 | The white dove, and Other Poems for Children |  |
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Flora's Birthday.
A little girl named Flora,
Stood by her father's chair;
He gently kissed her rosy cheek,
And stroked her shining hair.
Stood by her father's chair;
He gently kissed her rosy cheek,
And stroked her shining hair.
Said he, “My darling daughter,
Attend to what I say,
“This is the first of June, and you
Are five years old to-day.
Attend to what I say,
“This is the first of June, and you
Are five years old to-day.
“Now what shall be your birth-day gift,
What shall I give my child?”
And Flora as she raised her head,
Looked in his face and smiled.
What shall I give my child?”
And Flora as she raised her head,
Looked in his face and smiled.
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Her father gently took her hand,
And held it in his own;
And then again he spoke to her,
In the same loving tone.
And held it in his own;
And then again he spoke to her,
In the same loving tone.
And said “My precious little child!
I look into thy face,
And all the years since thou wert born,
In fancy I retrace.
I look into thy face,
And all the years since thou wert born,
In fancy I retrace.
“I see the soft and dimpled hand,
Its aimless efforts make,
I see the rounded foot attempt
The step it could not take.
Its aimless efforts make,
I see the rounded foot attempt
The step it could not take.
“I hear the lisping voice which tried
To call me by my name;
I feel the warm and twining arms,
That blessed me when I came.
To call me by my name;
I feel the warm and twining arms,
That blessed me when I came.
“And now my child is five years old,
And growing large and tall;
What shall we do to keep her still,
A blessing to us all!
And growing large and tall;
What shall we do to keep her still,
A blessing to us all!
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“How shall we teach the sinless lips,
The words that they should say;
How train the little feet to walk
And never go astray.
The words that they should say;
How train the little feet to walk
And never go astray.
“How shall we keep her pure and good,
A maiden, meek and mild;
What kind of womanhood is hid
In thee, my precious child?
A maiden, meek and mild;
What kind of womanhood is hid
In thee, my precious child?
“What hath the future, little one,
In store for thee and me?
Thank God! what e'er it is, I have
No prophet's eye to see!
In store for thee and me?
Thank God! what e'er it is, I have
No prophet's eye to see!
“My priceless household treasure!
Look up at me and say,
What gift that I can give to thee,
Will please thee most to-day?
Look up at me and say,
What gift that I can give to thee,
Will please thee most to-day?
“A book—a doll—a bird—a toy?
Speak freely, dear, to me,
For I should like this birthday gift,
A pleasant gift to be.
Speak freely, dear, to me,
For I should like this birthday gift,
A pleasant gift to be.
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“No answer? put your hand within,
The pocket of my vest;
And you shall have which ever coin,
Pleases your fancy best.”
The pocket of my vest;
And you shall have which ever coin,
Pleases your fancy best.”
So Flora gathered in her hand,
The money which was there,
And then she ranged it piece by piece,
Upon the great arm-chair;
The money which was there,
And then she ranged it piece by piece,
Upon the great arm-chair;
Dollars and dimes, all bright and new,
She counted one by one;
And chose the only golden coin
She found, when all was done.
She counted one by one;
And chose the only golden coin
She found, when all was done.
Her father smiled, and said her choice
Was better than she knew;
And wiser, older heads than her's,
Had often done so too.
Was better than she knew;
And wiser, older heads than her's,
Had often done so too.
“Now I can buy the waxen doll,
Oh! may I, mother dear?
Say yes, say yes—you know there is
A toy-shop very near.
Oh! may I, mother dear?
Say yes, say yes—you know there is
A toy-shop very near.
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“And in the window lies a doll,
With flaxen curls of hair;
With sweet blue eyes, and rosy cheeks,
And neck and bosom fair.”
With flaxen curls of hair;
With sweet blue eyes, and rosy cheeks,
And neck and bosom fair.”
That charming doll to Flora's thought,
A perfect wonder seemed,
From those sweet eyes, that could be moved,
A living lustre beamed.
A perfect wonder seemed,
From those sweet eyes, that could be moved,
A living lustre beamed.
So quickly dressed, and full of joy,
With restless dancing feet;
And holding by her mother's hand,
She hurried to the street.
With restless dancing feet;
And holding by her mother's hand,
She hurried to the street.
But when she reached the toy-shop, where
This wondrous doll was found,
And Flora saw the countless toys,
Profusely scattered round;
This wondrous doll was found,
And Flora saw the countless toys,
Profusely scattered round;
Kittens and dogs, and masks and men,
Horses, and cows, and pigs;
Tables and chairs, and hoops and balls,
And curious whirligigs;
Horses, and cows, and pigs;
Tables and chairs, and hoops and balls,
And curious whirligigs;
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She wondered if the waxen doll,
Were really such a prize;
And asked her mother, if she thought,
It really moved its eyes.
Were really such a prize;
And asked her mother, if she thought,
It really moved its eyes.
“And mother, dear, that pretty cow!
And mother, if you please,
Just buy that baby-house for me—
And mother, there are trees!
And mother, if you please,
Just buy that baby-house for me—
And mother, there are trees!
“And mother, Harry loves a hoop;
And Lewis loves a ball—
And there is such a rocking-horse!
Dear mother, buy them all.”
And Lewis loves a ball—
And there is such a rocking-horse!
Dear mother, buy them all.”
Before her mother could reply,
A little ragged child,
Approached the counter where they stood,
And said in accents mild,
A little ragged child,
Approached the counter where they stood,
And said in accents mild,
“Please lady, I am poor and sick,
And weak for want of food;
O give me something if you please—
Dear lady be so good.”
And weak for want of food;
O give me something if you please—
Dear lady be so good.”
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Tears gathered fast in Flora's eyes;
She bent her little head,
And pressing to her mother's side,
In faltering tone she said,
She bent her little head,
And pressing to her mother's side,
In faltering tone she said,
“Oh mother! mother! take her home,
For we have bread to spare;
And she shall sleep upon my bed,
And have my clothes to wear.
For we have bread to spare;
And she shall sleep upon my bed,
And have my clothes to wear.
“Oh, mother, see! she really has
No shoes upon her feet!
I wonder if she ever had
As much as she could eat?”
No shoes upon her feet!
I wonder if she ever had
As much as she could eat?”
Her mother listened thoughtfully;
And then she gently led
Her steps aside; and in her ear,
With serious voice she said,
And then she gently led
Her steps aside; and in her ear,
With serious voice she said,
“I pity this poor little girl,
But listen, Flora dear;
For you have in your hand the means,
Her heavy heart to cheer.
But listen, Flora dear;
For you have in your hand the means,
Her heavy heart to cheer.
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“Can you resign this pretty doll,
To purchase bread for her?
I want you dear, to choose yourself,
Just which you would prefer.”
To purchase bread for her?
I want you dear, to choose yourself,
Just which you would prefer.”
But Flora did not pause to think;
The glittering coin of gold,
Her father's precious birthday gift,
She loosened in her hold:
The glittering coin of gold,
Her father's precious birthday gift,
She loosened in her hold:
And dropped it in her mother's purse,
With joyous eager look;
Then turning to the ragged child,
Her meagre hand she took.
With joyous eager look;
Then turning to the ragged child,
Her meagre hand she took.
And as they passed from shop to shop,
To purchase clothes and bread,
She understood the meaning in
The words her father said.
To purchase clothes and bread,
She understood the meaning in
The words her father said.
Her heart rejoiced in power to aid,
A fellow creature's need;
And so she proved her birthday gift
Was chosen well, indeed.
A fellow creature's need;
And so she proved her birthday gift
Was chosen well, indeed.
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