Ruth ceased, but rose not from her knees, still fixed In posture as if grown a pillar of prayer. Then those three women came and knelt with her Beside her dead, a silent fellowship Of sympathy in sacrifice; but soon Rachel and Mary, one on either side Of Ruth, borne by the self-same impulse each, Each at the self-same instant borne, unto The self-same beautiful appeal, pure love's Pure touch, stole softly each a hand in hers. Each plighting hand so proffered Ruth upraised Slowly and solemnly as with a kind Of consecrating gesture to her lips, And kissing seemed to seal a sacrament. Then she arose, and all arose with her, When Martha, not forgotten, likewise shared, She too, with Ruth the kiss of sisterhood. So, never a word between them spoken, all Went backward and withdrew, Ruth last, who saw That sunshine glorifying Stephen's brow, And bore it thence, Shekinah in her heart. Her countenance thus illumined from within, The mother to her orphan children went, And moved, a light, about her household ways. She knew that others would with holy heed Prepare that holy dust for burial. But Rachel was more comfortless than Ruth. Rest in her spirit found she none--until, First having broken fast, but sparingly, She hastened with winged footsteps to her home. There her maid told her Saul went early forth Leaving this message for his sister: "Here Bide, if thou wilt; this house be still thy home. But I go hence, whither I cannot tell, Nor yet for how long absence; to what end-- Thou knowest. Cheer thee well!" The little maid Looked rueful and perplexed, but nothing asked, As nothing Rachel told her, save to say: "Quick, bring thine elder sister, thou and she Shall keep the house together for a time. I also go, my little maid"--wherewith Her little maid, now weeping, Rachel kissed-- "I also go, but weep not, I shall come Again, I trust, in happier times. Farewell!" Then Rachel straight to Ruth's abode returned.