| Jessie B. Rittenhouse, ed. (1869–1948). The Second Book of Modern Verse. 1922. |
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| A Saint’s Hours |
| | | Sarah N. Cleghorn |
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Her Matins
IN the still cold before the sun | |
| Her brothers and her sisters small | |
| She woke, and washed and dressed each one. | |
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Prime
And through the morning hours all | |
| Singing above her broom she stood | 5 |
| And swept the house from hall to hall. | |
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Tierce
Then out she ran with tidings good | |
| Across the field and down the lane, | |
| To share them with the neighborhood. | |
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Sexts
Four miles she walked, and home again, | 10 |
| To sit through half the afternoon | |
| And hear a feeble crone complain. | |
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Nones
But when she saw the frosty moon | |
| And lakes of shadow on the hill, | |
| Her maiden dreams grew bright as noon. | 15 |
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Vespers
She threw her pitying apron frill | |
| Over a little trembling mouse | |
| When the sleek cat yawned on the sill. | |
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Evensong
In the late hours and drowsy house, | |
| At last, too tired, beside her bed | 20 |
| She fell asleep—her prayers half said. | |
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