Hope, and joy, and fear.

And besides, one sorrow
Deeper still--one pain
Was beyond them: healing
Came to-day--in vain!

If she had but lingered
Just a few hours more;
Or had this letter reached her
Just one day before!

I can almost pity
Even him to-day;
Though he let this anguish
Eat her heart away.

Yet she never blamed him:-
One day you shall know
How this sorrow happened;
It was long ago.

I have read the letter:
Many a weary year,
For one word she hungered--
There are thousands here.

If she could but hear it,
Could but understand;
See--I put the letter