A Reed by the River/Mother

by Virginia Woodward Cloud

MOTHER

There came a day when cattle died
And every crop had failed beside,
And not a dollar left to show.
Then father said the place must go,
And all of us, we hated so
   To go tell Mother.

Behind the barn, there we three stood
And wondered which one of us could
Spare her the most—'tis easily said,
But we just looked and looked in dread
   At one another.

I spoke: "I'll trust to brother's tongue,"
But Father said, "No, he's too young;
I reckon I——"He gave a groan:.
"To know we've not a stick nor stone
   Will just kill Mother!

"Maybe a mortgage can be raised.
Here all her father's cattle grazed;
She loves each flower and leaf and bird—
I'll mortgage ere I'll say one word
   To Mother!"

Upon his hands he bowed his head.
And then a voice behind us said:
"Mortgage? And always have to pay?
Now, Father, I've a better way!"—
And there, between the ricks of hay,
  Stood Mother.

"I have been thinking, 'most a year,
We'd sell this place, and somewhere near
Rent a cottage small and neat,
And raise enough for us to eat,"
   Said Mother.

"There's trouble worse than loss of lands.
We've honest hearts and willing hands,
And not till earth and roof and door
Can rob of peace, shall I be poor!"
She smiled. "It seems to me,
You all had better come to tea,"
   Said Mother.

As through the sunset field astir
We three went following after her,
The thrushes they sang everywhere;
Something had banished all our care,
And we felt strong enough to bear
   All things—with Mother.

And listen: Once there came a day
When troops returned from far away,
And every one went up to meet
His own, within the village street.
But ere he reached our old milestone
I knew that Father came alone—
   And not with Brother,

Then through the twilight, dense and gray,
All that our choking sobs could say
   Was—"Who'll tell Mother."