From The Sun, August 23, 1914. By M. E. Buhler.
(Among the first of the few statues in this country erected to women is that of Margaret Haughery, the baker of New Orleans who befriended orphans. She was born in Ireland about 1814.)
Above the passers in the street
Sits Margaret.
Her dress is old and plain and neat,
And orphans gather at her feet
While all the southern airs glow sweet
Round Margaret.
Round Margaret, the baker, who
Worked with her hands that she might strew
Her charities like summer dew
Upon the orphans that she knew.
A hundred years have come and gone,
Margaret,
Since first thine eyes beheld the dawn
Across far waters; but the morn
Was radiant whereon thou was born.
O Margaret, throned serenely there
In that old fashioned kitchen chair
With placid brow and smooth drawn hair,
The face of saints is not more fair!
Look down this day with sweet face bowed,
Our Margaret,
On childless women, strident, loud,
That clamor in a public crowd
And pray that they may be endowed
With thy grace, Margaret!
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