TO ARAMINTA.
(After hearing Mr. Samson's Lecture.)
["To keep the family true, refined, affectionate, faithful, is the woman's task—a task that needs the entire energies and life of woman; and to mix up this sacred duty with the grosser occupation of politics and trade, is to unfit her for it as much as if a priest were to embark in the business of money-lender."—FREDERIC HARRISON.]
I Prithee, ARAMINTA, hear
What FREDERIC HARRISON has said:
Don't read for College honours, dear,
And put a towel round your head.
Don't sully what should surely be
An unstained soul, with tricks of trade;
Leave stern official work to me,
While you remain a simple maid.
Don't prate of woman's function, sweet,
Your only duty is to charm;
Leave platform spouting, as is meet,
To men; it cannot do them harm.
Your influence comes from gracious ways,
Your glory in the home doth lie;
The guardian angel of our days,
Until you bless us when we die.
Don't enter on ignoble strife
With man, 'tis yours to soar above—
To all the higher things of life,
Divine compassion, and pure love.
'Tis yours to stimulate, refine,
To win men by a kindly heart;
Not grovel with us where the sign
Of Mammon hangs above the mart.
Thine is the task to reign supreme
Within the sacred sphere of home;
To make our life one happy dream,
Thine own as spotless as the foam.
To trade, to toil, to head the feast,
To seek the politician's gain,
Were hateful:—ay, as though the priest
Took usury, within the fane!