THE LOWEST ROOM.
117
A husband honourable, brave,
Is her main wealth in all the world:
And next to him one like herself,
One daughter golden-curled;
Is her main wealth in all the world:
And next to him one like herself,
One daughter golden-curled;
Fair image of her own fair youth,
As beautiful and as serene,
With almost such another love
As her own love has been.
As beautiful and as serene,
With almost such another love
As her own love has been.
Yet, though of world-wide charity,
And in her home most tender dove,
Her treasure and her heart are stored
In the home-land of love:
And in her home most tender dove,
Her treasure and her heart are stored
In the home-land of love:
She thrives, God's blessed husbandry;
Most like a vine which full of fruit
Doth cling and lean and climb toward heaven,
While earth still binds its root.
Most like a vine which full of fruit
Doth cling and lean and climb toward heaven,
While earth still binds its root.
I sit and watch my sister's face:
How little altered since the hours
When she, a kind, light-hearted girl,
Gathered her garden flowers;
How little altered since the hours
When she, a kind, light-hearted girl,
Gathered her garden flowers;
Her song just mellowed by regret
For having teased me with her talk;
Then all-forgetful as she heard
One step upon the walk.
For having teased me with her talk;
Then all-forgetful as she heard
One step upon the walk.
