To My Mother

(A Christmas Wish)

This is the day of the Mother and Child, Of Blessed Babe and of Mary mild; Centuries old yet eternally young, Chanted in praises of every tongue,-- Lily divine of Motherhood, Child who has taught us Brotherhood!

This is the season of Mother and Child,-- Then let me wish for thee, mother mild, Who of thy love didst bring me here, Gave me this life that I hold so dear, All that thy heart can treasure, Joy beyond earthly measure!

“And I, for one, would much rather, Could I merit so sweet a thing, Be the poet of little children Than the laureate of a king.” LUCY LARCOM

Acknowledgments are made to the following periodicals in which these little verses for children first appeared: The Ladies’ Home Journal, The Outlook, The Interior, Little Folks, The Kindergarten and First Grade, The Housewife, The Churchman, American Primary Teacher, The Continent, John Martin’s Book, Mother’s Magazine, Woman’s Home Companion, Sunday School Times, Youth’s Companion, Woman’s World, Table Talk, Journal of Education, St. Nicholas, Young People’s Weekly, The Primary School, The Ladies’ World.

Also to Doubleday, Page and Company and Houghton Mifflin Company for permission to use verses which have appeared in their publications.