The Death of the Hired Man Robert Frost

Mary sat musing on the lamp-flame at the table
Waiting for Warren. When she heard his step
She ran on tip-toe down the darkened passage
To meet him in the doorway with the news
And put him on his guard. "Silas is back."
She pushed him outward with her through the door
And shut it after her. "Be kind," she said
She took the market things from Warren’s arms
And set them on the porch, then drew him down
To sit beside her on the wooden steps

"When was I ever anything but kind to him?
But I’ll not have the fellow back," he said
"I told him so last haying, didn’t I?
‘If he left then,’ I said, ‘that ended it.’
What good is he? Who else will harbour him
At his age for the little he can do?
What help he is there’s no depending on
Off he goes always when I need him most
‘He thinks he ought to earn a little pay
Enough at least to buy tobacco with
So he won’t have to beg and be beholden.’
‘All right,’ I say, ‘I can’t afford to pay
Any fixed wages, though I wish I could.’
‘Someone else can.’ ‘Then someone else will have to.’
I shouldn’t mind his bettering himself
If that was what it was. You can be certain
When he begins like that, there’s someone at him
Trying to coax him off with pocket-money,—
In haying time, when any help is scarce
In winter he comes back to us. I’m done."