Child Songs of Cheer Part 10

And in the garden of my heart So ceaselessly shall shine, The little birds will know thou art Mine own true Valentine.

And I will bid them wing and sing To all good winds that blow, That to thy little feet they bring All blessings, even so.

And o'er thy cradle I will coax, By every lucky charm, The friendship of the fairy folks To fold thee from all harm.

So may they hover round thy head And gently thereupon, As doth the April sunshine, shed Most gracious benison.

And all fair gifts that Fortune hath, I'll pray she promise these, And that she loose about thy path All sweet influences.

Then here's a kiss! and there's a kiss!

And kisses, one, two, three!

I seal them in the folds of this, And speed them unto thee!

ZIP!

When we went to drive the cows home Down the lane to-day, There was such a funny bunny Jumped across the way!

All we saw as he ran past us, Faster than a quail, Was his snow-white fuzzy-wuzzy Little cotton tail!

A LITTLE CAROL

Welcome, little Brother!

Lowly, holy One!

Hail thee, Virgin Mother, More than any other Blessed in thy Son!

Child, since the poor manger Once thou didst not scorn, Rest thee, little Stranger, Folded from all danger, In our hearts new-born!

Nestle thus, we pray thee, In our love's caress; Fain we are to pay thee Worship, and obey thee, Babe, and Prince no less!

SONG

Honey-dew drippity-drops for a feast, Dreams of delight when the feasting has ceased, Poppy and rose, Drain them and doze; This is a song that the b.u.t.terfly knows.

THE THREE CANDLES

When the Christmas-tide drew nigh, On a shelf three candles bright, Two were red and one was white, Waited for who came to buy.

Said the first one, "I shall be Chosen for a Christmas-tree!"

Said the second, "I shall light Christ Jesus on His way to-night!"

Then the third one sighed, "Ah me, I know not what my lot will be!"

When the dark fell, bright and gay The first candle burned away, Red as all the berries red On the holly overhead, While the children in their glee Danced around the Christmas-tree.

And the second, twinkling bright, Poured forth all its golden light Through a window decked with green Garlands and red ribbons' sheen, So the Christ-child when He came Might be guided by its flame.

But the third one in the gloom Of a bare and cheerless room Softly burned where long had lain A poor little child in pain, And the baby in its bed By the light was comforted.

When the Christ-child pa.s.sed that night All three candles gave Him light, But the brightest was the spark By the baby in the dark.

THE END