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Upon the guilt that vaunting thrives；
Thy wrath were better spent！
Why should'st Thou take my little son …
Why should'st Thou vent Thy wrath upon
This innocent？〃
Last night； as my dear babe lay dead；
Before mine eyes the vision spread
Of things that might have been：
Licentious riot； cruel strife；
Forgotten prayers； a wasted life
Dark red with sin！
Then； with sweet music in the air；
I saw another vision there：
A Shepherd in whose keep
A little lamb … my little child！
Of worldly wisdom undefiled；
Lay fast asleep！
Last night； as my dear babe lay dead；
In those two messages I read
A wisdom manifest；
And though my arms be childless now；
I am content … to Him I bow
Who knoweth best。
THE HAPPY HOUSEHOLD
It's when the birds go piping and the daylight slowly breaks；
That； clamoring for his dinner； our precious baby wakes；
Then it's sleep no more for baby； and it's sleep no more for me；
For； when he wants his dinner； why it's dinner it must be！
And of that lacteal fluid he partakes with great ado；
While gran'ma laughs；
And gran'pa laughs；
And wife； she laughs；
And I … well； I laugh； too！
You'd think； to see us carrying on about that little tad；
That； like as not； that baby was the first we'd ever had；
But； sakes alive！ he isn't； yet we people make a fuss
As if the only baby in the world had come to us！
And； morning； noon； and night…time； whatever he may do；
Gran'ma； she laughs；
Gran'pa； he laughs；
Wife； she laughs；
And I； of course； laugh； too！
But once … a likely spell ago … when that poor little chick
From teething or from some such ill of infancy fell sick；
You wouldn't know us people as the same that went about
A…feelin' good all over； just to hear him crow and shout；
And； though the doctor poohed our fears and said he'd pull him through；
Old gran'ma cried；
And gran'pa cried；
And wife； she cried；
And I … yes； I cried； too！
It makes us all feel good to have a baby on the place；
With his everlastin' crowing and his dimpling； dumpling face；
The patter of his pinky feet makes music everywhere；
And when he shakes those fists of his； good…by to every care！
No matter what our trouble is； when he begins to coo；
Old gran'ma laughs；
And gran'pa laughs；
Wife； she laughs；
And I … you bet； I laugh； too！
SO； SO； ROCK…A…BY SO！
So； so； rock…a…by so！
Off to the garden where dreamikins grow；
And here is a kiss on your winkyblink eyes；
And here is a kiss on your dimpledown cheek
And here is a kiss for the treasure that lies
In the beautiful garden way up in the skies
Which you seek。
Now mind these three kisses wherever you go …
So； so； rock…a…by so！
There's one little fumfay who lives there； I know；
For he dances all night where the dreamikins grow；
I send him this kiss on your droopydrop eyes；
I send him this kiss on your rosyred cheek。
And here is a kiss for the dream that shall rise
When the fumfay shall dance in those far…away skies
Which you seek。
Be sure that you pay those three kisses you owe …
So； so； rock…a…by so！
And； by…low； as you rock…a…by go；
Don't forget mother who loveth you so！
And here is her kiss on your weepydeep eyes；
And here is her kiss on your peachypink cheek；
And here is her kiss for the dreamland that lies
Like a babe on the breast of those far…away skies
Which you seek …
The blinkywink garden where dreamikins grow …
So； so； rock…a…by so！
THE SONG OF LUDDY…DUD
A sunbeam comes a…creeping
Into my dear one's nest；
And sings to our babe a…sleeping
The song that I love the best：
〃'T is little Luddy…Dud in the morning …
'T is little Luddy…Dud at night；
And all day long
'T is the same sweet song
Of that waddling； toddling； coddling little mite；
Luddy…Dud。〃
The bird to the tossing clover；
The bee to the swaying bud；
Keep singing that sweet song over
Of wee little Luddy…Dud。
〃'T is little Luddy…Dud in the morning …
'T is little Luddy…Dud at night；
And all day long
'T is the same dear song
Of that growing； crowing； knowing little sprite；
Luddy…Dud。〃
Luddy…Dud's cradle is swinging
Where softly the night winds blow；
And Luddy…Dud's mother is singing
A song that is sweet and low：
〃'T is little Luddy…Dud in the morning …
'T is little Luddy…Dud at night；
And all day long
'T is the same sweet song
Of my nearest and my dearest heart's delight；
Luddy…Dud！〃
THE DUEL
The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat；
'T was half…past twelve； and （what do you think！）
Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink！
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat。
（I wasn't there； I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate！）
The gingham dog went 〃bow…wow…wow！〃
And the calico cat replied 〃mee…ow！〃
The air was littered； an hour or so；
With bits of gingham and calico；
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney place
Up with its hands before its face；
For it always dreaded a family row！
（Now mind： I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true！）
The Chinese plate looked very blue；
And wailed； 〃Oh； dear！ what shall we do！〃
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that；
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw …
And； oh！ how the gingham and calico flew！
（Don't fancy I exaggerate …
I got my news from the Chinese plate！）
Next morning； where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat；
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away！
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this： they ate each other up！
Now what do you really think of that！
（The old Dutch clock it told me so；
And that is how I came to know。）
GOOD…CHILDREN STREET
There's a dear little home in Good…Children street …
My heart turneth fondly to…day
Where tinkle of tongues and patter of feet
Make sweetest of music at play；
Where the sunshine of love illumines each face
And warms every heart in that old…fashioned place。
For dear little children go romping about
With dollies and tin tops and drums；
And； my！ how they frolic and scamper and shout
Till bedtime too speedily comes！
Oh； days they are golden and days they are fleet
With little folk living in Good…Children street。
See； here comes an army with guns painted red；
And swords； caps； and plumes of all sorts；
The captain rides gaily and proudly ahead
On a stick…horse that prances and snorts！
Oh； legions of soldiers you're certain to meet …
Nice make…believe soldiers … in Good…Children street。
And yonder Odette wheels her dolly about …
Poor dolly！ I'm sure she is ill；
For one of her blue china eyes has dropped out
And her voice is asthmatic'ly shrill。
Then； too； I observe she