The Journal Leon, Iowa September 6, 1883 'Overworked' -- by Ella Wheeler. ----------------------------- Up with the birds in the early morning -- The dew-drop shows like a precious gem; Beautiful lines in the skies are dawning, But she's never a moment to look at them. The men are wanting their breakfast early; She must not linger, she must not wait; For words that are sharp and looks that are surly Are what the men give when the meals are late. Oh, glorious colors the clouds are turning, If she would but look over hills and trees; But here are the dishes, and here is the churning -- Those things must always yield to these. The world is filled with the wine of beauty, If she could but pause to drink it in; But pleasure, she says, must wait for duty -- Neglected work is committed sin. The day grows hot, and her hands grow weary; Oh, for an hour to cool her head, Out with the birds and winds so cheery! But she must get dinner and make her bread. The busy men in the hay field working, If they saw her sitting with idle hand, Would think her lazy, and call it shirking, And she never could make them understand. They do not know that the heart within her Hungers for beauty and things sublime, They only know they want their dinner, Plenty of it, and just "on time" And after the sweeping and churning and baking, And dinner dishes are all put by, She sits and sews though her head is aching, Till time for supper and "chores" draws nigh. Her boys at school must look like others, She says, as she patches their frocks and hose, For the world is quick to censure mothers For the least neglect of their children's clothes. Her husband comes from the field of labor, He gives no praise to his weary wife; She's done no more than has her neighbor; 'Tis the lot of all in country life. But after the strife and weary tussle With life is done, and she lies at rest; The nation's brain and heart, and music -- Her sons and daughters -- shall call her blest. And I think the sweetest joy of heaven, The rarest bliss of eternal life, And the fairest crown of all be given Unto the wayworn farmer's wife. ------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert December 31, 2009 [email protected]