Tight Shoes - Mother's Poems

Kinda silly but, I had to laugh. I found this in a book from the library of congress written back in 1888.

Tight Shoes.

God gave me hands, And gave me feet; He made them Perfect and complete. And while on earth I live below, He'll give me sense to keep them so. I do not press them, In a shoe To small because They're number two.

I'd rather have Number three; So I can walk With liberty. And should my feet Require more, I'd not object To number four. For, my goodness Sakes alive, Some women wear A number five.

And it would be No fault of mine, Should I require a number nine. Oct. 16, 1888

From the book "Mother's Poems" by Elizabeth Springer Phillips, p. 40-41.

Sounds like our 1888 woman's feet were very small! Could it be that the shoe size tag was just a larger indicator than ours are now? Or maybe our poet just need a word that rhymed with her "Sakes alive"!

(It is apparent she has a lot of time on her hands!)

I remember my mother buying new shiny patent leather shoes every Christmas and Easter - I had foot- pain all day.

 We do have our issues with our feet