Edith Mary Ledingham.
The young stewardess of the "Iona" who met with a terrible death on that ill-fated vessel in the heroic effort to rescue a child.
["She was such a good girl. She was so happy in her new work, and liked the sea."—Her Mother.]
Only "a Gateshead girl," whose name,
Though loved, was all unknown to fame,
Until that testing morn,
That moment fierce of sudden fear;
To-day to English hearts as dear
As English girl hath borne!
That awful instant set it fair
Among the records high and rare
That glorify our State.
A girl's heart, simple, cheerful, fond,
To desperate duty could respond,
In the great moment, great.
What more have History's heroes done?
Or with what readier valour won
The golden meed of Fame?
Only charred ashes left to sight!
But on the immortal scroll we write
Another gentle name.
Such a good girl! And loved the sea!
O white-cliff'd isle, while such as she
Light a poor English home.
The Viking blood, the Nelson strain
No fateful hour shall seek in vain
To serve thee on the foam.
AS THE LAW SHOULD BE.
(From "The Legal Intelligence" of the Future.)