A WOMAN'S QUESTION, and a Man's reply

Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing
 Ever made by the Hand above?
A woman's heart and a woman's life,
 And a woman's wonderful love?

 Do you know you have asked for this priceless thing
 As a child might ask for a toy?
Demanding what others have died to win,
 With the reckless dash of a boy?

 You have written my lesson of duty out,
 Manlike, you have questioned me;
Now stand at the bar of my woman's soul
 Until I shall question thee.

 You require your mutton shall always be hot,
 Your socks and your shirt shall be whole;
 I require your heart shall be true as God's stars,
 As pure as heaven your soul.

 You require a cook for your mutton and beef;
 I require a far better thing;
A seamstress you're wanting for stockings and shirt
 I look for a man and a king.

 A king for a beautiful realm called Home,
 And a man that the maker, God,
Shall look upon as He did the first,
 And say: "It is very good."

 I am fair and young, but the roses will fade
 From my soft young cheek one day;
Will you love me then, 'mid the falling leaves,
 As you did 'mid the bloom of May?

 Is your heart an ocean so wide and deep
 I may launch my all on its tide?
 A loving woman finds heaven or hell
 On the day' she is made a bride.

 I require all things that are grand and true,
 All things that a man should be;
 If you give this all, I would stake my life
 To be all you demand of me.

 If you cannot do this, a laundress and cook
 You may hire with little pay;
 But a woman's heart and a woman's life
 Are not to be won that way.

Mary T. Lathrop


A MAN'S REPLY
 Yes, I have asked for a priceless thing,
 For a gem beyond all compare,
With which all the richest mountains of earth
 Nor the ocean can compare.

 But have I come with empty hands?
 In return have I offered aught?
Can a man bring more to the woman he loves
 Than I unto you have brought?

 No seamstress or cook have I sought, 
For they can be hired, I ween;
Naught have I said of mutton or shirt,
 I want and must have a Queen.

 You say that you want a man and a King
 A very Prince of the race;
 I look for a kind and generous heart,
 And not a queenly face.

 You require all things that are good and true,
 All things that a man should be;
I ask for a woman, with all that implies,
 And that is sufficient for me.

 You ask for a man without a fault,
 To live with here on earth;
 I ask for a woman, faults and all,
 For by faults, I may judge of worth.

 I ask for a woman, made as of old,
 A higher form of man;
His comforter, helper, adviser and friend,
 As in the original plan.

 A woman who has an aim in life,
 Who finds life worth the living;
Who makes the world better for being here,
 And for others her life is giving

 To be all that a man should be
 Shall be my aim in life;
To love but me and only me,
 Is all that I ask of my wife.

 For your heart and life and wonderful love
 Are sacred things to me,
And I'll stake my life to be to you
 Whatever I ought to be.

 Thus, at the bar of your woman's soul
 I have stood and answered thee;
And again, I ask for that priceless thing
 Say, what shall the answer be?

 -Unknown