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.