| |
| GOLDENHAIR climbed up on grandpapa’s knee; | |
| Dear little Goldenhair! tired was she, | |
| All the day busy as busy could be. | |
| |
| Up in the morning as soon as ’t was light, | |
| Out with the birds and butterflies bright, | 5 |
| Skipping about till the coming of night. | |
| |
| Grandpapa toyed with the curls on her head. | |
| “What has my baby been doing,” he said, | |
| “Since she arose, with the sun, from her bed?” | |
| |
| “Pitty much,” answered the sweet little one; | 10 |
| “I cannot tell so much things I have done,— | |
| Played with my dolly and feeded my Bun. | |
| |
| “And I have jumped with my little jump-rope, | |
| And I made out of some water and soap | |
| Bufitle worlds! mamma’s castles of Hope. | 15 |
| |
| “And I have readed in my picture-book, | |
| And little Bella and I went to look | |
| For some smooth stones by the side of the brook. | |
| |
| “Then I comed home and I eated my tea, | |
| And I climbed up to my grandpapa’s knee. | 20 |
| I jest as tired as tired can be.” | |
| |
| Lower and lower the little head pressed, | |
| Until it drooped upon grandpapa’s breast; | |
| Dear little Goldenhair! sweet be thy rest! | |
| |
| We are but children; the things that we do | 25 |
| Are as sports of a babe to the Infinite view | |
| That sees all our weakness, and pities it too. | |
| |
| God grant that when night overshadows our way, | |
| And we shall be called to account for our day, | |
| He shall find us as guileless as Goldenhair’s play! | 30 |
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| And O, when aweary, may we be so blest | |
| As to sink like the innocent child to our rest, | |
| And feel ourselves clasped to the Infinite breast! | |
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