University of Virginia Library

A HOLIDAY

The Wife
The house is like a garden,
The children are the flowers;
The gardener should come, methinks,
And walk among his bowers.
Oh, lock the door on worry,
And shut your cares away!
Not time of year, but love and cheer,
Will make a holiday.

The Husband
Impossible! You women do not know
The toil it takes to make a business grow.
I cannot join you until very late,
So hurry home, nor let the dinner wait.

The Wife
The feast will be like Hamlet,
Without a Hamlet part.
The home is but a house, dear,
Till you supply the heart.
The Christmas gift I long for,
You need not toil to buy.
Oh, give me back one thing I lack—
The love-light in your eye!

The Husband
Of course I love you, and the children too;
Be sensible, my dear; it is for you
I work so hard to make my business pay.
There now, run home; enjoy your holiday.

The Wife
(turning away)
He does not mean to wound me,
I know his heart is kind.
Alas, that men can love us,
And be so blind, so blind!
A little time for pleasure,
A little time for play,
A word to prove the life of love
And frighten care away,
Though poor my lot in some small cot—
That were a holiday.

The Husband
(musing)
She has not meant to wound me or to vex.
Zounds! but 'tis difficult to please the sex.
I've housed and gowned her like a very queen,
Yet there she goes with discontented mien.
I gave her diamonds only yesterday.
Some women are like that, do what you may.