THE MAIDEN'S LAST FAREWELL.

Waikato Times, Volume 356, Issue VII, 25 August 1874, Page 3

THE MAIDEN'S LAST FAREWELL.

IN IHR DAY OF CXI M VTION. Then the night woio on, and we know the worst, That the end of it was nigh : Three doctors they had from the very first — And what could one do but die ? " Oh, William !" ehe cried, " strew no blossoms of spiing, For the now ' apparatus ' might rust ; But say that a handful of shavings you'll bring, And linger to see me combust. " Oh, piomise me, lovo, by the fire-hole you'll watch, And when mourners and stokers convene, You will see that they light mo some solomn,slow match, And v am thorn against kerosene. " It would cheer me to know, ere these rude breezes waft My essences far to the pole, That one n bom I love will look to the draught, And have a fond eye on the coal. " Then promise me loTe,"— and her voice fainter grew — " While this body of mine calcifies, You will stand just as near as you can to the flue, And gazo while my gasses nrise. " For Thompson- Sir Henry— has found out a way (Of his ' process' you've surely heard tell), And you burn like a parlour-match away, Nor even offend by a smell. * So none of the dainty need sniff in disdain When my carbon floats up to the sky } And I'm sure love, that you will never complain, Though an ash should blow into your eye. " Now promise me, love"— and she murmured low— " When the calcification is o'er, You will sit by my gr*;-e in the twilight glow— I mean by myjturnttce door : " Yes, promise me, love, while the seasons revolve On their noiseless axles, the years, f You will visit the kiln where you saw mo « resolve, And leach my pale ashes with tears." — From Harper's Weekly.