<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">A Little Grimy--Fingered Girl</h1><p class="byline"> LEE WILSON DODD <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">IN The Outlook</span><br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/>Permission to reproduce in this book</p><p class="inline-note" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">In sending his permission to use this sharp flash of the spirit of France, Mr. Dodd wrote: "It may interest you to know that the little grimy-fingered girl is real, and that I bought L'Intrans' from her every evening for many months during the dark days of last springin Paris." The spring referred to being that of 1918, when the Germans were only a few miles from the city.</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">A LITTLE grimy--fingered girl</p><p class="line">In stringy black and broken shoes </p><p class="line">Stands where sharp human eddies whirl </p><p class="line">And offers--<em>news</em>: </p><p class="line">News from the front. <em>"'L'Intransigeant',</em></p><p class="line"><em>M'sieu, comme d'ordinaire?"</em> Her smile </p><p class="line">Is friendly though her face is gaunt; </p><p class="line">There is no guile, </p><p class="line">No mere mechanic flash of teeth, </p><p class="line">No calculating leer of glance...</p><p class="line">You wear your courage like a wreath, </p><p class="line">Daughter of France. </p><p class="line">Back of old sorrow in tired eyes </p><p class="line">Back of endurance, through the night </p><p class="line">That wearies you and makes you wise, </p><p class="line">I see a light </p><p class="line">Unshaken, proud, that does not pale,</p><p class="line">--And you are nobody, my dear; </p><p class="line"><em>"Une vraie gamine,"</em> who does not quail, </p><p class="line">Who knows not fear. </p><p class="line">Rattle your sabers, Lords of Hate, </p><p class="line">Ye shall not force them to their knees! </p><p class="line">A street-girl scorns your God, your State--</p><p class="line">The least of these....</p></div><p>Place du Th"é""Â"tre Francais,<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/> Paris, February, 1918.</p></body></html> · Great War