"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.
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.
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.
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,
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."
All that our choking sobs could say
Was—"Who'll tell Mother."
74
