| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| The Old Maid |
| | | George Barlow (b. 1847) |
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| SHE gave her life to love. She never knew | |
| What other women give their all to gain. | |
| Others were fickle. She was passing true. | |
| She gave pure love, and faith without a stain. | |
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| She never married. Suitors came and went: | 5 |
| The dark eyes flashed their love on one alone. | |
| Her life was passed in quiet and content. | |
| The old love reigned. No rival shared the throne. | |
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| Think you her life was wasted? Vale and hill | |
| Blossomed in summer, and white winter came; | 10 |
| The blue ice stiffened on the silenced rill; | |
| All times and seasons found her still the same. | |
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| Her heart was full of sweetness till the end. | |
| What once she gave, she never took away. | |
| Through all her youth she loved one faithful friend: | 15 |
| She loves him now her hair is growing gray. | |
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