Page:All quiet along the Potomac and other poems.djvu/313

 TIME S TRIUMPH. 307

1879.

&quot; Oh, mother dear !&quot; A matron |.

Sedate was daughter May, With merry childish trio

Making a summer stay Within the quiet homestead

Wiser and gentler grown Since those far days of girlhood

Had swiftly backward flown.

The &quot;grandma,&quot; well remembered

In household legends sweet, Had found herself old-fashioned

As years fell round her feet, And so went up one morning

To friends of bygone years, To find one blessed fashion

That hides all pain and tears.

So now when children s voices

Called &quot; Grandma !&quot; it was she Who once was only &quot;Mother&quot;

Who answered claimants three Half wond ring at the echo,

Half questioning if she Had gone adown life s valley

Past milestones sixty-three.

&quot;Mother, I ve such a favor To ask you, if I dare.

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