Classic Poem

As he read, his mother sat down beside him. " Read me a little. "
" You wouldn't understand, Ma. " " What do you care? Read me a little.
When I was a girl I wanted to study so much, but who could?
My father used to cry when I talked to him about it,
but he cried because he couldn't afford to educate the boys — even. "
As he read, she listened gravely; then went back to her ironing.
The gaslight shone on her round, ruddy face and the white cotton sheets that she spread and ironed;
from the shelf the alarm-clock ticked and ticked rapidly.