The dark eyes under her snow-white hair

Were keen and clear as the autumn air!

"We are but what we appear to be:

Two toiling women, as you may see!

And neither so young nor strong as when

In field and forest we helped the men.

We now have only the lesser care,

To keep the house, and the meals prepare,

And other labours of small account,

Yet something worth in the week's amount.

But in our youth, and a lifetime through,

We laboured, much as the others do!

Through storm and sunshine we still have tried

To do our best by our husbands' side.

And keep their hearts and our own at rest

When sickness came or when want oppressed.

For even famine our house assailed

That year when the corn and chestnuts failed.

And once—that winter ten years ago—

Our house was buried beneath the snow,

 Prev. P 41/198 next