| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | Dear Hands | | By Susan Marr Spaulding |
| | | ROUGHENED and worn with ceaseless toil and care, | |
| No perfumed grace, no dainty skill, had these; | |
| They earned for whiter hands a jeweled ease, | |
| And kept the scars unlovely for their share. | |
| Patient and slow, they had the will to bear | 5 |
| The whole world’s burdens, but no power to seize | |
| The flying joys of life, the gifts that please, | |
| The gold and gems that others find so fair. | |
| Dear hands, where bridal jewel never shone, | |
| Whereon no lover’s kiss was ever pressed, | 10 |
| Crossed in unwonted quiet on the breast, | |
| I see, through tears, your glory newly won, | |
| The golden circlet of life’s work well done, | |
| Set with the shining pearl of perfect rest. | | | | |
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