Three young maids in friendship met, Mary, Martha, Margaret. Margaret was tall and fair, Martha shorter by a hair; If the first excell’d in feature, The other’s grace and ease were greater; Mary, though to rival loth, In their best gifts equall’d both. They a due proportion kept; Martha mourn’d if Margaret wept; Margaret joy’d when any good She of Martha understood; And in sympathy for either Mary was outdone by neither. Thus far, for a happy space, All three ran an even race, A most constant friendship proving, Equally beloved and loving; All their wishes, joys, the same, Sisters only not in name. Fortune upon each one smiled As upon a favourite child; Well to do and well to see Were the parents of all three; Till on Martha’s father crosses Brought a flood of worldly losses, And his fortunes rich and great Changed at once to low estate; Under which o’erwhelming blow Martha’s mother was laid low; She a hapless orphan left, Of maternal care bereft, Trouble following trouble fast, Lay in a sick bed at last. In the depth of her affliction Martha now received conviction That a true and faithful friend Can the surest comfort lend. Night and day, with friendship tried, Ever constant by her side Was her gentle Mary found, With a love that knew no bound; And the solace she imparted Saved her dying broken-hearted. In this scene of earthly things Not one good unmixed springs. That which had to Martha proved A sweet consolation, moved Different feelings of regret In the mind of Margaret. She, whose love was not less dear, Nor affection less sincere, To her friend, was by occasion Of more distant habitation Fewer visits forced to pay her, When no other cause did stay her; And her Mary living nearer, Margaret began to fear her Lest her visits day by day Martha’s heart should steal away. That whole heart she ill could spare her Where till now she’d been a sharer. From this cause with grief she pined, Till at length her health declined. All her cheerful spirits flew, Fast as Martha gather’d new; And her sickness waxed sore, Just when Martha felt no more. [Illustration]