Classic Poem

When weenty-teenty Baby slept, —
With voices stilled we lightly stepped
And knelt beside the rug where she
Had fallen in sleep all wearily;
And when a dimpled hand would stir,
We breathlessly bent over her
And kissed the truant strands that swept
The tranc'd lids and the dreams that kept —
When Baby blinked her Court and slept.

When Baby waived her throne and slept,
It seemed the sunshine lightlier crept
Along the carpet and the wall,
Her playhouse, tea-set, pets and all: —
A loud fly hushed its hum and made
The faintest Fairy-serenade,
That lulled all waking things except
The goldfish as he flashed and leapt —
When Baby doffed her crown and slept.

When sunset veiled her as she slept,
No other sight might intercept
Our love-looks, meant for her alone
The fairest blossom ever blown
In all God's garden-lands below!
Our Spirits whispered, Even so,
And made high mirth in undertone,
In stress of joy all sudden grown
A laugh of tears: — for thus we wept,
When Baby donned her dreams, and slept.