JANE FISHER Jane Fisher says to Susan Hamilton, That Coroner has no excuse to bring You, me before him. There are many too Who could throw light on Elenor Murray's life Besides the witnesses he calls to tell The cause of death: could he call us and hear About the traits we know, he should have us. What do we know of Elenor Murray's death? Why, not a thing, unless her death began With Simeon Strong and Gregory Wenner--then I could say something, for she told me much About her plan to marry Simeon Strong, And could have done so but for Gregory Wenner, Whose fault of life combined with fault of hers To break the faith of Simeon Strong in her. And so what have we? Gregory Wenner's love Poisons the love of Simeon Strong, from that Poor Elenor Murray falls into decline; From that, re-acts to nursing and religion, Which leads her to the war; and from the war Some other causes come, I know not what; I wish I knew. And Elenor Murray dies, Is killed or has a normal end of life. But, Susan, Elenor Murray feasted richly While life was with her, spite of all the pain. If you could choose, be Elenor Murray or Our schoolmate, Mary Marsh, which would you be? Elenor Murray had imagination, And courage to sustain it; Mary Marsh Had no imagination, was afraid, Could not envision life in Europe, married And living there in England, threw her chance Away to live in England, was content, And otherwise not happy but to lift Her habitation from the west of town And settle on the south side, wed a man Whose steadiness and business sense made sure A prosperous uniformity of life. Life does not enter at your door and seek you, And pour her gifts into your lap. She drops The chances and the riches here and there. They find them who fly forth, as faring birds Know northern marshes, rice fields in the south; While the dull turtle waddles in his mud. The bird is slain perhaps, the turtle lives, But which has known the thrills?