ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

Give us that grand word woman once again,
And let's have done with lady.
                                     One's a term,
Full of fine force--strong, beautiful, and firm,
Fit for the noblest use of tongue or pen--
And one's a word for lackeys.
                                     One suggests
The mother, wife and sister, one the dame
Whose costly robe, mayhap, gave her the name,
One word upon its own strength leans and rests;
The other minces tiptoe.
                                     Who would be
The perfect woman must grow brave of heart
And broad of soul, to play her troubled part
Well in life's drama. While each day we see
The perfect lady, skilled in what to do
And what to say, grace in each tone and act
('Tis taught in school, but needs serve native tact),
Yet narrow in her mind as in her shoe.
Give the first place, then, to the nobler phrase,
And leave the lesser word for lesser praise.