Of all the cares, and all the cries,

Ere you were old, you sprite, like me.

And then I saw these tiny ears,

And thought of how they both would grow,

And thrill and tremble, ere the years

Had taught them all they had to know.

I saw these dainty limbs here, too,

That run and jump and snatch and throw;

And thought how little mine can do—

Ah me, not always was it so!