<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">To Happier Days</h1><p class="byline"> MABEL McELLIOTT <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">IN The Chicago Sunday Tribune</span></p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">AGAINST the shabby house I pass each day </p><p class="line">(The town is strange, and all so new to see)</p><p class="line">Pink hollyhocks made friendly sport of me, </p><p class="line">With nod and smile and endless courtesy </p><p class="line">Enlive the lonely sameness of my way. </p><p class="line">Slim little maids in rosy morning frocks </p><p class="line">They make a splash of color on the gray-- </p><p class="line">The sun so bright--a pity not to play, </p><p class="line">But this old world is sadly work-a-day, </p><p class="line">And I must hasten on, my hollyhocks!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I like to think that somewhere, overseas, </p><p class="line">Perhaps in some neglected garden place, </p><p class="line">Shy flowers from home lean out with wayward grace--</p><p class="line">Blue iris and the valley lilies' lace--</p><p class="line">Reminding them of happier times than these,...</p><p class="line">Of happy times that are so soon to be, </p><p class="line">When they come marching home to us--our men--</p><p class="line">The world's work done, the land made clean again! </p></div></body></html> · Great War