 | Poems and verses by Mary Mapes Dodge |  |
207
THANKSGIVING.
All their heads were bowed in prayer,—
Father's, mother's, boys' and girls',
Grandma's, grandpa's—only Nelly,
Little Nelly, shook her curls.
Father's, mother's, boys' and girls',
Grandma's, grandpa's—only Nelly,
Little Nelly, shook her curls.
Little Nelly shook her curls,
Smiling, gazing, all intent,
Stared, as ever, at the sight—
Wondered what on earth it meant.
Smiling, gazing, all intent,
Stared, as ever, at the sight—
Wondered what on earth it meant.
Busy fire-light, flashing bright,
Shot its frisky flamelets out;
While the ship above the clock
Gayly tossed and pitched about.
Shot its frisky flamelets out;
While the ship above the clock
Gayly tossed and pitched about.
Roasted turkey, on his back,
And the chickens, side by side,
Had a perky, pompous air,
Full of jollity and pride;
And the chickens, side by side,
Had a perky, pompous air,
Full of jollity and pride;
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Tempting pies and puddings near,
Held their faces to the light;
While canary in his cage,
Piped and sang with all his might.
Held their faces to the light;
While canary in his cage,
Piped and sang with all his might.
Flowery carpet under-foot,
Hanging basket all a-bloom,
Pearly, picture-covered wall—
Drew the sunlight to the room.
Hanging basket all a-bloom,
Pearly, picture-covered wall—
Drew the sunlight to the room.
Little Nelly felt it all,
Felt how bright it was and fair;
And the moment seemed so long
That the heads were bowed in prayer.
Felt how bright it was and fair;
And the moment seemed so long
That the heads were bowed in prayer.
If they only knew, she thought,
How the room was full of play,
They would never hide their faces
In that sober, solemn way.
How the room was full of play,
They would never hide their faces
In that sober, solemn way.
Laughing, puzzled little Nell!
How could such a baby know
'T was the cheery, sunny gladness
That had bowed their heads so low;
How could such a baby know
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That had bowed their heads so low;
That the blithesome, happy home-life,
And the light on hearth and hall,
And the laughing “Little Mischief,”
Made them thank the God of all.
And the light on hearth and hall,
And the laughing “Little Mischief,”
Made them thank the God of all.
| Poems and verses by Mary Mapes Dodge | |