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Gabriel； when that hush may be；
This sweet hand all heedfully
I'll undo； for thee alone；
From his mother's own。
Then the far blue highways paven
With the burning stars of heaven；
He shall gladden with the sweet
Hasting of his feet …
Feet so brightly bare and cool；
Leaping； as from pool to pool；
From a little laughing boy
Splashing rainbow joy！
Gabriel； wilt thou understand
How to keep his hovering hand …
Never shut； as in a bond；
From the bright beyond？ …
Nay； but though it cling and close
Tightly as a climbing rose；
Clasp it only so … aright；
Lest his heart take fright。
（Dormi； dormi tu：
The dusk is hung with blue。）
II
Lord Michael； wilt not thou rejoice
When at last a little boy's
Heart； a shut…in murmuring bee；
Turns him unto thee？
Wilt thou heed thine armor well …
To take his hand from Gabriel；
So his radiant cup of dream
May not spill a gleam？
He will take thy heart in thrall；
Telling o'er thy breastplate； all
Colors； in his bubbling speech；
With his hand to each。
（Dormi； dormi tu。
Sapphire is the blue：
Pearl and beryl； they are called；
Chrysoprase and emerald；
Sard and amethyst。
Numbered so； and kissed。）
Ah； but find some angel word
For thy sharp； subduing sword！
Yea； Lord Michael； make no doubt
He will find it out：
（Dormi； dormi tu！
His eyes will look at you。）
III
Last； a little morning space；
Lead him to that leafy place
Where Our Lady sits awake；
For all mothers' sake。
Bosomed with the Blessed One；
He shall mind her of her Son；
Once so folded from all harms；
In her shrining arms。
（In her veil of blue；
Dormi； dormi tu。）
So； … and fare thee well。
Softly； … Gabriel 。 。 。
When the first faint red shall come；
Bid the Day…star lead him home；
For the bright world's sake …
To my heart； awake。
Josephine Preston Peabody ＇1874…1922＇
MOTHER…SONG FROM 〃PRINCE LUCIFER〃
White little hands！
Pink little feet！
Dimpled all over；
Sweet； sweet； sweet！
What dost thou wail for？
The unknown？ the unseen？
The ills that are coming；
The joys that have been？
Cling to me closer；
Closer and closer；
Till the pain that is purer
Hath banished the grosser。
Drain； drain at the stream； love；
Thy hunger is freeing；
That was born in a dream； love；
Along with thy being！
Little fingers that feel
For their home on my breast；
Little lips that appeal
For their nurture； their rest！
Why； why dost thou weep； dear？
Nay； stifle thy cries；
Till the dew of thy sleep； dear；
Lies soft on thine eyes。
Alfred Austin ＇1835…1913＇
KENTUCKY BABE
'Skeeters am a hummin' on de honeysuckle vine； …
Sleep； Kentucky Babe！
Sandman am a comin' to dis little coon of mine； …
Sleep； Kentucky Babe！
Silv'ry moon am shinin' in de heabens up above；
Bobolink am pinin' fo' his little lady love：
Yo' is mighty lucky；
Babe of old Kentucky； …
Close yo' eyes in sleep。
Fly away；
Fly away； Kentucky Babe； fly away to rest；
Fly away；
Lay yo' kinky； woolly head on yo' mammy's breast； …
Um … Um …；
Close yo' eyes in sleep。
Daddy's in de cane…brake wid his little dog and gun； …
Sleep； Kentucky Babe！
'Possum fo' yo' breakfast when yo' sleepin' time is done； …
Sleep； Kentucky Babe！
Bogie man'll catch yo' sure unless yo' close yo' eyes；
Waitin' jes outside de doo' to take yo' by surprise：
Bes' be keepin' shady；
Little colored lady； …
Close yo' eyes in sleep。
Richard Henry Buck ＇1869…
MINNIE AND WINNIE
Minnie and Winnie slept in a shell。
Sleep； little ladies！ And they slept well。
Pink was the shell within； silver without；
Sounds of the great sea wandered about。
Sleep； little ladies！ Wake not soon！
Echo on echo dies to the moon。
Two bright stars peeped into the shell。
〃What are they dreaming of？ Who can tell？〃
Started a green linnet out of the croft；
Wake； little ladies！ The sun is aloft。
Alfred Tennyson ＇1809…1892＇
BED…TIME SONG
Sleep； my baby； while I sing
Bed…time news of everything。
Chickens run to mother hen；
Piggy curls up in the pen。
In the field； all tired with play；
Quiet now the lambkins stay。
Kittens cuddle in a heap …
Baby； too； must go to sleep！
Sleep； my baby； while I sing
Bed…time news of everything。
Now the cows from pasture come；
Bees fly home with drowsy hum。
Little birds are in the nest；
Under mother…bird's soft breast。
Over all soft shadows creep …
Baby now must go to sleep。
Sleep； my baby； while I sing
Bed…time news of everything。
Sleepy flowers seem to nod；
Drooping toward the dewy sod；
While the big sun's fading light
Bids my baby dear good…night。
Mother loving watch will keep；
Baby now must go to sleep。
Emilie Poulsson ＇1853…
TUCKING THE BABY IN
The dark…fringed eyelids slowly close
On eyes serene and deep；
Upon my breast my own sweet child
Has gently dropped to sleep；
I kiss his soft and dimpled cheek；
I kiss his rounded chin；
Then lay him on his little bed；
And tuck my baby in。
How fair and innocent he lies；
Like some small angel strayed；
His face still warmed by God's own smile；
That slumbers unafraid；
Or like some new embodied soul；
Still pure from taint of sin …
My thoughts are reverent as I stoop
To tuck my baby in。
What toil must stain these tiny hands
That now lie still and white？
What shadows creep across the face
That shines with morning light？
These wee pink shoeless feet … how far
Shall go their lengthening tread；
When they no longer cuddled close
May rest upon this bed？
O what am I that I should train
An angel for the skies；
Or mix the potent draught that feeds
The soul within these eyes？
I reach him up to the sinless Hands
Before his cares begin； …
Great Father； with Thy folds of love；
O tuck my baby in。
Curtis May ＇18 …
〃JENNY WI' THE AIRN TEETH〃
What a plague is this o' mine；
Winna steek an e'e；
Though I hap him o'er the heid；
As cosy as can be。
Sleep an' let me to my wark …
A' thae claes to airn …
Jenny wi' the airn teeth；
Come an' tak' the bairn！
Tak' him to your ain den；
Whaur the bogie bides；
But first put baith your big teeth
In his wee plump sides；
Gie your auld gray pow a shake；
Rive him frae my grup；
Tak' him whaur nae kiss is gaun
When he waukens up。
Whatna noise is that I hear
Coomin' doon the street？
Weel I ken the dump； dump；
O' her beetle feet；
Mercy me！ she's at the door！
Hear her lift the sneck；
Wheesht； an' cuddle mammy noo；
Closer roun' the neck。
Jenny wi' the airn teeth；
The bairn has aff his claes；
Sleepin' safe an' soun'； I think …
Dinna touch his taes。
Sleepin' bairns are no for you；
Ye may turn aboot；
An' tak' awa' wee Tam next door …
I hear him screichin' oot。
Du