A WIFE whose love has vanquished doubt and fear, In faith and courage man's eternal mate, Of reason and of will commensurate! A loveliness that time will but endear, Whereof the flower, enfolding, year by year, A soul more beautiful, with light elate, Steals sweetness from the winds of adverse fate— Like snowy lilies fed with radiance clear! Man's Home and Comrade,—passionate, pure and strong, Among the merry, gay with quip and jest, To all the sad and lonely, motherhood!— The heart of him she loves, to war with wrong! He is her Strength and she to Him is Rest, Revealing, each to each, Truth, Beauty, Good. |