AUNT ANNIE.
25
I sat there as a guest, I said—
Holding the loveliest boy on earth,
With his fair, sleepy, yellow head
Close to the pleasant shining hearth.
Holding the loveliest boy on earth,
With his fair, sleepy, yellow head
Close to the pleasant shining hearth.
He laughed out in his sleep, and I
Laughed too, and kissed him—when I heard
A wise and very cautious sigh;
And once again the dimples stirred.
Laughed too, and kissed him—when I heard
A wise and very cautious sigh;
And once again the dimples stirred.
Aunt Annie looked at him awhile;
Then shook her head at her own fears,
With more of sorrow in her smile
Than I could ever put in tears.
Then shook her head at her own fears,
With more of sorrow in her smile
Than I could ever put in tears.
"He is a pretty boy I know—
The prettiest in the world? Ah, me!
One other, fifty years ago,
Was quite as pretty, dear, as he.
The prettiest in the world? Ah, me!
One other, fifty years ago,
Was quite as pretty, dear, as he.
"Now I am eighty. Twenty-five
Are gone since last we heard from James.
I sometimes think he is alive."
She hushed, and looked into the flames.
Are gone since last we heard from James.
I sometimes think he is alive."
She hushed, and looked into the flames.
