| |
| GLAD as that thrill some princely birth | |
| With hushed yet rapturous omen gracing, | |
| The stir, as from her palace forth | |
| The young fair queen came pacing. | |
| But here no pompous guard was set, | 5 |
| No flattering concourse gathered round; | |
| The poor about her gate were met; | |
| The readiest place the poorest found. | |
| |
| Like youthful angels, all alert | |
| The queen dispensed her bounteous load; | 10 |
| On those whom keenest fates had hurt, | |
| Her earlier gifts bestowed. | |
| Her face the maniac’s rage beguiled; | |
| She turned her now among the ring, | |
| And paused above a poor blind child | 15 |
| The sweetest of her songs to sing. | |
| |
| Kind gifts to some, kind words to more, | |
| Kind looks to each and all she gave, | |
| Which on with them through life they bore, | |
| And down into their grave. | 20 |
| Around her feet the children crept, | |
| And kissed the grass those feet had trod, | |
| Whilst eyes that many a year had wept, | |
| With tears of gladness gemmed the sod. | |
| |
| The chiming of the convent bells | 25 |
| Called her at last away to prayer: | |
| Farewell she smiled on their farewells— | |
| And turned; when, unaware, | |
| An old gray man with hands outspread | |
| She marked low bent on quivering knee; | 30 |
| Over his brow she stooped and said, | |
| “A kiss is all I have for thee.” | |
| |
