THE BABY OVER THE WAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 475, 28 May 1890, Page 8

THE BABY OVER THE WAY.

Across in my neighbour’s "window. With its drapings of satin and lace, I see, ’rieath a crown of ringlets, A baby’s innocent face. Tis ±‘e«,t in their wee red slippers, Are tapping the polished gia s, And toe crowd in the street look upward And nod, and smile, as they pass. Just here, in my cottage window, Catching flies in the sun, With a patch on his faded apron, Stands my own little one. Ilis face is as pure and handsome As the baby’s over the way, And he keeps my heart from breaking, At my toiling, every day. {sometimes when the day is ended, And I sit in the dusk to rest, With the face of my sleeping darling Hugged close to my lonely breast, 1 pray that my neighbour’s baby May not catch Heaven’s roses, all ; But that some may crown the forehead Of tny loved one, as they fall. And when I draw the stocking From his tired little feet, And kiss the rosy dimples in bis limbs so round and sweet, J think of the dainty garments Some little children wear, And frown that my God withholds them, From mine, bo pure and fair. May God forgive my envy ! 1 knew not what f said ; My heart is crushed and humbled, My neighbour’s boy Is dead 1 ] saw the little coffin As they carried it out to-day ; A mother’s heart is breaking In the mansion over the way. The light is fair in my window, The flowers bloom at my door ; My boy is chasing the sunbeams That dance on the cottage floor. The roses of health are blushing On my darling's cheek to-day ; But baby is gone from the window Of the sad house over the way !