...Beautiful Things...

This poem, written by Ellen P. Allerton in the 1800's, is a lovely way to describe true beauty.  I was drawn in by it's eloquent charm, and I hope it brings to mind a friend or family member of yours that displays these qualities, as I have. 

"Beautiful Things"

Beautiful faces are those that wear-

It matters little if dark or fair-

Whole-souled honesty printed there.

Beautiful eyes are those that show,

Like crystal panes where hearthfires glow,

 Beautiful thoughts that burn below.

Beautiful lips are those whose words

Leap from the heart like songs of birds

Yet whose utterance prudence girds.

Beautiful hands are those that do

Work that is honest and brave and true,

Moment by moment the long day through.

Beautiful feet are those that go

On kindly ministering to and fro,

Down lowliest ways, if God wills it so.

Beautiful shoulders are those that bear

Ceaseless burdens of homely care

With patient grace and daily prayer.

Beautiful lives are those that bless

Silent rivers of happiness,

Whose hidden fountains but few may guess.

Beautiful twilight at set of sun,

Beautiful goal with race well run,

Beautiful rest with work well done.

Beautiful graces where grasses creep

Where brown leaves fall, where drifts lie deep

Over worn-out hands--oh! beautiful sleep.