Scripture Verse

Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Matthew 24:41

Introduction

portrait
James A. Crutchfield
1840–1922

Words: James A. Crutch­field, 1906. Cen­to from Crutch­field’s Mis­cel­la­ne­ous Po­ems (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: 1906), pag­es 50–52.

Music: York­shire John Wain­right, 1750 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Wain­right (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Two women shall be grinding at the mill,
Two men shall be at home on plain or hill;
Two women shall be working in the field,
Two men shall be in search of wealth con­cealed,
But one shall be of hope at last be­reft—
One shall be taken and the oth­er left.

Two boys be sleeping in the self-same bed,
On the same breast each leaned his ba­by head;
Two girls in social circles side by side,
Two girls in learning with each oth­er vied;
But one has thought of Him whose side was cleft,
One shall be taken and the oth­er left.

Two sweethearts shall be laugh­ing by the way,
Two travelers meeting at the close of day;
Two figures at an altar, side by side,
One is a groom, the oth­er, blush­ing bride;
But when the veil that hides is rent and reft,
One shall be taken and the oth­er left.

Two lawyers shall be por­ing o’er a brief,
Two doctors seeking means to give re­lief;
Two faithful, trusted of­fi­cers of state,
Two bankers at their desk—ear­ly and late;
But sin holds one by mill­stone weight and heft—
One shall be taken and the oth­er left.

Two soldiers hear their coun­try’s call and go,
Two tongues to tests of truth say yes, or no;
Two heads feel sun and rain which come to all;
Two souls shall hear God’s oft re­peat­ed call—
But when at last is wove life’s web and weft,
One shall be tak­en and the oth­er left.