DOLLAR FOR A DEAR HEART.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3786, 8 February 1908, Page 4

DOLLAR FOR A DEAR HEART.

She was ready for sleep as she lay in my arms In her little frill'd cap so fine, With her golden hair falling out at the edge Like a circle of noon sunshine; And I humm’d the old tune of “Banbury Cross,’’ And “Three Men who put out to Sea,” When she sleepily said, as she clos’d her blue eyes: “ Papa, what would you take for me?”

And I answered, “ A dollar, dear little heart,” And she slept, .baby, weary with play, But I held her warm, in my loving strong arms, And I rock’d her, and rock’d away. Oh ! the dollar meant all the world tome; The land, the sea, and the sky, The lowest depth of the lowest place, The highest of all that’s high.

All the cities with streets and palaces, With their people and stores of art, I would not take for one low, solt throb Of my little one’s loving heart; Nor all the gold that was ever found In the busy wealth-finding past, Would I take for one smile of my darling’s face, Did I know it must be the last.

So I rock’d my baby, and rock’d away, And I felt such a sweet content, For the words of the song express’d more to me Than they ever before had ‘ meant; And the night crept on, and I slept andd ream’d Of things far too gladsome to be, And I waked with lips saying close to my ear; “ Papa, what would you take for me?” —Eugene Field,