  Grandmother paces with stately tread Forward and back through the quaint old room, Out of the firelight dancing and red, Into the gathering dusk and gloom; Forward and back in her silken dress, With its falling ruffles of frost-like lace, A look of the deepest tenderness In the faded lines of her fine old face. Warm on her breast, in his red night-gown, Like a scarlet lily, the baby lies, While softly the weary lids creep down Over the little sleepy eyes. Grandmother sings to him sweet and low, And memories come with the cradle song Of the day when she sang it long ago, When her life was young and her heart was strong. The large old house is a shadowed place; But shining out in the sunset glow Of her life, like a star, comes the baby’s face. He lies where of old his father lay, And softly she sings him the same sweet strain, Till the years intervening are swept away, And the joys of life’s morning are hers again. Grandmother’s head is bending low Over the dear little drowsy one. The steps of her pathway are few to go; The baby’s journey has just begun. Yet the rosy dawn of his childish love Brightens the evening that else were dim; And in after years, from her home above, The light of her blessing will rest on him. MOVING TABLEAUX. 1. Sitting-room with antique furniture. Old lady pacing across stage front, carrying baby in red night-dress. 2. Baby in cradle; grandmother near, facing audience, sings “Hush, my dear; lie still and slumber.” If Grandmother’s part is taken by some one who can not sing, this may be done by a hidden voice. 3. Same as 2. Sings “Sleep, Baby, Sleep.” 4. Grandmother sits quiet--bending over cradle. |
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