| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1658. A Moral in Sevres |
| | | By Mildred Howells |
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| UPON my mantel-piece they stand, | |
| While all its length between them lies; | |
| He throws a kiss with graceful hand, | |
| She glances back with bashful eyes. | |
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| The china Shepherdess is fair, | 5 |
| The Shepherd’s face denotes a heart | |
| Burning with ardor and despair. | |
| Alas, they stand so far apart! | |
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| And yet, perhaps, if they were moved, | |
| And stood together day by day, | 10 |
| Their love had not so constant proved, | |
| Nor would they still have smiled so gay. | |
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| His hand the Shepherd might have kissed | |
| The match-box Angel’s heart to win; | |
| The Shepherdess, his love have missed, | 15 |
| And flirted with the Mandarin. | |
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| But on my mantel-piece they stand, | |
| While all its length between them lies; | |
| He throws a kiss with graceful hand, | |
| She glances back with bashful eyes. | 20 |
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