THE LOST BABIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4483, 27 March 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LOST BABIES.

Come, my wife, put down the Bible, lay your ghuses on the book. Both of us are bent and nged— Backward, mother, let us look. This is still the same old homestead, Where J brought you long When the hair »as bright with sunshine That is now like winter's snow. Let us talk about the ImMos As we sit here all alone; :■. . . Such a meny troop of youngsters. How we lost them one by one. Jack, the first of all tho party, Came to us one winter's uight; Jack, you said, should be a parson; Long before he saw the lK.ht. . Do you see that groat cathedral, Tilled, the tran=pet and the nave, Scar the organ grsiidly pealiug Watch the silken hangings wave; See the priest in robes of oflicu, With the altar at hU backWould you think that gifted preacher Could be our own little Jack! ■ Then a girl with ciirly tresses Used to climb upon my knee, like a little fairy princess Ruling at the ago of three. With the.ycars there came a wedding— How your fond heart swelled with pride, "When the lord of all the county Choose yourljaby for bis bride. Watch the stately carriage coming, And the form reclining thereWould you think that brilliant lady Could be your own little Clare! Then..tho last, a blue-eyed youngster— I can hear him prattling now - Such a strong and sturdy fellow, With his broad and lionet brow, How he used to luv.: his mother ! Ah! I see your trembling Up ! He is far off on the water. Captain of * royal ship. See the bronze upon hid forehead, Hear tho voice of stern command ; - That the boy who clung so londly To his mother's gentle hand ! Ah 1 my wife, we've lost tho babies, Ours so long and ours alone; What are we to these great people, Stately men and wocuen grown 1 Seldom do we ev<2n free th.m; Yes, a bitter teardrop starts. As -we sit here in the urelight, Lonely hearths and lonelv hearts. All their lives are full without us: They'll stop long enough one day • Just to lay us in the churchyard. Then they'll eacli go on their way.