VI.
She pulled a rose, as wife that knows
Her good man cometh at the close.
Three neighbors true with her she drew
To the grey shore, and, calling, threw,
With passionate leap, far to the deep,
The life-line good wives always keep—
"O Mike, my man, my dear good man!
The line, the line, my dear good man!"
(Calling so sore adown the shore,
As fell the wintry surge's roar.)
Across the line of foaming brine,
Low answer came that lit her eyne.
*******
The neighbors three with Nora Lee
All heard the words from out the sea,
Yet none e'er said what past the wed,—
A fearsome awe o'er them was spread.