Read the following lines and answer the question that follows by choosing the correct option :
'My father lived at Blenheim then,
Yon little stream hard by;
They burnt his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forced to fly;
So with his wife and child he fled,
Nor had he where to rest his head.
'With fire and sword the country round
Was wasted far and wide,
And many a childing mother then,
And new-born baby died;
But things like that, you know, must be
At every famous victory.
The phrase 'childing mother' in the poem means :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The phrase 'childing mother' in the poem means: pregnant woman
The term "childing mother" refers to a pregnant woman. In the context of the poem, it indicates that many pregnant women suffered during the destructive events described, and the mention of "new-born baby died" suggests that both unborn and newborn children were affected by the devastating consequences of war. The phrase highlights the tragic impact of conflict on families, including expectant mothers and their infants.