Mother's Way

Oft within our little cottage,      As the shadows gently fall,     While the sunlight touches softly      One sweet face upon the wall,     Do we gather close together,      And in hushed and tender tone     Ask each other's full forgiveness      For the wrong that each has done.     Should you wonder why this custom      At the ending of the day,     Eye and voice would quickly answer:      "It was once our mother's way."     If our home be bright and cheery,      If it holds a welcome true,     Opening wide its door of greeting      To the many -- not the few;     If we share our father's bounty      With the needy day by day,     'Tis because our hearts remember      This was ever mother's way.     Sometimes when our hands grow weary,      Or our tasks seem very long;     When our burdens look too heavy,      And we deem the right all wrong;     Then we gain a new, fresh courage,      And we rise to proudly say:     "Let us do our duty bravely --      This was our dear mother's way."     Then we keep her memory precious,      While we never cease to pray     That at last, when lengthening shadows      Mark the evening of our day,     They may find us waiting calmly      To go home our mother's way.