INFANCY.

THE BABY.

WHERE did you come from, baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into here.

Where did you get your eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes left in.

Where did you get that little tear?

I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high? A soft hand stroked it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?
I saw something better than any one knows.

Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Where did you get that pearly ear?

God spoke, and it came out to hear.

Where did you get those arms and hands?

Love made itself into bonds and bands.

Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?

From the same box as the cherub's wings.

How did they all just come to be you?
God thought about me, and so, I grew.

But how did you come to us, you dear? God thought about you, and so I am here. - George Macdonald

OLD GAELIC LULLABY.

HUSH! the waves are rolling in,

White with foam, white with foam;

Father toils amid the din;

But baby sleeps at home.

Hush the winds roar hoarse and deep, —

On they come, on they come ! Brother seeks the wandering sheep: But baby sleeps at home.

Hush the rain sweeps o'er the knowes,
Where they roam, where they roam ;
Sister goes to seek the cows;

But baby sleeps at home.

A SLEEPING CHILD.

LIPS, lips, open!

Up comes a little bird that lives inside,

Up comes a little bird, and peeps, and out he flies.

All the day he sits inside, and sometimes he sings;
Up he comes and out he goes at night to spread his wings.

Little bird, little bird, whither will you go?
Round about the world while nobody can know.

Little bird, little bird, whither do you flee?
Far away round the world while nobody can see.

Little bird, little bird, how long will you roam?
All round the world and around again home.

Round the round world, and back through the air,
When the morning comes, the little bird is there.

Back comes the little bird, and looks, and in he flies.
Up wakes the little boy, and opens both his eyes.

Sleep, sleep, little boy, little bird's away,
Little bird will come again, by the peep of day;

Sleep, sleep, little boy, little bird must go
Round about the world, while nobody can know.

Sleep, sleep sound, little bird goes round,

Round and round he goes, sleep, sleep sound!