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P O E M . 



And all that glads and sanctifies a home. 



Here the good house-wife plies her cheerful tasks 



From morn to eve, nor gift nor guerdon asks, 



Save the sweet payment of her husband's smile 



And God's dear love and health and strength the while. 



Her rosy daughters, not too fine to soil 



Their pretty fingers with the marks of toil, 



With cheerful patience sew the lengthened seam, 



Prepare the meal or churn the yellow cream, 



Or lead the toddling baby, that essays 



Unequal steps about the household ways, 



Or hasten to the door, when daylight fails, 



To unburden " father " of his brimming pails. 



Thrice happy man, thrice happy father he ! 



His smoking supper ready, on his knee 



The crowing baby, and around his board 



Health and content ; he well may thank the Lord ! 



Life has its trials, whatsoe'er our lot ; 

 But if there be, on God's dear earth, one spot 

 Crowned more than others with His favors lent, 

 'Tis such a home as this : All calm content, 

 All peaceful, heavenly influences meet 

 To purify, enrich and make it sweet. 

 Within, without, around it and above, 

 Good thoughts, like blessed angels, rove and rove. 

 The very cattle, knee-deep in the brooks, 

 Have lessons for us in their patient looks ; 

 The silent hills, slow-stretching far away, 

 The shady hollows with the lambs at play 

 In their cool bosoms, the rejoicing rills, 

 The sobbing of the lonely Whip-poor-wills, 

 The misty glories of the purpling morn, 

 The night's deep splendor when the stars are born, 

 The corn up-springing through the sun and rain, 

 The ripening fruitage and the nodding grain, 

 The changing seasons as they come and go, 

 Winter, the pilgrim, with his coif of snow, 

 Spring, the sweet charmer, Summer, all ablaze 

 'Neath the rich dower of her meridian days, 

 And, best of all, glad Autumn, blithe and sweet, 



