And sat down to rest and read a new book,
Oh, how they did hurt, and how cross I did look;
When my husband came home, I was all in tears—
What’s the matter, you’re older at least, by ten years.
I had to explain the cause, for nerve I had none,
I believe my heart stood still, I saw only one;
The new ones did not prove good friends, I declare,
After a few hours I looked for you there.
Down in the garden, did anyone see
Me pick up my shoe, under the old apple tree?
I wiped you off tenderly and put you on;
Oh, where is the other, I fear it is gone.
To our Collie dog, Bruno, I said, can you tell
Me where my shoe is?—and waited a spell,
Then back he came prancing, in his mouth was my shoe,
I was so glad to see you—none but myself knew.
I must say to you dears, how I wore you with pride,
The day that we called on the beautiful bride;
And down the aisle, in the church, when the bells rang,
And the choir their heavenly hallelujahs sang.
When we crossed the Atlantic, Europe to see
The wonders, then truly you were good to me;
For we walked in the mornings, late into the nights,
You gave me much pleasure in seeing the sights.
But somehow or other, since that terrible day,
That such mortals like me should be made of mere clay;
It near breaks my heart in sorrow to lay,
You away in a corner, a short time to stay.
There’s nothing like ease, away with your style;
I prefer to laugh, to sing, and to smile;
Old shoes, you’re my friends, you’ve been tried, you are true,
And I hope, for a while, to still stand by you.
Not Big Like Me.
There’s a baby that’s come to our house today,
And I understand he came here to stay;
I’ve prayed for a sister ever so long,
But it’s a brother, with lungs lusty and strong.