Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE HOUSEWIFE'S PRAYER, ON THE MORNING PRECEDING A FETE; TO ECONOMY, by ELIZABETH MOODY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE HOUSEWIFE'S PRAYER, ON THE MORNING PRECEDING A FETE; TO ECONOMY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Goddess adored! Who gained my early love
Last Line: And guard, o goddess, guard each candle's end!
Alternate Author Name(s): Greenly, Elizabeth
Subject(s): Housekeeping; Parties


GODDESS adored! who gained my early love,
And formed my mind thy precepts to improve;
Taught me to practice each penurious rule,
And made my heart a pupil of thy school;
Taught me that waste is an atrocious sin,
And bade me cull from dust the scattered pin:
Remembering this thy maxim to revere,
'One pin a day collects a groat a year'.
Thou value stamp'st on every rag I wear,
And show'st that patchwork makes an elbow-chair;
Bid'st me respect the dyer's useful trade,
That gives new being to my old brocade,
Restores my Persian to its pristine hue,
Or makes my faded red celestial blue.
Source of my health thy indurating power,
Inspired by thee I brave the threatening shower;
Nor seek defence against the winter's wind,
But scorn the cloak with costly ermine lined.
Let the blue current stagnate in my veins,
And age come on with all his rheums and pains;
Nor hood nor bonnet will I deign to wear,
Nor aught that Nature will consent to spare;
In these privations still adoring thee,
All-saving Power, divine Economy!
This night impart thy parsimonious grace
To all that wasteful tribe, the vassal race;
Vouchsafe protection to each sacred hoard,
And grant no lavish hand profane my board.
Infuse thy spirit in the chosen fair,
Ordained the tea and coffee to prepare;
May she distribute both with frugal hand,
And patient let the brewing teapot stand!
May blundering John his careless steps control,
And heed the frailty of the china bowl!
Cakes, lemonade, orgeat, do thou defend!
And guard, O Goddess, guard each candle's end!





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