A small volume of her poems was published in 1860, mainly through the assistance of Mr. T. Constable. The work met with a favourable reception, and a couple of the hymns were reproduced in the pages of _Lyra Britannica_. Mr. Henry Wright, the compiler of the work entitled _Lays of Pious Minstrels_, includes in it examples of Mary Pyper's poetry. In the preface to his volume he wrote: "The attention of my readers is especially directed to the pieces 'Let me go,' 'Servant of God,' and 'We shall see Him as He is,' the composition of Miss Mary Pyper, a resident in one of the closes or alleys in the Old Town of Edinburgh, who is in extreme old age, quite alone in the world, totally blind, and in deep poverty. Since the notice of Miss Pyper appeared in the last edition of this work, many benevolent persons have sent me donations for her in postage stamps, and otherwise. I shall be glad to be the medium of alleviating in any degree the very painful circumstances in which she is placed." It will be seen from the foregoing that in addition to other afflictions she lost her eyesight in her old age. We give a few specimens of her verses, which are chiefly of a religious and devotional character. The first poem is entitled "The Christian's View of Death": "Let me go! the Day is breaking Morning bursts upon mine eye, Death this mortal frame is shaking, But the soul can never die! Let me go! the Day-Star, beaming, Gilds the radiant realms above; Its full glory on me streaming, Lights me to the Land of Love." The last stanzas of her "Servant of God" are as follow:-- "There Flowers immortal bloom To charm the ravished sight; And palms and harps await for those Who walk with Him in white. For they shall sing the song Of Moses, long foretold, When they have passed those pearly gates And streets of burnished gold. The glories of the Lamb Their rapturous strains shall raise-- Eternal ages shall record His love, His power, His praise." The following are the concluding lines of "We shall see Him as He is":-- "When we pass o'er death's dark river We shall see Him as He is-- Resting in His love and favour Owning all the glory His; There to cast our crowns before Him-- Oh! what bliss the thought affords! There for ever to adore Him-- King of Kings and Lord of Lords." One of her best hymns is entitled "What has Jesus done?" The little gem we next reproduce is perhaps her best known production. It has been widely quoted and much admired:-- EPITAPH: A LIFE. "I came at morn--'twas Spring, I smiled, The fields with green were clad; I walked abroad at noon, and lo! 'Twas summer--I was glad. I sate me down--'twas autumn eve, And I with sadness wept; I laid me down at night--and then 'Twas winter--and I slept." The following poem is a fair specimen of her poetic power:-- ON SEEING TWO LITTLE GIRLS PRESENT A FLOWER TO A DYING PERSON.