THE SILK-WORM'S WILL. 165 



THE SILK-WORM'S WILL. 



BY MISS H. F. GOULD. 



On a plain rush hurdle a silk-worm lay, 

 When a proud young princess came that way. 

 The haughty child of a human king 

 Threw a sidelong glance at the humble thing, 

 That took with a humble gratitude 

 From the mulberry-leaf her simple food 

 And shrunk, half scorn and half disgust, 

 Away from her sister child of dust ; 

 Declaring she never yet could see 

 Why a reptile form like this should be 

 That she was not made with nerves so firm, 

 As calmly to stand by a " crawling worm ! " 



With mute forbearance the silk- worm took 

 The taunting words and the spurning look ; 

 Alike a stranger to self and pride, 

 She'd no disquiet from aught beside, 

 And lived of a meekness and peace possessed, 

 Which these debar from the human breast. 

 She only wished, for the harsh abuse, 

 To find some way to become of use 

 To the haughty daughter of lordly man, 

 And thus did she lay a noble plan, 

 To teach her wisdom and make it plain 

 That the humble worm was not made in vain ; 

 A plan so generous deep and high, 

 That to carry it out she must even die ! 



" No more," said she, " will I drink or eat ! 

 I'll spin and weave me a winding-sheet, 

 To wrap me up from the sun's clear light, 

 To hide my form from her wounded sight, 

 In secret then till my end draws nigh, 

 I'll toil for her; and when I die, 



