SOMEBODY’S MOTHER

Summary

The poem "Somebody's Mother," written by Mary Dow Brine, describes a

scene where an old and helpless poor woman is being helped by a kind-
hearted boy to cross a busy road. The woman was old, ragged, and grey.
The frail woman could not bear the chill of the winter's day, so she huddled
to keep herself warm. The street where she was standing looked wet from
the recent snowfall. The snow that had fallen on the street made it difficult
for her to walk. Since she was unable to walk, she had to wait at the
crossing for a long time. The poor helpless woman standing at the busy
road crossing was uncared for. She was ignored by the passers-by. They
neither felt pity for her nor offered her a helping hand.

Down the street, there was a school that had just let out. Happy boys
streamed out of the school like a flock of sheep. The boys seemed
delighted as the school day was over and they were free. These boys,
moving in groups, hurried past the old woman. None of them offered her a
helping hand. The meek and timid old woman did not move and remained
at the crossing, fearing that carriage wheels or horses' hooves might run
over her on the slippery street. The busy street, covered in piled-up snow,
was not safe for her to cross.

Finally, a boy from the liveliest group of boys passing by the old woman
stepped forward to help her. The boy, who happened to notice the old
woman, stopped and quietly offered his assistance to cross the road. The
old woman placed her aged hand on his strong and confident young arm,
and he guided her across the road without any harm. He felt proud that his
young feet were firm and strong compared to the trembling and weak ones
of the old woman. Then, he returned to his friends. His young heart was
happy and satisfied to have helped the old woman. He told his friends that
the aged and poor woman he helped was somebody's mother, and she was
unable to cross the busy road on her own. By helping her, he hoped that
someone, someday, would lend a helping hand to his own mother if she
ever became old, poor, and grey while her own son was far away. That
night, in her home, the old lady bowed her head low and prayed to God to
be kind to the little noble boy who was somebody's pride and joy.