousand thousand loves. Ah! but he'll
Only find the good-bye and the violet.