One thing would I ask of Thee.
That Thy House I once may see,
And once more with song and praise
May my pious offering raise,
And magnify Thy grace received,
And all that Jesus has achieved
For us who have in Him believed.
V.
If Thou sayest unto me,
‘I have no desire in thee,
There is no place for thee above;’
Oh Jesus! look Thou down in love!
Can I not justly to Thee say
‘Let me but see Thy wounds, I pray:’
God’s mercy cannot pass away.
On June 27, the Queen sent me some silk and silver, with the request that I would embroider her a flower, which was traced on parchment; she sent also another flower which was embroidered, that I might see how the work should be done, which is called the golden work. I had never before embroidered such work, for it affects the eyes quickly; but I undertook it, and said I would do it as well as I could. On July 9, I sent the flower which I had embroidered to the governess of the royal children, F. Sitzele Grubbe, with the request that she would present it most humbly to her Majesty the Queen. The Queen was much pleased with the flower, and told her that it excelled the others which certain countesses had embroidered for her.
I afterwards embroidered nine flowers in silver and silk in this golden work, and sent them to the Queen’s mistress of the robes, with the request that she would present them most humbly to her Majesty the Queen. The mistress of the robes assured me of the Queen’s favour, and told me that her Majesty was going to give me two silver flagons, but I have not heard of them yet. In the same year I embroidered a table-cover with floss silk, in a new design devised by myself, and I trimmed it with taffeta and silver fringe; this also I begged Lady Grubbe, the governess of the King’s children, to present most humbly to her Majesty, and it was graciously received. On November 29, I completed the work which I had made for my death-gear. It was embroidered with thread. On one end of the pillow I worked the following lines:
Full of anxiety and care, in many a silent night,
This shroud have I been weaving with sorrowful delight!
On the other end I embroidered the following: (N.B. The pillow was stuffed with my hair).
When some day on this hair my weary head will lie,
My body will be free and my soul to God will fly.
On the cloth for the head I embroidered:
I know full well, my Jesus, Thou dost live,
And my frail body from the dust wilt give,
And it with marvellous beauty will array
To stand before Thy throne on the great day.
Fulfilled with heavenly joy I then shall be,
And Thee, great God, in all Thy splendour see.
Nor unknown wilt Thou to mine eyes appear!
Help Jesus, bridegroom, be Thou ever near!