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 NELLIE M. FALL 
 
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Your Mother and Mine 
 
 Through the Maze of 
 Pride, Lust, Labor, Color and Creed 
 
 By NELLIE M. FALL 
 
 GRAFTON PUBLISHING CORPORATION 
 Los Angeles, California 
 

 Copyright 1922 
 ^y NELLIE M. FALL 
 
 >CJ.A690061 
 
 NOV -7 1S22 
 
 ^i& \ 
 
To 
 Your Mother and Mine 
 
DIFFICULT task to say anything new 
 Of worth of your Mother and mine, 
 ^^^\ So much has been written ennobhng 
 and true. 
 All priceless gems, precious each line; 
 And everyone knows of the patience so rare. 
 
 The Love tireless, tender and pure. 
 The courage unfalt'ring, the kind, watchful care 
 
 That ever dare all to endure. 
 When life seems a failure and friends all forget. 
 
 When fierce battles long and hard-fought 
 Have won only scars and defeat and regret, — 
 
 Unheralded spoils dearly bought. 
 With Faith firm and fearless she guides to the 
 goal, — 
 The struggling heart's long-cherished shrine. 
 Sustained by a Trust that's the Song in the Soul 
 Supreme of your Mother and mine. 
 
OWE'ER much we wander and far we 
 may roam, 
 Not often will she e'er resign 
 Her place at the helm of the good, old 
 ship ''Home'' 
 When e'en all things seem to combine 
 To make a rough voyage; and through trials sore 
 
 Still confident, constant, serene. 
 She stays at her post ever willing the more 
 
 On His gentle guidance to lean 
 Who e'er rewards waiting with rightful increase 
 
 Of sustenance, shelter and rest. 
 And pilots her bark to the Harbor of Peace 
 
 Where Love's patient labors are blest. 
 But dark clouds of sense sometimes tend to 
 Obscure 
 The realm of the Real and fine. 
 And blinded thereby we are not always sure 
 That One is vour Mother and mine. 
 
ID splendor and ease in rich raiment 
 adorned. 
 Exclusive and proud and unkind. 
 She lives in dull dreams where the lowly 
 are scorned 
 Of those vain and selfishly blind, 
 Till heartless convention would kill with con- 
 tempt 
 The gifts solely worthy to live. 
 And founts of affection sca^ feebly attempt 
 
 In living streams longer to give. 
 But gently descending the pure. Royal Rays 
 
 Displace mortal counterfeit weak 
 With beauty of holiness, garments of praise. 
 With pride humbly chastened and meek; 
 And 'neath the mere semblance of feature unfold 
 
 The face noble, sweet and benign 
 Reflecting the Love and the kindness untold 
 Replete in your Mother and mine. 
 
IKE one long ago by the Pharisees 
 founds 
 Rejected, despised and forlorn. 
 Again comes the Magdalene hard and sin- 
 bound; 
 And prone to malign and to scorn 
 As ancient accusers so stainless and pure, 
 
 We also wait ready to stone. 
 But Wisdom would all our self-righteousness cure 
 
 With Love's wholesome weapons alone: 
 In earth's sordid turmoil of trouble and care 
 
 If only we touch the mere Hem 
 Of the Robe without seam, and the healing we 
 share 
 No man will another condemn. 
 But each will discern with eye single and keen 
 
 The Light kindly, pure and divine 
 Revealing not wanton spurned, loathsome and 
 mean. 
 But clearly your Mother and mine. 
 
HE pathways of Service, the great gift 
 of God, 
 Throughout countless ages reveal 
 The prints of feet bleeding — with rare 
 beauty shod — 
 Of those wisely zealous to heal; 
 To learn in the routine dull, irksome and sad 
 
 To work ever joyfully do. 
 And hungry hearts weary with waiting make 
 glad 
 With real Hope kindled anew; — 
 To sift in the seeking the chaff from the wheat. 
 
 The great Purpose rightly to serve. 
 Where selfless endeavors alone do not cheat. 
 
 Inclined ne'er to falter nor swerve; — 
 For this all would bring grateful homage to her — 
 
 Sincere gentlewoman divine. 
 Well knowing that Love will due honor confer 
 Worth while on your Mother and mine. 
 
HE Freedom long sung of a kind, loyal 
 race 
 Will more strong and truthful theme 
 bear 
 When methods of Justice found wanting give 
 place 
 To those honesty helpful and fair; 
 When barriers of color no longer dispute 
 
 The rights that are truly God-giv'n, 
 And worthy aspirants of splendid repute 
 
 Receive as they nobly have striven; 
 When aim for equality merely with man 
 
 Shall mortal no longer inspire. 
 But rather for measure with one of God's plan, — 
 
 A mark surely freer and high'r. 
 And blessed the Love that impartial has shown 
 
 In model of every design — 
 Whatever caste or color — the true type and tone 
 Complete in your Mother and mine. 
 
NSNARED in the meshes of dogma 
 and creeds. 
 Mankind's dire and deadliest foe. 
 Whose leaders and cruel laws ever must 
 needs 
 But little of comfort bestow. 
 She dares to exalt and devoutly revere 
 
 A mortal god, frail and unkind; 
 But lost in the maelstrom of mesmeric fear 
 
 The seekers of Truth will e'er find 
 Man's heritage real with God's stamp and Seal: 
 
 The Word-cure for all human ill, 
 A right understanding our small sects to heal 
 
 And each fearful, trembling heart fill 
 With perfect assurance of vict'ry o'er death, — 
 
 That Love's precious promise divine 
 Crowns Faith with fulfillment of all that He 
 saith 
 Of Life for your Mother and mine. 
 
HE Likeness of Love naught can dim or 
 defile. 
 With HoHness, Beauty and Grace 
 'Twill ever redeem with true Color and 
 Style, 
 And sensuous model efface. 
 Till concept of clay cannot cheat and defraud 
 
 The Good Work so wondrously wrought. 
 And noble ideals reflected from God 
 Inspire every action and thought; 
 Till clean and unfettered by aught from within, 
 
 Or cheap outward mortal display 
 Of vanity, servitude, bondage or sin 
 That strive over man to hold gway. 
 Like Jesus, the Master, in all we shall see 
 
 The One perfect Image Divine, 
 Complete, universal, pure, glorified, free, — 
 Your Mother Immortal and mine.