 
Spite of the promised whipping, Skirts, shirts, and aprons torn! Bugs and bumble-bees catching, Heedless of bites and stings, Walls and furniture scratching, Twisting off buttons and strings. Into the sugar and flour, Into the salt and meal, Their royal, baby power, All through the house we feel! Behind the big stove creeping, To steal the kindling-wood; Into the cupboard peeping, The dogs they tease to snarling, The chickens know no rest, Yet the old cook calls them "darling," And loves each one "the best." Smearing each other's faces With smut or blacking-brush, To forbidden things and places Always making a rush. Over a chair, or table, They'll fight, and kiss again When told of slaughtered Abel, Or cruel, wicked Cain. All sorts of mischief trying, And then perversely crying To rush out when it pours. A raid on grandma making, —In spite her nice new cap— Its strings for bridles taking, While riding on her lap. Three rose-bud mouths beguiling, Prattling the live-long day, Six sweet eyes on me smiling, Hazel, and blue, and gray.— Hazel—with heart-light sparkling, Too happy, we trust, to fade— Blue—'neath long lashes darkling, Gray—full of earnest meaning, A dawning light so fair, Of woman's life beginning, We dread the noon-tide glare Of earthly strife, and passion, May spoil its tender glow, Change its celestial fashion, As earth-stains change the snow! Six little clasped hands lifted, Three white brows upward turned, One prayer—thrice heavenward drifted— To Him who never spurned The lisp of lips where laughter, Leaves holy twilight after A noon of gladness there. Three little heads, all sunny, To pillow and bless at night,— Riotous Alick and Dunnie, Jinnie, so bonnie and bright! Three souls immortal slumber, Crowned by that golden hair; When Christ his flock shall number, Will all my lambs be there? Now, with the stillness round me, I bow my head and pray, "Since this faint heart has found thee, Up to the shining portals, Over life's stormy tide, Treasures I bring—immortal; Saviour be thou my guide. Decoration |
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