There’s the mother at the doorway, and t… And the little parlor windows with the c… There are shaggy asters blooming in the… And the simplest of the blossoms seems o… Oh, there isn’t any mansion underneath…

Isn’t it fine when the day is done, And the petty battles are lost or won, When the gold is made and the ink is dri… To quit the struggle and turn aside To spend an hour with your boy in play,

‘You’re spoiling them!' the mother cries When I give way to weepy eyes And let them do the things they wish, Like cleaning up the jelly dish, Or finishing the chocolate cake,

There’s nothing cheers a fellow up just… A handclasp and an honest smile that fla… And when at friendly doors you ring, som… From all life’s doubts to hear them say:… see you!’

We play at our house and have all sorts… An’ there’s always a game when supper is… An’ at our house there’s marks on the wa… An’ some terrible scratches on some of t… An’ ma says that our house is surely a f…

God grant me these: the strength to do Some needed service here; The wisdom to be brave and true; The gift of vision clear, That in each task that comes to me

‘Tell us a story,’ comes the cry From little lips when nights are cold, And in the grate the flames leap high. ‘Tell us a tale of pirates bold, Or fairies hiding in the glen,

She never closed her eyes in sleep till… On party nights till we came home she of… We little thought about it then, when we… How much the mother worried when we chil… We only knew she never slept when we wer…

I look into the faces of the people pass… The glad ones and the sad ones, and the… And I wonder why the sorrow or the twin… But the pale and weary faces are the one… I saw a face this morning, and time was…

I remember the excitement and the terrib… That worried everybody when William bro… An’ how frantic Pa and Ma got only jes’… When they couldn’t find the baby coz he’… But I’m sure there’s no excitement that…

I don’t see why Pa likes him so, And seems so glad to have him come; He jabs my ribs and wants to know If here and there it’s hurting some. He holds my wrist, coz there are things

Full many a flag the breeze has kissed; Through ages long the morning sun Has risen over the early mist The flags of men to look upon. And some were red against the sky,

Give me the house where the toys are str… Where the dolls are asleep in the chairs… Where the building blocks and the toy ba… And the soldiers guard the stairs. Let me step in a house where the tiny ca…

One never knows How far a word of kindness goes; One never sees How far a smile of friendship flees. Down, through the years,

Under the roof where the laughter rings, That’s where I long to be; There are all of the glorious things, Meaning so much to me. There is where striving and toiling ends…

Let loose the sails of love and let them… With breezes sweet with tenderness to-da… Scorn not the praises youthful lovers sa… Romance is old, but it is lovely still. Not he who shows his love deserves the j…

Got a sliver in my hand An’ it hurt t’ beat the band, An’ got white around it, too; Then the first thing that I knew It was all swelled up, an’ Pa

I’d like to think when life is done That I had filled a needed post. That here and there I’d paid my fare With more than idle talk and boast; That I had taken gifts divine.

You never hear the robins brag about the… Nor do they stop their music gay whene’e… God taught them how to sing an’ when the… To use their talents day by day the drea… An’ rich or poor an’ sad or gay, the ugl…

Who shall sit at the table, then, when t… of peace are made– The wisest men of the troubled lands in… silver and gold brocade? Yes, they shall gather in solemn state t…

When Mrs. Malone got a letter from Pat She started to read it aloud in her flat… ‘Dear Mary,’ it started, 'I can’t tell… I’m somewhere in France, and I’m fighti… I’m chokin’ wid news thot I’d like to r…

We cannot count our friends, nor say How many praise us day by day. Each one of us has friends that he Has yet to meet and really know, Who guard him, wheresoe’er they be,

Though some may yearn for titles great,… I do not care to have an extra handle to… I am not hungry for the pomp of life’s h… I do not sigh to sit among the honored… I shall be satisfied if I can be unto t…

My father is a peaceful man; He tries in every way he can To live a life of gentleness And patience all the while. He says that needless fretting’s vain,

A feller isn’t thinkin’ mean, Out fishin’; His thoughts are mostly good an’ clean, Out fishin’. He doesn’t knock his fellow men.,

The little house has grown too small, or… Too big to dwell within the walls where… And so, obedient to the wish of her we l… I have agreed for sordid gold the little… Now strangers come to see the place, and…

I would rather be the daddy Of a romping, roguish crew, Of a bright-eyed chubby laddie And a little girl or two, Than the monarch of a nation

I’m just the man to make things right, To mend a sleigh or make a kite, Or wrestle on the floor and play Those rough and tumble games, but say! Just let him get an ache or pain,

There’s a little chap at our house that… Keeps the front lawn looking tidy in the… Doesn’t leave his little wagon, when he’… On the sidewalk as he used to; now he pu… When we call him in to supper, we don’t…

Little lady at the altar, Vowing by God’s book and psalter To be faithful, fond and true Unto him who stands by you, Think not that romance is ended,

An apple tree beside the way, Drinking the sunshine day by day According to the Master’s plan, Had been a faithful friend to man. It had been kind to all who came,

Along the paths o’ glory there are faces… There are youthful hearts and sturdy tha… From the rugged roads o’ duty they have… To mingle with their brothers who were n… And they’re looking back and smiling at…

Cliffs of Scotland, guard them well, Shield them from the blizzard’s rage; Let your granite towers tell That those sleeping heroes fell In the service of their age.

