Page:The songs that Quinte sang.djvu/50

46 And I close my eyes while memory strays Back to my wild, sweet childhood’s days, And my heart beats fast and my pulses stir As I think of when I was “just like her.”

Then two dimpled arms around me twine As the honest brown eyes glance into mine, Meeting my gaze so fearlessly As this strange question she puts to me, A question that thrills me through and through, “When I grow up will I be like you?

“For I think” she goes on in a musing tone, “It is awfully jolly to live alone, Without any husband to grumble and growl, Or bothersome babies to fret and howl, But just a dear, little niece like me,” How the brown eyes sparkle with mischievous glee! “To come now and then to visit you And make things lively, same as I do. And when called ‘old maid’ by people unkind, To smile so serene, as if you don’t mind. O, I think it’s so nice to be big and wise And have dear, little wrinkles around your eyes, And write nice verses and stories too. Oh! I’d love to grow up and be just like you.”

“Just like me.” Ah! She does not think How her prattle causes my heart to sink, As memory kneels o’er the grave of the Past, While the blinding tears fall thick and fast, Weaving a shadowy veil between My longing eyes and what might have been.