And the Zoo, mother, it’s free,
And intended for such as you and me.
At last a basket is filled with a lunch,
Under the waving trees to munch.
So happy, out in God’s pure air,
Is sweet, sweet joy for this dear pair.
A Letter to a Friend.
My Dear Mrs. Gowey: How are you, pray? I can guess you are enjoying the breeze from the bay, while we are most uncomfortable. Be glad you are there, in your home in Seattle, where heat need not give you a care. Daughter is all settled now in her home so neat, with her husband and her two children sweet. They left for the country a few days ago, and left me their son to care for, you know. But daughter got lonesome and wanted her boy. So dad took his hopeful to her with great joy. Nothing has happened on this dear little street since the day that you left it, at least nothing great. The same neighbors sit on their porches at night, trying to find a breeze, perhaps a stray one, real light. I’ll close now and hope that these lines will fall into the hands of your dear self and all. We think of you often in your home far away, and hope you’ll be well and happy; and say, here’s a kiss, and goodby, and hope you will find the time to write me; now do be kind.—Very cordially yours, D.
Sweet Sixteen.
I feel quite old today, do you know;
Mother thinks it’s time I should learn to sew.
Then to the dry goods store I went,
Straight to the bargain counter bent.
Goods for a waist was hard to find,
Just what was suited to my mind.
At last I decided on some cloth of blue
With roses and violets of gorgeous hue.
Now home I did hasten, to cut it out,
And put my mind on what I was about;
My, but wasn’t it hard to work, to sew and to baste,
My sleeves went in wrong six times in my haste.
Mother praised my work, for a rest I might go
To a dear little neighbor, who lives just below;
And wasn’t I proud, when she said I looked grand;
That ’twas but a matter of time, I’d be quite a hand.
A Soldier’s Son.
I’m going to be a man, now that father is called away;
I’ll begin to do as he did in our home this very day;
I’m only twelve years old, but I’ll do my very best
To make it happy day by day and give mamma a rest.