Hillsboro People/A Saint's Hours

by Sarah N. Cleghorn

Layout 2

 

⁠A SAINT'S HOURS

HER LAUDS	In the still cold before the sun Her brothers and her sisters small She woke, and washed and dressed each one.
PRIME	And through the morning hours all, Singing above her broom, she stood And swept the house from hall to hall.
TERCE	At noon she ran with tidings good Across the field and down the lane To share them with the neighborhood.
SEXT	Four miles she walked and home again, To sit through half the afternoon And hear a feeble crone complain;
NONES	But when she saw the frosty moon And lakes of shadow on the hill Her maiden dreams grew bright as noon.
VESPERS	She threw her pitying apron frill Over a little trembling mouse When the sleek cat yawned on the sill,
COMPLINE	In the late hours and drowsy house. At last, too tired, beside her bed She fell asleep.... her prayers half said.