I see her creeping 'long the nursery floor,—

A dainty, blue-eyed Babe, scarce old enough

To realize 'tis she whom I adore,—

She is a priceless diamond in the rough.

Again I see her playing with a host

Of noisy, kindergarten girls and boys;

She seems to me the fairest and the most

Refined: a pure gold girl without alloys.

And thus from stage to stage I watch the maid

As she develops like the budding rose,

And then, Ah me! I'm jealously afraid

That she admires me less than other beaux.

And then, anon, I see her on the knee

Of Willie Jones: I think she shouldn't oughter!

But then my Courtship Days come back to me—

Just like her Ma! She is my only Daughter!