Martha, who the frequent visit Now had lost, and sore did miss it, With impatience waxed cross, Counted Margaret's gain her loss: All that Mary did confer
On her friend, thought due to her. In her girlish bosom rise Little foolish jealousies,
Which into such rancour wrought, She one day for Margaret sought; Finding her by chance alone, She began, with reasons shown, To insinuate a fear
Whether Mary was sincere;
Wish'd that Margaret would take heed Whence her actions did proceed. For herself, she'd long been minded Not with outsides to be blinded; All that pity and compassion, She believ'd was affectation;
In her heart she doubted whether Mary car'd a pin for either.
She could keep whole weeks at distance, And not know of their existence, While all things remain'd the same;
But, when some misfortune came,
Then she made a great parade Of her sympathy and aid,- Not that she did really grieve, It was only make-believe,
And she car'd for nothing, so She might her fine feelings shew, And get credit, on her part,
For a soft and tender heart.
With such speeches, smoothly made, She found methods to persuade
Margaret (who, being sore
From the doubts she'd felt before,
Was prepared for mistrust)
To believe her reasons just;
Quite destroy'd that comfort glad, Which in Mary late she had; Made her, in experience' spite, Think her friend a hypocrite, And resolve, with cruel scoff, To renounce and cast her off.
See how good turns are rewarded!
She of both is now discarded, Who to both had been so late
Their support in low estate,
All their comfort, and their stay- Now of both is cast away.
But the league her presence cherish'd, Losing its best prop, soon perish'd; She, that was a link to either, To keep them and it together, Being gone, the two (no wonder) That were left, soon fell asunder ;- Some civilities were kept,
But the heart of friendship slept; Love with hollow forms was fed, But the life of love lay dead :- A cold intercourse they held, After Mary was expell'd.
Two long years did intervene Since they'd either of them seen, Or, by letter, any word
Of their old companion heard,- When, upon a day, once walking, Of indifferent matters talking, They a female figure met ;- Martha said to Margaret,
"That young maid in face does carry A resemblance strong of Mary."
Margaret, at nearer sight, Own'd her observation right; But they did not far proceed Ere they knew 'twas she indeed.
She-but, ah! how chang'd they view her From that person which they knew her! Her fine face disease had scarr'd,
And its matchless beauty marr'd:
But enough was left to trace
Mary's sweetness-Mary's grace. When her eye did first behold them,
How they blush'd !-but, when she told them,
How on a sick bed she lay
Months, while they had kept away, And had no inquiries made If she were alive or dead ;- How, for want of a true friend, She was brought near to her end, And was like so to have died, With no friend at her bed-side ;- How the constant irritation, Caus'd by fruitless expectation Of their coming, had extended
The illness, when she might have mended,
Then, O then, how did reflection
Come on them with recollection!
All that she had done for them, How it did their fault condemn!
But sweet Mary, still the same, Kindly eas'd them of their shame; Spoke to them with accents bland, Took them friendly by the hand; Bound them both with promise fast, Not to speak of troubles past; Made them on the spot declare A new league of friendship there; Which, without a word of strife, Lasted thenceforth long as life. Martha now and Margaret
Strove who most should pay the debt Which they ow'd her, nor did vary Ever after from their Mary.
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