Sister Helen

"Why did you melt your waxen man
             Sister Helen?
     To-day is the third since you began."
     "The time was long, yet the time ran,
             Little brother."
         (O Mother, Mary Mother,
     Three days to-day, between Hell and Heaven!)

     "But if you have done your work aright,
             Sister Helen,
   You'll let me play, for you said I might."
   "Be very still in your play to-night,
           Little brother."
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   Third night, to-night, between Hell and Heaven!)

   "You said it must melt ere vesper-bell,
           Sister Helen;
   If now it be molten, all is well."
   "Even so,--nay, peace! you cannot tell,
           Little brother."
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   O what is this, between Hell and Heaven?)

   "Oh the waxen knave was plump to-day,
           Sister Helen;
   How like dead folk he has dropp'd away!"
   "Nay now, of the dead what can you say,
           Little brother?"
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   What of the dead, between Hell and Heaven?)

   "See, see, the sunken pile of wood,
           Sister Helen,
   Shines through the thinn'd wax red as blood!"
   "Nay now, when look'd you yet on blood,
           Little brother?"
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   How pale she is, between Hell and Heaven!)

   "Now close your eyes, for they're sick and sore,
           Sister Helen,
   And I'll play without the gallery door."
   "Aye, let me rest,--I'll lie on the floor,
           Little brother."
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   What rest to-night, between Hell and Heaven?)

   "Here high up in the balcony,
           Sister Helen,
   The moon flies face to face with me."
   "Aye, look and say whatever you see,
           Little brother."
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   What sight to-night, between Hell and Heaven?)

   "Outside it's merry in the wind's wake,
           Sister Helen;
   In the shaken trees the chill stars shake."
   "Hush, heard you a horse-tread as you spake,
           Little brother?"
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   What sound to-night, between Hell and Heaven?)

   "I hear a horse-tread, and I see,
           Sister Helen,
   Three horsemen that ride terribly."
     "Little brother, whence come the three,
           Little brother?"
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   Whence should they come, between Hell and Heaven?)

   "They come by the hill-verge from Boyne Bar,
           Sister Helen,
   And one draws nigh, but two are afar."
   "Look, look, do you know them who they are,
           Little brother?"
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   Who should they be, between Hell and Heaven?)

   "Oh, it's Keith of Eastholm rides so fast,
           Sister Helen,
   For I know the white mane on the blast."
   "The hour has come, has come at last,
           Little brother!"
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   Her hour at last, between Hell and Heaven!)

   "He has made a sign and called Halloo!
           Sister Helen,
   And he says that he would speak with you."
   "Oh tell him I fear the frozen dew,
           Little brother."
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   Why laughs she thus, between Hell and Heaven?)

   "The wind is loud, but I hear him cry,
           Sister Helen,
   That Keith of Ewern's like to die."
   "And he and thou, and thou and I,
           Little brother."
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   And they and we, between Hell and Heaven!)

   "Three days ago, on his marriage-morn,
           Sister Helen,
   He sicken'd, and lies since then forlorn."
   "For bridegroom's side is the bride a thorn,
           Little brother?"
       (O Mother, Mary Mother,
   Cold bridal cheer, between Hell and Heaven!)

   "Three days and nights he has lain abed,
         Sister Helen,
 And he prays in torment to be dead."
 "The thing may chance, if he have pray'd,
         Little brother!"
     (O Mother, Mary Mother,
 If he have pray'd, between Hell and Heaven!)

 "But he has not ceas'd to cry to-day,
         Sister Helen,
 That you should take your curse away."
 "My prayer was heard,--he need but pra