es of "Stray Thoughts."

L. H. M. SOULSBY.
BRONDESBURY, Nov. 23, 1903.

CONTENTS

LINES WRITTEN ON BEING TOLD THAT A LADY WAS "PLAIN AND COMMONPLACE"

THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN

MAKING PLANS

CONVERSATION

AUNT RACHEL; OR, OLD MAIDS' CHILDREN

"GET UP, M. LE COMTE!"

A FRIDAY LESSON

A HOME ART; OR, MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS

ESPRIT DE CORPS

ROUGH NOTES OF A LESSON

HOLIDAYS

SUNDAY

FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE

A GOOD TIME

"The Sweet, Sweet Love of Daughter,

"I have discovered a thing very little known, which is, that in
one's whole life one can never have more than a single mother. You
may think this obvious and (what you call) a trite observation....
You are a green gosling! I was at the same age (very near) as wise
as you, and yet I never discovered this (with full evidence and
conviction, I mean) till it was too late."--_Gray's Letters_.

"of Sister,

"The Blessing of my later years
Was with me when a Boy
She gave me eyes, she gave me ears,
And love, and thought, and joy."
Wordsworth.

"and of Wife."

"The thousand still sweet joys of such
As hand in hand face earthly life."
M. Arnold.

"I desired to make her my wife, knowing that she would be a
counsellor of good things, and a comfort in cares and grief. For
her conversation hath no bitterness; and to live with her hath no
sorrow, but mirth and joy."--_Wisdom of Solomon_.

LINES

WRITTEN ON BEING TOLD THAT A LADY WAS "PLAIN AND COMMONPLACE."

You say that my love is plain,
But that I can never allow
When I look at the thought for others
That is written on her brow.

The eyes are not fine, I own,
She has not a well-cut nose,
But a smile for others' pleasures
And a sigh for others' woes:

Quick to perceive a want,
Quicker to set it right,
Quickest in overlooking
Injury, wrong, or slight.

Nothing to say for herself,
That is the fault you find!
Hark to her words to the children,
Cheery and bright and kind.

Hark to her words to the sick,
Look at her patient ways;
Every word she utters
Speaks to the speaker's praise.

"Nothing to say for herself,"
Yes! right, most right, you are,