Love-Songs of Childhood | Page 5

wash yer face an' bresh yer hair, an' mind yer p's and q's, An' don't bust out yer pantaloons, and don't wear out yer shoes; Say "Yessum" to the ladies, an' "Yessur" to the men,?An' when they's company, don't pass yer plate for pie again; But, thinkin' of the things yer'd like to see upon that tree, Jest 'fore Christmas be as good as yer kin be!
BEARD AND BABY
I say, as one who never feared?The wrath of a subscriber's bullet,?I pity him who has a beard?But has no little girl to pull it!
When wife and I have finished tea,?Our baby woos me with her prattle,?And, perching proudly on my knee,?She gives my petted whiskers battle.
With both her hands she tugs away,?While scolding at me kind o' spiteful;?You'll not believe me when I say?I find the torture quite delightful!
No other would presume, I ween,?To trifle with this hirsute wonder,?Else would I rise in vengeful mien?And rend his vandal frame asunder!
But when her baby fingers pull?This glossy, sleek, and silky treasure,?My cup of happiness is full -?I fairly glow with pride and pleasure!
And, sweeter still, through all the day?I seem to hear her winsome prattle -?I seem to feel her hands at play,?As though they gave me sportive battle.
Yes, heavenly music seems to steal?Where thought of her forever lingers,?And round my heart I always feel?The twining of her dimpled fingers!
THE DINKEY BIRD
In an ocean, 'way out yonder?(As all sapient people know),?Is the land of Wonder-Wander,?Whither children love to go;?It's their playing, romping, swinging,?That give great joy to me?While the Dinkey-Bird goes singing?In the amfalula tree!
There the gum-drops grow like cherries,?And taffy's thick as peas -?Caramels you pick like berries?When, and where, and how you please;?Big red sugar-plums are clinging?To the cliffs beside that sea?Where the Dinkey-Bird is singing?In the amfalula tree.
So when children shout and scamper?And make merry all the day,?When there's naught to put a damper?To the ardor of their play;?When I hear their laughter ringing,?Then I'm sure as sure can be?That the Dinkey-Bird is singing?In the amfalula tree.
For the Dinkey-Bird's bravuras?And staccatos are so sweet -?His roulades, appoggiaturas,?And robustos so complete,?That the youth of every nation -?Be they near or far away -?Have especial delectation?In that gladsome roundelay.
Their eyes grow bright and brighter,?Their lungs begin to crow,?Their hearts get light and lighter,?And their cheeks are all aglow;?For an echo cometh bringing?The news to all and me,?That the Dinkey-Bird is singing?In the amfalula tree.
I'm sure you like to go there?To see your feathered friend -?And so many goodies grow there?You would like to comprehend!?Speed, little dreams, your winging?To that land across the sea?Where the Dinkey-Bird is singing?In the amfalula tree!
THE DRUM
I'm a beautiful red, red drum,?And I train with the soldier boys;?As up the street we come,?Wonderful is our noise!?There's Tom, and Jim, and Phil,?And Dick, and Nat, and Fred,?While Widow Cutler's Bill?And I march on ahead,?With a r-r-rat-tat-tat?And a tum-titty-um-tum-tum -?Oh, there's bushels of fun in that?For boys with a little red drum!
The Injuns came last night?While the soldiers were abed,?And they gobbled a Chinese kite?And off to the woods they fled!?The woods are the cherry-trees?Down in the orchard lot,?And the soldiers are marching to seize?The booty the Injuns got.?With tum-titty-um-tum-tum,?And r-r-rat-tat-tat,?When soldiers marching come?Injuns had better scat!
Step up there, little Fred,?And, Charley, have a mind!?Jim is as far ahead?As you two are behind!?Ready with gun and sword?Your valorous work to do -?Yonder the Injun horde?Are lying in wait for you.?And their hearts go pitapat?When they hear the soldiers come?With a r-r-rat-tat-tat?And a tum-titty-um-tum-tum!
Course it's all in play!?The skulking Injun crew?That hustled the kite away?Are little white boys, like you!?But "honest" or "just in fun,"?It is all the same to me;?And, when the battle is won,?Home once again march we?With a r-r-rat-tat-tat?And tum-titty-um-tum-tum;?And there's glory enough in that?For the boys with their little red drum!
THE DEAD BABE
Last night, as my dear babe lay dead,?In agony I knelt and said:?"0 God! what have I done,?Or in what wise offended Thee,?That Thou should'st take away from me?My little son?
"Upon the thousand useless lives,?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