I thought to find my little girl,
When I came home at night,
With brow unruffled as her curl,
And smiles of love as bright.
I thought she'd jump upon my knee,
And tell me all she'd done,
In reading, study, work, or play,
From morn till set of sun.
Is this my Marian? No, indeed!
Not such a frown had she!
When my own little girl comes back,
Just send her in to me!