And my inaptitude my sister knew.
And partly since as well as I she knew it.
And partly since as well as I she loved,
Whene’er she heard him waking, she would come
And by him sit till fast asleep again;
And only when there thus was little left
That could be done, would I be left to do it.
At times then I would lean above his couch,
And grieve to think that I could do no more;
At times would rise in thankfulness that God
Would let me do so much. A thought like this
Perhaps He chose to bless. I came to think
That even though I might not have her art,
Doretta’s art, that I at least might have
As much, perhaps, as guardian angels have,
Without our hands or voices, keeping watch
In spirit only. Still, when sister came,
The thought would come that, if their souls unseen
Could envy, sometimes they might envy men.