Grandmas Memories | Page 2

a child as she listens to-night--?With a sense of the old childish rest and delight--?To the voice of the mother who so long ago?Sat singing to her in the firelight's glow--
[Illustration: tune in G major and words: By, by, O baby! baby by O!]
But childhood is merged into girlhood at last,?(The sweet years of "baby-life" vanish so fast!)?And Grandma's a maiden, so dainty and fair,?Of girlhood's bright visions content with her share.
How merrily now glide the hours away!?And yet, as comes oft on a fair Summer's day,?A cloud that o'ershadows its fairness, e'en so?To Grandma's girl-life now and then comes some woe
[Illustration]
To grieve and to wound it, and hide from blue eves?The still deeper blue of the beautiful skies;?And how many times, just for comfort and rest,?The young head is lain upon mother's dear breast!
And tho' she's no longer the "baby," yet see,?The mother's arms clasp her all pityingly,?And turning once more to the "lullaby--O!"?She sings to her girl all so sweetly and low,
The nursery melody known the world o'er,?As she soothes, pets and comforts the young heart so sore.?Yes, Grandma is only a young girl to-night,?As she muses alone in the dim firelight.

The picture has changed, Grandma now is a bride,?The choice of her heart proudly stands at her side;?She is living again the sweet life of those days?When she first knew a husband's devotion and praise.
[Illustration: Grandma now is a bride]
To the faded old cheek springs again the warm blush,?The old years are young with the spring-time's soft flush,?The dear, dim blue eyes borrow youth's ardent glow,?As fast thro' her brain old-time memories flow.
But ah! a light footstep within the lone room?Hath scattered the dream; loving eyes pierce the gloom,?A lithesome young figure at Grandma's side kneels,?A firm youthful hand into Grandma's hand steals.
"Ah, Grandma, my Grandma, the smile on your face?Is proof that some pleasure has there left its trace;?Now, what were your thoughts? for I know they were far?Away from the Present, as earth from yon star?
"My baby is sleeping, I've nothing to do,?Let me sit in the gloaming, dear granny, with you;?The clock will soon ring us the hour of nine,?Please talk to me, Grandma, of dear auld lang syne."
[Illustration]
On the sunny young head Grandma's aged hand lies,?As she meets with her own the young mother's blue eyes,?For dear to her soul is this grandchild so fair,?Who has borrowed her youth in her soft eyes and hair.
"Ah, child, down the vista of 'dear auld lang syne,'?Full soon will the torches of memory shine?For you, tho' life's summer seems scarcely begun,?And your head is yet golden 'neath morn's golden sun.
"For Time flies so fast; listen, dearie, I, too,?Feel that Summer again. A young mother like you,?I am holding my baby all close to my breast,?And with the old lullaby lull her to rest.
"I can feel once again, as I rock to and fro,?The weight of the dear little head. Soft and low?Is the little one's breath on the cheek which I press?'Gainst her sweet baby-lips in a loving caress--
"As I sing o'er and o'er the quaint lullaby song?(That will never grow wearisome tho' life be long),?And watch the sweet drowsiness creeping apace,?Till sleep holds the wee one in tender embrace.
[Illustration:]
"Soft and low is the little one's breath?While yet I am crooning so softly and low--
[Illustration: Music G major and words: By, by, O baby, by, by baby]
Unheeding the moments as swiftly they fly, with?By, by, O baby, dear baby by.
"Oh' the deep peace which can never be known,?Can never be felt, save by 'mother' alone!?As clasping, and folding, so close to her heart,?The helpless young life of her own life a part--
"She dreams as she sings, of a future so fair,?Awaiting the child of her love and her care!?And welcomes the visions that day after day?With baby's sweet presence will nestle and stay.
"Time passes, my baby has suddenly flown,?And left me a daughter to maidenhood grown.?As _I_ did, e'en so does my bonny maid do,?And--learns that sweet lesson so old and so new.
"For her comes a day when the wedding bells ring,?And my darling to other than 'mother' must cling.?Like mother, like daughter,' 'like father, like son,'?'Tis an adage will live till all living be done."
Grandma pauses a moment. Her listener cries,?With a sweet look of sympathy in her young eyes:?"And then you were lonely, poor Grandma! I know,?But so was--my great grandmama, long ago."
A smile lights the dear, aged face, and again?Grandma takes up her story. "Yes, dearie, but then?It wasn't for long, because, darling, you see,?A gift _I_ once gave was soon given to me.
[Illustration: "Learns that sweet lesson so old and so new"]
"The gift of a grandchild as fair and as sweet?As the baby my mother's heart bounded to meet;?Oh, how my fond prayers 'rose in gratitude true,?For the blessings of daughter and