86
AN INVITATION. To M. G. B.
My "dear little maiden," a greeting I send,
And a warm invitation therewith I would blend,
Will you come soon and see us! A welcome is here,
We think of you often, and wish you were near.
And a warm invitation therewith I would blend,
Will you come soon and see us! A welcome is here,
We think of you often, and wish you were near.
Come when the fair daisies are first peeping out,
And grandpapa's lambkins are frisking about,
Or when the long warm days invite to the place,
Where we picnic, and frolic, and join in the race.
And grandpapa's lambkins are frisking about,
Or when the long warm days invite to the place,
Where we picnic, and frolic, and join in the race.
You know, too, the spot where you often have played
And dug in the sand 'neath the dark fir-trees' shade,
Come, seek it again with your pail and your spade,
And see with what perfectness pies can be made.
And dug in the sand 'neath the dark fir-trees' shade,
Come, seek it again with your pail and your spade,
And see with what perfectness pies can be made.
Be sure come at Christmas with father and mother,
Then always I hope we may see one another;
Your old summer haunts may be buried in snow,
But pleasure we'll find by the fire's cheerful glow.
Then always I hope we may see one another;
Your old summer haunts may be buried in snow,
But pleasure we'll find by the fire's cheerful glow.
I can't say exactly what games there will be,
Or skating, or bran-pie, or gay Christmas tree,
Nor which of your playmates will join in the fun,
I wish that we might hope to see every one.
Or skating, or bran-pie, or gay Christmas tree,
Nor which of your playmates will join in the fun,
I wish that we might hope to see every one.
Come, ransack the drawer at the top of the stair,
And choose from the old friends awaiting you there;
Then climb on my back and we'll trot down again,
You're getting so heavy, but I'll not complain.
And choose from the old friends awaiting you there;
Then climb on my back and we'll trot down again,
You're getting so heavy, but I'll not complain.
Come, chat away loneliness, kiss away care,
Make sorrow more easy to banish or bear;
Come, merrily help me with what I must do,
All tasks will be lighter divided with you.
Make sorrow more easy to banish or bear;
Come, merrily help me with what I must do,
All tasks will be lighter divided with you.
Come, bring out your books while I sit by and work,
You'll scarce find a word now to spell or to shirk;
Come, read me sweet truths from the dearest of all,
That treasure of blessing which never shall pall.
You'll scarce find a word now to spell or to shirk;
Come, read me sweet truths from the dearest of all,
That treasure of blessing which never shall pall.
