prudence.
57
PRUDENCE.
WHAT is this round world to Prudence,
With her round, black, restless eyes,
But a world for knitting stockings,
Sweeping floors, and baking pies?
With her round, black, restless eyes,
But a world for knitting stockings,
Sweeping floors, and baking pies?
'T is a world that women work in,
Sewing long seams, stitch by stitch:
Barns for hay, and chests for linen;—
'T is a world where men grow rich.
Sewing long seams, stitch by stitch:
Barns for hay, and chests for linen;—
'T is a world where men grow rich.
Ten years old is little Prudence;
Ten years older still she seems,
With her busy eyes and fingers,
With her grown-up thoughts and schemes.
Ten years older still she seems,
With her busy eyes and fingers,
With her grown-up thoughts and schemes.
Sunset is the time for candles;
Cows are milked at fall of dew;
Beans will grow, and melons ripen,
When the summer skies are blue.
Cows are milked at fall of dew;
Beans will grow, and melons ripen,
When the summer skies are blue.
