My Conserving Wife

Her eyes don’t shine like diamonds

     Nor glints her golden hair;

But she can trim an Easter hat

     One would be proud to wear.

Her teeth are not like gleaming pearls,

     Her lips not cherry red;

But she has got the baker skinned

     On making home-made bread.

Her hands are scarcely lily white,

     Nor are they red and rough;

But she can wallop any simp

     Who tries to hand her guff.

She cannot play the masters well,

     Nor sing the upper C,

But she can can our garden stuff,

     And that’s enough for me!

Sept. 5, 1917