---

Ella Wheeler Wilcox - The Boys` And Girls` Thanksgiving
Work rating: Low

Never since the race was started,
Had a boy in any clime,
Cause to be so thankful-hearted,
As the boys of present time.


Not a girl in old times living—
Let the world talk as it may—
Found such reasons for Thanksgiving,
As the girls who live to-day!


Grandmas, in their corners sitting,
Toiling till the day grew late,
What knew they with endless knitting,
Of the jolly roller-skate?


Grandpas sitting by the fender,
Reading by the faggots` blaze,
What knew they of modern splendor
Found in incandescent rays?


Where they toiled in bitter weather,
Braving rain and snow and sleet,
Gathering sticks of wood together,
We have radiators` heat.


But these fruits of modern science
They first planted seed by seed,
In their strength and self-reliance
We may find a noble creed.


With the dawn of great inventions,
Came the anti-warring days.
Men are sick of armed contentions,
God be thanked with heart-felt praise.


Once a boy was trained for fighting,
Now the world is better taught,
`Tis an age when wrongs are righting
By the force of common thought.


Once a girl was trained for sewing,
Spinning, knitting, nothing more.
She must never think of knowing
Aught of things outside her door.


If she soared above her spinning,
If she sought a life more broad,
She was looked upon as sinning
`Gainst the laws of man and God.


Now a girl is taught she`s human,
Brain and body, soul and heart—
All are needed by the woman
Who to-day would play her part.


Swift and sure the world advances,
Let the critic carp who may.
God be praised for all the chances
Boys and girls enjoy to-day.
Source
The script ran 0.001 seconds.