MEASURING THE BABY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 5, 30 May 1890, Page 29

MEASURING THE BABY.

We measured the riotous baby Against the cottage wall— A lily grew at the threshold, And the boy was juat as tall .' A royal tiger lily, With spots of purple and gold. And a heart Lke a jewelled chalice, The fragrant dew to hold. Without, the bluebirds whistled High up in the old roof trees, And to and fro at the window, The red rose rocked her bees : And the wee p nk fists of the baby Were never a moment still, Snatching at shine and shadow That dance 1 on the lattice sill. His eyes were wide as blue bells, His mouth like a flower unblown. Two little bare f«et, like funny white mice, Peeping out from the snowy gown ; And we thought, with a thrill of rapture, That yet had a touch of pain, When June rolls round with her roses, We'll measure the boy again. Ah me 1 in the darkened chamber, With the sunshine shut away. Through tears that fell like a bitter rain, We measured the boy to-day ; Aad the little bare teet that were dimpled And sweet as a budding rose, Lay side by side together, In the hush of a long repose. Up from the dainty pillow, White as the risen dawD, The fair little face lay smiling With the light of heaven thereon ; And the dear little hands, like rose leaves Dropped from a rose, lay still, Never to snatch at the aunshiue, That crept to the shrouded sill.

We measured the Bleeping baby With ribbons white as snow, For the shining rosewood casket That waited him below ; And out of the darkened chamber We crept with a childless moan ; To the Height of the sinless angels Oar little one had grown. — Emma Alice Bbownb.