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ANNE BRONTË'S LAST VERSES.
99
many schemes in my head for future practice—humble and limited indeed—but still I should not like them all to come to nothing, and myself to have lived to so little purpose. But God's will be done. Remember me respectfully to your mother and sisters, and believe me, dear Miss ———, yours most affectionately,
"Anne Brontë."
It must have been about this time that Anne composed her last verses, before "the desk was closed, and the pen laid aside for ever."
i.
"I hoped that with the brave and strong
My portioned task might lie;
To toil amid the busy throng,
With purpose pure and high.
My portioned task might lie;
To toil amid the busy throng,
With purpose pure and high.
ii.
"But God has fixed another part,
And He has fixed it well:
I said so with my bleeding heart,
When first the anguish fell.
And He has fixed it well:
I said so with my bleeding heart,
When first the anguish fell.
iii.
"Thou God, hast taken our delight,
Our treasured hope, away;
Thou bid'st us now weep through the night
And sorrow through the day.
Our treasured hope, away;
Thou bid'st us now weep through the night
And sorrow through the day.
iv.
"These weary hours will not be lost,
These days of misery,—
These nights of darkness, anguish-tost,—
Can I but turn to Thee.
These days of misery,—
These nights of darkness, anguish-tost,—
Can I but turn to Thee.
