“I’ve rubbed my years away on scrubbing boards,
  Washed floors for women that owned less than we,
An’ while they played the ladies an’ the lords,
  We smiled an’ dreamed of happiness to be.” 
“And all this time where was the boy?” said I. 
  “Out somewhere playin’!”—­Like a rifle shot
The thought went home—­“My God!” she gave a cry,
  “We paid too big a price for what we got.”

Always Saying “Don’t!”

Folks are queer as they can be,
Always sayin’ “don’t” to me;
Don’t do this an’ don’t do that. 
Don’t annoy or tease the cat,
Don’t throw stones, or climb a tree,
Don’t play in the road.  Oh, Gee! 
Seems like when I want to play
“Don’t” is all that they can say.

If I start to have some fun,
Someone hollers, “Don’t you run!”
If I want to go an’ play
Mother says:  “Don’t go away.” 
Seems my life is filled clear through
With the things I mustn’t do. 
All the time I’m shouted at: 
“No, no, Sonny, don’t do that!”

Don’t shout so an’ make a noise,
Don’t play with those naughty boys,
Don’t eat candy, don’t eat pie,
Don’t you laugh and don’t you cry,
Don’t stand up and don’t you fall,
Don’t do anything at all. 
Seems to me both night an’ day
“Don’t” is all that they can say.

When I’m older in my ways
An’ have little boys to raise,
Bet I’ll let ’em race an’ run
An’ not always spoil their fun;
I’ll not tell ’em all along
Everything they like is wrong,
An’ you bet your life I won’t
All the time be sayin’ “don’t.”

Boy O’ Mine

Boy o’ mine, boy o’ mine, this is my prayer for you,
This is my dream and my thought and my care for you: 
Strong be the spirit which dwells in the breast of you,
Never may folly or shame get the best of you;
You shall be tempted in fancied security,
But make no choice that is stained with impurity.

Boy o’ mine, boy o’ mine, time shall command of you
Thought from the brain of you, work from the hand of you;
Voices of pleasure shall whisper and call to you,
Luring you far from the hard tasks that fall to you;
Then as you’re meeting life’s bitterest test of men,
God grant you strength to be true as the best of men.

Boy o’ mine, boy o’ mine, singing your way along,
Cling to your laughter and cheerfully play along;
Kind to your neighbor be, offer your hand to him,
You shall grow great as your heart shall expand to him;
But when for victory sweet you are fighting there,
Know that your record of life you are writing there.

Boy o’ mine, boy o’ mine, this is my prayer for you;
Never may shame pen one line of despair for you;
Never may conquest or glory mean all to you;
Cling to your honor whatever shall fall to you;
Rather than victory, rather than fame to you,
Choose to be true and let nothing bring shame to you.