Somebody's Mother

                                [Poem]
                           Somebody's Mother

The woman was old and ragged grey,
And bent with the chill of a winter's day;
The street was wet with the recent snow,
And the woman's feet were aged and slow.

She stood at the crossing and waited long
Alone, uncared gor, amid the throng 
Of human beings who passed her by,
Nor heeded the glance for her anxious eye.

Down the street with laughter and shout,
Glad in the freedom of school let out,
Come the boys like a flock of sheep 
Hailing the snow, piled white and deep.

Past the woman so old and grey,
Hastened the children on their way ;
Nor offered a helping hand to her,
So meek, so timid, afraid to stir :
Lest the carriage wheels or the horse's feet
Should crowd her dowmn the slippery street.

At last came one of the merry troop,
The gayest laddies of all the group,
He paused beside her, and whispered low;
I'll help you across, if you wish to go'.

Her aged hand on his strong young arm
She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong.

Then back again to his friends he went,
His young heart happy and well content.
'She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,
For all she's aged and poor and slow,

And I hope some fellow will lend a hand,
To help my mother, you understand,
If ever she's poor and grey,
When her own dear boy is away,'

And somebody's mother bowed low her head.
In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was : 'God be kind to the noble boy
Who is somebody's son and pride and joy !'
                                                -Marry Dow Brine
                           [About Poem]

It is our moral duty to help those who are poor, old and in need. We can help them with money. But there is another kind of help which is even greater than money. It is sympathy. If we do a kind act, it gives us inner joy. We are blessed both by God and the person who receives our sympathy and help.

This poem describes how a little boy helped a poor old woman to across a busy road. He saw in her the image of his own mother when she would grow old. This little act of kindness gave the boy deep joy. He also earned the old woman's blessings.