To Thomas Niles
From ED

April 1883

Dear friend -

Thank you for the kindness.

I am glad if the Bird seemed true to you.

Please efface the others and receive these three, which are more like him - a Thunderstorm - a Humming Bird, and a Country Burial. The Life of Marian Evans had much I never knew - a Doom of Fruit without the Bloom, like the Niger Fig.

Her Losses make our Gains ashamed -
She bore Life's empty Pack
As gallantly as if the East
Were swinging at her Back.
Life's empty Pack is heaviest,
As every Porter knows -
In vain to punish Honey -
It only sweeter grows.