But Mrs. C. remained indoors,

And poked the fire and wound the clocks,

Amused the children, scrubbed the floors,

Or darned her absent husband’s socks.

(For she was far too sweet and wise

To darn the great explorer’s eyes.)

And when she chanced to look around

At all the couples she had known,

And realized how few had found

A home as peaceful as her own,