The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-08-13
Our Young Folks.
A SONG FOR d BIRTHDAY BOY.

Once, upon a winter night, 'tf.tggt-J Z
Wnen the snow lay cold and white,
dropped baby from the skies, il'-!tJ d
With pair of big brown eyes; r-...-g .,...
without clothes, or food, or name,
Right into our hearts it came, ltlti4 .l..f'
Andwe loved it from that minute
AS III Jhere were millions in it," O. i.NefI-
Soon happy year had flown: ~ - iiiU
lie could creep, and stand alone, b,t a.
know mamma and Rob and Fritz, COS
10 a hundred pretty tricks; 49, .9gl
he was sweet, but still a tartar,
so we called him little Arthur, 'Iai@'
yet and Darling" '.Love," and pride,
Anf hundred names beside.
When another year went by.
Could tellif 1 should try H'f p.
Half how lovely, he had grown?-
waking like a man. alone,
Talking with such babbling words t.it. .-
Like the cooling of the rds,
with tangled crop OF elirls lti AZ
hanging round him-like girls.
Three years old: now look for squalls,
Irlals' troubles, cries and falls!
Up ana down, like any rocket! .s-.f. ...
In ms dress little pocket
ruled with tops. and ills, and strings,
Auu some nifty other things. t..
ddhree rect tall, or taller, maybe
Cah TINS be my little baby? - r....s .ff,.
Still another birthday: dear $3.50
what four-year colt is here!
iIeaPluS, running, Skipping, prancing, ' %
IN and out on swift feet dancing,
landing marbles, spinning tops,
Spenulng cents in candy-shops; tt...,. .
IN Killed skirt and buttoned Jacket,
Always ripe for fun and racket! p ,l
Now, as sure as I'm alive, $3.50
mat outrageous boy is five! ....
send him off to school at once
we don want TO own a duneei tlf nt a
run of tricks as any marten-
Vet MN to a kindergarten: ..H
dinere ne II learn to use his wits. -,.,.
without any ugly fits. ''+
Six-and what do behold!
NO more waving curls of gold, s..... .I
But a. little wig of brown,
CLOSELY cropped about the crown;
NJ, more skirts but little breeches
run OF many seams and stitches:
growing, every single day, Nd.
In the most surprising way.
Seven to-day: Boy at last!
Lime ana tide have Travelled fast;
Inere ne SITS so fine and tall, ,...f d.. s..
Jacket trousers, boots and all;
he can spell, and read, and write, ..lH
lie is good, and gay, and bright,
And his life goes bravely on, 't.
-Bu., where is my Baby gone? -
So now | hope-whdt do | hope? Oh, scores
and scores of things!
l hope he IL learn to comb his hair and tie his
.I own ShOe-StriugS;
hope he'll never catch cold in hail, or snow
or rain, .,t.. .. ...
And grow to be full six feet nigh without one
growing pain; '.Dl
hope he keep his clear bright eyes, and his
quick sparkling wits
And never, NEVER, tell tale on Jack, or Rob-
or Fritz;
And never lose his merry laugh, or smile so
gay and pleasant,
And lay up money in his box to buy each one
a present; ..
In Short | hOnp-to end NV rby,no .pd not to
make it longer 49,.
Not only may my darling grow both better
wise and stronger. ..rts. .. .
But be, in heart, and mind, and SOUL in all his
= walks and ways, i'.i
A {" Could not be q better''* boy, through all
his happy days.
*"Could not be better is the highest mark
given to the best boy each day in the Chauncy
Hall School, where the Birthday Boy belongs
Wide .1lCttIfe. .t