The patriarch rose and bowed his head, And said, "One place I crave; 'Tis at the end of Ephron's field, And called Machpelah's cave. "Entreat him that he sell to me For her last sleep that cave; I do not ask for her I loved The freedom of a grave." BURIAL OF SARAH. 63 The son of Zohar answered him, "Hearken, my lord, to me; Before our sons, the field and cave I freely give to thee." "I will not take it as a gift," The grand old man then said; "I pray thee let me buy the place Where I may lay my dead." And with the promise in his heart, His seed should own that land, He gave the shekels for the field He took from Ephron's hand. And saw afar the glorious day His chosen seed should tread, The soil where he in sorrow lay His loved and cherished dead. GOING EAST. She came from the East a fair, young bride, With a light and a bounding heart, To find in the distant West a home With her husband to make a start. 64 GOING EAST. He builded his cabin far away, Where the prairie flower bloomed wild; Her love made lighter all his toil, And joy and hope around him smiled. She plied her hands to life's homely tasks, And helped to build his fortunes up; While joy and grief, like bitter and sweet, Were mingled and mixed in her cup. He sowed in his fields of golden grain, All the strength of his manly prime; Nor music of birds, nor brooks, nor bees, Was as sweet as the dollar's chime. She toiled and waited through weary years For the fortune that came at length; But toil and care and hope deferred, Had stolen and wasted her strength. The cabin changed to a stately home, Rich carpets were hushing her tread; But light was fading from her eye, And the bloom from her cheek had fled. Slower and heavier grew her step, While his gold and his gains increased; GOING EAST. 65 But his proud domain had not the charm Of her humble home in the East. Within her eye was a restless light, And a yearning that never ceased, A longing to see the dear old home She had left in the distant East. A longing to clasp her mother's hand, And nestle close to her heart, And to feel the heavy cares of life Like the sun-kissed shadows depart. Her husband was adding field to field, And new wealth to his golden store; And little thought the shadow of death Was entering in at his door. He had no line to sound the depths Of her tears repressed and unshed; Nor dreamed 'mid plenty a human heart Could be starving, but not for bread. The hungry heart was stilled at last; Its restless, baffled yearning ceased. A lonely man sat by the bier Of a corpse that was going East. 66 THE HERMIT'S SACRIFICE. THE HERMIT'S SACRIFICE.