• Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing
    Ever made by the Hand above?
    A woman's heart, and a woman's life-
    And a woman's wonderful love

    Do you know you have asked for this pricless thing
    As a child might ask for a toy?
    Demanding what others have died to win,
    With the reckless dash of a boy.

    You have written my lesson of duty out;
    Manlike, you have questioned me.
    Now stand at the bar of my woman's soul
    Until I shall question thee.

    You require your mutton shall be always hot,
    Your socks and your shirt be whole;
    I require your haert to be true as God's stars
    And as pure as His heaven your soul.

    You require a cook for your mutton and beef,
    I require a far greater thing;
    A seamstree you're wanting for socks and shirts-
    I look for a man and a king.

    A king for the beautiful realm called HOme,
    And a man that his Maker, God,
    Shall look upon as He did on the first
    And say: "It is very good."

    I am fair and young, but the rose may fade
    From my soft young cheek one day;
    Will you love me then 'mid the fallen leaves,
    As you did 'mong the blossoms of May?

    Is your heart an ocean so strong and deep,
    I may launch my all on its tide?
    A loving woman finds heaven or hell
    On the day she is made a bride.

    I require all things that are grand and true,
    All things that a man should be;
    If you give this all, I would stake my life
    To be all you demand of me.

    If you cannot be this, a laundress and cook
    You can hire and little to pay;
    But a woman's heart and a woman's life
    Are not to be won that way.