" OUR little babe," each said, " shall be
Like unto thee" — " Like unto thee !"
" Her mother's" — " Nay, his father's" — " eyes,"
" Dear curls like thine" — but each replies,
" As thine, all thine, and nought of me"

What sweet solemnity to see
The little life upon thy knee,
And whisper as so soft it lies, —
" Our little babe!"

For, whether it be he or she,
A David or a Dorothy,
" As mother fair," or " father wise,"
Both when it 's " good," and when it cries,
One thing is certain, — it will be
Our little babe