{A Plea}

{A Plea for the Relief Society}

Written at the request of Mrs. Rhonda Snell, first President of the Relief Society of Spanis Fork and read at the celebration of the 24th of July, 1867.

Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost.  John, Chap. VI. ver. 12.

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Let us gather up the fragments,

That nothing may be lost,

And never mind how trifling, or

How small may be their cost.

Economy is heaven's law,

Let us observe and see;

A tiny drop, a single grain, 

Each of some use can be.

Union is strength, and when we meet

And in one cause unite,

Much may be done to help and bless,

And make the burden light.

We bring our little bits of cloth,

Our bunch of wool or thread;

And busy fingers work awhile;

And soon a quilt is made.

We give our mite the poor to help,

their pressing wants relieve,

But do we realize how much,

We each from God receive?

On this glad day, when through these vales,

The saints with joy have met,

Can we while pleasure thrills the heart,

The absent ones forget?

Our people now in distant lands,

Would glad these blessings share,

And from them oft, for help from us, 

Ascends the fervent prayer.

Oppressed with poverty, they sigh,

While sin and crime abound;

And evils now unknown to us,

Encompass them around.

By us a Prophet's voice is heard,

Our eyes can see this face,

Would they not prize above all joys,

In Zion's land a place?

Perhaps the little we have done,

Is registered on high,

And, when the books at least are read

Will not unnoticed lie.

But do we each give all we can

When any call is made?

Or is our first desire to know

How little can be paid?

Does it sometimes seem hard to part

With what we earn so dear?

As Saints of God we ought to live

Above all selfish fear.

'Tis faith alone, can understand

the charge so wisely given,

(Though some may fear to run the risk,)

"Lay treasures up in Heaven."

~ Hannah Last Cornaby

My great- great-grandmother

{Woman's Mission}

I never wished to be a queen,
     To wear the robes of state,
Or have my name enrolled among
     The famous or the great.

I never cared for "woman's rights,"
     Nor ever had a fear,
But that if woman sought, sh'd find
     Her own, her proper sphere.

I know that woman's missions' great,
     Yet comprehends the small,
The tiny, trifling things of life,
     Important to us all.

In this, true woman finds her sphere,
     Her happiness complete,
In loving, helping, blessing all
     With whom she chance to meet.

What need for her of Congress' halls,
     Or legislative cares,
The promptings of her woman's soul,
     Is all the law she hears.

The law of love implanted there,
     By our great Parent's hand,
If not perverted, safely guides,
     Woman in every land.

I wish I had the power to write,
     Woman to vindicate,
To tell her true nobility,
     E'en in this fallen state.

I never wished for wealth or fame,
     For I have understood,
How poor and valueless are these,
     Compared with being good.

               ~Hannah Last Cornaby
               b. March 17, 1822, Beccles, Suffolk England
               d. Sept. 1, 1905