The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-05-19
boy Lost, :"

l 1uc lOilOWlnS Dedtnnul WAN, W hfC1l
we find afinat In the newspaper sea.
we publish, being confident that it will
repay a perusal by all, and by our lady
friends In particular
He has black eyes with long lashes,
red checks and hair almost black, and
curly. He wore n crimson plaid jack
ct, with full trousers buttOned on; had
a habit of whiting, and likes to ask
questions was accompanied by small
black dog, 1t is a long time since lie
disappeared. l have very large
house and mnch company. Everything
has such an orderly, put-away look
nothing under foot--not dirt. Bnt my
eyes are aching for the sight of whit
things and cut paper on the floor, of
tumbled down ca,d houses, of wooden
cattle and sheep, or pop guns, bows
and arrows, whips, tops, gocarts, blocks
and trumpery.
| want to see boats a-rigging and
kites making, l want to see crumbles
on the carpets, and paste spilled on the
kitchen table. / want to see the chairs
and table turned the wrong way about.
| want to see candy making and corn
popping, and TO find .jack-knives and
fish-hooEs among my muslins. Yet
these things used to fret me once
They say, how quiet you are here. All |!
one may here settle his brain and be at
peace. But my ears are aching for the
pattering of little feet, for a hearty
shout for IL shrill whistle for a tra-la
la, for the crack of little whips; for
the noise of drums, flies and trumnets.
Yet these things made me- nervous
once.
They say: 'Ah! you have leisure !,
nothing to disturb you. What heaps
OF sewing you have time for" But
long to be disturbed. ] want to be
coaxed for piece of new cloth for jibs
or mainsails, and then to hem the
same. want to make little flags and
bags to hold marbles. want to be
followed by little feet all over the
house; leased for a bit of dough for a
little cake, or to bake pie in saucer.
Yet they say, "Ah you are not tied at
home. How delightful to be ut liberty
for concerts, lectures, and parties. No
confinement for YOU"
But / want confinement. | want to
listen for the school mornings to
give the last hasty wash and brush,
and then watch from the window nim-
bic feet bounding away to school.
want frequent rents to mend, and to
replace lost buttons. / want to oblite-
rate mud stains and paints of all col
ors want to be sitting by little crib
of evenings, when weary little feet are
at rest, and prattling voices are hush
ed, that mother may sing stories. They
don't know their happiness then. these
mothers; / didn't. All these things /
called confinement 0nce..
A manly figure stands before me now.
He is taller than l, has thick whiskers,
wears frOck coat, bOsomed shirt and
cravat. He has just come from the col
lege. He brings Latin and Greek in
his conntenance, and dust Of the old
philosophers from the sitting room. He
calls me "mOther," but | am unwilling
to own him. He AYERS that no is my
boy, and says that he can prove it
He brings his little boats to show the
red strings on the sail lit was the end
Of a piece) and the name on the stern
Lucy Iowa little girl of our neigh
bors, who, because of her long curls
and pretty round face, was the chosen
fav0fite OF my boy. 49,
The curls are long since cut off, and
she has grown tail, handsome girl
How his face rcddens as he shows me
the name of the boat. Oh! / see it as
plain as if it were written in book.
My little boy Is lost, and my big boy in
a long white gown, lying in his crib,
with me sitting by, holding his fore
head, watching his eyelids drOop, and
listening to his deep breathing.
If only had my little boy again,
how patient would l be! How mncl.
would ] bear and how little would l
scold! can never have him back
again but there are still many moth
ers who have not yet lost their little
boy. l wonder if they know that they
are living their best day; that now is
the time to really enjoy their children |!
| think if had been more to my little
boy / might be more to my grown up
| son.