Read "A Holiday" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
THE WIFE
The house is like a garden, / The children are the flowers, / The gardener should come methinks / And walk among his bowers, / Oh! lock the door on worry / And shut your cares away, / Not time of year, but love and cheer, / Will make a holiday.
THE HUSBAND
Impossible! You women do not know / The toil it takes to make a business grow. / I cannot join you until very late, / So hurry home, nor let the dinner wait.
THE WIFE
The feast will be like _Hamlet_ / Without a Hamlet part: / The home is but a house, dear, / Till you supply the heart. / The Xmas gift I long for / You need not toil to buy; / Oh! give me back one thing I lack -- / The love-light in your eye.
THE HUSBAND
Of course I love you, and the children too / Be sensible, my dear, it is for you / I work so hard to make my business pay. / There, now, run home, enjoy your holiday.
THE WIFE (_turning_)
He does not mean to wound me, / I know his heart is kind. / Alas! that man can love us / And be so blind, so blind. / A little time for pleasure, / A little time for play; / A word to prove the life of love / And frighten Care away! / Tho' poor my lot in some small cot / _That_ were a holiday.
THE HUSBAND (_musing_)
She has not meant to wound me, nor to vex -- / Zounds! but 'tis difficult to please the sex. / I've housed and gowned her like a very queen / Yet there she goes, with discontented mien. / I gave her diamonds only yesterday: / Some women are like that, do what you may.