‘Some day,’ says Ma, 'I’m goin’ to get A party dress all trimmed with jet, An’ hire a seamstress in, an’ she Is goin’ to fit it right on me; An’ then, when I’m invited out

A little ship goes out to sea As soon as we have finished tea; Off yonder where the big moon glows This tiny little vessel goes, But never grown-up eyes have seen

She is gentle, kind and fair, And there’s silver in her hair; She has known the touch of sorrow, But the smile of her is sweet; And sometimes it seems to me

There’s a bump on his brow and a smear o… That is plainly the stain of his tears; At his neck there’s a glorious sun-paint… The bronze of his happiest years. Oh, he’s battered and bruised at the end…

Last night I caught him on his knees an… And oh, the guilty look he wore, and oh,… When I, pretending to be cross, said: '… game?’ As if, back in the long ago, I hadn’t a…

First thing in the morning, last I hear… Get it when I come from school: 'My, yo… Go upstairs this minute, an’ roll your s… An’ give your hands a scrubbing and wipe… Now don’t stand there and argue, and nev…

‘They tie you down,’ a woman said, Whose cheeks should have been flaming re… With shame to speak of children so. ‘When babies come you cannot go In search of pleasure with your friends,

God grant that we shall never see Our country slave to lust and greed; God grant that here all men shall be United by a common creed. Here Freedom’s Flag has held the sky

How’s the little chap to know Just the proper roads to go If you never travel with him While he’s little, hand in hand? How’s he ever going to learn

Sure, they get stubborn at times; they w… fret us a lot, But I’d rather be crossed by a glad lit… and frequently worried than not. There are hours when they get on my nerv…

My father knows the proper way The nation should be run; He tells us children every day Just what should now be done. He knows the way to fix the trusts,

Glad to be back home again, Where abide the friendly men; Glad to see the same old scenes And the little house that means All the joys the soul has treasured—

THE dead return. I know they do; The glad smile may have passed from view… The ringing voice that cheered us so In that remembered long ago Be stilled, and yet in sweeter ways

When winter shuts a fellow in and turns… There’s nothing else for him to do but s… And then before an open fire he smokes h… He seems to see a picture show of all hi… No ordinary film is that which memory th…

I’m sorry for a feller if he hasn’t any… To let him eat and do the things his mot… An aunt to come a visitin’ or one to go… Is just about the finest kind of lady th… Of course she’s not your mother, an’ she…

I wish I was a poet like the men that w… The poems that we have to learn on valle… I’d write of things that children like a… An’ when the kids recited them the folks… If I’d been born a Whittier, instead of…

The little woman, to her I bow And doff my hat as I pass her by; I reverence the furrows that mark her br… And the sparkling love light in her eye. The little woman who stays at home,

I can’t help thinkin’ o’ the lad! Here’s summer bringin’ trees to fruit, An’ every bush with roses clad, An’ nature in her finest suit, An’ all things as they used to be

When mother baked an angel cake we kids… An’ watch her gentle hands at work, an’… We’d watch her stir the eggs an’ flour a… An’ pour it in the crinkled tin, an’ the… She’d spread the icing over it, an’ we k…

Some have the gift of song and some poss… Some have the gift of leadership and som… And fame and wealth reward their friends… told, But in good time their favorites grow ve…

You can learn a lot from boys By the way they use their toys; Some are selfish in their care, Never very glad to share Playthings with another boy;

They’ve hung their stockings up with car… And I am in my old arm chair, And mother’s busy dragging out The parcels hidden all about. Within a corner, gaunt to see,

God made the little boys for fun, for ro… He made their little legs to run and rac… He made them strong for climbing trees,… drums, And filled them full of revelries so the…

He shall be great who serves his country… He shall be loved who ever guards her fa… His worth the starry banner long shall t… Who loves his land too much to stoop to… Who shares the splendor of these sunny s…

You shall have satin and silk to wear, When my ship comes in; And jewels to shine in your raven hair, When my ship comes in. Oh, the path is dreary to-day and long,