As the birds in mid-air ocean, Poured childhood's plays among?
Were ever so bright the noondays, Were ever the skies so blue, Or so soft the slanting moon-rays, As stole my childhood through?
Was ever so dear a mother, Or a child so sweet, I pray, As my blue-eyed baby-brother, In the time so far away?
Was ever so true boy-lover,-- O, ever such pictures bright, As my child-days, over and over, Reflect by memory's light!
{326}
_NELLY AND NED._
"I'M twelve years old to-day," says Ned, "And wish I were twelve more, sir,-- And Nelly Warner's almost twelve, So we'd be twenty-four, sir."
"'And what of that!' Why, Nelly 'n' I Have always played together; And then I draw her on my sled, To school in stormy weather.
"And all the goodies that we get, We share them half and half, sir; And O, we have such lots of fun, I'm sure 'twould make you laugh, sir!
"Now Nelly lives in Cottage Square, While I live 'round the corner, And all the boys would laugh and shout, 'Ned Jarrett loves Nell Warner.'
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"I didn't care for this, you know, But O, I couldn't bear it When they began to laugh at her, And say, 'Nell loves Ned Jarrett!'
"And so I thought I'd have to fight,-- And though I was the smallest Of all the party, I's so mad I'd easy beat the tallest.
"But Nelly coaxed and comforted, And said, 'Why would I do it, When they had only told the truth, And everybody knew it!'"
{329}
_THE CLAMBERERS._
All you babies Perched in air, Careful how you Caper there!
Careful lest the Little feet Or the little Hands so sweet, Lose their hold And babies fall,-- Careful, careful, Babies all.
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_THE NEW WHITE JATTET._
I never seen such naughty dirls As Susy Jones and Ellen; They laughed, O desht as hard's they tould When I twipped up and fell in The old toal-hole. And see, mamma, I tore my new white jattet; And when I twied, they laughed and laughed, And said, "O, what a wattet!"
The bid dirls talled them most untind, And said they surely knew it, The teaching of the Dolden Wule, And then how tould they do it!
I duess they'd twy if they was me, I duess they'd mate a wattet, If they should fall in a toal-hole, And tear their new white jattet.
{331}
_REMEMBER THE POOR._
"SWEET, my darling, come and see What mamma has brought for thee; Garments soft and ribbons bright, Hat and coat, a pretty sight; Sweet, my child, what shall we do With the old, now you've the new?"
"Why, mamma, this frock and frill, These are good and pretty still.
But as they are quite too small, Give them, please, to Lillie Ball In the cottage by the hill, She'll be glad, I know she will; For mamma, they're very poor, And 'tis cold to cross the moor In their tattered garments few; Mamma, may I give the new?"
"No, my child, and yet you may Sometimes give new things away.
Keep your pennies, and they'll be Dollars, by and by, two, three; Thus you now and then may have Something new and fresh to give."
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_THE LITTLE STREET-SWEEPER._
Look at that little girl sweeping the crossing; See how the mud her bare legs is embossing!
And her feet are so slippered with mud, that it seems As though from the ground she grew up 'mongst the teams; And why she's not run over surely's a wonder, Standing there sweeping, the horses' feet under.
See her close curls and her bright, beaming eye; Though fearless, the glance, you perceive, is half shy, {333} As so lightly she swings her wet broom, and so true,-- Let us cross, and we'll give her a penny or two.
But wait, now a passer-by hands her a penny; Just see her bright glance twinkle over to Benny, The little hunchback sitting there on the curb-stone, Close up to the lamp-post, that he may disturb none.
His crutches beside him a sorry tale tell; But see, he's a basket of knick-nacks to sell; And a lady has bought for her child a toy whip, And now from her port-monaie gives him the scrip, But refuses the change,--and with tears in his eyes, He thanks her and blesses, with grateful surprise;-- And the glance the boy now flashes over to Jenny, Is as bright as she gave him when she got the penny.
O, I've seen them so many times! always together, Always happy and cheery, in bright or dull weather; For though he makes the most when it's fair, as they show me, Yet she does the best when it's muddy and stormy.
Watch, now, her quick smile of such pleased recognition:-- To win it I oft come this way on my mission.
But see, she draws back as I offer the penny, {334} And modestly says, "Madam, please keep the money, For you know 'tis a pleasure to me to be sweeping The path for you, lady;" and, all the time keeping Her broom just before us to brush the least speck, The sweet smiles in her eyes her whole being bedeck.
So I keep it, for she has as good claim as I To the right to do favors and none will deny That "It is more blessed to give than receive,"
And her sweep is far more than my pennies to give.
But we'll stop and see Benny, and make it up there, For in all that each gets they will both have a share.
A nice little bib for my baby at home,-- A patent tape-measure, a mother-pearl comb; And Benny's pale face lightens up with a glow Such as angels rejoice in;--now, Maud, we must go.
But to Benny: "I'm thinking to-night I may come And bring my friend with me, to see your new home."
"O, if you will!" says the child with delight Rippling over his face like a sunbeam--and quite As joyously, Jenny: "O, madam, please do, For we've something at home that we want to show you!"
So when 'tis near night-fall we take the short car {335} That off through West Fourth Street goes winding afar, And away to the Hudson, almost, we shall find A lone-seeming tenement cuddled behind Huge heaps of fresh lumber so piney and sweet, While everything round there is charmingly neat.-- Yes, the children are home and as gay as a lark, While the good mother greets us with pleasure;--but hark!
A baby-cry comes from the bedroom beyond, And Jenny brings forth a sweet, sunny-haired blonde, Saying: "This is the something we wanted to show you, This two-years-old baby-girl--why, does she know you?
She holds out her hands to go to you so soon!"
"Ah! she feels we are friendly;--hear now her soft croon.
But how came she here, child?" "We found her just over The lumber-yard fence, with a board for a cover, Wrapped up in a blanket marked Bertha." "But why Do you not to the charity mission apply?"
"O, we want her ourselves! And the good Lord, through you, {336} Has given us this home, so what else should we do, Than to keep what He sends? And we're sure He sent Berty, In place of our baby that died, little Myrtie!"