BETA

A sombre night, a starless sky !1
Jeanne sits, her heart with weeping sore,2
The cloth unwinding patiently3
For soldiers wounded in the war.4
Her lover to the war is gone ;5
His kiss yet fresh—’twas but to-day ;6
Her brothers too ! She sits alone ;7
They marched with him this morn away.8
Now booms more closely on her ears9
The cannon’s summons, stern and loud,10
Surrender ! Famine !’ Then she hears11
Her City’s ‘ No’ in answer proud.12
Her holy task at last is o’er ;13
Has it not brought her spirit rest ?14
When, suddenly, her humble door15
By timid hand is softly pressed.16
A stranger girl is standing there17
Within the door, her eyes as blue18
As Heav’n, her features pale, her hair19
Of gold, her dress of sombre hue.20
And these her words, ‘ Jeanne, have no fear21
The red cross on my arm I show ;22
My name and all that brings me here23
Oh ! let me in ! You soon shall know.24
At home they call me Margaret ;25
I’ve wandered from the banks of Rhine26
For him on whom my heart is set ;27
Oh ! let me in ! Your grief is mine ;28
By the same fears our hearts are torn ;29
Oh ! by our youth, our love, our pain,30
We’re sisters now ! leave hate and scorn31
For deadly fight on yonder plain.32
Together we’ll our charpie weave,33
For blood knows nought of colours two,34
Those grow alike who love and grieve,35
We’ll weep together, I and you !’36
She, ere the words had left her lips,37
The charpie threads asunder tore,38
Working with trembling finger-tips,39
For soldiers wounded in the war.”40