An Old-Fashioned Woman.
By L. M. Montgomery
No clever, brilliant thinker she,
With college record and degree,
She has not known the paths of fame,
The world has never heard her name,
She walks in old, long-trodden ways,
The valleys of the yesterdays. Home is her kingdom, love her dower —
She seeks no other wand of power
To make home sweet, bring heaven near,
To win a smile and wipe a tear,
And do her duty day by day
In her own quiet place and way. Around her childish hearts are twined,
As round some reverend saint enshrined,
And following hers the childish feet
Are led to ideals true and sweet,
And find all purity and good
In her divinest motherhood. She keeps her faith unshadowed still —
God rules the world in good and ill;
Men in her creed are brave and true,
And women pure as pearls of dew,
And life for her is high and grand,
By work and glad endeavor spanned. This sad old earth’s a brighter place
All for the sunshine of her face;
Her very smile a blessing throws,
And hearts are happier where she goes,
A gentle, clear-eyed messenger,
To whisper love — thank God for her! — L. M. Montgomery, in The Congregationalist.