436 MORE POT-POURRI 



One of the best, noblest, and most useful old maids 

 I have ever known once said to me : ' Why was I not 

 warned ; why did no one remind me that to most women 

 the chances do not come often, and that if we do not 

 take them while we are young and have something to 

 give, they do not come again, or not, at any rate, in the 

 way, that, being older, we can accept ? ' 



When women turn to practical work, their high hopes 

 are even more frequently disappointed than those of men 

 — so many things weight their career, and the sense of 

 failure is so frequently all that they reap. 



Have you thought, in your moments of triumph, 



Oh, you that are high in the tree. 

 Of the days and the nights that are bitter — 



So bitter to others and me ? 

 When the eSorts to do what is clever 



Besult in a failure so sad. 

 And the clouds of despondency gather 



And dim all the hopes that we had f 



Have you thought when the world was applauding 



Your greatness, whatever it be. 

 Of the tears that in silence were falling — 



Yes, falling from others and me ? 

 When the hardest and latest endeavours 



Appeared to be only in vain, 

 And we've curtained our eyes in the night-time 



IndifE'rent to waking again f 



Those who just miss their lives are those I pity. It 

 seems to me that, of all bad teaching, the worst is to 

 live only in the present, and try in no way to look to 

 the future. 



Great sorrow or trouble, or loss of money or sickness, 

 seem mercifully to preserve in some women certain qual- 

 ities of youth which always remain attractive to men, 

 even far on into middle life. Such misfortunes embalm 



