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Page 24—Girl Land

Maidenhood
Maiden! with the meek, brown eyes,
In whose orbs a shadow lies,
Like a dusk in evening skies!
Thou, whose locks outshine the sun,
Golden tresses, wreathed in one,
As the braided streamlets run!
Standing, with reluctant feet,
Where the brook and river meet!
Womanhood and childhood fleet!
Gazing, with a timid glance,
On the brooklet's swift advance,
On the river's broad expanse!
Deep and still, that gliding stream
Beautiful to thee must seem,
As the river of a dream.
Then why pause with indecision,
When bright angels in thy vision
Beckon thee to fields of Elysian?
Seest thou shadows sailing by,
As the dove, with startled eye,
Sees the falcon's shadow fly?
Hearest thou voices on the shore,
That our ears perceive no more,
Deafen'd by the cataract's roar?
O, thou child of many prayers!
Life hath quicksands—Life hath snares!
Care and age come unawares!
Like the swell of some sweet tune,
Morning rises into noon,
May glides onward into June
Childhood is the bough where slumber'd
Birds and blossoms many-number'd—
Age, that bough with snows encumber'd
Gather, then each flower that grows,
When the young heart overflows,
To embalm that tent of snows
Bear a lily in thy hand;
Gates of brass cannot withstand
One touch of that magic wand
Bear, through sorrow, wrong, and ruth,
In thy heart the dew of youth,
On thy lips the smile of truth.
Oh! that dew, like balm, shall steal
Into wounds, that cannot heal,
Even as sleep our eyes doth seal:
And that smile, like sunshine, dart
Into many a sunless heart,
For a smile of God thou art.
Longfellow
Girls that are in Demand
The girls that are wanted are good girls—
Good from the heart to the lips;
Pure as the lily is white and pure,
From it's heart to its sweet leaf tips.
The girls that are wanted are home girls—
Girls that are a mother's right hand,
That fathers and brothers can trust to,
And the little ones understand.
The girls that are fair on the hearthstone,
And pleasant when nobody sees;
Kind and sweet to their own folks,
Ready and anxious to please.
The girls that are wanted are wise girls,
That know what to do and to say;
That drive with a smile and soft word
The wrath of the household away.
The girls that are wanted are girls of sense,
Whom fashion can never deceive;
Who can follow whatever is pretty,
And dare what is silly to leave.
The girls that are wanted are careful girls,
Who count what a thing will cost.
Who use with a prudent generous hand,
But see that nothing is lost.
The girls that are wanted are girls with hearts,
They are wanted for mothers and wives,
Wanted to cradle in loving arms
The strongest and frailest lives.
The clever, the witty, the brilliant girl,
There are few who can understand,
But, oh! for the wise, loving home girls
There's a constant steady demand.
Girl's Names
Francis, is "unrestrained and free;"
Bertha, "pellucid, purely bright;"
Clara, "clear" as the crystal sea;
Lucy, a star of radiant "light;"
Catherine, is "pure" as mountain air;
Barbara, cometh "from afar;"
Mabel, is "like a lily fair;"
Henrietta, a soft, sweet "star;"
Felicia, is a "happy girl;"
Matilda, is a "lady true;"
Margaret, is a shining "pearl;"
Rebecca, "with the faithful few;"
Susan, is a "lily white;"
Jane has the "willow's" curve and grace;
Cecilia, dear, is "dim of sight;"
Sophia, shows "wisdom" on her face;
Constance, is firm and "resolute;"
Grace, a delicious "favour meet;"
Charlotte, "noble, of good repute;"
Harriet, a fine "odour sweet;"
Isabella, is "a lady rare;"
Lucinda, "constant" as the day;
Maria, means a "lady fair;"
Abigail, "joyful as the May;"
Elizabeth, "an oath of trust;"
Adeline, "nice princess, proud;"
Agatha, "is truly good and just;"
Leila, "a joy of love avowed;"
Jemima, "a soft sound in air;"
Caroline, "a sweet spirit, hale;"
Cornelia, "harmonious and fair;"
Selina, "a sweet nightingale;"
Lydia, "a refreshing well;"
Judith, "a song of sacred praise;"
Julia, "a jewel none excel;"
Priscilla, "ancient of days."
Kate
There's something in the name of Kate
Which many will condemn;
But listen now while I relate
The traits of some of them.
There's deli-Kate, a modest dame,
She's worthy of your love!
She's nice and beautiful a flame,
And gentle as a dove,
Communi-Kate's intelligent,
As we may well suppose;
Her fruitful mind is ever bent
On telling all she knows.
There's intri-Kate, she's so obscure
'Tis hard to find her out;
For she is often very sure
To put your wits to rout.
Prevari-Kate's a surly maid,
She's sure to have her way;
The cavilling, contrary jade,
Objects to all you say.
There's alter-Kate, a perfect pest;
Much given to dispute;
Her prattling tongue can never rest,
You cannot her refute.
Then dislo-Kate, is quite a fret,
Who fails to gain her point;
Her case is quite unfortunate
And sorely out of joint.
Equivo-Kate no one will woo—
The thing would be absurd.
She is so faithless and untrue,
You cannot take her word.
There's vindi-Kate, she's good and true,
And strives with all her might
Her duty faithfully to do
And battles for the right.
There's rusti-Kate, a country lass,
Quite fond of rural scenes;
She likes to ramble through the grass
And through the evergreens.
Of all the maidens you can find,
There's none like edu-Kate;
Because she elevates the mind
And aims at something great.