Page:Poems Brown.djvu/50

Would I have the places empty to-night
Of the little boots with toes so bright?

Ah me! my very heart will break
If away from my sight these boots you take;
My home would be dreary, my young heart sad,
And there would be nothing to make me glad.

So there's only two little boots so bright,
Only two little stockings to mend to-night,
Only one little flower, so feeble and slight
Only one to smile with so silver a light.

There was a time when four were there,
When four little faces peeped over my chair;
Four pairs of boots, so shiny and bright,
And four pairs of stockings, so pure and white,

Hung near the fire, and chimney tall;
For the feet that wore them were dimpled and small.
But my children are gone, their spirits have fled,
And they are sleeping undisturbed with the dead.

I sadly miss those three loved ones
That are resting to-night in their silent tombs;
I miss their shouts and merry play,
For three little forms are not here to-day.