 | Poems and verses by Mary Mapes Dodge |  |
173
MOTHERLESS.
“I wish she had not died,” she said;
The words were soft and low;
“Most little girls like me, papa,
Have dear mammas, you know.
The words were soft and low;
“Most little girls like me, papa,
Have dear mammas, you know.
“There 's Lulu Hart next door. Oh, dear!
I think it is so sweet
To have your mother nod to you
Across the window-seat.
I think it is so sweet
To have your mother nod to you
Across the window-seat.
“And often when we 're playing games,
Lu throws a kiss up there;
And when she rolls her hoople well,
She knows some one will care.
Lu throws a kiss up there;
And when she rolls her hoople well,
She knows some one will care.
“Do you think God was good to take
My own mamma away?
For I was just a baby then—
Papa, why don't you say?”
My own mamma away?
For I was just a baby then—
Papa, why don't you say?”
174
“Yes, yes, my child,” he sobbed. “Mamma
Is very happy, dear.”
His little girl sprang up, nor cared
Another word to hear.
Is very happy, dear.”
His little girl sprang up, nor cared
Another word to hear.
“Why, papa, crying! Please don't cry.
Do you feel sorry, too?
Now, papa, see. I never meant
I did n't care for you.
Do you feel sorry, too?
Now, papa, see. I never meant
I did n't care for you.
“Poor eyes! all wet. I 'll kiss them dry.
What 's in your pocket? See.
Oh, where 's your watch? Now, wont you please
Just make it tick for me?
What 's in your pocket? See.
Oh, where 's your watch? Now, wont you please
Just make it tick for me?
“It 's nice to have a dear papa;—
How big it is, and bright!
I hear it ticky, ticky, tick!
It 's very loud to-night.
How big it is, and bright!
I hear it ticky, ticky, tick!
It 's very loud to-night.
“Ride me to Banbury Cross, papa!
Now don't you let me fall.
When I was littler, how I slipped!
I could n't keep on at all.
Now don't you let me fall.
175
I could n't keep on at all.
“Oh, there 's the tea-bell! Now you 've tossed
My hair like everything!
I 'll toss yours, too. Oho! oho!
You look just like a king—
My hair like everything!
I 'll toss yours, too. Oho! oho!
You look just like a king—
“For kings have crowns, you know, papa,
And your hair 's standing straight.
I knew you 'd laugh. There, now, you 're good—
Come, quick, and show Aunt Kate.”
And your hair 's standing straight.
I knew you 'd laugh. There, now, you 're good—
Come, quick, and show Aunt Kate.”
Aunt, at the table, glanced at one,
Then, slyly, at the other;
She could not think what hidden thing
Had happened to her brother.
His shining hair stood like a crown,
His smile was warm and bright,—
“Why, John,” she said, “you really seem
Like your old self to-night.”
Then, slyly, at the other;
She could not think what hidden thing
Had happened to her brother.
His shining hair stood like a crown,
His smile was warm and bright,—
“Why, John,” she said, “you really seem
Like your old self to-night.”
| Poems and verses by Mary Mapes Dodge | |