The Children's Waiting.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1893, 23 August 1884, Page 5 (Supplement)

The Children's Waiting.

T ie day had been wild md stormy And the night fell chill and gray, And the aii was keen and frosty As I went my homeward way. Dflwn by a rock in the roadbide, Hiding awny horn the sioim, I foand two hltlo children, ggMaffled in garments warm. II Why are yon here?" I asked them As they smiled up at me, Tmough the du^k and the falling snow flakes Their flhining eyes I could see, And I wanted to hug and kiss them, The roguish little elve?. As sweet —n hy there's nothing sweeter Than their own little, laughing selves! " "We've waited for papa," they answeied, " It's time for him to come. We always come here to meet him, And kiss him welcome home. You know that pupa'd be sorry If he didn't find us here, For you can't think how he lovea us ! He don't know does he, de \r ? " Ttien the motheily little darling, Who may have been eight years old, Palled her biother's can down closer To keep out the wind and colJ. " No, he doesn't know," ho answered, And laughed at the wind in glee ; rt 'Oo'd ought to .see how much papa Sinks o' Dolly an' me." A step in the road behind nw I heard in the twilight giey, And "Papa is coming, brother," I heard tho httlo girl *ay. A. shout of Wariness and fivefling, A jubilant " Tapas turn," Ani both of (hem lan to inert him, And kiss him v. clcome home. Bless the dear heaifc of the childien, Watching for papa to come ; The love of the dtv.r little darlings Is a beacon to hgbf. him home. I novcr have Crossed fho thfpshold Where the ho«?ehold fito burns bright, Bnt I know 'tf $ a happy kingdom Where love holda courn at ni^ht.