“ 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 here—23
‘ 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