What, but a blessing of kindly thought, Sweet as the breath of forget-me-not!-- What, but a spirit of lustrous love White as the aster he bends above!-- What, but an odorous memory Of the dear old man, made known to me In days demanding a help like his,-- As sweet as the life of the lily is-- As sweet as the soul of a babe, bloom-wise Born of a lily in Paradise. [Illustration: Herr Weiser--tailpiece] {158} [Illustration: A mother-song--headpiece] A MOTHER-SONG Mother, O mother! forever I cry for you, Sing the old song I may never forget; Even in slumber I murmur and sigh for you.-- Mother, O mother, Sing low, "Little brother, Sleep, for thy mother bends over thee yet!" {159} Mother, O mother! the years are so lonely, Filled but with weariness, doubt and regret! Can't you come back to me--for to-night only, Mother, my mother, And sing, "Little brother, Sleep, for thy mother bends over thee yet!" Mother, O mother! of old I had never One wish denied me, nor trouble to fret; Now--must I cry out all vainly forever,-- Mother, sweet mother, O sing, "Little brother, Sleep, for thy mother bends over thee yet!" Mother, O mother! must longing and sorrow Leave me in darkness, with eyes ever wet, And never the hope of a meeting to-morrow? Answer me, mother, And sing, "Little brother, Sleep, for thy mother bends over thee yet!" {160} [Illustration: What "Old Santa" overheard--headpiece] WHAT "OLD SANTA" OVERHEARD _'Tis said old Santa Claus one time_ _Told this joke on himself in rhyme:_ One Christmas, in the early din That ever leads the morning in, I heard the happy children shout In rapture at the toys turned out Of bulging little socks and shoes-- A joy at which I could but choose To listen enviously, because I'm always just "Old Santa Claus,"-- But ere my rising sigh had got To its first quaver at the thought, It broke in laughter, as I heard A little voice chirp like a bird,-- {161} "Old Santa's mighty good, I know. And awful rich--and he can go Down ever' chimbly anywhere In all the world!--But I don't care, _I_ wouldn't trade with _him_, and be Old Santa Clause, and him be me, Fer all his toys and things!--and _I_ Know why, and bet you _he_ knows why!-- They _wuz_ no Santa Clause when _he_ Wuz ist a little boy like me!" [Illustration: What "Old Santa" overheard--tailpiece] {162} THE STEPMOTHER First she come to our house, Tommy run and hid; And Emily and Bob and me We cried jus' like we did When Mother died,--and we all said 'At we all wisht 'at we was dead! And Nurse she couldn't stop us; And Pa he tried and tried,-- We sobbed and shook and wouldn't look, But only cried and cried; And nen some one--we couldn't jus' Tell who--was cryin' same as us!