Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald
Journalist, Author and  Poet
Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald  (1857-1940) was born of English-Quaker parents at Rockwood, Ontario.  Her father was the late Rev. William Wetherald, who founded the Rockwood Academy and was its principal for many years.  He took care of Agnes' early education before she went on to the Friends' Boarding School, Union Springs, N.Y., and later  Pickering College.

Miss Wetherald began writing poetry later in life than most poets and her first book of verse, The House of the Trees and Other Poems, did not appear until 1895. This book at once gave her high rank among women poets.
Prior to this, she had collaborated with G. Mercer Adam on writing and publishing a novel, An Algonquin Maiden, and had conducted the Woman's Department in The Globe, Toronto, under the nom de plume, 'Bel Thistlewaite.'  Her second volume of verse appeared in 1902, Tangled in Stars, and, in 1904, her third volume, The Radiant Road.

In the autumn of 1907, a collection of Miss Wetherald's best poems was issued, entitled, The Last Robin: Lyrics and Sonnets, which was warmly welcomed generally, by reviewers and lovers of poetry. The many exquisite gems therein so appealed to Earl Grey, the then Governor-General of Canada, that he wrote a personal letter of appreciation to the author, and purchased twenty-five copies of the first edition for distribution among his friends.
The House of the Trees
By:  Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald
OPE your doors and take me in,
  Spirit of the wood;
Wash me clean of dust and din,
  Clothe me in your mood.

Take me from the noisy light
  To the sunless peace,
Where at midday standeth Night,
  Signing Toil's release.

All your dusky twilight stores
  To my senses give;
Take me in and lock the doors,
  Show me how to live.

Lift your leafy roof for me,
  Part your yielding walls,
Let me wander lingeringly
  Through your scented halls.

Ope your doors and take me in,
  Spirit of the wood;
Take me–make me next of kin
  To your leafy brood.
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