 | Songs Old and New |  |
130
TO OUR LITTLE DOG DOT.
O little loving heart
So gently laid asleep;
The traces of thy life in ours
How many and how deep!
So gently laid asleep;
The traces of thy life in ours
How many and how deep!
The bark of eager glee,
Welcome, reproof, command,
The small foot knocking at the door
Laid gently in the hand.
Welcome, reproof, command,
The small foot knocking at the door
Laid gently in the hand.
The tender, answering eyes,
The planning, eager will,
The following steps—without them all
“Dot's house” seems very still.
The planning, eager will,
The following steps—without them all
“Dot's house” seems very still.
Worlds of dear memories
Seem in thy grave to lie,
Of love and fun, dark days and bright—
We will not let them die!
Seem in thy grave to lie,
131
We will not let them die!
Playmate “commander,” care,
Our little steadfast friend,
Thy life leaves legacies of love
On to its quiet end.
Our little steadfast friend,
Thy life leaves legacies of love
On to its quiet end.
Loving us all so well,
With different love for each,
Unchanged through absences of years;—
Death wakes thy life to speech!
With different love for each,
Unchanged through absences of years;—
Death wakes thy life to speech!
“Love more and more,” it says,
“For love alone is strong;
You made my little life so bright,
Your longest is not long.”
“For love alone is strong;
You made my little life so bright,
Your longest is not long.”
Such wealth of love behind,
Can nothing lie before?
Or has the future only this,
“Never again,” “no more?”
Can nothing lie before?
Or has the future only this,
“Never again,” “no more?”
From darling childish lips
The answer comes to me,
With the sweet wisdom of the babes—
Dear little child of three!
The answer comes to me,
With the sweet wisdom of the babes—
Dear little child of three!
132
“When Dot grows up,” he said,
“Then she will learn to speak.”
Bright vision of the children's heart,—
Further we need not seek!
“Then she will learn to speak.”
Bright vision of the children's heart,—
Further we need not seek!
For love alone is life,
And love alone is strong;
And love lives in eternal worlds
Beyond earth's poor “How long?”
And love alone is strong;
And love lives in eternal worlds
Beyond earth's poor “How long?”
Yes, only love is life,
And love means “thee” and “me,”—
God, who is love, will never let
Love cease to love, or be.
And love means “thee” and “me,”—
God, who is love, will never let
Love cease to love, or be.
May 9, 1885.
| Songs Old and New | |