“But why is your face so yellowy white, Sister Helen? And why are your skirts so funnily tight?” “Be quiet you torment, or how can I write, Little brother? (_O Mother Carey, mother! How gathers thy train to the sea from the heaven._”) “And who’s Mother Carey, and what is her train, Sister Helen? And why do you call her again and again?” “You troublesome boy, why that’s the refrain, Little brother! _O Mother Carey, mother! What work is toward in the startled heaven?_”) “And what’s a refrain? What a curious word, Sister Helen; Is the ballad you’re writing about a sea-bird?” “Not at all! why should it be? Don’t be absurd, Little brother. (_O Mother Carey, mother! Thy brood flies lower as lowers the heaven._)” (_A big brother speaketh_:) “The refrain you’ve studied a meaning had, Sister Helen! It gave strange force to a weird ballàd. But refrains have become a ridiculous ‘fad,’ Little brother. And _Mother Carey, mother_, Has a bearing on nothing in earth or heaven.” * * * * * For the remainder of this exquisite parody, readers are referred to Mr. H. D. Traill’s _Recaptured Rhymes_ (London, W, Blackwood & Sons, 1882), in which work it was republished. ―――― EVE. (_An Imitation._) “Dasz ich genossen des Wissens Frucht, Das kannst du nicht mehr aendern.”――[H. Heine.] The serpent tempted thee to shame, Mother Eve. God’s direst vengeance on thee came, Mother Eve. And never may we hope to win That golden garden close hedged in From toil and tempest, strife and sin, Mother Eve. Before thy wondering, wakened eyes, Mother Eve. Clashed shut the gates of Paradise, Mother Eve. Thy wandering feet, thy hands were torn, By briar, wayside weed and thorn, Thy babes in anguish great were born, Mother Eve. And yet God’s vengeance knew no stay, Mother Eve. Thy first-born did his brother slay, Mother Eve. Died not thy heart for woe and dread, When Abel in thine arms lay dead, And Cain red-handed turned and fled, Mother Eve? Methinks I hear thee murmur “Nay,” Mother Eve. “Evil and bitter was my day,” Mother Eve. “Evil and full of pain, but still I am Thy judge――work all Thy will―― I judge Thee knowing good from ill.” Mother Eve.