She raised her head. With hot and glittering eye,

“I know,” she said, “that I am going to die.

Come here, my daughter, while my mind is clear.

Let me make plain to you your duty here;

My duty once—I never failed to try—

But for some reason I am going to die.”

She raised her head, and, while her eyes rolled wild,

Poured these instructions on the gasping child:

“Begin at once—don’t iron sitting down—

Wash your potatoes when the fat is brown—