BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
97 
A loiterer from the city’s whirl 
Stands viewing scene and men. 
A flowing tide with rushing flood 
And lapping swish and swirl, 
A swinging barge, a fisher’s craft 
Drives in with reef unfurled. 
Afar, the busy smoke-bom haze, 
Outshoot from factory depths, 
The ferry, town, and dusky wharfs 
The terraced tower o’erlooks. 
Afar, the haunts of toil-worn forms, 
Afar, the shimmering sea, 
Afar, speed thoughts from sun-lit crests — 
To thoughts illumed by thee. 
Interesting also is “ A Fragment, ” which is found in her notes 
in several variants; this is the second: — 
“ I stood and looked into the night — 
A fir tree sombre rose to sight, 
A full-limbed evergreen tree. 
I stood and looked beyond the night 
Upon a distant star, 
Whose emerald light 
Shone dim from heaven’s vault afar. 
What thoughts of earth or sky hold you, 
Sole watchers of night’s sleep — 
Are life problems veiled to you 
As the night in leaden mist? 
What know yon star and tree 
Of passion, death, or bliss? 
What use were science’ teachings 
To answer dreams like this ! ” 
In a criticism occasioned by reading Thomas Davidson’s 
“Prolegomena to In Memoriam ” she says: — 
“As I look backward I see the spark of faith or religious 
feeling early developed — perhaps at nine years. I can recall 
hours spent in meditation and silent prayer at afternoon ser¬ 
vice. This mood deepened until all the joys from a firm be¬ 
lief in Catholic doctrine and practice were mine. At last came 
