Page:Poems Rice.djvu/217

An ambassador of Christ stepped in,
 Aye, into this hovel drear;
And said, "My child, pray why do you sit,
 Sit mourning and singing here?
Who do you think, say, my dear Garnett,
 Are happy through cold and storm?"
She smiled, her dark eyes were wet,—
 "Those who are always warm,
      Only those who are warm.

"My father, sleeping in the cold ground,
 And mother working so late—
She is always working, working round—
 I can do little but wait.;
Very seldom have we any fire at all,
 Kitty sits singing to me,
My fingers get cold—Kitty I call
 (Kitty is my friend, you see),
      She's warm as warm can be."

"Garnett, think you that children who live
 In houses with dresses so gay,
Who plenty enjoy, riches to give,
 Are happy throughout the day?"
She rose up, and said, "Sir, I am eight
 To-morrow; soon can perform
Duty that's light, work early and late,
 And keep my dear mother warm;
      I envy those who're warm."